- Daley Blind - A versatile defensive player who is as comfortable in a holding midfield position as he is at left back, though he can also do a sterling job as a centre back if required. Every club needs a versatile player in the Blind/O'Shea mould as it allows you more scope on the subs bench for creativity or attacking outlets. Blind cost just under £14million which for a player of his talents (and a full international) is a cut price bargain in all reality, and while he does need to take that extra touch compared to Carrick and is a slower distributor of the ball, he does have excellent positioning and reading of the game. Blind had a good first season and chipped in with a couple of vitally important goals, especially late at West Brom away and West Ham, and is one that can only get better. He managed 25 league appearances despite picking up a nasty injury on international duty during the time we seemed to be picking up injuries faster than a scouser picks up a benefits claim form but even that did not stop his momentum and he went on to play some of his better football in a United shirt during the purple patch of mid March-April. Blind also chipped in with a couple of assists (the same amount as Carrick and Valencia) and at 25 should be a solid player for us for years to come.
- Marcos Rojo - A full Argentinian international there were a few eyebrows raised when he demanded a move from Sporting Lisbon, we managed to get him for £16million which considering his potential isn't a bad price. Strong, fearless and takes no prisoners he does look like he could be the one who will form a solid partnership with whoever Van Gaal brings in at centre back this summer. Another player who can fill in in more than one position at either left back or centre back his better games have come from when he has been at the centre. Slightly injury prone this season (but who hasn't been?) that limited him to just 22 league appearances, 2 off the bench, but despite that it still has been a good first season for him to build upon.
- Radamel Falcao - Oh boy were we excited when we announced his season long loan, with the option to buy at the end of it. World class striker but still coming to terms having recovered from a lengthy injury...sadly we never saw the best of him. He took to us and seemed genuinely happy at United, almost in awe at times, which just made you want him to succeed even more because off the pitch he is a nice guy. Some would have been more vocal and outspoken about spending more time on a bench than varnish, but not this man who took it with dignity...his agent on the other hand...he managed just the 4 golas in 26 appearances in the league, 14 were starts, though he did chip in with 4 assists as well. Some fantastic performances (Villa away, Stoke away) were marred by some awful ones as well (especially in the FA cup) though Van Gaal's slow build up play and side to side passing never helped him much. At times he seemed to struggle on his feet with his boots and slipped more than Stevie Gerrard, though THAT slip was funny, but you can not fault him for lack of effort. Regularly picking up little injuries now he may go on to another club and find that system suits him down to the ground and their fitness coaches seem to know what they are doing (unlike United's) and we see the old Falcao, but with us it was not meant to be.
- Angel Di Maria - Britain's most expensive transfer at £59.7million from Real Madrid. Argentinian international, world class talent and a man who would inherit the fabled United No.7 shirt. All went brilliantly well to begin with and he looked like he would rip defences apart but an injury and the trauma of having his home robbed while his family was there seemed to have just crushed his enthusiasm for being in England, this was summed up perfectly when he was sent off in the FA cup match at home to Arsenal. Who can forget his master class against Leicester and that sublime chipped goal? A hugely impressive 11 assists in all competitions really does show you what he could go on to achieve if his head was in it, but since coming back from injury he has been just a substitute after some dour performances. He seems to have forgotten how to distribute the ball as perfect and smoothly as he once did and when he has been offered a chance (Hull away) he looks lightweight and as if he has already decided he is leaving. 3 league goals in 27 league appearances speaks volumes but if he stays, and has a good holiday with his family, stays fit then maybe...just maybe, next season we will see the real world class Angel Di Maria.
- Luke Shaw - A teenage left back with promise who we snapped up for a whopping £27million from Southampton. His first season has echoed so many at Old Trafford in 2014/15 with repeated injuries which stop/start/stop players momentum. On his day he can look lightweight and the weakest of the left back options we have, but when he is in the flow he can look every bit as good as we hope he can be. His best form was towards the end of the season where he took games by the scruff of the neck and made some brave and strong challenges which sadly relegated him back to the treatment table. Everton away was a perfect example of his potential when he was the only good thing about a defence that looked as if they had never played with each other before, let alone Premiership football. 16 league games in his first season is something that needs to be addressed but if he can stay fit then he has shown enough for us to be confident in his long term ability.
- Victor Valdes - Three times Champions League winner and a free transfer...not a bad bit of business especially as at 33, he is relatively young for a keeper. Just two appearances, one as substitute he has shown enough to prove what a class stopper he is, especially at Hull where he made two great reactionary saves...crosses he seems a little coy with (as did De Gea when he first arrived) but as he has barely played any competitive football for quite a while then we can forgive him for any rustiness. With a good pre-season behind him then we could actually see the Victor Valdes of old that was the rear guard of the great Barcelona team that denied us in two Champions League finals.
- Ander Herrera - £29million from Bilbao and one who took his time in demonstrating his ability to Van Gaal, although what the manager didn't see the fans did in abundance. Our new midfield dynamo and the league stats of 6 goals from 7 shots on target really does leave the impression that he is one hell of a talent we have. Limited to just 26 appearances in the league his momentum was disrupted by a rib injury and then for some reason Van Gaal didn't trust him in the starting line up...though a lacklustre Rooney was trusted but I will say no more. He links up perfectly with Mata on the right and the pair have such a connection at times that their football is a joy to behold and he has chipped in with some very important goals for United. Herrera's vision is second to none and is a very hard worker on the pitch, something that won him praise this season from our own former Captain marvel - Bryan Robson. He has also been asked to play in the holding midfield slot due to our injury crisis this season and did himself justice, but with more midfield signings due then we will see Herrera in his preferred position next season. He finished his first season with 8 goals (compare that to last seasons midfield) and with a manager that has more faith in him now he will go on from strength to strength.