To be quite frank, based on performances this season and last I have come to the conclusion that players like Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Darmian, Herrera, Fellaini, Mata, Jones, etc. are not good enough. On top of this, we also have a bought a number of expensive players who are inexperienced and still need maturing. Not to say that we also have some bad injuries as well, but the core of the squad is piss poor if you ask me.
Schneiderlin - has been excellent for numerous years now, in almost every professional league in England.
Darmian - Darmian started the season very well, he was voted August player of the month. Plus I find it highly unlikely that you saw all that much of him whilst he was at Torino.
Shweinsteiger & Herrera - were both idolised by the fans when they started and have both shown flashes of brilliance. Ander put in some great performances last season and scored 8 goals from midfield and Bastian has consistently performed at the highest level of the game for a decade.
Mata - I have a strong dislike for Mata as a player, always have. But even I can't deny that during his Chelsea days, when he was used correctly, he was a magician around the oppositions box.
Whats more likely, 5 perfectly good players have suddenly turned shit or they are all victims of Van Gaal's obviously under performing philosophy.
I still say that with a better manager and good winger, we'd be sitting comfortably in the top four.