The international break gives all football fans time to reflect and hope for no injuries to returning international players.  With the problems at Old Trafford being well documented for this season and the last, a look at the Premier League table at first sight looks promising once again for the red side of Manchester.

The makeshift Red Devils managed to beat Everton at home on 5th October and that result lifted United into the top four albeit on goal difference with Swansea and Tottenham on the same number of points.  Incredibly, about the first time in a year.  The question is, does this new-look team have the staying power?

Most bookies currently have United at about 4/9 to finish in the top four.  That’s before Liverpool and Spurs and after Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal.  It probably sounds about right at this stage of the season.   Next up is a tricky tie at West Brom on 20th October.  And one of the reasons that United are in the top four is partly thanks to the Baggies 1-0 win away at White Hart Lane a few weeks back so they will be no pushovers.

But then right after that it’s Chelsea and Manchester City, so for United to stay in the top four by the end of November they are going to have to be more solid at the back.  This makes the WBA away game an absolute must-win match.

Concerns over United’s debt after their recent spending spree deepened this week, as they are now £350 million in debt.

It will be interesting to see what odds United will be to finish in the top four at the end of November.  There is little doubt that the new talent at Old Trafford is top quality but Louis van Gaal will need his defence to gel before soon and January’s transfer window is looking like a busy one already for him – should he last that long.