Player Ratings: Manchester United 4-0 QPR

After a sterling performance from Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal has insisted that the team can still do better. A 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers saw record signing Angel Di Maria won the Man of the Match award on his home debut, while other debutants Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo also impressed.

*****

DAVID DE GEA (6/10)

De Gea didn’t have much to do during the game, but did well when he was called upon. One error in the first half very nearly allowed QPR to equalise when he rushed out of the box but missed the ball, but other than that De Gea was as reliable as ever making a good save from Nico Kranjcar in the second half too.

RAFAEL (7/10)

A fantastic return to the first team fold for the Brazilian full-back. Having a natural full-back playing in that position proved to be a big difference for the side. Rafael dealt with Junior Hoilett exceptionally well while his link up play with Ander Herrera was a joy to watch. A fantastic return and a big upgrade on Antonio Valencia. Badly missed.

JONNY EVANS (6/10)

Manchester United were rarely threatened throughout the afternoon so Evans didn’t have much to do. However it was his interception that denied Matt Phillips after David De Gea’s error. Despite some nervous touches early on, Evans and Blackett were solid throughout and came forward in possession to good effect. A solid return.

TYLER BLACKETT (6/10)

In a week were there was plenty of talk about Manchester United’s academy no longer being at the forefront of the club’s plans, Tyler Blackett made his 4th start in the Premier League season and impressed once again. Playing at center-back in a four man defence, Blackett showed composure in possession and was confident throughout. He’s making it hard for Louis van Gaal to drop him once he gets all his defensive options back.

MARCOS ROJO (7/10) 

Blind was the unsung hero vs QPR in an impressive debut. [Credit: manutd.com]A long awaited debut for Argentine Rojo finally arrived, with the ex-Sporting player deployed at left-back. Rojo linked up very well with his Argentine teammate Di Maria while also doing his job well defensively. Similarly to Rafael, having a natural full-back in that position made the team much more balanced. He showed his qualities well and looks to be a good addition to the side.

DALEY BLIND (8/10)

A magnificent performance on his debut, Daley Blind showed exactly why Ajax wanted to keep him. The £14M signing showed great composure on the ball, completing 122 passes and great positional awareness. At the base of the diamond in midfield, Blind showed great discipline to anchor the side and allow the attacking talents of Di Maria, Herrera, Mata and co. to shine bright. An outstanding debut, Blind was undoubtedly the unsung hero at Old Trafford.

ANDER HERRERA (8/10)

Ander Herrera showed why he has been sorely missed since picking up an injury soon after pre-season ended. The Spanish midfielder showed a great desire in midfield to win the ball and control the game, something United have missed in the middle of the park for a number of years. Herrera’s dynamism was the perfect foil for Di Maria’s attacking talent and he showed great fitness in his box-to-box role on the right side of the diamond.

ANGEL DI MARIA (9/10)

Man of the match. A mesmerizing performance from Di Maria on his home debut. The Argentine, playing on the left side of a midfield diamond, got a goal and an assist and ran the show for United. His pace and direct running caused problems all day long for QPR and they couldn’t cope. His energy meant he added pace to every attack, something the club has severely lacked for a long time. His wonderful left foot created many opportunities for the side including a stunning reverse pass with the outside of his boot for Robin van Persie. A performance that sent him on his way to justifying his £59.7M price tag.

JUAN MATA (8/10) 

Mata celebrates his goal vs QPR [Credit: manutd.com]Many thought Mata would be the man to drop out of the side after Falcao’s recent arrival, however it seems to have sparked him into life. A fine performance from Mata saw him grab the fourth goal and dictate the tempo in the attacking third well. He’s the man under the most pressure right now but he seems to be thriving off it. 8 goals in his last 10 games show he is still a world class talent and an asset to the side.

WAYNE ROONEY (8/10)

Rooney gets a lot of stick when he plays badly, but not nearly enough credit when he plays well. The new captain grabbed a goal and an assist yesterday and was a threat throughout. His passing range was shown when he dropped deeper after Falcao came on, switching the play with expert precision. He took his goal well and linked well with Angel Di Maria, a positive sign for Louis Van Gaal and the fans. His goal was his 175th in the Premier League, putting him level with Thierry Henry at 3rd in the all-time chart while it moved him just 31 goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton in the club’s goalscorer charts.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE (6/10)

Van Persie was expected to come back from the World Cup firing under Louis Van Gaal, but so far he’s been fairly disappointing. The Dutchman has looked off the pace despite Van Gaal’s insistence that van Persie is “fitter than ever” and it could be Robin who makes way for the eventual emergence of Radamel Falcao into the starting line-up. Van Persie had chances yesterday, including a volley from a stunning Di Maria pass that he just couldn’t quite connect with. At 31 and injury prone, Van Persie could be beginning to wind down his career although I’m sure he’ll be hoping to prove all doubters wrong.