You can tell Manchester United are on the brink of being very special again. How? Easy - people have started clutching at straws just lately, desperate to criticise Louis van Gaal’s side.

After Wayne Rooney was sent off against West Ham earlier this season a Twitter rumour started that the Manchester United and England captain had got himself red carded deliberately because he had a private plane waiting, and he needed to depart early for some sort of celebrity social event that evening.

Another rumour started that Rooney had fallen out with Robin van Persie, and that’s why they weren’t playing well together for United.

Wayne Rooney lashed out at Stewart Downing at Old Trafford to earn himself an early bath

Rooney was shown the a red card for kicking out at Downing but United held on to beat West Ham 2-1

Rumours that Rooney and Robin van Persie (centre) had fallen out were quickly dispelled

Well I was at Old Trafford that day when United beat the Hammers 2-1, and at around 6pm, long after the final whistle, both Rooney and van Persie were suited up, on the pitch, playing football with their children and seemingly having a great time together.

So that killed both of those nonsense rumours at once.

It’s interesting that people seem desperate to criticise and bring down Manchester United.

Another example: I’m forever being told that Radamel Falcao was a bad signing. If United had paid £50m for him and given him a six-year contract then the critics might have a point. But his injury record isn’t great so that’s why United only signed him on loan; a shrewd move.

Despite not arriving at the club until the World Cup was over, and despite an injury list that would leave Florence Nightingale in pieces, Van Gaal put together a team that faltered for the first couple of months of the season, but entertained us royally in flashes.

Radamel Falcao has played a bit-part role since joining United on loan from Monaco this summer

Falcao has struggled with injury and sat out the Manchester derby last month which United lost 1-0

It was never going to be smooth. Think about the wreckage of last season. Backroom staff decimated, morale low, players left, others struggled for confidence and form, and United were awful to watch.

I always speak to fans when I go to games up and down the country, and the general consensus at United is that this season, despite a few poor results, the football under van Gaal is a significant improvement from last season, and the fans are happy with that.

There are two results that United’s critics seem to be living off – the 5-3 defeat at Leicester and the 4-0 reverse at MK Dons.

United were brilliant at Leicester until an inexplicable decision from Mark Clattenburg gave Leicester a penalty and United crumbled. But people read way too much into that game; they even said it showed Leicester will be fine in the Premier League this season. As I write this they are bottom and haven’t won a game since they beat United. The problems United suffered that day are easily rectified, but critics were too quick to forget how spectacular the football was that took them into a 3-1 lead.

United slumped to defeat against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup with an experimental side

Louis van Gaal used the MK Dons defeat to analyse his side and subsequently, three senior players left

Jamie Vardy turns away to celebrate after putting Leicester 4-3 up against United earlier in the season

But until they collapsed, United played well against Leicester with Angel di Maria scoring this stunner

As for the defeat in Milton Keynes, of the five senior players who started that game, three have left (Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa) and Anderson hasn’t started a game since. It was a game van Gaal used to find out more about some of his senior professionals. He probably wasn’t expecting such a beating, but the Capital One Cup wasn’t high on his priority list this season.

So United now find themselves in the top four despite so many people saying they have wasted a load of money and are poor.

The worrying thing for the United haters is that they keep improving. I’m sure there will be dips and they will come unstuck in some matches but just take a look at the last two games.

Van Gaal totally out-coached Arsene Wenger with a game plan that earned three points at Arsenal, and then destroyed inferior opposition with some breathtaking football against Hull.

Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria are in brilliant form; Michael Carrick’s control and passing are being trusted again; David de Gea is currently the best keeper in the Premier League.

United look to have turned the corner and were impressive in their narrow victory over Arsenal

Rooney was on target on Saturday as United strolled to victory over Hull at Old Trafford

With even more improvement, and maybe more signings to come in January, the Premier League has a lot to fear from Manchester United.

Van Gaal is a man who looks you in the eye when he talks to you and answers your questions. His press conferences are informative and entertaining – he speaks to the fans through the media, which is exactly what should happen. I admire his sincerity.

And I even like the way he approached his criticism of the festive schedule in England. He said it isn’t good for players who have families, but then added: ‘I have to adapt, and I shall adapt.’

As much as the United-haters loved last season, they are beginning to dislike this campaign, with United showing signs they are on their way back.

They are a joy to watch at times, and if they can get the injury list down and add consistency to their undoubted quality, Van Gaal may be on the brink of producing something extra special at Old Trafford.

This manager is even making Chris Smalling look good, so anything is possible.