All television cameras focused on David Moyes as the final whistle blew to announce yet another defeat for Manchester United, this time, in the Capital One Cup first leg against Sunderland, a side rock bottom in the league standings.
Focus was then on the reactions of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson, with the trio shaking their heads and looking at each other with a somber expression which was rather blown out of proportions by the media so much that David Moyes had to come out and clear things out.
The squad Moyes inherited from Fergie seems more and more fragile with each passing game.
The Premier League trophy that was won last season, already seems like a relic of the past. It is quite shocking to see the Red Devils players, those same players who guided the club to its 20th domestic title, play with the petulance of a team that has already thrown the towel.
The defeat at the hands of Gus Poyet’s side was United’ eighth of the season and the guns are already pointing at the direction of the current manager who has been unable to get the best out of the team. However, Moyes was left an aging squad and though the team that won the title last season was the best in England, it is now a thing of the past especially after the amount of money spent by the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to strengthen their respective squads.
United on the other hand, brought in Marouane Fellaini who if he turns out to be a good signing, will always be remembered as a panic signing after initial targets said no to the chance of playing at Old Trafford.
The current United team is devoid of innovation and creativity and lacks the cutting edge necessary to get the job done in a league that has been at its competitive best this season. Moreover, injuries haven’t helped Moyes’ cause either with last season’s star player Robin van Persie still nowhere near 100 per cent while Wayne Rooney, this season’s top scorer for the club, is in USA to get some sun to recuperate his groin.
The start of the new year has not been great for the reigning English champions. With three consecutive defeats, the team’s chances of finishing in a top four position seem more and more slim. The team has lost its identity and this issue needs to be resolved. The game against Swansea City might have come too early for United but with the season only halfway through, it is imperative for Moyes to find out exactly what is wrong with his squad.
Try he might, Moyes has been unable to identify the very thing that could transform his and his team’s fortunes. With only 18 games left to play for and the teams above them consolidating their respective positions, time for excuses is over and any further slip ups will not only end the team’s chances of playing in the Champions League next year, but could also undermine his ability as a manager despite fans still standing by him.
