David Moyes: Standing firm in the eye of the storm at Manchester United

Marouane Fellaini has been touted to be a “wrong” signing for United. However, on the contrary, in the three games that United have played him alongside Carrick, he has performed very well, reinforcing the much talked about midfield of Manchester with some steel and size.

His performance against Manchester City was truly under par, but having been pitted against Yaya Toure – the ex-Barcelona and Manchester City star came out on top of the ex-Standard Liege and ex-Everton player.

However, even United’s current engine, Michael Carrick failed to pull any strings in the game. In good time, the versatile Fellaini will be cohesively integrated into the United side and may even play the role Roy Keane played so effectively a decade ago.

For now, with Carrick holding one of the central midfield spots, Fellaini, Cleverley, Anderson, Giggs, sometimes Jones and eventually Fletcher is a healthy enough competition for the other spot.

The benching of Shinji Kagawa has prompted a widespread online campaign to “free” Shinji. So far, the Japanese playmaker hasn’t featured much under Moyes, and the reason given by the manager is of the lack of his fitness, given his summer involvement in the Confederations Cup and frequent flying to and from Asia.

Shinji Kagawa

Although it seems a legitimate claim, another reason could be touted to be the occupied status of the Number 10 role. Wayne Rooney is the accomplished talisman, nailing down the position behind Robin van Persie. He is reinvented and invigorated now, leaving no room for a playmaker.

Besides, Shinji Kagawa lacks the defensive discipline to be played deep alongside Carrick, and is a wasted talent on the wing, unless he cuts in behind the striker into his familiar area.

However, in Moyes’s structured formation where players rarely leave their positions, he has to but play as a classic winger and provide the ageing Evra the necessary defensive cover. He is ineffective in the role, and as of now, finds himself without a place in the starting 11.

The numerous changes in the club’s structure notwithstanding, United drew the toughest of starts to the league campaign, dropping 8 points in the first 5 games is disastrous in many situations.

But considering they consisted of Swansea, Liverpool and Man City away ties and a Chelsea home tie, 7 points is a decent number.

David Moyes through the years, has been admired and lauded often by Sir Alex Ferguson, and the word of one of the greatest managers ever, holds great credibility and the supporters should ease their own nerves.

He seems to have a solid plan of action for the club, and however much the media portrays otherwise, Moyes knows what he is doing.

Expectations of extensive silverware right away from a manager who never won any, may be a little harsh, but Manchester United will not settle for anything less.

All Moyes is doing is biding his time, soaking in everything as it comes, waiting for the difficult current circumstances to pass, before he makes a statement of his own.