The importance of the January Transfer Window to Manchester United and David Moyes

Pressure is such an understatement for what David Moyes must be going through right now. After a shaky start to his campaign at Old Trafford, Moyes has probably hit the roughest patch in his entire managerial career with the hat-trick of defeats at the hands of Tottenham, Swansea and Sunderland respectively. For a team that is accustomed to victories, three straight losses is a huge blow.

Despite the Board and a majority (quickly becoming a minority) of the fans extending their support to the Scot, Moyes would be sensing the slow loss of patience even among his firm believers. Midway through the season and with the title looking a distant dream now and a Champions League spot at stake, he really has to step up his game. And for that he would need a major confidence boost. As a blessing, he’s got the January Transfer Window to deliver him that.

The saying goes “Well begun is half done” and that was exactly where Moyes tripped. Sir Alex Ferguson had taken Manchester United to the peaks of glory, and his departure raised questions not just among critics and fans, but more importantly among footballers across the world. Moyes’s first duty as the United manager was securing some marquee signings. But unfortunately, players who would have pounced upon the slightest opportunity to play for the Red Devils during the Ferguson Era, hesitated for some reason when Moyes called.

Thiago Alcantara was one of the first players Moyes approached and signing him would have been a significant upgrade in the midfield for the team as well as a huge confidence shot for Moyes. But instead, he dumped the offer and opted for a Bayern Munich team where the competition for a starting berth was stiffer. It proved a big dent to Moyes’s confidence, as for the rest of the transfer window he seemed directionless as United chose to chase the most improbable targets. Of course, getting someone like Cesc Fabregas could have shot up the morale, but it was like trying to achieve the impossible.

What Moyes should have tried instead was choosing his targets more sensibly. For instance, Yohan Cabaye looked unhappy at Newcastle and it would have cost only around half of what United shelled out for the deadline day transfer of Marouane Fellaini. We have seen how Cabaye has run havoc for Newcastle this season. He would have served a purpose at Old Trafford, unlike Fellaini, who himself does not know what his role is at Old Trafford yet.

Likewise, instead of poking their nose into the Gareth Bale saga and be humiliated, they could have pushed for Angel Di Maria, who Real would have easily let go to fund the Bale transfer. Ironically, it was arch rivals Arsenal who hit the bonanza as Madrid eventually sold Mesut Ozil instead as Bale came in. Arsene Wenger was also under a lot of pressure due to the lack of signings, but the arrival of Ozil triggered a wave of new found confidence within the team, which has resulted in his side’s fantastic performance so far. United had the tactical chance to prevent Arsenal’s rise, had they been more shrewd and secured Di Maria earlier, thus raising the probability that Real wouldn’t have sold Ozil. But it was not to happen.

Months later, United now languish in the middle of the table below the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham. United has looked out of sorts several times during the season, and that has got to do with the several shortcomings in the squad. Injury woes to key players like Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick have been coupled with the lacklustre performances of players like Anderson and Ashley Young. New signings Wilfred Zaha and Fellaini have had no impact whatsoever. Given nobody from the current squad is delivering the goods, United definitely need a new surge of life from elsewhere. Being a World Cup year, there are quite a few in the market who have the hunger and desire to perform and Moyes must know it.

Marouane Fellaini – A failed transfer?

Four of Brazil’s top central Midfielders; Paulinho, Fernandinho, Ramires and Lucas Leiva play in the Premier League and they have all put up impressive performances this season. One regular member of the Brazil side missing out here is Luiz Gustavo, who plays in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg. The Premier League’s popularity has catapulted the likes of Fernandinho and Gustavo would be eager to play and perform in the same league as the others. And if United can lure him into to plying his trade at Old Trafford, it would be a huge statement. Having the Board’s financial support as well, Moyes won’t find that difficult.

United should probably also go all out for Juan Mata, after the Spaniard showed his distress when Jose Mourinho subbed him off early in Chelsea’s match against Southampton. If Moyes can urge Mata to pressurize a move away from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford and succeed in doing so, then that would be a huge tactical win for Moyes over his Chelsea counterpart, the king of mind games.

It has been a terrific season so far, with strong tussles occurring at both ends of the table. The title, the Champions League spots and the relegation zone spots are all up for grabs. With half a season gone, last season’s champions are lurking a bit behind. Yet it is still not time to write them off because they have made it a habit to start slow before delivering the killer blow. David Moyes is the successor of a man who has taught his side to rise from failures like a phoenix from its ashes, and that is what should motivate him as well. If he can reignite the killer instinct that has been associated with Manchester United over the years, half a season shall be enough for retaining the glory.

Let this transfer season be the beginning of a return to the old ways for Manchester United, the way of victory and glory!