Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Five things that went gone for the Red Devils

For the reigning champions, the season is going from bad to worse now. United came to this game on the back of a six match winning streak in all competitions hoping to close the gap at the top of the table; but after today’s defeat, realistically their chances of retaining the title have gone from negligent to almost impossible.

Manchester United started and ended the game on an excellent tempo, but for the rest of the hour in between, Spurs were clearly the better side. They made the most of the chances that came their way and on the whole, deserved the three points in the end. Here’s five important points from United’s perspective.

1. Moyes needs to settle on a steady defense line

David Moyes, after exactly six months in charge, is still unsure of what his best team is, and is still changing the back line every few games. While it is perfectly alright to try permutations and combinations, changing it every few games isn’t. Vidic has been trying his utmost to organize the back line, but he needs a settled full back with him to control the game from the back. Evans has put in honest hard working shifts, and Moyes should look to give him a run of a few games now to settle in with Vidic.

2. United need a new left back

It may sound extremely cruel on Evra, but tonight’s game showed just how much age has caught up with him. Lennon pushed Evra hard the whole game, and was literally running rings around him. Evra is an attack minded player, and while he links up well going forward his defensive frailties are starting to show now. He has that worrying penchant to just switch off for a moment or two and allow the opposite winger to get behind him, and Lennon achieved that several times today. Had a couple of Lennon’s crosses gone to the right man today, the score line would have made a shameful reading. Moyes needs to assess his options in the market for a left back, and soon.

3. Right back selections

Rafael’s suspect fitness levels were brought to the fore again when he limped off in the game against Hull. This has now occurred twice already this season when he has pulled up with a strain within the first half of a game, and has further added to Moyes’ long list of worries. Moyes’ preferences in that position after Rafael have been Smalling and Valencia, players who lack some necessary attributes to play the right back role.

While Smalling has the defensive mentality, he has legs made of lead that just aren’t good enough to run up and down the wing the whole game. This was quite evident from Tottenham’s first goal when Adebayor easily slipped past Smalling and jumped up for a free header from Eriksen’s pass. On the other hand, while Valencia has the pace, his first instinct is to go forward, and he has been hesitant to attack balls in his own box and this hesitance on his part lead to Spurs’ second goal of the game. Moyes should consider giving a chance for someone like Fabio who has warmed the benches a lot this season.

4. Januzaj: From boy wonder to United’s mainstay

There is no doubting it; after Wayne Rooney, the best attacking threat from this team comes from the 18 year old lanky Belgian. He has gone from being a wonder kid to being one of the focal points of United’s attack. Some of his footwork was just sensational tonight, and his crosses were landing in the box with deadly accuracy. United need to nurture him to the best possible extent, and Januzaj on his part needs to adapt to the English game as early as possible if he is to showcase the enormous amount of talent he possesses. He also needs to stop diving every other game and just concentrate on playing honest, beautiful football.

5. No David, you really need to invest right now

David Moyes, in one of his pre match conferences, had said United might not buy any big name in the ongoing transfer window, stating that he had a squad deep enough to call upon if need be. But honestly, he needs some players who could go in the first team right now.

United in the first twenty minutes attacked with real menace from the wings, but they couldn’t get a single ball in through the centre of the park. The defense line was chaotic today to say the least, and Moyes needs to search for a big name in all three parts of the field.

A rock solid centre back, a decent left back and a creative midfielder to dictate proceedings from the centre of the field are a must now and Moyes should go all in to search of some prized assets to bring United’s disastrous campaign back on track and challenge for a European slot, in the very least.