What's wrong with Manchester United?

Manchester United manager David Moyes at the Manchester derby over the weekend against Manchester City (Getty Images)

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement after 26 years of a trophy-laden and club-transforming tenure, there was a sense of insecurity and, not-to-mention, a colossal void among the loyal supporters of Manchester United.

Then came the announcement of SAF himself picking David Moyes as his successor and the world couldn’t help, but refer to the David-Goliath wordplay.

A nightmarish transfer window, less then reassuring pre-season results and gaping holes in the squad preceded the commencement of the 2013-2014 season for what many touted as the “World’s greatest Football Club”.

Now, a whole month into the season the problems seem to have multiplied for Moyes, as the recent string of results are not worthy of any pride, not even sympathy. United with every passing game against the “big-boys” are looking more chaotic, more lax, more pathetic. Results against Chelsea at Old Trafford and against Manchester City at the Etihad have dealt a major blow to the team’s confidence and have left them spiraling in a pit which doesn’t seems to have a bottom.

It’s too early to judge Moyes on the results of these few games, but what surprised most of the pundits and fans alike is the change in attitude and presence in the middle. The swagger which used to be the trademark of the Red-Devils was nowhere on show and United looked uncomfortable.

During the first half of game against Liverpool, United looked listless and clueless on how to get ball in the final third and sometimes lost possession too easily while in the game against City, they carried on committing the above mentioned crimes for the whole game.

The trio of Danny Welbeck, AntonioValencia and Ashley Young are at the core of United’s problems and need to be dealt with as quickly as possible. The above mentioned names are not at their best and are looking more like a liability to the squad rather than an asset.

Everyone understands that it is not easy for Moyes to come and take hold of things, but he is not helping his cause by picking up a weak eleven when players more adept and deft are warming the benches.

Moyes should look into the youngsters at the club’s disposal for answers to the questions these games have put up. If youngsters like Wilfried Zaha, Adnan Januzaj and Jesse Lingard can deliver, then he can make his own eleven around them while accommodating the experience and flair of Michael Carrick, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

If however, they fail, then there is a need to go shopping when the transfer season resumes. United won the title last year driven by SAF’s desire and determination, coupled with a slump in the form and fortunes of City and Chelsea.

But this won’t happen every season and conquering Europe will remain a distant dream for United. The time is right for David Moyes to take some difficult decisions and get the club moving forward.