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Ten Reasons Why United Are Struggling. Is Moyes really to Blame? by HARDDON: 9:40pm On Jan 06, 2014
Sure, NO one thought it would be easy – but very few thought it would be this hard.


A DEVIL OF A JOB David Moyes has encountered more trouble than he bargained for with the Red Devils A DEVIL OF A JOB: David Moyes has encountered more trouble than he bargained for with the Red Devils.

Six months into a six-year contract, David Moyes’ attempt to replace the irreplaceable is going terribly, and today’s FA Cup tie against Swansea will be no stroll in the park.

Sir Alex Ferguson has hung up his hairdryer and Manchester United have mislaid their winning habit.

They have already lost more league games and dropped more points than they did all last season. Currently seventh, they are set for their poorest campaign of the Premier League era. So what has gone wrong? Here are the top 10 factors...

NO FERGIE, NO FEAR

Perhaps United’s fear factor was simply the aura one man projected. Ferguson intimidated opponents into believing they couldn’t beat United. Without Ferguson, other teams sense the champions are, in Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood’s words, “there for the taking” and so are willing to attack United. Gary Neville thought his former manager was worth 10 points a season. If anything, that might have been an understatement.

REBUILDING WORK COLLAPSED


Ferguson kept saying his 13th and final title-winning team ranked among his best. Regulars at Old Trafford weren’t convinced. Now the wider world sees why. Ferguson was a master of rebuilding but he failed to strengthen in his final seasons. He left a side in decline.

Only two players he signed after 2006 – Robin van Persie and David de Gea – were automatic choices by the time he retired. Only two of the spine of his side – Wayne Rooney and De Gea – are under 30.

Moyes inherited an ageing, injury-prone team and an oversized squad. United have quantity, not quality.

COME BACK THE COMEBACKS

United’s signature move under Ferguson was the comeback. It won them the Champions League in 1999 and nine Premier League games last season. They have come from behind to beat Stoke, Sunderland and Hull under Moyes, but when they trailed to better teams they haven’t fought back in time-honoured tradition. In only one of their six league defeats – at home to Spurs on New Year’s Day – have they even threatened to take a point. Too often they have looked resigned to defeat, lacking both invention and inspiration.

The biggest on-field factor – United are continually outclassed and overpowered in the centre of midfield. Virtually every defeat can be traced to their failings in the middle of the park. Sometimes United’s best midfielder has been a 40-year-old winger, Ryan Giggs. Sometimes it has been a defender, Phil Jones.

Their problems were exacerbated when Michael Carrick was out injured, highlighting how costly the summer failures to sign Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Daniele De Rossi and Sami Khedira were. The only arrival, Marouane Fellaini, has failed.

The central midfielders don’t shield the defence well enough and don’t score. They only have one league goal between them – Manchester City’s Yaya Toure has 10.

manchester united, david moyes, moyes, david, wayne rooney, wanyne, sir alex, ferguson, sir alex ferguson, fergie,UP IN THE AIR: Doubts over Wayne Rooney's future has affected the team

Ferguson failed to strengthen and left a side in decline

NOT-SO-GOLDEN OLDIES

Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand used to form threequarters of the best back four in Europe. Now each is in the autumn of his career, slowing and struggling. Moyes started off selecting them for every game but Ferdinand has fallen out of favour and has made only one league appearance since September’s defeat to West Brom. United have lost on three of the last four times a creaking Vidic has played and Evra was tormented by Aaron Lennon on Wednesday. Because his deputy, Alexander Buttner, is inadequate, Evra is overworked. He already looks exhausted.

NEGATIVE SIGNS

Ferguson’s gift to his successor was Wilfried Zaha, the £15million man whose arrival he arranged. It was an unwanted present – Zaha had to wait until December for his league debut and he was hapless then.

If Moyes wishes Fergie had never set that deal up, he has only himself to blame for the £27.5m signing of Fellaini. Off the pace and ineffective, his injury was a merciful release. Factor in the failure to buy a superstar and United’s transfer activity has been disastrous.

ROONEY DOUBTS ARE A DOWNER

As United’s outstanding player this season, Rooney’s form can’t be faulted. But the uncertainty over his future highlights the worries about their long-term prospects and hardly encourages anyone else to join them. His contract expires in the summer of 2015 and a new deal has still not been agreed. With United looking less likely to be in the Champions League next season, Rooney has fewer reasons to re-sign.

OVERLOAD OF UNDER-ACHIEVERS

United have a huge squad. Under Ferguson, most of the bit-part players chipped in with useful contributions. Too many haven’t delivered for Moyes. Javier Hernandez is in his longest goal drought as a United player, Shinji Kagawa hasn’t scored all season and Anderson has been abject. Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young, Nani, Fellaini, Ferdinand, Zaha and Buttner have all underachieved.

BROKEN HOME

Opponents used to approach Old Trafford with trepidation – now they go there in anticipation. West Brom, Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham all deserved their wins there.

They all played with confidence and counter-attacked at pace, exposing United’s weak midfield and sluggish defence. Southampton, who drew 1-1, and Stoke, who lost 3-2, also sensed United’s frailties.

Moyes’ men have lost four times as many home games as Stoke. Hull have won more on their own patch. Only 14 of the 92 Premier and Football League clubs have scored fewer.

MINNOWS OF THE MINI-LEAGUE

It seemed a landmark result for Moyes when United defeated leaders Arsenal on November 5. So it proved ... but not in the way many expected. Out of nine league games against the top nine, it remains their only victory. United lost five of the nine and prop up the mini-league of the major sides. So far this season they have struggled to live with the best.

Source: across the street....
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/452060/Ten-reasons-why-Manchester-United-are-struggling-under-David-Moyes



who is to blame really? Moyes or Fergie?
Re: Ten Reasons Why United Are Struggling. Is Moyes really to Blame? by Sepp360(m): 10:56pm On Jan 06, 2014
Why would yhu blame Moyes?...



When a Dog steps into a territorised jungle, and decides to keep, cool calm and tame, would yhu blame him for his momentary inablilty to bark?


United is so heavy right now, and Moyes can't bear the weight.
Re: Ten Reasons Why United Are Struggling. Is Moyes really to Blame? by HARDDON: 8:08pm On Jan 07, 2014
Sepp360: Why would yhu blame Moyes?...



When a Dog steps into a territorised jungle, and decides to keep, cool calm and tame, would yhu blame him for his momentary inablilty to bark?


United is so heavy right now, and Moyes can't bear the weight.

has moyes been kul? didn't he have d balls to sack backroom staff?

has he not been calling d shots? take zaha for instance.
did he not waste 27milz on some waste product from everton?

is d united purse not residing with him?
Cnt imagine him saying d players we want might not be available! we r united moyes n we darn get anybody we want. dis is a Big fruit, if u must eat, make sure iz a huge chunk! make a statement.

SAF nonetheless, is to blame for d most part, he left behind an average club
Re: Ten Reasons Why United Are Struggling. Is Moyes really to Blame? by Sepp360(m): 7:03am On Jan 08, 2014
Cnt imagine him saying d players we want might not be available! we r united moyes n we darn get anybody we want. dis is a Big fruit, if u must eat, make sure iz a huge chunk! make a statement. Thats why he needs an ample time to get influences and clout in europe, atleast half of SAF's... Ferguson could get any player he wants because of his reputation and influence!..

SAF nonetheless, is to blame for d most part, he left behind an average club [/quote]
Re: Ten Reasons Why United Are Struggling. Is Moyes really to Blame? by 1025: 11:47am On Jan 08, 2014
Sepp360:
Cnt imagine him saying d players we want might not be available! we r united moyes n we darn get anybody we want. dis is a Big fruit, if u must eat, make sure iz a huge chunk! make a statement. Thats why he needs an ample time to get influences and clout in europe, atleast half of SAF's... Ferguson could get any player he wants because of his reputation and influence!..

SAF nonetheless, is to blame for d most part, he left behind an average club

when was the last time man u got the player they wanted? lucas mura was on his way to man u before psg showed interest. hazard was considering man u before chelsea intervened. man u was a big team but if u want to face the realities on ground now, many bigger teams with bigger ambitions and readiness to splash the cash are out there and players are no longer talking about before, they are out to grab every opportunity before them.
before now, teams cry foul against man u and their special officials like webb and clattenberg but today, man u and their coach are the ones crying foul against the refs.

Manchester United: David Moyes says team 'having to play referees'
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25647570

for all the frauds man u have been perpetrating on other teams, this world cup year will pay them back. the team is built around refs and now these refs are not available and everybody is blaming moyes.

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