United fans shouldn’t judge David Moyes just now

When Manchester United meekly surrendered to the Noisy Neighbors Manchester City, capitulating to a 4-1 defeat last weekend at the Etihad Stadium, many thought things could only get better from there for new manager David Moyes.

But as the referee blew the final whistle Saturday at Old Trafford, those claims were made a mockery of as United went down 2-1 to West Bromwich Albion at home.

This is the worst ever start the Red Devils have made to the league since 1989, when many of the readers of this article were not even born, taking a mere 7 points from a possible 18 after their first six matches.

To put into perspective exactly how bad United have started their campaign, newly promoted Hull City and Cardiff City sit above them in the league standings, as well as the likes of Southampton, Aston Villa and Everton.

Seeing Everton ahead of his side with a game in hand at that too will not go down with the United manager who left the Merseyside club to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at the Theater of Dreams.

And since July, things have only gone downhill for the Scotsman. Having picked up just two wins from seven matches in the pre-season friendly matches, Moyes has backed it up with the worst league start to the season for the club since the early years of Ferguson.

1989 was the year the infamous banner, painted on a bed sheet, was unveiled at Old Trafford, reading: “Three Years of Excuses and It’s Still Crap. Ta Ra Fergie.” 

 

Merely moments after Saido Berahino's shot from distance nestled into the bottom of David de Gea’s net, Baggies fans in the crowd began their chants of “you're getting sacked in the morning!", taunting the Old Trafford boss as things looked bleaker and bleaker for the 50 year old.

Indeed, the win for the Baggies at Old Trafford, coupled with the plight of the club in the transfer market is almost reminiscent of the early years of Ferguson’s time at the club, which was marked by severe turbulence.

Questions are already being raised, not only about the title winning credentials of the club but also about the future of their new manager.

Though the chants from the away section of Old Trafford were wide of the mark, one does have to worry about Moyes’s future at the club, particularly in the present climate where one Premier League manager has already lost his job with Sunderland sacking Paolo di Canio.

But it’s better to not get carried away as the season has been very unpredictable to say the least.

Despite thrashing United last week, City suffered a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, their second loss of the campaign, while Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal have all dropped points.

Then there's the fact that Ferguson made those brandishing that crude bed sheet 24 years ago feel ever so slightly foolish by going on to become one of this country's most successful managers.

This is not the time to think about the P45 of David Moyes. No, this is a time to look at those high profile stars currently under performing for the club.

Nani has been handed a new six year deal at the club but there is a feeling he has not lived up to the potential he had, always being in the shadow of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo and you could almost feel Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic’s knees giving way.

Then, there is the case of Ashley Young, who was so poor against City last weekend that it almost begs the question how he gets to wear the famous red of United week in, week out.

Meanwhile, Anderson continues his Brazilian passport to hold down his spot at the club while Antonio Valencia was called off the bench after a couple of indifferent performances.

That sad part is, Moyes has probably been let down by a group of players who are still struggling to adapt to the departure of Ferguson and have not been able to come to terms with the nuances of the new manager.

And critics and fans of the club need to accept that there is bound to be a transitional period under Moyes, just like Ferguson had during his early years and that success, as was the case with Sir Alex, will eventually come.

The January transfer window will give Moyes another opportunity to breath a fresh lease of life into the club and remedy the inadequacies and maybe after that, it would be right to judge him. 

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Posted by Subham Mitra on behalf of FootballWorld.