By Amaka Akachukwu
Yohan Cabaye’s second half goal saw Newcastle earn their first win at Old Trafford in 41 years. That win has piled pressure on under-fire manager David Moyes. United lost at Old Trafford earlier in the week to former Moyes’s side Everton and then slumped to another defeat to Newcastle. The defeat to Newcastle was Manchester United’s fifth Premier League loss of the season and the reigning champions will find themselves 13 points behind league leaders Arsenal having drawn their game against Everton on Sunday. Moyes was disappointed with the defeat and he has called on the fans to give him time to get things right at Old Trafford.
“There will be [light at the end of the tunnel] because it is a transitional period and that was always going to be the case,” said Moyes.
With United’s current performance, where does the problem really lie? Is it with the team, or with the coach? His efforts to sign key players during the summer transfer window proved futile. It is fair to say in all honesty, that Manger David Moyes wasn’t left with a solid team after the departure of Coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Manchester United possesses good players no doubt, but they lack essential and key players that can make magic happen. They lack creativity in the midfield, they need a man who can bring United back to its glory. After the signing of Robin Van Persie, many thought that United remained unstoppable, and that appeared to be so, because he helped United win the league and set them in the history books.
With a big club like Manchester United, there are players who were always willingly to sign for them, SAF needed to have signed quality players, especially in the midfield before he handed over to David Moyes. With the kind of effect and discipline he instilled on his players, and the kind of respect which was accorded to him, most players would have wanted to experience what it felt like been on the side of Fergie.
With their current poor performance, it is hard to say if it is possible for them to retain their championship trophy. Taking over a club like Manchester United is a big transition for any coach, but with the help from management and coaches, and support from players and fans, currently sitting 9th position on the League table, and with about 23 more league games to play; David Moyes can still make a turn around. He needs to sign key players into the club during the January transfer, and overhaul old players; he needs to do a general rebrand of the team, if he has any chance of finishing among the top four in the league.
