One diehard Manchester United supporter best summed up the English champions’ stuttering season in early December by writing: “We’re mediocre again. Good, now we don’t have to put up with all the fair weather fans.”
United sit 10 points off top spot as they seek to defend their Premier League crown though a Champions League quarter-final spot is well within their grasp.
At other success-starved clubs gleeful supporters would pour through the turnstiles. Not at United, as on a few occasions in 2013 fans at Old Trafford haven’t been able to exit the cavernous stadium quickly enough.
Why? Here is the answer as MM review United’s season so far.
Pre-season
It was a summer of upheaval at United as the ecstasy of last season’s Premier League win was followed with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson after over 26 years in charge, then Everton’s David Moyes was appointed new manager and officially took over on July 1.
Ferguson was not the only man to leave his position with chief executive David Gill also moving on, being replaced by Ed Woodward.
Together Moyes and Woodward were charged with adding to United’s squad in the transfer market – a task that would prove difficult.
Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes retired for the second time, leaving a void to fill in an already under-strength midfield.
At the same time, throughout the summer Moyes had to deal with the constant questions over Wayne Rooney’s future, after the striker asked to leave at the end of last season – sparking interest from Chelsea.
On the pitch United played seven pre-season games, spread across six countries as the commercial juggernaut continued to capitalise on its worldwide fan base.
The distance covered by the squad across the tour was a staggering 24,500 miles and the trips failed to bring much success on the pitch.
United travelled to Thailand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Sweden, winning just twice along the way.
The final pre-season game, Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial at Old Trafford, brought another defeat at the hands of Sevilla.
Off the pitch, the transfer market had so far brought nothing but disappointment for Moyes and United with a number of failed attempts to land major targets.
In particular repeated unrealistic bids for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas were rejected and a joint bid for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini was branded ‘derisory’ by Everton, leaving United heading into the season having made no additions to their squad.
United’s final pre-season game presented Moyes with his first opportunity to win a trophy as they took on FA Cup winners Wigan in the Community Shield.
A Robin van Persie double secured a comfortable win for United at Wembley, giving Moyes and United a welcome boost heading into the season.
August
United had been handed a testing set of fixtures across the first few weeks of the season, leading to accusations from Moyes that they had been fixed to hamper his side.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City were all in United’s first five league fixtures which also included a difficult looking trip to Capital One Cup holders Swansea on the opening day.
United overcame that first hurdle in style, running out 4-1 winners at the Liberty Stadium thanks to two goals each from Van Persie and Danny Welbeck.
The result flattered United though in truth, as Swansea dominated possession and chances, only to be undone by the strength of the finishing from the Red Devils.
Next up for United was a home clash with Chelsea, under the management of the returning Jose Mourinho.
The game ended in a tight 0-0 draw which exposed United’s lack of creativity as they struggled to create chances against an organised Chelsea defence. On the bright side for Moyes, his side looked strong defensively and four points from a difficult opening two games ensured United ended August on a positive note.
September
The start of September brought about arguably the most important game of the season for United fans – a trip to Anfield to face old rivals Liverpool and it was a disappointing journey as Moyes lost his first competitive game at his new club.
The summer transfer window closed on September 2 and ended the same way it had been throughout – in disappointment.
Deadline day desperation to land a central midfielder resulted in Moyes returning to Everton to buy Fellaini, eventually capturing the Belgian for a reported £27.5million –somewhat laughably £4million more than he would have cost had United activated his release clause a month earlier.
A plethora of failed deadline day moves for other targets ensured the first window under the stewardship of Moyes and Woodward ended in farce.
A bid for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera was rejected and descended into chaos while reported moves for Real Madrid pair Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao also ended in failure.
Ultimately, a United squad in desperate need of rejuvenation, added just Fellaini to their ranks.
Following the international break, United took on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford – where despite an uninspiring attacking performance the Red Devils managed a 2-0 win over the Premier League new boys thanks to goals from Van Persie and Rooney.
Moyes then made his Champions League debut against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford. The game marked United’s best performance of the season, despite defensive frailties, as they ran out 4-2 winners over the Germans.
The Leverkusen performance meant that United headed into the Manchester derby at the Etihad with plenty of optimism.
However United were hammered 4-1 by their neighbours with City running wild against the champions and a late consolation from Wayne Rooney did little to cheer supporters.
The defeat to City turned up the heat on Moyes and the games didn’t get any easier for the new manager as a Capital One Cup clash with Liverpool came just three days later. A goal from Javier Hernandez proved enough to send the Red Devils through.
September seemed destined to be a difficult month for United and Moyes and ended with more disappointment.
A home clash with West Brom seemed to signal the end of the difficult fixtures Moyes had bemoaned but proved a major slip-up from United.
The Red Devils fell behind to the Baggies before Rooney equalised, but rather than an onslaught from the home side, it was Saido Berahino who won the game for West Brom.
October
Having been dropped for the West Brom defeat, Fellaini’s struggles continued with a clumsy performance in Ukraine against Shakhtar Donetsk, in which United let their lead slip and were yet again overrun in midfield but managed to hold on for a 1-1 draw.
A ray of hope arrived in the form of 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj, who capped his first start for the club with a well-taken brace in a 2-1 victory over Sunderland, although the midfield troubles persisted with Michael Carrick seemingly on his own given Tom Cleverley’s inconsistencies and the much-criticised Fellaini.
The Belgian youngster may have provided some much-needed respite for Moyes, but the struggles continued in United’s next game against Southampton, when they again surrendered a one-goal lead to drop another two points.
However, hard-fought home victories of 1-0 and 3-2 over Real Sociedad and Stoke City respectively showed signs of improvement, while a 4-0 League Cup humiliation of Norwich City gave the impression that the manager and his team were finally clicking, with October being Moyes’ first month at United without defeat.
It should be mentioned that in negotiating the uneven start to his United career Moyes owed much to Van Persie and Rooney, who were a consistent source of goals throughout, scoring 14 and providing nine assists between them.
November
The good form flowed into November with a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage in which Van Persie and Rooney combined with vivacity and directness that was reminiscent of United in their prime, getting all three goals in the first 22 minutes.
But United were unable to extend their run to five consecutive victories as they laboured through a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad, a stalemate that was far from encouraging with a crucial league game against Arsenal due that weekend.
With the international break looming, United were well aware that a loss would leave them floundering 11 points behind the pace-setting Gunners and potentially seven points adrift of the top four.
Questions had been asked about Moyes’ suitability throughout the season, especially concerning the two losses and a draw he had recorded against the other title contenders, but despite having minimal possession a Van Persie header against his old club gave his manager a 1-0 win and a good platform to build on in two weeks’ time.
However, after the break United faltered at Cardiff City, conceding a late goal and eventually two points with a lacklustre showing in south Wales.
Moyes needed a response from his players and three days later he got one, a 5-0 away drubbing of Bayer Leverkusen sending them through to the Champions League round-of-16.
December
The Leverkusen game capped an undefeated November for David Moyes, but United stumbled at the first hurdle going into December, drawing 2-2 at White Hart Lane.
This stutter developed into an inability to score as the Reds succumbed to consecutive 1-0 defeats against Everton and Newcastle United, both at Old Trafford, ending their 12-game unbeaten streak.
Disaffection began to manifest in some sections of the Old Trafford crowd when players including Nani, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young were all booed off the field at some point or another, while one disgruntled fan hacked the United Twitter account and posted ‘#MoyesOut’.
In the face of recording a third consecutive home defeat for the first time since 1962 however, United got back to winning ways in their final Champions League group game against Shakhtar Donetsk by edging a tough encounter 1-0.
Losing Van Persie to injury for a month could have punctured the recovery, but Welbeck stepped up to take his first-team opportunity when he scored twice in a 3-0 win at Villa Park.
United carried their Villa form into the Capital One Cup quarter-final against Stoke, where they dealt with difficult weather conditions to win 2-0 at The Britannia. A screamer from Ashley Young and a second from Patrice Evra set up a semi-final clash with Sunderland.
Summary
The fact Manchester United fans have had to downgrade their ambitions this season from title contenders to top four hopefuls tells the story of their campaign so far.
Moyes has yet to settle into the job and the Scot will be desperately hoping for a vast improvement in the second half of the season.
United look at genuine risk of finishing outside the top four and therefore failing to qualify for the Champions League – which would be unthinkable.
There have been bright sparks this season, especially at the back end of October and the beginning of November, but United have failed to follow them up consistently.
If they can find more flair in attack, more solidity in defence and more consistent performances a top four place should be achievable.
The second half of the season will need to be much better than the first.
Image courtesy of SocialBedia via Flickr, with thanks.
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