By David Lee Wheatley
Manchester United last night hit their lowest point yet throughout this tortuous campaign when suffering a 0-3 reverse against neighbours Manchester City, having come off worst in a one-sided contest at home to arch-rivals Liverpool just nine days prior.
United enjoyed a brief upturn in fortunes with two wins on the trot in between the two huge north-west derby matches, but it proved another false dawn for fed-up fans when an inspired City knocked three unanswered strikes past an exposed David De Gea. It looked like men against boys on the hallowed Old Trafford turf for most of the evening, with title favourites City seemingly under no pressure whatsoever.
The heat has been on manager David Moyes all season long and the temperature went up another notch after a defeat which leaves them completely out of the race for a top-four finish. Meanwhile, the stats at this stage of proceedings don't make enjoyable reading: highest number of defeats in a Premier League season; most home league losses in 12 years; only one win in 13 meetings with the top-nine teams; beaten home and away by both Manchester City and Liverpool in the same campaign for the first time; a massive 18 points off the top spot that they occupied at the end of last season.
Most observers expected a transitional phase to take place following Alex Ferguson's retirement after more than 26 years at the helm, but nobody foresaw this level of humiliation. Moyes held a good overall record with previous club Everton and was widely touted as the right man to take United forward; it just hasn't happened for him and the scrutiny continues to grow over the precarious nature of his position.
It appears there is no clear vision, preferred style of play or understanding among the players of what their individual roles actually are.
To compound matters, Moyes signed two-time Chelsea 'Player of the Year' Juan Mata for a whopping £37million in January, only to stick the Spaniard out on the right wing. Mata is a playmaker best-suited to a 'number 10' role just off a main striker, where he is free to roam and everything goes through him in the attacking third. However, he cuts an isolated figure out on the touchline and doesn't cope well with the defensive side of the game. Furthermore, talisman Wayne Rooney usually occupies the area of the field where Mata should be employed. He needs to avoid a scatter-gun approach to the recruitment of new players, so that he brings in the right men to take the club forward.
Moyes must impose his principles upon the team and the club as a whole, while weeding out the players that aren't up to the task. Though he admirably takes all responsibility for his side's lacklustre performances when speaking to the media, it is within the inner-sanctum of the club where ruthless action is required. It's all very well repeatedly telling the public that he is to blame, but where are the signs that his training ground message is getting through to the players under his leadership? They don't seem to be carrying out any particular instructions and many of them seem utterly lost.
Former boss Ferguson was an unbelievably hard act to follow and whoever got the nod to take over had to be prepared for teething problems, but even Moyes himself admits to being surprised by the difficulties he has encountered. The harsh truth is the Scot inherited a squad largely bereft of motivation, pace and invention, while some are over-the-hill and ready to be put out to pasture.
A major reconstruction project will be required in the summer and a distinct course set out by the manager as to how he wants the team to play under his guidance. So far, he looks out of his depth and is failing to adapt to the rigours of coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world. Moyes is in negative equity on the evidence of his efforts up to this point, while certain squad members have shown little to suggest that they have a future with the Red Devils.
There won't be any panicking at board level in reaction to this painful period in the club's history and therefore Moyes will be given more time. However, if he is heavily backed in the transfer market and still comes up short, patience will run out much quicker than he would like.
Significant improvement is imperative next season, otherwise Manchester United will be forced to abandon their long-held prerogative of backing their manager over the long-term through both good times and bad. Previous incumbent Ferguson was given plenty of opportunities to build a team in his own image - despite a series of poor campaigns - and he eventually put in place a winning culture which delivered unprecedented success.
In this age of quick-fix hiring and firing, it is unrealistic to suggest that Moyes will get the same level of understanding afforded to his predecessor. He will be allowed to put this season of abject failure behind him, but any replication will undoubtedly result in his swift removal from the Old Trafford hot-seat.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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