The Manchester Derby: Will David Moyes go for the jugular?

David Moyes and his time to tinker?

David Moyes was smiling on Saturday. A rare thing, that. Like the pot at the end of the rainbow. You always knew that it was there but getting to it, let alone getting it, was seemingly an impossible task.

Manchester United are – for a few weeks, at least – still the reigning champions of England. The team that has defended the title this season, albeit made up of pretty much the same personnel, has looked unrecognizable when compared to the team that romped to the title last season. They all say that the midfield is non-existent and that that is the reason for this run. This was, believe it or not, the same midfield that won the Premier League.

The competition has strengthened, they say. That does not necessarily mean that United have weakened. Standing still is, as they say, going backwards. There is no doubting that. However, did United really stand that still that they are this far back? That is a question that – and the current table will affirm that – has an affirmative answer.

A whole lot has been said; even more has been written. Not all of it unmerited, of course. David Moyes has been described as being ‘clueless’ and ‘out of his depth’ among many many other things. Again, on the evidence of hard facts – and the points table – this might be quite difficult to refute. I confess that I have my pet peeves with what he does at times – my biggest gripe being his handling of Shinji Kagawa – but I have, thus far at least, given him the benefit of the doubt.

I really do believe that the players have let him down on more occasions that his tactics have. I honestly do. Considering that it is the same set of players who won the title on a gallop last year, this seems all the more baffling. And reason to believe that there is more wrong than just blaming Moyes. Blaming Moyes is, well, convenient. It really is. It lets off the lazy players for being lazy. It lets off the below-par ones for being below-par. It really does.

I could go on but I will stop. And fast forward to the present, and the very near future. The game tonight. The Manchester derby. Usually one that had some title significance over the past couple of seasons, or three but not this time.

United have pretty much no chance of making it into the top 4. City, on the other hand, have a whole lot of games remaining and a whole lot of winning to do if they want to catch Chelsea.

On the balance of play, and on form, City should walk this one. United, however, have been on something of a mini-revival – if there is that sort of a thing. Olympiakos was a clinical performance and West Ham was, perhaps, the best – certainly with regards to the fluidity of play – performance of the season.

It is most interesting that the man who essentially won the game – and the tie – for United in midweek was absent over the weekend but that did not affect the side. Rather, it seemed to bring something else out in the team – a style of play that everyone knew was there somewhere but one that was fleeting in its appearance this season, if it ever existed.

For the first time, Kagawa and Mata were played together and they dovetailed sensationally with Rooney who led the line admirably. Young had one of his better games for United – certainly over the past two seasons – and provided the pull out wide. Carrick, as a makeshift center-back, did superbly and Fellaini seems to be – very slowly – coming into his own.

Now, comes the acid test. Tonight. For all practical purposes, David Moyes has nothing left to play for in the Premier league. Pride, perhaps but then again, pride might be nothing more than a word at present.

This is when David Moyes has to finally come to terms with the fact that he is the manager of Manchester United. Not Preston. Not Everton.

There are, simply put, two choices in front of him. One, he goes the safe way, plays Valencia and Welbeck in place of Young and Kagawa, tries to keep City under check and then hope that Rooney hits one from the center line again. Or that there is some deflection. Or that Hart makes a mistake. Or that Mata finally provides that epic flash of brilliance. Or that the entire City team is struck by lightning. Or something to that effect.

Two, he could go for broke. He could say, ‘Screw this! Let’s go for it!’ and play Kagawa, Mata and Januzaj behind Rooney. Now, of course, prudence would say that it would be daft and, in the aftermath of the game, posterity would say -’Idiot!’ but then again, so what? It is not like United have not been beaten (read: humiliated) this term. What is one more, eh? At least, it would give the fans a lift because they would see a manager who is not scared; one not daunted by the prospect of failure knowing that this approach might lead to something spectacular – either a spectacular spectacle or a spectacular fall – and going through with it.

Unfortunately, I do not really think David Moyes will choose door number 2. He is far too pragmatic although, it can be argued, that there is hardly anything left to be pragmatic about. I suspect he will choose a middle path. As ever, the unfortunate collateral damage will be Kagawa, I think. Sigh!

Fernandinho recently came out and said that he did not expect a game as easy as that from the reigning champions when referring to the derby at the Etihad. Now, the least that is expected from Manchester United is to give a better fight, so to speak tonight. Then again, would a tough fought one-nil be more acceptable? Or perhaps a brilliant 3-4?

Personally, I would prefer the latter, if, of course, loss is the only possible outcome. Then again, it may well be a 4-3 the other way and another one of those glorious Old Trafford nights; a night that has the stuff that dreams are made of. Now, where is Michael Owen then? Perhaps we can get him on the bench…