Five major changes required at Manchester United

3) Players need a consistent run of games

The biggest problem that David Moyes has faced during his initial tenure at Manchester United is finding out his best eleven. Fifteen games into the league season, apart from Champions league and other cup games, and Moyes is still figuring out who are his best players in each position.

The most affected has been the center back positions where Moyes has used as much as seven different pairings till now. And this is one area where he needs to act as soon as possible. A team’s success is based on a solid foundation of defense and unless you have a consistent pair of central defenders, you cannot think of winning league championships.

Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans seems to be his best available option as of now and he needs to offer both of them a consistent run of games even if any of them have one odd bad game.

Similar problems are visible at central midfield and left wing area where players aren’t getting enough chances to showcase their real potential. Players like Nani, Kagawa and Cleverley have shown glimpses of form but haven’t been allowed a consistent run of games for not having an absolute perfect game.

Therefore, Moyes now needs to find his best eleven before the January transfer window and then look at all the options available to strengthen or offload his team wherever required.

4) The attitude of players

Sir Alex Ferguson in his final day speech at Old Trafford said to the players, “You know how good you are, you know the jersey you are wearing and you know what it means. Don’t ever let yourselves down.”

And it seems players have already forgotten that. The most shocking aspect in United’s play this season has been how easily they have accepted defeat. Even when they have enough time left in a game to claw their way back, there haven’t been any real drive, urgency or determination to correct the score.

Manchester United have always been renowned for their response to defeat. They used to get hurt when they were beaten and hence they made sure they set the ball rolling in the next match itself.

That is exactly what has been lacking in United team of this year. Manager has to take a lot of blame for not instilling that motivation in the team. But players themselves have to stand up and accept that as well.

Therefore, that ruthlessness and killer attitude have to be re-instilled into the players’ mind if they are to climb back up the table. And they don’t have to go back too long to realize and see what they can do.

5) United desperately need a creative midfield player

22 goals from 15 games is hardly the goal scoring return you expect from the champions of England. However, that has been the disappointing case with Manchester United this season who have clearly lacked that creative spark in the midfield. With Michael Carrick injured and Paul Scholes now retired, United have struggled to open up defenses where they seem to have run out of ideas as was quite evident in the recent home defeats against Everton and Newcastle United.

Cleverley, Anderson and Fellaini are certainly not helping Moyes solve this problem. And therefore, the Scot needs to make sure that the mistakes committed in the summer transfer window are not repeated in January when the window re-opens. He desperately needs someone who can link the midfield and attack and drive the team forward.

Players like Marco Reus, Arturo Vidal, Ander Herrera, Lars Bender, Ross Barkley et al are perfect to complement the United midfield and are currently been linked to United as well. However, if any of them end up in Manchester or not remains to be seen.