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Building on David de Gea’s progression:
Steele’s departure is perhaps the most curious, with Spaniard de Gea making significant strides during United’s title-winning campaign. No longer the guileless waif, de Gea’s confidence under the high-ball, allied with outstanding reflexes with both hands and feet, seed a ‘world-class’ goalkeeping in the making.
The 22-year-old’s selection as PFA Goalkeeper of the year was perhaps a surprise, but reward nonetheless for progress hard-earned. What then the effect of Wood’s ingress at Carrington? The former England stopper has, after all, made little of Tim Howard, with the American suffering an uncertain season at Goodison Park. Steele’s exit may well be a change too far.
Getting the best out of Javier Hernández:
Will Hernandez get more playing time under Moyes?
Five goals this summer take the little Mexican’s international tally to 35 in 53 appearances for El Tri. It is an outstanding chronicle that in a little under four years, Chicharito has reached to within a dozen goals of the national record; he will surely break it within the year.
And yet, Hernández was seemingly further away from a regular United starting berth at the end of Ferguson’s tenure than on the day the he strolled into Old Trafford in the summer of 2010. True, Robin van Persie’s acquisition impacted heavily on his younger team-mate, but with Rooney out-of-form and Danny Welbeck continuously shot-shy, Hernández might have expected more opportunities. Can Moyes find space in his United team for the Mexican, and with it a guarantee of goals?
Wonderless wingers:
Nani, Valencia, Young – a triumvirate of United wingers who seemed anything but good in 2012/13. While Nani may yet leave the club this summer, Valencia and Young certainly will not. But can Moyes get more out of the trio than Ferguson could in the season past? Nani’s inconsistency, and sky-high wage demands, is likely to see the Portuguese leave, but Valencia is just a year on from an outstanding campaign in 2011/12. Meanwhile, Young will benefit from greater fitness as much as eking the most out of his limited talent. Wilfried Zaha could take advantage and quick-step his way straight into Moyes’s first team. But will Moyes afford the former Crystal Palace youngster an opportunity to impress?
Defensive dilemmas:
On paper, United possesses outstanding options in defence. Rio Ferdinand enjoyed a fine campaign last season, while Nemanja Vidi? has lost none of the competitive edge, even if the Serbian’s fitness is sometimes wanting. In Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, the club boasts two of the finest young defensive talents, while Jonny Evans has progressed hugely in the past 18 months. The same is true of Rafael da Silva.
Yet, each is also a concern. Time is no friend of Ferdinand, Vidi? and Patrice Evra. Meanwhile, Smalling, Jones and Evans are of dubious fitness, and Rafael still naïve at times.
Moyes’s response is seemingly to draft in a former colleague in Leighton Baines, with Evra the likely victim. Speculation about a forthcoming bid for Benfica’s Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay says much for the uncertainty in central positions.
It’s the midfield, stupid:
Moyes gets it. Right?
Relationship with the Glazers:
Sir Alex’s complex relationship with the carpet bagging Americans coloured much of the great Scot’s legacy. Here was a Scot of working roots unedifying in his repeatedly aggressive public support for capitalism’s darker arts. Yet, in that, Ferguson retained some ability to manipulate the family, squeezing a debt-burdened corporate bank account for more than £24 million to acquire van Persie last summer.
Moyes holds none of the power in the relationship with the Glazers. He will work at their whim, whether it is to fund a hugely unlikely deal for Cristiano Ronaldo, or by contrast to stick with Edward Woodward’s pre-IPO assertion that transfer spending would not stretch ‘beyond historical norms’ of around £20 million per season.
Winning over the fans:
Will the fans accept the change?
In truth, Moyes’s relationship with Old Trafford faithful is dependent on two simple factors: success and style. Indeed, United’s supporters tolerated a far more conservative brand of football in Ferguson’s final decade at the club than the Scot proffered up to the 1999 Champions League triumph.
And while United’s support is some of the most patient in England – see exhibit 1, Anderson, for evidence – it is the willingness to endure that has rarely been fully tested in the past quarter-century. Should a summer of significant change, together with heavy investment at City and Chelsea, lead United to a difficult first season under Moyes then patience will indeed be a virtue.
