Three key Manchester United stars who need to step-up vs Fulham

Manchester United aren’t in the best run of form. After losing their opening three games of 2014, they’ve gone on a run that includes six defeats in eight matches, should you include their penalty shootout defeat to Sunderland.

David Moyes needs to change things around. After signing Juan Mata in January he used him out wide against Stoke City and was punished – another defeat came. Their eighth loss in the Premier League already, five more than this stage last season.

Once Mata was moved centrally, he assisted Robin van Persie for United’s equaliser.. Poor decision-making by the coaching staff is costing them valuable points in the race for fourth place, but some players are also accountable for poor performances.

With Man Utd playing Fulham this weekend, here are three players who will need to step-up in order for the Red Devils to turn around their form.

Patrice Evra

Evra has been edging out of the exit door of Old Trafford since last summer after Moyes made it clear he wanted to sign a new left-back. After missing out on Leighton Baines and Fabio Coentrao, Moyes had to stick with Evra and he’s not doing him many favours.

Since the turn of the year, the Frenchman has won just 35% of his duels, which is woeful for a defender.

Of those duels, he won just six out of 20 attempted tackles. In United’s last win, at home to Cardiff City, he won just two of 9 tackles. The majority of them were inside United’s half, too, which put them under needless pressure. Defending like this can cost a team valuable points and if United are to finish inside the top four, they can’t defend like this.

Tom Cleverley

Cleverley is the scapegoat for all that is wrong at United this season and it is no wonder as he continues to impress, week after week. It is a wonder why Moyes keeps using him – many United fans keep asking the same question.

He has no real drive from midfield and the Englishman is not capable of controlling a game by himself. Cleverley is also unable to battle for 90 minutes and win plenty of duels, proven by his poor 43% duel success rate since the turn of the year.

He’s won just five of 12 tackles and lost all four of his headed duels. He’s completed 90% of his passes in 2014 but as you can see from the passing map below, they’re all, well… sideways.

He’s also only created one chance in 2014 which just isn’t anywhere near good enough to be playing in central midfield for Manchester United.

Antonio Valencia

Valencia has been poor all season and it’s continued in 2014. If he doesn’t improve his performances, there’s a good chance he won’t be at the club next season.

In 2014, Valencia has created just three chances in four matches. Considering Moyes’ style of play is to get the ball out wide and supply crosses, you’d expect a bit more considering Valencia is one of their main wingers.

In comparison to the other players at United, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Rafael have all created more chances in the last few matches. Also, in just two matches, Mata has managed to created more than twice as many as Valencia.

Defensively, he’s not helping out either. He’s leaving the right-back – whether it’s Chris Smalling or Rafael – isolated constantly and that’s not helping matters. If the full-back is being dominated and pushed back because Valencia is not helping off the ball then United will struggle in both defence and attack as there’s not enough pushing forward for Moyes’ style to pay off.

Valencia really needs to step his performances up or his United career will be over.