Missing in action
What has happened to this team that walked the Premier League last season? Yes, other clubs have improved but that does not account for the chasm in quality that has existed between the Reds and the top sides this campaign. 3-0 flattered United, which goes some way to underlining just how poor they are.
Moyes gambles and loses
The Reds boss raised eyebrows on Saturday against West Ham when he made six changes from the Olympiacos win and stuck Michael Carrick at centre-back. The doubts proved wrong as United scored an easy win. Sir Alex Ferguson was known to spring surprises in big games and a three-man midfield including Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini to stop City was certainly bold. This time, it looked naive as United enjoyed barely any control of the game.
United paying price for underinvestment...
How the Reds were allowed to go into this season with Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic still as first choice is a mystery. Evra has been exposed horribly in recent weeks for his lack of pace as the toll of playing every game punishes him, while Paul Scholes put it best about Rio when he said post-match: "What a defender he was." City ran riot against the United backline at the Eithad and did exactly the same last night.
...and poor investment
What impact did United's £70m of signings make last night? One should have been sent off and the other was anonymous other than missing the best chance for the Reds. moyes himself has said that the players are not worth that money in an inflated market but the money has still been sent. If £70m goes that far, the '£100m war chest' that has been promised will not stretch much further.
United still have leaders, and quality
The one saving grace for the team is that they do still have strength at both ends of the pitch. Wayne Rooney tried everything to keep his side in the game and is sounding increasingly like a captain off it, while David De Gea's best season yet for the club continues. It was a strong move by Moyes and Ed Woodward in January to tie down their top striker and would be well advised to do the same with their goalkeeper.
What has happened to this team that walked the Premier League last season? Yes, other clubs have improved but that does not account for the chasm in quality that has existed between the Reds and the top sides this campaign. 3-0 flattered United, which goes some way to underlining just how poor they are.
Moyes gambles and loses
The Reds boss raised eyebrows on Saturday against West Ham when he made six changes from the Olympiacos win and stuck Michael Carrick at centre-back. The doubts proved wrong as United scored an easy win. Sir Alex Ferguson was known to spring surprises in big games and a three-man midfield including Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini to stop City was certainly bold. This time, it looked naive as United enjoyed barely any control of the game.
United paying price for underinvestment...
How the Reds were allowed to go into this season with Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic still as first choice is a mystery. Evra has been exposed horribly in recent weeks for his lack of pace as the toll of playing every game punishes him, while Paul Scholes put it best about Rio when he said post-match: "What a defender he was." City ran riot against the United backline at the Eithad and did exactly the same last night.
...and poor investment
What impact did United's £70m of signings make last night? One should have been sent off and the other was anonymous other than missing the best chance for the Reds. moyes himself has said that the players are not worth that money in an inflated market but the money has still been sent. If £70m goes that far, the '£100m war chest' that has been promised will not stretch much further.
United still have leaders, and quality
The one saving grace for the team is that they do still have strength at both ends of the pitch. Wayne Rooney tried everything to keep his side in the game and is sounding increasingly like a captain off it, while David De Gea's best season yet for the club continues. It was a strong move by Moyes and Ed Woodward in January to tie down their top striker and would be well advised to do the same with their goalkeeper.
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