Moyes in trouble

Meanwhile, Moyes is fast losing his grip at Old Trafford with each passing match. Even a true-blue United fan wouldn't fancy the title chances of his team at this stage. If trailing early pace setters Arsenal by 12 points isn't enough, the manager's inability to inspire confidence is proving to be a graver problem. With Robin van Persie, the trump card in Alex Ferguson's title winning team last season, grappling with his once-familiar injury woes, United's starting line-up is clearly short on class.

United have lost the aura with the retirement of Ferguson. It was indeed remarkable that the fiery old man was able to win the league comfortably with almost the same squad that is at the disposal of Moyes. Everyone knew that it would be impossible for the former Everton manager to start delivering trophies straightaway but the way United have fallen off the pace so early in the season has set the alarm bells ringing. Moyes must already have realised the difficulty in managing a club whose ambitions are strikingly different.

The British press, both broadsheets and the bloodbaying tabloids, are ready to pounce on the hapless Moyes who has become a sitting duck. A couple of more defeats will make the Scot's position untenable. Don't bet against a return of the wily Ferguson, now a regular at the Old Trafford stands, to steer the United ship out of choppy waters this season. The United hot seat requires a winner and not someone whose trophy cabinet is full of space.