A change of manager at the start of the season is always going to bring its unique problems, but when David Moyes took on the hardest task in English (even maybe world) football, in replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, he got more than he bargained for. Having never managed a side capable of competing consistently for trophies, Moyes is experiencing everything for the first time when his side take to the field. He has already had a pretty tough set of fixtures with Manchester City and Liverpool away from home, both of which they lost, the club find themselves on the fringes of the top four, on 21 points on sixth place just one point behind bitter rivals City. It could have been worse then, but their performances and results this season have left a lot to be desired, with uncharacteristic slip ups against West Brom and Southampton at Old Trafford. It is these results that will provide a good learning curve for Moyes, but the games that will provide the stiffest tests for the club are still to come. In some ways the pressure was lower for the games against City and Liverpool earlier in the season as they were away from home, and the real test will come when these sides return to Old Trafford. With such a big mountain to climb already this season, here are the five games that will define how things go for United in Moyes' first season in charge of the champions.
Began writing about football aged 16, I've previously worked for Goal and I'm currently writing for Inside Spanish Football. Specialise in anything linked, connected with or involving football!
