David Moyes has endured a difficult start to life as manager of Manchester United.
He's lost 10 matches to date, as well as having exited both the FA Cup and League Cup to Swansea City and Sunderland respectively.
With Moyes's side languishing in seventh in the league, Sports Mole has spoken to the club's former winger Willie Morgan to discuss what he believes must be done to secure an upturn in United's fortunes.
Were you surprised to see that Jose Mourinho had sold Juan Mata to Man United? Is it a sign that he does not view them as a threat right now?
"He obviously did not see Mata as a necessity to his team, otherwise he wouldn't have sold him. Mata is better than what United have in midfield, it's an improvement. The money is unbelievable really, but that's football these days. He'll hopefully knit things together a little bit more. He will be an improvement, but how much, only time will tell. At the moment, United are not a danger to the teams challenging for the title, so it's good business for Chelsea financially."
Mata could be playing alongside Adnan Januzaj in the midfield. What have you made of his development over the last few months?
"Januzaj has got the ability to be an exceptional player. I see a world-class player in the making and I think he should be given the number seven shirt. I'd sign him on a 50-year contact and try to keep him there for life! I don't know where he thinks that his best position is, but I'd like to see him on the wing, getting down to the byline and creating chances."
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What do you make of Wayne Rooney's contract situation? Some reports have suggested that the club may be prepared to pay him £300,000 a week.
"Any man that has asked to get away from Old Trafford twice wouldn't be in my team. Good luck to him [with the contract] if they are prepared to pay it. If it had been me in charge, he'd have been gone the first time he held the club to ransom. I felt Carlos Tevez was just as good a player and they let him go."
If, and it looks likely right now, United miss out on a place in the top four, where does that leave Moyes in your opinion? Does he deserve the time to put things right?
"Every Manchester United supporter wants David Moyes to do well, it goes without saying. I hope he does turn it around. He's been left with a lot of average players, but then he's compounded it by giving Nani a new five-year contract, which is mystifying, as is signing Marouane Fellaini. I hope he gets the money and brings in players that can change the team.
"When he was given the job, before he started, I said at the time he wasn't the right man and he probably wouldn't be there 18 months. He has to be given that amount of time, but I hope that he makes me eat my words and goes on to be majorly successful at United. He spent over £100m at Everton and they didn't do too much in terms of trophies. The question on everybody's lips right now is why did Sir Alex Ferguson appoint him? Only Alex can answer that.
"What he did at the beginning, like changing all of the backroom staff, was a little strange. United have been the most successful club for the last 20 years, it's crazy. All United supporters, me included, would love to eat our words if Moyes goes on to be successful."
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It's widely accepted that the current squad is not up to the standard of previous ones seen at Old Trafford. How do you assess it and what positions would you look to strengthen?
"[Moyes] needs at least six or seven more players. Too many of them are just average players, journeymen, which is sad. That is not down to Moyes, although he did buy one that that fits into that category and it isn't Mata! He needs to be given the money to bring in a lot of players. They need people in midfield and people at the back. It's all very pedantic and slow - it's just not Manchester United.
"Marcos Alonso at Sunderland is one of the best left-backs that I have seen in a while. He was very good in both games against United recently and Patrice Evra is coming to the end. He's only young as well, so will get even better and would be a great replacement for Evra.
"I like Danny Welbeck, but he's not what I would call a centre-forward. He can pick out a pass, control a ball and carry possession well, but maybe he's better suited playing behind the main forward. He will score some goals, but not enough. Rafael da Silva at right-back has improved as much as anyone. There isn't much better in the Premier League than him. His biggest problem is when corners and crosses are coming into the box, he doesn't have any height. You can compensate for that, though, by bringing someone else back.
"Michael Carrick has been ineffective for too long. You don't just want your midfield players sitting in front of the back four, you want them to attack as well, which he doesn't. Antonio Valencia is not the greatest player in the world, but what he does is give you 100% every time he goes out on the pitch. You also know that he will help out when the team is under pressure by chasing back. He's not blessed with great skill, but he does give you width. He's not like the old wingers, though, who skin players all the time."
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With the addition of Mata and the return from injury of Van Persie and Rooney, can United overhaul the seven-point gap to Liverpool in fourth?
"They can, because the great strength that Manchester United have had is that they attack. As everyone says, the greatest form of defence is to attack. If those players and Welbeck and Januzaj can keep attacking, it will take the pressure off those at the back, which is one of the biggest weak links at the club. Most of them in midfield and defence have been poor. So, because teams are attacking them, they've been found out. Injuries and not having Mata meant that United didn't have enough players of the calibre to attack too much and it broke down too often, but they do now. Of course they can catch Liverpool, but it's going to be tough."
What has been the most disappointing aspect of United's campaign so far?
"Teams are not frightened of United any more. They come to Old Trafford to win now, which is a complete reversal because it used to be that sides would come to Old Trafford and try to keep the score down - don't get beat by too many. The fear factor has gone, which is a massive hit. Look at Man City, when most teams go there right now, the opposition know that they will concede three or fours goals at least - that's the way it used to be at United.
"The great thing about Sir Matt Bubsy was that he didn't give us many tactics and he didn't try to over-complicate things. The main thing he told us was that we are the best players, that's why we play for Manchester United. We knew we were the best, so the confidence was always good. You didn't need to think about the opposition, you just went out to score goals and that is the way it's been for a long time at United, until now."
Morgan's autobiography 'On The Wing' can be purchased here
Liam Apicella
