What's going wrong at the Theatre of Screams? Five reasons it's gone belly-up for Man Utd

Posted Tuesday, February 11, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

DAVID MOYES admitted on Sunday that he never dreamed his start as Manchester United boss would go so badly.

What's going wrong at the Theatre of Screams? Five reasons it's gone belly-up for Man Utd
UNDER PRESSURE: Moyes has a host of long and short-term problems to deal with at Manchester United

Here are five of the most pressing problems Moyes needs to put right at Old Trafford.

LEADERSHIP

Captain Nemanja Vidic has been peppered with injuries this season and is off in the summer and there seems to be no obvious candidates to take over from the Serbian.

When he is not on the field, there is a lack of leadership with others wilting under pressure.

Experienced duo Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have not featured of late owing to injury and their ageing legs.

Moyes will be hoping that Darren Fletcher stays illness free so the Scot can give him an experienced voice on the pitch until he can solve the issue in the summer.

What's going wrong at the Theatre of Screams? Five reasons it's gone belly-up for Man Utd
SKIPPER: Vidic is off in the summer, leaving Moyes with a huge leadership void

DEFENCE

Moyes is still far too reliant on the outgoing Vidic and he is looking every bit of his 32 years especially against Fulham on Sunday.

Rio Ferdinand appears out of Moyes’ plans with his contract up in the summer while Patrice Evra looks set for a return to France.

Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were Sir Alex Ferguson’s idea of the new guard but they do not look like Champions League-quality defenders.

Bayern Munich’s centre-back Dante is on Moyes’ radar but he will need at least one more with top-level European experience.

What's going wrong at the Theatre of Screams? Five reasons it's gone belly-up for Man Utd
YOUNGSTERS: Are the likes of Smalling and Jones ready to lead the United defence?

CREATIVITY

Juan Mata’s arrival from Chelsea for £37.1m looked set to solve this issue that has plagued United this season.

But against Stoke and Fulham, United looked starved of ideas in the final third.

Even with the Mata, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in the side, United have only managed one point and three goals against two of the Premier League’s weaker teams.

A box-to-box midfielder alongside Michael Carrick would help open up defences like Yaya Toure does for Manchester City.

But Moyes cannot get that until the summer and needs to change something now if they are to have a late surge for the top four.

What's going wrong at the Theatre of Screams? Five reasons it's gone belly-up for Man Utd
FILLING THE VOID: Mata's arrival was supposed to make United a more creative outfit, but it hasn't clicked yet

TACTICS

Mata’s inability to sparkle fully in his first few appearances may be down to the system Moyes employs.

With the former Chelsea star pushed out wide, he has to wander inside to get possession, which left United with a gaping hole on the right side against Fulham.

The Scot seems determined to play Van Persie and Rooney up front so it offers him a problem.

He could consider pushing Rooney back into midfield but the England international was unhappy when Ferguson opted to do that last season.

Whatever Moyes decides, Mata needs to be more central if he is going to unlock defences and show his real qualities.

What's going wrong at the Theatre of Screams? Five reasons it's gone belly-up for Man Utd
ON HIS WAYNE OUT: Could Rooney leave Old Trafford in the summer?

WAYNE ROONEY

The England striker’s future still hangs in the balance.

Although United are near to agreeing a deal with his camp, it is still not signed.

If Moyes can get one of the country’s most coveted players to commit his long-term future to the club it would give everyone the belief that there is faith in the manager and his project.

He could also consider naming Rooney as his captain.

And of course, Moyes would also have a star forward to call upon for the next few seasons.