A period of transition or a sign of things to come?

When David Moyes was named as the successor to Sir Alex, there were more sceptics than approvers. Even the ardent supporters wished for a Mourinho or a Guardiola to take over. But, Sir Alex chose (yes, he literally did!!) David Moyes and requested a show of support for his man. The support was supposed to make his transition smooth and enjoy life at the top. Whatever happened after that till now points to something else.

Make no mistake - being the manager of Man United is one of the most demanding positions in the world of football. The very loyal fans scattered all across the globe who are very patient and at the same time very demanding, the pressure of maintaining the high standards set by Sir Alex and above all, the scrutiny of world media. It goes without saying that Moyes would have had a fair idea of what he was getting into but the magnitude of the whole thing would have set on him only once he started.

For fans and followers alike, it's what the team does on the field that matters. So far this season, Man United have created new records; only that, these were unwanted records. First time losses at home to Everton, West Brom, first ever loss to Stoke, earliest exit from the FA cup and inglorious set backs in the transfer market...all these piled up pressure on David Moyes. So much to the extent that there are reports of star striker RVP planning to abandon ship in the coming summer.

English football is a very volatile place to be - especially for the managers. Things change in a week here and your success is always history if you don't achieve it regularly. Sir Alex maintained that high intensity through his tenure and Moyes is expected to tow the same line.

The signs are alarming and supporters are worrying if this points to some decline like what happened at Liverpool. Though the financial implications aren't too worrisome, a loss at nailing a champion's league position would be a blow to everyone at United. Though it is a period of transition, the supporters are worried if the decline is becoming a worrying trend. Either way, the next 14 matches in EPL will decide how things shape up for Moyes and United.