Why moyes needs a marquee signing

This was the summer that began with David Moyes being billed as the Chosen One as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor and Woodward proclaiming there were sizeable funds at the manager's disposal. Yet three months later Monday's 11pm deadline was only minutes away and Moyes and Woodward faced having no major signing to parade in a doomsday scenario that was averted by Fellaini's arrival, but with the deal to buy Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera having collapsed.

This all followed the earlier failures of United's transfer policy. To his credit Moyes was always conscious this would be the trickiest window of his tenure due to the surgery needed on the squad — two central midfielders, at least, were needed — and the challenge presented in attracting players now the Ferguson factor was gone.

Yet the strategy adopted by Woodward appeared scattergun and formed on the hoof, at best, with furious United fans characterising it far more scathingly. Given what Woodward's research into the year-old and Athletic would have shown, he should have known the offer would be knocked back. Here, he might have learned a lesson from the earlier dallying over Fellaini. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites. Switch to Mobile Site.

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Become a Member. Short URL. About the author:. Ger McCarthy. See more articles by Ger McCarthy. Contribute to this story: Send a Correction. Hearts will stop. On Saturday, we saw how things have not changed for the team despite the shiny new coach and shiny new optimism.

The players that populate the United side have developed a phobia of performing at Old Trafford and the evidence was there for 78, people to witness, and for a few million watching fans from around the planet. Wayne Rooney took his goal nicely but failed to be able to string a pass together as he played the ball countless times into the empty shadows. Juan Mata looked a pale version of the healthy Chelsea version of himself, forced to drop so deep for the ball that he had zero influence on the match.

And Darren Fletcher and Chicharito looked like relics from a lost kingdom as they ran like madmen around the pitch, neither helping their team or doing themselves any favours. United's senior players do not look up for the fight despite what the painful looks on their faces tell you or the decorative medals they wear on their suits suggest.

When Manchester City needed a Sergio Aguero to push them forward in , they went out and bought one. When Arsenal thought that having another diminutive talent was worth the expenditure, they coughed up the cash and lured Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

And Chelsea have spent the summer, window shopping in the most expensive boutiques, looking for star quality at an acceptable price, and they have come up with a magnificent clutch of diverse players in Cesc Fabregas , Diego Costa, Didier Drogba, Filipe Luis and a returning Thibaut Courtois.

How can United compete with these teams if they are not prepared to conduct their business in a similar fashion? Yes, United have spent money in the past few months, but their idea of squad building has minimal impact and lacks aggression.

When you are on top, you can bring in a new face and give him time to blood.