In-form Saints test awaits Man U
19 Oct 2013 6:16 AM IST
United have lost three of their first seven league games under Moyes but came from behind to win 2-1 at Sunderland, thanks to two goals from Adnan Januzaj, just before the international break.
Moyes’s predecessor Alex Ferguson stressed the need for patience as the Scot comes to terms with his new job and the former Everton boss is adamant that, despite sitting six points adrift of leaders Arsenal, there is plenty of time to get back on track.
However, the issues for Moyes continue to pile up, with Januzaj’s contract expiring at the end of the season. The Scot must make decisions on the future of Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Fabio, whose current deals also run out at the end of the season.
Speculation about Wayne Rooney’s future will continue as his contract is up in 2015, while Moyes must also deal with the situations of Shinji Kagawa and Wilfried Zaha, who have barely featured this season. After a difficult start to the campaign, which saw his team face Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in the space of their opening five games, Moyes will be happy at his team having five of their next seven matches at home ahead of the next international break.
That includes four consecutive home games, with Real Sociedad, Stoke and Norwich facing trips to Old Trafford after Southampton’s visit. United, who have not been beaten at home by Southampton since 1988, then travel to Fulham and Sociedad before hosting Arsenal in their final match before the next international break.
Veteran winger Ryan Giggs is enjoying his start to life on Moyes’s coaching staff and is also adamant it is too early to dismiss United’s prospects for the season. “I am enjoying my coaching role at Manchester United. It has been great,” Giggs said.
Moyes’s injury worries have eased significantly of late but a home victory is far from assured, with Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton emerging as one of the surprise successes of the season.
Saints go into the latest round of matches in fourth position after an impressive run built on four successive clean sheets. They have recently found a cutting edge to add to their solid defence.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City will be looking to get their away form back on track when they head to Upton Park to face West Ham on Saturday.
Pellegrini’s side have struggled on their travels, taking just one point from three games away from Eastlands in a disappointing run which has undermined their start to the Premier League campaign.
City hope to end that frustrating sequence in east London this weekend and they travel to the capital boosted by the return from injury of several stars.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea take on Cardiff City as Blues look to get all three points to stay amongst the top pack in the league. Table toppers Arsenal host struggling Norwich City as they will look upto Mesut Ozil for an inspired performance.
Moyes’s predecessor Alex Ferguson stressed the need for patience as the Scot comes to terms with his new job and the former Everton boss is adamant that, despite sitting six points adrift of leaders Arsenal, there is plenty of time to get back on track.
However, the issues for Moyes continue to pile up, with Januzaj’s contract expiring at the end of the season. The Scot must make decisions on the future of Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Fabio, whose current deals also run out at the end of the season.
Speculation about Wayne Rooney’s future will continue as his contract is up in 2015, while Moyes must also deal with the situations of Shinji Kagawa and Wilfried Zaha, who have barely featured this season. After a difficult start to the campaign, which saw his team face Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in the space of their opening five games, Moyes will be happy at his team having five of their next seven matches at home ahead of the next international break.
That includes four consecutive home games, with Real Sociedad, Stoke and Norwich facing trips to Old Trafford after Southampton’s visit. United, who have not been beaten at home by Southampton since 1988, then travel to Fulham and Sociedad before hosting Arsenal in their final match before the next international break.
Veteran winger Ryan Giggs is enjoying his start to life on Moyes’s coaching staff and is also adamant it is too early to dismiss United’s prospects for the season. “I am enjoying my coaching role at Manchester United. It has been great,” Giggs said.
Moyes’s injury worries have eased significantly of late but a home victory is far from assured, with Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton emerging as one of the surprise successes of the season.
Saints go into the latest round of matches in fourth position after an impressive run built on four successive clean sheets. They have recently found a cutting edge to add to their solid defence.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City will be looking to get their away form back on track when they head to Upton Park to face West Ham on Saturday.
Pellegrini’s side have struggled on their travels, taking just one point from three games away from Eastlands in a disappointing run which has undermined their start to the Premier League campaign.
City hope to end that frustrating sequence in east London this weekend and they travel to the capital boosted by the return from injury of several stars.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea take on Cardiff City as Blues look to get all three points to stay amongst the top pack in the league. Table toppers Arsenal host struggling Norwich City as they will look upto Mesut Ozil for an inspired performance.
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