If David Moyes is at Manchester United this time next season – and judging by their patience so far the board seem keen to retain his services – we could easily imagine an interview with the Manchester United manager going something like this:
Interviewer: So, David, you have now had 18 months at the club and results show little sign of improvement
DM: Well we are working towards a better level of performance and obviously I’m not happy with current form.
Interviewer: But you would have to say that, having spent £200m, this is now YOUR team of players?
DM: Yes but we were always going to need time to bed all these new arrivals in to Manchester United. You can’t expect a team with so many new players to perform brilliantly together straight away.
Interviewer: So last season you played badly because you needed new players and this season you are playing badly because you have loads of new players?
DM: Correct
Interviewer: So of the new arrivals, who has settled in best for you?
DM: Well I think that the two ex-Everton lads have settled in extremely well and proven their worth.
Interviewer: Yes, eyebrows were raised when you spent a combined £25m on Tony Hibbert and Gary Naismith, when many pundits felt that Ross Barkley would have been a far better purchase.
DM: Yes but these pundits don’t understand football. Hibbert is a genius and, even at 34, £15m was a bargain.
Interviewer: So do you think that you can avoid the drop this season?
DM: We will just take each game as it comes.