Manchester United have had it tough this season. With Sir Alex Ferguson finally hanging his notepad up after 27 long, successful years, it was time for another coach to come in and try to replicate what he achieved at the Old Trafford side – a task that not many were jealous of.
In came David Moyes and out went the winning mentality, or so it seemed, and after 26 Premier League games played they sit seventh in the table, 15 points behind current leaders Chelsea.
The main concern for me is the way they are losing out to smaller clubs – the likes of West Brom, Stoke and Newcastle have all beaten the current champions – and the lack of intent that currently surrounds the club.
Of course it was always going to take time, but plenty of people affiliated with the club were quickly writing the season off as a transitional stage.
For me the signing of Juan Mata showed that they are still in the hunt for at least a top four spot though, and I think it will lift the gloom a little bit. However, I still think there are a few more world-class signings needed in the summer to propel them back up to the top.
We have seen Moyes secure a deal for Marouane Fellaini as well as Mata, but with a host of players running out of contract in the summer and plenty of heads past their best, here are four which I think could spark life into United and their hopes for next year.