SPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014 United in decline as Moyes era faces crunch time MANCHESTER: Moments before Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford is soporific. The smattering of boos greet- Champions League group with a game to spare. With while Michael Carrick, the heartbeat of the midfield, Old Trafford for the final time as a coach, he issued a ing the final whistle of each home defeat - there have a last-16 match against Olympiakos to come, he will has also had a spell out and hasn’t been such a domi- defiant message to the Manchester United fans who been five already this season in all competitions - is be confident of at least reaching the quarterfinals. nating force. were so used to hanging on his every word. small but growing in number. He has guided United through to the League Cup There’s no consistency to United’s defensive unit “I’d like to remind you,” Ferguson said as he stood United fans are undoubtedly prepared to give semifinals, where it plays Sunderland in the first leg and players such as Rafael da Silva, Javier Hernandez, inside the center circle, getting lightly coated with Moyes time. They are a knowledgeable bunch, clearly on Tuesday, and has got the best out of England strik- Nani and Antonio Valencia appear to be lacking in raindrops, “that when we had bad times here, the understanding that replacing Ferguson is nigh impos- er Wayne Rooney, whose relationship with Ferguson confidence. One of Ferguson’s greatest strengths was club stood by me. All my staff stood by me. The play- sible, but they expect better than what they are get- had broken down by the end of last season. The blos- squeezing that extra 10 percent out of players, but ers stood by me. ting at present. soming of Adnan Januzaj, a young winger with Moyes hasn’t quite been able to do that yet. “Your job now is to stand by our new manager.” For the first time, local and national press are call- superb balance and movement, is also a major plus. Ferguson, famously, was given time by the United That was eight months ago. United had just beaten ing it a crisis, an empire in decline. United is seventh But the negatives outweigh the positives. Failing board despite going his first four seasons without a Swansea 2-1 with a late winner by Rio Ferdinand in in the Premier League, 11 points behind leader to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which trophy. Beating Crystal Palace in a replay to win the FA so-called “Fergie Time” and the team had already Arsenal and five points adrift of the fourth and final is a real possibility, would be a disaster not just Cup in 1990 was seen as pivotal. romped to a 20th English league title, enhancing Champions League place that just so happens to be because of the loss of finances but because United’s “Without that triumph at Wembley, the crowds Ferguson’s status as the greatest British manager of all occupied by Liverpool - United’s biggest rival. pulling power would be seriously hit. would have shrivelled. Disaffection might have swept time after more than 26 trophy-laden years at United. Sunday’s defeat to Swansea came in the third Moyes and United chief executive Ed Woodward the club,” Ferguson wrote in his recent autobiography. How ironic, then, that Swansea was back at Old round of the FA Cup, only United’s second exit at that already found attracting the big names hard enough Maybe winning the League Cup will be the catalyst Trafford on Sunday, administering a fourth loss in early stage - the first hurdle for top-flight clubs - since in the offseason transfer window so January is likely for Moyes, who is six months into a six-year contract. United’s last six home matches to usher the creaking 1985. “It has been a tough start, a tough opening peri- to be even tougher, especially since Champions Ferguson hand-picked Moyes as his successor and hosts further into decline under Ferguson’s successor, od,” Moyes said, when asked to sum up his first six League football next season can’t be promised. still holds massive sway at United through his past David Moyes. months in the job. “I am disappointed we have not Moyes said Sunday there is an “urgency” to bring in achievements and his role as a director. Ferguson Swansea won 2-1, its winning goal coming in the won more games or played better but I am sure it will players this month but acknowledges the ones he attends almost every United home match, sitting in final minute, by which time Ferdinand had hobbled change, I have no doubt about that.” wants won’t be available. Rooney and possibly goal- the directors’ box behind Moyes. His backing is off injured. The contrast to that day in May when Moyes’ first half year in charge of England’s biggest keeper David de Gea aside, United’s senior players are imperative for the new man in charge but his contin- United lifted the Premier League trophy on club has been turbulent but interesting. He was missing or aren’t delivering. Robin van Persie, the ued presence around Old Trafford is a constant Ferguson’s Old Trafford farewell was acute. accused of lacking European experience from his 11 league’s top scorer for the last two seasons, is current- reminder of the difference between United then and The natives are getting restless. The atmosphere at years at Everton but qualified United from a tough ly injured and has played only twice since Nov. 10 United now. — AP Walcott out of World Cup with knee injury LONDON: Arsenal and England forward least six months, therefore missing the Theo Walcott has been ruled out for at least remainder of the season and the World Cup six months after rupturing knee ligaments in Brazil in the summer,” Arsenal said on and will miss this year’s World Cup, the club their website. said yesterday. Walcott, capped 36 times by England, Walcott suffered the injury late in the 2- missed two months of this season with an 0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA abdominal injury and had looked in great Cup third round on Saturday and he left form since returning, scoring five goals in the field on a stretcher after appearing to five games before Saturday’s derby. jar his knee in a challenge with Danny Rose. His absence will be keenly felt by The 24-year-old did not appear in too Premier League leaders Arsenal as they try much discomfort and caused controversy to maintain their title challenge and will by indicating the score to Tottenham fans also be a major blow for England manager behind the goal as he was carried off. The Roy Hodgson. “Everyone at Arsenal wishes Football Association took no action over Theo a speedy recovery and we look for- Walcott’s gestures but any relief at avoiding ward to seeing him back on a football pitch disciplinary action was quickly overshad- as soon as possible,” the club said. Walcott, owed by the medical bulletin which aged 17, was an unused member of revealed he had ruptured anterior cruciate England’s squad for the 2006 World Cup ligaments in his left knee. finals in Germany and was surprisingly left “Theo will have surgery in London in the out of the squad for the 2010 tournament near future and is expected to be out for at in South Africa. — Reuters Allardyce gets Hammers backing LONDON: West Ham manager Sam the return of all of our injured players will Allardyce received something close to the lead to an upturn in our fortunes. dreaded vote of confidence from the “Thereafter, our second priority is to club’s co-chairmen yesterday following bring in the new talent needed to bolster the Premier League club’s embarrassing our squad in the most needed areas. LISBON: Fans react as the car carrying the coffin of Benfica football legend Eusebio da Silva Ferreira 5-0 FA Cup defeat by second-tier “January is not an easy time to do busi- arrives in the Luz stadium in Lisbon yesterday. Portugal paid final homage yesterday to Portuguese Nottingham Forest. ness but we are pleased to confirm we are footballing legend Eusebio, also known as the “Black Panther”, whose death has sparked worldwide In an open letter on the east London close to securing one of our key striking tributes. (Inset), officials carry the coffin of Benfica football legend Eusebio da Silva Ferreira on the pitch club’s website, David Gold and David targets. A defender is high on the list of of the Luz stadium. — AFP Sullivan backed Allardyce to turn around priorities as well and progress is being the fortunes of the Hammers, currently made on that front.” second bottom and facing relegation However, the Hammers do at least from English football’s lucrative top flight. have a League Cup semi-final against “We know Sam has not lost his ambi- Premier League rivals Manchester City to Portugal pays final tion or desire and is committed to making look forward to, with the first leg at West Ham United a great Premier League Eastlands tomorrow. And Allardyce said club,” the open letter read. “Sam has been the fact that fixture was on the horizon handed a near impossible task of coming lay behind his decision to rest several sen- through three crucial games in the space ior players from the Forest clash, with the homage to Eusebio of six days with a squad of only 14 fit and Hammers fielding five debutants and available senior players.