United Fans on a Roller Coaster ride!! by Guest Columnist Sydney Fernandes

United Fans on a Roller Coaster ride!!

Here we go again; our hopes go up and come plummeting right back down. It’s been that kind of season where United have uncharacteristically juggled our hopes and expectations and the 2-0 defeat to Olympiakos in the mid-week (can’t believe I’m typing this) epitomizes our season so far.

Take nothing away from the Greek Champions though; they were brilliant on the night, fantastic when in possession and vicious in recovery. The opener from Alejandro Domínguez had a touch of good fortune but the second was sheer class as Joel Campbell (Ex-Arsenal) cunningly nutmegged Carrick and conjured a sensational curler around the static Ferdinand and beyond the outstretched reach of De Gea.

We are the Premier league Champions for crying out loud and to suffer such a degrading loss is a dagger to the hearts of the global fan base. United lacked grit and determination. Moyes is hardly to blame (besides his team selection and substitutions) if the players show no interest in the game. The Athenians on the other hand made a mockery of our back three; with the exception of Vidic that is, who I thought put in a vintage performance capped with a crucial tackle to deny Domínguez an early opener.

United were all over the place and not in a good way. Let’s not point fingers though..to heck with it, who am I kidding. The defending was shambolic, our midfield pathetic (full credit to Cleverley) and our toothless attack . United created just the one decent attempt on goal throughout the 90 minutes. The midfield was miserable. Carrick worked his socks off while his partner Cleverley watched on as Olympiakos carved United open on several occasions. Alas! 

Our defense, where do I start without having to write a book. Ferdinand looked anything but a seasoned center-back as he needlessly gave away the ball on numerous occasions and did nothing to help when faced by an Athenian attack. Smalling on the other hand played with the brain of a child, frightened to death when put under pressure and clueless when Perez charged at him.  In a nut shell it was beyond a shadow of a doubt United’s worst performance EVER!!

Transition phase or not, this is the side that won us the Premier League last year and how a team can deteriorate at such a rapid pace is beyond me. Mr. Moyes is in a world of trouble. The ground beneath him is eroding ever so quickly taking what’s left of the few supporters along with it and dumping them onto the #MoyesOut bandwagon and the players are doing little to help his cause.

My fellow columnist Lyndon Pinto has backed the under-fire Scotsman ever so valiantly and I too, truly believe that he should be given at least another season before being judged. But at what cost remains to be seen.