David Moyes needs a Champions League miracle

It is getting harder and harder to defend David Moyes.

David Moyes needs a Champions League miracle.

And if that doesn’t come along, he might find some comfort in a battling, backs-to-the-wall narrow defeat by Bayern Munich.

That’s quite a comedown for Manchester United, but Tuesday’s game against the Germans is one of the biggest in the career of the Old Trafford boss.

I’ve been standing by Moyes all season. But I have to admit that it’s getting harder and harder to defend him.

I still believe he is a talented manager that hasn’t changed. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that results have been desperately disappointing.

Unfortunately for him, the Champions League draw was rather unkind. Facing the holders at home in the first leg is incredibly tough.

If they’d been travelling to Germany for the first leg, United could have parked the bus and tried to frustrate their opponents.

Instead, they’ll be expected to make some of the running and I’m sure Bayern will score at least once.

United are desperately in need of a new back four.

I would change every one of the players currently serving as the last line of defence.

Rafael isn’t good enough as a right-back, while Ferdinand and Evra are past their sell-by date. Vidic is leaving and the stand-in players like Jones and Smalling aren’t the answer.

Moyes has a list of players he’d like to recruit in the summer, and a supposed budget of up to £100-million.

But there have to be doubts about whether or not the United Board will trust him to spend it.

Persistent talk of unrest among amongst senior players doesn’t help his cause, and recent recruits Fellaini and Mata have been uninspiring.

The Glazers will want to be confident the manager can handle superstar signings and their over-sized egos.

The performance of Everton is making things even more uncomfortable for Moyes.

Roberto Martinez has improved his old club, Everton, within a short time and that has given the critics even more ammunition.

You can make a good case for saying Martinez is benefitting from the good foundations left by Moyes, but those with the knives out will choose to ignore that.

A thumping for United at the hands of Bayern will makes things very difficult for Moyes.

I don’t actually think the Germans will retain the Champions League. Real Madrid are my tip to lift the trophy.

We have eight great teams left in the competition but Manchester United are the weakest.