Why David Moyes has got exactly what he wanted

At some point or another, English football will have to make a move to separate the term ‘tactics’ with boring; they don’t have to have such obvious links. But David Moyes, in his first real test as Manchester United manager, got a result that would have suited him just fine.

The United manager clearly doesn’t have the charisma of Jose Mourinho, which was highlighted in the pre-match interviews. For the former Everton boss, it’s about efficiency over style, and that’s how he set his team up.

The first big clash of the season came so soon in the campaign that perhaps there was an opportunity to be adventurous, to make the most out of the creative and in some way fearless talents in the squad. Is this an indicator for what’s in store for the first season at least of Moyes’ tenure?

Wayne Rooney came into the side to make his first start of the season, and there’s a feeling that his inclusion was something of a safety net. What if Rooney were left on the bench and United lost? Even further, what if they were even more toothless than they were with the England forward in the starting XI? Whatever issues there are between the manager and player – and we’re led to believe there are none – were apparently swept under the carpet for another day.

But Shinji Kagawa, much to Jurgen Klopp’s heartbreak, I’m sure, remains on the sidelines of Moyes’ United team. The Japanese international, much like Juan Mata, would have injected some flair, further cutting edge and something far more interesting to the match, perhaps even a match winner. But this could be an early sign that Moyes is yet to shrug off the underdog mentality that he held at Everton; would Bayern, Juventus, Barcelona, or Real Madrid have been excused for playing it so safe at home to one of their rivals? Certainly the dullness of the affair would have been far more prevalent in the media abroad had one of the continent’s major twin hitters conjured something so lifeless.

You’d have to hope that Moyes wasn’t taken back by the occasion of playing against Mourinho, now the ‘older head’ among the obvious title challengers this season. United were good without being great. There was a lack of urgency and a lack of willingness to commit. If a goal came of something then great, otherwise at least there was enough to attempt to stem the tide from Chelsea’s attacks. It will be interesting to see what happens in the Champions League should United be drawn against one of Europe’s elite clubs.

A major test has been navigated without much damage, if any, and in fairness to Moyes he could still be searching for a level of comfort in the United dugout to unleash something a little more enterprising. That’s the hope at least. Manchester United, as the biggest club in England, surely can’t be defined by a fear of playing attacking football to its maximum and with the most obvious resources in the squad as the logical first steps.

Is United’s draw against Chelsea a sign of things to come in the big matches?

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