BAD TIME TO MAKE CHANGE

Moyes might fit the bill at United

IT appears the only thing keeping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a job is that Manchester United haven’t yet come up with a replacement.

Although perhaps the fact that United’s chastening defeat at the hands of Liverpool was followed by a sequence of games that included Tottenham, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League and away at Atalanta in the Champions League might have something to do with it.

Ed Woodward wouldn’t want to take the pin out and throw the fifth manager of his eight-year reign as the club’s kingmaker a grenade like that.

The fact that Brendan Rodgers is being mentioned in Old Trafford’s boardroom says much about the current state.

The Irishman ticks all the boxes. He exposed the lack of tactical nous hampering Solskjaer (below) earlier this month. He lifted the FA Cup last season and, most importantly when Woodward is going about his business, Rodgers is being mentioned as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

United’s modus operandi seems to be to make signings by virtue of their rivals at the Etihad wanting them.

Think Harry Maguire, Alexis Sanchez, Fred and Cristiano Ronaldo. You’d have thought United’s executive vicechairman might have learned by now.

Who else in the Premier League fits the bill for United? What about David Moyes? He was the Chosen One when Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Moyes knew he was taking on an impossible task when he was asked to replace Fergie – not least because he also had to work with the inexperienced Woodward following David Gill’s decision to quit as chief executive that same summer.

He inherited a squad that had won the title, but also required major investment. It was the right job at the wrong time.

Moyes had to go to Real Sociedad for his next opportunity and his desperation to get back into the Premier League took him to struggling Sunderland.

West Ham failed to reward him with a new contract when he kept them in the top flight before taking him back after a year of treading water under Manuel Pellegrini.

After qualifying for Europe last season, the Hammers have just inflicted Manchester City’s first Carabao Cup defeat for five years, won their first three Europa League group games and have made an early bid to break into the top four.

But West Ham fans can relax. There is more chance of Sir Alex returning as United’s next manager than David Moyes.