Each day from now until the beginning of the Premier League season, we will preview two teams from England’s top flight. You can view them all here at PST Preview central. Don’t forget, the 2013-14 PL season begins on August 17th, and for the first-time ever you can watch every game live on NBC Sports.
Manchester United has never finished lower than third place in the English Premier League, and it has won the league 13 times in its 21 seasons. But this year could prove to be the Red Devils’ toughest test to date in that respect.
Despite returning nearly every player in a world-class squad — although Wayne Rooney’s situation still seems to be up in the air — the one change that makes this season tougher than any in recent memory is David Moyes taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson as manager.
Transfers In: D Guillermo Varela (Peñarol, Uruguay)
Transfers Out: M Paul Scholes (retired), F John Cofie (Barnsley, Championship), D Luke McCullough (Doncaster Rovers, Championship), D Sean McGinty (Sheffield United, League One), D Reece Brown (Watford, Championship)
Key Player: Teams at the top that are decked out with more stars than many small galaxies need leadership. Nemanja Vidić’s (pictured) role as captain of United just got bigger with Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. Not only is he one of the best center backs in the world, he now has to lead a group of players through what will surely be a highly scrutinized campaign.
Vidić’s relationship with Moyes will set an example for the rest of the team to follow. If it’s a good one, the club should easily be comfortable with a new man in charge. A proven leader at every level he’s played so far, Vidić just became perhaps the most vital player on the team.
Manager: David Moyes has Premier League coaching experience, and he was personally tapped by Ferguson as the legendary Scotsman’s successor. However, managing players and egos at a team such as Everton, which is on a lower tier in the highest English league, is much different from doing the same at Manchester United.
Lesser men have cracked under that kind of pressure, but Moyes is an exceptional character. He’s been in the English game long enough to know how every facet of it works, and his new club is one of the few that pour unending resources into building a winning team — and it’s also shown patience in trying times.
Outlook: Teams with the talent and resources of Manchester United don’t fold or fail because of a managerial change. What the team might do, though, is have a little trouble against teams of equal status. Expect United to challenge for the trophy again but fall just short, still comfortably qualifying for the Champions League next season.
(MORE: Read all the Premier League previews for each team here)
