Manchester United 1 Swansea 2 (16th Aug ’14)

Slow starts are not uncommon, nor opening day defeats, but rarely does the bubble feel burst so quickly. Even last season we had the illusion of being somewhere in the mix until our visit to the Etihad. The smokescreen of a succesful pre-season in the US disguised the reality that we entered a new season with a back 5 of Smalling, Jones, Young, Blackett and Lingard. Ok, Shaw, Evans and Rafael all have injuries but to allow us to have reached the point where this constitutes our defence is a bigger deriliction of duty than the man who checked William Prunier’s credentials in ’96. Last season is no longer just an extended blip consigned to the “Moyes era”, no longer a nightmare cured by a summer break and the disappearance of Chris Woods from the bench.

Other issues are as troubling- the continued reversal of a long-developed air of invincibility at home into a paralysis when hosting any opponent. The lack of reaction from the side at going behind, despite the continued backing of the crowd, feels deep-rooted. Belief does not come overnight and the anger which was focused on Moyes towards the latter part of last season’s desperate campaign will surely come stronger on some of the consistent underperformers, particularly whilst LVG retains his own aura. Mata is another worry- like Kagawa he shows glimpses of brilliance but when things are really bleak he doesn’t drag us out of a hole in the manner of previous greats (or even Forlan), and no system seems to suit him best. Scoring for fun away to Newcastle has not been a benchmark for over a decade. Areas of the press have already begun to write off Herrera but he deserves time. However, he feels much more the metronome to a succesful side than the jump cables.

Rooney retains some dignity and his neatly taken overhead finish typifies what we can now expect from him- an effective goalscorer and concerted effort, if not delivering the excitement that his early performances hinted at. Jones, too, was a good performer and should at least get a consistent run in one position this year.

More positives will come when the injury list reduces; a happy RVP is always a welcome bonus. But the key remains who else is brought in during the window. We have been linked with so many that it almost feels irrelevant who arrives, just that they actually do. Whatever the cash that the Glazers have bled from the club, the quality of our signings have been poor for a long while, even during Ferguson’s time, and £120m in twelve months on Fellaini, Mata, Shaw and Herrera does not suggest a total absence of funds. Woodward’s part in failing to deliver signings is mentioned regularly but he can’t be accountable for the underperformances of those that have been captured, particularly when similar priced acquisitions are successes elsewhere (Fernandinho, Matic etc.). So, be it Rojo (who seems at this moment close to signing), Benatia, Di Maria, Vidal (and so on endlessly), the key will be for LVG to work these into a team in “transition” and begin to build something that delivers.

In terms of LVG, it remains far too early to tell and he retains the faith of most that he will get it right. He continues to say the right things and the press remain onside whilst he provides an abrasive form of entertainment. An easier start than Moyes’ should help, although Saturday has already displayed the folly of counting on that, and three points next week are key (when aren’t they).

For the record, Swansea were by every account the better side and deserving of their victory. Ki’s goal was well taken (where was Herrera?), Sigurdsson’s more the beneficiary of poor defending by an out-of-position Young and De Gea being unsighted. The baseless optimism that we may pull an unlikely title challenge out of the bag is already gone and 4th now looks a welcome achievement. How the squad looks on 1st September will be key.

Next match: Sunderland (a)