MOYES' HEAD ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK TONIGHT

MOYES' HEAD ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK TONIGHT

D. Ray Morton, 19th March 2014.

As Manchester United suffer through their worst campaign of the modern Premier League era, David Moyes' appearance has become more zombie-like by the week. So zombie-like, in fact, that once his head is placed on the chopping block of managerial dismissal, it won't need a very sharp blade to sever it.

Humiliation at Old Trafford at the hands of Liverpool was the latest in series of agonising results but failure to get past Olympiakos in tonight's Champions League clash, in reality, would probably be worse. The league is a write-off at this point for United and with a top four finish out of sight, one wonders whether any of their fans are looking forward to the prospect of playing Europa League football next season. Defeat to Liverpool hurts but ultimately, would it not be better for the likes of Tottenham and Everton to slug through that logistical nightmare of a tournament giving United a clean slate when it comes to doing as well as possible in the league in 2014/15.

Therefore, elimination tonight is worse because it would leave the rest of the season void of meaning. No-one expects United to win the Champions League outright but even competing into the quarter-finals would generate some badly-needed pride with Arsenal and Manchester City having already been knocked out.

Barring a heavy home defeat, Moyes will not be given his marching orders on Thursday morning but yet another poor performance could make up the minds of the men upstairs who could very easily cut the chord in the summer and start afresh with a new manager who can quickly impose his vision on the club.

With Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham likely to spend handsomely in the summer, giving Moyes a few extra months next season to get things right could be seriously detrimental to United's ambitions over the next few seasons. Whatever series of events falls out expect plenty of desperate crosses and aghast expressions from all involved at the Theatre of Dreams.