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It’s been a difficult first season at Old Trafford for David Moyes but as yet, the club haven’t pressed the panic button and looked for a managerial alternative.

The former Everton man remains under pressure however, and if – as seems probable – he fails to qualify for the Champions League, then Manchester United’s owners may potentially appoint a successor after the World Cup.

David Moyes is available at 4.40 with Betfair to leave before the end of next season but does he deserve a second campaign and if not, who is set to come in and replace him?

The case for the defence

It’s said that a manager is only as good as his players and while Moyes retained the core of the squad that won the league in 2012-13, many have seriously under-performed. Defence has been a real concern and while David De Gea has improved after an uncertain first season, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand have all had issues with form – both individually and as a collective back four.

Paul Scholes is one of a number of former Man Utd players who claim that Moyes deserves a second season and a summer where he is able to buy and sell to address the problem areas in the side. That’s a logical assessment but the Scot’s detractors will point to Marouane Fellaini and suggest that the manager shouldn’t be trusted with a sizeable transfer kitty.

United might however, look back to the start of Sir Alex Ferguson’s career, which wasn’t exactly glorious. Fergie turned it around but will David Moyes be given a second chance? If not, just who will come in?

Louis Van Gaal

62-year old Van Gaal is expected to leave his post as manager of the Netherlands after the World Cup in Brazil and although he had been tipped to take over from Tim Sherwood at Tottenham, a vacancy at Old Trafford is likely to appeal more.

“I have said before that a challenge should be a club in the Premier League. That’s a challenge,” The Dutchman told the Guardian back in February.

Van Gaal’s credentials are seriously impressive. He’s won the Dutch Eredivisie with two different clubs, claimed two La Liga titles with Barcelona and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. His availability could come just at the right time for United and there can be few better managers around.

Jurgen Klopp

There is a theory that Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp is being groomed as the ultimate successor to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal but at 46, he could represent a better long-term solution than Van Gaal for the Old Trafford hot seat.

Klopp was among many managers to be linked with the job in the brief period following Ferguson’s retirement and Moyes’ appointment, after steering his current club to back-to-back titles prior to Bayern Munich’s dominance.

Antonio Conte

Juventus boss Antonio Conte is set for a Serie A and Europa League double but while he remains as one of the leading contenders to take over from David Moyes, an unexpected exit in the group stages of the Champions League could count against the 44-year old.

Conte steered Bari to a Serie B title and has won two Serie A titles since taking over at Juve, but until he proves himself on Europe’s biggest stage, the Italian will not be considered amongst the world’s top managers.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Fergie is tipped in some areas for an unlikely return to the Old Trafford hot seat in an attempt to steady things while the club looks for a more permanent successor.

Sir Alex attends United games while fitting in his horse racing interests but at 72, will he really be tempted to come out of retirement and handle all that pressure again?

http://www.buzzinfootball.co.uk/should-manchester-united-stick-with-david-moyes/2174