It is only Louis van Gaal's cv that is preventing him from receiving the sort of merciless criticism directed at David Moyes last season.

After 21 games, Moyes' Manchester United had 37 points, the same as van Gaal's side which cost £270 million, £150 million spent by the Dutchman, to assemble but which failed to manage a single shot on target during the 1-0 defeat by Southampton.

Van Gaal has been successful wherever he has been in charge — Ajax, Barcelona, AZ, Bayern Munich and the Dutch national side — so he is being cut some slack. United has played well only three times this season, against Queens Park Rangers, who are Saturday's opponents, Hull and Newcastle. Moyes was never afforded that luxury because he was "only" a former Everton manager and was run out of town before he had completed a season in charge.