The 2013-14 Premier League Season Will Be All About David Moyes

The new Premier League season is still 17 days away, but it already promises to deliver a compelling collection of subplots.

If Gareth Bale is lured to La Liga, will the Premier League still be able to promote itself as the best in the world?

Or is it simply the league players are consigned to if Real Madrid or Barcelona aren’t interested in them?

Is Jose Mourinho still the self-proclaimed "Special One," or will the Premier League resist his charms on his return?

Will the arrival of Manuel Pellegrini and an investment of £100 million in new players lift the malaise around Manchester City?

Having not troubled the Arsenal bank account so far this summer, how can Arsene Wenger possibly arrest Arsenal’s decline?

But the main story will be at Old Trafford.

It is always there. It is tempting to look elsewhere, to look for something different, but it is impossible to avoid this story.

For the first time in 26 years Manchester United will have a new manager. 

This is new territory for the Premier League, a new man at the helm of England’s biggest and most popular club.

Manchester United’s success was built upon Sir Alex Ferguson, and now he is no longer there. This season will be all about David Moyes.

How will he cope with inheriting Ferguson’s team? Will Moyes protect Ferguson’s legacy and continue winning, or will he struggle to deal with the pressure of leading United?

What is certain is there will be no honeymoon period.

Manchester United fans were distinctly underwhelmed when Moyes became only the club’s eighth manager since the Second World War.

Some thought it was an uninspiring appointment and pined for Jose Mourinho, while others were more pragmatic and thought without a viable alternative, Moyes was a sound and sensible choice.

My sense is that Moyes could make a slow start to the season.

Sir Alex Ferguson is also fully aware his successor could face early challenges in making the transition from managing Everton to managing United.

When Ferguson took to the microphone after his final game at Old Trafford last season, he implored the crowd to give their support to Moyes, as reported by the BBC:

"I'd also like to remind you that when we had bad times here, the club stood by me, all my staff stood by me, the players stood by me. Your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important.”

The message was clear: There could be bad times; get used to it.

If Moyes does falter in those early months, how will the United fans react? How will the media react? How will the players react?

Again, this is new territory for modern-day United, and it will make for fascinating viewing.

At the moment Moyes and Manchester United look vulnerable.

The new man needed at least two big signings to provide some momentum and excitement for the new season, but so far the Scot has only brought in a young, unproven defender in Guillermo Varela.

He has virtually the same squad that finished last season.

The only new face at Old Trafford is Moyes. That is not enough.

At this moment Moyes does not have the track record or personality to inspire confidence on his own. He needs assistance.

Which Moyes will take charge of United at the start of the season?

Will it be the Moyes who was handpicked by Ferguson for his drive and determination, and for what he did in keeping a modest Everton side in the top half of the table?

Or will it be the Moyes who barged into the Top Four with Everton just once in 11 seasons and in that time failed to win a game in 44 attempts at Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea?

Everton were expected to win most of their games at home, and anything secured on their travels was a bonus; Manchester United are expected to win every game.

For all the millions of pounds of talent the Premier League boasts on the pitch, the main focus will be on a 50-year-old man in a tracksuit on the sidelines.

How quickly he adapts to the demands of Manchester United will determine the course of the Premier League title this season.