A Quarter-Term Report on Manchester United

A week is a long time in football.

On Sunday, in the space of 90 minutes, the mood around Manchester United was turned on its head. 

There has been plenty of doom and gloom after Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in the summer.

But the disappointments—the botched transfer window, defeats to Liverpool, Manchester City and West Brom—disappeared over the course of an hour-and-a-half on Sunday afternoon.

It took one goal from Robin van Persie to beat Premier League leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford. And it changed the perception of United's start to the season and their start to life without Fergie.

After 11 games United are fifth, one point behind Chelsea in fourth and five behind leaders Arsenal. City are eighth.

Written off after a 1-1 draw with Southampton at Old Trafford in October, United are, whisper it, back in the title race. 

United fans should be encouraged that, three months in, no team is left with an aura of invincibility. 

Arsenal have been beaten twice, as have Chelsea, who also needed a last-minute penalty to steal a point against West Brom last time out. Manuel Pellegrini's City have lost four times, all away from home. 

But Arsenal, Chelsea and City will feel the same about United and it will take more than three wins on the bounce to make them believe any different. 

Wins over Stoke, Fulham and Arsenal have helped United start to rebuild their season. Victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Germany at the end of the month will seal qualification for the knock-out rounds of the Champions League.

A similar result against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on December 18 will set-up a two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final after Christmas and the chance of the trip to Wembley in February. Tales of United's decline have been greatly exaggerated. For now. 

Just as quickly have things have turned around, they can change back. 

United's next three games are away from home, at Cardiff, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham. Six points from trips to the Cardiff City Stadium and White Hart Lane would force everyone acknowledge their title credentials.

Moyes discovered on Sunday that 90 minutes can change everything—but there are a few more to go before the end of the season.