EPL Table Doesn't Look Good, but It's Not the Time for Man United Fans to Panic

Let's get one thing straight. Manchester United's transition was supposed to be a lot smoother than this.

No one was expecting them to have the Premier League title sown up by Christmas. But they weren't expecting to be 10th after 10 games, either. 

By United's standards, transition or not, it's been a disappointing start. It's their worst start to a league campaign since 1986, without an away win all season. There are mitigating circumstances; the new manager, the new players. But it's been underwhelming nonetheless.

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That said, it's not time to panic. The defeat at Manchester City on Sunday left United 13 points behind leaders Chelsea. But after a disastrous season under Moyes and the changes this summer, it was optimistic to expect them to challenge for the title, anyway.

More importantly, United are only four points behind Arsenal in fourth. They've got Arsenal, Southampton and Liverpool to come in the next six games, teams that should all have eyes on the Champions League.

United's season, for one year only, will be defined by those games rather than games against Chelsea and Manchester City. It won't always be that way. But, for this season at least, a place in the Champions League will represent adequate progress for Louis van Gaal.

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David Moyes had four more points than Van Gaal at this stage last season. But the walls were already starting to close in on the former Everton manager after 10 games, while Van Gaal still retains the support of the United fans.

In fairness, the Dutchman has every right to say "I told you so." When United were beating Roma, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Liverpool during pre-season, he could have been swept away with the optimism of the fans and declared his team title contenders. But he didn't. 

He explained it would take time to get things right, pointing to his first season at Bayern Munich as proof. At Bayern, he remembered a 4-1 win at Juventus in the Champions League as the turning point. After a mixed start, they went on to win the German league and cup double and reached the Champions League final.

The result in Turin didn't come until early December, and they didn't lose again for three months.

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Van Gaal will expect a similar run of form when and if United finally start clicking. That would be more than enough to claim a place in the top four.

Van Gaal won't be immune from criticism forever. If United aren't winning consistently by Christmas, there will be questions about his ability to turn things around. United fans are, for the most part, very patient. But they also crave success.

Van Gaal is expected to deliver it. And this season, success will be quantified as a place in the top four.

And even after defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday, that's well within reach.