Here's what we learned from Manchester United's 2013 pre-season

With three loses, two wins, as many draws and a Community Shield, Manchester United’s first preseason under new gaffer David Moyes has been a mixed bag at best. Many might argue that a preseason tour is nothing more than a workout and a means to fulfill the club’s commercial commitments. But United’s 2013 tour has been under scrutiny as fans around the world, including yours truly, have wanted to see how the club fares under the new regime. Here are five things we have learned from Manchester United’s preparations to defend the title this season. Style of Play Not a lot has changed in the way Manchester United play under David Moyes. The boss has persisted with the similar 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 formations, which depend heavily on wingers like Valencia and Zaha to provide width and put in good crosses into the box for the strikers. One small difference that we saw last night in the Community Shield was how Moyes decided to leave the left flank open for Evra to bomb ahead and act like a winger himself. This is quite similar to what he did at Everton with Leighton Baines. It is too early to guess if this is will be his signature tweak though, or if it was just a strategy for last night. [caption id=“attachment_1025841” align=“aligncenter” width=“380”]  Manchester United celebrate after winning the Community Shield. Reuters[/caption] A weak midfield and need to plug the gap It’s not just me, but everyone’s worried that barring the 20-year old Guillermo Varela, we are yet to see a new member added to the squad. This is no doubt the same squad that cruised to become Premier League champions last season, but the preseason has given us ample proof that there is a real need to plug a few gaps. Barring Michael Carrick, there is not a single midfielder in the squad that can be described as world-class. Tom Cleverley is good, Anderson has his days, Ryan Giggs can only play so many games and Shinji Kagawa is still slowly settling down. Now compare that, for example, to Bayern Munich which boasts the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze, Luiz Gustavo, Thiago Alcântara, and suddenly United look weak. It’s no surprise then that names like Cesc Fàbregas, Thiago Alcântara, Luka Modrić, Marouane Fellaini, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have been heavily linked with the club in the past few weeks. Signing one of them will not only plug a huge gap, but also allay growing fear in the hearts of supporters that after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirment, United suddenly don’t have the same kind attraction for players. Wayne Rooney saga Stoking the aforementioned fear is the Wayne Rooney saga and it is one problem Moyes could have done without. Rooney’s strained relationship with Ferguson was damaged beyond repair when the wily Scot announced to the Old Trafford faithful that the forward has asked to leave the club again. Ever since that day, the press has had a field day theorizing what may be happening behind the club’s doors and José Mourinho’s open stance that he only wants Rooney hasn’t helped matters either. Moyes, on his part, has had to field questions about the forward since his first official press conference. There is an urgent need to resolve this issue as fast and as smartly as possible before it starts having a detrimental effect on the team’s performance and morale. If the striker wants to leave, then the club has to find a suitable high-profile player to replace him before the transfer window closes and if he wants to stay, then he has to come out and state his intentions. Youngsters are proving themselves On the plus side though, the club’s youngsters — Adnan Januzaj, Wilfried Zaha and Jesse Lingard — have been nothing short of a revelation. They have impressed everyone with their eagerness and energy and many a time during the tour helped push the team to perform better. Januzaj is a genuine playmaker, the kind the club’s been looking for years, and for his age, (he’s only 18!) he’s very calm and assured on the ball. His Man-of-the-Match performance during Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial is a clear proof of his ability. Lingard has been doing well for the past two preseasons, and many feel this is his year to make a mark in the first team. He may have missed out on the Community Shield, but he was top scorer in the club’s tour around the world and that is no small feat. Zaha though, has been the one who has won everyone’s heart and Ferdinand’s comments after the match against Osaka sum it all up. “The thing that has most impressed me about Wilf is his raw ability," he told Man United.com “He can take someone on from a standing start. He’s quick and direct but what has surprised me more than anything is how quickly he gets his shots off. I don’t like to say too much too early but I think he’s a fantastic talent.” Moyes is the right man Finally, one thing that is amply clear is that Moyes is the right man for this high pressure job. He has taken on the Herculean task of succeeding Ferguson in his stride and hasn’t hid the fact that he’s still getting used to the magnitude of this club. “There has to be an element of fear that comes with managing a club like Manchester United," he said during the team’s tour of Asia. “It keeps you working, it keeps you focused and helps you try not to take your eye off the ball.” Moyes overhauled the club’s backroom staff to make his mark and included former club players on his coaching staff and help connect with his players. His approach has also not gone unnoticed and players have responded to it well. “The manager is hands-on in training. He’s a lot different to Sir Alex in that sense,” Michael Carrick told United’s official website. “David likes to be right in the thick of it and that’s good. It creates an intensity and everyone has responded to that. There is a great atmosphere around the place.” Follow the writer on Twitter @some_bit