Manchester United have had a tough start to the season, not just in terms of fixtures but the results that have emerged.

Consecutive league defeats, an ageing squad and lack of transfer activity have piled pressure on David Moyes who has the unenviable task of building on Alex Ferguson's empire.

Pat Nevin was on Monday Night Football on Newstalk's Off The Ball to discuss the current blip and he believes that a poor season may not be the worst outcome for United.

"You do fear that they will have a tough, tough season but it may well be that Manchester United have to have a tough season. Then he can clear out and get the players that he wants to get in," said Nevin, before touching on a possibility which will strike fear into Man United fans.

"But the question is do Man United have to finish in the Top Four this season? The likelihood is that they will. It's almost unthinkable but would it shock you if they were squeezed out this season? That squad needs a lot of reworking."

Nevin believes Rio Ferdinand's legs have gone, while the likes of Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic are showing signs of wear and tear. But he thinks Man United will stick by Moyes even if the unthinkable happens and the Reds miss out on Champions League football for next season.  

Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku scored his third goal in two games for Everton last night. And with Chelsea's strikers struggling badly in front of goal, Jose Mourinho's decision to loan him out seems unwise.

But Nevin believes it is a technical decision related to tactics.

He said: "It was purely technical. The method they are playing right now needs someone to close down in a certain set way. Lukaku was given that task at the start of the season. But what I was hearing was that he wasn't taking that on board. In simple terms, if you don't do what Jose wants tactically, you will not play for his team as Juan Mata has found out."   

But Nevin believes Lukaku could have been a decent option as a backup from the bench.

Listen to the full interview below  or download the Football Show podcast on iTunes: