David Moyes took the bravest of decisions to repair his damaged managerial credibility by taking the top job at Real Sociedad just over 11 months ago.

It was, perhaps, the only course of action open to him at the time given how badly his fingers were burned at Manchester United.

A win over Barcelona just a few weeks into his tenure set the tone but it’s absolutely fair to suggest that the victory over Luis Enrique’s side was, in hindsight, the high-point of the Scot’s first half-season in the Spanish top flight.

A summer break and transfer window would give him the chance to reassess the merits of the squad and refocus their aims, with a view to showcasing his Sociedad side during this current season.

Seven games into 2015/16, how has he fared? To be perfectly honest, very poorly.

Any little credit that had been built up during the last campaign has already been eroded.

Four of the seven matches have been goalless for the Basques and this against teams that arguably Moyes’ side would be expected to beat.

Now La Real face four of the top seven sides in their next set of seven fixtures. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he might not even make it that far.

Currently sat in 16th place, Sociedad are just two points ahead of bottom-placed Granada and need something, anything, to kick-start their campaign.

The much trumpeted arrival of €7 million (Dh29.22 million) capture Jonathas from demoted Elche has been nothing short of a disaster, with the player only registering one 87th minute strike in a 3-2 loss against Espanyol thus far. Hardly the right quality of marksman needed.

Did Moyes honestly do his homework on the Brazilian? A 26-year-old who is already on his 11th professional club in nine years and has never been prolific throughout that time.

In any event, it isn’t as if the team is devoid of talent elsewhere.

Esteban Granero is a player full of La Liga experience, Carlos Vela too. Getting Asier Illarramendi back from Real Madrid during the summer was also a huge coup.

Yet, despite the team having that fair sprinkling of star names, experienced pros and hungry young players, Moyes hasn’t been able to inspire. A character trait that was levelled at him whilst at Old Trafford.

The pressure of the two jobs can’t possibly be compared of course, but it’s clear that his methods are being lost in translation.

Moyes lasted just over 11 months in Manchester, a timescale he is just reaching in San Sebastian.

Already this season his team have failed to beat two of the three promoted sides in Sporting Gijon and Real Betis, failing to score in either. The third of the trio, Las Palmas, looms largest in four games’ time.

Why?

Because if Sociedad don’t return from the Canary Islands with three points, it could be a very unhappy anniversary for Moyes and a premature end to his La Liga sojourn.

— The writer is a freelance journalist and Spanish football expert