With Alex Ferguson’s glorious reign consigned to the history books, David Moyes has unveiled his blueprint for a new era at Manchester United in their 2-0 victory over Wigan in the Community Shield.

Some disjointed displays on the club’s pre-season tour to Asia and Australia, followed by Friday’s loss to Sevilla, had given the impression of a United squad struggling to adapt to their new manager’s demands following Ferguson’s retirement.

But there was enough invention and pace on display from the champions at Wembley to suggest Moyes will stay true to the attacking principles so well established by Ferguson over 26 and a half years at Old Trafford.

With FA Cup winners Wigan now plying their trade in the second tier after last season’s relegation, it was difficult to draw too many definitive conclusions from Moyes’ first significant outing as United manager.

One thing is certain. As Wayne Rooney tries to engineer a move to Chelsea, Moyes desperately needs Robin van Persie, scorer of both United’s goals, to stay fit if the Scot is to challenge for major honours.

Moyes sent out United in a 4-3-3 formation similar to the shape he used at Everton, but it was a far from rigid approach and allowed his attacking players plenty of room to improvise.

With Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley patrolling the central midfield areas with quiet authority, Ryan Giggs – nominally the third midfielder – had freedom to either drift wide or get forward to link up with the front three.

Van Persie started as the most central of those three, with Wilfried Zaha, the STG15 million ($A26 million) signing from Crystal Palace, lined up on the right flank.

Danny Welbeck began on the left, but played centrally alongside van Persie for long periods.