26 Feb 2014 22:00:22
Well, not many rumors around today. Anyhow, I would like to bring up the subject of David Moyes.

Most people's first choice last spring to replace Ferguson was Klopp. Mourinho, Guardiola, Blanc and even Solkjaer were mentioned as potential candidates and each had their own attributes. There were also a couple who wanted David Moyes to be the manager ( can't for the life of me recall who had Moyes as their first choice ) because he was cut from the same cloth as sir Alex.

He's driven, hard working, respected and gets the best out of his players. But that's not what got him the job, it was more about his ability to build new teams, like sir Alex and Wenger have done. We needed to build a new team, and Moyes seemed like the most capable in that particular respect. The board saw he had the needed attributes, hence the 6 year contract. But the Glazers, whatever you would like to say about them, are not stupid and neither is Woodward ( ok he is in football sense, but he is a financial genius ).

Moyes came after his holidays ( he was not allowed to join the squad before his Everton contract expires not because he's lazy ). We seemed to be going after unrealistic targets, but it was a clear indication of how he wants us to play eventually. We were interested in Fabregas and Thiago, 2 of the most creative central midfielders out there. But unfortunately, for every fabregas, you have a Baines/ Fellaini. Baines is a magnificent player, but he is the type of full back who will stay behind and fire crosses from deep, as opposed to the wing speedsters who will overlap and allow the wingers to move inside ( Evra, Marcelo, Alba. ). Fellaini was great for Everton, and one of the best midfielders in the division. Statistically, he was in the top 20 players in the top 5 european leagues. But, there's always a but. We went after Fellaini, overpaying for him, when better options were out there. Strootman is seen as a future dutch captain, and a Ferguson target. Axel Witsel is the most technically capable enforcer there is. Both of whom were openly discussed on this page, and seen as better alternatives to fellaini, and eventually Khedira.

Now, I'm a big Fellaini supporter, and I believe he is a great player, and might turn out to be a very important part of the team, but there were better alternatives. De Rossi is twice the player Fellaini could ever be, and yet.

When the preseason started, we were performing like utter crap. We lost 3 games, drew two, and won only once. It's okay, that was just the preseason and Moyes is yet to get to know his team. The community shield came, and we wre not at our best, and yet we won. We also defeated Swansea on the opening game, and all was good and rosy. Then the tough fixtures came. We played badly, but we wee not expected to defeat Chelsea, Liverpool, and co, especially since Moyes is getting to know his team. We defeated Leverkusen, played a wonderful game on our way to City, where we got utterly dominated. The calls for Moyes' head started, but some of the more sensible people were going to give him a chance, after all city is a better team than us. Then we lost to West Brom, drew with Shakhtar and Southampton and went undefeated for 12 games on a row, drawing 5.

We were starting to believe in Moyes. We defeated an all conquering Arsenal, embarrassed leverkusen, and Januzaj was making his breakthrough. Then disaster struck. We drew to Cardiff and Tottenham, and lost to Everton and Newcastle on the bounce. We went winless for 4 games. A couple of wins later, we lost to Tottnahm, got knocked out of the fa cup by Swansea, got defeatd, and eventually knocked out of the league cup by none other than Sunderland, got dominated by Chelsea, in a game where Samuel Eto scored a hat trick. We then lost to Stoke, drew with Fullham and Arsenal, and eventually crumbled facing the might of Olympiakos.

So, we're 11 points off fourth place ( virtually twelve considering Liverpool's goal difference ), knocked out of both domestic cups by minnows and we're on our way out of the champions league against the worst side in the competition ( it can be argued that we are the worst side of the competition ).

Moyes has done some good work. He got Mata, improved Rooney's form at the beginning of the season, helped Januzaj make the step up, and well that's it.

He has also been embarrassingly bad in some other aspects. He failed to get some of our long term targets ( Thiago, Strootman, Garay. ), crumbled to the demands of Rooney ( a decision yet to prove it's worth ), got us playing the worst football we have ever played ( in the premier league ), suffered more defeats than we ever have, take the talent out of Kagawa who was beginning to show his worth at the end of last season ( Sir Alex reckoned he was going to be one of our best players ), destroy Van Persie's form by making Rooney the center of our team, becoming a Rooney centrical team, get us knocked out of every cup competition we're in, and decrease the stock price of the club.

Now as I said earlier, the Glazers are no persons, and they will not be shooting themselves in the foot. They would never give a manager blind faith just because Ferguson said so. Fact is, Ferguson is a genius. His intellect is only rivaled by Mourinho in the modern game, while Moyes is your Garden variety over performer. He does not possess an above average IQ, nor the aura that scares the hell out of the players, both of which Ferguson was known for.

They must have put in a clause to protect their asset without having to pay over the odds to get rid on an under performing manager.

Fact is, with such showings, Moyes would have been pushed out the door by any top club in the world. He would have been at Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and so on. We are a club with more global support, and more investments riding on the line, than the aforementioned clubs.

I would bet that Moyes' contract has a certain performance related clause, that would allow the Glazers to release him without having to pay a bucket load of cash to do so. We'll wait and see what happens when it becomes mathematically impossible for us to get a champions league spot, likely to be in the next month or so. If we do not see tangible signs of improvement, I see him being pushed out the door before the end of the season.

Who do you reckon would replace him? I'd say bring back Meulensteen on a caretacker role until the end of the season to steady the ship and boost the players. He knows the club, he knows the players, and is very well respected.

In the summer, we would look at the availability of the " big name " managers. Klopp, Blanc and Simeone should be on the shortlist. If none is available, then I'd take a solid, experienced manager to leave the club in a better state for the new long term manager. Van Gaal is my first choice. Experienced, has a winner mentality, is proven at the top level, and will get us playing the kind of football we have been crying out for for the last couple of years. If not, then we'll have to take a huge bet and get one of Pocchetino or Hyypia ( Leverkusen's manager ).

Regulars and Ed004, who would you like to see replace Moyes ( if you lost trust in him obviously )?

{Ed004's Note - Fantastic post and have agreed with everything that was written. I know this isn't a popular opinion but Rooney should have been flogged in the summer and he should not have gotten a new contract. How good hindsight is though. I think after this season we should depart with Moyes. Ideally Klopp though I would take any of the alternatives. Main thing is we need to have a plan with the new manager and go straight for the players he wants. No messing around scouting players just go straight for them. IMO Moyes time is up}

1.) 26 Feb 2014
Very good post

2.) 26 Feb 2014
Great post mate, agreed with everything really and you got every point spot on! I'm so disappointed to see players like RVP frustrated as he was a great servant for the club last season and moyes has completely destroyed his form and confidence

3.) 26 Feb 2014
Completely agree with you both. I think last night, for me personally, was the tipping point. I really wanted him to succeed and turn it all around, but I just can't see it happening and we are beyond a joke now. I genuinely can't believe at how fast we have declined in 12 months. Kloop for me all the way, always was my first choice

4.) 26 Feb 2014
26 Feb 2014 23:54:58
Chaps,

The very second Fellaini signed on the dotted line, I was skipping through the doors into work (literally) the following day.
The fact you payed over the odds gave me even more ammo to take the mick ( in a friendly manner ) with my MU supporting work mates.
I have never rated him myself (and not just because I don't like his hair!) but their wasn't too much disagreement that he just didn't 'look' like he would perform in a red shirt as well as he has in blue one.

I have never, ever been a fan of managers immediately looking to bring in players from their previous clubs.
I am an lfc fan so have had to put up with the very same ribbing from my colleagues with some of BR's decisions, and although I would love your boys to carry on in the same vain as you have been, its just not going to happen.
I like Moyes the man, no comment on Moyes the manager.

{Ed007's Note - Can you please log-in before posting in future, thanks.}

5.) 27 Feb 2014
All this without the customary vote of confidence from the Board ;-)

Whilst I agree his contract probably does have some performance related break points I think sacking him after 1 season will almost certainly result in SAF resigning from the Board (don't forget whose chosen one he is) and, quite likely, Sir Bobby following suite. That would cause reputational damage to the club and brand so I somehow doubt it will happen unless SAF becomes convinced he's out of his depth. SAF is a stubborn old f@rt, so I wouldn't hold your breath.

I hoped Moyse would do it but he looks hopelessly overwhelmed by it and some of his decisions are frankly quite bizarre. Latest, last night trying to chase the game he only used 2 subs when Wig, who had his best game for us on Sat was bench warming. Why not take off Smalling, drop Tony V back and give us an extra body in MF?

Feel sorry for the guy as it's looking increasingly as if he was promoted beyond his level of competence.

Anyway to answer your question. Your first choices are sound though I doubt Larry White would leave project PSG. Your outsiders, Hypia? what makes him a better choice than Moyse? Pocchenno is easy to understand - but only if you speak fluent Spanish!

I would look for someone to give stability, who has a proven track record of building teams and who will bring through youth/ younger players and has a reputation for playing attractive winning football. Then see who applies.

6.) 27 Feb 2014
I am a Gooner, that is without doubt the best post I have ever seen, on any site.

7.) 27 Feb 2014
Sorry ed007

It definitely says that I am logged in.
I have checked again while posting this
Thanks

sivy1001

{Ed007's Note - That's you now buddy.}

8.) 27 Feb 2014
If we were to change managers I honestly couldn't see it happening until the end of next season if things haven't much improved. Although I agree the logical thing to do would be to go for a manager with the proven experience of re-building squads, playing attacking football, developing youth, and competing at the highest level etc. I would like to throw a curve ball and see what you guys would think. Eric Cantona. He has already said he could see himself managing united and knows exactly how he would go about it, and would like to build a team that plays the way he believes the game should be played. He would undoubtedly galvanise the club as a whole and I believe he has the exact character needed to succeed in the utd job. And I think he has that aura about him that would have the top players believe in him, one of the things questioned about about david moyes. The snag, he has said he wouldn't want to manage the club under the current regime.
Thoughts?

9.) 27 Feb 2014
Great post Mick1 but I'll be the only naysayer I don't believe Moyes will be sacked, let's consider if he is sacked and we get . Blanc in for instance what happens if he can't get our prima donna's playing will we see the exact post next year?
I supported United since 66 we have been a lot worse
Stick with him if they thought he was the one for the job in the first place

10.) 27 Feb 2014
Hyypia? That's Sami Hyypia, right? The same Sami Hyypia that spent 10 years as a Liverpool legend and cried unashamedly on his final game for the club? The same Hyypia that described the Liverpool managers role as his dream job? You have more chance of signing George Clooney as a central defender than getting our Sami to manage you lot.