The Sir Alex Ferguson era is over, and the David Moyes era officially starts on Saturday. What happens next? It’s a tough one.
What happened last season
Sir Alex Ferguson could not have asked for a better send-off. Manchester United’s 20th league title was sewn up in April and, in truth, they never looked like finishing anywhere but on top of the Premier League.
Sparked by the masterstroke purchase of Robin van Persie and the flourishing of Michael Carrick, United were simply brilliant.
Particularly given the perception of a weaker squad that was rated nowhere near as highly outside of Old Trafford than the wily old gaffer who assembled it.
The lowlight was the club’s bitter exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
And all that came before it was coloured by Ferguson’s decision to call it quits not long after securing the title. He gave handpicked-successor David Moyes the nod, and that’s where we are today.
What happened in the off-season
Ferguson out, Moyes in is obviously the big one – but there haven’t been too many others at time of writing.
Uruguayan defender Guillermo Varela, 20, comes in from Penarol as the only new signing. T
here’s also Wilfred Zaha, bought from Crystal Palace by Ferguson last season, the raw and exciting talent that could be anything.
And perhaps the return of Nemanja Vidic from a long injury lay-off feels a bit like a new signing. But the lack of activity is not for a lack of trying.
United has made moves for the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Cesc Fabregas but so far, to no avail.
Then there’s the circus surrounding Wayne Rooney, who is definitely not for sale, according to Moyes, but is making the kind of noise only made by guys who want to be.
How Moyes deals with the moody marksman could go a long way to deciding how his first year at the helm will go – leave Rooney festering like this for much longer and he will be a poison in the dressing room, if he isn’t already.
Why Manchester United fans should be excited about the 2013/14 season
The way some people are talking, it’s as if David Moyes has never coached in the Premier League before and that United will almost certainly have the title wrestled off them by Jose 2.0 or City.
It’s rubbish. Moyes was at Everton for 11 years – he may not know how to deal with the idiosyncrasies of life as head of one of the world’s biggest sporting organisations, but he can damn well coach at this level.
He’s shown how to make a little bit of transfer money go a long way, so imagine what he could do with Sir Alex’s old kitty.
And Manchester United, in case it’s been forgotten, were nearly four wins clear on top of the ladder last year – with arguably a very weak squad by Manchester United standards.
That squad will almost certainly be improved by the close of the transfer window, so there’s plenty to be excited about – particularly when the club’s anticipated rivals at the top end of the table, Chelsea and City, are also experiencing managerial change after periods of chaos.
None of this is to be dismissive of the fact that United is entering the great unknown.
This is, indeed, the club’s biggest challenge in a quarter of a century. But there is also no need for panic stations – not yet, anyway.
The main man that can carry Manchester United 2013/14 hopes
Robin van Persie, the silver fox. It’s hard to believe there were once doubters of his move to Old Trafford, but he ended up carrying United on his broad, 29-year-old Dutch shoulders through some of the biggest moments last season.
30 goals and nine assists was enough, for some, to move RVP up next to Messi and Ronaldo on the list of ‘best footballers in the game right now’ with a bullet.
He is the best striker in England and if he can replicate last season’s feats by delivering the goods in the early part of what looms as a difficult season, United will go close to back-to-back titles.
Verdict
Title contenders. Many are tipping Manchester United to slide to third but it is a foolish move to write off this club in the Premier League.
The feeling of trepidation is natural and justified. But assuming Moyes doesn’t make a meal of this once-in-a-lifetime chance to manage the world’s biggest club, and he’s able to bring in a top-line midfielder and – if need be – a top-line striker to replace want-away Rooney, there’s no reason why United won’t go very, very close to title number 21.
Much hinges on the opening weeks of the season, when the Red Devils encounter Swansea (away), Chelsea (home), Liverpool (away) and City (away) before the end of September.
It’s an incredibly tough run for a new manager but if Moyes can get through that baptism of fire relatively unscathed, then the doubters start to look silly all of a sudden.
Manchester United will again rely on the strikepower of Robin van Persie up front.
Evergreen Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs.
Aleks Duric
Roar Guru
Whilst I'm not enamoured by Moyes, I think he's a solid enough manager to keep the ship afloat. I'm not too fussed that we haven't made a 'marquee' signing. I think there's enough quality across the squad to match it with Chelsea and City. In De Gea we have a superstar keeper whose only 21 and will continue to improve. He has future best keeper in the world tattooed on his forehead. RVP is one of the best strikers on the planet. The backline has amazing quality, and if Vidic stays fit, is without doubt the best defence in the competition. It all comes back to midfield. And to be honest I don't think we need to go crazy. Personally I'd love to see Fellaini wearing the red. He's not Cesc, Thiago etc. But he is a proven EPL performer. Very physical and combative, a knock on recent United teams. Knows Moyes. Can alternate between advanced midfield (and score goals) or play in his perferred rearguard position (which is where we need him most). Plus he's only 25. Thrown him into the mix, and if Kagawa performs to his potential, I'm confident of a repeat.
j binnie
Guest
Ian - Hving a best friend who operated at the highest level of Scottish football in the 50's through the 70's I think I can tell you Scotland's football decline didn't start on the field, it was at the highest level of administration that the rot set in just like was experienced here in the decline of the NSL. jb
Ian
Roar Pro
Thanks for that JB Those were some good times. Its such a shame to see the state of the state of the game in Scotland digress so much. Lets hope that the renaming and reconstruction of the divisions helps to push it along although the big problem is the lack of sponsorship backed with a better tv deal Cheers Ian
j binnie
Guest
Ian -Thanks for the link. Some interesting stories behind those named,Shankly,Busby and Stein all being born in mining villages only miles apart. Mc Lean,,who many reckoned had the best football brain of them all (but a temper to match) ,should actually be listed with Fergie as the men who broke the Rangers/Celtic stranglehold on Scottish football. for like Stein he only used local players in his Dundee United team. Hope this is of some interest. Thanks again jb
Ian
Roar Pro
JB , there sure have been a rich history of successful Scottish Managers whose feats have unfortunately not been matched by the national team I am sure you know their names and achievements well ie Stein, Busby, Graham, Shankly and Ferguson plus other big one's I may have left out. Check out this presentation on the issue: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/921346-sir-alex-ferguson-and-the-top-10-scottish-managers Let's hope that this one doesn't let us down , Cheers Ian
j binnie
Guest
Ian - Thanks for the reply.I appreciate the "roundabout" of managers employed before AF, but don't forget Fergie ,during that "roundabout" time, was actually "serving his time", one may say, with not a little success,at Aberdeen,doing well in local & European competitions on only a smidgin of the budget he inherited at Man U. Busby would have been watching &waiting. You may or may not know but Alex served his time as a toolmaker in a Glasgow shipyard hardly the environment where one could be said to develop oratory skills, & Moyes is out of the same stock so I think I'll take your tip & wait & see how things pan out in the future,That old adage "time will tell". Cheers jb
Ian
Roar Pro
A huge club like ManU can't afford a manager to be on his L Plates, which he often seems to be with some really naive Moyes' comments and observations. I vividly remember the 25 year hiatus between League titles which included a revolving door of managers after Matt Busby's departure (O'Farell, Docherty, Sexton, Atkinson) with not much to show for it until the 1992/3 title, but the pain inflicted by Liverpool's successful years and 2 bouts in the second tier of the League. I am not sure how many younger Red Devil fans who have grown up in the Fergie era have much appreciation about that period.. I am hopeful as are you and the many other ManU fans around the world, but am very sceptical about this man's tactical ability against experienced managers like these not to mention those from the Champions League top clubs as well as his man management of stars bigger than he has ever managed before.. It may be a little upsy downsy for a while, but like you I will be patient and give him his due.
j binnie
Guest
Ian -Don't ever forget Sir Alex's baptism into the job. It is widely recognised in the football world that he was within 90 minutes of "getting the boot" before embarking on his record dynasty.You cannot really measure Moyes's "tactical nous" until he has been tried & tested using a totally different set of players from those he had at Everton, and there are many who would say that is a huge difference indeed.Plus the fact that just as Fergie had Busby and Charlton "backing' him throughout his tenure,Moyes has Feguson in exactly the same position.jb
Ian
Roar Pro
The jury is out on Moyes to see if he has the tactical nouse to match it with the likes of Pellegrini (ManC) or the Special One (Chelsea) ManU fans may soon experience an unusual feeling pretty soon - pain - if he proves not to be up to it , as I expect.