Be clear, no one is suggesting for a moment that David Moyes is not the right man for the job of Manchester United manager. He was and is a fine choice.
But it was never going to be straightforward filling the biggest shoes in English football.
There are mitigating factors regarding Moyes’ first season in the job. While Man United had just won the premiership at a canter, indicating a vintage side, the reality of the make-up of the team warrants a much closer look.
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are past their best with Jones and Smalling still unproven replacements. Paul Scholes is gone, Ryan Giggs turns 40 this year, Robin Van Persie is the wrong side of 30 and Wayne Rooney is sulking. Not everything in the Reds Devils’ garden is rosy.
Moyes is being paid handsomely to solve all these problems, and he surely will. Ferguson was the master of morphing one great team in to another while staying at the very top of the table.
While Moyes will be given time and he cannot be properly judged until he has ‘his team’ in a couple of years time, there are things that Moyes must change now, starting with himself.
It is natural for human beings to seek familiarity, and Moyes is clearly no different having transported his Everton backroom team and the returning Philip Neville to Old Trafford. He now appears to be looking to raid Goodison for players also.
This can be an issue where managers are taking a big step up as Moyes is doing. The danger is that you slowly turn the bigger club into the smaller one that you came from. There have been several instances where managers have erred in this respect.
Both Roy Hodgson and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool immediately returned to their former charges, Fulham and Swansea, for players. Hodgson signed Paul Konchesky to almost disbelief from the Liverpool faithful, and the fact that he was jettisoned down to the Championship after Woy departed says it all.
Rodgers spent an awful lot of money on Joe Allen and he has so far flopped badly. Playing for Liverpool is not the same as playing for Swansea.
Sir Alex did the same thing when he went to Old Trafford, returning to Aberdeen to sign Gordon Strachan and Jim Leighton, the latter of whom was an unmitigated disaster which effectively wrecked Leighton’s career at the highest level. Thankfully Ferguson was not expected to win the league in his first season in charge.
Man U looked painfully short in the midfield again on the weekend, and given that the prospect of Fabregas seems to have been a fanciful one, Moyes is turning his attention to Marouane Fellaini.
Fellaini would be a great addition for United, and there is no reason you cannot go back to a club for a player and be successful. The problem is the mindset of the manager who needs to look forward instead of backwards. Martinez is happily going to replace Fellaini with James McCarthy from Wigan as he attempts to mould Everton into Wigan, and so it goes on.
Regardless of the final day transfer action, David Moyes’ current mentality has been betrayed by his tactics and approach in the two big games he has played so far against Chelsea and Liverpool where ManU have drawn 2 blanks.
While people are clearly lining up to criticise, it does appear as if Moyes is still setting up an Everton team to play these matches with tactics and expectations to match.
Mourinho would have been delighted to take a point so early at Old Trafford. He has little to prove to anyone, whereas Moyes has it all to do. For Brendan Rodgers yesterday, beating Manchester United was a huge shot in the arm as he attempts to take Liverpool back to the Champions League.
Moyes has taken one point from six in these two matches, but it is more the manner of his approach that is the concern. United were possibly the better team against Chelsea, but it was a fairly toothless performance.
Against Liverpool Moyes is telling everyone that United played well but he is fooling no one. This is a Liverpool team still short of real, top-end quality in many areas, yet they matched and even surpassed the Red Devils. Sure, they were missing Rooney, but Liverpool were without Suarez who is probably far more influential for Liverpool.
While Moyes’ selection was fairly non controversial, his tactics against Liverpool seemed fairly pedestrian. Playing Giggs on the right – he could of course be a scholar of the Mourinho born tactic of playing wingers who cut inside on to their preferred foot – after 23 years of his playing on the left and occasionally through the middle did also seem slightly odd.
Saying how pleased you are about the performance when you have just lost to your biggest rivals is dangerous too, as Roy Hodgson found out at Liverpool. Ferguson and Mourinho can get away with that kind of tactic but not many others can. The expectations of the fans is far higher on managers without unparalleled track records.
Moyes quickly needs to find his own identity and self confidence in his tactics for the big matches with the Champions League looming. All the big managers have their own approach in this regard.
Ferguson had the occasional moment of self doubt, tinkering with his tactics, but in the big games he was generally bold and attacked. United are full of attacking players, and playing any other way would appear folly.
Guardiola is another who never waivered, playing only one way, coveting the ball and playing his own brand of possession-based football.
Mourinho generally counter-attacks in the big games which is often misconstrued as being negative. Mourinho is far smarter than that, he simply gives his offensive players – usually quick wingers – the platform to break quickly. That is very different from playing negatively.
Roberto Mancini fell foul of this in Europe where he encouraged a City team with players such as Aguero, Toure, Da Silva and Tevez to play containing football, it simply did not work.
Moyes needs to quickly realise that managing Manchester United in the big games is very different from managing Everton. The expectations are far greater, a point is no longer enough.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I think he deserves time James and like you say, Fergie is no mug. The problem is nowadays other than Arsenal where Wenger reigns supreme, almost no one gets any time. Even Fergie himself came close to the chop early on at ManU famously and there is no way Moyes will be afforded anything like that time given the club's current stature in the game. I think Moyes has a lot to prove and a lot to learn but there's almost no other way to learn than on the job unless you had parachuted in another highly experienced manager. I honestly think that they were looking at the next 5-10 years rather than the next 1-2. As long as ManU remain in the CL spots (I'm sure they will, others are not so sure) then the money keeps rolling in and they'll be ready to move forwards again. Whoever had replaced Ferguson was going to have it tough in the short term I think no matter who it was.
James
Guest
i am still not convinced on moyes. but having said that, he was a fergie recruit so that is what i keep telling myself. i guarantee sir alex thought about it longer and harder than any transfer he made and though he was never a tactical legend like mourinho, sir alex knew men like no other.
James
Guest
in 99 they got super lucky in the finals but also super unlucky in that they didnt have scholes or keane as they were both not allowed to play because of the stupid yellow card rules. and scholes and keane were a pretty good central midfield pairing. plus to get to the finals united were in a horrible group with bayern and barcelona then had to beat juventus and inter milan in the semis and quarters to get there not to mention winning the league against a very good arsenal side and the fa cup. so as lucky as united got with the 2 goals in stoppage time they had to beat everyone who was worth beating to get to the finals and didnt have their captain keane or scholes who were both in top form. sir alex should have won more but united were still consistently at least in the quarter finals, even with the silly foreigner rules there for a while (which forced schmeichel out of the team for goodness sake). no one has actually won back to back champion leagues so we are saying sir alex failed to do something no one else has done.
James
Guest
yeah sir alex underachieved in the champions league but he did win it twice and almost every year made it to the quarter finals or semis under him. i would have loved for him to have won it a few more times but to say he was found out is being a little harsh
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
All good points Vas. What do you think of Lucas by the way in the holding role? He's the most 'un'Brazilian I think I've ever seen but seems like the Liverpool fans have warmed to him a bit. He's never going to be a world beater but he does a solid job in there am I right in thinking? Completely agree about Ozil. Fantastic player, staggered Madrid sold him but I'd have bought a goalkeeper, a central defender, a minder for Jack Wilshire and a striker before buying him. Arsenal already full of good attacking midgets.
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
Steve, I too am an optimistic Liverpool fan who likes what I see so far. But the club would do well to completely forget about the first three games once the international break is over. The season proper starts at Swansea City in two weeks time for Liverpool. Despite our signings, I still get the feeling we missed out on a DM that also has a decent pass on them (ala Xabi Alonso). I would think the club could do worse than turning to our old boy Mohamed Sissoko, who is a free agent currently after being released by PSG. Maybe Rodgers thinks that position would be best filled next season hopefully with the lure of Champions League so that the best DM can be attracted to coming here. Arsenal made a massive signing in Ozil, who is top quality (Australian fans should not forget that). Still, I don't believe that Arsenal needed him, because they have the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey and Arteta who are all highly capable. I thought instead of Ozil, Arsenal could have spent the money on his old teammate Angel Di Maria, who would have suited Arsenal's play far better. Steven McBain, I'm not sure Spurs could have done any better than what they did in replacing Gareth Bale. They sanctioned Madrid to buy him, and then prepared by purchasing some high quality players ahead of the cash that was to come. Players like Soldado, Eriksen, Lamela and Paulinho are top class, while Capoue, Chadli and Chiriches are promising. That is a clear sign that Spurs is building for a solid tilt at not only the Champions League, but maybe the Premier League title as well. Chelsea and City have used their predictable financial power to bring in top quality, so not much else to say there. As mentioned before, I think United is in serious danger of missing out on the top 4. All their competitors have bought well, and with exception to Liverpool, all of them currently have superior squads. Liverpool I feel still need that DM and a new winger in January that can really propel them to their target of top 4 and beyond.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I must admit I think Liverpool are definitely going in the right direction and I think Rogers will be a great manager if he's given time and people are realistic. I think he's strengthened the team well this Summer and the squad looks a LOT stronger than last year agreed. Suarez will have a good season I'm sure with the World Cup coming up in Brazil which will be very important for him. I'm actually an AVB fan myself BUT I think he's added a lot of numbers but not necessarily the quality to break the glass ceiling. I also think they have a huge mental block regarding Arsenal. I think Spurs needed to buy 2 or 3 VERY good players, not 6-8 good ones. I think the top 3 will be the same as this year's, just not sure of the order. I reckon you'll push Arsenal hard for 4th but think they'll make it as they always seem to. I have Spurs down for 6th. Cheers for reading the article and for the comments, plenty to think about. Good luck for the season also, the Liverpool fans have been bloody loyal through the bad times, you deserve a bit coming your way I reckon............
Ian
Roar Pro
IMO Brendan Rodgers out-coached Moyes on Sunday tactically. Liverpool hired him for this reason. . But I agree that Moyes does need some time to stamp his authority and style on the team
Steve
Guest
As a Liverpool fan all my life, this is the first season in 7 or 8 years that I can be confident in Liverpool's chances of a top 4 finish. They have had a very good transfer window, addressing their achilles heel from last year which was their defence. They never had problems scoring goals and creating chances last season it was defending. Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sahko, Ally Cissoko are excellent signings for them as was keeper Simon Mingolet. Retaining Luis Suarez is also a massive bonus that I really wasn't expecting a few months ago. If there is any team capable of a jump into the top 4 I am confident Liverpool can achieve it. Im not convinced of AVB and Spurs even after all their signings, I sense a season of disunity and unhappiness trying to keep all their signings and last years players happy and giving them sufficient playing time. While Ozil is an excellent signing for Arsenal and for the Premeir League, Im not sure he will be enough. I think another season of scraping and fighting for 4th place will see the end of Wegner. I don't believe Arsenal can win the title, nor am I convinced they are a genuine top 4 team this year even picking up Ozil yesterday. At this early point of the season and after the close of the transfer window yesterday, my top 4 prediction is Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool with Arsenal just getting past United and Spurs.
Andy
Guest
Klopp had previously been relegated. Klopp also wasn't hindered by having to compete financially with multiple super powers. Moyes has been forced to deal with Bill Kenwright and one of the lowest net spends in the Premier League throughout his Everton tenure. He has had some decent cup runs and always been very consistent. To write him off now seems ridiculous. It took almost until last season for him to develop a side that he actually wanted. At United he can do that in a couple of seasons thanks to their budget.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I was talking to a couple of Chelsea mates about Mata and there's a school of thought that he's just physically knackered right now, long season, confederations cup etc but that doesn't really gel with them apparently trying to sell him to PSG last night. Once Mourinho gets something in his head it's hard to move him I suppose. Kagawa I just don't get at all as it's not like there's a similar player to him in the United squad. Personally I think Moyes will be ok in the long run and I had them down to finish 3rd this year as I don't think Arsenal, Spurs or Liverpool are all that great and it would be just such a huge amount of ground to make up from last season. It does seem like a bit of the aura has gone for sure but they'll still be too good for most teams.
AZ_RBB
Guest
hard to judge United and Moyes too much just yet. Great against Swansea, nothing wrong with Chelsea match and below average at Anfield. They have a run of 5 relatively easy games after the Manchester derby, if they are to be regarded as genuine title contenders they need to pick up at least 12 points there before a date with Arsenal at OT in November. This Kagawa situation is doing my head in. Oddly similar to Juan Mata's predicament at Chelsea. Two of the best creative mids in the EPL and going by the dour nature of some of the matches their respective clubs have played it would be nice to see them work their magic sooner rather than later.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
That's a big call Steve but you may well end up being right. I think we're all just so used to them being 1st or 2nd it's hard to get your head around them being anywhere else. I certainly don't think their squad is great right now and you're right, I just presumed Kagawa must have been injured when he wasn't picked. That again shows Moyes' conservative approach which the Old Trafford fans not going to like one bit.
JimmyB
Guest
I would agree, but it's not the same as being found out though. It's important to remember that English clubs were banned from European competition for a number of years. It then took some time after their reintroduction to find their feet again.
Steve
Guest
I actually think United will miss out on top 4, they just don't have that almost unbeatable aura they had with Fergie in charge. As I said earlier, they have had a poor transfer window, and clearly didn't get the midfield playmaker they desperately lack. Why Moyes doesn't seem to rate Kagawa over a 40 year old Giggs is just dumbfounding to me. If RVP goes out for a considerable amount of time with injury this season, I think United will be in trouble.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Kinda agree with both points there. I don't think ManU will drop out of the top 4 for a minute but if they did that would be a fairly catastrophic result given they won at a canter last year. I think they'll be top 3 for sure. Moyes will need a bit of time and I guess you've got to start somewhere in terms of managing a big club. I actually thought Moyes was a decent appointment and could offer some continuity but you could be right and we're just being blinded by the 'insert new Glaswegian' approach. I think also there's a little bit of realisation of just how good Ferguson was domestically. That squad doesn't look that great to me yet they won the league so comfortably. Interesting season coming up, that's for sure. Cheers for the comments guys and for taking the time to read the article, much appreciated.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Cheers JimmyB. I do have to side with Ian about Fergie in Europe though. Considering their domestic domination, 2 CLs was a poor return. AND (and I maybe sound like a bitter Chelsea fan here....) they fluked a win against Bayern as they could play that last 120 seconds again 100 times and not have the same outcome and if John Terry hadn't fallen on his backside taking that penalty they wouldn't have won any! Anyhow all ifs and buts but fact is they DID win 2. The point I would make is the 2 times they won, they were never for me the stand out dominant team which considering the players they had is disappointing. The best performance I ever saw them have was the '99 semi away to Juventus but again it was just a swashbuckling performance inspired by Keane, not tactical acumen. At the same time Fergie should be commended for buying the likes of Keane and managing them all so well. He was truly the doyen of man management for me. Cheers for taking the time to read the article and for the comments, much appreciated.
fadida
Guest
Agree........but only if the manager has the potential to be good enough for the job. I don't think Moyes has that potential. He's shown nothing in his time at Everton to suggest he is, or will be an elite manager
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
fadida, I don't agree that Moyes should be sacked should he fail to finish top 4. The lesson from Ferguson and Wenger is that a club with considerable financial resources like United can turn it into trophies, but time is required. The exception to this rule are clubs with endless pockets like City and Chelsea that can monetarily subsidise success regardless of internal stability. To put it bluntly, if Moyes is sacked, then United will begin the same mistakes that Liverpool made after Kenny Dalglish left in 1990, which is a revolving door of managers in the midst of competitors seeking to take their place. And as I mentioned with Chelsea, City, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool all viable competitors for that top 6, the task to maintain United's prestige is a tough one for Moyes.
fadida
Guest
Failure to finish top 4 and he'll be rightly sacked. A good manager, but not good enough for this job. Klopp for one would be a huge step up. There are plenty of better managers but Fergie's judgement, which was failing over the last few years, couldn't see past a scottish mate ( see also recommending Mcleish for Villa)