Letting Moyes Off: Another Perspective

I've seen to many views on this situation. Whether positive or negative (mostly the latter), it seemed like everyone had their take on David Moyes' sacking from his job as Manager of Manchester United. And boy did it cause a stir.

Most of the blame for United's dismal season is sadly but understandably pointed at Moyes, but that shouldn't be the case. Not only did Sir Alex Ferguson end a magnificent 26-year-tenure last year, but highly regarded Chief of Executive David Gill also stepped down to take a job within the English FA. The guy that replaced Gill, Ed Woodward, looked like he did not know what to do and it lead to Moyes' collapse in the market. So Woodward should get the blame just as much as Moyes did.

Fig 1. A repost meme. But it sure hell is funny.

I am not going to criticize on his amazing record, or praise for the few things he has done. I am here to shed light on a few things that should have worked but actually just flopped. Pardon me, may I?

How did you only manage to sign 1 player in the summer?

David's summer activity resembles a 14 year old playing career mode on FIFA, they'll just offer anybody rated above 85 big money. The difference IRL, none of these players were available for sale and he just looked like a goof dreaming on huge players. Cesc, Herrera, Song, Bale, even Ronaldo were rumored to be a subject of a bid, and all they end up with was an inflated signing of Moyes' old employer, a hugely talented an influential Maroune Fellaini from Everton. But...

How did the same manager make Fellaini suck?

Fig 2. Marouane Fellaini, clapping the amount he cost.

I stand here say that I was a huge fan of Fellaini back in his Everton days. What he lacked in pace, he made up with strength, height, vision, and technique. Playing as a defensive midfielder for his country Belgium and an attacking bulldozer for Everton, he should have been what United were lacking.

But 8 months on, he is considered a flop. Not usually the scapegoat, but of course seen as out of his depths. The thought that the same manager could not get the best out of the same player amazes me, especially when David knows him so well.

Why stick with underperformers?

Fig 3. Tom Cleverley, scapegoat for United's torrid season.

Young, Valencia, Cleverley, Smalling (you can add Fellaini as well on that list). The BPL defending champions better performances this season when these players weren't playing actually, yet somehow the new Scot at the helm keeps insisting to field these one-dimensional players, and leaving talents like Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez, and wonderkid Adnan Januzaj on the bench. English winger Wilfried Zaha looked promising in pre-season but instead was loaned out to Cardiff, presumably he fell out because of rumor he was sleeping with the boss' daughter. If that was true, it was probably the only reason why David Moyes still found a spot for Ashley Young in the team.

Didn't Ferguson have a worse first season than Moyes?

Yes he did. But Ferguson was not taking over a team of Champions. In fact, the 1980s were bad for United, seeing Liverpool dominate the nation, and, the continent twice. United weren't a good side back then, but Sir Alex made them good in a few seasons after that.

Davey here however, is taking over a side that has just won the title for the 20th time in history - the most for any club. He's taking over a squad filled with medals around their necks and the reputation to equal. From being defending champions to no European football the next season takes some effort, but Moyes here seemed to do it with ease.

Should the gaffer's tactics be criticized here?

Yes, but that isn't my biggest concern. Even if the tactics were lame and up until the end of April, Moyes still does not have a real template on how he wants his team to perform, the blame should be pointed to every player in the squad, equally. They have not only let the manager down, but the club, the fans, and of course, theirselves. In the big games, most of the players did not seem to bother and play to the occasion and let the other title rivals win against them with embarrassing ease. I'm not much of a tactics guy, but how David is lining his players week in week out, they are never going to win anything. I thought it would be sorted out January, but up until April, it never looked like it was going to improve or neither did Moyes looked bothered to try.

Did Sir Alex Ferguson make the right choice?

Fig 4. The messiah.

He did - for his personal gain. I am no conspiracy theorist, but has it ever occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, Sir Alex personally chose Moyes so United sucked on purpose? Because if United were going to play bad without him, everyone will think Fergie's a God. And face it, Ferguson always wanted everyone to know that he's the boss around Old Trafford. Just don't let him overtake the helm again to detract from any Post-Power Syndrom and doing a 'Dalglish'.

Who will manage next?

I don't know. You tell me. For now, living legend Ryan Giggs will caretake up until the end of the season. After that, it is anyone's guess.

But did Davey make any good decisions during his tenure?

If you are talking about mid-game substitutions, not a chance. His best decisions were made off the field. He made sure Rooney was keeping put after rumors of leaving, and it showed how much of an influence he was first half of the season. He also signed Juan Mata in January, a talented Spaniard somehow unused in Chelsea's new Mourinho regime. The coaching staff saga is debatable, but having the balls to bring his own team of trainers is a plus for me.

Fig 5. One of the few lights in this season's management, and Wayne Rooney.

I don't hate Moyes, it just did not work out. If he had time, he would probably have his own style of play with his type of players, yet it probably would not lead to success. After the Fellaini and Mata signings, the United board could not let this man waste their money again, and even though that is harsh, business wise is totally understandable. Moyes might have a good career in the future, and his Manchester United stint will only go down as a taint. Good luck for you David Moyes, we know you tried, but your tries weren't good enough.

A Predictable Rant from a United Fan

I 4-1 would not like to be a Manchester United fan by now.

Sure, not the most creative wordplay ever made but it describes what most United fans feel like right after their humiliation of neighbors Manchester City at Etihad. A poor performance from back to front, they were lucky not to lose more than the 4-1 scoreline suggested.

Fig 1. United talisman Robin van Persie

United were without lead goalscorer Robin van Persie who was injured. In his place, Danny Welbeck gets a start, but he was ineffective for most parts of the game. Manchester United looked very blunt without the Dutch striker and it seems at times Wayne Rooney was driving the team forward on his own. No RvP, no party.

Enough with the background. Let us start the ranting shall we?

Let us start from the most worrying aspect of the team; the wingers. Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young. One is more right-sided than a hardcore Republican, the other confuses a swimming pool with a penalty box. I am amazed how they are still getting game time when we almost lost the league last season because of our lack-lustured wingers. Valencia reverting to his old #25 shirt did not convert to his old form, while Ashley Young has done absolutely nothing since his double against Arsenal 3 YEARS AGO in that 8-2 win at Old Trafford.

Fig 2. Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, in their better playing days.

It is amazing how Wilfried Zaha and Adnan Januzaj, who impressed in pre-season, did not even make the bench. We still even have Nani, the least disappointing winger last season, and he didn't move from the dugout. Manager David Moyes should try and give these three players more chances then Valencia and Young. Heck, I saw the Indonesia U-19s match before this and their wingers were MORE effective then what I witnessed at Etihad.

Most United fans would argue that Shinji Kagawa needs to play too. He has shown what he could do back in his Dortmund days and glimpses of that talent came out last season when he wasn't injured that much. Marouane Fellaini sure is a physical player, but the Japanese playmaker would give the team more creativity - a thing that lacked so much in the Manchester derby. Kagawa isn't even a winger and I bet that he would have given a better performance than Young or Valencia.

Fig 3. Shinji Kagawa pleading his case to be played.

Our defense was quite terrible as well. You don't leave out criticism for the defenders if you concede 4 goals. The marking was poor, the efforts were woeful, and the organization was just as bad. Rio Ferdinand might have the experience, but his legs aren't quite what they used to be. Nemanja Vidic has always been a brick wall, but he was beaten time and time again by Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo. Not to mention the declining Patrice Evra or the unlucky Chris Smalling on left-back and right-back respectively. Moyes, again, has a lot of homework to do.

During the match, after conceding a fourth, in need of goals, Moyes decides to bring on Tom Cleverley for the ineffective Ashley Young. I think Cleverley is a great player, but not a player you rely on to make or score a goal. Considering Moyes had Kagawa, Nani, and Javier Hernandez as well on the bench, he puts Cleverley. What's worse was that was the only substitution David Moyes made in the game. It reminded me when England was trailing Germany 1-4 back in 2010 at the last World Cup, when they were in search of goals, then-England Manager Fabio Capello introduced Emile Heskey. A player DEFINITELY not known for his goalscoring prowess.

Fig 4. David Moyes looking sharp as ever.

At times like these, it is easy to blame the gaffer for everything. Sure, Rome wasn't built in a day, but the people would like to see progress. I am definitely behind David Moyes and his tenure here, and I would like to give him time to impress me. But if United keep playing like this for the rest of the season, he needs to change this team from back to front.

But credit is where credit is due, Manchester City had a fine evening. The interchanging of Aguero, Negredo, Samir Nasri, and Jesus Navas were great. They have the greatest spines in England with Joe Hart in goal, Vincent Kompany at the back, Yaya Toure in the middle, and Aguero on top. They will be devastated if they don't win the league, while United will be lucky enough to finish third. Congratulations to Manchester City for taking the bragging rights in town.