Republik Of Mancunia |
- Should Moyes have had more time?
- Moyes refuses to accept responsibility for dreadful season
- TRANSFER RUMOURS: Reus, Shaw and Fabregas
- RoM Reads
| Should Moyes have had more time? Posted: 23 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT Had David Moyes showed signs of progress during his first season as Manchester United manager it is likely that the board and fans would have shown more patience. The club were determined not to become a “sacking club” so persevered with Moyes longer than any other club would. To drop six places after spending £60m is an awful return and despite Moyes’ claims today that the squad needed “fundamental rebuilding”, these players were good enough to win the league weeks before the end of the season last year. There were some mitigating factors, of course. Robin van Persie was United’s star man last season and has been injured for large chunks of this season. It would be foolish to claim this didn’t have an impact and would have hampered whichever manager was in charge. Also, other teams spent wisely in the summer and brought in quality players to strengthen, so the sides United finished 11 points above last season don’t exist anymore. Still, whilst this was a “transitional” period for United, something else Moyes was keen to emphasise in his statement today, it’s important to remember that four of the six teams above us changed their manager this season. Of course, the manager before them hadn’t been in post for almost three decades before them though. But still, none of these teams have gone backwards, with the exception of Spurs, who are two points worse off than at this stage last year, after replacing Andre Villas-Boas with Tim Sherwood. You know, Sherwood, the fella who had zero managerial experience, but is still six points clear of where Moyes left last year’s champions. At the end of February, Gianluca Vialli said that “David Moyes, in Italy, would have been sacked three times now.” At the time, United were on 45 points, which is 23 points behind where they were at the same point last season. We’re not in Italy though and United wanted to set themselves away from the culture of sacking, and weren’t our fans proud of that. We didn’t want to associate ourselves with that sort of behaviour and the fan that circled a few weeks ago, with a ‘Moyes Out’ banner, was jeered by some sections of the crowd and met with chants for Moyes. But just how determined can someone be to stick to not sacking an under-performing manager? Where is the cut off point? For the fans and sections of the media, like Gary Neville, who claim Moyes needed more time, could the same be said if we were 10th now? 15th? Relegation zone? If we were about to go down to the Championship after a season of Moyes, would it then be acceptable for him to keep his job, just so we can say we’re not a sacking club? Where do you draw the line? Since I first became resigned to the fact Moyes was not ever going to be good enough to be United manager, as I left the home game against Fulham, I have repeatedly been asked what the club should do if this time next year, under a new manager, we are struggling again. ‘Do you want us to become like Chelsea?’ is something I get asked a lot too. Well, if over the next decade we win three league titles, a European Cup, four FA Cups and two League Cups, I probably won’t be complaining, no. But their short-sighted approach with managers costs money that United don’t have. There’s no forward thinking there but they don’t need to have it, as Roman Abramovich is happy to shell out the dosh. When you’re in as much debt as we are, thanks to the Glazers, you can’t afford to splash £100m every year without any consideration for five years down the line. But even with their numerous sackings, were Chelsea wrong to bin Scolari? Grant? Villas-Boas? Sometimes managers just aren’t cut out for the job. If United were to sack the manager the season after winning the double, as Chelsea disgracefully did with Carlo Ancelotti, then I’d be disgusted. If United sacked the manager because he finished 2nd after winning the title in the two consecutive seasons before that, as Chelsea did with Jose Mourinho, I’d be embarrassed. But there’s no shame is sacking someone like Moyes, like Scolari, like Villas-Boas, when they show no signs of being able to turn things around. If next season United have a manager who has experienced success in the past, proving that they are capable of creating a title winning team, then they will be afforded more patience than Moyes. Our former manager should have been at least one club away from being on United’s radar. His CV was nowhere near impressive enough. When Ferguson was given the job, he’d won three league titles, six domestic trophies and two European trophies (one after beating Real Madrid, the other after beating European champions Hamburg), in the space of six years. As champions of England, that is the calibre of manager we should have demanded when Ferguson left, but instead we took a gamble and it didn’t pay off. The next manager needs to have been there and done it before, and if he has, that means he deserves time to settle, just like Fergie did. If the next manager stabilises the club, brings in a few quality players, and gets the team playing good football regularly enough, then I’d be happy enough with a top four finish. As long as the club is heading in the right direction, then what we actually win or where abouts we finish isn’t of ultimate importance to me, as long as we’ve got Champions League football waiting for us. The sooner we can put this nightmare behind us, the better. |
| Moyes refuses to accept responsibility for dreadful season Posted: 23 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT Following his sacking yesterday, David Moyes has given a statement which has been released by the League Managers Association, which reads: “To have been appointed as manager of Manchester United, one of the biggest football clubs in the world, was and remains something of which I will always be incredibly proud. “Taking charge after such a long period of continuous stability and success at the club was inevitably going to be a significant challenge, but it was one which I relished and never had a second thought about taking on.” He added: “The scale of the manager’s job at United is immense, but I have never stepped away from hard work and the same applies to my coaching staff. I thank them for their dedication and loyalty throughout the last season. “We were fully focused and committed to the process of the fundamental rebuilding that is required for the senior squad. This had to be achieved whilst delivering positive results in the Premier League and the Champions League. However, during this period of transition, performances and results have not been what Manchester United and its fans are used to or expect, and I both understand and share their frustration. “In my short time at the club I have learnt what special places Old Trafford and Carrington are. I would like to thank the United staff for making me feel so welcome and part of the United family from my first day. And of course thank you to those fans who have supported me throughout the season. I wish you and the club all the best for the future. “I have always believed that a manager never stops learning during his career and I know I will take invaluable experience from my time as United’s manager. I remain proud to have led the team to the quarter finals of this year’s Champions League and I remain grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson for believing in my ability and giving me the chance to manage Manchester United.” Whilst you wouldn’t expect Moyes to admit that he wasn’t good enough for the job, he needs to take much more responsibility for what has happened this season than he has, and show some sort of understanding why the club had no choice but to sack him after such a poor performance whilst in post. The message throughout this statement seems to be that this season hasn’t gone well, but the reason why it hasn’t gone well is because any manager would have performed the same way if replacing Sir Alex Ferguson. He refers to the “challenge” of coming in after “such a long period of continuous stability”, as though that’s an excuse for us going from 1st to 7th in a few months. He also claims to “share” the frustration of fans that the results have been poor during this “period of transition”. The next excuse is that the squad wasn’t good enough. He seems to believe that this squad, you know, the one that won the league by 11 points a year ago, required “fundamental rebuilding” to succeed this season. Moyes needs to have a bit of pride and stop trying to excuse the inexcusable. I can’t imagine there would be any United fans demanding the title in the first year after Fergie, but the notion that this massive and rapid decline was something any manager of any ability would have endured is insane. I didn’t dislike the guy, there are no hard feelings, it is not his fault that he was never qualified or capable of doing the job. He didn’t even put himself forward for it, and no manager in their right mind would turn down the United job. But he wasn’t up to it and if he thinks he can hide behind lame comments about the squad and transition, he’s kidding himself. But thank God it’s all over. |
| TRANSFER RUMOURS: Reus, Shaw and Fabregas Posted: 23 Apr 2014 04:22 AM PDT Marco Reus – 24 years old Everyone's current favourite German and perhaps the most talented player in what is a star studded national team. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has been in incredible form for a number of years now. Having scored 57 goals in the Bundesliga for his current and former side (Borussia Mönchengladbach) he is fast becoming one of the more prolific players in behind the striker. Blessed with magical footwork, speed and incredible vision, Reus is the real deal. His performance against Real Madrid in the second leg of their Quarter Final, displayed him at his very best. Tormenting defenders and midfielders alike by drifting into space and having the confidence to take them on with the ball. Where would he fit in? It doesn't take a genius to see what Reus would provide United. First and foremost are goals, the side has lacked a regular goalscorer from the midfield for quite some time and Robin van Persie's injury this year highlighted the frailties of relying on only a select few individuals. Equally important is that he has youth on his side, a vast number of players are on the wrong end of their career and rejuvenating the team with fresh, young blood is a must. Chances of signing? It is no surprise that United have been linked with someone so talented, but when the squad has so many questions hanging over it in the summer, a mega deal for Reus would paper over the cracks and the more important issues that need addressing in the side. Given the club have just signed Mata and have both Januzaj and Kagawa able to fill similar roles, Reus seems a luxury rather than a necessity. Luke Shaw – 18 years old After a second consecutive impressive season at Southampton the left back has been nominated as one of the candidates for the Young Player of the Year. Integral to what was a very stiff defence for the majority of the season, he is a lock to be England's future left back. The defender has shown great maturity beyond his years in his play. Unlike most modern full backs, Shaw hasn't sacrificed his defensive capabilities for an attacking threat, he is capable of providing both and his speed is a big factor in being able to fulfill both commitments. We often think defenders reach their peak later than players further upfield so Shaw's ability at such a young age mean the sky is the limit for him. Where would he fit in? Well, he'd slot right into an Evra shaped hole that will be left this summer in the United side with the Frenchman on his way out. Having been such a consistent performer for the better part of a decade, Shaw will be expected to do the same as the man who he is likely to replace and perhaps for longer. He's dynamic enough to provide the same threat Evra had going forward and will able to provide a greater sense of solidity at the back than either Evra or Buttner have inspired in recent times. Chances of signing? As far as players linked to Manchester United so far, Shaw is one of those that doesn't any questions hanging over him about whether he'd join a struggling side. Southampton will be hard pressed to keep Shaw given the interest shown in him and United will need to act quick to acquire his services but there is no question whether the side can tempt the player if they so wish. Cesc Fabregas – 26 years old Prior to his move to Barcelona, Fabregas was considered one of the best central midfielders around. His passing, both vision and range were exceptional and he was the pinnacle of Arsenal's pass you into the ground style of play. Energetic and combative, he has a great abiliy to drive from midfield with the ball and also regularly found himself in the box to score plenty of goals. At Barcelona his time on the pitch has been limited and he's been used as a sort of jack of all trades, his performances have suffered but there is no doubting the quality of the player. Goals, assists, ability to keep possession and be the catalyst for attacks, they're vital attributes for any player that is going to feature in a midfield that wants to challenge for the title and Fabregas fits the mould. Where would he fit in? Fabregas would be seen as the Paul Scholes successor. It is no wonder he was targeted this past summer, presumably to fill that role. Michael Carrick provides excellent cover in midfield in terms of acting as a screen for the defence but he lacks the energy and drive to really influence the attack, whilst Fellaini arguably lacks the talent to do so. Fabregas would be the perfect compliment to Carrick and should the club sign him they'd be getting a player that is already experienced in playing at the elite of English and European football. Chances of signing? You'd imagine any deal for Fabregas is heavily reliant on the impending appeal against Barcelona's transfer ban. Whilst it may seem strange to go from Barcelona to Manchester in the current climate, a lack of playing time and being used out of position hasn't helped Fabregas settle at his former club as well as he'd have hoped. Coupled with being on the receiving end of criticism from his own fans might just be enough to push Fabregas out of the club this summer. |
| Posted: 23 Apr 2014 03:24 AM PDT Scott talks to BT Sport about Moyes’ sacking. Scott writes for The Metro about the temporary appointment of Giggs. The Guardian discusses possible replacements. The Telegraph reports on the return of the Class of ’92. The Independent talks about Keane’s accusations for United players. |
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