Manchester United fans' undying support will help David Moyes become a better manager

Moyes has received tremendous support from the Manchester United fans

Sir Alex Ferguson called time on his glittering managerial career last season and one of the standout statements of his retirement speech after the 2-1 win over Swansea was “I would like to remind you this club stood by me in bad times, the players and the staff. Your job now is to stand by the new manager.” The Old Trafford faithful did just that throughout the season most notably in the the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa even while the plane baring the banner “Wrong One – Moyes Out” flew over the Theatre of Dreams.

I had previously written an article expressing my fears about the supporters losing faith in David Moyes but I forgot one important thing. They’re not just any kind of supporters. They’re Manchester United supporters who have a bond with this great club until death. The true fans will never turn their backs on the club and it can be safely said that the ridiculous plane protest spectacularly failed.

David Moyes received a brilliant reception from the Old Trafford faithful as he was walking to his dugout and even received a reassuring hug from one of the fans. Shortly after the game commenced, the plane flew over Old Trafford but instead of being meet by cheers from the fans it only got boos.

The Red Devils supporters showed how much respect they had for their battered manager when they chanted ‘One David Moyes’ as the plane completed its round. The group of supporters who hired the plane failed in their mission of turning their fellow supporters against Moyes. Instead, they unwittingly managed to strengthen the bond between the Scot and the Old Trafford faithful. The former Everton boss is now more determined than ever to repay the Manchester United fans’ faith in him.

Manchester United fans have always been a special bunch unlike fans of Chelsea who directed hostilities towards their former manager Rafael Benitez due to his previous association with Liverpool or Real Madrid fans who recently booed star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who was literally worshiped during his time at Old Trafford. These amazing fans can give David Moyes the confidence he needs to manage a club like Manchester United.

A couple of fans did rush over to tear down the “Chosen One” banner during the humiliating defeat against Manchester City but they only acted out of spite. Witnessing back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City, who are two of United’s biggest rivals is a very painful thing to watch and it can take its toll on even the most loyal supporters.

Liverpool fans had a field day at Old Trafford a few weeks ago when they saw their team hammer United 3-0. The Scousers unfurled a banner reading “David Moyes is a football genius” to taunt the home supporters. It is true, Scousers. David Moyes is a true football genius. No ordinary manager can succeed in keeping Everton in the top five every season on a shoe string budget. The 50-year-old built an excellent Everton team who were extremely difficult if not impossible to beat at home.

Moyes’s team’s stats from last season are indeed impressive. The 50-year-old managed to win 12 games, draw 6 and lost just 1 match at Goodison Park last season which proves what a good team he made the Toffees at home. Moyes’s away record was less impressive winning 4 games, drawing 9 and losing 6 but his team always went down fighting when they were down. The Toffees even came back and held United to a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford two years ago.

The Scot was a good manager at Everton and is capable of becoming a great one at Manchester United. Of course, Moyes cannot manage Manchester United, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world, the same way he managed Everton. The man chosen to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson made quite a few tactical errors this season but can learn from his mistakes.

Legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said: “The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.” The many failures Moyes has experienced in his first season can help him become a better manager. Moyes is no quitter and has not backed down in spite of the numerous criticisms that have come his way which shows his strength as a character.

The Scot may have broken the wrong kind of records but has also set some positive ones. No other Manchester United manager has been more successful than Moyes in their first few games in charge, United had their best away win in Europe after more than a century under the Scot. And to top it off, Moyes is the only Manchester United manager to win a trophy in his first game in charge. Other positive records can and will be broken by David Moyes in the coming years.

Manchester United has now fallen much like Rome did in the medieval ages but can rise again. The legendary Italian city was not built back in a day so Manchester United need to give David Moyes a little time to rebuild the great club and make it a force once more. When that time comes Manchester United will be a name to fear once again.