In defense of David Moyes

Today, my lord, takes place a special hearing between the fans of Manchester United and their new manager, my client, David Moyes. My client has been accused of leading the club to an all time low. He has also been accused of lacking the winning mentality at United. I would like to rest my case in defense of my client.

Being a Manchester United fan has been all about winning trophies, all about domination, all about making comebacks and all about striking fear into the hearts of the opposition. Alas, gone are those days when a certain Sir Alex Ferguson use to lead his Red Devils out of the tunnel, into the roaring atmosphere at Old Trafford. When the dreaded hair dryer treatment ruled losing out as an option. The confidence brimming all over Old Trafford installed belief in the squad.

The season of 2013-14 saw all that change. There was a team, but there was no Sir Alex. Instead, someone else led the Devils out of their tunnel. The Chosen one, a man picked by the Scot himself. His name was David Moyes. With this transition, a new dawn had begun, rather a new era had begun. It was life after Fergie. There were a plethora of emotions and expectation flowing out from the heart of every fan.

Will he be successful? Will he lead us to glory? Will he be able to fill Fergie’s shoes?

The impact of his retirement was huge. The pressure to deliver on Moyes’s shoulders was immense, given the ruthless nature of his predecessor. Under him, Manchester United made the worst start to a Premier League campaign. The media got a scapegoat and a minority of the fans started doubting him.

As the season progressed, something unimaginable happened. Manchester United started to lose at home. This has never been an option in the previous era. The fortress at Old Trafford seemed breached. Teams like West Brom and Swansea started getting the better of United. Getting knocked out of the FA Cup and losing the first leg in the semi-finals of the League Cup only added salt to injury.

Manchester United describes winning. The expectation to carry on a legacy is even huge rather than to create an own. To walk in someone’s shadows becomes a nightmare, if you cannot break free out of it. The argument that Moyes has, but inherited a winning team has only added to his nightmares.

Moyes has the task of breaking free of Fergie’s shadows, leading the club to winning ways and build his own legacy at the club.

Yes, Moyes is not an immediate hit. Yes, he has not delivered as expected of him. The fact still remains that Moyes is a top-notch manager. He has the same work ethics as Fergie. He believes in the youth system (Januzaj being an example of it). He believes in the traditions of the club. He believes in stability and lifting the club to glory again.

“Believe” has always been a motto for the 20 times English Champions. The fans have always believed in their team. The players have always believed in the club. The managers have always believed in upholding the traditions of the club. United is a team in transition. A transition which is difficult and painful for everyone associated with it. To see a new face at Old Trafford, after a quarter of a century.

Building a football team requires patience. And patience is the only thing missing right now in the fans.

As Sir Alex said

“Your duty is to stand behind your new manager”.

Believe in the club, believe in the players and believe in the manager.

There goes a saying: “Old habits die hard”. Winning has been an old habit associated with the club.

Give it time, and Manchester United will rise up again. The English Premier League is a marathon and not a sprint. There is a remainder of the season still left.

Thus, I rest my case in defence of my client, David Moyes.#InMoyesWeTrust