'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
SQUAD OVERHAUL
13) Moyes has started getting rid of the deadwood
100% potential. 0% return.
One of the characteristics of Fergie’s squads over the years was the extended and mostly unwanted list of players who mostly warmed the benches in the name of squad rotation. Actually, they were either too inconsistent or just weren’t good enough to be regular starters at this level. The most recent list included Anderson, Fabio, Nani, Bebe, Mats Deahli and others.
After getting a good look at all his squad players, Moyes quickly got down to the clean-up job. Anderson was shipped to Florence while Fabio moved to Cardiff. Nani would have departed too if not for his untimely injury lay-off.
14) Letting the old workhorses find their way
It’s time for them to pass on the baton
Ferguson left an ageing squad at Moyes’ disposal, no two ways about that. Ferdinand (35) and Giggs (40) are in the twilight of their careers while Vidic (32) and Evra (32) showed steep levels of deterioration last season. All these players have been extremely loyal to the club and the fans adore them, which makes their departure trickier for the manager to handle.
Moyes has managed it quite well. Vidic has signed a deal with Inter, Giggs is being transitioned into a coaching role, Ferdinand has been eased out and with Moyes in pursuit of Leighton Baines or Luke Shaw, the writing is on the wall for Patrice Evra.
15) Moyes has a good sense of scouting
Will they play together next season?
His first targets in the United hot-seat included Cesc Fabregas, Ander Herrera, and Fabio Coentrao, all three of whom he pursued persistently but eventually to no avail.
He then shifted focus to local talent in the form of Fellaini, who unfortunately hasn’t been able to replicate the form he displayed last season. In January, however, Moyes pulled off a coup by signing the world-class Juan Mata, who has recently started showing glimpses of his natural ability.
Toni Kroos has been heavily linked to United for a summer switch. Even at Everton, Moyes was known for his shrewd sense of the transfer market (Tim Cahill, Baines, Jagielka, Arteta to name a few).
16) He is the right man to spend the summer kitty
With an estimated 100 million cash purse available in the summer, Moyes will have his work cut out. He needs to bring in world-class talent to make sure the failures of this season are not repeated and the Scot seems to be the right man for the job. He has made the right moves in the transfer market, although the end results haven’t been as he’d have expected. After almost a season in charge, he has a clear plan of how he wants to reinforce a rusty squad, and sacking him will undo all that effort and planning.
17) Moyes is working towards solving the midfield conundrum
The problem lies with the front row
Sir Alex was never able to replace his midfield marshals, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. Owen Hargreaves ended up being a very expensive (medical bills and free wages) potential solution. After Fergie’s departure, the acute problems in the midfield have been gruesomely highlighted and exploited this season.
Neither did Sir Alex ever explicitly accept this problem nor did he show any urgency to do something about it. Moyes, on the contrary, has been at it from day one. A combination of factors prevented him from making any desired signing last summer and he would be itching to strengthen his midfield before the start of next season.
