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If I post this after Manchester United have dropped a few points you would think I am jumping onto the ‘David Moyes has too big a shoe to fill’ bandwagon too early. If I post this after United come out blazing in the first few games of the season then I’ll be a pessimistic lunatic.
Now is as good a time, this summer, as I can think of. I, like many other United fans, have watched (more like ‘read’) an eventful summer of activity unfold, hoping things will be set right before we embark on arguably the toughest defence of the ‘Champions’ tag in the last 20 years.
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As reassuring as Robin Van Persie’s “clear favourites” comment is, here’s a list of three mistakes I wish United had remedied before the season kick off:
Sir Alex not sorting out the ‘Wayne Rooney’ business before he handed over the reins
Putting the team before any star player is classic Ferguson. He got it right over and over again. But this one I am not so sure of. While Rooney’s popularity (both among the fans and the dressing room) was never going to return to pre “United lacks ambition” days, you cannot argue with his all round usefulness and commitment on the pitch.
You throw in the successful arrival of van Persie and Ferguson’s apparent lack of ‘love’, and surely Rooney was bound to feel threatened. While this may have been Ferguson’s way of giving back for all the tantrums of 2010, it surely has put David Moyes in a very sticky situation.
To begin with, Moyes and Rooney weren’t exactly best of friends after Rooney’s departure from Everton for United.
Nobody disagrees with the new manager’s comment about, “We need Rooney if Robin gets injured” but most United fans will agree it was completely unnecessary to say that out loud in a press conference.
He showed his hand a little too early and it’s almost got to a point of no return. I said ‘almost’ because I am still hopefully that Rooney stays. What I wish Moyes does is get Rooney around to playing a different role than the central striker’s role that he craves.
He still is very effective in the ‘hole’ or in the centre of the pitch. Don’t tolerate his tantrums but shower him with the occasional accolade and recognition he surely deserves. Something I wish Sir Alex had done more often in the last year of his spectacular career.
No continuity but also nothing new
First of all, the fact that so many of the Ferguson-era backroom staff were let go or allowed to go baffles me no end.
A lot of commentators looked at it as David Moyes stamping his authority but it leaves me more than a little nervous. United is a club with very different set of ambitions than Everton. I don’t doubt David Moyes and his crew but Everton punching above it’s weight consistently is not the same thing as delivering the knockout punch.
Even with Ryan Giggs taking on a larger role and Phil Neville back among his old chums, it’s not going to feel like the old dressing room. Retaining some of the old guard would have provided cushion to the new team during this transition and most importantly, some insight into Ferguson’s model of working which brought United so much success.
Anyway, now that David Moyes has stamped his authority, we can only look forward. And part of that would have been to look out for a quality assistant coach, especially someone with an impressive continental football experience.
United’s performance in Champion’s League has been far from satisfactory last couple of years. The last time we looked assured was when Carlos Queiroz was assistant to Sir Alex. I don’t want to take anything away from Mike Phelan or Ferguson himself, but there have been times in the last few years when they could do with a newer thought process especially in big Champions League games.
Even the smaller clubs (Swansea, Southampton, Wigan) in England are taking the lead in changing their old ways. While David Moyes is similar to the young Ferguson, he may not turn out to be the same. A little ‘outside’ help would have done no harm.
Did not target realistic transfer target early on
When I first read the ‘Cesc Fabregas’ story, I was like really? This is very unlikely to happen! (I’ll be happy to chew my words even this late in the game)
You would have thought that the new manager would also fervently pursue a ‘Plan B’ early on. Luka Mordic is not Cesc Fabregas but would not have looked out of place. Fellaini and Carrick dominating the middle of the pitch is a thought I relish. But United never made a strong bid for either of these targets early on. Or any others.
Now, United looks desperate, something that will not go amiss on the selling clubs. And second the ‘Plan B’ target knows he is ‘Plan B’, which is never a good thing.
It didn’t help that there is a new man in charge of transfers too. Overall, to say that it’s been a disappointing summer for United won’t be incorrect. I would like to think that it’s not all doom and gloom if a marquee signing doesn’t arrive. If Rooney stays, Carrick has an injury free season and Moyes is able to get Kagawa to perform anywhere close to his Dortmund days, we may still salvage the season.
Wish we had this all sorted before kick-off tomorrow.
