This was sent to me by a city fan in the office today. I just feel there has been too many knee-jerk reactions recently
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is one of those times where the modern media really fails us as football fans in explaining exactly what has happened at Manchester United. I often complain that they focus too much on irrelevance and not enough on the actual business of football behind the scenes and this is an example of where it could have helped.
I'm not sure what anybody else was expecting here but Man United are right about where I thought they would be. I think they'll finish higher than this but their form is somewhat predictable.
United as a Club has completely fallen apart and it is the job of David Moyes to rebuild it. It has fallen apart because the Club in the modern era was built entirely to Ferguson's exacting standards and methods. Every single person in every department of the Club knew what they were doing every day and what the ultimate point was.
Clubs falling apart after the movement of a Czar isn't new. United fell apart after Busby left, Liverpool got worse the more contrived the boot room system became. It's natural.
I think United fans should remember the words of Ferguson before he left. He's a proper football man, as is David Moyes, and they both know the scale of the task Moyes has undertaken and the time it will take to bear fruit. United can either studiously water their crops over time to create a vast sustainable empire once again that will provide riches for generations or they can dump nuclear waste on their land and grow tomacco.
For me, the real test of the Glazers as owners starts today. You can talk about money and whatever but to most people it's an irrelevance, United have been ultra successful and the manager has been given what he wanted. So far so good for the Glazers. The test starts right now because we discover whether they are the seasoned and patient businessmen that the Edwards family were or just another knee-jerk bunch of tw-ats who are sacking managers on ridiculous timescales.
I think Moyes has certainly made mistakes, or rather a single mistake. I think he tried to transition too quickly from Ferguson's staff to his own staff in the first team which created unnecessary pressure on himself. This can be forgiven however as I see what he was trying to accomplish. He knew that this would be a difficult period of transition and he wants to snap it as quickly as possible rather than do it piece by piece. Managers often do lack patience in transition, AVB had the same problem at Chelsea. Funnily, Ferguson did the same mistake when he first joined too.
I see people who have called Moyes unambitious because he has said that United played well when they didn't. This is a man who had a job for life in a stable Premier League team where he was beloved and he decided to pack that in and move to the most famous Club in the world and succeed the best ever manager in the game, to take on a rebuilding job the like of which has never been done in the modern era of football. Unambitious? Do me a favour.
You see, Manchester United was a club built in Ferguson's own image and everybody took their lead from him. He was an imposing figure yet if you meet him he had this working class charm that made you want to fight for him. David Moyes is a similar figure but doesn't yet covet the same respect and loyalty from everybody at Manchester United. There's no possible way that he could, that anybody could, most of the people at United were directly employed by Ferguson or employed whilst he was the manager. In time, Moyes will have the same respect bestowed on him, that's all that it needs at the minute, just some time for him to get his feet under the table.
Continued in next comment.
Interesting view from a city fan!
posted on 9/1/14
If it comes to pass, I'll be sober and philosophical about it. If we end up with a points total that suggests we were very unlucky to miss out on the CL, that will be a mitigating factor. Similarly if there are hints that things are improving.
posted on 9/1/14
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 40 seconds ago
If it comes to pass, I'll be sober and philosophical about it. If we end up with a points total that suggests we were very unlucky to miss out on the CL, that will be a mitigating factor. Similarly if there are hints that things are improving.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, fair enough. Context is everything in these situations.
posted on 9/1/14
At the moment we're taking a two steps forward and then one back. TBH, Moyes to get a consistent winning run going and that will build up everones confidence.
posted on 9/1/14
**Everyones
posted on 9/1/14
other than a couple of 'stars', the players were pretty average in Fergie's last season.
Fergie didn't really get the 'best out of them', it's more that opposition and refs feared Fergie and Fergie's United based on past history rather than the quality of the current side. A dead and stuffed Fergie propped up at the side of the pitch would have been equally effective because that what was influencing matches, just his name and presence.
Once he left the myths and misguided fear vanished.
posted on 9/1/14
"But it would still be an extremely disappointing return if he failed to get into the CL places this season. When I envisaged a difficult transition, I was thinking about failing to retain the league title."
Ditto, I predicted third at the start of the season (which could still come true). As you said earlier RR, there is plenty that the average fan is not privy too so if he does underachieve on that target, I'm sure the club will know if that is down to mitigating circumstances or not. That is what I mean when I say time is not a caveat to fundamental errors if they happen.
posted on 9/1/14
younjust need to lower your expectations and accecpt a few barren, no cl years
posted on 9/1/14
Been a supporter if him from day one as sacking him is pointless. Im worried no doubt but thats down to the massive change and its going to take tine for moyes to have his team. After a defeat we all as fans say stupud things without reflecting where united are at present time. But the main reason im happy to wait is the fact fergie left him big problems eg midfield rooney etc and he deserves support and time to try and sort it out.
United will lose more games but now more than ever the team really needs our support - thick and thin! Moan yes, slate the players after a poor showing but the chips are down and we must shout 'united united united' louder than ever before!
posted on 9/1/14
Great read. BUT in saying that, having to wait several years for something to come to fruition (without guarantees) is a massive ask for a club of United's status.
It's going to be interesting to see if the Glazers dig deep and challenge for whatever player Moyes seems suitable to start the rebuilding process....Ronny deep would be a nice start.
I'm still of the opinion, Moyes should be given at least until the end of next season before a dissision on his future is made...I have little faith in him but he deserves a minimum of two seasons.
posted on 10/1/14
I was also sent this the other day too and it is a great piece by the City fan. He does make a compelling case.
However........we all know that 5 months is a long time in football. I will look back at this article with fondness in the summer should we fail to make top 4 and Rooney and RVP go on to pastures new.
Just like this season with the people who have done a complete and utter U-turn on Rooney........let's wait till the summer shall we?
If we fall out of top 4 and lose our best two players, we're in for a shocking few years, possibly even worse than this one. With so many players that already need replacing in this squad, the last thing we need is to lose our best two players and have to replace them as well.