Manchester United parted-company with boss David Moyes on Tuesday
On Tuesday it was announced that Manchester United had sacked boss David Moyes.
The Scot had been in charge at Old Trafford for just 10 months.
The decision came as no great surprise considering that the reigning champions were seventh in the Premier League table and had just come off the back of a lacklustre 2-0 defeat at Everton.
Interim
The United hierarchy have decided to appoint Manchester United stalwart Ryan Giggs as interim boss, probably until the end of the season when the Red Devils can find a suitable replacement for the Scot.
Time
When David Moyes was appointed as Manchester United boss last summer, a common phrase being used by everybody associated with the club was that ‘David Moyes was a long-term appointment’. However, I do not think many could foresee that United would struggle to even make it into the top six, never mind the top-four.
Some have claimed that the former-Everton boss should have been given more time in the job, but in truth United were struggling to show any sort of direction or progression under Moyes.
Out of his depth
David Moyes never truly convinced as a Manchester United manager. He never seemed too comfortable in his new surroundings, almost star-struck, like he could not believe his luck at being manager of Manchester United.
The Scot did a decent job at Everton on a modest budget, but in 11 years he never won a trophy with English football’s fifth most successful club. The fact that he never won a trophy should have had alarm bells ringing throughout the Old Trafford board room.
Instead, the United board trusted Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgement and appointed a boss that had never claimed a piece of silverware in his career. Ferguson had always had a soft spot for Moyes and probably saw a bit of himself in his compatriot.
Maybe that soft spot blinded the veteran to Moyes flaws, which have been ruthlessly exposed during his tenure at Old Trafford.
Negative
David Moyes was a centre-back in his playing days and maybe that explains his negative tactical approach. The Scot’s main football philosophy seems to be solely based on containing the opposition, rather than concentrating on his own teams strengths.
Even at Everton fans were sceptical about this approach to the game at times. Moyes sets his teams up to be solid and effective. However that is not good enough at a club like United with big resources and an even bigger reputation.
Manchester United fans have come to expect their team to play attacking football and score goals, not a dull brand of football designed just to stop the opposition. Everybody in football knows Moyes favours a more cautious approach, so I do not know why anybody is surprised by the brand of football his United team have produced at times this season.
Just because he was supposedly working with superior players he was suddenly expected to become this adventurous boss who played attacking football.
Wrong
David Moyes was the wrong appointment from the start. Those United fans who asked questions about his lack of silverware and style of play have been proved right. The Red Devils always played attacking football under Moyes’ predecessor, so I am surprised Ferguson chose Moyes whether he is a friend or not.
I have to admit that I was very surprised when United announced that Moyes would be Ferguson’s successor. Compared to the names now being linked with the job, Moyes is not even in the same league.
The likes of Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, Dutch boss Louis Van Gaal, who is favourite for the job at odds of 8/11 and Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp have all got impressive CV’s and have all been linked with the now vacant position. I think Moyes would struggle to compare his managerial record with any of the aforementioned trio, or even that of Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone.
Right Man
Under David Moyes the team seemed to be going nowhere and Moyes did not seem to be trying to instil any philosophy in particular into the team. It was always going to be difficult for the person that came in after Ferguson, but United underperformed badly under the Scot.
The United board have to be careful that they find the right man this summer, as they do not want to become a club that changes manager every season after such continuity under Sir Alex Ferguson.
One thing is for sure I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson will have less of an input in the choice of the new boss this summer, because his judgement on last summer’s appointment was poor.
High-Profile
Manchester United probably should have approached a manager that had experience of winning silverware last summer, but instead they went for Moyes.
It is very unlikely that United will make the same mistake this summer. The next Manchester United boss is likely to be a high-profile manager of proven pedigree and history of winning trophies.
Big Job
The Manchester United job will still be a very attraction proposition for most bosses this summer, but the next United boss will have a big job on their hands rebuilding a squad that is likely to see a number of exits this summer.
With the right man in charge and the right signings this summer, Manchester United could be back challenging at the top of the table next season. This season may prove to be just a blip and this time next season, David Moyes stint at the club could be long forgotten.
Who should be the next Manchester United boss?
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