Wednesday 26 June 2013

Moyes's United Tasklist

David Moyes has been faced with a very difficult job: to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. As an admirer of the man, I genuinely fear for him in these circumstances. Although the United fans have vowed to stand by him at Ferguson's final speech, it's easier to get carried away in commitment with Ferguson on the pitch, after winning a 20th title, than to rally behind Moyes if the going got tough.  If Moyes is to make it as a top level manager, there's no better opportunity than going to Manchester United. If Moyes doesn't want his reputation tarnished, there's no bigger risk. Here's what Moyes needs to do.

Can Moyes change his mentality?
1- Be prepared to alter his mentality Moyes may come with this reputation of being a good 'underdog' manager, someone who will take obscure players and drag the best out of them. But this approach alone, won't work at the top level. From the off, Moyes must indicate a willingness to compromise his philosophy, and perhaps a couple of big money signings early on in his Old Trafford career, could act as a statement of intent. 

In addition to this, at Everton he made a habit out of treating every player equally, and ensuring there are no egos in the squad. Over the past couple of decades, United have relied on players like Cantona and Ronaldo, who are a bit arrogant. Moyes may need to change his treatment certain players, to get the best out of his superstars, that ultimately win the top teams trophies.

Key squad member - Giggs
2- Earn the respect of the older players And in particular, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand. They've been at Manchester United for years and the younger players will look up to them, so it's important that Moyes wins over their trust early. Whilst they are professionals, at other big clubs, managers have paid for failing to control the dressing room, such as Scolari and Villas-Boas at Chelsea. The likes of Giggs and Ferdinand will be accustomed to playing under Ferguson, and Moyes must take an element of responsibilty to make the transition as smooth as possible, in order to then gain the support of the rest of the team.
Aging Ferdinand
3- Find a long-term replacement for Ferdinand Vidic and Ferdinand are aging quickly, whilst the likes of Jones, Smalling and Evans don't seem quite ready to provide an immediate line of replacement. 26-year-old centre-back Ezequiel Garay may be a good investment. Last season, he was part of a Benfica team with a strong defensive record, that finished just one point below winners Porto, and lost just one game.  The only problem with this would be his price tag, as Real Madrid have a 50% transfer turnover clause for Garay, meaning Benfica only get half the money United would pay. Whether Moyes would be prepared to part with a big sum to bring Garay in is up for debate, but United do need a centre back; their defensive record last season left much to be desired.

Not cut it - Anderson
4- Cash in on Anderson Anderson's main problem is that his Brazilian, forward-minded nature doesn't suit United's system. When playing with two wingers, as United did for much of last season, it's important that the two central midfielders are able to hold their shape. Anderson breaks too far forward, on too many occassions.

The Brazilian has had 6 seasons to prove himself since signing for Man U in 2007, and he's not produced the goods often enough. His contract runs out summer 2015, and with Porto possibly interested, there'll never be a better opportunity to sell him. Whilst Anderson has at times added a dynamism and an increased tempo to the midfield, he has done so far too inconsistently. Moyes should bag £10 million for him now, and use that money towards bringing in players with more potential. 

Overpriced - Young
5- Look to use Ashley Young in a swap deal Why Ferguson parted with around £40 million in transfers and wages to sign Ashley Young is beyond me, with better quality available abroad. He only got 3 assists and no goals in 18 games for United last season, which represents a very poor return. With Wilfried Zaha coming in, his position won't need filling, so United can let him go without the direct need to raise funds. He could be a good weapon for bringing in players in future, as his contract doesn't expire until 2016. If United want to buy a player with big potential, they can use Ashley Young in a part-exchange deal, to knock down a price tag, and get a ludicrous £90k a week off their wage bill.
Thiago - replacement for Scholes?

6- Buy a playmaker Thiago, who had little chance under Vilanova at Barcelona last season, could provide a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes. Whilst Michael Carrick's passing range is impressive, his role incorporates a more defensive aspect, and he spends a lot of time positioning himself behind the ball to make interceptions when opponents are on the offensive. United could benefit from a player designed solely to be  looking for the space to spray balls forward and to the flanks. The underused Thiago, who will be looking to boost his 2014 World Cup hopes, would be the perfect solution.

Time to go - Rooney
7- Get rid of Rooney My opinion on Rooney has changed drastically over the past few months. I initially thought he'd be the eventual Scholes replacement, and drop deeper into midfield, as part of United's future plans. But now, I definitely think his time at Old Trafford has come to an end. He has disrespected Manchester United on so many occassions, handed in two transfer requests to leave one of the biggest clubs in the world, and is on £200K a week. Rooney's relationship with David Moyes ended on bad terms by all accounts, and it's difficult to see him being wholly motivated to play for the Scot again.

The rich clubs, such as PSG and Monaco, would be prepared to sign a blank cheque to bring in a player of Rooney's reputation, and perhaps surprisingly, Barcelona have expressed an interest too. United could get £25 million for him, and also save around £10 million a year in wages. As well as the financial benefits this would bring, it would mean United get rid of a potentially negative character in the dressing room, and send a warning message to the other players.


The most important thing, will be that Moyes hits the ground running. Included in his first five games, are Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City, all of whom are United's rivals. If Moyes wins 2 of those matches, and can pick up 10-13 points from his first 5 games, the United fans will get right behind him, which will make life a lot easier for him, and the fans would be able to put memories of Ferguson aside. But if he loses 2 or 3 of his opening games and gets off to a difficult start, then it'd be difficult to see a way back for him. Manchester United's season go either way, as Moyes embarks on the hardest job in football.







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