From Goodison Park to Goodison Park. A journey that was supposed to last for many seasons but that, after less than a year, has already come to an end. The chance of a career that faded right where it started from. This is the result of David Moyes' experience on the bench of the most important club in the world, Manchester United.
Yesterday, Tuesday 22th, the club officially announced his discharge as United manager. Rumours about Moyes being sacked started yesterday, and it's no coincidence that it came from the same source that announced Ferguson's retirement. This indeed is just one of the many connections linking Sir Alex to Moyes, because the legendary United manager one year ago wanted his fellow-scot as his heir on the heaviest bench in the world.
Almost one year ago Fergie was hoping to create with Moyes a new era of success at Old Trafford, but actually things haven't gone in the desired direction. Since last summer, when the former Everton manager had been consequently defined "the chosen one", Moyes has succeeded in 10 months to lose the support of 1) the press, 2) the team, 3) the supporters and eventually 4) the owners, becoming "the sacked one" or better, "the wrong one". This name has been chosen by a group of supporters who, fed up with United's horrible season, decided to fly a "wrong one" banner attached to a plane in the sky during United last matches.
BREAKING: Manchester United announces that David Moyes has left the club. (part 1 of 2) #mufc
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) 22 Aprile 2014
It's emblematic that his fall has come exactly where he had gained acclaim and respect, so much so to convince Ferguson and the Glazers to choose him as the manager of the most famous club in the world. Unfortunately, his homecoming at Goodison Park wasn't the sweetest occasion. In addition to being booed by Everton fans, the defeat against the Toffees has mathematically prevented United from qualyifing for next season's Champions League. This provided the droplet that led the Glazers to the decision of his sacking.
As I wrote in the previous editions of "The K point" on Tuttocalcioestero.it, this failure doesn't rely wholly on Moyes' faults but must be also attributed to the players and to the owners. The former have shown on many occasion to not be deserving of being United players, lacking the hunger, the commitment and the passion typical of Red Devils' glorious history. The latter haven't always given the right support to the manager and they haven't been able in several occasions to back him from a technical point of view.
However, at least the Scot has reached one achievement during his brief career at Old Trafford: the number of negative records. As well as United's worst start to the season ever, this year Old Trafford has turned into a playground for many clubs attaining wins for 30 or more years (e.g. WBA, Newcastle, Everton). The worst part of this record is that each of them has deserved the victory, humiliating the team at his historic fortress that is Old Trafford.
These are clear signals of a season that was born badly and that ended even in a worse way. Not only has the technical management and the play shown on the pitch been poor, but also the off the pitch management has been disastrous. And this was already clear in September.
Let's start from the transfer windows. Moyes spent the whole summer chasing big names such as Fabregas and Thiago, but ended up buying the only Fellaini at the very last minute, overpaying him. During the winter session everyone was expecting a revolution to fix the team, but the only purchase was Mata, who hasn't had any big impact and who was paid the crazy amount of £40m. If you sum this with the almost £30m spent for the Belgian midfielder you get a total a £70 m, which has been clearly wasted.
One of the most influential steps of Moyes' fallen has also been the media management. The Scot has been under pressure for most of the year, but in many circumstances he's just suffered the press attacks without a reaction and with poor after match interviews not in line with the Manchester United brand. The lack of character and of backbone (which has had consequence for the identity of the team on the pitch) is one of the things that got the supporters furious about him, forcing the owners and convincing himself to end prematurely his ambitious journey.
What about the future? For Moyes is very likely to be far from any bench for the next year. His £4.5 m six-year contract with United allows him to have a sabbatical year and to extinguish the fire that is surrounding him. In regard to United, Ryan Giggs has just been appointed as temporary manager (with the help of Paul Scholes), while this summer there will be a big name with whom they'll look to create a winning project and organise the transfer market. The name in pole position is Van Gaal, who will be available at the end of the World Cup with Holland.
For sure, United supporters this time are going to wait a little more before showing any banner, 'cause they are worried to be again "the unlucky ones" or better , "the angry ones".
