United to Keep Faith with Moyes

United to Keep Faith with Moyes

Sunday, 2 March 2014

David Moyes is a man under pressure at Manchester United. That is absolutely obvious following an abject season that has left them well off the pace in the Premier League and on the brink of Champions League elimination.

United’s 2-0 loss to Olympiacos earlier this week piled more pressure on Moyes. It led to at least one bookmaker to suspend betting on the next manager to be sacked, while reports on Twitter swirled as to the manager’s future. The rumours about his demise proved unfounded, but the newspapers continue to trot out speculation about the Scot’s future.

On the back of Sir Alex Ferguson having been well-backed to ride to United’s rescue, the Sunday Mirror’s Simon Mullock moved to shoot that piece down by stating the Scot had no intention of returning to the Old Trafford dugout.

Ferguson has been a regular feature at United games this season, leading Bleacher Report's Rob Dawson to suggest he was casting a shadow over Moyes’ tenure.

There may be a school of thought that Ferguson’s presence at games is not helping Moyes, but that would be a shortsighted view. Having spent his working life in football, Ferguson has every right to go to games—especially to watch a club he is so closely connected with.

Ferguson’s presence at games cannot be blamed for United’s struggles. The issues are far deeper and will need addressing over a period of time.

At 72, Ferguson bowed out on a high with a Premier League title. It will take United some time to rebuild, and he probably doesn't want to devote himself to that.

If it’s not Ferguson, then who? The Sunday Mirror’s Dave Kidd suggests current Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal could be in the frame to succeed Moyes. Van Gaal is to step down from the Dutch national job after the World Cup, and he has already flirted with Tottenham.

Kidd, though, claims Van Gaal is keen on forging a managerial dream team with Frank de Boer at Old Trafford.

Believability Meter: Low

Van Gaal would surely jump at the chance of taking control at Old Trafford. But we just don’t see that chance coming any time soon.

United opted for Moyes last summer as Ferguson's replacement, and the club must have known that the squad needed an overhaul. That did not happen, and the team has struggled as a result.

The Red Devils enjoyed a sustained period of dominance after keeping faith with Ferguson, so they know the value of continuity. They will not tolerate a long period of mediocrity, but Moyes will surely be given more time to revive their fortunes—which makes a summer managerial change unlikely.