The loss of Ferguson was always going to be hard, yet the hiring of David Moyes has simply made the ‘transition’ as difficult and painful as possible. Yet it was never meant to be like this. Or should I say, no-one
believed it could be this bad. 7th place and nine defeats after 29 games. They
only lost five games in the whole of last season! Yet this is a very different
United team. The problem for Moyes and the reason for the poor results is that he didn’t
and still doesn’t know what approach to take, the players know it, the fans know it and he knows it.
Wayne Rooney called it a nightmare. And he wasn’t far wrong. You cannot help feeling sympathy for Moyes. Is it just a case of being out of his depth, or out of ideas? It was a performance which highlighted the problems at United, both defensively
and offensively.
Let's first assess the defensive issues. United have suffered all season because of these defensive lapses, moments of frustration and simply a lack of leadership, organisation and control. De Gea has made basic errors, Ferdinand has been woeful, the list goes on. Perhaps only Evans can come out with any credit, this is a major concern for the club.
To concede three penalties in the game showed the team’s lack of
discipline; with all three of the guilty players highlighting their rashness.
Rafael and Phil Jones are young, energetic and completely lacking in discipline
and control. They are liabilities for a defence as they make poor decisions
which smart forwards can exploit. They require lots of coaching to help them develop into top players.
Nemanja Vidic on the other-hand has proven this season that not
only is he past his best in terms of defending yet he has shown his
frustrations with the new regime at the club, notably his frustrated violent
challenge on Hazard versus Chelsea and this recklessly mis-timed and the stupid challenge on Sturridge (yes there was no contact yet Vidic's decision to commit gifted the chance to fall).
And
yet wasn’t this what Moyes was supposed to come in and improve? United conceded 43 goals last season, the worst in the top four and an incredible
amount for a championship winning side. Moyes was supposed to help this
improve, bring back some solidity to the defensive line. And yet this season they look even worse.
The reason for this can be down to the ageing of the world
class players in the side; Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra (all of who peaked by
2010). Their successors in Smalling, Jones and Evans have simply not been good
enough to step in and prove they are capable of becoming United’s starting defence. This
is where Ferguson can be blamed.
Not buying a suitable left back when clearly
Evra’s best days are long behind was also poor management. It has meant the changing
of the back line too often, which has shown a lack of cohesion, understanding
and solidity. And yet Moyes did not go in search of a defender last season. He
instead focused his efforts on the attack. He got his priorities wrong and is suffering for it now.
Build a strong defence and results will come
Let’s compare this to what Mourinho has done at Chelsea. It
is important notably because United would have had the option to bring in the Portuguese
coach in the summer yet opted against.
Mourinho has focused on Chelsea’s
defensive shape, structure and organisation. It is what he does at every club
he arrives at. He builds from the back. He knows the value in defence and believes in a deep block and counter attack style (he is now building the team to press higher) and through his methodical tactical periodization Mourinho
structures a plan to build his side over the season.
Chelsea’s progression this season
tactically in terms of defensive shape is evidence of great coaching and
precise planning and execution. Mourinho has coached his side to near
perfection. Quite
simply he knows what he wants and educates his players to execute.
Inner philosophical battles
Compare this
to Moyes and you see the problems. He has no vision, no plan about what he
wants to achieve. Those who say he is new to the job cannot use this argument
when both Pellegrini and Mourinho have had the same amount of time and achieved
so much more. When you watch City and Chelsea you see what they are seeking to
achieve, when you watch United it is hard to see what they are trying to do.
And the players are showing this on the pitch.
It would appear that Moyes was reluctant to come in to the
club and stick with his own beliefs, which as people know were based on strong defence and cautious
play. Perhaps he felt that United needed more, they needed a stronger focus on
attack. Yet was happened is that all season he has been in a philosophical battle with himself.
He has sought to change who he is to suit the club’s philosophy, a
decision which has cost him and the team. Did he give in to the fans, did he think he needed to prove something? What brings the fans around is results, performances are just an extra.
Would Mourinho had changed his
philosophy? No. He would have seen that United last season were poor in defence
and come in to makes sure it was improved. From that base he would have been
able to give his attack the knowledge that 1-0 was always going to be possible.
Moyes however seems to neglected defending for attacking. And yet if he focused on the attack then he has failed here also. In attack they look as clueless as they do in in defence. Which points
to the question, what has Moyes achieved this season?
Attacking woes
When Brendan Rodgers came in at Liverpool he had a vision of what he wanted. His possession based style brought criticism by some, many believing he was not cut out for such a club. However he was clearly building something, he had a vision and this is bearing fruit this season. Yet Moyes appears to have nothing of a plan.
The purchase of Fellaini appeared a desperate attempt to
make a purchase in a summer which was quite a calamity in terms of rejections
and failed attempts. On reflection it would have been better to not have wasted
£28m on the Belgian because his best role is not defensive midfield but as a
target man centre forward. Was that a role which was needed to improve? No. Thiago would have been a great acquisition,
or Cabaye. Yet it just didn’t seem as though Moyes knew what he really wanted. Many
said he must hav a plan, just give him time. Yet the signing of Mata proved
that he didn’t know what he wanted.
Going back to Mourinho again and his dealing with Mata. He
respected the talent of the player yet felt he didn’t suit his system and
style. He bought a player in Willian who did and we can see how Chelsea have benefited from that. Once again it was a coach who knew what he wanted. Moyes however has bought Mata without any real idea of what or where he wants him to
go. It is already looking like another desperate signing.
When watching United’s attack against Liverpool it appeared
to be a 4-2-3-1. Januzaj on the left to start, Mata on the right with Rooney
and Van Persie alternating between the 9 and 10 and Fellaini moving forwards to
support the attack. However the players didn’t look as though they knew what
they should be doing when in possession.
With all this attacking talent on the
pitch they looked devoid of ideas, creativity and understanding. It seems as
though Moyes ‘masterplan’ is to put all his attacking players on the pitch and
simply ‘hope for the best’. The games versus the better sides this season have
proven this lack of preparation and tactical strategy. Mata has only added to
the problem. Why buy a player who is as classic a 10 as they come in the modern
game and play him on the right?
Rooney's growing interference
There are two issues which appear to be the problem.
Firstly, the Rooney situation. There will be those who will praise Rooney as
the only player to be working for the team, to be committed. They will look at
those around him and ask why they can’t be more like Rooney. Well, for all his endeavour,
work rate and commitment Rooney’s influence in the team, both tactically and psychologically
has affected the team drastically.
Whether Moyes has given him the licence to
roam and quite literally play anywhere or if Rooney simply is doing what he
wants is not clear. Yet it is evident that Rooney is affecting the rest of the
team.
Last season it was evident that Ferguson gave Van Persie the leadership
of the team, in terms of tactics and leadership. Listening to him after games
and you could see his influence on the team. Watch him in games and the play
was directed through him. Watch him this season and looks frustrated, isolated
and no longer the leader of last season. Why? Because the game does not go
through him anymore but Rooney. And the problem is that Rooney gets a lot of
the ball and doesn’t do a lot with it.
It would have been better had
Moyes shipped out Rooney last season (not to Chelsea however, yet perhaps the
problem was that no-one else really wanted him, which says something.) The truth is that as the
team has become more about Rooney, as his influence this season has grown, the
more United look poorer tactically and lacking in ideas in attack. In the game and many others this season Rooney and Van Persie looked as though they both wanted to do the same thing, it was not as much as partnership but a battle for space.
Losing the dressing room
And this is where the second point comes in. The one which
many are saying. That quite simply the players don’t respect Moyes, that they don’t listen
to what he wants and are playing like rebellious, frustrated schoolboys, acting
out against the teacher they didn’t want.
By all accounts the majority wanted Mourinho when Ferguson announced his departure. Getting Moyes instead is quite the let down. So already Moyes was starting on the wrong foot. Therefore he
needed to make an instant impression, prove to the players that he was worthy
of the role and importantly their respect.
Mourinho would have gained it, would
have earned it. He would have got the key players; Ferdinand, Vidic and Van Persie
on his side. He would won the changing room and therefore allowed himself to
develop his style. Moyes however seemed to alienate those key players. Issues
of fallouts with Ferdinand, Vidic and Van Persie appear to have truth when you see their
performances and attitude.
Is it a case of sabotage? Perhaps on a sub-conscious level? Or is
just frustration at the man leading them? After so many years working with
people with Carlos Quieroz, Rene Meulensteen and of course Alex Ferguson, even
Mike Phelan (United’s own Ray Wilkins) to have Moyes, Steve Round and Phil
Neville come in to the fold is an incredible step down. Results, performances and
interviews have only made the situation worse and it does appear that conflict
between players and management is inevitable.
The future
United’s owners have a choice. They either stick with their
manager and tell the players that, or they decide Moyes isn’t suited to the job
and they move on in the summer. The situation is reminiscent of Milan when Sacchi
first arrived. Many were unhappy with his methods and approach, yet Silvio
Berlusconi told the players in no uncertain ways that Sacchi was here to stay
and that those not happy were the ones who would leave. That support was
invaluable and the rest they say is history.
Would the Glazers, or Ferguson be
willing to do this? Have they already? Are we to see a mass exodus this
summer? A new era for United? It appears likely. Some will say it is just a matter of time, that patience is key for Moyes to prepare his style, develop his own team. United don’t
want to be like Chelsea and give in to player power.
However, based on this
season, judging the £70m spent on players, looking at the performances of the
team and listening to Moyes in interviews, it really doesn’t look like he is
the right man for United. His lack of success and trophies is an issue, yet
more concerning is his record against the top sides. Compare him to a Mourinho,
a coach who has proven to succeed as the underdog time and time again and you
see the problem of hiring Moyes. He just isn’t a winner.
One cannot blame him
for taking the job, who wouldn’t. Yet the job is too big for him. He looks lost
of ideas and growing more scared of the role game by game. It would appear that his players share the
same thoughts, they appear to have lost faith in their manager. The
longer this goes on, the worse it will be for United.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
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