David Moyes: Fortune Favours the Brave

Article by e-Manchester United Correspondent Mark Harbottle

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Over the weekend Manchester United once again dropped vital points in another game that was set up as a “must win”. This has to have been the fourth or fifth time we “deserved to win” as the unlucky streak is turning from a blip to the theme of the season. Are we just going through a phase highlighted by transition, or is it about time to make fundamental changes?

The painfully unimpressive yet record breaking statistics from Old Trafford have been thrown around more than a cricket ball at the Ashes. 81 crosses (nearly one a minute) yet less than a quarter of these reached their destination. 31 shots on target, over 600 passes… it screams domination but I thought the same about the loss against Stoke. The only worthwhile fact is that we didn’t take three points where usually Manchester United would be the first team on your accumulator.

I have a huge amount of respect for David Moyes standing firm for what he believes in – especially when a small percentage of fans are calling for his head. Manchester United have always been lauded for width, full backs bombing past wingers (nod to our Gary Neville), Beckham whipping in crosses and Ronaldo keeping defenders so far in his pocket they almost got through customs when flying back to Manchester. We are a team stumbling to keep hold of this tradition but Moyes has never been praised as a master tactician. He is organised, structured and disciplined, but I find myself wondering whether it’s time to try something else yet.

I also think it’s unfair to place the blame solely on the Manager. It’s plain to see that this is an ageing team that is passing its sell by date quicker than milk left in the sun – it was possibly last season that Fergie proved he was the greatest Manager of all time by winning the season by such a stretch with the squad at his disposal. Perhaps one of the reasons he hung up his Wrigleys Extra was because he couldn’t face building another squad. Moyes has been left with possibly the toughest job in Europe and he needs time to put his stamp on it.

The players are also not performing to their best. Vidic was off the mark against Fulham and Carrick can’t be relied on without support for much longer. On the front line we have put out arguably our best strike force all season (van Persie, Rooney, Mata, Januzaj), yet only 6 out of the 23 games this season have produced more than 2 goals. Questions need to be asked.

So, I hear you say, what would you do? Well I’m happy to let Moyes believe in his tactics, and expect a recruitment drive in the summer that would compete with clearance day when A-Level results are released. I would also be looking at my squad thinking I can’t make any changes until summer, so how do I get the best out of this rabble? If, after 45 minutes and 40 crosses, we are still lacking goals I’d be asking Mata and Rooney to operate the attacking midfield. I wouldn’t fancy any defender against England’s golden boy and Chelsea’s Player of the Season (twice) playing 1-2 and weaving between defenders and midfield – even if it is packing the middle of the park, because that’s what they do best. Driving inwards and playing football is unpredictable, it’s playing to strengths and it’s breaking a truly sorry state of affairs that is the norm these days. The bottom line is there has to be a plan B, and at home to Fulham suggests that doesn’t exist.

I still believe we can finish in the top four, and I believe our squad is good enough. On the other side of the coin Liverpool are in immense form – the best in a decade and they would be crushed if they didn’t make the top 4. At this rate they certainly deserve to, just as we deserve to be flirting with the mid table at this stage of the season.

Moyes needs to either finally land a royal flush with his existing game plan, or make his own luck by turning united into the spontaneous, free-scoring and blood thirsty pack that used to hunt the ball for 90+ minutes. Brave changes are needed no matter what they are, but we are a handful of draws or a couple of losses away from reluctantly admitting that the Manager, Players and Directors are regrettably average…but not quite yet.

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