Roberto Martinez Proved that David Moyes is a Mediocre Manager

“Manchester United announces that David Moyes has left the club. The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.”

After hours and actually days of speculations, the inevitable was officially announced. The statement above comes from Manchester United’s official website and Communications Department post the intense rumors during yesterday’s board meeting.

The funny thing about the statement is that it mentions Moyes left the club rather than being sacked. It is not a secret that his departure was not his own decision the same way his appointment was not his desire.

David Moyes may have been heavily criticized since day one at Old Trafford but he is not a victim. He is a villain. As harsh and unreasonable this sounds, there are the facts to prove it true.

Among the few crimes David Moyes committed with the Red Devils was the string of bad results against opponents that never dreamed of winning at Old Trafford. West Bromwich Albion F.C. managed to win in the theater of dreams for the first time since 1978, Swansea won for the first time in their history away to Manchester United, Newcastle finally won in the same place since their last win in 1972, and the team conceded three consecutive losses for the first time since 2001.

On top of the bad results, the whole team’s tactics looked strange and odd in many matches, and the same players who won the league title months ago could not even score regularly or defend properly. Robin van Persie became a mediocre forward who would score sometimes, and even lost interest in remaining at the club.

If all the above is not convincing enough, and you still think Moyes needed more time and new players to build a strong side and win games, it is your problem. Moyes inherited the same team Sir Alex Ferguson bid farewell to, and he even got his own Marouane Fellaini and Chelsea’s Juan Mata to reinforce the squad. Still, he failed.

The more you dig behind the initial appointment of Moyes the more you realize how unfit as the Red Devils manager he was. His ten year plus career with Everton saw him qualify once to the Champions League third qualifying round, and earn zero domestic and European trophies. His best league finish was fourth, only once, and his best points tally was 65 points in 2008. If you compare the current Everton with Moyes stay, they look better. They have 69 points with three more games to be played, and the manager Roberto Martinez is among the best in the league in his first season as their manager. Martinez outshined David Moyes in less than a season with the Toffees.

Roberto Martinez made Everton better than they were with Moyes, while Moyes made Manchester United worse than they should be. Simple equation shows Moyes appointment was a bad decision. Martinez even managed to win twice against Moyes in the Premier League and showed him the right way to do things (Moyes managed to win only twice in the last 17 games against United).

What is next for Manchester United is deciding on an interim manager for the rest of the season, or directly appointing a permanent manager who will study the club better at its bad days and prepare them for better ones. The candidates are Ryan Giggs for interim position, and van Gaal – Klopp – Simeone – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the permanent role.

Whoever takes charge of the club will face many impossible tasks. The first task is restoring the image of Manchester United as a big club. Second is shuffling the existing squad members and filtering who stays and who leaves. Third task will be convincing big names like van Persie and Rooney of staying. Fourth is luring in new signings (especially that the club will possibly not play in any European competition next year).

COMPETITION: Win a SIGNED Manchester United Jersey

The Manchester United Supporters Club in Lebanon has something special to give away!

If you do not know already, here it is: Manchester United Football Club has an OFFICIAL supporters club in Lebanon and it is called the MUSC Lebanon.

The MUSC Lebanon is now giving away a signed jersey of the first team of Manchester United for one lucky member of its supporters club or football fans in Lebanon in general.

How it works?

• Simply answer the question posted on the MUSC website HERE
• Competition is for fans based in Lebanon only
• Official members receive a double entry
• Competition ends on 12 September 2013

Visit the competition’s page on http://www.manutdlebanon.com/competition.html and goodluck!

Transfer Talk – Part 1

Few days left before Pandora’s Box is open again. Come January, the transfer window will send its billions flying all around Europe and many footballers on to new roller-coaster rides. The transfer rumors are intensifying and some deals are almost done, but won’t be unveiled until the 1st of January – or so we’re told. Figo29.com and TheFootballSupernova.com have joined forces to discuss the rumors, speculations, and give a little analysis regarding the potential transfers and will both publish a series of posts regarding Europe’s biggest names.

Part 1 will cover England’s Manchester clubs and Chelsea:

Manchester United

Figo29: If I were Sir Alex, I would sign an experienced defender, a central holding midfielder and a creative midfielder. He should break all the rules and salary caps and structures to sign Wesley Sneijder. If Sneijder is still an impossible transfer, my options for the Sir are either Henrique Ganso or Adel Taarabt. As for the defensive/holding midfielders, Lassana Diarra or Sami Khedira from Real Madrid may be good loan deals, but the real deal may come in the name of Lucas Biglia. Rumor has it that his agent is already in talks with the Red Devils. On the Nicolas Gaitán news, I do not think he will sign for the team; at least not this season.

TFS: There’s always room for improvements at United. A versatile defender, on a loan perhaps, wouldn’t be a bad idea given that Vidic’s gone for the season. The same could be said about the midfield and while the calls are usually for the creative midfielder, I’d say it’s the midfield spoiler that United lack. One name comes to mind for me and I’d love to see him in United’s colors – Sheikh Tiote of Newcastle United. With Fletcher gone for a long period, not only would he provide cover there, but his arrival would definitely bring out the best in whoever plays alongside him. However, historically, Ferguson is not very active in the January transfer window – so I wouldn’t expect any signings until the summer.

Manchester City

Figo29: Mancini says he needs to sell before he buys. I guess it is one of those rare moments where he is talking sense again. Carlos Tevez, Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge are on the way out, and I do not believe that Manchester City needs replacements. However, given the blank cheques by the Arab owners, Mancini will be tempted to sign someone to cover for the Toure brothers while they are away on a three week mission to win the African Cup of Nations. No one will refuse City’s call, and I will not be surprised if Gary Cahill makes a shock move to the blue side of Manchester.

TFS: The only transfers that should happen during the January window are the exits of Tevez and Bridge. If they buy any more players, it will be for marketing purposes and not to bolster the strongest squad in the league. With the Toure brothers bound for a stint away during the Cup of Nations, there’s a perception that Yaya will be missed dearly – though we often forget that Nigel De Jong, one of their best players last season, is waiting to grab his chance. I expect only outgoing transfers.

Chelsea

Figo29: In short, I believe they need to buy a new team around Luiz-Ramires-Torres. Yet, the January transfer window is not the ideal time to buy the ideal players, and big money transfers or big changes should wait till the Summer. Anelka already left, Alex will leave soon, and Drogba is rumored to be on his way to Anzhi Makhachkala. A dream move would bring Javier Saviola, who lost his starting 11 spot in Benfica, to Chelsea. Bolton already gave the go-ahead for talks with Gary Cahill, and Jack Rodwell is in advanced talks to join the London side. If these two join Chelsea, I will not ask for more signings before the Summer. Milos Krasic, whose agent is already talking to Chelsea, will also be a great option. Big money signings will arrive at The Bridge this Winter.

TFS: No transfer window these days goes by without some sort of activity by Roman Abramovich. With Terry’s potential racism charge on the cards, as well as Alex’s exit, a defender is a must. It has already been confirmed that discussions for Gary Cahill are at an advanced stage, so that should be done and dusted soon. Anelka’s gone to China and Drogba will be at the Cup of Nations soon – so the call for a striker is looming; but with Torres, Sturridge and Lukaku, I’d be surprised if one was signed. One defender and possibly a move for a midfielder as well are likely – with Krasic rumored to be on his way, though I don’t see why they’d add another attacking-minded midfielder, knowing they’ve got Lampard on the bench.

 

 

Part 2 will be published in the coming days.