Manchester United: Moyes should be careful or Klopp may steal his job?

A Team On The Slide

Sir Alex was a one-off and the true Special One. His methods, tactics and football philosophy have brought him unparalleled success at both Aberdeen and Manchester United. However, after over a quarter of a century at one of the greatest football clubs in the world, the signs have been there for all to see that his power had begun to wane.

The style of play he has always favoured and his admirable commitment to young talent developed at Carrington was no longer effective enough to compete with the other giants of European football. Too often in recent years have Fergie’s teams played with caution and allowed their main continental and domestic rivals to dominate possession and dictate the play. Even teams outside the higher echelons of the game such as Athletic Bilbao and Ajax have recently outplayed United teams lacking the creative flair of sides from the past.

The decision to allow Fergie to nominate Moyes as his successor was seen as a masterstroke in some quarters. Who better to continue the work of the Master than the man seen as his nearest character match? A tough, no-nonsense, hardworking Glaswegian loyal to his club and players and hungry for success. Some saw the appointment as the obvious choice; a continuity so sorely lacking in the managerial appointments of many of their rivals. However, what was seen as a decision designed to strengthen and improve the team and club as a whole may well turn out to weaken and gravely damage the club’s fortunes. What was needed after Fergie was not a continuation but a change in direction; an injection of new, modern ideas which would enable the team to rise to the challenge set down by the other major European forces.

Passing, pace, power and possession are vital ingredients for success in modern football. Without these it is impossible to compete with the powerhouses of the game who have all evolved whilst United have stood still and been overtaken. Moyes has taken over a squad in need of a major overhaul if United are going to force their way back to the top table of European football and avoid scrapping for the minor league placings and the relatively insignificant prizes of the league cup and Europa league.

The Right One?

Despite the assurance from the United board of awarding a long term contract to Moyes, failing to achieve a top four finish will be a devastating blow. Poor results for a manager also equals pressure on the hierarchy. If Jurgen Klopp has another good season at Borussia Dortmund his name will surely be linked to the job. A young, ambitious manager with previous success in the Champions League would be an exciting choice for fans grown used to cavalier football, edge of your seat drama and, most important of all, a successful team.

Other names such as Antonio Conte at Juventus and Laurent Blanc at PSG will inevitably be mentioned, but should Roberto Martinez achieve a top four finish – almost unthinkable just three months ago – and should he accomplish this feat whilst playing the brand of football currently getting the Everton faithful licking their lips, then Manchester United fans and boardroom alike could well be raising the question ‘Did Fergie choose the right one?’

Green Shoots

There is some cause for optimism amongst the United faithful . Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney are two of the finest players in the world. David De Gea has grown into the number 1 shirt and looks on the verge of becoming one of the best ‘keepers in Europe. Phil Jones has the potential to become one of the best centre backs in the country and Rafael is already one of the most gifted right backs in the Premier League. Add to that the latest fledglings waiting for their chance to impress and the future looks promising. Jesse Lingard, Adnan Januzaj, Wilfried Zaha and Nick Powell are all highly regarded, technically accomplished attack-minded players. The question is whether Moyes, under growing pressure, will entrust these kids to help him turn things around. Everyone knows that you won’t win anything with kids!