Open letter to Manchester United fans: Give patience a chance

Manchester United manager David Moyes is under pressure from the fans.

Manchester United have certainly not been their usual, all-conquering selves this season and a large part of criticism has gone to manager David Moyes. I am ever so slightly annoyed by the sea of ‘Moyes Out’ warriors that keep popping up everywhere on the Internet, hitting out at the Scot. This is not to say all United supporters are against Moyes, because for a fact, I have seen a large number of United fans encouraging others to get behind and support Moyes. This is merely my opinion on why patience is of the essence with regards to David Moyes and Manchester United.

The gulf in pressure between being manager of Everton and United is in simple words, immense. Moyes went from managing a team that would be content with a top 6 finish to managing the reigning champions, not to mention, replacing a certain Alex Ferguson, only arguably the greatest manager in the history of football. He is still finding his feet at United and being human (yes, I know, breaking news), he WILL make mistakes.

And he will learn from these mistakes, maybe immediately and maybe over time. Look at the shoes he has to fill. Everything he does and says will be compared to times under you-know-who. He’s trying to stamp his own mark and to be honest, he has made errors, but he’s trying to do something that is a Herculean task and that is to bring the confidence that embodied and exemplified Manchester United under Ferguson.

This has been repeated to no end, but it is a fact that many fans were calling for Ferguson’s sacking within a few seasons of his appointment. Even though he’d helped United finish 11th in his first season after they’d been wallowing in 19th when he took over, and finished second the next season, this was followed by a string of mid-table finishes and the fans’ patience was tested. There were sections who turned against him, but a majority of the supporters stood by him, and we all know what he went on to achieve with the club.

This is not to say Moyes will replicate Fergie’s achievements for sure, because the latter is a one-in-a-million manager, and that is exactly why expecting Moyes to instantly bring the confidence and determination and resilience that defined United under Ferguson is being slightly unrealistic. He might go on to achieve great things and yet, he might not and it might all just not work out. But do remember, Moyes was Ferguson’s choice himself. Fergie does make mistakes too, point taken, but a man like him would not have made a decision of such importance to his beloved United, without reason.

There’s been a lot of stick given to Moyes over his activity – or rather, lack of it – in the transfer window. I think it must be understood that United’s biggest USP over the years, was lost this year, to retirement. Players in today’s world want instant success, only a few move to clubs because of its philosophy, its ideologies, etc. Most players today look at squads and think about how the squad will improve his chances of winning a medal rather than how he can help this squad win a trophy.

Sadly, this is the scheme of things now. Moyes hasn’t won anything much at all, and that is quite a big factor whereas with Ferguson, there was always this assurance that United will challenge for the title – almost always favorites – maybe pick up a cup on the way and generally remain at the top. In the last 20-ish years, Fergie’s earned himself a reputation. Moyes doesn’t come with that kind of reputation or a name; not as of now. He’ll have to build himself a team first, borrow a lot from the youth, possibly hope for another set of brilliant talents from the Academy much like the Fergie Fledglings and building this team by himself will take time. And time means a few years, not months. Rome was not built in a day, Fergie’s Manchester United certainly wasn’t, and neither will Moyes’ Manchester United be.

Now, this may all not come true. Moyes may end up being a failure as the boss and a large number of you will be back here, commenting that I got ‘trolled’. Indeed, that is a possibility, but it may be the other way round too and success then will only taste sweeter knowing you stood by your manager and your club in these times. Every Manchester United fan I know loves to say “United never give up.”, so don’t give up on your manager now.

I am indeed not a United fan and you may think I’m trying to be a preacher here when my club (Chelsea), has been sacking managers for fun. It is precisely that that makes me want to voice this opinion of mine. I had always wished the Board would give our managers some more time – that we we had shown some more faith in some of them - before wielding the proverbial axe.

So, give Moyes a chance, support him as much as you can, for as long as you can. Give patience a chance.