It was always going to happen – wasn’t it? – Moyes was always going to be compared to his predecessor (Sir Alex Ferguson) and this Manchester United team was always going to put up against the previous Championship winning squads.
But I don’t think many people expected this type of showing, or such a poor start by a team that is relatively the same as last year’s squad that was so dominant in the league.
The Red Devil’s lacklustre performance in Sunday’s defeat to their local rivals – Manchester City prompted Moyes to adopt a similar strategy to the former boss by openly criticising his players for the first time under his leadership.
Not since 2004 have Manchester United begun so poorly – taking a mere 7 points from a possible 15. And although some may point to the fact that Sir Alex was in charge in 2004, and that they have always demonstrated a great ability to bounce back – the assurances of Ferguson lifting this squad are no longer there, and how this squad will recover under a new manager is still relatively unknown.
However, the one thing that is for certain is that Moyes wont die wondering, as he confessed that he let his squad know how he felt.
Reported by David Mcdonell of the Daily Mirror, Moyes said:
“I’ve been here before with Everton and never suffered a defeat like this. So I just told the players in the same way I would have told players at any other club, If I don’t they’re doing it.
They’re good players, they’re good pros, they know when they’re bang at it and when they’re not. City were the better team, they were stronger, they got control of the game and we found it difficult to contain them.
I’m disappointed we didn’t perform. There was no reason for us not perform.”
Whether this has the same effect that it would’ve had under Ferguson remains to be seen. What we do know is that Manchester United have so far failed to come up with 3 points against three of the big sides they have played thus far, and that’s a standard the Red Devil fans will not put up with for long.
There’s no doubting Moyes’ credentials as a manager, hence why he was chosen by Sir Alex to take up his former post. However, success doesn’t seem guaranteed anymore and if Moyes is going to turn this around, he will be hoping that his recent Ferguson reenactment galvanizes his troops like it used to under their former general.