Manchester United Manager Moyes’ Job In Question, Former Players Speak Out
Manchester United is facing the possibility of having its worst season in the Barclays Premier League in 24 years. The tumultuous season that United has faced has caused many to question whether or not this could be manager David Moyes’ first and final season at Old Trafford, after enjoying much success at Everton from 2002-2013. The club’s struggles have also caused former Manchester U players to comment on Moyes as well as the state of the team in general.
Peter Schmeichel, who played goalkeeper for Manchester United for eight seasons and contributed to five Premier League titles in the 1990s, came out in support of Moyes and his abilities to lead the club. Schmeichel said of Moyes via Sky Sports News:
“He’s shown he’s got the pedigree, he’s got the ability, he can stay in a place for a very long time – he showed that at Everton.”
“I think he needs to sign a few players – how many I don’t know! But I think, equally important, he needs to offload a lot of players. There’s a lot of players there I’m very disappointed with.”
The Daily Mail Online is reporting that Moyes “is understood to want up to eight new signings to revive the struggling Barclays Premier League champions after a disastrous season,” and could be facing a “logistical nightmare in doing so due to most on United, as well as those the club may be targeting will be participating in the World Cup in Brazil starting in June. The team would also be in danger of having things in place before a scheduled American tour in the late summer.
On the flipside of the discussion of whether or not Moyes should remain the team’s manager, former Manchester United defender Kevin Moran wrote in the Sunday World courtesy of Tribal Football:
“For the first time since last May I am now questioning whether David Moyes is the right man for the Manchester United job.
“He’s a fine man, personally, very generous with his time for those who need him. The Scot led Everton well for a decade, but I have to wonder now if he is in over his head with Manchester United.”
Moran went on to support his argument by discussing the recent poor play of United in UEFA Champions League Play, which is qualified for by finishing within the top four in the Premier League.
Manchester United is one of the wealthiest and most prolific athletic franchises on the planet, let alone in soccer, and not finishing within the top four teams and qualifying for a spot in the UEFA Champions League is not something that is often thought of as possible by United supporters.
In the United States this would be akin to the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Lakers, both with incredibly deep pockets to seek talent, in danger of not reaching the playoffs only a year removed from winning a title. (Given last season’s finish for the Yankees and the current state of the Lakers, those teams may have been poor examples for this story. Apologies, but you get the jest. Let’s say it would be like either team missing the playoffs after a run of titles.)
Manchester United’s next fixture is at West Bromwich Albion on Mar. 8.
