‘The Sorcerer and the apprentice’ – whether he likes it or not, as the manager of Manchester United David Moyes’s biggest task won’t be winning his maiden trophy with this championship winning side at Old Trafford, on the contrary the Scot’s biggest challenge will be earning the trust of the club’s huge army of fans.
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| The Sorcerer and his apprentice. (Courtesy Action Images) |
While most
of the educated supporters of the club understand the appointment of the former
Everton chief, the pressure of being the United manager will still be unlike
anything Moyes has ever felt before. As daunting as a task it is of managing
perhaps the biggest club in the world, it still pales in comparison to what it
means for him to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. For years when we speculated on the
enormity of the task of replacing arguably the greatest ever manager in world
football, one of the more obvious parts of the assignment was always thought to
be the ability of the potential candidate to persevere through all the scrutiny
that every move of his will come under.
Moyes’s
Everton was a team that was full of heart, spirit and passion and those are the
kind of characteristics that depict the kind of man that David is, or at least
that is what is perceived of him. Sticking to these values will be of immense
importance to the Scot, as it is that strength and belief that will inspire him
to continue doing his job well in the face of fan criticism, of which there
will be plenty. The 50 year-old must
understand that he will never be able to keep all the fans happy, at the same
time he cannot ignore even the most fickle of supporters.
For Moyes
to flourish at United, he may well overlook certain demands of the fans, but
where he must put in effort is to try and connect with them. Empathy they say
is a virtue, and it is a virtue that David will need in abundance as he takes
charge. He must appreciate the fact that these are very unnerving times for
both the United faithful and the players.
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| Moyes's tough stance on Rooney is admirable. (Courtesy PA) |
After
clinching the title against Aston Villa, Ryan Giggs in an interview to Sky
Sports said "He (Sir Alex) is the club". That four word sentence encapsulated
just what the gaffer was for the players and the fans. For we do not know a
way, that is not the Ferguson way.
It is this
aspect of his relationship with the fans that the Scot will need to get a grip
of. Having already let go off Mike Phelan, Eric Steele and Renee Meulensteen,
Moyes has stirred up some further anxiety. Also, his failure to lure Thiago
Alcantara and possibly Cesc Fabregas too, hasn’t exactly got the fans singing.
To add to his problems even further, perhaps the most watched pre-season in
Manchester United history has seen us win just two out of five matches. Although
most fans wouldn't dig too deep into the pre-season ‘friendlies’, it has given
some impetus to those sporadic doubts about the 50 year-old.
However,
where the new United boss is winning a few supporters is the manner in which he
has tried to show Wayne Rooney his place. Looked upon as a talismanic figure at
the club for almost nine years now, Rooney has dared to submit a second
transfer request in under three years. Even though, Moyes has said time and
again that the 27 year-old is not for sale, his very public announcement that
he may need Rooney may play second fiddle to Van Persie, has made the club’s
stance on the player very clear. The Scot has also been backed by new CEO Ed
Woodward who claims that Rooney will not be offered a new contract as he
already has two years left on his current deal.
The message
was just the one that loyal supporters were looking for - ‘Its Manchester
United first and then the RVPs and Rooneys of this world’. And it is here,
where we see the wily old fox’s final trick as United manager. Sir Alex had
recognized the kind of man that Moyes is, and that it is his work ethic that
separates him from the rest. It is perhaps for this reason that the former
Everton manager is already starting to understand what the club is all about.
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| Moyes already knows what wearing a United shirt means (Courtesy PA) |
Personalities
such as Jose Mourinho’s are incongruous with clubs as big as United or for that
matter even Real Madrid. Despite his obvious achievements, the Portuguese’s
overwhelming views can sometimes undermine some of the most sacred traditions
at any club, and that was something just as overwhelming looking the carnage he
left at the Bernabeu. Moreover, Mou’s ‘popular’ appointment would have probably
denied Sir Alex from having any form of influence any more. Despite their
friendship, the former Chelsea manager’s ego would have most definitely come in
the way of him actually seeking any advice from the 71 year-old legendary
manager.
On the
flip-side, Moyes seems to be someone who is more than willing to go deep into
the soul of United. Much like his predecessor, he seems like someone who is determined
to devote his life to this club. Someone, who already has a grasp of what it
means wear that famed jersey. Someone, who will instil the right values in his
players. Someone, who was hand-picked by the sorcerer himself.
