David Moyes: The Beginning of a New Dawn

‘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.

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.

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.

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.