David Moyes did not bleed Manchester United RED. Moyes was dead on arrival and out of favor AKA DOA - www.nationalradio.com photo

Ryan Giggs is responsible for Manchester United for three more games. He has what David Moyes didn't... win many championship trophies PLUS he bleeds Man U Red Devil RED - James Adams photo

SPORTS NOTES - MOYES (DOA) WAS DEAD ON ARRIVAL

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

David Moyes task was overwhelming taking over a position that was commanded for 27 years by Alex Ferguson who many consider the best football manager ever. The squad was aging and the undertaking for an outsider was like trying to refill a drained Pacific Ocean with a teacup of water. The writing was on the wall that Moyes was doomed from the start since he didn't bleed Man U RED

Sunday, April 27, 2014

THE DEVIL DIDN'T MAKE THEM DO IT… POOR RESULTS DID

Before David Moyes began a football manager's dream job of managing Manchester United he was doomed from the start having to follow the Godzilla of international football Alex Ferguson who many believe is the greatest football manager ever. The irony was Ferguson gave Moyes the job without his prior knowledge he would be anointed the position. In Ferguson's retirement address he requested that the fans stand behind their manager… being Moyes.

Ferguson respected Moyes who previously was the manager of Everton and was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year. That was then but this is now as Moyes 2013-14 season with United would become a nightmare. The then newly appointed manager signed a six year contract and took up his post July 1, 2013 and the game was on.

Moyes first test came with a preseason friendly 1-0 loss to a Thailand all-star team in Bangkok and it created a mild controversy. The other controversy was Wayne Rooney being absent much of the time during the preseason with an injury.

The back story was rumors were rampant that there was an issue between the two dating back to their time together during Rooney's stint with Everton under Moyes thus Rooney didn't want to play for him. The bottom line is that Moyes greatest obstacle was being in the shadow of football's already legendary Ferguson's shadow.

Moyes was under the microscope and questioned about not retaining Ferguson's back room staff and coaches to help him make a smoother transition. The only silver lining in his decision was giving his eventual interim successor Ryan Giggs his first shot as a coach.

United began the season against the holders of the FA Cup, Wigan Athletic in the 2013 FA Community Shield. The match was played at Wembley on 11 August. The game is notable for being David Moyes' first competitive fixture in charge of Manchester United but everything seemed to go downhill from there.

Throughout the season there was talk that the players didn't like his tactics and didn't want to play for him. Criticisms were abound that Moyes style was too deliberate and not the attacking up tempo passionate pace that has been associated with Man U football. The bomb came when Moyes was sacked with only four games remaining in the season, a few days before his 51st birthday on April 25th and replaced by his assistant Giggs who also was rumored to have had issues with Moyes.

Some football fans reacted by questioning what was the point since the season was a loser as the club could not qualify for the Champions or Europa League next season. The firing was considered by many as lacking class by the ownership and uncalled for. For others it was a prayer answered.

The result thus far is with Giggs at the helm United won their first contest under his guidance by defeating lowly Norwich 4-0. The squad played with fluency and reminiscent of the way United used to be. In the post game interviews with Rooney and Juan Mata they were jubilant about the result and the positive mentality of the squad. The twist is Giggs didn't start Matta but after only a 1-0 score at the half Giggs inserted Matta in the lineup for the second half. Matta and Rooney each scored two goals and Matta was a wizard setting up plays. The triumphant support for Giggs was evident.

Following the loss Norwich had 32 points leaving them only one point above relegation therefore it was not that big of a deal in the sense that they knocked off a major club. The most impressive result was the return of enthusiasm by the Man U fans that most their faith in Moyes.

The word is that Louis Van Gaal is the favorite choice to take charge next season to which Giggs said: "The club has just said to me, 'You've got the job for four games' -- that's one down and three to go. I'll do the job to the best of my ability and after that we'll see what happens."

School remains out of how much the change will make on United turning the corner and returning to their dominate ways of winning football games. How skillful Giggs is will be tested in the remaining fixtures. Should they do well the question will arise is Giggs worthy of being appointed the job on a permanent basis? Giggs makes no bones about his interest of remaining in charge.

In the Norwich match he included on his assistant staff former teammates Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville. The fact that these four have been a part of Ferguson's success could go a long way in their being retained. The quartet knows what winning trophies is all about. It would be an interesting situation having four former teammates who have been so much a part on Man U success taking charge. That would be a story in itself.

That was the other point that repeatedly came up that Moyes did not bleed Manu U blood. His not having won the big trophies was thought to be a factor of his not being able to gain the respect of players that have been on winning squads most of their careers. It came down to Moyes lacked the Man U RED winning pedigree and the players did… resulting in basically a power play and a lack of respect. His 52.94 winning percentage with United was his career best but it wasn't good enough for United.

As Moyes rides off into the sunset towards his next challenge United is facing a rebuilding problem as many players are in a position of leaving the aging club. With no Champions or Europa League to play next season the Devils will be hard pressed to attract strong talented players that are more interested in playing in the Champions League. Basically it's a stay tuned situation that could take years to play out. Stay tuned ...

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