Everyone knew the transition wouldn’t be velvet on walls. Yet, no one believed the handover would turn like this after just seven games at the helm. Just 10 points from a possible 21 isn’t certainly Manchester United-esque like! If taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson wasn’t harder enough, surely David Moyes can be forgiven for not having read Soccernomics.
Published in 2010, written by Stefan Szymanski (an economist) and Simon Kuper (a renowned Sports Writer), it’s a Readers paradise for Football Fanatics. It perfectly embodies what goes wrong with new managers, where they waste money in the Transfer Market and provides a database of the cheapest points attained by a manager at the end of the season.
So here is where, my column starts, we will try to analyze what has gone wrong for the Red Devils and David Moyes in particular and provide solutions for the upcoming January Transfer Window.
After being beaten by West Brom 1-2 at home and handed the ignominy of disdain by Manchester City at the Etihad, here are the problems, Moyes must certainly try to address behind closed doors. Even the Game against Sunderland could have been on the losing side for Moyes, but for Adnan Janujaz. The 18 year old showed shades of brilliance with two wonder goals to get United three points and provide some breathing space for Moyes.
But as rightly pointed by the Boss himself, United have problems everwhere. In the heart of the defence both Rio Ferdinand and Nemnaja Vidic are past their sell by date. Patrice Evra looks like a burden and Johnny Evans along with Chris Smalling look too immature to lead the line at the back. Rafael’s injury hasn’t helped the cause as the Red Devils have had to play a makeshift defence every time they take the field.
Solution: Get Ezequiel Garay from Benfica this coming January. The Argentine claims he was due to join Manchester United for £18m until David Moyes blocked it. Garay has the physical presence required in the centre of the defence and would suit the EPL if a move does materialize in the coming Transfer Window. What more, he is very strong in the air and will be a threat from setpieces.
United’s midfield has been running like a Jaguar without any fuel in the engine. Imagine what it would be like against teams boasting the likes of Porsches and Bentley with full throttle! There has been a total lack of creativity with Marounne Fellaini has been living in the shadow of his previous self at Everton. Moyes paid a whopping £27m and as Soccernomics suggests, certain Nationalities are over valued, everyone seems to talk of Belgium these days. Some much so, one of my fanatic friends calls him an immobile lamp post. Even Shinji Kagawa has inexplicably spent almost all of his time on the Bench.
Solution: Julian Draxler from Schalke. The German has admitted he has dreams of playing in the Premier League and is keen to emulate countryman Mesut Ozil. The 20 year old is the right man for United with his passing prowess and his willingness to attack more in the final third. This also solves the Rooney Conundrum as then Wayne would not have to play as the link man and can be devastating up front with strike partner Robin Van Persie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Pg3r8jXrs
Another player Moyes has been tracking is Porto’s defensive midfielder, Fernando “the Octopus”. With such a nickname, anyone perhaps is bound to succeed! Coming to the serious part though, the solid defensive midfielder would certainly bolster Manchester United’s squad and take the pressure of Micheal Carrick.
David are you listening?