It never really quite worked out for David Moyes as Manchester United manager – did it?
Even that’s an understatement. After being appointed in May 2013, the Scotsman spent just 10 months at the helm of the Red Devils, relieved after a shocking season in April 2014.
Despite having Sir Alex Ferguson‘s recommendation, it was clear to many that the former Everton boss was out of his depth at Old Trafford.
He made multiple changes, often unwelcome ones. A rather small one had huge ramifications for certain members of Manchester United’s first-team squad.
What Sir Alex Ferguson did before matchdays for the Manchester United squad
Before Moyes, was obviously the legendary Alex Ferguson. A Manchester United icon, he was arguably also one of the best man managers the sport has ever seen.
He had such a way with the players, that gained respect from almost everyone at the club. This included moments that were often difficult, such as telling players they weren’t playing or in the squad before the game.
Speaking on the This is Football podcast – Rio Ferdinand reflected with Gary Neville on this. Rio asked the right-back:
“Do you remember what the boss [Sir Alex Ferguson} used to do on the Friday night at the hotel or the Saturday morning before a game? If he sat at your table you knew that someone at your table wasn’t getting a game.”
Rio then said how that all changed when his heir in Moyes came in.
“I remember David Moyes said, ‘I don’t do that’. I’m not explaining myself, if you wanna come see me, come see me on Monday.”
David Moyes did quite the opposite of Ferguson
Ferdinand elaborated that this change in management style really affected some of the squad’s fringe players, picking out cult hero Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) as one of the main culprits.
“He was like that, this is what I am and you respect that,” Rio continued “But sometimes, it’s a squad game.
“The squad wins you everything, it ain’t just the first 11. You have to take care of those guys that are on the periphery of the squad.
“Instead, he was like this is the way I’m doing it now. That doesn’t affect me because I was playing at the time he came in, but there are players, Chicharito for instance.
“He’s sitting there going, well, Sir Alex Ferguson respected me. He took that as a disrespect and other squad players were maybe the same.”
It was never going to work out for David Moyes…
It probably wasn’t just Hernandez. The likes of Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kagawa and Darren Fletcher were also shunned of a lot of game time that season, which must have been frustrating.
Going from an expert in the field like Ferguson in man management to Moyes must have been tough – admittedly for both parties.
It was never going to work out. Moyes was a good coach, but United level? Not a chance.