David Moyes Fired As Manager Of Manchester United Affirming This Site's Previous Claims

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David Moyes Fired As Manager Of Manchester United Affirming This Site's Previous Claims

April 22. 2014

David Moyes (Photo comparison courtesy of a Twitter user)

50-year-old Manchester United manager (coach), David Moyes, who assumed the reins from legendary fellow Scotsman, but proceeded to make ill-advised changes to one of the biggest football (soccer) clubs in the world, has been sensationally sacked today after 10-months on the job. In the October 3, 2013 article "Sir Alex Ferguson's Insightful Interview With Charlie Rose" the Judiciary Report stated:

"Life after Ferguson has been rough for Manchester United. Ferguson's successor, whom he appointed, has made some decisions I do not agree with. The Telegraph reported new manager, David Moyes, fired much of Ferguson's coaching staff, people the team are used to and rely on, in favor of his folks he brought in. It was a mistake discarding the winning blueprint left behind by Ferguson. All great leaders leave a solid blueprint behind, whether it be sports, business or politics.

This past weekend Moyes also told the team and the world, via an interview, he does not believe Manchester United has a chance at winning Champion's League. I was stunned a manager/coach said something like that. Even if he believes that, you don't tell a team/athlete that. It was surprising to read a man on Moyes' level do that (not that I'm complaining as Manchester United's rival Arsenal is my favorite). However, right is right and wrong is wrong and you just don't say things like that to your athletes.

Having stated that, I have to wonder how Ferguson feels about Moyes firing his coaching staff and telling the team forget about winning Champion's League because you won't. I would love to state it's reverse psychology, but I know better - it was just a terrible idea.

I watched an old Mike Tyson fight a few weeks ago, remembering how much (my family and) I loved to watch him box when I was a kid in the 80s, especially the way he'd quickly knock people out. Seriously, if you quickly went to the kitchen for some water or the bathroom to pee, you'd miss the fight. Tyson would crick his neck, then promptly kick your butt.

Tyson went into the ring with the attitude and visage of a gladiator. He didn't flinch and tried to psych out his opponents before he even threw the first punch. It was his game face and it worked. Tyson stated if he stared you down with confidence and you flinched, he knew he had you (meaning you were going to lose the match). Moyes telling the world Manchester United won't win Champion's League was a major flinch empowering rivals. Call it the flinch "heard around the world."

Psychology is a big part of sports. Lining up the mind with the body creates a better performance. A demoralized, panicked and unsure mind will translate into an inferior performance. If your own manager/coach is telling you your not going to win, that's how you're going to play, riddled with doubt and defeat the minute you get out there..."

Well, 7-months later Manchester United has firmly imploded, with their worst finish in the club's storied history. There's a phrase that goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Herein lies David Moyes mistake at Manchester United. As stated on the site over 7-months ago, Moyes should not have fired Manchester United's preexisting, championship winning coaching staff, replacing them with his own associates. He could have simply brought in a couple people he's worked with if it was that important to him (paid for out of his salary). He tampered with a winning formula and additionally removed the players' security blanket of familiarity in sacking everyone they'd worked with for years.

David Moyes

One should only deconstruct and put back together badly losing teams. You shouldn't wreck winning title holders. It's like crushing/leveling a field with a perfectly ripe crop, rather than harvesting the fruits and vegetables on the trees. You only break up dry, fallow ground, planting new seeds and watering and nurturing it into a great crop.

A handful of people online have blamed Ferguson for choosing Moyes as his successor, but the latter deviated from the former's instructions. Ferguson left a blueprint behind that Moyes discarded, in favor of his own plans and unproven people. Once again, against the former manager's advice, Moyes fired Ferguson's winning coaching staff, replacing them with his own people.

Another problem was based on his expressions, Moyes always looked like he was in over his head, with the pressure of having moved to the then top club in the league getting to him. He looked perpetually panicked and doubtful, with expressions that became online memes on social networking. To rival managers, such expressions is the equivalent of sharks sensing blood in the water and they pounced on Moyes. His squad also picked up on it and became dispirited and doubtful. They were no longer confident and it showed in their expressions and body language on the pitch. It impacted their play. They weren't playing like Manchester United anymore. It's as though they forgot they were the reigning champs.

Arsene Wenger of Arsenal has a serious expression during matches, like he's reasoning and thinking about maneuvers. You really don't know what he's thinking based on his expressions and that's how it should be. He has many wins and accomplishments under his belt. As I've stated on Twitter, Jose Mourinho of Chelsea reminds me of Dr. Evil, but with hair and a tan (LOL). He issues aggressive, demoralizing quotes to opponents, in the vein of Dr. Evil, intimidating rivals before they even hit the pitch. He stands on, not beside the pitch (dude, you know you're really not supposed to do that LOL) with his game face on and it works.

Ferguson, considered the top football manager in history, looked confident and intimidating during games, chewing the life out of his chewing gum like he was holding a grudge against it and anyone who tried to beat his squad. He'd stare people down like a gangster (LOL). He always had that "I'm more of a man than you" look on his face to intimidate rivals and it worked.

At the end of the day, football is also a business. Poor results on the pitch impact the bottom-line and ticket/merchandising sales will decline. Bills don't pay themselves. Old Trafford's massive grounds costs money to maintain and the staff needs to be paid as well. The same goes for all teams. The Glazers borrowed a whopping $1.3 billion dollars against Manchester United. The loan must be repaid and poor results on the pitch unquestionably jeopardizes their ability to meet their financial obligations.

Alex Ferguson

Some state Moyes can console himself with his pay, but no one who loves football wants to experience what he did (he made some wrong turns that backfired). Money doesn't fix that when it comes to career fulfillment in wanting to do very well via great results on the tables. However, Moyes can recover in another post and with a $6,000,000 check to fall back on for 10-months work at Manchester United. It's not the end of the world. In life you have to learn to laugh at yourself and be resilient.

Side Bar: Coaching is in my blood. I think I would make a decent ~~terrifying~~ football manager. I'd probably be in trouble with the league every week, though:

Disciplinary commission: You were overheard telling a striker to FLING a rival out of the way on the pitch.
Me: No, you misheard. I told him to SING to him in a gesture symbolic of brotherhood, freedom and love. "Let freedom ring!" You know how much I love music.

Then, after I was unjustly cleared on the flagrant violation of league rules, I'd privately commend my offending player laughing, "Did you see how he went airborne when you flung him out of the way and scored that goal. He should totally get air miles for flying across the pitch like Superman. There will be something extra in your check for that." I'm just kidding. I have to state that because I don't want this article working against me in the future (LOL).

In all honesty, it would be wonderful to build a team from the ground up in the lower league, then help it rise to the top.