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Hoddle Is A God said:
The SAF v Moyes comparison, with virtually the same side, just goes to show how important the manager is in the modern game. A good one can get a team of okay-players to win the league, and an average one will make those same players (and the team) look average.

Moyes is an average manager.

People bang on about how well he did at Everton, but forget that Everton is still a big club. The fact is, he should have done better with Everton, and he didn't, because he couldn't.
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As usual in life there are some very good managers, some very bad ones, and most of the rest are almost indistinguishable from one another. The only sensible course is to keep the very good ones for ever, sack the very bad ones very quickly and pay the ones in between a pittance. That assumes you can tell the difference early enough of course - Ferguson's initial results with Man U were not predictive of the final outcome, but it wasn't much of a risk keeping him on as he clearly wasn't one of the very bad ones. Same with us now. AVB is probably average but possibly very good. Chance of getting something better by sacking him is very low. Chance of him being a great manager much higher.
 
Moyes is being written off too early as a manager while Martinez is being overly praised and while the Man Utd job was practically an impossible job after Fergie, you can't then say Moyes is a bad manager if he fails as how can you be a success in a role that was doomed to fail.

unfortunately for Moyes the job was one he couldn't turn down and the only way he can try and salvage any credibility is to get rid of the old guard such as Rio and use Fellani as he did at Everton and take more control as currently it looks as if he is managing fergies team without taking full control.
 
His performance against us midweek and his performance so far this afternoon is a bit disrespectful to Martin Jol as he was never showing such enthusiasm and effort 2 weeks ago. He was class on Wednesday night and he is class again today.
 
Very true, SC. Berbatov's virtually unplayable when he wants to be, which just goes to show how poor his overall attitude is.
 
Fulham have done well but I'm not so sure they deserve such a comfortable lead. Penalty was a bit dubious and demonstrates "clever play", "winning" the penalty or what we used to call "cheating". I can see why it was given as that's the way the game's going but it also highlights why it's stupid that the game is heading this way as that could be something that players can start utilising every game. If a defender's running to close you down then simply move in the way as he tries to pass you and you get an easy pen. I hope our coaches were taking notes, you could get 30 penalties a year doing that.
 
Hans Segers told me that Berbarov was very close to rejoining us before he went to Fulham. Apparently he assumed the deal was done and dusted and then Levy pulled the plug on it at the last minute and so he ended up at Fulham. He also said that to this day, Berbatrov has never been told why Levy scrapped the deal.
 
Do you believe Darth Levy built his hopes up deliberately ??
Suggested some initial wage deal and then decided to reduce it right at the end etc. :)
 
I remember fergie saying Berba was going back to us and Levy. That's probably what scuppered the deal.
 
They've done it for awhile but it's strange seeing Arsenal playing counterattacking football at home, they definitely got going in the final 5 minutes though and only Howard getting off his line quickly has kept it level.

Should be a fascinating second half and I can see it being the opposite of the first with Everton sitting back and hitting on the counter whilst Arsenal see more of the ball.
 
Coleman is the best non hyped full back in the league, oviedo isn't bad either.
 
Boss said:
Moyes is being written off too early as a manager while Martinez is being overly praised and while the Man Utd job was practically an impossible job after Fergie, you can't then say Moyes is a bad manager if he fails as how can you be a success in a role that was doomed to fail.

unfortunately for Moyes the job was one he couldn't turn down and the only way he can try and salvage any credibility is to get rid of the old guard such as Rio and use Fellani as he did at Everton and take more control as currently it looks as if he is managing fergies team without taking full control.
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I'm not writing Moyes off but he's already done some questionable things. I query the following:

- he's changed all the backroom staff. You need people who know the club and players. Why not keep someone like Phelan or Meulensteen who had been at the club for years?
- he failed to bring in new players. He messed up the transfer window in style. Surely a club with the clout of Utd could have negotiated deals for some of the players targeted? Even the Fellaini deal was a cock up. He could have been bought for less in July. The team did need an injection of new blood - especially in midfield. If Ozil or Fabregas couldn't be signed, then Cabaye for £15m would have been a big improvement.
- he has changed the team too often. He doesn't know his best team or formation. It's as though he picks names out of a hat and plays them. SAF made changes, but he knew when to put out his best XI, when to rest players and when to make tactical changes.
- he is too cautious. Utd have a tradition of throwing caution to the wind to save games. He may lack a top class creative midfielder, but he has attacking players in RvP, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, Valencia, Nani, Kagawa & Januzaj at his disposal. Where was the Alamo at the end of the Everton and Newcastle games? Can he motivate the players to give everything and pile forward to chase a game - because they are not doing it?
- he's not at Everton. Getting a draw away at Liverpool or Spurs might be a point gained for many. The expectation is that Utd will win every game in style - and should aim to do so. The team won at City, Chelsea and Liverpool last season. Playing sterile football and being happy with a draw has no place at Utd. It's not a mindset you can easily break out of either (see above re caution).
 
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