The BBC website is now reporting the news as being confirmed by United sources. Paddy Crerand must feel like a complete and utter twat.
From the BBC's website:- Manchester United shares fell in New York amid concerns over the impact Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement will have. The news was announced while US markets were closed. When trading began the club's shares fell as much as 4.5%. The club said in its prospectus ahead of its stock market flotation last year that its business was dependent on its ability to attract and retain players. "Any successor to our current manager may not be as successful as our current manager," it warned. That's a huge dip. If Moyes is announced as manager, watch them drop even further.
The thing for utd is, if they get mourinho that removes a big big threat. if he goes to Chelsea that is one team as well as city that have a proven league winner for manager, with monies to burn. Moyes, with someone elses team, with no trophies to his name is not in the same class as Mankini or Mourinho.
I still believe that it will be Moyes. I also believe that it's far too premature to be passing judgement on Moyes' suitability to manage Utd. For those who are old enough to remember, you will recall that Fergie's initial period at Utd was disastrous. He was one game away from getting the boot. What eventually saved his bacon ( forgive the pun) was his faith in the young players he had whose names we all now know. I think it would be very foolish to prematurely dismiss Moyes as not being up to the task.
But Fergy already had a series of trophies to his name. A couple of scottish leagues and a uefa cup. Moyes has nada.
True that his achievement in winning the old cup winners cup was outstanding. I still believe that Moyes has done an outstanding job at Everton, on a shoestring budget - frequently being forced to sell his top players. Rooney being a prime example. Fergie is a next to impossible act to follow for anybody. But, to write Moyes off as not up to the job is foolhardy, IMO.
So not only have Man Utd gifted points to our rivals in their last two games, after we gift wrapped the title for them, but they're now unsettling Chelsea's last opponents by nicking their manager? I ****ing hate that bunch of arseholes!
Everton will be no pushover for Chelsea regardless PNP and neither will Villa but I see where you're coming from.
Arsenal gifted us that point thanks to Sagna and Chelsea scored via an own goal, and it will be Moyes
So the break up starts already with Rooney wanting away. I think Man U are making a mistake with Moyes,for themselves that is. This team is going to split up and dare I say a return to Atkinson type of positions in the table. Who recalls them languishing near the bottom? Moyes will be there only for a short while I think and not the 5 years in his contract. A bigger name will be there soon.
Honestly, they're better off without Rooney - he played them for saps a couple of years ago to snag himself a better contract, and a couple of seasons back they were a much better proposition going forward with Hernandez and Berbatov than with Rooney dicking around in midfield. Let's be honest, he isn't The Man at the club - van Persie is.
Jury is out for me. Fergie is still there in some form, that could well hold it all together til Moyes settles. They won't drop too far next season. Anyone suggesting they will drop out the top 4 needs to give me some of what they are on
I think choosing Moyes has a bit of business sense behind it. Look at it this way, any top name following SAF will be expensive and rightly compared causing unecessary pressure, it could well be a poison chalice and put a blackmark on a CV. Moyes on the other hand if it doesn't work out, will be less damaged having slightly less expectation, and will cost less to replace given more modest wages than a top man. Mourinho (I know its not happening) as an example would need paying off to get him in, and would take another hefty payment to get rid. The Glazers also wouldn't mind Rooney's qtr mill a week wages off the bill, only a handful of clubs can possibly afford him...do they want him though!
Hopefully the Everton board have made sure there's agreements in place to stop Moyes taking Baines and Fellaini with him.
So we can take them instead? Pretty sure that they'll be the first moves that are made in the summer now. Mirallas, Jagielka and Barkley are probably on the watch list, too.
