My piece on the summer ahead for David Moyes: http://hitrowz.com/2013/06/07/manager-focus-moyes-to-do-list/
I can save you a lot of time Sir David must win league, FA cup, League cup and CL, anything less and the papers will want his head on a plate.
I think you mean the man u fans not the media. Once United at least challenge till the end for the PL and have a good run in the CL Moyes will not face a media slating, which is probably fair enough but I get the feeling he will land something, maybe the FA cup. The league on his first season is asking a lot but I guess we won't know until next may
I wouldn't be surprised if Moyes targets the league cup to get an early one under his belt to ward off the circling media vultures
Minimum expectations: Challenge for the league title (top 3) Respective CL performance (last 16 of CL) Semi's of FA Cup League Cup not important (blood some youngsters/fringe players), unless we do badly in one of the 2 cups above, then a win would make up for it slightly.
Top two yes, FA Cup semis no. The FA Cup is very dependent on the draw imo. If we get a reasonable draw then the semis should be achievable, but if we get a **** draw like City away then Chelsea away then we'll need some luck to get through. Imo the domestic trophies are always just bonuses for when the cup runs come together, the league and the CL are where you measure performance, with the league being the most important.
I agree with you here mate. Filling SAF's shoes is massive task for anyone coming in. The requirement is to try and build another lasting dynasty with Moyes so it will take patience. Having said that, he will be expected to deliver a degree of 'success' given the reputation of the club.
Definitely! Anderson has been woeful and never lived up to his early promise, especially given how expensive he was. Strootman has been touted a lot last few weeks and Thiago move seems to be picking up pace today. Who else would you get in?
Would be prepared to get rid of Young, Nani and Rooney if decent money was forthcoming. Getting players in more complex. Although they are not CM's but if I was living in a fantasy world the signing of Bale would be amazing as would be Ronaldo. But we live in the real world, so if we could sign 2 players from the likes of Strootman, Thiago and Fellaini I'd be very satisfied. Would provide much needed assistance to Carrick as well as a goal threat from midfield. Don't see Baines signing and while a very good player I'd rather look to sign next season a younger player to replace Evra. Cannot see us signing any other defenders especially as Vidic despite the injuries is only 31 and Rio has signed a new contract till next year. Can only see us buying midfielders and possibly a forward if Rooney is sold.
Fellaini would be a great shout, as I alluded to in the article. I also think you need to cash in on Nani who would definitely have more suitors than Young. Would struggle to think where Ashley Young would go, but it's clear that, even in spite of injuries, he's underperformed. Rooney needs to decide sooner rather than later what he wants to do, his head has been turned for the last couple of seasons now and it will definitely create an unsettled dressing room, especially without SAF there anymore.
Rather disappointed in Young, don't think injuries have helped but he has not performed to his best. He is no world beater but is nevertheless a good player who can score goals and create chances. I do see other times being interested in him. Maybe a season injury free could be the making of him, who knows? Nani almost like Anderson has had his chance. Talented, gifted and on his day a match winner but totally inconsistent. I'm sure any decent cash offer could see him leaving.
I actually think we will all be surprised by the success of the club this season. At the end of the day, once pretty much the same bunch of players go out onto the pitch, they will play the same way. David Moyes won't want to change the winning style of play, yes there will be tweaks here and there, changes to training and backroom methods, but the team won't just fall apart on the pitch because SAF isn't there.
In general I would agree with you, and especially if SAF was still in charge... But given our bad FA Cup performances recently I just feel that this might be a good season to go for it (depending on draws as you say). I don't expect Moyes to be able to drag that extra 10% out of players over the course of the full league season in his very first season as Fergie always used to do, and it's his first 'proper' CL season... So if we were to underperform slightly in these two main competitions and we are still in the FA Cup in February/March I would love to see us give the FA Cup a good go. Not that our players took it easy in the FA Cup usually, Fergie always picked teams capable of winning, but we would just lose for various reasons every year. But I do believe that if you are sitting in February/March and you know that the FA Cup is your only chance of silverware this season you would be more determined/motivated as a player than if you were leading the league and still in the CL and FA Cup. (Chelsea were often in this position and would go on to do well in the FA Cup and CL, whereas Arsenal would buckle every year in the same situation. I think our squad are determined and professional enough to react more like Chelsea's than Arsenal's)
I agree that this season is a good one to go for the FA Cup, but as I said the problem is that the competition is too random and influenced by luck of the draw. So whilst I'd hope for a good run, I wouldn't set minimum expectations as the semi final, as we could potentially end up drawing the hardest teams in the 3rd and 4th round. And as NOF says, even if we give the FA Cup a good go, the league should still be priority. Moyes is a league manager like SAF, rather than a cup one, so I don't see him putting the FA Cup above the league just cos it's easier to win if you get a decent draw.
