Re: STUCK WITH MOYES
OT really hasn't been a 'fortress' (in the sense teams go there expecting to be beaten and play negatively) since at least the last couple of seasons of Ferguson's reign. As the years have gone by, teams have set up more offensively and posed United far more problems than mere results would suggest. Southampton played us off the park for much of the game last season, however United dug deep and were able to grind out results their performances didn't necessarily deserve.
At the end of the day, this is not a title winning squad. Ferguson overachieved considerably with that team to propel them to the league, and it's becoming more apparent just how great an achievement it was. The team as a whole just isn't up to the standard of years gone by. Midfield is sorely crying out for an enforcer or just someone able to light up the game and provide some inspiration. It's baffling anyone can say the team doesn't need investment given how exposed we've been in midfield for years, how brittle the squad is in depth which sees players constantly played out of position when we suffer injuries etc. There's plenty of promise, but United definitely need to make signings of intent to improve the squad, because as it stands it looks more and more like a squad that relied on Ferguson's man management and winning mentality to propel them to becoming Champions.
Today was much the same. There just was no real link up play between the midfield and attack, and United just looked so one dimensional in terms of passing and moving the ball forwards. Hernandez and Welbeck had some nice interplay in the first half, but both were starved of opportunity in the second half and that comes back to the midfield which just can't dominate games and supply the forwards with the ball. Fletcher had a really encouraging first half, with some really impressive passes in amongst his dogged and workhorse attitude, but the minute United went down to ten men it looked ominous that Swansea had the chance to win the game (especially as United had looked toothless and lost the ten minutes prior with some terribly unimaginative passing).
My biggest worry with Moyes is how his mentality reflects on the players. Ferguson had that winning mentality and optimism that translated to the team, which often inspired legendary comebacks and onslaughts to salvage crucial points from potential defeats. With Moyes, I think you can just sense that same courage and belief isn't there, and that has seen United go down with a wimper typically as opposed to teams clinging on for victories. Ever since his time at Everton (and his comment about United not being good enough to win the CL), I really believe Moyes fixates on how HE comes across, as opposed to how his comments can impact on the team. He did well to take Everton into a comfortable top 8 side with the potential for more, but you can tell he loved to be afforded a reprieve with the media always fixating on how little money he had to spend. With United, no matter how much people might agree with the CL being beyond their reach, it's madness for the manager to be the one arguing that. All I took from that comment was Moyes trying to salvage his image by highlighting the 'uphill' job he had at his disposal, which smacked of desperation on his part and was a woefully inept comment to put forward in respect of motivating his team.
It was at least encouraging to see the fans audibly stick by the team throughout the match, no matter how much the media like to try and incinuate Moyes is a man on borrowed time and will be driven out by the fans. United's support, no matter how much the 'prawn sandwich' comments (as outdated and creative as a script of Miranda) are thrown their way, are nothing like Arsenal or Chelsea in terms of jeering and reacting poorly to bad results. For all the stick they get, United's support are typically behind the team home or away even when the results and performances are poor, so it's annoying to see the media portray the fans as being 'hard to please' when they've been as good as anyone this season in actually supporting the side. The empty seats was a sad sight to see (and has been for years), but United fans aren't as impatient or fickle with their treatment of the players as you'll find at other clubs. We might have a plethora of mongs who associate themselves with the club and are an embarrassment on social media/forums, but when it comes to matchdays United are a damn sight more loyal and encouraging regardless of the result than you'll get from a lot of supports in the current system.
Moyes isn't the right man for the club long-term, and he's certainly not capable of taking a weakened and undeveloped team to the league. It's the hand we've been dealt, but it's no good dwelling on our losses. United need to start identifying the areas and players necessary to improve the team and concentrate on steadying the ship and slowly picking up results. Top four is looking increasingly like a struggle given how inconsistent United have been, with the worrying sign being their inability to grind out victories, whereas Arsenal for example have proved remarkably adept at that this season. Januzaj, Welbeck (seriously, the reputation this lad has is hilariously sad now, he is not a donkey at the fitba) and De Gea have been brightsparks this season from a youth perspective, but United need to pull their finger out now and not dwell on past results, because finishing outside the top four isn't just a problem from a financial perspective, but would have crucial implications for their ability to invest in the players necessary to improve the squad.
Still proud to be supporter. United have tasted enough glory for two decades now for a problematic spell to be the undoing of them. Even in grimmer times, you're still blessed to support one of the most iconic clubs in football, who've provided some of the most enthralling and electric games for many years. End of the day, if you can't cope through bleaker times then you don't deserve to share in the riches of success. There have been warning signs that United needed to improve and invest wisely, and sadly it appears the affects are now being felt with a squad that can't compare to that of past title winning sides. Still, I've seen enough riches in my time to be content with going poor for the immediate future.