Does Moyes have right stuff for ‘the real stuff’?
AT Wembley Stadium today David Moyes begins what he calls “the real stuff”: his first meaningful match as manager of Manchester United. The first in the post-Alex Ferguson era.
For the champions, the grand saga over Wayne Rooney’s future is yet to run its messy course and, more pressingly, Moyes still has to secure the marquee signing that will help confirm him in his new office and show his ability to attract a big name, even if he insists he was the one who pulled the plug on Thiago Alcantara’s proposed move and deemed Robert Lewandowski too similar to Javier Hernandez.
Around Moyes, Manchester City, who finished 11 points adrift in second last season, have spent close to £100-million largely on exciting, attacking talent marshaled by an urbane, assured new coach in Manuel Pellegrini, while Jose Mourinho has returned to Chelsea. It has promoted his club to favourites with the bookmakers.
And there is Arsenal, where Luis Suarez’s arrival might be a gamechanging, trophy-winning signing but seems a distant prospect given the hardline stance of Liverpool owner John Henry; and Tottenham Hotspur, where Gareth Bale’s potential world-record departure could have an equal impact, albeit a negative one.
Moyes and United’s executive vice- chairman Ed Woodward have singled out Spurs as title dark horses and there have been rumours that the club’s backer, Joe Lewis, signalled an intention to “go for it” during a postseason club summit in the Bahamas.
“Tottenham are giving it a go,” Moyes said. “There are changes [in the league]. It could be more unpredictable. New managers, new
New manager should have the means to reel the elite talent in. But does he have the personal pull?
staff. There could be a few ups and downs. It might not be quite as normal. But history tells you there is a norm at the end and that is the same three or four clubs. Arsene Wenger will be looking to push and get Arsenal close. They will try and get among it all.”
Moyes has a similar mandate. United, as ever, need to be “among it all”.
Money, Woodward has boldly stated, is no object. Budgetary constraints, which Moyes handled so deftly at Everton, are no longer his concern. He may be fishing in a smaller pool of elite talent but he should have the means to reel them in. But does he have the personal pull? Cesc Fabregas is staying in Barcelona and other targets are elu- sive. It is a steep learning curve for Moyes — despite more than a decade in the Premier League — and, perhaps more significantly, Woodward.
That first big signing is vital and Marouane Fellaini might not be enough to sate the supporters — although Real Madrid’s Luka Modric could be. The United dressing room is looking to what happens and also at how Moyes handles the disenchanted, frustrated Rooney.
It has turned into the kind of distraction that will have Mourinho rubbing his hands in glee and there is the suspicion that for all Chelsea’s interest in acquiring Rooney the motivation for him is as much to exploit uncertainty and rock his rivals. —