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Could this be David Moyes’ biggest mistake in a summer of mistakes?

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David MoyesaLet’s cut to it: David Moyes didn’t have the best start to his Manchester United career. In fact, the former Everton man made a pretty shabby first impression.

Yes, he came in and said all the right things. And we backed him up. There were assurances that he’d be given time. Their were plenty of think-pieces about how replacing Sir Alex Ferguson was an impossible task. The suggestion was that we all lower our expectations significantly.

But even having done so, the summer was a disappointment. Manchester United were crying out for a talented creative midfielder. The fact that the transfer window closed with the club signing Marouane Fellaini just about sums up the whole affair. David Moyes chased after certain individuals, failed to sign them and then fell back on a last resort. Fellaini isn’t really a creative midfielder. He’s a bulky ball-winning type and he’s good at what he does. But he’s not really what United need at this moment in time.

What they really needed was players like Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera. These are players that Manchester United were chasing, but it seems that David Moyes didn’t have the chutzpah to force through any potential deals. It’s almost as though the man doesn’t have the gravitas that Sir Alex Ferguson used to (and still has).

These facts alone don’t stand Moyes in particularly good stead. But then you go ahead and read articles such as this one, found in The Mirror. In it, Moyes details how Manchester United passed up on the chance to sign Mesut Ozil during the summer. Here’s the quotes:

“We weren’t close to buying him but something was mooted a little bit before that. We didn’t need that position at the time. I didn’t even say it was an interest, it was put to us and it was just something at the time we didn’t need. We we had Shinji Kagawa and Wayne Rooney and people of a similar ilk so it wasn’t quite what we required at that time. We were looking at different positions.” 

It’s amazing to me that Moyes would regard Kagawa and Rooney as similar players to Mesut Ozil. Despite Manchester United’s best efforts, Wayne Rooney is a striker, not a midfielder. What’s more, it’s been quite clear that Moyes doesn’t really trust Shinji Kagawa. The fact that he was in for players like Fabregas and Alcantara makes a mockery of the quotes above.

Manchester United could have used a player like Mesut Ozil. The German international is a sensational talent and he would have provided a fix where United most need it. Since Ozil’s arrival Arsenal have catapulted up the Premier League table, whilst Manchester United have fallen out of contention.

It’ll just have to go down as a missed opportunity.

What’s your take? Should United have gone in for Mesut Ozil?

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0 comments

  • United83 says:

    You sir are an idiot.

  • United83IsCorrect says:

    Harry Cloke, what the hell you’re on?!?!?!? United is crying out loud for a defensive mid in the last couple of years….would you want Thiago, so in 2,3 years time he decides his heart always belonged to Barca like Cesc and Jordi cunts??? And what did Herrera do??? To splash 30 mil for his spanish ass is way way way too much. Rooney can run as much as he wants, where Ozil gets bullied immidiately against stronger teams….(look yesterday’s match for example)…
    If you don’t believe in Moyes, go be a football expert in Namibia.

  • united emmy says:

    Moyes is right,never did we need ozils service,yes he is very good but not what we need.we av kagawa and adnan yanuzaj all we need is a very good mdfldr like iker from dortmond ,garry frm benfica,

  • United83IsCorrect says:

    Harry Cloke, what the hell you’re on?!?!?!? United is crying out loud for a defensive mid in the last couple of years….would you want Thiago, so in 2,3 years time he decides his heart always belonged to Barca like Cesc and Jordi c*nts??? And what did Herrera do??? To splash 30 mil for his spanish a** is way way way too much. Rooney can run as much as he wants, where Ozil gets bullied immidiately against stronger teams….(look yesterday’s match for example)…
    If you don’t believe in Moyes, go be a football expert in Namibia.

  • Rome says:

    United 83 you are the idiot the writer is right example how many strikers did we have when SAF decided to buy RVP you get the best player available period and you let them fight for a position there is no way anyone can tell me fellaini is a justifiable buy makes no sense to pay that much when we got Carrick and Cleverly who play the same position wasted 28 mil and help me understand this why is he trying to get Baines when we got 3 left backs yet when it came to Ozil we got 2 players like him can anyone explain that he Moyes contradicts himself all the time but here is your answer he just wants Everton players we don’t need them go and get better quality players not Everton players no Baines or Ross Barkley please

  • FootballersWines says:

    I have to agree, Fellaini isnt really the buy that United needed although he is a good player and can do a job but united having been crying out for a creative midfielder. For me Fellaini just doesn’t seem to fit in to the United squad for me. Foolish mistakes like the recent red card he picked up are not the sort of things generally associated with United.

    However I do think Moyes is a fantastic Manager and realistically there was no manager than could fill the boots of SAF. People must understand that the departure of SAF would effect the club as a whole from Chairman to Youth Team players. Moyes has a huge task ahead of him as United Manager but i think its a little early to really judge his managerial decisions.

    Wait untill January thats when the Prem really starts!

    http://www.footballerswines.co.uk

  • Thomas says:

    Signing Fellaini is a bigger mistake then loosig out on Ozil! We needed a defencive midfielder, and Fellaini is the worst “first defender” i have ever seen in a manu team. Also is plaing pace is so slow that it holds our play down!! Sell that hairy man back to everton!

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