The 2½-year contract handed to David Moyes was considered 2 years too long by many. Given the circumstances of his departure and the comments he made as Man Utd boss, numerous fans opposed his reinstatement and desired a more high-profile name at the helm. This sentiment was shared by me, until I considered the size of the task at hand.
In the first 6 months, or at least until the end of May, the primary objective is to avoid relegation. Moyes has a proven ability to organise a team and possesses a keen eye for bargain transfers, although such opportunities are increasingly rare.
I’m confident that Moyes will prevent the team from relegation. His skill in organizing players and his extensive Premier League experience are expected to trigger a response from a current squad that many deem to be underperforming.
Planning for the replacement of 16 first-team players must commence immediately. The question of how any Director of Football could allow this situation to develop warrants a separate discussion; for now, it can be deemed a dereliction of duty. It is doubtful that Kevin Thelwell will remain in his position for much longer or have any influence in player recruitment while he continues in his role.
Assuming contract extensions are secured and those not retained are released, the daunting task of rebuilding a squad with a modest budget lies ahead. Moyes will need to focus on short-term recruitment, seeking experienced players (potentially on free transfers) and young talents with speed and promise, integrating them with the remaining squad and those capable of stepping up to the first team from the U18s and U21s.
Transitioning to the new stadium while still in the top flight is merely the beginning. The squad will face numerous changes, including a new pre-match routine, a new pitch, a new dressing room, a new atmosphere, and new teammates. Moyes will need to navigate these adjustments and ensure that the new stadium quickly becomes a familiar home rather than an unlucky away ground. His first full season will involve helping the team acclimate to their new environment while fostering cohesion among players, especially the younger ones who require crucial Premier League experience.
It is only in his final year that Moyes is expected to take a longer-term view of the club’s direction. Provided he can establish stability and consistency, the club should be positioned to look upward rather than downward, allowing for a more strategic approach to recruitment rather than a purely tactical one. There is a desire for the footballing philosophy to be addressed sooner, although this will heavily depend on the control Moyes possesses within the club and whether they adopt a Director of Football or Technical Director model in the future.
While Moyes may not be spectacular, he is anticipated to bring a sense of calm and familiarity to the club. His return mirrors the situation we were in back in 2002, with respect to performance, squad depth and results. It took him 2½ years to get us to the Champions League; highly unlikely he achieves that feat this time around.
The club, its owners, and the landscape of football have all changed significantly over the past 22 years. It is a huge task to bring us back to normality. I wish him well.