During his tenure for a period of 26 years and a half (to be approximate), Ferguson won 38 trophies, inclusive of 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Chamions League trophies.

As the facts suggest, and so do we, the ardent fans of the Red Devils, David Moyes is being put in charge of an uphill task – to carry on the legacy of the former Scottish-origin manager. Can the phoenix rise again, as the former Everton manager steps into his predecessor’s shoes? Will he fit in? We surely have high hopes.

A few facts to consider:

#1 Moyes registered a 63% win percentage in the first 8 matches for Manchester United, whereas Sir Alex Ferguson had a 38% win percentage in his first 8 matches as United’s manager. Moyes opened his chapter for United by winning the FA Community Shield with a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic and thereafter, winning the first league game for United, with a 4-1 win against Swansea City.

#2 While Moyes was the manager at Everton (for a period of over 11 years), the club qualified for Champions League in 2005 and reached the FA Cup finals in 2009. He even went on to become the fourth manager after Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp to record 150 wins in the Premier League.

#3 Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be one of the most stable and far-sighted managers, and in 2010, it was reportedly said that he endorsed David Moyes to succeed him at the Old Trafford after his retirement. In August 2010, speculations were doing the rounds whether Moyes would be taking up the managerial position at Aston Villa left vacant by Martin O’Neill’s resignation, but the former Everton manager dismissed those rumours.

With the on-going season, and after the Red Devils’ loss in the Manchester Derby by the score of 4-1, followed by a further setback of 2-1 at home against West Bromwich Albion, the pressure has surely piled up on Moyes and the big questions have already started to float in. Moyes has commented that Manchester United lacks the quality to win the Champions League. He has gone on record saying, “To win the Champions League, you need five or six world-class players. Look at Bayern Munich, they have it. Look at Barcelona, who had it in the past and Real Madrid, who have maybe got it now. That’s the level you have to be at to win it. We’ve not got that yet but what we have got is experience.”

However, with the likes of Rooney, Kagawa, Nani, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Vidic, De Gea, RvP and many more being there in the team, one can hardly say so. Moyes had said earlier that this team had the ability to win the Premier League and Champions League as well. Now his statements seem contradictory, don’t they?

It looks like he needs some more time to get acquainted at Old Trafford.

Inheriting a team from a manager like Ferguson and maintaining the balance is quite a hectic task, and he has also admitted to the fact that he might have to take further blows. Seems like something good is in store for the future.

As a far-sighted manager and as Fergie’s choice, this 50-year-old Scot has something in him to take this team to a higher level. Time is not the only factor; he has to develop as a better tactician and keep utilizing the players to bring in a better balance to the team. It’s high time he loses the shackles and rolls the dice. The sooner it lands on a six, the better it gets. Gambling is one thing, and strategic gambling is another. Maybe, he should be using Kagawa more than Fellaini, or maybe that is also another bet for the future.

It’s high time to count the young players in the playing eleven; this had rewarded Fergie in the past as well. Remember Cristiano Ronaldo, when he was bought at the age of 18 at Old Trafford? Rooney, after being bought from Everton; even his trust in Carrick. Now it’s time for Moyes to put his trust in players like Januzaj, Smalling, Jones. Let experience be not a manager’s crutch, but a support. Faith in the youth has never let anyone down. Boosting a player’s morale and a team’s is part of the job of a manager and he needs to see that there are no loopholes left.

No matter what it takes, he should start sorting things out as soon as possible. Silverware seems distant but you never know, it is never that hard to get through with such a group of fine “world-class” players in hand. Ferguson acquired and had the ability to turn a player into a “star player” and utilize him, too. Methods can be vary from person to person, but the conclusion can be the same – winning over the fans in your own style. The sooner this happens with Moyes, the better.

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