Do Manchester United Have The Same Pulling Power Under David Moyes?
I think it will quite some time before we fully appreciate and understand what Sir Alex Ferguson was able to achieve in his time at Manchester United.
His influence at the club went so much further than the trophy cabinet. Ferguson had the referees in his pocket, the full respect of every other manager, the key to motivating a team and the ability to bring in top talent based solely on not only the club’s reputation but also his own.
When big players chose United they selected the club because of its rich history but also because Ferguson was there; one of the greatest, if not the greatest, managers to have ever berated a fourth official on the touchline.
For me, it was a surprising move to appoint David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor but this is a club built on continuity so a big name here today gone tomorrow appointment would not have made sense. The problem is, though, Moyes doesn’t have the same pulling power as Ferguson.
If Ferguson wanted a player to come to Manchester and play for him, he would pick up the phone and speak to the player personally. Having Ferguson ring you up and tell you that he wants you to join his team was a great honour for any player and the deal was done.
Moyes, right now at least, does not have that same kind of power which is why, partly, the deal for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas fell through. If that had been Ferguson asking Fabregas to jump ship than I believe Fabregas would now be a United player.
So what is Moyes now doing? Going back to the well to see if he can recruit two of his old Everton players Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines. As both of already worked with Moyes the deals are merely dependent on the two clubs agreeing a fee.
Moyes has one of the most prestigious jobs in world football but it will be some time until he can administer his own personal stamp on the club.
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