I think the dynamic that some are forgetting here is that whilst Moyes deserved the respect of the players (because solely of fergies endorsement), the players equally deserved the respect of Moyes, that's not to say he should have been subservient to them but he needed to respect RVPs unique training plan, rio, vidic and Evras experience in defending Scholes and giggs thoughts on how the attacking game should be played. SAF was willing to take on board these things so Moyes should have had the humility to do the same. It seems he steamed in, played the big man and lost from day one. Telling rio and vidic how jagielka plays, esp seeing as rio was bombed out of the England squad and replaced by jagielka must rankle. To be overtrained when RVP has finally had two good years injury free must rankle. To train defensive plays after 20+ years of attacking football must make the old heads wonder if this guys knows where he's at.
Respect is a two way street, seems Moyes gave no respect so got his just desserts. The guys he did respect were the subservient quieter players that were on the fringes of the squad, young, Valencia he put his faith in them which must have raised questions.
Despite the stories, I feel no need to backtrack. The sacking itself, the delivery, seems poor on the outside, but for him to not see it coming, geez he really was in his own world. He deserved the boot, the timing was right, things were getting wiser and had we got to the summer the only way Moyes would have rectified this situation would be to remove any personality and voice, leaving us with a poorer squad
I think for the champions league (bar one or two games) I think professional pride kicked in a la Chelsea, and the players pulled together to get us as far as we went, I guess it makes you wonder why the didn't do that for the league or cups!
It seems Moyes and his staff cut isolated figures, for sure they could have had a better transition, more help, the players could have been more respectful, but I think Moyes made his own bed and was ultimately master of his own downfall.
It amazes me we still have muppets wanting to give Moyes more time after what we saw on the pitch and the stories behind his relationships.... It proves it was the right call, yet folk would rather we sack the first team. Great plan that!! Some of the Johnny come latelys have no clue how football clubs work in reality, just because they sack their football manager squads and buy Barcelona/real players they think it translates to real life. Proper managers manage the playing staff they are given, not create a wish list of new players... And to think we thought Moyes was the cheap option!!!