I've had time to gather my mostly useless thoughts on the whole thing.
Backtracking? Not me.
My feelings about Moyes' appointment was influenced by my strong opinion that for the last 2 seasons prior to his arrival, we were in need of a massive squal overhaul. We threw away the league to City, and we patched over the gaping holes in our nonexistent midfield and aging defense by signing Van Persie. He was our only attacker in great form, with our other attackers all struggling for form and at best being annoyingly inconsistent. Our midfield had Carrick and a bunch of journeymen. The defense had slipped from the great standards set a few years ago. Grooming the young defenders has been a pain.
I also maintain that all our rivals underperformed. Liverpool had a strong end to last season but early season troubles meant they finished outside the top 4. Arsenal was being Arsenal, City dropped a few levels after their league, Chelsea failed to build on their Champions League triumph. It was clear that eventually some teams would get their act together, and I believe that even with SAF at the top, without major adjustments we would struggle to make top 4. Opinions...
I didn't have any strong preferences for successors to SAF. Mourinho was/is an attention seeking buffoon, so I wasn't excited at the prospect of landing him. When Moyes was appointed, I believe/d that the selection wasn't because he was "Scottish", but because of his merits and accomplishments at Everton. Some people on here and in the press have written off his deeds as overrated, but I think he did an excellent job with Everton. Given all this, I wanted him to be given until December this year to prove himself. As the season progressed, I came to the conclusion I would stick with the board's decision.
With the wreck of a season behind us, here is what I now think about my prior thoughts. I think there is plenty blame to go around.
With Moyes, he seemed incapable of seeing the futility of Valencia and Young on the wing. He couldn't get Kagawa into the team sooner. He shunted our young players around at the expense of older players who didn't give a feck (more on this). The transfer window fiasco ending up with Fellaini. Giving Rooney a huge contract. I'm never one to read into press conferences and armchair psychology and all that, that is the domain of idiots who still believe Ferguson hypnotized Benitez into giving away the league. Judging him on performances, he failed. He couldn't get the job done. He was hardworking, honest, likeable, but he couldn't cut it. Maybe things would be better if we waited until December. Maybe he should have been fired soon. No one knows the impact. But I can't say the board wasn't patient, they have been more than patient. So he failed. That's not an inditment on his overall career as a manager, and I look forward to his return to management. I'm sure he'll learn from this experience, and I wish him the best. I'm quietly confident he'll get another big shot, everyone loves a comeback.
With the board, they didn't make the right appointment. Hindsight is 20/20, but Ancelotti would have been a better option. Better than Moyes. I don't think they did proper research into each candidates' qualifications. Hopefully they have learned from the past year. Woodward's opening months were weird, to say the least. He seems to be improving. Still has some way to go to reach Gill's level. I hope the Glazers stay out of the football side of things. They should appoint knowledgeable people that know the sport and environment, and stick to balancing the books and providing money when needed. I do not fault SAF in any of this, I'm sure he selected Moyes with the best of intentions. It didn't work out, and the next appointment needs to be dead on. I still believe in the United Way, the right way of doing things. I think we're better than the rest. And I'd like us try and maintain those standards of behavior, patience, and building with youth and flair, not throwing money at the problem, not sacking managers at a whim like Chelsea or City or PSG or Real.
I've ranted enough about the players, but a significant portion of them are not Manchester United material, both in quality and attitude. I'm disappointed in Giggs behavior if the reports of his behavior against Moyes are true. If true, hopefully he gets the send off his career deserves, and rides off into the sunset. Rio with the tweets, Carrick with his usual limp dick'd nature, RVP looking for his daddy... unforgiveable. I can support rubbish players who give 100% as a professional should, as the fans deserve. But what some of the players put in this season was inexcusable. I really hope the next manager puts them all out of a job soon. I'm done with some of the players. Even if Phil fecking Brown with that eejit looking headpiece was in the dugout, you respect the manager. You respect the fans who pay to watch you, by leaving every ounce of effort on the field. And you keep issues indoors. Otherwise, I can't support you as a player.
The matchgoing fans have been wonderful. Away fans are the best in the country. Calling them deluded, cult like... feck off. Hopefully sooner than later I can join them for one game and shout till I'm hoarse, regardless of what's going on on the pitch. The plane banner was cringeworthy (has this ever happened in the history of football) and was written off as the act of loons.
I think overall the caf had brilliant arguments and supporters on both sides. I for one never called out anyone as a worse or fairweather supporter for wanting Moyes out so soon. At times this place sucked the joy out of every fecking event. There were a lot of dormant posters who only came online to post for the 33rd time that Moyes should leave. Hopefully they slinker back into the woodwork. At the moment there is a lot of vitriol and vindiction in the air. Maybe after a few weeks the dust and euphoria will clear and a more reasonable analysis of Moyes' tenure will take place.