Moyes – just not scary enough
There’s a new factor in play this season – something that can cheer you up, relieve the pain of a defeat, make things seem brighter in dark hours. It’s a beautiful thing, a gift from divine providence – the kind of phenomenon that can make you believe that there is some benign quality to whoever it is that’s running things in this crazy world. It only really applies to football so far – but maybe it’s the kind of thing we need to act more generally in a country suffering under the cosh of the coalition. But it’ll do for the moment – it’s certainly made me feel better. The name of this feel-good factor? It’s David Moyes’ Man U. What a wonderful Man U manager Moyes is making. Long may he reign. Today, his latest gift to me is a last-minute defeat at home to Swansea, knocking the media darlings out of the FA Cup – and a tasty red card into the bargain. Delicious.
I’m not being wise after the event here. I am on record as predicting that Moyes would not be able to carry off the Fergie act that brought Man U far more success than their various teams’ qualities merited. It looks very much as though I was right as a veritable dynasty – albeit one founded on fear and oppression – is fading away, and we can but hope it will be replaced by something more admirable. Yes, Arsenal, I mean YOU. But the main thing is that the Evil Empire appears to be on the wane. I thought that a failure to qualify for the Champions League was too much to hope for, but it looks as though even this may well be about to happen. And if it does – then the shift in power at the top of the game will be of seismic proportions.
For a Leeds fan, the current problems afflicting Man U come as balm in Gilead. For many years now, the state of our club has been a matter for concern and occasionally despair. The odd calamity for Man U came as an infrequent but welcome relief from this pain. Now – even at a time when disasters like Rochdale can happen, the comical collapse of the edifice Fergie built on foundations of threats and bullying, acts to cheer the soul of anyone with Leeds in their heart. It’s a tonic, it really is. At a time like this when the Leeds team is misfiring but there appear to be exciting developments off the field, this latest flop by the Pride of Devon has come like a ray of sunshine on a stormy day. Believe me, I’m not ungrateful.
There’s quite a lot of this season still to go, and it is of course possible that – with the help of the usual outside forces – Man U may yet struggle back and secure at least a top four place to save themselves from meltdown. And yet it’s difficult to see how even a return to form for the likes of Howard Webb can see them overhaul any of what are looking like the natural occupiers of those top four places, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. All look streets ahead of Man U so far – and below that fantastic four, there are the not inconsiderable merits of Spurs and Everton. Both of these latter two have won at the Theatre of Hollow Myths this season, and both would currently back themselves to finish above the ailing and seemingly plastic champions.
For a Leeds United fan such as myself, this was shaping up as a weekend to be crying into our beer and staying inside to sulk. Thank you Swansea for your help and what you’ve done to the myth today. Thank you Mr Moyes for essaying a Fergie-Lite style of management that appears to be working just as we anti-Dark Side sympathisers might wish. Most of all thanks to the Man U owners for such an enlightened appointment. Stick by Agent Moyes; hopefully he has much more to achieve yet in the dismantling of Man U.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
5 home defeats (so far), penalty decisions going AGAINST them, Scum players getting sent off, late winners for the opposition…all at the Theatre of Empty Seats! Makes you wonder whether Fergoscum had some kind of influence over the refs in the last 20 years or so doesn’t it!! Shame that when the glory hunters get home their houses are flooded as well, welcome to our world Cider drinkers
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It’s a multitude of blessings 🙂
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It’s a great day for those of us who have suffered under the Sky sponsored reign of the champagne socialist Ferguson ,the emperor has no clothes ,oh happy day, Dublin gooner ,respect to Leeds ,a truly class club , mismanaged by an ex Chav !!!!!
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Hear hear and all the best. It would be wonderful for the game if this Arsenal team under the master Wenger, won the title this season.
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Rather coalition , than libour Libs … Like the blog but the constant political jibberish is boring tbh …. Love leeds ! Not the political point scoring …. Not everyone is in the same political mind set as you rob . ; ) … Please keep to footie m.o.t
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Each to his own, Mark – no-one’s forcing you to take on board my political views – and it sounds like you’re beyond redemption anyway! But this is not, and never has been solely a football blog – check out the title.
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Ok fair do rob ; ) just wears a bit thin after a while pal .
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I can understand that. After the first 48 hours of the BBC when Thatcher died, I was ready to throw my radio at the wall 😉
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Long live Maggie ; )
Can’t wait for butcher Blair and bodgit brown to pop there clogs.
Imagine the joyful bbc propaganda on that day : )
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On which subject there’s a party at my place when IDS carks it ! Bring a bottle – you can make it Krug, you capitalist git 😀
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Well it was a cup win and a goal from a certain mark robins that saved fergies neck all those years ago , moyes has lost that little saviour rob ,, lets all just sit back , enjoy the ride and watch the scum implode
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A long slow death would be nice ; ) 20 years of getting there own way = 10 long years of failure … Nice and slow will do me thank you : )
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Rob Rob Rob.
Please let us concentrate on our own plight. The Scum defeat is little compensation, as losing to Rochdale, and picking up just one point over Christmas is ‘seismic’.
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John, John, John,
Stop whinging and join in the fun 😉
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DON’T KNOW IF MY REPLY MADE IT BUT IT WAS JUST TO SAY WHAT A REALLY WELL WRITTEN PIECE.LET’S. KEEP POLITICS OFF THESE PAGES ,NOT A SOAPBOX SITE!! MOT.;-);-)
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My site is what I make it, and politics/social welfare are close to my heart. I appreciate all the well-meaning advice – but really, if you want a blog in your own image, I suggest you go out and make one 🙂
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You ain’t called Barney ma grew on another site are you by any chance rob ? … If you write a blog and then don’t like poeple having different political views to you , then you shouldn’t bring politics in to it pal ; ) just a thought ! Let’s keep it footie eh ?
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I’m prepared to argue politics till the cows come home. What I can’t handle is people inviting me to leave it out because they aren’t comfortable with it. You’re not the only person who reads this blog, and I have plenty of people who agree with my agenda. It’s like it or lump it, I’m afraid. I’ve said as politely as I can that I won’t be told what I can and can’t write on my own blog.
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It’s good to be King 🙂
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no more bribeing from fungie, teams going to old Trafford to actually win and not happy to loose 2-0, refs not forced to add 5 mins on.the average man.utd having to play on an even playing ground result not winning anything and brian don.t buy any more of their failures
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NEW BLOGGER,JUST READ FULL TITLE OF THE SITE,NOT INTERESTED IN THE POLITICS,JUST THE FOOTBALL.;-);-);-)
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You’re welcome to make of it what you will 🙂
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10550179/Manchester-United-manager-David-Moyes-sees-tenure-marked-by-220m-being-wiped-off-stock-market-valuation.html
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Oh dear, how sad, never mind 🙂
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I think you’re being too optimistic – Spit knew a rebuilding was needed and got his clone a 4-year deal. If they fail to qualify for the Champions League they’ll recover next year, though they may not be able to sign everyone they want. I think they’ll get a couple in in this window and get back up there, though they won’t be champions.
Still, let’s hope! We can certainly enjoy it while it lasts. Good old Swansea, think I might move to Wales and support them.
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Perhaps you should John 😉
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Well I’m certainly getting sick of supporting Leeds. Half of the players don’t seem to understand what’s required and I’m having my doubts about the manager.
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The fall of ManUre is pleasing me, especially so.
My glorious surname, Ferguson, has long been sullied by its association with ‘them’.
Hopefully one day I can mention my surname at Elland Road without getting things thrown at me or asked if I am related!
Saying that, my kid bro’s middle name is Alexander…
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Tough break 😉
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Isn’t it strange ones miss fortune is another ones gain
We as Leeds fans felt like crap after Saturday, but come Sunday evening we’re up feeling better as we either wacthed the scum getting beat or watching the sky sports news may it continue haha!
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Good old-fashioned Schadenfreude 😉
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Reference the Telegraph stockmarket article to which someone posted a link earlier: what does this do to Rooney’s bargaining power when he says he wants to leave in the current window? Then vanPersie decides he needs to leave in order to play Champions League next season!! Meltdown in the offing? This could get better by the minute!! And it couldn’t happen to a more-deserving organization.
Mike
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Rob, here’s a little anecdote, I hope you have a sympathetic comment for the poor unfortunate…….
At work this morning while a Welsh Man U fan was being ribbed about the fantastic Swans, he admitted that the only time he ever visited the Theatre of Hollow Myths, he was sat in the Beckford End when THAT goal was scored and Oh what a long drive home it was.
MOT
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Hahaha!! Best I can manage is “tough titty” I’m afraid 🙂
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Yes Swansea winning made my week, but the sad thing is smelling young wellbeck jones and cleverly will go to Brazil ,if that’s the case England on the first flight home. These players are not good enough to get in Liverpool arsenal Chelsea man city or spurs side, never mind England it’s only because they play for Man U how very very sad
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Oh Rob! and I thought you’d be sympathetic, I was, HONEST.
Good point from M Fryer above.
MOT
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Sigh. I hate myself sometimes 🙂
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