Football Obituaries

I should start by explaining that no one relevant was actually harmed prior to the writing of this piece, and that the above title was chosen only to conjure up mild levels of intrigue.  As a result, if any subsequent 'mishaps' are to occur I must point out that they are merely an unfortunate coincidence... 

It has been an extraordinary past month or so in British football - as one would expect at the conclusion of the domestic season - only this time the major interest has actually been away from the island of well pruned grass...

For a significant group of the football following public, especially those 20 somethings, the past few weeks have felt like the end of an era, even the end of THEIR era; Beckham's lob over Neil Sullivan from the half-way line, Michael Owen's wonder goal against Argentina in '98, Paul Scholes' mis-timed tackles, and Jamie Carragher's numerous own goals, weaved into the very fabric of their lives and played out in their anecdotes. Yet, all those mentioned (bar Neil Sullivan) bowed out last weekend; and all in a typically professional and dignified manner.. characteristics that seem all to rare amongst the hard-partying, Ferrari driving, wife-swapping players who now step into their enormous shoes. So, though the players themselves live on in decadent Cheshire mansions, a large portion of British pop-culture died last weekend!

There was however one story demanding the limelight even from the sporting royalty aforementioned! The impending retirement of a man who began his tenure at United when the above detailed fans were still on Farley's Rusks or even just a twinkle in the postman's eye... Step up Sir Alex Ferguson...
The story was sparked into life on the evening of Tuesday 7 May 2013 when rumblings of Sir Alex's impeding resignation leaked from Dunham

(the moment Rooney heard the news)

Forest Golf Club (where United's playing staff were enjoying a day off), enveloped Twitter, and finally washed up in black and white print on the pages of The Telegraph (congratulations Mark Ogden). The inevitable media frenzy that continued throughout the evening and long into the early hours was met by an uncharacteristic silence from the PR machine within Old Trafford - stakeholders had that sinking feeling...

The morning's news would be blockbuster.. Manchester United confirming at 09:17, through their website, that Sir Alex was to hang up the hairdryer and cancel the Wrigley's subscription at the end of the season. Cue football meltdown!

(The Sun's ode to Sir Alex - Thurs 9 May 2013)

The days that followed saw a who's who of association football, wider sport, and politics, paying their respects to a man that has won an incredible 49 senior trophies over an unparalleled 39 year career in Scotland and England: -

"Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements at Manchester United have been exceptional" (PM David Cameron)

"It is the end of an era for a truly great ambassador, not only for the Premier League but for football overall" (Patrick Vieira)

"Well done and happy retirement to Sir Alex. What he has done will never be repeated" (Dietmar Hamann)

"Sir Alex, one of the best managers of all time" (Vincent Kompany)

"A legend and one of the greatest managers ever" (Michael Essien)

"Proud man, great manager, staunch Labour Party supporter" (Ed Miliband Tweeting 25 relevant characters)

However all this lip service, as flattering as it must be, pales in significance vastly when it's compared to the incredible scenes of Sir Alex's final home game in charge; and to the health & safety defying open-top bus parade the following day. They say a picture speaks a thousand words and on this particular occasion I'll shut my proverbial trap as I couldn't agree more: -

*Property of Bobby Cowsill

(There's no United fans in Manchester!)

The pictures above portray the admiration with which Sir Alex is held by the United faithful and the love that they feel towards a man who has influenced their lives so greatly over the past quarter of a century. 

But it's not only United that will feel his loss! The fiery Scot's exit from the dugout will leave a huge void in British football generally; journalists hang off his every word, opposing fans love to hate him, and the esteem in which he's held globally attracts vast interest to the Premier League. In addition, and this MUST not be forgotten.. he introduced "squeaky bum time" to the national vocabulary- Dr Johnson would have been proud. 

Dubbed the "Godfather" of British football: sometimes feared, occasionally hated, but overwhelmingly respected by all; Sir Alex is a one of kind! His legacy, along with those of the players outlined in my opening gambit, will live long with the football masses.. all will be sadly missed! Retire In Peace...

Here's a summary of the great professionals that have left our game in recent weeks: -

• Sir Alex Ferguson - 1500 games in charge of United.
• David "Golden Balls" Beckham - capped 115 times for England
• Jamie Carragher - 737 games for Liverpool
• Michael Owen - I actually thought he'd retired years ago..
• Paul Scholes - "Scholes is a role model model for me.. he's the best midfielder I've seen in the last 15/20 years" (Xavi, Barcelona)
• Phil Neville - has yet to officially confirm that he's hung his boots up but another of Manchester United's infamous class of '92 likely to follow Sir Alex.
• Stilian Petrov - tragic! get well soon Stan!
• Filippo Inzaghi - okay, I went too far! anyone who celebrates like that after a one yard scuff into the net should not be thought of in such high regard..

There are many many more.. so please feel free to add your retiring hero to the comments below! We'd love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading

please follow @BobbyCowsill

or join the facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/262906063816351/

David Moyes' Red & White Army

David Moyes agrees a 6 year contract at Manchester United

Finally it has been confirmed, the worst kept secret since the notorious injunction scandal - David Moyes WILL be closing Moe's Tavern to take the reins at Old Trafford. The current Everton boss will step into the enormous shoes vacated, not by Sideshow Bob, but by Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the season, following the announcement on Wednesday morning that Sir Alex would retire to the plush decor of the Manchester United board room.

(Above: Moyes (left) in deep
conversation with Sam Allardyce (right))

But is David Moyes the right man for such an esteemed and pressured post?

Evertonians will vouch for the stability and economic understanding that Moyes demonstrated during his 11 year tenure on Merseyside, and his departure from Goodison is likely to be met with the sort of anxiety their Manchester neighbours will be feeling about his impending arrival. Consistent top half finishes in the Premier League (averaging 8th), along with shrewd business off the pitch (would you expect anything else from our cousins north of Hadrian's Wall?), the perfect blend for a team whose financial situation under Bill Kenwright has always been a delicate balancing act.

But the removal of the perennial relegation threat, and the bridging of the gulf between Everton and neighbours Liverpool, has not been enough to satisfy all on the blue side of Stanley Park. The void in silverware brought about by profligate performances on the big stage and/or against the traditional "big 4" a constant bone of contention (in 43 away ties against the 3 big clubs, and Liverpool, Everton have won a grand total of zero). In addition, the Toffees rare excursions into Europe have ended more abruptly than an X-Factor[y] winner's career: -

- 2005/2006 Champions League Qualifying Stage
- 2005/2006 1st UEFA Cup Qualifying Round
- 2007/2008 UEFA Cup last 16
- 2008/2009 1st UEFA Cup Round Proper
- 2009/2010 1st UEFA Cup Knock-Out Round

*It is worth noting that included in the results above are a humiliating defeat at the hands of Dinamo Bucharest, and also a 3 - 0 thumping by Sporting Lisbon.

This lack of European success, and the deficiency in exposure and overall experience it has created, is something the Old Trafford faithful will scrutinise over the next few months; especially if Moyes' occupancy has a spluttering start (as Everton's seasons under his stewardship have tended to).

Sadly, and as controversial as this statement may be, Sir Alex's record will be forever tinged by European mishaps - having dominated domestically for 20 years, Manchester United have managed [just] two Champions League successes under the fiery Scot (The Cup Winners' Cup triumph of 1991 pre-dating their domestic superiority).

(Fergie couldn't be happier...
unless it was filled with scotch)

On a standalone basis, two victories in the world's premier club competition is a sensational achievement for a body who had only 1 previous success in 1968. However, when you consider that Chelsea and Liverpool each won a respective Champions League trophy during this period questions have to be asked; a matter exacerbated further when you consider that the last two decades are ill-thought of by those associated with Liverpool. Did Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson really 'make hay whilst the sun shined'?

United's near misses still linger on the terraces like the stale air in a care home; as I am sure they do with the outgoing manager.. cast your mind back to the following nearly moments (in no particular order; except chronological): -

• Borussia Dortmund 1997
• Monaco 1998
• Bayer Leverkusen 2002
• FC Porto 2004
• FC Bayern 2010
• 2 x Champions League Final defeats at the hands of Barcelona

In addition, there was this season's disappointing exit at the hands of Mourinho's Real Madrid; Sir Alex's post match reaction the first clear indication that his days in charge of the reds may be numbered.

Having now reached their 20th English League Championship, and comprehensively "knocked Liverpool off their [domestic] Perch", the aforementioned results again turn a spotlight on the clubs natural progression; to overhaul their bitter North-West rival's European record.

The appointment of a successor "cut from the same cloth as Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Sir Matt [Busby]", as Moyes is considered to be (presumably not just because he comes from Glasgow), is the continuation of a project that has seen extraordinary domestic achievement, a focus on youth development, and stringent financial budgeting; but with only a splattering of European glory. Is this enough for an entity that openly presents itself as 'The World's Biggest Football Club' ( presumably putting them on a collision course with the Venky's)?

Taking the above into account, focus may have shifted from national to European competition amongst many of United's fans, as it has amongst top players and much of the media as a whole - perhaps portrayed most tangibly by Arsenal's all out assault on 4th place each season. The installation then of a man with a European CV emptier than a Hollywood movie script begins to show an apparent shortsightedness on Manchester United's behalf - a domestic single-mindedness in an ever increasingly globalised game.

This issue is furthered by enquiries into whether brand 'Moyes' is appealing enough to the calibre of player United are, or ought to be, seeking to employ if they are to progress further in domestic cup competition and on the continent; the likes of Ronaldo, Lewandowski... Ali Dia. On numerous occasions, especially in the high profile, high pressure ties, the 1st XI have come up shorter than Danny DeVito (Chelsea, Madrid, City all this term); and I'm of the opinion that only elite players can rectify this insufficiency. Though the Premier League encapsulates much of the world, David Moyes is a relative unheard of in terms of European and global football, and this is sure to impact on recruitment.

Take Lewandowski as a working example: -
Having scored a stunning hattrick-&-one against Real Madrid in the Champions League Semi-Finals, Lewandowski has been courted by a number of Europe's elite clubs; Bayern, Chelsea and naturally United all heavily linked with him. But with Guardiola 'manager-in-waiting' at Bayern, and Mourinho likely to put pen-to-paper in a deal that will see him return to the club where "he is loved"; does Moyes have the clout to compete? Instinct tells me 'no'. Mourinho and Guardiola are hugely respected figures both with playing professionals and footballing stakeholders in general; the assumption being that silverware is guaranteed by them [albeit at any cost]. David Moyes is seen as a project, risk if you prefer, even by many who should be his most hardened backers.

Of those believers, polls in the lead up to his appointment indicate the majority will be from within the club's inner sanctum; Mourinho the apparent fans choice. This suggests Moyes will be allowed adequate time by those internally, but the acid test will be the fans reaction - a large portion of which will not remember seeing another face in the dugout.. not alone understand the difficulties facing the new man (spoiled as United fans have been under Sir Alex). If on field affairs do not run smoothly these issues could surface quickly and derail the new manager before he's even developed a taste for post match fine wines. Rumours of Phil Neville's impeding appointment as part of Moyes' backroom staff may help to alleviate a degree of this pressure however.

It is worth concluding by pointing out the glaringly obvious: - The appointment of David Moyes is not the rash, panic move of a desperate board, but the implementation of a long standing contingency plan. It is common knowledge that Sir Alex enjoys a strong relationship with David Moyes which has seen the elder statesman provide advice and counsel in the past. There may be numerous worries surrounding the appointment, a selection of which I have detailed, but in Sir Alex, David Moyes has an influential ally, and the prospect of a partnership between the two could be formidable.

In addition, the presence of numerous former players throughout the club, and a settled behind the scenes outfit from grass-roots to boardroom level, means all the infrastructure is in place for a seamless transition and the resulting success.

Expect a period of transition given the mass 'changing of the guard'...

1. Sir Alex Ferguson's Managerial retirement
2. David Gill's resignation as Chief Executive 
3. Paul Scholes' impending retirement take II 
4. and the probable exit of Wayne Rooney given his transfer request and the 2008 libel action between his publisher and Mr Moyes over comments made in Rooney's biography. 

....but these are factors any 'newbie', including Mourinho, would struggle to overcome. Patience may be required, but that might just be Manchester United's greatest attribute.

The king is dead (well he isn't), long live the king

@BobbyCowsill