Is Moyes Witchhunt Justified?

Only days remain before the start of the new Premier League season and finally we can put an end to all the talk and hype surrounding the non transfers of Bale, Rooney and Suarez and actually finally get down to the real business of football actually been played somewhere sometime.

Experts are falling over themselves to herald the start of a new era, which in many ways it is, particularly at Old Trafford where there will be a new man in the dugout for the first time since November 1986, to the younger readers amongst you, to put that into context, back then when Fergie took over, an apple was a mere piece of fruit not a life sapping technological revolution, FIFA was the governing body of world football not a life sapping computer game.. I think you can see where I'm going with this, it was quite a long time ago etc etc, whilst down old King's Road, it really isn't a start of a new ear as Mourinho returns for a second coming and an emotional reunion with an oil baron and the ever charming Mr Terry, oh you lucky man Jose.

But it's the new man at Manchester United, one has to feel for. As if following the most successful club manager of all time wasn't quite a big enough challenge, poor ol'Dave has had media and public alike lining up to take swipes at him, mock him and predict a new unprecedented period of doom and gloom for the Red Devils.

But looking at the facts, it's quite hard to really see what the Scotsman has done so dramatically wrong, ill advised moves for Thiago and Fabregas were always doomed, one was desperate to leave Barca to join his old boss elsewhere whilst the latter was so eager to join up at Camp Nou only a couple of years ago, its hard to see him leaving the sunny climes of Catalan anytime soon. And let's remember he has inherited the Rooney saga, and how does one exactly solve a problem like Wayne, apparently he wanted to leave at the end of the last season when Moyes was still in charge up the road at Everton, offers have come in from Chelsea although you do wonder if that's Mourinho's idea of trying to get the ball rolling on the mind games now 'the boss' of those has left the building, Rooney himself has been playing the poker card all summer and said well absolutely nothing to be exact. Throw in a new chief exec to deal with, Ed Woodward, who unfortunately for Moyes, is not the sophisticated, smart, business and football savvy one in David Gill that Ferguson was able to call upon but a shiny suit man from across the pond with a, ahem, shall we say limited football knowledge.

On the whole it's been a peaceful summer for Mourinho to return in, Pelligrini has quietly come in at Manchester City via the back door, spent close to £100m and hardly made a headline yet everyday in the papers, online and on TV, the cynics are circling the very air that David Moyes breathes ready and waiting to say I told you so, when he doesn't win every trophy available in his first season, is it because he is isn't a rent-a-quote like Mourinho?, is it because he doesn't ooze Mediterranean charm and sophistication like Pelligrini?, is it because he is clearly obsessive and lives for three o'clock Saturday afternoon (or morning, noon or night depending on whether your watching Sky or BT) or is it simply because he's British? Controversial thought maybe but it's got to be said we do seem to enjoy kicking down our sport stars in this country the moment they enjoy a little success or their earned riches.

No questions it is going to be a tough start and season for Moyes at Old Trafford but this isn't a sympathy call for the tough Glaswegian, he can expect little care from his old friends at Anfield and rightly so, but he deserves a little time and patience from everyone with a care for the national game on these isles', after all don't we all like to see the so called experts proven wrong once every so often..