10 Leadership Lessons from Manchester United Firing Its Team Manager

Moysie, Moysie, Moysie. Nowhere near the top manager that I am.

The expectation was that ManU should finish in the Top 3 and based on talent they should have. He knew that going in. Leadership style wouldn't be an issue if he was winning, but is a convenient scape goat for giving him the boot.

I hate Man Utd (Blues fan) but their regression this season was surprising. However, one of the football (there, I said it!) articles I read actually blamed SAF for the demise of Man Utd this season.

It said that at the helm of a good organization, you have a good leader. There can be no doubt that SAF was a class above the rest. However, he surrounded himself with Yes-men and mediocrity. Which would explain the appointment of a successor like moyes.

I'm confident that many of us have seen a situation, be it in school or work, of a leader who adopts the "my way or the highway" philosophy. So once that leader departs, you leave a void that cannot be replaced, I'm looking at your ghost(steve jobs)

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/14057?cc=5901

United stock popped after his sacking.

After SAF's 26 years ruling, that definitely needs much more time than 10 months to take over. The players become slack and too much attitude. Most players won much more trophies than Moyes, he is just not prestigious enough to lead the MU players. Sadly, in the current football world, there is no time to wait another year as a MUFC level club. Unfortunately, you cannot fire 10 players, so Moyes has to go.

Personally i think its tough to say they absolutely had to fire him. Hard to make a parallel to football (american), but coaches need time to develop rapport with the players and work in their own style. You cant just switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive scheme and expect mostly the same players to grasp everything right away (trust me i know im stretching with this example). Some of the responsibility needs to fall on the players for not being able to necessarily adapt to a new or altered system but its also on Moyes to adapt his philosophy and know players well enough to know whats working and what isnt.

He got fired because he failed all performance metrics. He got hired because his predecessor, who's track record was legendary, was adamant about hiring him. Nobody else really considered him a candidate. The numbers indicate he was the wrong one. It was a business decision.

As talented a manager as David Moyes is, I think if SAF and the board wanted short term success they made a mistake by handing the reigns over to someone who wasn't been a part of the club's system. Should have gone for a retired player or assistant coach.

In the long term, Moyes most certainly could be as successful as SAF but you really can't expect him to manage the whole system perfectly the first season out. That's just not how philosophy based clubs work. Consider Barcelona's example. They gave the manager's role to two insiders and as a result their "rough transition patch" consists of one title win and one second place position. But long term, I don't know if they can dominate their league like United have in the past 20 years. Martino just isn't a genius manager like Moyes or Pep or SAF. What happens when Xavi, Iniesta, etc. retire. Will he be able to teach their winning ways to the next generation?

The point I'm making is that long term interests at mind, Manchester may have made a bad decision by sacking Moyes. There's one thing worth noting though. My Barca-United comparison is a little flawed though because Barca's playing style is way more sophisticated and complicated than United's so the whole insider knowledge factor is probably amplified.

You all have it wrong. Moyes' appointment was all about Illuminati networks. Why else would Tom Cleverly and Welbeck play?

Okay, it might as well have been.

I disagree though. Fergie couldn't really groom from within. Who would he be working with? Mike Phelan? No thanks. Carlos Queiroz worked under him and then somehow managed to blag himself into the Madrid job and he had a shitter of a season.

The problem is that Fergie lives by his philosophy. It's his and it has largely become united's. Philosophical issues include: - No one if bigger than the club - Beckham, Keane, Nistelrooy can all vouch for this - Player who is the Man Utd type - Fergie wasn't in the market to sign a journeyman like Anelka - Giving academy players a chance - Class of 92...now Welbeck, Cleverly, Januzaj - Not overspending...Rio worth it. Rooney worth it. RVP, may be just worth it.

He wouldn't retire without having a role in choosing his successor and he needed to find someone who also lived by his philosophy. In comes another Scottsman and a mate of his - Moyes. - Third longest serving manager in EPL - Players had to be the right fit for Everton - Academy players...Rooney, Barkley, Rodwell - Frugal - never had much to work with but still finished in top 10.

The fault on Fergie's behalf was that he just didn't know if Moyes would rise to the challenge. He didn't. In fact he failed spectacularly. Players play for a manager they respect. Workers perform for a manager they respect. Moyes didn't get the respect.

Moyes inherited the same squad that won the title last year comfortably (with the addition of Mata and Sesame Street Regular Fellaini).

At the same time, Fergie, as much as he knows what good a manager Jose is or Ancelotti is or Van Gaal is...they don't stick at a club for longer than 3/4 seasons. United are a pillar of stability (or were.....). You cant fuck with that or else you finish 7th...oh wait.

In theory, the best thing Fergie could do for United was to fund some sort of biotech that could crack immortality since his philosophy became the club philosophy. You can't bring in Immanuel Kant to fuck with what Socrates put together. Even if Kant was a ginger Scott.

Commentary brought to you courtesy of Rumple. Now I'm going to cold call Old Trafford and Woodward to see if I can network my way into the vacant position. My CV will be attached for his convenience.

IMOP Moyes needed to go. His late start in the transfer season was just abysmal and signing Fellaini out of loyalty was plain stupid. The wildcard method of selecting the starting XI was just...... well GOATS ASS! He has been in the league for a while and he entered knowing the immediate needs with respect at CB's. What happened to the Coentrao/Ozil deal that should have been made? His only highlight in the development side was Januzaj who will be a very good attacking midfielder. The signing of Juan Mata (thanks Blues). However he alienated some very good talent. I still do not understand how they didn't trade Ashley Young in the January transfer season? Tom Cleverly is coming around he just needed his confidence stroked. There are several key players that wore their distaste in their arms (Chicarito, Van Persie, Evra, and Vidic). In some ways yes the argument of more time is applicable but let's be honest. This is MAN FUCKING UTD! There is no rebuild year as in American Football. Now we are shitting our pants wondering if the Class of '92 is about to bring the fire back or we are getting Van Gaal. Van Gaal may be just what is needed in a system in which we love to attack but lacked defense. He is a game changer when it comes to those skills and if there is anyone who asks for proof look at how he build Bayern Munich from the cesspool prior to his leadership. I personally want Giggs to take over since even while not tested he has the history and understanding of club management and young talent. The academy players love him! We will see what transpires in the next few days but my long bet is Van Gaal. He will dedicate himself to bring talent from across Europe to mix it up with the upcoming guys from the academy. United needs immediate breathing room so I see Kagawa, Evra, and Young leaving. Giggs and the class of '92 will be taking reins at the academy to prepare themselves for the eventual take over. At the end of the day I am a die-hard fan and will always be loyal.