Is Michael Laudrup a potential replacement for David Moyes?

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Manchester United fan Joe Bookbinder makes the case for a quick return to management for Michael Laudrup…

Before I start, I should state that I believe David Moyes should be given more time before proper judgement can be passed. As a United fan I have far from enjoyed the majority of this season, and have largely tried to avoid thinking about the worrying situation.

Despite a considerable list of things that have gone wrong this season, despite the wry smiles, I firmly believe Moyes knows how to turn it around.  After all, if he’s good enough for Sir Alex and Sir Bobby, that’s more than enough for me.

Barring an unbelievable end to the season, 4th looks to be a bridge too far as does the impossibility of United winning the Champions League. Dumped out of the domestic competitions by bottom half sides, United’s season is effectively over in mid-February. In terms of Moyes’ future I’d like to see Woodward and the Glazers properly back their man. Moyes is a much better operator in the transfer market than is currently being portrayed – Fellaini could still come good (think of all the United players that had slow starts to life at Old Trafford) and in Mata he signed one of the most gifted players in the league. His record at Everton was impressive – Cahill, Arteta, Baines, Jagielka, Coleman to name a few. Just don’t mention Darron Gibson, in any context.

Having demonstrated my ‘unwavering’ support for Moyes it may seem odd that I am writing in support of a replacement for him. The idea came during United’s latest poor performance at home against Fulham, as you all know we pumped 8000 crosses per minute into the Fulham box, with the measly reward of only two goals. Neither of which came from a cross.

Here, hypothetically at least, is why Laudrup would be a good replacement:

First and most importantly, Michael Laudrup’s team have always tended to be extremely tactical, especially at home. Much has been made of Swansea’s possession football and effective use of passing in triangles. Although it didn’t always pay off for Laudrup at Swansea, it would be fascinating to see what the results of a similar philosophy would be if implemented at United.

Second, having won four trophies in four years at Brondby and the League Cup last year, Laudrup has won more silverware than Moyes. Whilst it is harsh to criticize Moyes’ trophyless record at Everton, as winning trophies at Goodison was never his brief, considering the achievements of clubs such as Wigan, Portsmouth and Laudrup’s Swansea, it certainly wasn’t an impossibility.

Furthermore, the combination of Laudrup’s knowledge of European football, particularly La Liga, and an eye for a bargain have served him well in the transfer market. At €2.5 million Michu is clearly the stand out signing, and there is a very good case to suggest Laudrup would still be in a job had Michu not been injured. Other Laudrup signings that have done well include Chico, Pablo Hernández, Jonathan de Guzmán and Ki Sung-Yueng for a combined total of £13.5 million. In Moyes terms that’s half of what Marouane Fellaini cost.

In addition to this, Laudrup’s ability to develop players is also exceptional. A prime examples is Wayne Routledge, who found it difficult to maintain a place at several different clubs but has settled at the Liberty. The same could be said of Nathan Dyer, an explosive winger and perhaps one of the most underrated players in the division.

The hypothetical solution is this. Give Moyes another few games – United’s next fixtures are Crystal Palace, Olympiakos and West Brom all away, all tough, but games you’d expect the United of old to overcome.  If not, appoint Laudrup for the remainder of the season as Interim manager just in time for the crunch games against Liverpool and City at home. It’s painful to admit that these games, huge as they are within their own right, are little more than a chance to restore pride. If there is any improvement, hand him the keys to the Old Trafford and the code to the Glazer fortune. (If there’s any left, and it hasn’t been spent on debt interest.)

Although this change will never come to fruition, it’s a fantasy I look forward to entertaining next time United are struggling to overcome more relegation fodder. As for Michael Laudrup, his reputation and skill as a manager far outweigh the club he has been sacked from. Adored by the football intelligentsia, one day he will could well manage one of the many great teams he once played for.

@BookbinderJ; @The_False_Nine

6 thoughts on “Is Michael Laudrup a potential replacement for David Moyes?

  1. Dont do it, Jack here, Laudrup was brilliant for 6 months then rubbish for 12 – dont forget that.

    Eye for a bargain , yes, but there were no astute tactical substitutions to turn games around, just a definate downward spiral.

    Also, you may not know this but after that donkey performance loosing to west ham 2 0 then not even coming close to scoring despite having carrol sent off what does he do.

    Well, he could have chosen to repair a breaking team or go to paris for a city break. He chose paris and was rightly booted when he got back.

    seems to me there was no comitment.

  2. It’s interesting that Laudrup was sacked because he was asked to change his coaching staff but refused. I’d make the same ultimatum to Moyes: take Muelensteen back as head coach or you are out. I’d try that first rather than just sacking him.

  3. If you want a manager who’ll give you a good first season and then lose interesting the club completely then he’s your man. His last four jobs have all ended the same way.

  4. Laudrup would be a far better appointment than moyes simply on achievements alone; laudrup one cups with smaller teams and smaller budgets. Moyes is a dinosaur in terms of his football philiosphy and the simple fact, no matter how much you try to hide from it is, that an entire team that won the league with a clear mile doesn’t become so utterly rubbish after a summer break.

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