David Moyes
has taken full responsibility for Manchester United being 13 points behind the leaders, Arsenal, admitting that he is failing to get the best from his players. However, the manager is ready to move next month to strengthen his squad, believing it will be an easier transfer window to operate in than last summer’s when he had just started the job.
Following an insipid display against Newcastle United Moyes said: “I need to make sure I’m getting the best out of the players and we’re performing as well as we can do. I think we can play better but there were a lot of games last year where Manchester United didn’t play particularly well and maybe in a game like that sneaked it with a goal.”
Moyes’s acceptance that he is failing to ignite his side was underlined when he attempted to turn the match after Cabaye’s goal. The Scot introduced Anderson, Wilfried Zaha and Antonio Valencia in the space of eight minutes yet United remained toothless despite their tradition of pulling out results late in games.
Asked if this was a worry, Moyes said: “It is a concern because I tried to chuck the kitchen sink at them. I tried to put Antonio on to go without a right-back [for Rafael da Silva] and get Adnan [Januzaj] to come in. We looked to try to find openings to give us a chance and we nearly put on as many attacking options as we could to try to get those chances.”
Boos heard
At the close boos could be heard, though a section of fans waited near the tunnel to applaud Moyes. With Alex Ferguson's retirement and David Gill having moved aside as chief executive Moyes is confident that supporters comprehend the bigger picture at the club.
“I think they all understand it and most of them know exactly,” he said. “Of course no one expects Manchester United to lose games, no more so than me, but it is a fact and my job is to make it better.”
After failing to buy Cesc Fabregas and Leighton Baines in the summer, Moyes is hopeful that the winter window will be more productive. “In any transfer window you don’t want to be bringing in a full batch of players so I think there is a period of time that it takes,” he said.
“The last one would be a difficult one after just joining the club so we’ve got a window in January where we think if it’s right for the club we will do so. If not we will look again in the summer.”
Despite United’s position Moyes insisted he does not have to buy. “I don’t think I’ll feel under pressure personally to do it as I’ll try to do the right things,” he said. “I tend to take my time and try to assess what are the best talents to bring in. You can see from the players I brought in at Everton – the other night you would say they were all very good choices.”
Claims rejected
Moyes has rejected claims by Mark Lawrenson that Robin van Persie has asked to leave the club. Lawrenson made his observation in an interview on Today FM on Friday.
Given Lawrenson knows Moyes through a connection at Preston, the comments were intriguing, even if United privately distanced themselves from them. However, Moyes said: "That is absolute nonsense."
Guardian Service
