Manchester United have not known a day like it for 27 years.
David Moyes arrived at the team's Carrington training ground at 8am to begin the task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson. The latter is held such authority around United, and is so embedded in the club's history, that his endorsement of Moyes ought to act as a bulwark against any potential criticisms. Upheaval is inevitable, though, and United will endure a period of readjustment.
Moyes may believe that swift actions will affirm his decisiveness. There is no shortage of issues to be addressed, and each seems critical to the prospects of the new manager succeeding. The reality will be more mundane, since United's directors have invested their sense of the club's identity and approach in trusting their own and Ferguson's judgement in appointing Moyes, a manager who has yet to win any silverware despite impressive spells in charge of Preston North End and Everton. He will be granted time and patience by the board.
Even so, there are problems that will grow in significance if they are not dealt with. Moyes has already met with Wayne Rooney to try to persuade the striker to commit his future to the club, with Arsenal among a number of sides keen to take advantage of his restlessness. There are scores to be settled, since Ferguson's comment that Rooney was dropped last season because he revealed that he wanted to leave Old Trafford has irked the player. An apology is said to be amongst his demands for staying.
A new manager must establish control, of the squad and his circumstances, so Rooney presents an awkward dilemma. Intense scrutiny is an aspect of the job Moyes will not have previously experienced, and even Ferguson grew exasperated with the sheer scale of attention lavished on the club. Moyes will understand the symbolic impact of the decision that he makes, not least to the rest of the United squad. The pursuit of Leighton Baines and what that means for Patrice Evra's future, the new deal quickly offered to Rio Ferdinand and the reports linking a move for the Ezequiel Garay, the Benfica defender, to the likely departure of Nemanja Vidic, the club captain, all reflect a purpose from Moyes to establish his independence.
He has appointed his own trio of coaches – Steve Round, Chris Woods and Jimmy Lumsden – although this was widely anticipated. All follow Moyes from Everton, while Lumsden worked with the Scot at Preston North End. Lumsden, a Glaswegian, is as much a confidante as a coach, and is credited with having scouted Moyes for Celtic, where he then coached him as a youth player. Lumsden was reportedly considering retiring, but the 65-year-old will continue an association that Moyes has come to rely upon.
"He was my captain and two things stood out about him," Lumsden once said of Moyes. "He was a leader and a winner. Training back then [at Celtic] was the first team versus reserves and it was always really competitive. But he stood his ground and stood up to Danny McGrain and Roy Aitken, who were fierce competitors."
Moyes is an intense character, and fiercely driven, but the work ethic is underpinned by a shrewd intelligence. He once took the Preston squad to a training camp at an army base during the season, but when the players complained about the state of their sleeping quarters after their first night away, he took heed of their objections and the camp was cancelled. The team won its next match convincingly, and his understanding of psychology is crucial to the way he manages his players. Lumsden, who played for Leeds as well as a succession of lower league Scottish teams, shares the same work ethic. The Everton coaching staff attended matches almost every night of the week, including Moyes, and Lumsden recently recalled a midweek night at Crewe Alexandra when Moyes and Ferguson were the only two managers watching from the stand.
There are similarities between the two managers, but their differences will be highlighted. The United players begin to return on Wednesday morning and they will immediately compare Moyes to Ferguson. The media will do the same at his first press conference on Friday. That is an inevitable burden of the job, but Moyes is unlikely to be cowed. He used to lead the Preston players on their pre-season drills and, although the demands on his time are different now, he remains involved in every aspect of the job.
It is seven weeks since his appointment was announced, so detailed planning will be in place. Nonetheless, situations have to be reacted to. Chief executive David Gill has also left United, with Richard Arnold becoming managing director and the vice-chairman Ed Woodward dealing with more of the club's football business. It is a new dynamic at a time when United are keen to re-emphasise their ambition. It remains unlikely that Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Real Madrid this summer, but Moyes has been linked with moves for Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara and Robert Lewandowski.
United have tended to eschew extravagance, particularly after the Glazer's takeover left the club with a heavy debt to service. There was also little point trying to outspend others, and there is a cautionary tale in the 10-year anniversary yesterday of Roman Abramovich buying Chelsea. He spent £100m in 62 days on 11 players but only Claude Makele had any significantly enduring influence on the club. United cannot be so lavish, although the task for Moyes is to continue glory, not create it. He will be sensible as well as adamant. The modest days of his career are in the past.
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