Manchester United scored a a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk today in the Champions League. And United Manager David Moyes admitted he had to give his team the hair dryer treatment at halftime. There’s plenty of tension, angst and confrontation in the Manchester United quarters, as Moyes lit them up for an uninspired first half of play that featured very poor passing.
And the Manchester United anger can be felt all the way across the pond.
Fox Sports talking heads Brian McBride, Warren Barton and Eric Wynalda discussed Moyes’ recent poor run of results.
McBride, who played in the Premier League under then-Everton coach Moyes, and also under Moyes at Preston North End offered this on the current situation:
“Recently it has become more personal. The way he is speaking now, David Moyes is taking things more personally. There are plenty of problems – not nearly as many opportunities in the attacking third, they don’t have sustained pressure, the midfield sometimes gets overrun. He is struggling to figure out a way to solve the problem, but he will try and solve it his way.”
During his time in London, McBride became a fan-favourite as well as team captain; after leaving the club, Fulham FC renamed the sports bar at Craven Cottage McBride’s in his honour. McBride is also a local hero (well local to where this site is based anyway). The native of Arlington Heights, Illinois is one of the greatest players in the history of the American MLS and his hometown Chicago Fire.
McBride also added this to the Manchester United conversation:
“I guarantee you there is anger in that locker room. He is not a shy man, he will express it. Anytime you move clubs, you have to be able to integrate your coaching style on a club and with Manchester United there is a style of play, but it’s that melding of it.”
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan