How a Perfect End of the Season Might Not Save David Moyes at Manchester United

On Wednesday night, Manchester United’s season ended in the Allianz Arena with a defeat to Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

United now have nothing more to play for this season.

They might have five more games in the Premier League, but they are all utterly meaningless.

United are currently seventh and will not finish in the top four. It is the middle of April, and the best United can hope for is overcoming Tottenham and finishing sixth.

The verdict is now in on David Moyes’ first season: It has been an unmitigated disaster.

A season of transition was expected. They might not defend their title, but it was never thought they would slump to sixth and end their 18-year run in the Champions League.

United have lost a record 10 times in the Premier League this season and, with five games remaining, are guaranteed to accumulate their lowest Premier League points total ever.

This is new territory for United in the Premier League.

Playing in a dead rubber had previously meant United had already won the title, including last season when they played four of these dead rubbers after becoming champions with a victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford at the end of April.

United’s Premier League games have had an empty feel about them for some time now, but at least they also offered the chance to gain momentum for the Champions League.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

After Wednesday night, even that has gone now.

United will now complete their season with fixtures against Hull, Everton, Norwich City, Sunderland, Hull City and Southampton.

Even five comprehensive wins in these games will prove nothing.

At the end of the 1980-81 season, United manager Dave Sexton won his final seven league games before being sacked.

David Moyes could now suffer the same fate.

After already having beaten Aston Villa and Newcastle United, Moyes could also win his final seven league games and then be relieved of his duties.

There is everything to lose and nothing to gain for Moyes in these final five league games.

If United were to beat Norwich or Hull 4-0, it would prove nothing at all. If they were to stumble again and draw or even lose to either of them, it would be used as further evidence that Moyes is out of his depth.

It seems unfair, but this is what happens at Old Trafford.

Manchester United managers will never be congratulated or judged on how they perform against Hull or Norwich, but rather how they fare against Liverpool and Manchester City.

Moyes’ record against the current top three in the Premier League has simply been an embarrassment.

In his six games against Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, Moyes has failed to win a single game this season. His record is a miserable five defeats and a draw from these games, conceding 14 goals and scoring just twice.

If you include the two games against Bayern Munich—the only credible opposition United faced in the Champions League this season—Moyes' record is no wins from eight games.

In fact, under Moyes United have incredibly only won once in 12 games against teams in the top eight of the Premier League.

Jon Super

Crystal Palace, who have spent the entire season struggling against relegation, have won as many games as United against the top eight.

United have one remaining game against a team higher than them in the table, so you could make a case for something riding on the outcome of their trip to Goodison Park on April 20.

However, the truth is there is only potential danger and humiliation lying in wait for Moyes on his return to Everton.

What would a win really mean to United? A bit of pride and three points, but it would change nothing about this season.

A loss to Everton as they march towards the Champions League, however, could again prove fatal to Moyes’s tenure at Old Trafford.

It would mean that, in the space of nine months, Moyes had ended Manchester United’s own Champions League status while his successor at Everton—Roberto Martinez—would have his club set to take their place amongst Europe’s elite.

The symbolism would be absolutely wretched for Moyes.

Jon Super

Employ Moyes and you forfeit Champions League football. Lose Moyes and you finally reach the Champions League.

A month ago, I wrote how Moyes had to give United fans some hope, some reason to believe in him in the two games against Liverpool and Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Instead, United fans had to endure two displays of almost unimaginable dreadfulness, as the team lost by a combined total of 6-0. It could also have been a lot worse.

Defeat is a part of football, but in both of these games, United looked anxious, insipid and devoid of any basic hunger or ideas.

The Manchester City game was Moyes’ last chance to prove he could trouble a leading club in the Premier League this season.

United will now suffer the indignity of having nothing to play for in their final five games. Any wins will be greeted with a shrug and any defeats will usher Moyes even closer to the exit.