With David Moyes announced as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United, Joe Brewin quizzes a top sports psychologist on the challenges ahead
The heart, the soul, the passion, the genius. The tantrums, teacups and rages. The watch-tapping, gum-chewing, dead-eyed stares and no-nonsense nagging. Soon it will all be gone. But somehow, somebody must step up to fill the gaping void left by Sir Alex Ferguson â and itâÂÂs outgoing Everton boss David Moyes.
After 11 years at Goodison Park, FergieâÂÂs fellow Glaswegian is set for centre stage in footballâÂÂs most thankless position. But just how do you follow a man like Fergie?
In all likelihood, Moyes wonâÂÂt be able to match his predecessorâÂÂs 13 Premier League crowns, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League titles. He will not be the same untouchable presence at Carrington. But he will be expected to hit the ground running.
It will take a strong mind, of course. But more than that, according to leading sports psychologist Dan Abrahams, it will require every managerâÂÂs most desired commodity â respect.
âÂÂItâÂÂs a massive word in football,â Abrahams tells FourFourTwo. âÂÂThat's where his biggest challenge lies, especially if he suffers a few opening defeats.
âÂÂPlayers like to be coached, rightly or wrongly, by managers who have a history of playing or a level of success at a certain level. If it was Arsene Wenger or Jose Mourinho going in, they could point to the Invincibles of 2003/04 or two Champions League titles.
âÂÂThe challenge Moyes has is that he really canâÂÂt point to any trophies or any enormous successes, and he canâÂÂt draw upon an illustrious playing career. So how he builds that respect is going to be his big challenge.âÂÂ
Ferguson didnâÂÂt have it easy when he took the reins at Old Trafford, but the underachieving club he took over in 1986 is a million miles from the one Moyes is about to inherit.
November 1986: Fergie and UnitedâÂÂs players size each other up
Now the 50-year-old must work out how to gain the esteem of FergusonâÂÂs country-conquering squad. After all, the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have been exposed to nothing but the departing managerâÂÂs methods at club level. According to psychologist Abrahams, who has worked with top clubs including Tottenham, Celtic and West Ham, a balance is crucial.
âÂÂI donâÂÂt think itâÂÂs a case of stamping your authority and I donâÂÂt think itâÂÂs a case of stepping back,â he says. âÂÂI think itâÂÂs about doing what heâÂÂs done on a daily basis for many years at Everton.
âÂÂYou just have a different selection of players, a different training ground, a different match day ground and a different coloured shirt.
âÂÂIt is different for different players. ItâÂÂs an art, itâÂÂs not an exact science and there are going to be some players who will be profoundly happy. Then there will be other players who would be profoundly disappointed and upset.
âÂÂWhat a new face has to bring, however, is renewed energy and vigour. At the same time, itâÂÂs almost cliché to say it, but you have to prove yourself to a new manager whoever you are.âÂÂ
At Everton, Moyes gradually built a squad that climbed from finishing in the bottom six for six consecutive years to being in the top eight for seven seasons. But at Old Trafford he will preside over a glittering array of stars who, says Abrahams, may not necessarily warm to their new man immediately.
âÂÂIf those players do not perceive Moyes to be good enough, if those players have the perception that they arenâÂÂt going to play for him â which can happen often â then his reign might last not that long,â he says.
âÂÂBut it might be difficult for Manchester United players to rebel in the dressing room with Ferguson or Bobby Charlton in the background, with that rich history of success.âÂÂ
United pride themselves on stability, and Abrahams says that the change of management can have a crucial effect on players.
âÂÂIâÂÂm warmed âÂÂem up for ye, DavieâÂÂ
âÂÂWhat you can guarantee â and IâÂÂve seen it â is that you do get a different player mentalities in training when a new man turns up,â he says. âÂÂThey have to prove themselves and they have to show him they are capable of being first choice. There is plenty of competition between players for only 11 spots.
âÂÂThen there is the potential for fresh tactics and a new way of going forward. It is a fresh voice, so that is interesting, and it can be both exciting and daunting for players.
âÂÂAt United thereâÂÂs always a high intensity â itâÂÂs renowned for being that way â so whether that increases, whether the players enjoy that new voice and that new approach, remains to be seen.âÂÂ
When the dust has settled, attentions will finally turn to his successor. Scrutiny from the start seems inevitable. And ultimately Moyes does not have silverware or European glory to fall back on. He has only his character and a respectable record with Everton that, to his great credit, has got him this far.
And so the million pound question: can he really succeed in FergusonâÂÂs house?
âÂÂIâÂÂve worked closely with players and coaches who have been with him and I think yes,â says Abrahams. âÂÂHeâÂÂs intelligent, heâÂÂs calm, heâÂÂs tactically astute and to my mind he has been good in the transfer market over the years.
âÂÂI think heÂâÂÂll absolutely love the challenge â and heâÂÂll do it with a who-dares-wins attitude.âÂÂ
Dan Abrahams is a leading sport psychologist who has worked with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Celtic. Seedanabrahams.com for more.
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