Moyes is NOT to blame for United transfer farce – but Fellaini didn’t score as many as Hazard, Lampard or Mata last season... so have United ended up with a good deal? (plus, find out why Bugs Bunny puts in an appearance)

Moyes is NOT to blame for United transfer farce – but Fellaini didn’t score as many as Hazard, Lampard or Mata last season... so have United ended up with a good deal? (plus, find out why Bugs Bunny puts in an appearance)

I am confused. First of all, Manchester United offer £28m for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, then at the last minute they pay £27.5m just for Fellaini. Could someone please explain the reasoning behind this as I don't get it. Lovelyrita61, PlymouthUnited didn't pay £27.5m for Fellaini, they will have paid approximately £20 or £21m. Fellaini signed a five-year contract in 2011, but having handed in a transfer request on Monday evening he waived his rights to the remaining three years, which even in conservative monetary terms would equate to approx. £6m to £8m. Take this figure away from the asking price and you're talking approximately £20 to £21m. Funny how the press always seem to forget to mention small matters like this.

Late arrival: Old Trafford boss David Moyes was reunited with Marouane Fellaini on Monday night

Small matters that you have made up, you mean. Your explanation is pure speculation, Tom. Manchester United, noting that they have been made to look foolish, are desperately trying to let it be known that Fellaini waived £4m – not the £6m to £8m suggested above – but that figure is hotly disputed and certainly wasn’t the one given to me on Monday night, and to others such as Sky television. Everton will receive £27.5m for Fellaini, and even if the player waived, say, £750,000 – that was the number Sky claimed to have been told, which may be nearer the ball park – one imagines this shortfall may have been covered elsewhere. The fact is, United could have got the player cheaper, earlier and had him ready and in the team at the start of the season. They didn’t. They stuffed up.

The look on his face and that smirk says it all really. Edward Woodward, the United chief executive, should be kicked out of the club, but as one of Glazer's lackeys he's probably untouchable.
One United, North West

The poor soul can’t help how he looks in a single photograph, surely? What is he supposed to do, be permanently tearing his hair out to achieve the proper appearance of a concerned individual, in case there is a camera nearby? And the reason he won’t be kicked out is not because he is a lackey but because he was absolutely brilliant at his job. Just not this job.

It's getting louder: Moyes has had his doubters since taking over United and deadline day didn't help him

Our so-called competition all fear United, which is why they all went out and bought anything that moves this summer. Chelsea now have 11 midfield players and one-and-a-half strikers, Manchester City have six strikers, one-and-a-half central defenders and no goalkeeper, Arsenal have seven midfield players and no strikers or defence at all. Tottenham Hotspur have replaced the entire team and still look weak. United only needed minor surgery. We lacked a physical presence in midfield and addressed that with Fellaini. He's rarely injured and scores goals. Now we need a top class playmaker and another top class right back, otherwise we’re in good shape. Meesterquin, London
Some bizarre appraisals here. Arsenal no defence and no strikers? Well, they defended pretty well against Tottenham, and Olivier Giroud scored his third goal in as many games. Anyone scored for United in the last two matches? Manchester City no goalkeeper? Joe Hart may have suffered the odd blip, but let’s face it David de Gea was hardly faultless last season, was he? Chelsea may have a well-stocked midfield, but having stated that Fellaini scores goals it is worth mentioning that he was outscored by Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard last season, and Oscar matched his total of 12. As for the right back and Mesut Ozil-type that is all United require, you do know the window has shut, yes? The time to get them was three months ago.  

Friends in high places: Sprint king Usain Bolt is a Fellaini fan and showed his support this week

Director of football is a stupid term really. Ideally it should be someone with football knowledge who also has a business brain. A manager doesn't have the time to chase around doing deals which might depend on other deals, especially once the season starts. A chairman probably doesn't have the football knowledge. I would have thought it works best when the director of football acts as a link between chairman and manager, which is what has happened at Tottenham this season. You can never guarantee players will succeed – Sir Alex Ferguson had a fair amount of clunkers even with all his success. Thomas, Watford
Yes, but look at the trophies Thomas. And all without a go-between inserting his personal vision into the project, along with that of the chairman. Ferguson used a trusted network of scouts and his own judgement, told David Gill, the former chief executive, what was wanted and then he tried to deliver it. The same with Arsene Wenger and David Dein. Franco Baldini may have bought brilliantly on Andre Villas-Boas’s behalf – but a lot of people are announcing the mission a success, without hard evidence as yet. I prefer the plan below.

How about David Moyes scouting his own team, using trusted backroom staff, (the ones he brought in to replace Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-winning staff), identifying the weaknesses in his squad, and having three-to-five targets firmly in place on day two of the job. No fantasy football challenges, like taking Cesc Fabregas from his boyhood team, either. He could then say to his chief executive Ed Woodward, go and get these players. Damian, Afghanistan
You’ve made it sound very simple, Damian. Perhaps because it is.

Never going to happen: Barcelona's former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas was on Manchester United's radar

I am a Liverpool fan and cannot believe the ridiculous comments of the Manchester United fans. United easily won the Premier League three months ago and that team has not disappeared. Sir Alex Ferguson has also put together a rather good youth set up but, suddenly, unless Moyes goes out and spend millions to replace these players immediately, United will collapse and turn into Everton. Moyes is a good manager, who wants to make a career at United, not ruin it in the first transfer window. He has kept the best player, Wayne Rooney, and brought in another he trusts and knows well. He will buy when he thinks right. He certainly won’t take any notice of the crap in the media about Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo. DaveinVietnam, Vietnam

Except some of that crap, as you kindly put it, emanated from United, Dave. The pursuit of Fabregas certainly wasn’t invented, nor the interest in Thiago Alcantara. To say that Moyes elected not to buy, rather than got rejected several times, is also rather generous. That aside, I take your point. United, as champions, were under less pressure to invest than their rivals – although it can equally be said that standing still in football is going backwards, because the others around you improve.

Bring back Gill. Elliott, Whitehaven
With pleasure, mate. How’s this?
How worried should we be as Manchester United fans? I've been watching United since 1964 and apart from Robin van Persie and Bryan Robson I can't remember us having ever bought a truly world-class player at the height of his career, one that every other big club fancied. Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes came through the youth system, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were signed as raw teenagers and players like Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel and Ruud van Nistlerooy were hardly household names. We have never attracted the likes of Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldhino, Kaka or Lionel Messi. We develop others into world-class players and I don't think we've done too badly on the trophy front. Andy, Wigan
I take the point about the home produced players, Andy, but I think you are a little deluded about your discoveries. Rooney cost roughly £26.5m, no matter his age. Van Nistelrooy was a full Dutch international on November 18, 1998 and signed for United in April 2001 for £19m – hardly an unknown. Just in Ferguson’s time I’d say Viv Anderson, Mark Hughes, Andy Cole, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand, Fabien Barthez, Juan Veron, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov were all established world-renowned internationals at or nearing the peak of their careers, and players like Nemanja Vidic and Andrei Kanchelskis would have been known to the experts, if not the average fan. If Manchester United have never bought the player currently regarded as the best in the world, it is because they do not come on the market very often and tend to be snapped up by one of the big two in Spain or, previously, Italy if they do. 

Best business: Alex Ferguson tempted Frenchman Eric Cantona to Manchester United in 1992

You can take the manager out of a mid-table team, but you can never take the mid-table mindset out of some managers. Moyes missed his moment. He failed miserably to lay down any real statement of intent. If Ozil was genuinely offered to United and he showed no interest then his judgement is even more sub-standard than previously feared. When you've a golden chance to sign a playmaker of five-star quality, and you've got an overweight, over-paid, high maintenance, unpredictable striker like Rooney weighing you down with his habitual ransom threats, then Moyes has demonstrated he lacks shrewd, strategic thinking. If he'd off-loaded Rooney and brought in Ozil he would not only have shaken up Old Trafford but also sent tremors reverberating around the rest of the Premier League. Instead, he chose to do the predictable and pay over the top, with just seconds left on the clock, for one of his old Everton boys. Kismet1001, London
It’s a point of view, I’ll grant you. If Ozil was available to United, his rejection is a mystery as he seems exactly what the club require, a replacement for Paul Scholes. I don’t see why Rooney would have to be jettisoned to facilitate his arrival, though. Surely the kind of passes that Ozil provides are exactly what Rooney needs.

Fellaini is still a great buy, we have needed a player like him since we lost Roy Keane and now we won't be bullied by the likes of Andy Carroll. He also gives us options in the air. Alan10, Manchester
I don’t think Fellaini is in the same class as Keane, Alan. Keane was so much more than a midfield bully.

Falling short: Ed Woodward (centre) has not been able to bring in marquee signings like he was expected to

If Fellaini was that good, Ferguson would have bought him years ago. United have paid twice his worth. The club is too big for Moyes – he thinks it is just a large Everton. John, Antrim
Yes, John, but even Ferguson was surprised by United’s size at first. Colleagues recall him saying ‘Big club, this’ quite frequently in his early days, as if in shock. Maybe he was simply taken aback that a club of United’s stature still had to work hard to sign players. 

Who cares? Jay, Chester

Aren’t these the most pointless, infantile posts of all? What possible worth is there in taking time out of your day to send a message saying you don’t care? If you don’t care, you don’t care. No problem with that. Just don’t care. Why tell everyone you don’t care because, Jay, here’s something that you clearly do not understand. We don’t care either. We don’t care that you don’t care. Seriously. You’re not caring is of no consequence to us at all. Not even a little bit. Actually, I don’t even know why I’m writing this. If he doesn’t care he won’t be reading, will he? And if he is reading, what a doofus.

Did you know that Everton won more games on average when Fellaini was injured than he was playing? Roy Williams, Spain
Having gone through Everton’s entire 2012-13 season game by game, strangely, this is true. By my calculations, Fellaini played 36 times for Everton, featured in 14 wins and accrued 55 points (if we maintain the three points for a win, one for a draw, standard for cup games, too). In the nine games he was absent – suspended or rested usually, not injured – Everton won four and totalled 18 points. So without Fellaini was worth two points per game and with him was worth 1.52. I have no idea what this proves, other than I need better time management techniques, but it is interesting. 

Stat's unbelievable: Everton had a better win percentage WITHOUT Marouane Fellaini in the team

The irony is that Manchester United desperately need Ozil and Arsenal desperately need Fellaini. Supernova, Nottingham

I think any club could do with Ozil, Supe, but it’s a fair point that the moves might be better tailored if reversed. 

I certainly won't renew my DSTV subscription. I am highly disappointed in David Moyes even if he didn't appoint me. If I ever knew he was going to be so naive in transfer issues, maybe I would have supported some other coach even if they don't end up buying the coach I love. I certainly won't be watching Man United matches because I don't want to be getting myself angry every weekend. Bobbywemz1, Nigeria
In the late 1970s, the New Musical Express began receiving letters from a Mr Samuel K. Amphong of Thailand, enquiring about the current whereabouts of The Beatles. Mr Amphong’s mangled English, his confusion – he would describe the singer as ‘Paul McCarty’ – and completely incorrect song titles were a source of constant joy. The letters, which almost always ended with the phrase, ‘Where is Beatles Band?’ are believed to be the work of Danny Baker. If this one is you too, Danny, you haven’t lost it mate. 

It could be you: Own up if it is Danny and let us know, where were Beatles Band?

An inexperienced new manager taking on a big job that is too big a shoe to put on! Imagine a small fry from a small pool suddenly thrown into the ocean not able to swim against the tide or get his bearing right. It must be a completely new environment for David Moyes to try to revitalize a big club like Manchester United by thinking big instead of having the mindset of a small club manager. If Mesut Ozil is not the ideal player, then I am afraid United will be in deep trouble. The rat running all over the field should be weeds out and be quarantine forever to give young player a chance to play. The day of easy picking for talented player is gone as United has to face up to competition from other club who is more successful in recruiting exciting and talented player to their squad. Be like Alex Ferugson when you are at United. Buy big time player as Man U is able to afford it.
Paultsjan, Singapore
But where is Beatles Band?

It’s a complete myth that Ferguson always got his man, with or without David Gill signing the cheques. Off the top of my head: Ozil, Wesley Sneijder, Kazim Benzema, Fernando Torres, Ronaldinho, Arjen Robben and Pavel Nedved. He did not always get his way with English clubs, either: Luka Modric, Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and David Hirst prove it. The only transfer tussle he won with a European mega-club was over Owen Hargreaves. Lazio couldn’t wait to get rid of Juan Veron. Moyes has learned the lesson that all top European players prefer Mediterranean sunshine to Mancunian drizzle. Bill, Barnsley
I didn’t say Ferguson was perfect, but if he wanted Fellaini he would have got Fellaini, long before the deadline and for the optimum price of £23.5m. Certainly Robben and Ronaldinho went west, but Ferguson always denied interest in Torres, for instance. I think what he did achieve in the transfer market was creditable, though, particularly as he was not just up against Iberia’s weather but, closer to home, the bright lights of London.    

Out of reach: The lure of Old Trafford was never strong enough to coax Arjen Robben (right) to United

Sir Alex Ferguson is well known around Europe, charismatic and hugely successful. By comparison, Moyes is unknown and anyone checking his CV will find no trophies. Teapot, North Herts
And Gerardo Martino of Barcelona? Well known around Europe would you say? Were you familiar with him and his winning record at Newell’s Old Boys, Libertad and Cerro Porteno. Starter for 10 on where Cerro Porteno come from? No, Moyes does not have Ferguson’s reputation, but United’s difficulties this summer run deeper than that.

Do not let this hide the fact that the midfield issues Manchester United have at the moment are down to Ferguson and lack of investment from the Glazers. In recent years, United have lost the ability to consistently find gems in the market: Vidic and Patrice Evra were probably the last. Look at Paul Pogba, marginalised to bring back Paul Scholes, not given a chance, he walks to Juventus, wins the title and then captains France to the U20 World Cup and is voted Player of the Tournament. Just imagine if we had him in midfield now. Another that happened on Fergie’s watch. I'd have him back tomorrow but he did make mistakes. Steve, Towcester
They all make mistakes, Steve. He just made fewer than most. I agree, Moyes has not inherited the strongest midfield and the lack of goals in particular is a worry, but I don’t think Pogba was frozen out to accommodate Scholes. He wouldn’t sign a new contract and left in July 2012 when Scholes was still retired. They are very different players, too.

Not for him either: Paul Pogba (left) is now at Juventus after leaving Manchester United in 2012

I'm not sure why United need a CAM when they have Rooney and Shinji Kagawa who both excel in that role? Don't forget that this squad walked the title last season and were very unlucky to be knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid. Rob, Newton Abbot
Fellini's not a CAM mate. He’s a DM. No offence, but duh. Nicola Markham, Lower Basildon.

No, actually, Fellini is an Italian film maker, and a huge influence on, among others, Woody Allen, Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam. Fellaini is a Manchester United midfield player, formerly of Everton. What a CAM is, God knows, although I’m presuming a DM is a defensive midfielder, which Fellaini isn’t.

Transfer request coming from Robin van Persie? He doesn't look a happy bunny right now.
Philip, Sevenoaks
Oh, Central Attacking Midfield. CAM. Now, I get it. Sorry, where were we? Oh yes, RVP not a happy bunny. I’ll tell you who was a happy bunny. This bloke.
Manchester United won the league with the team they have and I think the papers have found a new Arsenal to try to fill the headlines. Not sure why as a society we all have the need to see someone fail. Don't believe the rubbish you're reading United fans. The sensible Arsenal fans never did when the papers tried to make out we were falling apart and called for the greatest manager we have ever had to be sacked. Dougyfresh234, London
A few points here. 1) Even title winning teams need to evolve and stay fresh. 2) It is possible to be critical without wishing for failure. 3) The media has been largely supportive of Wenger, even after eight years without a trophy. Calls for him to be sacked are rare. 4) For younger readers, Dougy Fresh (later Doug E Fresh) was the original human beatbox. See below.
You do not let the two most important executives voluntarily leave at the same time.
Take It As Red, Oldham

I agree. Gill should have stayed another six months at least.

Manchester United still have the team that won the Premiership with four games to go so the others have a lot of ground to make up. One or two players might not be enough for Arsenal, while Chelsea have still got the same team that finished third and well off the pace. Liverpool will help United win the Premiership by becoming stronger and nicking points off the other big four. Abergele, Abergele

Starting with that three off United, yes? As for Chelsea having the same team – what of Willian, Andre Schurrle and returning loaned players like Kevin de Bruyne? Come on, pay attention.

Much easier to blame the chief executive who none of the journalists have to speak to, rather than the manager that they deal with two or three times a week. Tom, London
Yes, because our regular contact with England’s cricketers, for instance, meant we all went really soft on Stuart Broad over the walking incident. It may be that you would give a guy an easy time if you were worried about running into him, Tom, but don’t presume we are all the same.

You talking to me? Journalists did not give Stuart Broad an easy ride over the walking incident during the Ashes

People are slating Ed Woodward, but do they really know how the club is structured and who is responsible for what? I find it really irritating when football fans who, on the whole, don't have a clue how a business is run, start wading in on all of this. Jigallo, Newcastle
Woodward left Australia to conduct 'urgent transfer business'. I think it is fair to deduce from this that Woodward is responsible for transfer business, some of it urgent.

It's important to remember that when Peter Kenyon left and David Gill took over we suffered and missed out on several players – but he grew into one of the best around so hopefully he will learn from this. Theguvnor, Barcelona
Fair point, guv.

Another media day of knocking David Moyes. While the rest of the world, almost to a man, recognises he did a sterling job at Everton, keeping them away from relegation and more recently above his neighbours Liverpool, he has suddenly become a poor manager? Get off his back and be fair, it's only a matter of weeks before you will be baying for another manager to be sacked – maybe your current idol Jose Mourinho. You people are unreal. Onelife, Preston
I am sorry you did not understand the column. Perhaps if you read it again, you can see it contains no criticism of Moyes whatsoever. Perhaps if you had a little look back through the files, you will find the column that advocates Moyes' appointment as Manchester United manager, stating the very fine job he did at Everton. Perhaps if you removed your head from your backside you would see what was on the page, rather than what is imagined in your head. 

Tough at the top: Moyes has had a testing first few months as Manchester United manager

The arrogance of some of the comments is breathtaking. Fellaini and Leighton Baines are indisputably top class players and Everton is a top club struggling to re-emerge as part of English football's elite with no sugar daddy owner. Remember football before 1992 United fans? United didn't surpass Everton’s title record until 1996, yet you'd think they had always been successful. Show some respect. Massive, United Kingdom
No top player will risk signing for United until Moyes proves he is a winner. That is the downside of the appointment. He is unproven, especially to players outside England. That is why he only attracted Felliani who already knows him. Felliani is a top player and will prove his worth. As for Moyes, the club needs to be patient. Ferguson is almost an impossible act to follow and it says a lot about Moyes’s character that he took on the task. Not many would. Psg74, London

As evidenced by the second letter, I think the cool reception for Fellaini is as much to do with him being a Moyes old boy as any view of Everton. The feeling among some fans is that the manager can only attract his ex-players, not the elite of the European game. Psg’s call for patience, however, would seem the most sensible course of action. The alternate view below.

Moyes is insecure. He wanted his boys to join him from Everton purely as security blankets. Scary to think that Everton have never qualified for the Champions League yet Moyes had thoughts of bringing in not one but two of their players to aid United's campaign. Help! DAZ, Los Angeles
There are 11 players in a team. Suppose the nine others were not of Champions League quality, but two were? Rooney wasn’t a Champions League player when United bought him, neither was Michael Carrick or Phil Jones. Doing all right now though, aren’t they?

Give the guy a break and let the result speak for itself. One thing you forget to mention is United still have the best strikers and defenders in the Premier League. That should be enough to win them the title. All the talk about creative midfielders is exaggerated. Ferguson worked for years without one. Whoever wins has the last laugh. Kp2le, Melbourne
And United have won once in three matches. Your point?

Can't win them all: Moyes also wanted Leighton Baines (right) but the England defender stayed at Everton

So basically United still have the same squad that won the league by a comfortable distance last season, but have added Fellaini, the much needed midfielder we've been hearing so much about, plus Wilfried Zaha. I think there's a lot of wishful thinking going on out there, especially in the media. I have a feeling there is going to be egg on a lot of faces come May. StupidJack, Bangkok
Yes, but if there isn’t, we know we won’t be hearing from you. That always the case with posts like this, yes? I’m still waiting to hear from a chap who posted that he would be returning to taunt me in May when Arsenal won the league. I reckon that was four years ago now. Do you think he has forgotten?

Edward Woodward was an excellent actor and The Wicker Man wasn't a bad film at all. Dumb comparison. Gormenghastly, Toronto
I think you’ve missed the point, Gormless. Dumb poster.

Each to their own: Some of you liked the Wicker Man reference... others not so much

United begin their fall from grace. The people in there have no idea what they're doing. It will be us down the M62 that have the last laugh. Beck, United Kingdom
Where, Leeds? Huddersfield? Hull? Have Castleford Tigers hit form again? Please, I beg of you – can someone out there not solve the mystery of these anonymous beneficiaries?

Ferguson knew when to get out now Moyes will take the fall if it goes wrong. Buster, Newcastle

Harsh, Buster. I thought the sincere family reasons Alex gave for his departure read more than true. I mean that.

Love the Wicker Man comparison. Jez, Manchester
Oh good Jez. Then I hope you’ll love this.
Now seems as if United did only pay £23.5m for Fellaini. The additional £4m being waived loyalty payments so they paid no more than the exit fee clause. Dave, Birmingham
Dave is correct about Fellaini’s fee. This is yet more evidence of Mr Samuel not getting his facts right and basing his long-winded prose on nonsense. Oh well, nothing new. Anyone remember him lambasting the ex-England manager, Fabio Capello, for pronouncing Jack Wilshere's name wrong? Trouble was, in so doing, Samuel himself spelled the name ‘Wilshire’. Can’t help but laugh.
Sir Cecil, San Francisco
This is where we started, really, with a handy little bit of propaganda from United to show what a shrewd dealer Edward Woodward is, the problem being it is equally staunchly refuted by Everton. Now to address Sir Cecil’s comments about Jack Wilshere. The first time I wrote about Jack was a paragraph in The Times many years ago. He hadn’t even made his Arsenal debut at the time. I said a coach at the club had told me they had the next Lionel Messi. I spelled his name, erroneously, like the English county. It is very possible, also, that I have subsequently spelt it ‘Wilshire’ in print. It was one of those names about which I had a mental block. It happens from time to time. I only got Vieira consistently right, once I worked out a memory trick around the last three letters being IRA, and still from time to time write Wojciech when I mean Szczesny. Occasionally, you get a mental block about a name. Apologies. What I do know, however, is that if I ever made reference to Capello’s pronunciation of any English name it would not have been harshly critical, because I think it is very unfair to appoint an Italian and then expect him to have the same language skills as an Englishman. In fact, I wrote a column defending him when he said he only needed 100 words of English. It was published on March 31, 2011, and can still be found here. You will also notice it contains the name, Wilshere. Spelled correctly, I am pleased to say. Finally, Cecil, I am sorry if my explanation here was a little long winded for you. I know your concentration levels must be low, so if you wish, you can replicate my columns for your personal viewing in pop-up form. Just cut a hole in a piece of paper and, from beneath, insert your middle finger. Until next week, thrill seekers.