David Moyes Already Giving Excuses Why United Might Not Win Premier League

David Moyes took a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s management book and last night criticised the Premier League over Manchester United’s opening fixtures.

The new Old Trafford manager has complained to the League, insisting: ‘I think it’s the hardest start for 20 years that United have had.

‘I hope it’s not because Manchester United won the League quite comfortably last season that the fixtures have been made much more difficult.’
Does Moyes have a point? Judge for yourself with a list of United's previous starts below

 

Concerns: Manchester United boss David Moyes has hit out at the start of the season handed to his team

 

Andre Villas-Boas, Ian Holloway, David Moyes Chris Hughton

Remember this? Moyes' Everton beat United on the opening weekend last season

Moyes, whose side play Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in the first five weeks of the campaign, rang Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore directly to voice his concerns.

‘The old manager told me those sort of things  happened,’ said Moyes last night. ‘I find it hard to believe that’s the way the balls came out of the bag, that’s for sure.’

His comment about Ferguson was meant as a joke but it is clear that Moyes genuinely did wonder if his team had been given a tough start on purpose.

The former Everton boss touched on the subject when he was unveiled as United manager back in July, but has now taken his comments to a level that will cause some of his rivals to raise eyebrows.

A Premier League spokesman last night confirmed that Moyes had raised the issue and said: ‘We assured him the process is random and above board. He accepted those assurances.’

United begin their League season with a tough trip to Swansea City tomorrow evening. This is followed by a home game with Chelsea and a visit to Liverpool.
Moyes added: ‘It is a hard start.

But if it is a hard start for Manchester United, it is a hard start for everyone else because they have to play us.

 

Good start: Louis Saha scored as United thrashed Fulham 5-1 on the opening day in 2006

‘It is as tough a start as Manchester United have ever had. I looked at that a little bit questionably when I saw it.’ Moyes did not shed any light yesterday on whether Wayne Rooney would play at Swansea, but he said he was pleased the striker came through an hour of action in England’s 3-2 win over Scotland on Wednesday.

‘He got his first competitive 65 minutes,’ said Moyes. ‘He hasn’t had any other serious action. It was a good game for him but I thought Danny Welbeck also had some good match action and I was pleased about that — and Tom Cleverley too. From that point of view it was good they got a run-out.

‘I couldn’t tell you about Saturday’s game now. When I get back I will see how he is.’

Meanwhile, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has questioned whether his side have become the latest victims of ‘big club syndrome’.

Chelsea won a battle to move their home game against Villa from August 31 to next Wednesday to accommodate their UEFA Super Cup match.

Lambert, whose side now face Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in a week, said: ‘All of a sudden, they tell us we’re getting jammed in between Arsenal and Liverpool when we had given them our preferred dates. I don’t think it’s fair — even after having it explained to me 45 times.'

MANCHESTER UNITED'S OPENING FIVE FIXTURE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS

 

2013/14
Swansea City away; Chelsea home; Liverpool away; Crystal Palace home; Manchester City away

2012/13
Everton away LOST
Fulham home WON
Southampton away WON
Wigan home WON
Liverpool away WON
2010/11
Newcastle home WON
Fulham away DRAW
West Ham home WON
Everton away DRAW
Liverpool home WON
2008/09
Newcastle home DRAW
Portsmouth away WON
Liverpool away LOST
Chelsea away DRAW
Bolton home WON
2006/07
Fulham home WON
Charlton away WON
Watford away WON
Tottenham home WON
Arsenal home LOST
2004/05
Chelsea away LOST
Norwich City home WON
Blackburn away DRAW
Everton home DRAW
Bolton away DRAW
2002/03
West Brom home WON
Chelsea  away DRAW
Sunderland away DRAW
Middlesbrough home WON
Bolton home LOST
2000/01
Newcastle home WON
Ipswich Town away DRAW
West Ham United away DRAW
Bradford City home WON
Sunderland home WON
1998/99
Leicester City home DRAW
West Ham away DRAW
Charlton home WON
Coventry City home WON
Arsenal away LOST
1996/97
Wimbledon away WON
Everton home DRAW
Blackburn Rovers home DRAW
Derby away DRAW
Leeds away WON
1994/95
QPR home WON
Nottingham Forest away DRAW
Tottenham away WON
Wimbledon home WON
Leeds away LOST

2011/12
West Brom away WON
Tottenham home WON
Arsenal home WON
Bolton away WON
Chelsea home WON
2009/10
Birmingham City home WON
Burnley away LOST
Wigan away WON
Arsenal home WON
Tottenham away WON
2007/08
Reading home DRAW
Portsmouth away DRAW
Manchester City away LOST
Tottenham home WON
Sunderland home WON
2005/06
Everton away WON
Aston Villa home WON
Newcastle away WON
Manchester City home DRAW
Liverpool away DRAW
2003/04
Bolton home WON
Newcastle away WON
Wolves home WON
Southampton away LOST
Charlton away WON
2001/02
Fulham home WON
Blackburn away DRAW
Aston Villa away DRAW
Everton home WON
Newcastle away LOST
1999/2000
Everton away DRAW
Sheffield Wednesday home WON
Leeds home WON
Arsenal away WON
Coventry away WON
1997/98
Tottenham away WON
Southampton home WON
Leicester City away DRAW
Everton away WON
Coventry home WON
1995/96
Aston Villa away LOST
West Ham home WON
Wimbledon home WON
Blackburn away WON
Everton away WON
1993/94
Norwich away WON
Sheffield United home WON
Newcastle home DRAW
Aston Villa away WON
Southampton away WON