Russell Brand on David Moyes sacking: ‘Sir Alex Ferguson's selection of the ‘chosen one’ looks like what I would do if invited to select my ex's next partner’
The comedian says that Ferguson’s appointment of Moyes was all part of a cunning plan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Russell Brand, a long-term football fan, says that sacked Manchester United manager David Moyes never stood a chance.
The comedian, who never misses an opportunity to voice his own opinion, believes that it was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s grand plan to hire a successor who was not as skilled as he.
“Sir Alex Ferguson's selection of the ‘chosen one’ now looks less like John the Baptist heralding Christ and more like what I would do if invited to select my ex's next partner; the mendacious dispatch of a castrated chump to grimly jiggle with futile pumps upon Man United's bone-dry, trophy-bare mound,” he wrote in a column for the Guardian. “It appears though that Ferguson's personal mythology superseded his tribal ties and he nominated not an heir who could carry on his legacy, but one who would stumble and stoop and in so doing add greater emphasis to his own already staggering achievements.”
Moyes held the title of manager for just 10 months and was dismissed yesterday following a challenging season for the club. Ryan Giggs has been put in charge temporarily, yet Brand drily wonders why Ferguson had not hired the footballer in a managerial role before.
“Giggs, whose untapped managerial prowess evaded Ferguson when he was asked to nominate a successor, the nearest approximation of an Anfield boot-room appointment considered instead to be the translucent Moyes, a pale imitation of himself, so pale in fact his impotent palpitations could be witnessed on a vascular level as United throbbed to a final flaccid loss at Goodison Park,” said Brand.
The television personality and author believes that, although Moyes’s tenure was never fated to last, his replacement is in a far more “favourable position”.
“In all likelihood Ferguson's immediate successor could never be more than a peppery sorbet to cleanse the palate after decades of glorious indulgence,” Brand continued. “Any son of a great man knows a margin is required, some respite from the preceding magnificence.”
Brand is himself a West Ham supporter.
READ MORE: HOW THIS SEASON TURNED SO SOUR
COULD MOYES END UP AT TOTTENHAM?
UNITED DO SACK MANAGERS - IT WAS FERGUSON THAT BUCKED A TREND
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments