We Spoke to Some Devastated Man City Fans About David Moyes' Sacking

Yesterday, news began to break that David Moyes – the once feared Everton manager, and now pale, defeated ex-person who looks like he can't remember his own name – was facing the sack.

This morning, that news was confirmed. It’s hard to know what to think when your nearest rival is in crisis. Is this the end of a relatively brief but still very enjoyable period of schadenfreude, or just the start of a very long descent?

As Manchester City were due to play West Brom just across town, we went along to the Etihad stadium last night to get the City fans' thoughts on Moyes getting the boot.

VICE: David Moyes is getting the sack. What are your thoughts?
Andrew, Warrington: I'm completely devastated that Moyes is being sacked.

You're not getting the party poppers out, then?
No. I was well happy to see them play the way they were playing – sliding down the league.I like to see them struggle, so I’m happy. Now he's going I'm gutted.

Are you worried about what might happen if they get someone good in to replace him?
Yeah. Though in a way I'm not even bothered about United any more; they’re not a big game for us.

Stephen (left) and Alan (centre), Manchester

Hi guys, how do you feel about Moyes being sacked?
Alan: Devastated.

Devastated? Don't you think he could have pulled it back? Or that they should have given him more time?
Well, that’s in their mantra, isn’t it? They announced it’d be a long-term thing.They should have given Moyes 25 years.

They should probably give him a statue and all the stuff Ferguson got, otherwise he could claim poor treatment. You know – "Look, the previous guy got all this, and what did you give me?"
Phil Neville.
Stephen: It’s a sad day. It’s a say day for football. It’s a sad day for an institution like Manchester United.
Alan: They’ve let the game down.

They’ve let themselves down.
Classic United. They’re ruining football, as usual.

VICE: How do you feel about Moyes being sacked?
Harold, Glossop: I couldn't care less.

Don’t you think there could be a job going for him at City?
What?

Well, you know – big club manager, City not winning the league…
Come off it. Come on, you’ve got to be joking.

So where’s he going to go?
Oh, I hope he’s not going anywhere, hope he’s staying where he is.

Well if you look at his face there's no blood in it, so I can't see him sticking around too long.
I want him to stay four more years.

That’s what a United fan would say, isn’t it? “We want him to stay… get behind the manager,” all that kind of stuff.
Oh yes. Well, he’s doing all right, isn’t he?

Even if the United fans hired a plane to fly over Old Trafford trailing a message telling him the exact opposite?
But there was another plane after that that said: “Keep him.”

You haven't got a pilot's license, have you?
You wouldn't see me up in one of them. Bugger no.

(L - R) John, Sophie and Jill, Stalybridge

VICE: David Moyes is on his way out – what’s your reaction?
Jill: I wanted him to stay!

Best ever United manger?
Oh yes. He’s the [retired Man U manager] Wilf McGuinness of the 21st century.

He looks slightly older than Wilf does now.
John: He looks like Gollum.

He’ll never reach the same heights as Wilf at United will he?
I think he’s done great things at United.

Top five Moyes moments?
Buying Fellaini; the 4-1 here; the 3-0 there. Yesterday was quite good. Did you see the Grim Reaper?

Yeah, that seemed a bit cheap to me.
What would you say for the last one?
Sophie: Well, that Swansea result was quite good. Getting knocked out in the third round was good.

Chris and Becky, Manchester

VICE: I wanted to get some feedback on how everyone feels about Moyes being sacked. Big day, isn’t it?
Chris: Well, for United it is. I couldn’t care less, to be honest.

Have you got any sympathy for him?
No, I don’t like David Moyes. I didn’t like him when he was at Everton.

Bit of a non-entity, isn't he? Like a gravestone with nothing on.
Yeah, I don’t think they’ll have a gravestone for him.

What about the base of a statue with nothing on it but a big pair of boots?
Yeah, with “fill these” engraved on them.

Tom (left), Manchester

VICE: David Moyes is out – what are your thoughts?
Tom: I don’t want to say anything, to be honest. Is he definitely sacked?

Yep. Do you want to send your condolences to United fans?
No! Hate them.

I thought you didn't want to say anything…
Well, you can say that they’re a joke. That they’ve not even stood by their manager. It’s been ten months. They’re a joke. A JOKE!

VICE: I’d like to ask you about Moyes.
Kate, Manchester: He’s going. I’ll be well sad when he goes; this year’s been really fun.

What's he going to do now?
He’ll just join a club with Redknapp and Steve Bruce and sit around talking about yesteryear.

All of them watching Match of the Day 2 and crying a lot?
Get a mangle and put their faces through it. I think we’re going to get a Partridge-style breakdown, like midway through the second series. [He'll] rob the trophy cabinet and run off with the Community Shield, saying, "This is mine, you mothers!"

And then just sail off into the distance in a blazer and chinos.
Well, it’s going to be one hell of a payoff.

How much would you give him?
About £50.

And tell him to jog on?
Yeah: "Get a new pair of trainers, mate." I’d love to get a T-shirt with “Save our Dave”. Maybe put his face on a cushion and cuddle it at night. To hold him and just remember David Moyes.

@samuelbreen / @CBethell_photo