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Rio Ferdinand slams David Moyes's "embarrassing" tactics at Manchester United

Rio Ferdinand slams David Moyes for his "embarrassing" tactics during his time as Manchester United manager.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been highly critical of David Moyes's approach to management during his time at Old Trafford.

The Scotsman was sacked by the Red Devils in April after overseeing the club's fall from champions to seventh in the Premier League last season.

Ferdinand spent his final year at United under Moyes before moving on to Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer.

In his autobiography #2 sides, which is being serialised by The Sun, Ferdinand said: "Moyes's innovations mostly led to negativity and confusion. The biggest confusion was over how he wanted us to move the ball forward.

"Often he told us to play it long. Some players felt they kicked the ball long more than at any time in their career. Sometimes our main tactic was the long, high, diagonal cross. It was embarrassing. In one home game against Fulham we had 81 crosses! I was thinking, why are we doing this? Andy Carroll doesn't play for us!

"The whole approach was alien. Other times Moyes wanted lots of passing. He'd say, 'today I want us to have 600 passes in the game. Last week it was only 400'. Who cares? I'd rather score five goals from 10 passes."

The ex-England international also revealed in his book that Moyes announced his decision to drop Ferdinand from the side that played Bayern Munich in the Champions League in public.

"It killed me," said Ferdinand. "Inside I wanted to scream and grab him. I'm a team player, so I just had to bite my tongue and stand there. But it was probably the worst single moment I ever had at United. I'd never been dropped for a big game like that - and to drop that on me in front of everybody."

Moyes was replaced by Louis van Gaal, who recorded his first competitive win as United manager with Sunday's 4-0 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers.

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Angel Di Maria of Manchester United is congratulated by team-mate Juan Mata after scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford on September 14, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27176438172155
2Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
3Burnley27141123192253
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2712693124742
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom27914433221141
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8Watford27125103837141
9Bristol City2791083331237
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
12Queens Park RangersQPR2781183034-435
13Swansea CitySwansea2797113033-334
14Coventry CityCoventry2788113537-232
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2788113041-1132
16Preston North EndPreston2761382834-631
17Millwall2679102424030
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Derby CountyDerby2776143137-627
20Cardiff CityCardiff2769122941-1227
21Hull City2768132636-1026
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2775152744-1726
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


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