It's an interesting debate to me.
Liam gave us the most measured reasoning - that this is the squad that PM would have excelled with. Ok I admit it, I think he would have done well with our current squad - and Pepe took on a very tired looking, media-beleaguered side. He wasn't helped by the incidents such as Anelka, nor do I think he was helped by the selling of Long... we had hardly any strike force at the time, just did NOT get that at all.
We can argue he didn't have the dressing room - but we know something didn't smell right in the State of Denmark back with Odemwingie.
That said, I think Irvine has been a steadying influence in a number of ways. His rep for working well with younger players arguably has been the galvanising force with Saido. He fits the existing coaching model so no apple cart upsetting there, old guard happy.
I'm not sure I want happy. I want some bloody attack. I just fell like it isn't going to happen with AI. Come on Blakey let's get this bus out. I take VVV's argument about how many points on the board under both etc.... to be fair, can't even argue with it. But we look uninspired and boring.
So yeah, I think PM would have relished this squad. And I think on a page about him I'm entitled to say that. The guy didn't get the chance and ok it may be old news now but I think it was really unfair.
On that basis - and on the basis I still believe Man Utd didn't give Moyes the chance, and trying to be fair about this - how long do we give Irvine?