Bob Monkhouse used to recall a story from his schooldays of telling the teacher and his classmates he would be a stand-up comic when he grew up. He remembered his humiliation as everybody in the room laughed at him. He'd finish the anecdote straight-faced saying, "Well, no-one's laughing now!"

Last August, United's first home game under David Moyes featured Chelsea and a returning José Mourinho. A huge new banner adorned the Stretford End: 'The Chosen One'. How we revelled in our wit and a dig at 'The Special One'. As winter deepened and Sir Alex's farewell speech faded, it became obvious Moyes wasn't going to play like Fergie's Boys. Not yet, anyway. Defiant support turned to anger following humiliating defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City. Fans have tried to remove the banner. Now Twitter tells us some have paid for a plane to fly over Old Trafford during the match against Aston Villa on Saturday trailing a 'Moyes Out' slogan.

I assume these are loyal United supporters and I don't question their right to protest but they are making themselves look stupid. And I have some form here on all three counts. I've followed United passionately home and abroad for 50 years. In 1989 I felt so aggrieved at Sir Alex's inaugural three years I held up that banner proclaiming 'Ta Ra Fergie!'

I then spent 23 years looking more ridiculous with every trophy the great man won. I don't know if Moyes is the right man for Manchester United. Nobody does. I do know results and performances are dreadful at the moment, well below what we expect and demand at United. But managers need two vital commodities to mould their own team – time and resources. Neither should be limitless but eight months is a ludicrously short period.

The banner Pete Molyneux used to call for Alex Ferguson's sacking. Photograph: screenshot

United must give Moyes the summer to clear out the players he now knows can't, or won't, play for him and bring in suitable replacements. Sure, he inherited the champions but that team was in need of regeneration, particularly in midfield. The Fergie factor and Robin van Persie's goals snatched back our title last season, but the team has gone backwards since we ruled England, Europe and the world in 2008. The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves and the diminishing powers of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have been filled with potential rather than top-class talent. Perhaps Fergie knew Moyes would need to rebuild, hence the six-year contract.

Any Red under 35 must be bewildered right now, so take a historic view. Manchester United is the best and hardest job in football. Since Sir Matt Busby retired I've seen seven men take up the mantle, and only Ron Atkinson got United playing winning, attractive football in his first season. Wilf McGuinness, Frank O'Farrell and Dave Sexton never managed it and Tommy Doc took us into Division Two before finding the magic formula. Now trust me, it was as bad under Fergie as it is today – and for much longer. All were given the courtesy of time and money before judgment was passed. That's the United way. Moyes deserves another season before we start tearing down the citadel.

So to those guys who are hung up about the banner and those considering Planespotting, I say choose class. Forget the gimmicks. If Moyes doesn't make progress then in 12 months I'm happy to waste another bed-sheet and half a can of black paint but let's see what he does first, eh?

*Pete Molyneux is the author of 'Ta Ra Fergie' available online http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ta-Ra-Fergie-Full-Banner/dp/0752457594 *