Moyes has failed the test

Allezfan · May 7, 2013

bluemangroup said:
The spurs game was not a massive throwaway, it was almost a tactical masterpiece IMHO. We absorbed and absorbed and hit them on the counter with Vic holding it up and bringing runners on to the ball. We looked like we would hold the, out, but it was not to be. It was unfortunate and not entirely Moyes' fault.

If Vic had scored at the end to make it 3-2 we'd be praising a brillaint victory.

turner · May 7, 2013

Well I'm not Totally sure about original post, but this thread has sort of raised a related question. Moyes has had 40ish chances to win away against the old sky 4. For a team that's supposedly sixth best in the league, how many chances do we allow before it looks less like bad luck and more like choking? Fifty, sixty?

ijjysmith · May 7, 2013

turner said:
Well I'm not Totally sure about original post, but this thread has sort of raised a related question. Moyes has had 40ish chances to win away against the old sky 4. For a team that's supposedly sixth best in the league, how many chances do we allow before it looks less like bad luck and more like choking? Fifty, sixty?

Well like I mentioned earlier mate, you'd think by just pure luck we'd have sneaked at least one by now!

It's a bit weird really.

ToffeeMike · May 7, 2013

bluemangroup said:
The spurs game was not a massive throwaway, it was almost a tactical masterpiece IMHO. We absorbed and absorbed and hit them on the counter with Vic holding it up and bringing runners on to the ball. We looked like we would hold them out, but it was not to be. It was unfortunate and not entirely Moyes' fault.

Yeah but still, with 3 minutes to go we could have got the victory, if it as 15 minutes to go then fine, it was a fair result.

Looking back and thinking if we could have won there and Anfield we'd be 4th right now, excluding the games in October/November.

bluemangroup · May 7, 2013

Artetafan said:
If Vic had scored at the end to make it 3-2 we'd be praising a brillaint victory.

Yeah, it's incredibly fine margins on occasions. That would effectively make us 3 points closer to spurs. I think also this season exposes the limitations of our squad. We have a very good team, but it has been overworked and has showed on occasions this season. Traditionally, at least over the last few seasons, January has been very good for us and we've gone on a little run. This January we and Moyes where let down by the board.

Mrk · May 7, 2013

steken1 said:
Fellaini???

Fellaini has been playing behind the striker for most of the season, and its worked, he's our highest goalscorer.

So no, not Fellaini.

Allezfan · May 7, 2013

bluemangroup said:
Yeah, it's incredibly fine margins on occasions. That would effectively make us 3 points closer to spurs. I think also this season exposes the limitations of our squad. We have a very good team, but it has been overworked and has showed on occasions this season. Traditionally, at least over the last few seasons, January has been very good for us and we've gone on a little run. This January we and Moyes where let down by the board.

We kind of have gone on a little run, like. We've had a good spring. It's just it feels less impressive because we were already in 6th.

bluemangroup · May 7, 2013

The squad difference also raises a few other points. Mainly competition within the squad. There are very few players breathing down the necks of the first xi. If players aren't guaranteed their first team spot every week, they will play for it every week. It would explain the lack of motivation in the "lesser" games to an extent I think.

Brennan · May 7, 2013

Artetafan said:
If Vic had scored at the end to make it 3-2 we'd be praising a brillaint victory.

Which is why we need a new striker desperately.

Negredo would have chipped the keeper

Mrk · May 7, 2013

bluemangroup said:
The squad difference also raises a few other points. Mainly competition within the squad. There are very few players breathing down the necks of the first xi. If players aren't guaranteed their first team spot every week, they will play for it every week. It would explain the lack of motivation in the "lesser" games to an extent I think.

Agree. That's why the failure to strengthen in January was so significant, some players needed a bit of competition.

bluemangroup · May 7, 2013

Artetafan said:
We kind of have gone on a little run, like. We've had a good spring. It's just it feels less impressive because we were already in 6th.

Comparative to previous seasons as well, we've fallen away a bit. We've done well, but not all conquering, unbeatable runs of seasons past. That's possibly down to the fact we've had a better start to the season and leave less fuel in the tank for the home straight.
This is the most cliche ridden post I've ever typed btw.

turner · May 7, 2013

bluemangroup said:
The squad difference also raises a few other points. Mainly competition within the squad. There are very few players breathing down the necks of the first xi. If players aren't guaranteed their first team spot every week, they will play for it every week. It would explain the lack of motivation in the "lesser" games to an extent I think.

That is a product of moyes unwillingness though. Look what happens when his hand is forced, eg mucha. Howard got a kick up the arse and came back the better player. The unwillingness to use his squad is one of moyes'biggest weaknesses.

turner · May 7, 2013

What people have sort of glossed over on this thread,with its 'we shouldnt really finish highwr than sixth cos our competitors squads are much better' chitchat, is the fact that our competitors have all had tough midweek European games throughout. This was our best chance for a long time to be better than the sum of our parts, and we blew it. A large Part of that blame lies with moyes, a lot with the board and some with the players.

bluemangroup · May 7, 2013

turner said:
That is a product of moyes unwillingness though. Look what happens when his hand is forced, eg mucha. Howard got a kick up the arse and came back the better player. The unwillingness to use his squad is one of moyes'biggest weaknesses.

I don't disagree that Moyes could do things differently. I think his policy is more for players to play themselves out of a funk though. He prefers a good player playing badly to a ok player playing well, I think maybe it's a matter of who he trusts.

bluemangroup · May 7, 2013

turner said:
What people have sort of glossed over on this thread,with its 'we shouldnt really finish highwr than sixth cos our competitors squads are much better' chitchat, is the fact that our competitors have all had tough midweek European games throughout. This was our best chance for a long time to be better than the sum of our parts, and we blew it. A large Part of that blame lies with moyes, a lot with the board and some with the players.

Likewise those that seem intent on bringing this point up seem to forget that these midweek games are what squad rotation is all about.
Can you honestly remember Spurs fielding a particularly weak team? They can afford to not play Bale for a couple of games and put Dempsey or Siggurdson on and it's not AS strong, but it's hardly weak at the same time. They have more than enough good players in their very strong squad to cope with both competitions.