2025/26 David Moyes

[RD2910]

Baines was criticised for being poor defensively and not getting close to the crosser of the ball (Digne another example of this) But Baines had great other attributes that we focused on instead. Sure Aznou isn't at Baines level but to not play him purely because he's not physically strong is incredibly narrow minded management ignoring how he can improve us attacking wise

You know best of course.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

I think you need to be 6 foot 5....

I must of missed this full back needs physicality thing. When I played football or watched football the full back was meant to have stamina, could tackle (not important now as tackling is a lost art due to the draconian rules on tackling) could preferably cross a football and had positional sense and a bit of pace about them. The only full backs who were physical were the thuggish types like Pearce, Mark Dennis, Franny Benali and Julian Dicks. But apparently because the Premier League is so physical now (it's not really as the game has gone soft) we are meant to endure full backs who are physical rather than skillful

 

[Marcus Kendall]

You know best of course.

It's an opinion mate, not asking you to agree or anything

 

[Marcus Kendall]

It wouldn’t at all surprise me if we started next season with O’Brien at right back. I just think Moyes rates him as a right back, I don’t understand it personally but football managers are notoriously stubborn and odd creatures.

They have to be Mike as a football managers main necessity from a persona point of view is the courage of their own convictions (as is the case of all leaders)

 

[Swartzy]

I'm not even saying Aznou is great or anything I'm just saying to not play him purely because he's not strong is very archaic management (Moyes did similar playing Lescott ahead of Baines when Baines first joined) Coupled with the fact he played Hibbert season on season despite being pretty useless as an attacking threat suggests to me Moyes attitude to the full back position isn't ideal for us if we want to move forward from an attacking perspective

Yeah, if he has woken up to it this season than he certainly wont be in my good books..

There is nothing more plain to see, so that would be all out stubbornness

 

[MikeH72]

They have to be Mike as a football managers main necessity from a persona point of view is the courage of their own convictions (as is the case of all leaders)

I also believe this can go to their heads though and lead them to believe they’re infallible and don’t get things wrong. This is a problem when the manager has a set idea that 37 year old Gana in a double pivot and O’Brien at right back are first names on the team sheet.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

I must of missed this full back needs physicality thing. When I played football or watched football the full back was meant to have stamina, could tackle (not important now as tackling is a lost art due to the draconian rules on tackling) could preferably cross a football and had positional sense and a bit of pace about them. The only full backs who were physical were the thuggish types like Pearce, Mark Dennis, Franny Benali and Julian Dicks. But apparently because the Premier League is so physical now (it's not really as the game has gone soft) we are meant to endure full backs who are physical rather than skillful

Maldini was a warrior and eventually moved to the centre.

Speaking of Lescott, a lot of people forget he was actually a left back at Wolves as well.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

I also believe this can go to their heads though and lead them to believe they’re infallible and don’t get things wrong. This is a problem when the manager has a set idea that 37 year old Gana in a double pivot and O’Brien at right back are first names on the team sheet.

It's definitely a worry going forward. It's why despite him doing a decent enough job we should be looking at going in a new direction in the summer. We need to embrace a new way of playing and a new mentality which means a new manager who preferably is good developing and moulding younger players into a team playing front foot high intensity football

 

[Marcus Kendall]

Maldini was a warrior and eventually moved to the centre.

What's this got to do with anything? We can both name examples to emphasise our points of view. I see the full back position differently from you which is fine as we both have a different way of how we like our full backs to play

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

What's this got to do with anything? We can both name examples to emphasise our points of view. I see the full back position differently from you which is fine as we both have a different way of how we like our full backs to play

I think the main thing is play the best players and if you have to go against what you favour, so be it.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

I think the main thing is play the best players and if you have to go against what you favour, so be it.

Fair viewpoint. Moyes is cautious by nature so he'll assess players from that mindset. I'm more of a gambler by nature (not that I bet or anything I just think fortune favours the brave) so I look at players from what they offer from an attacking perspective (hence why physicality isn't something I prioritise at full back)

 

[Curtis]

No but he was sturdy enough, certainly stronger than Aznou is now.

Have you arm wrestled Aznou recently?

 

[SJB]

I'm not even saying Aznou is great or anything I'm just saying to not play him purely because he's not strong is very archaic management (Moyes did similar playing Lescott ahead of Baines when Baines first joined)

We've seen nothing to suggest he can defend though, in his solitary first team outing or his u23 appearances.

What it Moyes is protecting him from criticism by saying he's not playing him solely because he's not strong enough when in reality it's because he's not a good enough player yet? Is that archaic management or clever management and shielding of a youngster who needs time to develop all parts of his game?

 

[Swartzy]

Maldini was a warrior and eventually moved to the centre.

Speaking of Lescott, a lot of people forget he was actually a left back at Wolves as well.

CB at Wolves, always watched out for him back then as I wanted us to grab him..

 

[Tel001]

Not on our current form.

He better make top half or that's a waste of £110M last summer.

I've said for a while: fail to get top half in this terrible league with spending like that and he should be sacked in May.

How is taking a team that has been in and around the bottoms 5 for 3 years … to say 12th … a “waste”

Not saying we could t be higher … but it’s not a waste , he’s improved us