2025/26 David Moyes

[John from Bootle]

Mate come on let’s be real here, he hasn’t done that with O’Brien at all he’s only played him at CB when there’s been absolutely no other options in that position. Clearly he thinks O’Brien is a right back that can cover centre back in the event of an emergency, not the other way around.

I think time will tell on that Mike. He'll end up playing centre back for us under this manager, I'm certain of that.

Could I be wrong? Of course, time will tell...

 

[Efcjake]

Mate come on let’s be real here, he hasn’t done that with O’Brien at all he’s only played him at CB when there’s been absolutely no other options in that position. Clearly he thinks O’Brien is a right back that can cover centre back in the event of an emergency, not the other way around.

I think O'Brien is playing right back because the other two full backs aren't fit or relied upon.

If we sign an actual right back I expect O'Brien to play centrally but he's not starting the ghost of Seamus Coleman or Patterson over him.

 

[RD2910]

Mate come on let’s be real here, he hasn’t done that with O’Brien at all he’s only played him at CB when there’s been absolutely no other options in that position. Clearly he thinks O’Brien is a right back that can cover centre back in the event of an emergency, not the other way around.

He definitely plays O'Brien at RB because he doesn't want to play Patterson and Coleman's 150 years old. There isn't a debate.

 

[willo30]

If Moyes stays and signs 4/5 hot young players for another £100m and benches them this summer... the forum will be

We'll sign 2 youngsters again bench them. Like last year.
Play the ones from last year more and add in a couple more KDH like signings.
Add a couple of loans and maybe Jack I think we will be a lot better next season.

 

[nevsonlymate]

I think O'Brien is playing right back because the other two full backs aren't fit or relied upon.

If we sign an actual right back I expect O'Brien to play centrally but he's not starting the ghost of Seamus Coleman or Patterson over him.

Its looking that way but the limited time we have seen Patterson he's been ok didn't look a problem and no I'm not saying he's the answer but either going with Obrien or Garner on Saturday will annoy me and yes i dont see him in training

 

[MikeH72]

I think O'Brien is playing right back because the other two full backs aren't fit or relied upon.

If we sign an actual right back I expect O'Brien to play centrally but he's not starting the ghost of Seamus Coleman or Patterson over him.

We’ll see. Personally I wouldn’t be at all surprised if O’Brien starts next season as our right back. Moyes has apparently vetoed loads of right backs, he’s looking for a specific profile and that profile just happens to be O’Brien. Massive and doesn’t cross the half way line.

 

[John from Bootle]

We’ll see. Personally I wouldn’t be at all surprised if O’Brien starts next season as our right back. Moyes has apparently vetoed loads of right backs, he’s looking for a specific profile and that profile just happens to be O’Brien. Massive and doesn’t cross the half way line.

Which is weird seeing as his two first choice full backs used to be Coleman and Baines. There's very little evidence to suggest that's the profile of full back he prefers.

 

[MikeH72]

Which is weird seeing as his two first choice full backs used to be Coleman and Baines. There's very little evidence to suggest that's the profile of full back he prefers.

It is very weird mate. I’ve commented on it a few times this season, he seems to be evolving more into a Dyche-type low block minimise risk as much as possible type manager the older he gets. He wants as much height as possible on the pitch first and foremost and everything else comes secondary to that. Again, we’ll see, every bit of evidence we’ve seen this season actually suggests Moyes prefers O’Brien at right back to specialist right backs, and prefers every other CB at the club to O’Brien in that position. Ergo he sees O’Brien as a specialist right back.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Nothing to do with having limitless funds then? All down to Mourinho

For the previous 15 years Utd had financial dominance of the league apart from a two year period when Blackburn had their moment. As soon as another club had financial parity and a good manager they won. Ferguson did a great job but let's not pretend it was a competitive league for most of his tenure from a financial perspective.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

I'm not sure what youre disagreeing with here?

Did Moyes sign those players = Yes

Is he barely if at all using them = Yes

What are you disagreeing about?

Should a manager be applauded for signing 5 players and then not use them?

Is that your point?

I think he should be applauded for picking what he thinks is his best team every week rather than appeasing some drips on the interweb.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

For the previous 15 years Utd had financial dominance of the league apart from a two year period when Blackburn had their moment. As soon as another club had financial parity and a good manager they won. Ferguson did a great job but let's not pretend it was a competitive league for most of his tenure from a financial perspective.

You conveniently forget Newcastle who spent huge. Liverpool were a good side which lacked professionalism. Leeds emerged with a young side late 90s. Arsenal under Wenger. Chelsea spent decent amounts too and had quality like Zola. But yeah Man Utd with half a side of academy graduates had it easy and just spent their way to success

 

[John from Bootle]

It is very weird mate. I’ve commented on it a few times this season, he seems to be evolving more into a Dyche-type low block minimise risk as much as possible type manager the older he gets. He wants as much height as possible on the pitch first and foremost and everything else comes secondary to that. Again, we’ll see, every bit of evidence we’ve seen this season actually suggests Moyes prefers O’Brien at right back to specialist right backs, and prefers every other CB at the club to O’Brien in that position. Ergo he sees O’Brien as a specialist right back.

The two specialist right backs are Coleman and Patterson though. They're not good enough.

Patterson has done okay at times, but his positioning is suspect. He'll get away with it for the odd appearance but if he becomes a guaranteed starter, you can bet your bottom dollar that teams will come and exploit him after working on specific ways to exploit his weaknesses.

O'brien won't be our starting right back next season, I'm convinced of that. If he is, I will be concerned.

 

[MikeH72]

The two specialist right backs are Coleman and Patterson though. They're not good enough.

Patterson has done okay at times, but his positioning is suspect. He'll get away with it for the odd appearance but if he becomes a guaranteed starter, you can bet your bottom dollar that teams will come and exploit him after working on specific ways to exploit his weaknesses.

O'brien won't be our starting right back next season, I'm convinced of that. If he is, I will be concerned.

If we sign a right back in the summer it will be a giant cumbersome fella who resembles a centre back more than a full back, if we can’t find one of them then it’ll be O’Brien. Vault this.

Edit: adding a caveat, if we sign a right back who is of a different profile to this, he will sit on the bench behind O’Brien.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Which is weird seeing as his two first choice full backs used to be Coleman and Baines. There's very little evidence to suggest that's the profile of full back he prefers.

Was less so Coleman though, who only really got good under Martinez. He mainly played Coleman as a winger because he didn't trust him defensively.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Mate come on let’s be real here, he hasn’t done that with O’Brien at all he’s only played him at CB when there’s been absolutely no other options in that position. Clearly he thinks O’Brien is a right back that can cover centre back in the event of an emergency, not the other way around.

You're completely ignoring the fact that we don't have a decent right back and O'Brien/Garner are our best options there. Garner is actually a better option but we lose more from the midfield than we gain.