2025/26 David Moyes

[Bryan+]

New contract for him if he beats these beauts this weekend and we get Europe, no question.

 

[Bedfordblue]

I also don’t know why I was set upon by Moyes supporters for pointing this out as the only team with a lower wage bill ahead of us is Brentford who I believe are specifically referenced in the book.

This is the way, they lie in wait, ready to pounce on the every perceived slight against Glorious Leader.

 

[degsy]

I agree with your points but how do you build a squad when you don't play the players you've bought, whilst playing a 36 year old in a pivotal role and giving Keane 25 games at centre half whilst making one of your future centre halves play right back, where he isn't very good, not to mention the lack of playing time for Rohl, Dibling and Alcaraz. It's short term thinking of the kind which got us into a mess in the first place.

Fingers crossed it's only for this season and he starts looking to the medium term in the summer.

I'm not sure Moyes focuses too much on the medium term, to me his focus is on not losing the next game...and then the next, with that short termism you mention

 

[Thesouthallarms]

Following on from above In the book Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski, Brentford FC is cited as a prime example of a "Moneyball" laboratory—a club that uses data and mathematical probability to outmanoeuvre wealthier competitors.

The book highlights several key aspects of the Brentford model:

Owner's Background: The club's transformation began when Matthew Benham, an Oxford physics graduate and professional gambler, took control in 2012. Benham applied the same statistical models he used to beat bookmakers to the management of the football club.

Performance Over Results: A core philosophy mentioned is the focus on Expected Goals (xG) and other underlying performance indicators. The book explains how the club prioritises a player's ability to get into scoring positions over their actual finishing record, as the former is more statistically predictive of future success.

The Academy Decision: Soccernomics discusses the club's unconventional decision in 2016 to close its youth academy. The club determined that academies were often an inefficient investment and instead created a "B Team" to recruit undervalued talent released by other major clubs.

Transfer Efficiency: The book details Brentford's ability to identify young, undervalued players in less-inflated European markets, develop them, and sell them for significant profits—a strategy that funded their rise from the third tier to the Premier League.

Specialised Coaching: Brentford pioneered the use of specialist set-piece coaches, treating dead-ball situations with the same analytical rigour as an NFL playbook to gain a competitive edge.

A lot of time on yer hands mate

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

I'm not sure Moyes focuses too much on the medium term, to me his focus is on not losing the next game...and then the next, with that short termism you mention

You mean winning the next game surely which is all fans ultimately care about.

 

[degsy]

You mean winning the next game surely which is all fans ultimately care about.

Winning is a nice bonus - especially this weekend

 

[Zatara]

I have never understood this fixation with playing younger players. I think there is currently a decent mix of old, in their prime, and younger players (given my age I would say that anybody south of 25 could easily be in the 'younger players' section) Then we add a few very young players with potential and there is the base of a very good squad.

Yes, it is always nice to see a wonder kid or a player that obviously has a high ceiling, but in reality, it is not the be all and end all that a couple of posters on here make it out to be.

Would it be fair to say that you didnt understand the PSR rules?

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Is this good.

 

[wandyr79]

Would it be fair to say that you didnt understand the PSR rules?

It would be fair to say that, yes. Don't even know what it stands for.

What does my post have to do with PSR?

 

[LinekersLegs]

Is this good.

For me yes, as I prefer goals from open play to set pieces.

 

[Bedfordblue]

Is this good.

Depends what you want to use it for.
Is expecting to score .8 goals from open play per 90 mins good?
Is being better than last season good?
Is being 11th for this particular stat good?

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

He was recalled by Allardyce and started the next game in the cup against Arsenal.

Even though they lost 3-1 he then started against Spurs shortly after.

Once again, these are facts.

Yeah, great. And he was back on the bench as soon as they could start an experienced keeper. Not sure why you find this so hard to understand. Next you’ll be saying Walter Smith made Tony Hibbert a key member of the first team.

 

[Zatara]

It would be fair to say that, yes. Don't even know what it stands for.

What does my post have to do with PSR?

Fair enough, its the financial rules which have been in place over the last few years. Profit & Sustainability.

Those clubs with massive revenue streams like City, RS, chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal are allowed to sign the top players for big fees and pay them enormous wages

We dont have the same revenue so have not been allowed to spend as much.

The way around that is typically to:

1: Sign young players and develop them like Brighton or Bournemouth. E.g Garner and Branthwaite for us.

2: Sign undervalued players like Brentford. Like Ndiaye for us.

So, to your point if you remove signing young players then your only option is to find undervalued players.

Those clubs have sold to reinvest over and over again. If we had their success in both 1 & 2 above then we could have built low cost squads to compete at the top.

Hope that clears things up why posters (like me) want to see young players signed. Not to mention its nice to watch players develop as well of course.

This summer the rules change to 85% of revenue so as you can imagine we're still way behind the curve.

 

[matty1878]

This is the way, they lie in wait, ready to pounce on the every perceived slight against Glorious Leader.

lies