2025/26 David Moyes

[Curtis]

I think a bit of context is needed though as it feels almost like there is sense of crisis. Since the Palace win - we've lost two games, one against City the other against Spurs - i think its fair to say those squads still out gun us. We've lost once at home and that came after he clocks changed.

We're hardly routed to the bottom of the table or trounced by Burnley.

There is a lost of change and transition - are we getting absolutely everything right, right now - no - we have more scope we have more options - that fair - but we also need the time and trust to explore and develop them.

That's the crazy thing about football while a season is ongoing, perspective can be fluid , I remember all dismal things felt after the first game then the mood perked up when we beat Brighton , wolves (in the pl) and tied Aston villa then with the Liverpool, the cup debacle against wolves and city now the spurs game dampened the positive crystal palace result. I was being a little hyperbolic with my statement that Moyes needs to make tweaks or he needs go but the sentiment remains, the next two games are winnable even with Sunderland's high flying form and if we dont get results, the narrative is going to get even more scrutinizing

 

[Neiler]

That's the crazy thing about football while a season is ongoing, perspective can be fluid , I remember all dismal things felt after the first game then the mood perked up when we beat Brighton , wolves (in the pl) and tied Aston villa then with the Liverpool, the cup debacle against wolves and city now the spurs game dampened the positive crystal palace result. I was being a little hyperbolic with my statement that Moyes needs to make tweaks or he needs go but the sentiment remains, the next two games are winnable even with Sunderland's high flying form and if we dont get results, the narrative is going to get even more scrutinizing

I guess its a question of do you focus on the micro as you say - the next couple of games or the macro - the overall project - i.e. signed a lot of young players and develop them to influence the team in the long term. Frankly i dont really believe in short term results im much more about the macro and long term progression - maybe that just me. I also have an incredible amount of loyalty to Moyes - justified in my opinion. I firmly also believe that all managers need time and patience to implement a plan - the only one i never gave it to was Benitiez.

Id ask this question - everyone was so happy with him after last season and felt he was the right man (the vast majority anyway), if he was then, then why not now?

 

[nevsonlymate]

I wouldn't be opposed to trying this idea. No harm, no foul if it doesn't work.

At this point, I'm willing to try anything.

He doesnt have the strength of build to plat CF imagine him getting 60 yard balls wacked at him from Pickford and he doesnt have the pace to out run a centre half

 

[Tommy Chong]

Were they concerned about appeasing the fan base when they hired Benitez? The problem is that not that we've sacked managers too often , it's that picked managers that were not sustainable long term even an extraordinary manager like Carlo. I think we need a manager to help elevate us to another level, not keep on life support,I'm not asking for even Europe I just want us to be competitive ,and right now if Moyes can't make basic tweaks over the next couple of matches he needs to go

I know how you feel, mate.

It's frustrating, and sometimes you just want to:

But you can't...
Just stick in there. The law of probability states that at some point, we'll get it right.

 

[nevsonlymate]

We've made our bed for this season. No pace, no attack from the full backs,it if they do attack the opposition let them because they know they can't cross or shoot. Two ageing centre halves meaning we can't press the opposition properly. Central midfielders who rarely run past the strikers to create space. When you have those limitations you need a manager who can organise a team and make it hard to beat, and Moyes is definitely one of those. It'll never be exciting, but until we recruit the players who can change the way we play we're stuck with it. The alternative this season could well be relegation, and at this point that would be a big backwards step considering we can't attract players in our current situation.

and that Sir is why I scored the transfer window as poor and was surprised some gave it an 8 it was glaringly obvious regarding the full backs and forwards Barry and i really hope he comes good looks like a younger Beto and Beto is well Beto watched the Yorkshire vet last night , new calf born tried to stand up and just reminded me of Beto trying to turn and run

 

[WilliamBoo]

Sorry you lost me m8, my brain has been fried going through the last few pages..

But did he ?

Was that in relation to him accepting mistakes or not ?

He might come across pretty stubborn, but i dont think his head is that far up his backside to refuse to accept mistakes he's made.

Yes, my doubts are if he takes notes of his own fails. Evolution. Improvement
I don't see that

 

[Toffeelover]

Yup, too many are using the FB thing as a reason to excuse the manager from criticism, it is a pain no doubt and it needs sorting but before we strengthen in any position we need to get the best out of what we have at the moment and we aren't doing that atm for me. We could make formation adjustments/in game changes and we could make midfield changes with how we lineup. We have options but are not using them.

Reminds me of those years ago ,Dithering Dave.

 

[blueboy72]

Did I miss the bit were we are being beaten week in week out mate?

Your analysis of the rot creeping in while winning a European trophy is mad cap mate, sorry. Would love the rot to set in here similarly.

I think everyone knows that Moyes 1.0 had a far lower net spend then any of the teams you reference in the bursts they won trophies, then he saw most of them relegated, while we maintained status in at minimum top 8, building teams even though we had to sell players, Moyes was the bright young thing. What he did here was from the base of absolute rubbish starting off - he built a club and we have done nothing but nosedive since he’s left.

I think a curious debate on Moyes 1.0 is did we hit a ceiling with Moyes or did Moyes hit a ceiling with us at the time. Like all these Things there was context and limits at the time. His success here was sensational on the pitch given resources and starting points, while the money he made the club true identification was trually invaluable, he did a wonderful job.

I listed the young managers he has beaten since he’s been back - I’m not sure the game has moved on beyond him.

You’re off your nut mate
If you think Swansea, Birmingham, Wigan spent more than us, Middlesbrough spent money as did Blackburn, more than us is questionable, AJ 8mil the Yak 11, Billy 9 fellaini 15mil just a few of our buys. And not mater how well small clubs do, They will always eventually go down. In 20yrs I’d bet my life, Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth will have been relegated. Small clubs will always struggle to compete financially, keep and attract their best players.

I’m not saying Moyes did a bad job, he did a solid job, a great job with loads of success no chance. Martinez was a bang average manager, who’s won a trophy and broke Moyes points tally in his first season, I enjoyed Martinez’s season more than any of Moyes’s

Just be clear Everyone our ceiling now Is 6th and 7th and a cup semi final.

 

[Neiler]

You’re off your nut mate
If you think Swansea, Birmingham, Wigan spent more than us, Middlesbrough spent money as did Blackburn, more than us is questionable, AJ 8mil the Yak 11, Billy 9 fellaini 15mil just a few of our buys. And not mater how well small clubs do, They will always eventually go down. In 20yrs I’d bet my life, Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth will have been relegated. Small clubs will always struggle to compete financially, keep and attract their best players.

I’m not saying Moyes did a bad job, he did a solid job, a great job with loads of success no chance. Martinez was a bang average manager, who’s won a trophy and broke Moyes points tally in his first season, I enjoyed Martinez’s season more than any of Moyes’s

Just be clear Everyone our ceiling now Is 6th and 7th and a cup semi final.

Im open to correction on it mate, Sullivan and Gold were at Brum and Whelan at Wigan - so they defo invested, the players you mention are across an 11 year stint - there was a stat knocking around when he left that over the course of his stay in the PL he had spent significantly less net then any other team.

Different people will have a different perspective, but i remember the Club from Walter leaving to when Moyes leaving and it was unrecognisable what was built. Its the difference between Martinez and Moyes really, Martinez was a coach Moyes was a manager - who built a football club - there is a difference - its what we need right now in my opinion.

Id take 6th and cup semi this year for sure mate.

 

[Swartzy]

My only big issue with him is the one staring him in his face.

Swapping strikers each game, how does either get time to stamp their ground, give Barry a proper run.

Playing KDH out of position.

Not giving Alcaraz good game time and also playing out of position.

Sticking with Gana when its glaringly obvious that at the mo he's the weak point in the middle.

not using the abbundance of subs we have, in the right manner and the right timing.

Removing the Dyche Hoodoo
Removing the pep effect from jack

4-2-3-1 is just a fancy name for a formation.
Atleast try a different approach.
Mix neat play with direct play.

( Forget the players we havn't got, cos we simply dont have them..

We are only 9 games into the season

( take the lads away for a training camp next international break and get some harmony into the squad, to many frustrated faces on and off the pitch )

Tho I'm not the manager/ I dont play Football Manager ( where you can do a great change overnight )

I can only speak on what's in front of us at the moment.

( What a load of gaff that was typing out..
maybe it's just hope something clicks soon..

 

[Drico]

I think a bit of context is needed though as it feels almost like there is sense of crisis. Since the Palace win - we've lost two games, one against City the other against Spurs - i think its fair to say those squads still out gun us. We've lost once at home and that came after he clocks changed.

We're hardly routed to the bottom of the table or trounced by Burnley.

There is a lost of change and transition - are we getting absolutely everything right, right now - no - we have more scope we have more options - that fair - but we also need the time and trust to explore and develop them.

The next two will tell a tale. I don't care how well Sunderland have done, but if we're making excuses for a defeat there and follow that up by failing to beat a Fulham side who have lost their last four then we're not getting "stability" - we're stagnating.

And he will deservedly be under serious pressure then, because this season will be in freefall and will start looking like this time last year. And we know what happened there.

As it is, I expect Moyes will shake off the funk and take at least four points from the next two. I still expect him to see out the season, but November was always going to be a perilous month. The relief of the rescue act has long passed, a summer window has come and gone, and we were always likely to have a slow transition from death's door to recuperation. But you can't be losing to Sunderland and Marco Silva if you're a purveyor of "stability" and an upgrade on the much-maligned Sean Dyche.

The Dyche derby in December promises fireworks if things start to nosedive... If we are in a death-match with Forest - and Dyche - by then, stability has not materialised. But I expect we'll be out of that by then.

 

[DaChunk]

I am hoping it was always the plan to replace Moyes at the end of this season and that they have been spending time selecting the right manager to come in and take us forward. As time goes on I'm thinking it's less likely that was ever the case, which is a bit disapointing.

 

[Drico]

I am hoping it was always the plan to replace Moyes at the end of this season and that they have been spending time selecting the right manager to come in and take us forward. As time goes on I'm thinking it's less likely that was ever the case, which is a bit disapointing.

I dunno. They never officially released the duration of his contract. Media went with 2.5, but the club never published details - even though they did with Lampard and Dyche. I think he came back for 1.5. That would allow him to rescue us and buy time. If that's the case, it made sense not to publicise the duration as the players will not be aware that the manager is a lame duck as he enters his last 9 months.

Seriously, Moyes's job was done here when he rescued us. The Friedkins could argue giving him a season on top of that bought them time to get the backroom boys in place and "stabilise". It also made the job lucrative enough for Moyes to accept.

I fully expect him to leave in the summer if he gets that far. If he doesn't, I think these owners will be flipping the club within five years.

 

[hetion]

I am hoping it was always the plan to replace Moyes at the end of this season and that they have been spending time selecting the right manager to come in and take us forward. As time goes on I'm thinking it's less likely that was ever the case, which is a bit disapointing.

Criminal if this isn't the case. I still have hope though. We'll see at the end of the season.

 

[murphy89]

Also jags played 34 games out of 38

Up until Christmas, he made quite a few sub appearances and when he did play, he played in midfield or coming on to a back five.

wasn’t trusted as the main CB until second half of the season.

You could compare it Rohl now, coming on most games and getting a feel for it. Once he’s fully integrated (around Afcon hopefully) he will be a weekly starter.