Donovan Bily and Pienaar

[NeoNaoNeo]

Pienaar MUST play on either wing, he is not as effective in the middle of the park.

Couldn't be more wrong mate. Sorry.

 

[MLS is not quite EPL]

I'm confused as to when/what you guys are specifically strategizing. You mean right now, in the future, or for the 3 month window Donovan is there?

If I'm Moyes I'm sprinkling Donovan in as a late sub at first to see how he does there. Slowly increase his playing time to see how he adapts. If he succeeds then I'll worry about putting him in the starting lineup. In other words, I wouldn't just "give" Donovan a starting role upon his arrival.

My logic here is to give Donovan a sense of his place on this team when he gets there. His last foray into Europe didn't end so well and I think a part of it had to do with Donovan's expectations and assumptions of entitlement. If he's made to think he has to work to break the starting lineup, he might put forth a better campaign.

My opinion, anyway.

 

[Rook]

I'm confused as to when/what you guys are specifically strategizing. You mean right now, in the future, or for the 3 month window Donovan is there?

If I'm Moyes I'm sprinkling Donovan in as a late sub at first to see how he does there. Slowly increase his playing time to see how he adapts. If he succeeds then I'll worry about putting him in the starting lineup. In other words, I wouldn't just "give" Donovan a starting role upon his arrival.

My logic here is to give Donovan a sense of his place on this team when he gets there. His last foray into Europe didn't end so well and I think a part of it had to do with Donovan's expectations and assumptions of entitlement. If he's made to think he has to work to break the starting lineup, he might put forth a better campaign.

My opinion, anyway.

His last foray into Europe didn't go well becasue Klinnsman was his manager and when he was used as a sub he played a different position on the pitch every single match (striker, LW, RW CM in fact one match he came on as a replacement for in injured player in the 20min and had to play CF). Despite that his play wasn't bad either and the lack of goals had more to due with bad luck than lousy play.

After returning to LA, I even said to myself they are going to regret not signing him.

 

[Muggins]

I'd rather see Pienaar switched back to the left with Baines.

I think we've missed this, it worked a treat last season.

I'd give Donovan the opportunity to forge a partnership down the right with a settled full-back, ideally Neville.

Shift Bilyaletdinov inside, with the license to roam forward behind the strikers protected by Fellaini in central midfield.

This was our undoing. We were brilliant down the left for about 2 weeks then all the teams realised this and shut us down, coz they knew Hibbo and Osman were not going to create much. (sorry lads)

 

[SuitsBlueX2]

So Fellaini and Pienaar rule the midfield with the majesty of genius, and Donovan ran the right side all game. Probably Bily's best game so far for us as well, got stuck in and passed the ball well, involved Baines where he could.
This feeling of elation and pride in such a fine performance is long overdue. The side has not had me shouting and applauding like yesterday since 'that' Larissa goal. God we are great!