How can Moyes improve this squad ?

[Zatara]

If I'm not wrong, this is what we'll have at the end of the season in terms of players who have played a few games for us at first team level.

GK -- Howard

RB -- Neville / Coleman / Hibbert

LB -- Baines

CB -- Jagielka / Yobo / Heitinga / Distin / Duffy

CM -- Rodwell / Fellaini / Gibson

AM -- Cahill / Osman / Barkley

LM -- Gueye

RM -- ??

ST -- Jelavic / Velios / Anichebe


Looking at a 1st eleven of players who have 'consistently' performed for us at a high level and could be expected to do so next season we'll look something like this in the 1st eleven;

..................................Howard

????................Heitinga.............Distin........Baines

????................Fellaini...............Gibson.......????

..................................????

..................................Jelavic

Which leaves the following players;

Neville -- never going to be sold and probably moved to a coaching position in a year or two
Cahill -- Probably same as Neville
Osman/Hibbert -- Good back up players who will stay forever under Moyes
Barkley/Rodwell/Duffy -- Potentially all top class but need games in a single position possibly Cahill/Distin roles?
Coleman/Gueye -- If we had the players, both 2nd choice right mids (or Coleman right back?)
Velios -- A sub striker

Jagielka/Yobo/Anichebe -- Possibly the only 3 players realistically to be sold....Jags for good money and the other two just to bring in some cash.

With the salaries of Drenthe/hannemann/McFadden/Pienaar/Donovan all off the books + a little in from player sales I still have to wonder how Moyes is going to bring in a couple of quality players let alone cover the 4 or 5needed to fill out the squad....

We REALLY need Duffy / Barkley / Rodwell / Velios / Gueye / Coleman to ALL step into the first team and develop for first 11 positions.


I would LOVE to see a new right side + Duffy integrated for Distins position and Rodwell/Barkley integrated into Cahills role.

SURELY that's not too much to ask ?

 

[johnnydawg68]

we need a right back that comes close to what Baines gives us down the left. We need Pienaar and Donovan on the wings, and we need Barkley to step up in an attacking mid role. Here's how I see an ideal formation:

Howard

New RB - Heitinga/Jagielka/Distin/Duffy (some combination of those four) - Baines

Gibson/Rodwell/Fellaini (some combination of those three)

Donovan - Pienaar

Barkley

Jelavic

 

[Zatara]

To answer this myself, I am very much hoping that at some point next season we can see something like this evolve;

.....................................Howard

Coleman.............Heitinga.............Duffy.........Baines

New Player..........Fellaini...............Gibson......New Player

.....................................Rodwell

.....................................Jelavic

Subs;

New keeper
Garbutt/Bidwell ?
Neville
Hibbert
Distin
Gueye
Barkley
Osman
Velios
McAleny?
+ a couple of squad fillers

Logcally a couple of wide midfielders (NOT Pienaar or Donovan unless both come for 3mil or less from Spurs + perhaps Nike). I'd like to see at least one very fast young player come in on one wing.

Also 3 squad fillers including a half decent back up striker....not beyond the realms of possibility ?

 

[Zatara]

we need a right back that comes close to what Baines gives us down the left. We need Pienaar and Donovan on the wings, and we need Barkley to step up in an attacking mid role. Here's how I see an ideal formation:

Howard

New RB - Heitinga/Jagielka/Distin/Duffy (some combination of those four) - Baines

Gibson/Rodwell/Fellaini (some combination of those three)

Donovan - Pienaar

Barkley

Jelavic

I wouldnt mind Pienaar and Donovan in for very cheap fees considering their age but I'd really like to see a young fast player who Moyes could pluck from thin air....someone who could excite us and get the crowd off their feet....

I think Coleman is the only player on the right side who comes close to providing anything like Baines does, but saying that we haven't seen Moyes play him there consistently despite having said he sees Coleman as a full back....so probably a new player is needed...

Rodwell I think should be moved into Cahills position with Barkley coming into games slowly....Rodwell looked excellent for England and so why not play him further up the pitch?

In your side, if anyone from Baines / Howard / Fellaini / Donovan / Jelavic got injured we'd be in trouble so it's imperative we bring in some decent squad players as cover as well as try and promote some youth if possible....

 

[pbeyer]

You forgot about Mucha..... he's still on the books after this season.]

Whether he'll be at the club next season is a different story, but that could be another sale possibly.

 

[johnnydawg68]

I wouldnt mind Pienaar and Donovan in for very cheap fees considering their age but I'd really like to see a young fast player who Moyes could pluck from thin air....someone who could excite us and get the crowd off their feet....

I think Coleman is the only player on the right side who comes close to providing anything like Baines does, but saying that we haven't seen Moyes play him there consistently despite having said he sees Coleman as a full back....so probably a new player is needed...

Rodwell I think should be moved into Cahills position with Barkley coming into games slowly....Rodwell looked excellent for England and so why not play him further up the pitch?

In your side, if anyone from Baines / Howard / Fellaini / Donovan / Jelavic got injured we'd be in trouble so it's imperative we bring in some decent squad players as cover as well as try and promote some youth if possible....

We're gonna have to rely on youth for depth, especially if we miraculously come up with money to buy Peanuts and Landy. Coleman could be the RB, but Moyes has shown no inclination to play him there.

We're gonna be paper thin no matter what. Might as well try and get a starting 11 that can scare people when we can manage to keep them all healthy.

I prefer Barkley further up the pitch than Rodwell. I'm not convinced Rodders is really an attacking player. I just like him better in a holding role. Plus the further up the pitch you play Barkley (with Felli/Rodders/Gibson behind him for cover) you minimize his deficiencies in defense and can tell him "go attack the defenders".

 

[Zatara]

You forgot about Mucha..... he's still on the books after this season.]

Whether he'll be at the club next season is a different story, but that could be another sale possibly.

Didn't forget him, just wrongly assumed he was out of contract....theres some pennies in and a salary saved. He must be on the way out if Hahnemann was brought in mid way through the season,

 

[paulbefc]

we need a right back that comes close to what Baines gives us down the left. We need Pienaar and Donovan on the wings, and we need Barkley to step up in an attacking mid role. Here's how I see an ideal formation:

Howard

New RB - Heitinga/Jagielka/Distin/Duffy (some combination of those four) - Baines

Gibson/Rodwell/Fellaini (some combination of those three)

Donovan - Pienaar

Barkley

Jelavic

This is the the most realistic way forward.

However, after Pienaar and Donovan come in (praying both deals go through in the end), I can't see any funds being available for a right back. Selling Rodwell could be an option if the sum is 8 figures. I'd also sell some of the lesser players. A clean out is needed. Take whatever we can get for Victor and possibly let Coleman go. These players are why we come up short so often in my opinion. They are more often than not, toothless and reckless. Moyes could use the small fees to bring in a couple of loans or try to bring in the next Pienaar/Arteta as he has shown he can do.

I think this summer (fingers crossed) could see the beginning of the end for Neville and Cahill as starters. If we can keep the strong core of the team and add Pienaar, LD and a right back, plus, changing a few of the squad players for fresh ideas and new hunger then we could talk about pushing for europe in the short-term at least.

 

[Zatara]

We're gonna have to rely on youth for depth, especially if we miraculously come up with money to buy Peanuts and Landy. Coleman could be the RB, but Moyes has shown no inclination to play him there.

We're gonna be paper thin no matter what. Might as well try and get a starting 11 that can scare people when we can manage to keep them all healthy.

I prefer Barkley further up the pitch than Rodwell. I'm not convinced Rodders is really an attacking player. I just like him better in a holding role. Plus the further up the pitch you play Barkley (with Felli/Rodders/Gibson behind him for cover) you minimize his deficiencies in defense and can tell him "go attack the defenders".

What would happen if Donovan doesnt want to come and Pienaar is priced out of a move.....

 

[thebluefox]

by leaving

 

[Seamus Colemole]

by leaving

I was gonna say "by getting Martinez in" but thats just as good.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

by leaving

Arrr ay

 

[thebluefox]

Arrr ay

i wish i could do his job bry

 

[Zatara]

This is the the most realistic way forward.

However, after Pienaar and Donovan come in (praying both deals go through in the end), I can't see any funds being available for a right back. Selling Rodwell could be an option if the sum is 8 figures. I'd also sell some of the lesser players. A clean out is needed. Take whatever we can get for Victor and possibly let Coleman go. These players are why we come up short so often in my opinion. They are more often than not, toothless and reckless. Moyes could use the small fees to bring in a couple of loans or try to bring in the next Pienaar/Arteta as he has shown he can do.

I think this summer (fingers crossed) could see the beginning of the end for Neville and Cahill as starters. If we can keep the strong core of the team and add Pienaar, LD and a right back, plus, changing a few of the squad players for fresh ideas and new hunger then we could talk about pushing for europe in the short-term at least.

Forgot the Palace right back Nathaniel Clyne, I mentioned on him a year or so ago he could become a good attacking full back.

 

[DualityNSNO]

by leaving

Seconding this.