billycopper
Player Valuation: £40m
We could all probably name the preferred XI for Leicester and Spurs. Chelsea hardly rotated at all last year. And, under Moyes, a largely-settled side performed above expectations.
With Baines admitting that the team chemistry isn't "quite there", perhaps Roberto has too many options? Maybe partnerships would be stronger if players played alongside each other week in week out?
We started the season with Howard in goal, Stones and Jagielka at centreback, Galloway at leftback, Cleverley on the right of midfield and Mirallas on the left.
Kone then replaced Mirallas for a run of games.
Oviedo came in for Galloway temporarily.
Besic came in for the injured Cleverley and didn't last 45 minutes himself.
Funes Mori was eased into the side, Naismith's hattrick against Chelsea saw him move above Kone in the pecking order and Deulofeu's heroics in the Carling Cup earned him a starting place.
Browning began deputising for the injured Coleman.
Then Lennon began to see more game time.
Kone moved ahead of Naismith again when the goals dried up.
Baines and Cleverley returned to fitness just as Jagielka and McCarthy became injured.
Jagielka and Besic returned.
Lennon moves ahead of Deulofeu.
Cleverley starts making more appearances on the left when McCarthy returned to the side.
Joel becomes our number 1.
Barry is suspended.
I know that most of those changes were enforced due to injury, suspension or loss of form. Perhaps Moyes would have asked players to play through the pain barrier or persisted with under-performers until they played themselves back into form though?
Pienaar has complained that he's fit but hasn't been used. Ossie is probably similar.
Barry, Barkley and Lukaku have been mostly ever-present and they're our most consistent performers.
Roberto has said that we had a squad to cope with European competition. If we fail to qualify this year maybe he's thinking that he can trim the players coming to the end of their contracts? It could possibly be a blessing.
With Baines admitting that the team chemistry isn't "quite there", perhaps Roberto has too many options? Maybe partnerships would be stronger if players played alongside each other week in week out?
We started the season with Howard in goal, Stones and Jagielka at centreback, Galloway at leftback, Cleverley on the right of midfield and Mirallas on the left.
Kone then replaced Mirallas for a run of games.
Oviedo came in for Galloway temporarily.
Besic came in for the injured Cleverley and didn't last 45 minutes himself.
Funes Mori was eased into the side, Naismith's hattrick against Chelsea saw him move above Kone in the pecking order and Deulofeu's heroics in the Carling Cup earned him a starting place.
Browning began deputising for the injured Coleman.
Then Lennon began to see more game time.
Kone moved ahead of Naismith again when the goals dried up.
Baines and Cleverley returned to fitness just as Jagielka and McCarthy became injured.
Jagielka and Besic returned.
Lennon moves ahead of Deulofeu.
Cleverley starts making more appearances on the left when McCarthy returned to the side.
Joel becomes our number 1.
Barry is suspended.
I know that most of those changes were enforced due to injury, suspension or loss of form. Perhaps Moyes would have asked players to play through the pain barrier or persisted with under-performers until they played themselves back into form though?
Pienaar has complained that he's fit but hasn't been used. Ossie is probably similar.
Barry, Barkley and Lukaku have been mostly ever-present and they're our most consistent performers.
Roberto has said that we had a squad to cope with European competition. If we fail to qualify this year maybe he's thinking that he can trim the players coming to the end of their contracts? It could possibly be a blessing.
