The Striker Conundrum: It Takes Two to Tango

[Seamus Colemole]

I'm hoping Moyes was limiting his exposure until he'd signed a contract.

That line of thought doesn't seem to make complete sense but I'd really rather believe that than accept that our manager would rather bring on James McFadden.

It doesn't make much sense in that before he'd signed a contract he played in 2 pre season games (i think) against Bremen and Villareal, or maybe in the states, then against QPR and Blackburn before being hauled off and not being seen again apart from an ouit of the blue 30 mins against Man U.

I'm more inclined to believe foxys line about Moyes thinking he is a liability defensively. That and he wanted to let Fergie get a look at his new signing for 2013.

 

[kenada_blue]

Tactics aren't rocket science says Moyes

 

[RFUS]

It doesn't make much sense in that before he'd signed a contract he played in 2 pre season games (i think) against Bremen and Villareal, or maybe in the states, then against QPR and Blackburn before being hauled off and not being seen again apart from an ouit of the blue 30 mins against Man U.

I'm more inclined to believe foxys line about Moyes thinking he is a liability defensively. That and he wanted to let Fergie get a look at his new signing for 2013.

I said I was worried at the time when he subbed him off after giving away a pen against Blackburn. I was afraid he'd not play him as it just seems like a punishment. And well, he just hasn't played him at all.

Putting defence first is fine, but when you're losing every game anyway....

 

[Brennan]

It doesn't make much sense in that before he'd signed a contract he played in 2 pre season games (i think) against Bremen and Villareal, or maybe in the states, then against QPR and Blackburn before being hauled off and not being seen again apart from an ouit of the blue 30 mins against Man U.

I'm more inclined to believe foxys line about Moyes thinking he is a liability defensively. That and he wanted to let Fergie get a look at his new signing for 2013.

If he thinks he's a liability defensively then he shouldn't be playing Neville either.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

If he thinks he's a liability defensively then he shouldn't be playing Neville either.

Yeah but Neville was good defensively a few years ago and in Moyes eyes that means he always will be.

Just like Cahill and Saha will always be great forward players cause they used to score, not cause they still do.

 

[Goat]

It's amazing how much I agree with you. I've long since given up posting such things on here as I lack your diplomacy and the Moyes lovers decide to have a bash immediately.

Pienaar isn't the biggest lost by any stretch of the imagination, and to be honest neither is Arteta who was a liability for two years. It's just the fact we don't have a player the rest of the squad believe in.

Even when Arteta was turd the team looked to him to provide something. Now you only have Fellaini, who is world class, but isn't world class in what is being asked of him.

Against Stoke, EVERY single pass was to Fellaini in the middle, and you could see his frustration at the lack of movement ahead of him.

I think a new striker that Moyes hasn't bled the belief out of completely would change our play. Even if it was Maynard. We simply need someone new making runs ahead of play. The second priority is a playmaker for sure. We are two players away from a decent squad, without a doubt

It's literally:

Howard

Hibbert
Distin
Heitinga
Baines

Coleman
?
Fellaini
Rodwell
Drenthe

?



As much as I slate the 4-5-1, with a decent playmaker it works. The problem with Moyes is that he rigidly sticks with 4-5-1 despite not having the personnel in midfield to do it.

If we bring one in, and a decent striker (El Hamdaoui or Vossen would be a start) then I can see us push the top seven as there is very little difference between our core squad and that of the sides expected to finish in the top six.

Cant argue with any of that really.

IF only we bought Moutinho or invented a time machine and got Arteta circa 2008.

/swoons

But as you say, we lack a playmaker and a forward who isnt a 19 Year old Greek lad learning his trade or an over paid French fella seeing out his career.

 

[dave1001]

Surely with how defensive Moyes is we can allow one player who isn't defensive minded?
Let Barkley/Gueye not have to worry about defensive duties and just let them have a free role in the mid.

 

[best little spaniard]

Surely with how defensive Moyes is we can allow one player who isn't defensive minded?
Let Barkley/Gueye not have to worry about defensive duties and just let them have a free role in the mid.

WRONG

 

[Goat]

I personally would stick Billy or Barkley in the middle and say create and surge forward, for now.

Not Gueye tho, come on hey lads, hes barely a winger.

 

[Wakey Blue]

Deffinitley need a playmaker. I'd have loved to see us go for Miralem Pjanić, who Roma bought from Lyon this summer for about €10,000,000 (if we had money). Pretty much a younger and not yet as good version of Modric, but alas, we have no money, and even if we did, I doubt we'd have tried to buy anybody too good anyway

Marvin Martin from Sochaux looks good as well, similar to Holtby (we can all dream)

 

[chris_b]

Young players can't play at this level, it just doesn't work....

Excellent choice of quote given how well Man Utds youngsters are doing this season compared to previous years - Basle anyone!


For what its worth I think we are struggling because we arent playing 451 NOT because we are.

Look at yesterday - Arsenal defend deep against us and whenever the ball goes to Saha or Cahill there is no support.
when the ball goes wide to Baines, Bily, coleman or hibbert, their first instinct is to cross, but there is no-one breaking from midfield so they check back til the runners arrive and delay the cross - by which time defenders are back in numbers and the cross is harder.

when we played 451 with Cahill coming from deep - he gave the defenders an extra problem to deal with rather than just sitting deep and marking the strikers. The crossers had more opportunity as Cahill was running onto the crosses rather than standing under them - hence was more effective as a result.

When we play well & with confidence, we have 2 or 3 players coming from midfield - (when we had no strikers and palyed with Cahill & fellaini up top - they would never stay upfield but come from deep onto everything and we were much more effective)

 

[PhilBr]

Surely the missing playmaker is Barkley? - even if it's in two years time. Free role behind Denis or Velios so no need to make mistakes near our own goal. With Fellani and Rodwell behind him in the centre and Coleman and Drenthe out wide.