weakened team

[Brownie]

I still have a feeling that if Osman and Pienaar are fit Bilyaletdinov will be on the bench. Which is ridiculous really because Osman is a waste of time outwide - I'm a fan of the lad when he's used correctly but he's fast becoming a liability and a waste of space.

The signing of both Heitinga and Neill is also a puzzling one, because Moyes has spent 6 million on Heitinga I get the feeling he's trying to fit him in somewhere. That's a hard thing to do when he's best position is centre back and he's competing with Tony Hibbert - a player Moyes also likes to involve.

I have no problem at all with having Heitinga and Neill, for once we will have sufficient cover if any of Jagielka, Yobo or Distin get injured. I really hope Lucas Neill comes in at right back some time soon and makes the position his own.

How many times have Bilya and Pienaar actually started a game together? Is it only AEK? Having them both in the team at the same time is the only way we will win any games at the moment.

 

[Richard Parker]

Cahill will start scoring any day now. He's missed a few good chances in the last couple of games, but he's getting into good positions. His work rate in incredible this season too, he's as fit now as he's ever been. Nice turn & lay off for Jo on Saturday for Billy's goal.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I have no problem at all with having Heitinga and Neill, for once we will have sufficient cover if any of Jagielka, Yobo or Distin get injured. I really hope Lucas Neill comes in at right back some time soon and makes the position his own.

How many times have Bilya and Pienaar actually started a game together? Is it only AEK? Having them both in the team at the same time is the only way we will win any games at the moment.

I don't really have a problem with it, I just feel that having a bigger squad with more options messes with Moyes' head. He's far more suited to having fewer players to work with.

Moyes needs to decide who he wants at right back - he can't keep interchanging or moving one player around to get another player into the side. It reminds me of the Neville situation a few years ago - he tried desperatly to fit him, Hibbert and Carsley into the same side.

I really don't want Heitinga turning into that type of player - it won't be good for him or the team. Either play him in one position or bench him and give Neill a go.

I thought Bilyaletdinov improved dramatically when he moved to the right and was able to drift inside, what did you think? Wouldn't mind seeing him on the right and Pienaar on the left against Benfica.

 

[sotnas]

Even in our fullest steam set up it would be tough to beat them. If we field a weakened side, I'm afraid we might getting into some sort of humiliation.

They play with confidence and ambition. They don't stop pushing forward when they get a goal. They chase as many goals as they can score. They keep very well the ball and their midfield players are very mobile.

 

[Goat]

Moyes doesnt do weakened teams and whats the point in being in it, if not to win it.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Even in our fullest steam set up it would be tough to beat them. If we field a weakened side, I'm afraid we might getting into some sort of humiliation.

They play with confidence and ambition. They don't stop pushing forward when they get a goal. They chase as many goals as they can score. They keep very well the ball and their midfield players are very mobile.

How would you expect them to line up?

 

[Brownie]

I don't really have a problem with it, I just feel that having a bigger squad with more options messes with Moyes' head. He's far more suited to having fewer players to work with.

Moyes needs to decide who he wants at right back - he can't keep interchanging or moving one player around to get another player into the side. It reminds me of the Neville situation a few years ago - he tried desperatly to fit him, Hibbert and Carsley into the same side.

I really don't want Heitinga turning into that type of player - it won't be good for him or the team. Either play him in one position or bench him and give Neill a go.

I thought Bilyaletdinov improved dramatically when he moved to the right and was able to drift inside, what did you think? Wouldn't mind seeing him on the right and Pienaar on the left against Benfica.

Agreed about Moyes making best use of his options, he's certainly limited in that area. He needs to be a bit more ruthless about leaving people on the bench.

I don't think it will particularly matter where Bilya and Pienaar play, the main thing is having them both in attacking positions. Once we get those two and Yak exchanging passes around the area, we'll be in business.

 

[sotnas]

How would you expect them to line up?

They lost in Greece, so they can´t afford to lose this match.

At the weekend, they played with their bench players for the portuguese cup. They rested players. Some of them were in the clash Uruguay vs Brazil.

So I think they will line their best XI.

Cardozo and Saviola upfront. Aimar, Di Maria, Ramires and Javi Garcia in the midfield.

The defence, as usual, with Maxi Lopez, Luisão, David Luiz and Schaffer. This is their weakest aspect. Schaffer is not brilliant defending his flank which is something that can unbalance the side.

The goalie is not that good.

The best way to nail them is to keep the ball away from them, which is something that our team doesn't excell. We can win the ball but we can't keep possession all that well. Unlike Benfica whose strength is the ability to keep the ball. They may line up 9 south americans, one spanish international and a portuguese international.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Agreed about Moyes making best use of his options, he's certainly limited in that area. He needs to be a bit more ruthless about leaving people on the bench.

I don't think it will particularly matter where Bilya and Pienaar play, the main thing is having them both in attacking positions. Once we get those two and Yak exchanging passes around the area, we'll be in business.

I don't know, I think a player of his style is suited to playing on the opposite wing. If anything it'll stop people getting frustrated with him (which is happening) when he turns back instead of facing his fullback on the Left and looking to beat him one on one. I found this from Kranjar, a right footer who prefers the left:

'I am more comfortable coming on to the left side, probably because of the positioning.

'When you get the ball you can keep it away from defenders easier.

'Whereas, when you are on the right-hand side you have to position your body differently and I find that more difficult to deal with.

I get the feeling that he suffers because of Leighton Baines style of play. Bainesy takes alot of responsibility and brings the ball forward, Bilyaletdinov has a tendency to follow the play instead of coming short like Pienaar or Osman would. Basically, it means he only really sees the ball in tight areas, close to the touch line.

He's a midfielder, I get the feeling he'd be more comfortable if he saw the ball in deeper, more central areas. Granted, you can interchange both of them and I haven't got a problem with that but I do believe he'd be more comfortable being the right winger who occasionly swaps with Pienaar, instead of the lefty who occasionly plays on the right.

I could be completely wrong, I'm just trying to work him out as a player really. I'm not sure he'll realise his full potential wide left and I know there was a Russian pundit on talksport who said the same thing when we signed him.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

I'm sure i read in one of the papers this morning Moyes saying that Billy has only been playing due to injuries.

So of thats the case and we did have a full squad to choose from just who else would Moyes of played on the wing as well as Pienarr?

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I'm sure i read in one of the papers this morning Moyes saying that Billy has only been playing due to injuries.

So of thats the case and we did have a full squad to choose from just who else would Moyes of played on the wing as well as Pienarr?

The mighty Leon Osman.

 

[Gazdalf]

We have been using a weakened team for 6 months at least now. Why change the habit. Injured are still injured.

 

[Brownie]

I don't know, I think a player of his style is suited to playing on the opposite wing. If anything it'll stop people getting frustrated with him (which is happening) when he turns back instead of facing his fullback on the Left and looking to beat him one on one. I found this from Kranjar, a right footer who prefers the left:

'I am more comfortable coming on to the left side, probably because of the positioning.

'When you get the ball you can keep it away from defenders easier.

'Whereas, when you are on the right-hand side you have to position your body differently and I find that more difficult to deal with.

I get the feeling that he suffers because of Leighton Baines style of play. Bainesy takes alot of responsibility and brings the ball forward, Bilyaletdinov has a tendency to follow the play instead of coming short like Pienaar or Osman would. Basically, it means he only really sees the ball in tight areas, close to the touch line.

He's a midfielder, I get the feeling he'd be more comfortable if he saw the ball in deeper, more central areas. Granted, you can interchange both of them and I haven't got a problem with that but I do believe he'd be more comfortable being the right winger who occasionly swaps with Pienaar, instead of the lefty who occasionly plays on the right.

I could be completely wrong, I'm just trying to work him out as a player really. I'm not sure he'll realise his full potential wide left and I know there was a Russian pundit on talksport who said the same thing when we signed him.

It depends how we end up playing. Hopefully we will eventually see someone playing at right back that likes to join in and overlap like Leighton does on the left. If that's the case both Pienaar and Bilya will end up coming inside no matter which side they're on, which is what we want. Our ideal goal should be working the ball in the middle to get Mikel some space, he picks a pass out to P or B in the wide areas, they play a little ball into Yak, he turns it round the corner to the overlapping full back and any one of the four players that are attacking the six yard box gets on the end of the pull back to score. Goal!

 

[mbk]

i believe the team will be
****howard
hibbo yobo distin baines
gosling osman rodwell bily
****felli
****yakubu
maybe pienaar for gosling if fit

 

[NeoNaoNeo]

Shouldn't drop Cahill at all. It's the old saying, as least he's getting into the positions, and getting the chances. He's doing his job, it's just everyone goes through a goal drought, the important thing is to stick by him until they start going in.