You've got a fair point there, but as far as I can see the only real differences between the squad that did so well at the end of last season and the one we have now are M'Vila for NDong and Kaboul for Djilobodji. Oh, and we miss Borini. Those are significant differences but I don't know that it makes us any worse. We should be able to do better in my opinion. I think for a start, we need to be setting up the way we were under Allardyce, with one central midfielder shielding the back 2. This would allow the other two to push further up the pitch and contribute to retaining the ball in opposition's half. And the other thing that is required is some major work on drilling the back 4. Its all very well Moyes criticising the defence in his interviews but its his responsibility to determine defensive tactics. Mind you, how on earth could they completely ignore Benteke like that?
Your second paragraph missed something. Confidence. Don't disagree with anything but it's easier to play that high pressing game when you're confident. Sam going in the summer wrecked the confidence we had IMO. The kone kaboul situation did it no favours either. Djilobodji needs time out of the side. Sad to admit it but when we concede he falls to bits. He dud yesterday and against Everton. I think, playing behind this defence, Pickford is going to struggle too. Not on ability, just a case of haw many kicks in the teeth can he take before his jaw breaks?
Of course confidence is important. The constant pressure we're under and our inability to hold on to the ball won't be doing confidence any good. Perhaps setting up differently and giving ourselves a greater chance to retain it might instill some confidence. Its a bit swings and roundabouts really. The other thing is, the manager should be acting as a source of confidence. Yet again, I think his comments are inappropriate. There is a time for criticising your players, but when they're already clearly low on confidence isn't it.
I noticed this at Spurs and now you have Moyes blaming the players and saying he's not the first manager to have come out and had the same craic. IMO based on all I've seen this season the dressing room atmosphere looks to be a bad one. I'm not convinced by Moyes or his signings (bar ndong) one bit. Djilobodjis constant mistakes and poor positioning is dragging Line all over and he now looks half the player he was with Kaboul. Adnan is quite simply awful a waste of a shirt he will never make it at our level never mind Man Utd's. We essentially choose Love and Mcnair over Mvila which is lunacy. I must mention Manquillo does look decent but when his loans up we are back to Jones or love. Even big Jan who win almost every challenge and pulled the strings last year looks uninterested, see Bentekes goal for evidence. No all is not well at the club and to go from the positivity around Sam's team to this is unacceptable and I think Moyes' pressers and him general dower media presence are partly responsible. He's a uninspiring, boring has-been on borrowed time already another amazing **** up by the upper management and unless something changes drastically a fatal one.
Although i'm not calling for his head Comm, but with a record of played 6 .......lost 5 drawn 1...you can expect some on here, and thousands in the ground at the weekend (especially if we go behind to WBA) will be very vocal about Moyes. Its the way football has gone unfortunately.
Dont keep track of Rondon that may happen. Ive just watched wba v stoke. Its the only reason i know any of their players namez.
Personally I would like to see Short keep faith in his appointments for a change, the chaos we were in after losing Big Sam, was not Moyes fault, So far his transfer dealings indicate to me that he was not as ready to take up the reins as we were led to believe. N'Dong apart, they all smack of penny pinching and panic, but we appointed a dour builder rather than a charismatic firefighter and must therefore give him time. How much time is the big question for Short.
Time for change was when the window was open. What we have is another manager with his hands tied, getting flak off the back of another weak window. Full circle again. Moyes is a decent manager, he's not a miracle worker. I struggle to see how any manager could excel with this squad, and by excel I mean have us competing to give us a chance for early safety. Damage has been done. We're in a relegation scrap again. The manager is irrelevant as the squad is relegation fodder. It's going to take some January window to sort us out.
I read that totally differently. I saw Cattermole captaining the side. Having words with a player who's confidence is fragile and trying to make sure we stay solid.
Not at all Comm, I actually think that he will come good. It’s just the same ****e every year!!! Just wonder what would have happened if England had beat Iceland but seriously the beginning of the season (pre) has been a shambles and we haven’t kicked on.
