COLUMNIST JOHN HOLMES

Thoughts on personnel

Early season promise gone, same old resumed and just waiting for the new signings. There's not a lot to be said about yesterday's match that wasn't said last season apart from the ray of hope provided by the hopefully impending arrivals of Yakubu and Fernandes. The team played like strangers at times and just hoped to bungle a goal rather than playing actual football. However, Moyes should have learnt some things about his players yesterday.

Firstly, Stubbs is a good defender, I have no problem with him other than the fact Lescott is a great defender. Lescott and Yobo is our best pairing. Baines played well yesterday so let's have out best centre-backs on the pitch together. When Moyes took over the players were much of a muchness competing on commitment as much as ability. Now there are clear class differentials and Moyes needs to know who his best players are and play them in their best positions whenever he can, not just pick people because they've done well when one of the stars has been injured.

As for the full-backs, Baines looked the part and can hopefully build on a promising debut where he gave us some real drive and willingness to run at teams, few long-balls from the left yesterday. Hibbert was everything Baines wasn't. Rarely did he get beyond whoever was on the right flank, far too many long-balls and clearly at fault for the goal. Neville is a far better player in that position and, with Jagielka looking comfortable in the midfield, Neville should be moved to right-back.

The aforementioned Jagielka is giving good evidence that he could be a long-term replacement for Carsley. Sharp in the tackle, happy to keep the pass simple but effective and willing to work hard. He looks composed on the ball and an all round good acquisition.

Coming to Osman, Johnson and McFadden...I say Osman, I'm not entirely sure if he played yesterday. His name was certainly on the team sheet but he seemed to rarely touch the ball. A decent squad player, but it is increasingly evident that he will never be anything more.

Johnson is, I feel, over-criticised. He's certainly not living up to an £8.5M pricetag and definitely needs to score more goals. However, the team remains far better with him in it. People comparing him with Beattie are fooling themselves. Beattie didn't score but he also did very little in open play either. Johnson continues to be an effective means of driving back the opposition defence but is desperately in need of a strike partner. Wait for the return of Vaughan and hopefully the arrival of Yakubu and we may see a different player.

McFadden proved yet again he has a prodigious ability to fart about on the ball to little effect. He cannot dribble and, worse, he thinks he can. He cannot move the ball quickly and crisp as his finish was, coupled with Osman, we were playing with nine men at times such was his ineffectiveness from open play. Unless he is given acres of space he's frankly a waste of space. He'll be a great Championship striker one day.

Bring on the new signings... God knows we need them if only to shake Moyes out of his team selection muddle.

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