ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

US Trip: Squad

Can anyone remotely explain why Moyes only took 17 players to the US? Whilst we all know that were desperately short of players, and that Cahill and Vaughan were not available (and Shandy?), what happened to Boyle, Vidarsson, and Lukas? A week ago, they were all playing and playing well against N Ireland or Bury; now they're not even part of the squad ? team-building week and all.

It was an utter embarrassment to see Arteta subbed last night then 15 mins later having to re-enter the game ? what must the players think of Moyes's and Kenwright's attempt to bolster the squad.

Last season, Chelsea started with a squad of only 24(!) players ? Mourhino's ideal size, but they ultimately struggled mid-season due to a lack of quality back-up and lost their chance on the Premiership. Now we ain't Chelsea but we are in Europe and at best we'll have about 20-22 players ? we will need the youngsters to play a part and they should have been made to be part of the first team squad. Penny pinching again?
Mike Oates, W Sussex Posted 22/07/2007 at 20:33:24

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Gavin Ramejkis
1 Posted 22/07/2007 at 21:17:26

As many poster have said all summer it’s about all we have in the tank, with the exception of Shandy Andy the squad is disgracefully small but when you winge about it the rose tinted brigade cry foul.

Gavin Ramejkis
2 Posted 22/07/2007 at 21:19:19

I meant Shandy being scared of flying or whatever bollocks made the flight to USA different from the flight to Ireland and Moyes usually shows his true first squad in these type of jollies., don’t think even the addition of the missing Cahill, Shandy and Vaughan make the squad big enough either.

John Charles
3 Posted 22/07/2007 at 21:30:54

Bjani, Paddy Boyle and Lukas all went to Munich and will go to Scotland instead. They played TSV Munichs under 23 team and won 3-1. Lukas scored twice - a much better experience for all 3 than 20 minutes off the bench in Salt Lake City. Have a little faith in the manager would you?

J.harris
4 Posted 22/07/2007 at 21:34:29

Keep taking the tablets John you might even get convinced that Beattie is going to relaunch his carrer again.
This squad is so small its painful to think what a couple of injuries to key players will do.
For the record We’ve lost or sold Weir Davies Kilbane Naysmith, Fernades Wright and Pistone all of whom with the exception of Pistone played some part in the first team.
The only Premiership quality? player we have signed is Jagielka.AS I said keep taking the Bullshit Billy tablets at least you’re happy.

Mike Oates
5 Posted 22/07/2007 at 21:35:23

John, I actually have a lot of faith in Moyes, and fully appreciate what he’s done and is doing but the US trip as well as a conditioning week is meant to be a 1st team squad bonding week and the 3 players mentioned need to start believing that they will be part of the squad this coming season . 10 days spent with the squad I suspect would be far more beneficial in the long run than playing at Stirling Albion etc

Juan Roman
6 Posted 22/07/2007 at 21:54:26

I see both sides of the arugment with regards the youngsters but what is the actual reason Van Der Meyde didn’t go? Is it really anything to do with flying or what’s the story?

Neil Pearse
7 Posted 22/07/2007 at 23:26:53

Not heard anything, but you’ve got to wonder whether Shandy Andy didn’t fly because he is staying at home to finalise a move away. One lives in hope!

Leroy
8 Posted 22/07/2007 at 23:21:49

His kid is apparently seriously unwell and has been in Alder Hey recovering.

John Charles
9 Posted 23/07/2007 at 01:24:13

I agree we are light on numbers, but throwing young lads in who aren’t ready just ’ruins them’.

Moyes obvioulsy doesnt feel Boyle, Vidarsson and Lukas (-lol easier to spell his first name) are ready for the first team yet. Maybe it feels all it would do would be destroy them .

Look at Ossie.. he came through really late and then had to have two loan spells in his early 20’s.

You have to sometimes with young players do whats right for the individual rather than the team and in the very long run this serves the greater good better (e.g. the team). Developing young players is a long and tricky process - it needs to be slowly slowly with most of them for there own good and eventually our own good

p.s. - no one wants Fernandes back more than me btw.

p.s.s. negative bastards!!

Øystein Lemvik
10 Posted 23/07/2007 at 06:59:33

Just a response to J.Harris - even including Fernandes (who would be welcomed back by almost everyone, I think), I do believe Jagielka played more games for Sheffield U than your list combined did for Everton last season...

Mike Oates
11 Posted 23/07/2007 at 10:34:14

Just read that we are inviting an US amateur to join us in LA so that we have enough numbers to do some training work - what an unbelievable position we have got ourselves into with this US trip with now only 15 fit players available (Johnson , McFadden have strains). What must the young fringe players think !!!

Dan Mckie
12 Posted 23/07/2007 at 13:21:27

I think Moyes took enough players for the 1 game that the squad are playing in the USA,but I think Moyes may have underestimated the conditions and the toll they took on the players! It was an error of judgement thats all!

Brian Waring
13 Posted 23/07/2007 at 13:48:49

Dan Mcie.I thought Moyes was all about team spirit and bonding.So it doesn’t make sense to leave some of the squad at home.I had a thought though,maybe we are that fucking skint we could only afford to take so many players.Kenwright should have asked his mate Terry Tesco for some saver points.He could have used them to book some more of the squad on the flight to America.