The Mail Bag
A game too far?
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Let me start by saying I was there last night. I was furious at Moyes's tactics and the players' inability to do the simple thing. I am also shattered after a nightmare journey home, made more difficult by the circumstances and the Portuguese authorities. Got in about 4.50am!
But was that a game too far for our small squad? Players still coming back from injuries, still not fully fit? An untried centre back pairing who have both been injured?
4 really tough games in the last 2-3 weeks and another toughie coming up on Sunday?
I am not making excuses for them — I am still too angry for that — just maybe the reason for capitulation.
Lynn Thorne, Posted 26/02/2010 at 07:19:52
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Yobo Is a Championship Player.
Billy suffers from Neville's lack of ability to attack.
Discuss.
As when Jags first came to the club, we could all see he was not a midfielder. Only by mistake he found his rightful position [injury to Yobo]
As when Felliani first came to the club, we could all see he was not suited to the forward role he was playing.
Only by mistake he found his rightful position[ injury to Rodwell]
Maybe Bily, after all avenues have been explored, be put in the injured Cahill role, BINGO.
This post is merely to ask if the fans who travelled over to Lisbon can expect a public apology from either Mr. Kenwright or Mr. Moyes.
Secondly, and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would use the following words, isn't it time we found a manager with a winning mentality?
Moyes was advised to take Billy by Hiddink and is playing in the position he was bought for; in his case I’ll go with the "he’s knackered and needs a break" for now and give him another season. That said he was awful last night, I could have done better; I couldn’t believe it when he came out for the second half, it was like playing with 10 men as he gave nothing going forward and left Baines hopelessly exposed when defending.
Fellaini was always meant to play in front of the back four, but was forced to play upfield because of injuries.
Think back to the cup final and games before and after,
Cahill was playing the holding role, Fellianis best position.
Felliani played behind the front man, Cahill,s best position.
Injuries????
Moyes bought Jags to replace Lee Carsley, but Jags was awful in midfield and it was only when Yobo got injured that Jags played in the back four,
All these and there are more of Moyeses accidental in the end get it rights echo what I have said on and off. Not withstanding, yes we are all a bit knee jerky when results are poor. Moyes does not know what his best 11 is and how to best employ them.
They are on their own once they cross the white line, or so it is said, usually when the performance is poor. Thus the bad days are ’ explained ’ So dispite Moyeses ’ best ’ efforts we play crap; form, injuries, reffs, bad bounce, etc etc etc... what can you do.
Or is it that, yet again...
Once they cross the white line they are on their own blah blah that despite Moyeses efforts some times it all gells and we play well.
Now it’s either one or the other, you can’t, despite the well know prediliction for Royal Blue Double think, have it both ways.
Moyeses good points got us to where we are and his bad points (plus lack of cash) stop us from going much further.
I think that I you dear reader, were to change just a few of the points in Michael Kenrick's post United piece and apply them to the post Lisbon fiasco then it would be a bit more palatable.
Ive said it once and I’ll say it again Moyes is a 50% manager and all we get is 50% seasons, get ready for a poor last Quarter when a few poor results rule out 4th or 5th and we fade away, limp to the end as befits our mid table inconsistency.
An international defender for free isn’t too bad business considering Wenger wanted 6 mil for him! If we didn’t have him we would of had an unfit Jags or unexperienced Rodwell at the back. I just think he’s decent enough as forth or fifth choice who is still young enough to improve.
An international defender for free isn’t too bad business considering Wenger wanted 6 mil for him! If we didn’t have him we would of had an unfit Jags or unexperienced Rodwell at the back. I just think he’s decent enough as forth or fifth choice who is still young enough to improve.
Regarding Thursday I could not believe our tactics / formation. Our performance indicated that we were looking to not conceded as opposed to go there and score and yet the team selection pointed to the opposite. If we were going to play defensively then Rodwell should have definately played and possibly Gosling too with Billy and Osman / Arteta making way.
Finally the substitutions. How could Moyes not see how ineffective Billy was on the night ? He was lucky to last to half time, personally I would have replaced him at the time he switched Osman to a man marking role on Mutinhio. What is certain is that he should not have reapperaed after half time !
And then finally when we are chasing 1 goal to get back into the tie he takes our one bit of pace off and leaves on 4 defenders ! I always remember Howard Kendalls comments after we came back from 2-0 down at Luton on the FAC. He had brought on Heath for I think Van den Hauwe and basically gone with 4 up front. When asked if this had been a calculated gamble he said no, we needed goals and I wanted to have as many players on the pitch that could score as possible. We took Doanavan off, USA leading scorere of all time, and left on Neville, Yobo, Jags, Baines, etc. Surely we should at that point have sacrificed a defender..... That really annoys me - basics and Moyes failed completely.
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1 Posted 26/02/2010 at 06:02:43
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