“We’re missing goals in the last few games” - David Moyes after loss to Arsenal

Every season, we seem to be dogged by a pedestrian build-up in attack, and an overall lack of mobility and pace.

It's crazy because Moyes was one of the first in this league to introduce almost wingbacks when we had Baines and Coleman in their pomp.

Now, it feels like we have two fullbacks from the 1970's, although in fairness to O'Brien, he's a central defender and the project at right-back has run it's course.

But we need pace and dynamism – I can't stress this enough, most teams these days attack with droves of men, confident they have the engine on them to be almost box-to-box players.

We have too many players that are still too one-paced and the weakness in our forward line is also exposed greatly.

Barry is far too lightweight in this league I'm afraid.

He looks pretty sharp, doesn't he?

No shit, Sherlock. Doh!

OFM is just getting warmed up for the punchline: "The players are doing everything you can ask of them. We just need a bit more quality."

You came in with (as reported) a hefty say in recruitment. Yet you and no one at the club is taking responsibility for this summer's woeful acquisitions (Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall aside).

Your 4-5-1 shitstem is chronic. It does not work when you have Pickford hoofing it up to a lone and hapless striker expected to win it in the air, get to his own flick-on, and do something magical.

That requires support from the Number 10 and attacking central midfield, of which there is none. The Number 10 is nowhere near the Number 9... Staggering.

No one has the ability to pass a through ball to the striker.
4-5-1 works with pacey skilful wingers, of whom we have none, supported by a goalscoring attacking midfielder, of whom we have none, supporting the crosses or passes into the box that the striker cannot get to. Your tactics do none of that.

So you set up a team not to concede. Not to score. Then you have the audacity to complain, make excuses and state the obvious. The goal scoring (aka lack of) is down to you...
You're the manager!!!

Your selections are senseless. Last match, you chose the dreadful McNeil ahead of a young winger you have publicly humiliated and no doubt drained of any confidence from behind closed doors in order not to play him for obscure reasons.

Lo and behold, not one cross or pass to our striker occurred. Nor a shot.

We have a right-back you won't play. It's clearly a left-over personal issue from your mate Dyche's time here. So you play a centre-back or retiree instead.

Whilst the side are in a better place than they have been for years, it's a mammoth away from challenging for anything and Mr Moyes, with you in charge, it isn't going anywhere other than mid-table at best.

Re Barry, of course he's too lightweight -- at the moment. I still want to see what he can do after a summer in the weight room with the club conditioning staff. At 175 pounds, he hasn't a chance. At 190 we could see something very different.

"We have a right-back you won't play. It's clearly a leftover personal issue from your mate Dyche's time here."

Right, because Moyes has obviously followed Dyche's renowned managerial and personal guidance through all these years.

Or maybe it's just that Patterson doesn't play because Moyes has reached the same conclusion reached by Dyche and Lampard (plus the medical staff after missing 60 games from five injuries over the past four seasons) -- that Patterson can't play.

Then we went on to sign Neal Maupay, Demarai Gray, Cenk Tosun, Sandro Ramirez, Theo Walcott, Omar Niasse, Arnaut Danjuma, Steven Naismith (who was one of the better ones) Solomon Rondon, Beto and Barry!!!…

I must know who is in charge of these decisions?

Mike @6, I said it a few times already that I don't think Barry has the physicality for the Premier League; however, even if he does bulk up, as you say, I don't believe he has the mentality for it. Each game, that weakness becomes more obvious.

Beto certainly put the Arsenal defence under more pressure.

Those who continually moan about Moyes's selections and belittling some of our players and offer alternatives should have a look at some of the performances last night:

Alcaraz was awful and, with the exception of a second half cameo, has not done anything to be considered for the first XI.

Mykolenko, who recently has been the whipping boy of ToffeeWebbers was one of our best performers

Iroegbunam, another fall guy, had a very good game and Garner was his usual busy self,.

With the loss Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, one would have expected Grealish to step up and show leadership; unfortunately he had one of his worst games in an Everton shirt.

I didn't think McNeil did that badly. Was Dibling an improvement? Don't get me wrong, I was an admirer of him at Southampton but who does he replace? Ndiaye. I would, however, be in favour of starting him next match.

At the moment our defence picks itself.

Finally those constantly criticising Moyes have in the past had Frank on the wish list. Based on his results to date, would he do better with the players we have available?

I have seen the future... and it's just like the present. Merry Xmas all.

Also, are Dibling and Rohl somebody else's purchases? Is that the thing? What's with the three goalkeepers? That's got to be a message to someone.

If you have nothing better to say than that, best not say anything!

We have skillful but slow wingers in Ndiaye, Grealish and Dibling. They all tend to come inside, so TFG need to concentrate on signing pacey fullbacks in the January and Summer transfer windows.

Seamus's legs have gone, Patterson will be loaned out or sold, and Mykolenko can remain as squad back-up.

We are a mid table team. Have been for decades. And will continue to be so. Think Derby, Leeds, Forest.

I'm thinking Derby, Alan... (3 seasons in the Premier League{ 2000-25), Leeds (7 seasons in the Premier League 2000-25), and NottM Forest (3 seasons in the Premier League 2000-25).

Yep, we really are in that company aren't we.

This might reduce the time the opposition has to react and, if somebody is drawn out of position, then a pass should become available by somebody moving into the space just left by the opposing player, which can have a chain reaction that possibly is shown best when Dewsbury-Hall runs off Grealish, both inside and outside of him.

At least Mr Moyes's comments show he has been watching our last couple of games and is no longer naming those he sees as at fault but perhaps he might try getting more players into the opposition's area, arriving late, plus more effective variety in set pieces.

We have no pace out wide, which again limits us a little. But many of our problems would be solved with a decent striker, and a quick right-back.

Whether it's Barry or Beto, with these 2 as our only striking options, we are going to struggle in games.

I have said for months I don't believe for one minute that Moyes was happy with the signings of Barry, Aznou or Dibling. If you have watched Moyes's buys over the years, these players just don't fit the profile he goes for.

I can't remember him signing a teenager, and he wasnt happy with Beto last season, so I doubt he would have put all his striking options in Barry and Dibling.

I have said on numerous occasions that I believe the new owners wanted a more youthful team but, if you go down that route, they'd better be of better quality than we have signed.

There have been a couple of rumours about Ivan Toney coming on a 3-month loan to try and get into the World Cup squad, or Mainoo from Man Utd. I would take either in a heartbeat.

Is that because of the timing of the end of the Saudi season? We did something similar a while back with one of our Yanks didn't we? Landon Donavan?

"It isn't going anywhere other than mid-table at best."

Remember the seasons when everyone dreamed of being mid-table rather than last-day relegation survivors?

I don't believe in coincidence. Moyes will have spoken to Dyche.

The fact that his starts, appearances as a sub, and bench warming are following the Dyche pattern. Yes. Moyes clearly has come to the same conclusion as his predecessor but without playing him. He has never given Patterson a chance other than the Carabao Cup tie. Injuries aside, there have been plenty of opportunities.

To kind of shoot myself in the foot here, I don't think Patterson is any good, but neither is selecting Seamus who is permanently crocked whether starting for us or not when O'Brien is unavailable.

We have finished mid-table for the last 8 or so seasons. (Excluding 3 years ago). So mid-table isn't progression. Which is what my argument is.

He cannot better that. Tactically and selectively he has proven mid-table obscurity and 0 chance of winning a cup are his zenith here.

I wish it were better. I wish he was. Maybe you rejoiced and saw glory upon his arrival. I didn't. I want to, I really do. But head rules heart.