Moyes So Far!

Status
Not open for further replies.
VP said:
The time wasting was a bit embarrassing but more worrying is the lack of quality in the performances. Halfway through the season and we still cant control games.
Click to expand...

A team under huge pressure lacking in confidence, injury hit, knackered and scared of conceding a late goal again this season it really was of no surprise we wasted time.

People are expecting us to miraculously start playing like world beaters, it isnt going to happen. Its all taking time.

Losing those 2 home games consecutively was basically as bad as it could have gotten...

But 4 league wins on the bounce is certainly something to build on and I am really not looking at the negatives right now and I must say I am very impressed with the resolve Moyes has shown in the face of it all.
 
Very professional performance and despite missing key players (and having key players out of fitness) we managed to get the 3 points in a traditionally difficult place for us. Now the big question is if he can pull off the big win against spuds to round off our festive period schedule.
 
I'm holding back a bit because we've been on these little winning or unbeaten runs a few times this season and then boom, back down to earth with a woeful defeat or 2.
 
I'm not usually into reading too much into press conferences and interviews but I am glad he's stopped referring to the team and players as "they". It was a small thing but it used to irk me no end.
 
Randall Flagg said:
A team under huge pressure lacking in confidence, injury hit, knackered and scared of conceding a late goal again this season it really was of no surprise we wasted time.

People are expecting us to miraculously start playing like world beaters, it isnt going to happen. Its all taking time.

Losing those 2 home games consecutively was basically as bad as it could have gotten...

But 4 league wins on the bounce is certainly something to build on and I am really not looking at the negatives right now and I must say I am very impressed with the resolve Moyes has shown in the face of it all.
Click to expand...


This squad will never play like world beaters. It lacks quality
 
Sarni said:
Even if he knew in January it doesn't explain why he didn't sign a midfielder between 2010 and 2013 when it was a glowing lack in our squad.
Click to expand...
He had Pogba. It was his hesitancy to use Pogba that stood out rather than a refusal to sign
After all he declared he wouldn't go for Sneijder because of that kid.......Besides, there was little wrong in him trying to make the likes of Anderson and Cleverly work before he knew he was retiring.

Sarni said:
He just failed to identify proper midfielders and neglected the issue, it wasn't a deliberate action aimed at leaving midfield empty for a new manager.
Click to expand...
I don't buy that at all. Fergie knew he was set to retire by the start of last season when he brought in RVP. It would have made no sense for him to invest in a new midfield when a new manager, with his own style ideas was set to take over the following season.

Sarni said:
And no, it doesn't make sense to leave a poor midfield to a new manager on purpose.
Click to expand...
He never left him a poor midfield at all! Rather he left him a midfield that lacks a creative general. There is a massive difference between the two.

Sarni said:
Moyes might have been equally unhappy with defenders, wingers or forwards, doesn't mean Ferguson shouldn't have bought any in the 5 years preceding retirement.
Click to expand...
If my aunt was a man she'd be my uncle type argument's don't cut it frankly...
 
devilish said:
This squad will never play like world beaters. It lacks quality
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't. It could use one or two new faces but it's a good team nonetheless. Far weaker sides have played great football.
 
Sixpence said:
I'm holding back a bit because we've been on these little winning or unbeaten runs a few times this season and then boom, back down to earth with a woeful defeat or 2.
Click to expand...

Me too but the signs are promising, we are capable of winning while playing poorly which seemed impossible in September for example. 4 wins in the league this season is also pretty good, not many sides have managed that which is why we could be back in the title race if we win the next two or three. Top 4 certainly looks more likely now (I still think we won't make it though).
 
Sarni said:
Me too but the signs are promising, we are capable of winning while playing poorly which seemed impossible in September for example. 4 wins in the league this season is also pretty good, not many sides have managed that which is why we could be back in the title race if we win the next two or three. Top 4 certainly looks more likely now (I still think we won't make it though).
Click to expand...

I think tomorrow is going to tell us a lot about the top 4.
 
Sixpence said:
I'm holding back a bit because we've been on these little winning or unbeaten runs a few times this season and then boom, back down to earth with a woeful defeat or 2.
Click to expand...

Well thats always going to be the case this season. We will fall over a few more times yet, we will have games where we play really well and games where we play really badly.
 
Sarni said:
No, it doesn't. It could use one or two new faces but it's a good team nonetheless. Far weaker sides have played great football.
Click to expand...


make it 3 players and we may agree.
 
I like how he correctly identified in his post match interview yesterday that essentially, despite our winning run, we are still not good enough.

Jury is still out but he has done very well to ease the pressure after those four games without a win.
 
Woodzy said:
I like how he correctly identified in his post match interview yesterday that essentially, despite our winning run, we are still not good enough.

Jury is still out but he has done very well to ease the pressure after those four games without a win.
Click to expand...

Those four games might be what fecked us in the league this season. We're desperate for Arsenal and City to drop unexpected points, but I just don't think it'll happen often enough for us to make some meaningful ground on them - even if we're only halfway through the season.

What the team has been showing of late is encouraging though, and I'd say that we at times looked like we did last season. A bit slow and rusty, but getting the results. Moyes deserves a bit of credit here, even though he's, to me, been disappointing overall.
 
It'll also be interesting when we play our second leg of fixtures against the top teams. Would I be correct in saying we have picked up 6 points in total against the top 9 (well, 8 without ourselves) teams?!
 
I think overall halfway through the season he's done quite well. He identified early on midfield was a problem and although he hasn't yet solved it it seems his intension to do so. He got Rooney back playing to his level which is excellent for us and he's pushed on Jones to another level I think after being very careful at the start he see's Jones, Smalling, Eveans and Rafael as a really good base to the side and he has given plenty of game time to them even when Rio and Vidic have been available. It was never going to be easy but I feel he is slowly changing our style of play, I see a bit more pressing from the front coming into our game, causing teams to lose possesion or risk playing it long. We definatley need to get more pace into our attacks and I think he did mention that too so thats good. He's been unlucky with injuries but luckly he has a squad to deal with it. The one really worrying thing for me is the Fellani signing its obvious to everyone pace is so important in todays game and he went and signed once of the world slowest central midfield players who isn't known for his quick thought and quick passing and its made worse by the fact he managed him for his previous team so he must have known this, his next signig is so important he must make a good one.
 
Ole'sbodyguard said:
Moyes has done really well in the last few weeks. To win six on the bounce after that Newcastle game deserves credit.

Let's not under-estimate the injuries at different periods we have had with RVP, Carrick, Vidic, Rafael, Jones, Fellaini, Nani injured with concerns over Rooney and Welbeck all out and today Valencia suspended. There's some real key players missing there, some for lengthy time. The likes of Kagawa have suffered from illness so we have had a very similar set of players guiding United through this period since the win over Shaktar. Evra and Cleverley are cleared knackered.

The likes of Welbeck, Young, Cleverley, Jones(he was before but has continued his good form), and Smalling have been playing well and responded to the two defeats at home in the ideal way. Rooney has continued to be excellent and I think we have the nucleus of our best starting eleven which has emerged in this run of games. Some of it has already started to settle in that 12 game unbeaten streak we had.

One more win over this period and we look right in the mix to continue climbing up the leg and into the top four which is where this side should be.


BTW- I daresay the reason we did not pile forward for a second today was because of the obvious fatigue of some of the players. Evra, Cleverley, Welbeck(even if he only did a half today), Smalling, Evans, Young have played plenty of football recently and Carrick is coming back from a lengthy lay off. Understandable after the fixture congestion and the Hull come back. All I care about is that we won.
Click to expand...


Good post. I agree with most things here. The squad has been depleted with injuries to key players and the ones that are available have had to play consecutive games with very little rest, and yet we have managed to win, sometimes dominantly and sometimes ground out by hook or by crook. That shouldn't be underestimated. I'm warming to Moyes more and more as the season goes on. And for the last line of your post I couldn't agree more. People whinging about the manner of the last couple of wins seriously need to get real. All that matters is that we got the three points, and with several of our best players missing. I couldn't care less about the performance tbh. We were playing well in the few games before these last two.
 
Woodzy said:
It'll also be interesting when we play our second leg of fixtures against the top teams. Would I be correct in saying we have picked up 6 points in total against the top 9 (well, 8 without ourselves) teams?!
Click to expand...

That would be correct actually now that I think about it, and that's a bit of a worry. 3 against Arsenal and 1 against Southampton, Chelsea and Spurs. Lost to the other 4. Despite that West Brom game, we've actually done very well against the lower sides in the league and have generally won most of our games against them.

We need to improve massively in the bigger games though. Moyes had a very poor away record against the traditional big 4 with Everton, and his big game form hasn't improved here. It probably has to do with his often tentative style of play, but he's been working on it and hopefully our improvements in these games can be carried into playing the bigger teams.
 
Don't get the criticism of hanging on yesterday - SAF would have done the same and been lauded for a "championship like winning performance". I don't like Moyes but I'm not going to give undue criticism.

That said, there should be questions of the first half - it was fecking dire. Zero cohesion and lack of ideas.

People need to start seriously looking at making top 4 - it's imperative. If we don't, then we could be in a world of pain. He has to strengthen in January. I'm usually all for getting business done in the summer but this time it's different. The club need to back the manager and give the place a lift. Not only does he need to strengthen squad, he needs to go for first 11 quality (if that makes sense)
 
LonelyFire said:
Don't get the criticism of hanging on yesterday - SAF would have done the same and been lauded for a "championship like winning performance". I don't like Moyes but I'm not going to give undue criticism.

That said, there should be questions of the first half - it was fecking dire. Zero cohesion and lack of ideas.

People need to start seriously looking at making top 4 - it's imperative. If we don't, then we could be in a world of pain. He has to strengthen in January. I'm usually all for getting business done in the summer but this time it's different. The club need to back the manager and give the place a lift. Not only does he need to strengthen squad, he needs to go for first 11 quality (if that makes sense)
Click to expand...

I agree with you here. Obviously we can debate the quality of certain players in certain positions, but we're generally very good for depth in positions. Some of the players who constitute that 'depth' might not be good enough, but if Moyes look to spend in January then it should be to strengthen our first team, not simply the numbers in the squad.
 
Cheesy said:
I agree with you here. Obviously we can debate the quality of certain players in certain positions, but we're generally very good for depth in positions. Some of the players who constitute that 'depth' might not be good enough, but if Moyes look to spend in January then it should be to strengthen our first team, not simply the numbers in the squad.
Click to expand...

D'you think he'll offload anyone in January?
 
Moriarty said:
D'you think he'll offload anyone in January?
Click to expand...


Not sure. I doubt too many will leave unless offers are put in for them. I can see more changes next summer, but I doubt much will happen in January.
 
ravelston said:
Should have added that, given we've three over-age keepers, might make sense to sell Lindegaard or loan Amos - Johnstone is probably ready to be the third keeper.
Click to expand...

Amos is already on loan and Johnstone is third choice keeper atm.
 
Jaap said:
Nani just extended his contract. He won't leave.

Think Anderson will be offloaded & Fabio loaned out.
Click to expand...

The nani contract was to protect value - nothing else. If we get a reasonable bid, hes off.

Why would he loan Fabio when Buttner is picked ahead of him? The boy is off as the manager doesn't rate him.
 
Half the season has gone by and I'm not impressed with his work at all. Must say I was hoping for better than what we've seen. In recent years I've felt that the football we've played was something that'd be easy to improve. I also thought that the quality of footballers at the club is also something that would be easy to improve.

However he's failed in both departments, and while we've always been good at putting together results we've also failed at that. IMO he simply has to step it up, be aggressive in the market and try to put his stamp on the team and how we play. its still predominantly sir alex's team and we've made really slow strides in the early part of his tenure.

Do I think he'll get it together and get us competing at the level we ought to be? Nope, however that doesn't stop me from hoping for the best. If he doesn't pull it off I'd be absolutely elated. I just don't see him as the great mans successor, I think he falls short basically in all departments really.

The next month is going to be really important for him. Don't let them fool you about the jan window, it can be very fruitful if used correctly. The best player in the prem was signed in jan. We picked vida and evra up at that time too. He has to start making big leaps and the time is now. Hopefully his 6 months experience being a manager of a club of this size has made him realise the quality of footballer and play needed to get it done. Go on Moyes, please prove me wrong and drive us towards many successes.
 
LonelyFire said:
Don't get the criticism of hanging on yesterday - SAF would have done the same and been lauded for a "championship like winning performance". I don't like Moyes but I'm not going to give undue criticism.

That said, there should be questions of the first half - it was fecking dire. Zero cohesion and lack of ideas.

People need to start seriously looking at making top 4 - it's imperative. If we don't, then we could be in a world of pain. He has to strengthen in January. I'm usually all for getting business done in the summer but this time it's different. The club need to back the manager and give the place a lift. Not only does he need to strengthen squad, he needs to go for first 11 quality (if that makes sense)
Click to expand...


Why? What's he done to deserve such opinion?
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
Why? What's he done to deserve such opinion?
Click to expand...

Ive never wanted him at Utd. I don't think he has the right mentality for Utd and don't believe he will change. Just my personal opinion mate -doesn't mean ill give him undue criticism like blaming him for shutting up shop yesterday.
 
Against the top 9 teams in the league United have won merely 6 from 24 possible points, and had only 1 win (Arsenal). That's a terrible form against the better teams in the league.

In comparison, Everton have won 15 points against the same teams, and had 4 wins.
 
Assessing his performance at the halfway stage......very disappointing so far for me. The league performance has been very poor and we need a very strong phase of form in the second half of the season to simply secure a top four finish. Not good enough and must do better, a lot better. The last 4 games have been routine and I'm not looking into them too much, only to say the performances have still been mixed.

High points have been progression from an admitedly routine Champions League group and to the semis of the Capital One Cup. This second half of the season is big and he needs to prove he has what it takes when it matters....in the big games where margins are fine.
 
LonelyFire said:
Ive never wanted him at Utd. I don't think he has the right mentality for Utd and don't believe he will change. Just my personal opinion mate -doesn't mean ill give him undue criticism like blaming him for shutting up shop yesterday.
Click to expand...


Respect your opinion, just wanted to know a reason for it. Seems to me as if you just didn't want to for the job and not that you just "dislike" him as a person - which is what I was confused about.
 
I started the season unconvinced that Moyes was the right man for the job (he'd never have been my choice) and expecting us to finish third (behind City and Chelsea).

So far I guess I'd have to say I'm disappointed. To be fair, I'm sure Moyes and the squad are disappointed with where we are too. If we were to finish the season in this position it would obviously be a disaster.

That said, I'm quite optimistic about our chances of improving in the second half of the season. We've had RvP, Carrick and Rafael missing for large parts of the season so far, we all knew we'd struggle if that happened last season. If they're fit we'll be a much more formidable outfit. Plus Moyes is generally looking more and more at ease in the job.

I figure we're too far back to get the 3rd place I predicted at the start of the season but I'm confident we'll still get 4th. I still think that's an underperformance but certainly a forgivable one in Moyes' first season.

Looking beyond this season, a huge amount will depend on the next two transfer windows. We need to do some seriously impressive business. If we do then I'd be quite optimistic with Moyes as manager, certainly more than I was when he was appointed. If we have a repeat of the last transfer window then I think we're basically fecked.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.