Nani, Kagawa and Hernandez

[antohan]

So, what Moyes has done here isn't to pick a horribly incompetent player over other alternatives just because the horrible player happened to be fit. He has picked a presumably competent enough, presumably defensively stouter and presumably fitter player over alternatives with (match) fitness issues. We all know how it turned out, and we all know how poor Young was especially against City (he was alright against Leverkusen when he came on), but really - the case is not as clear cut as some would have it.

I can see why Nani wouldn't have started due to fitness, but then Welbeck should have done the "hardworking defensive winger" role instead of Young, leaving the striker slot for Hernández. Very simple, and suddenly not as reliant on Rooney as the only threat.

We were outplayed all over the pitch, so we probably would have lost anyway, but it certainly would have been closer.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

I can see why Nani wouldn't have started due to fitness, but then Welbeck should have done the "hardworking defensive winger" role instead of Young, leaving the striker slot for Hernández. Very simple, and suddenly not as reliant on Rooney as the only threat.

We were outplayed all over the pitch, so we probably would have lost anyway, but it certainly would have been closer.

Agreed. And I think he would've gone for Welbeck on the left if RVP hadn't gotten himself injured. He should've done so anyway, with Hernandez up front - or, even better, he should have played Cleverley from the start, going for a three in midfield. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. He went for what he thought was the safest set-up.

 

[antohan]

Agreed. And I think he would've gone for Welbeck on the left if RVP hadn't gotten himself injured. He should've done so anyway, with Hernandez up front - or, even better, he should have played Cleverley from the start, going for a three in midfield. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. He went for what he thought was the safest set-up.

Earlier this month I suggested Cleverley could join Carrick and Fellaini in midfield for some games and got lambasted for it (not creative enough). It would probably be too early to try it with a player who has only just arrived, mind.

Hernandez was a no-brainer though. I'm in the corner that thinks the safest way to play isn't packing your side with hardworking players but giving the oppo something to think about. Throw Hernandez into the mix and suddenly Kompany can't solely focus on Rooney, and City's midfield would worry about Rooney building up and playing through someone who can actually score... Yes, Welbeck had a bit of a purple patch for club and country, but it wouldn't be to his detriment but Young's and anything Young could do Welbeck would be just fine doing it.

It's not hindsight, it's common sense.

 

[psychdelicblues]

Aye, I'd say that's fair. People have underplayed the match fitness issue.

To preempt the inevitable response of "how will he get match fit, if Moyes doesn't give him matches?" that's two starts he's had now, which is a step in the right direction. I'm assuming his fitness was even worse beforehand, so playing him wasn't an option. Hopefully onwards and upwards from here.

I presume getting players to be match fit against the likes of Chelsea and away to Liverpool and City would have been a non-starter for Moyes. These games are usually high intensity and if players are not up to speed there is the probability of not just weakening the first 11 out on the pitch but in Nani's case, pulling his hamstring again . Always got the impression that Fergie would usually look to low key home games against the mid-table to bottom PL sides/Cup games to get players up to speed just to ease them in. Can understand why Moyes has been banging on about the tough start. On top the international week he has not really had any room to manoeuvre. I get the impression he thought, now it's Liverpool at home...feck it.. I'll gamble and give most of the players who need game time in the least important competition, against a near full strength Liverpool, and got lucky. If United had lost (and could easily have lost the match) the people underplaying the match fitness issues would have still buried Moyes, Kagawa and Nani, in whatever order.