Substitutions

[billycopper]

Prior to the game Moyes said that Osman isn't a right midfielder. Well, he certainly isn't a left midfielder. With two specialised players in that position on the bench, it is baffling that Ossie should be asked to occupy the left flank. My guess is that the gaffer thought that Ossie was the player most likely to nick us a goal from the bench. Fair enough. Why not play him just behind Yakubu though rather than bringing Pienaar infield and putting him on the left? If Osman does have a strength, it's firing in loose balls from the edge of the box.

It's hard to fathom putting Bily on with two minutes left too. If it's a tactical change rather than a time-wasting exercise or because of an injury, what is the Russian likely to contribute in 120 seconds?

As Moyes himself puts it, tactics aren't rocket science. His substitutions definitely take some figuring out though.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

He also said that Osman was injured, and that Cahill was carrying an injury going into the game.

 

[billycopper]

He also said that Osman was injured, and that Cahill was carrying an injury going into the game.

True. We've suspected for a long time that Moyes has very little faith in his fringe players.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

True. We've suspected for a long time that Moyes has very little faith in his fringe players.

So why sign them? We have a squad apparently, yet he's used 3 players who were not fully fit to play.

 

[neonleon]

So why sign them? We have a squad apparently, yet he's used 3 players who were not fully fit to play.

He had little money. He needed to take a gamble on lower league players and fringe/youth players.

If he had the money he'd just buy the finished article. Its just the reality of the financial situation.

 

[billycopper]

That's Moyes for you. Why does he put players like Gueye, Baxter, Wallace and Barkley on the bench when he'd probably rather play with 10 men than use them?

 

[GhostOfDixie]

He had little money. He needed to take a gamble on lower league players and fringe/youth players.

If he had the money he'd just buy the finished article. Its just the reality of the financial situation.

Well he could have brought in loan players, he has slots available, but he hasn't done that. He's basically said he is happy with his squad, yet he doesn't use it. Guaye looked very good in pre-season, but he's just on the periphery, and is losing out to players who are not fit.

 

[davek]

That's Moyes for you. Why does he put players like Gueye, Baxter, Wallace and Barkley on the bench when he'd probably rather play with 10 men than use them?

Should have been on there today if he was intent on pushing Pienaar inside.

 

[billycopper]

He had little money. He needed to take a gamble on lower league players and fringe/youth players.

If he had the money he'd just buy the finished article. Its just the reality of the financial situation.

He could have had Heitinga holding and used Fellaini behind Yakubu. He'd rather use a half-fit Cahill instead though. He could have put Bily left mid, but he'd rather play a half-fit Osman.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Should have been on there today if he was intent on pushing Pienaar inside.

I think we would all like to see this lad on the Premier stage.

 

[chicoazul]

Weird, weird subs today.

 

[billycopper]

Moyes will probably say that he's not ready. The reality is that he's afraid that some kid will fail to keep the disciplined shape and cost him a goal and a win. He needs to take a chance more often.

 

[neonleon]

Well he could have brought in loan players, he has slots available, but he hasn't done that. He's basically said he is happy with his squad, yet he doesn't use it. Guaye looked very good in pre-season, but he's just on the periphery, and is losing out to players who are not fit.

This is part of the fans disease though. If it doesn't go our way in the game then Moyes should've brought X on.

Gueye would've been the saviour. There's every chance he could of come on and made it worse, lost the ball and we'd conceded. Then everyone would be saying "Why the feck did he bring Gueye on, he's useless."


Gueye was mostly anonymous against league 2 side Brentford the other day. So much so that he had to come off after 60 odd minutes. A few exciting cameos in preseason don't give you the best platform to assess whether he is ready for the battle of the premier league. What Moyes sees every day in training gives him far more useful indicators. I'm guessing he's just not ready.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Moyes will probably say that he's not ready. The reality is that he's afraid that some kid will fail to keep the disciplined shape and cost him a goal and a win. He needs to take a chance more often.

Easier said than done when you know a big chunk of your future transfer money, if not from player sales, is going to come from league placing. A lot of decisions sound very easy to make but when you're skint, they can have long-lasting implications. I've never been one to harp on the money thing too much because you have to do with what you're given but it does play a large part in a lot things you'd think it wouldn't. The sh*t rolls downhill...

 

[GhostOfDixie]

This is part of the fans disease though. If it doesn't go our way in the game then Moyes should've brought X on.

Gueye would've been the saviour. There's every chance he could of come on and made it worse, lost the ball and we'd conceded. Then everyone would be saying "Why the feck did he bring Gueye on, he's useless."


Gueye was mostly anonymous against league 2 side Brentford the other day. So much so that he had to come off after 60 odd minutes. A few exciting cameos in preseason don't give you the best platform to assess whether he is ready for the battle of the premier league. What Moyes sees every day in training gives him far more useful indicators. I'm guessing he's just not ready.

Ok I see what your saying, so then why not do what he's done in the past (seen as that's what people think he should be doing) and bring in players like Cahill, Arteta and Pienaar on loan with a view to a permanent move? And not waste time on players like:

Guaye
Silva
Beckford
Arnott and his American mate.

Seem to be a waste of everyone's time.

Moyes built a reputation for unearthing gems for next to nothing, so what's happened to that ability?