What Was Worse to Watch? This, or the Smith Era?

[dholliday]

In the days of Walter Smith I would often be hypnotized by our dogged dogs of war performances.

The "Dogs of War" mostly referred to our Joe Royle era. But regarding your query, I'm more hurt by our current ****eness, so yeah...this one's worse. I was mostly numb during the Smith years.

Who would win in a fight?

well...that's easy...just look at our squad during the middle of the Smith-era:

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/99-00/squad.php

and that's before the well-past-it likes of Ginola, Gazza & Hughes came in.

Terrible. We will definitely remember many of todays' players with far more fondness than most of that squad we had back then.

 

[ilikecheese]

Again I need to mention Duffy. Anyone else proud of the lad? I know I am.

This, yes. Duffy has impressed for sure...keep him in the side and move Jags or Heitinga out on the right. We have a have a strong roster with certain players playing below expectations. BUT we have sh1ite players getting time week in and week out...Neville should not be on the pitch. His sand wedge is useless. I could beat Hibbo or Neville with my minimal pace. Saha once had power and pace...gone. He offers nothing these days.

I will agree that Moyes can not be blamed for everything, I love that guy, but ffs...give me a side that is marginally threatening. Why are Vellios, Barkeley, Drenthe, and Straq being used as bit parts? We have no chance this year to win anything...give the kids the ball.

 

[Christiffa25]

Whilst moyes is not blameless.. It's not his fault!! If yer get me..

Trusted players have aged and our not doing the business for him this year. But if he had the required funds over the last few years we would of had better players and prob not lost lost pienaar and Arteta.

It's far too easy to sit on your couch, lap top on legs and say bring in the youngsters. Our ageing underperforming players will not take us down. Moyes trusts them, the youngsters ?? Well u just can't reley on them over a season. They could take us down and worse you could kill there confidence and progress. Would be so unfair to put them all in this season when it was obvious it was going to be a struggle with no investment and loosing players.

I'm certain moyes plan this year after the transfer window closed would of been... Let's get safe in the league, see what we can do in January, get some of these kids some games latter in the season ready to hopefully be in alot better knick next year.

The board and so far some seniors have let him down. Moyes deserved the chance to put it right more than anyone.

I'm still confident with just a bit of cash and some of our younger boys coming through after this season is out of the way better times will return. But until there's a takeover and some proper transfer money well 7-8th is the best any manager could get out of this club.

Oh and I remember the smith era... To compare now is just a joke

 

[ScouseBlueBoy]

If we get relegated, then this is a worse side side than Smith's. Let's go back to this thread at the end of the season.

 

[BigBlueBalls]

Whilst moyes is not blameless.. It's not his fault!! If yer get me..

Trusted players have aged and our not doing the business for him this year. But if he had the required funds over the last few years we would of had better players and prob not lost lost pienaar and Arteta.

It's far too easy to sit on your couch, lap top on legs and say bring in the youngsters. Our ageing underperforming players will not take us down. Moyes trusts them, the youngsters ?? Well u just can't reley on them over a season. They could take us down and worse you could kill there confidence and progress. Would be so unfair to put them all in this season when it was obvious it was going to be a struggle with no investment and loosing players.

I'm certain moyes plan this year after the transfer window closed would of been... Let's get safe in the league, see what we can do in January, get some of these kids some games latter in the season ready to hopefully be in alot better knick next year.

The board and so far some seniors have let him down. Moyes deserved the chance to put it right more than anyone.

I'm still confident with just a bit of cash and some of our younger boys coming through after this season is out of the way better times will return. But until there's a takeover and some proper transfer money well 7-8th is the best any manager could get out of this club.

Oh and I remember the smith era... To compare now is just a joke

Can't argue with much of that.
Moyes seems to work best with a backs to the wall mentality - when he has little money he makes it go far, when he has a few quid to throw around - his hit rate isn't so hot.
Certain signings haven't delivered - Bily - Gosling - Heitinga (to a point). Granted they are the three most recent and we have to go back a bit to get a few more. But to be fair, Fellaini (bad patches to one side) the exception - Moyes best work has been picking up undervalued players for the low millions - Baines and Jagielka being prime examples, but Pienaar, Arteta, Cahill & Bent being a few others.

Lets see how Gibson works out. Lets see who in the squad gets moved on in the summer. The financial gains we have seen from sales gone and pending - lets see if they translate to funds to buy with or simply are money saved on the wages with which to add too in the summer.
If Moyes ever wants a shot at a CL regular club, he has to be seen to be able to be trusted with big budgets and quality signings here with us.