WHAT MOYES DID NEXT

comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 5 minutes ago
You seem remarkably obsessed by our ex manager.
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We can only hope.
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fingers crossed here

My type-o was dual purposed Dazza.

VC, great stuff.

3. All the time pray for an injury to either RVP or Rooney - allowing him to play his preferred formation.

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He could just get a cleaver?

There is no bad luck about it just horrific tactics. Basic Sunday league hoof ball into box tactics.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 46 minutes ago
OP

You seem remarkably obsessed by our ex manager.
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Had a decade of him - so only natural to see what becomes of Dithering Dave. And your future captain Rooney for that matter.

In the same way that if SAF had gone to let's say Arsenal you would be interested in his form.

It is a mess and his fault because he did not have the balls to come in and stamp his organisational skills onto the team.

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Please go into great graphical detail as to what 'organisational skills' you refer to.

Please go into great graphical detail as to what 'organisational skills' you refer to.
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Rock steady beat...


A solid shape

David Moyes is a particular fan of "segmenting" his training pitch to encourage players to cover space efficiently. One format involves the playing area divided into 24 equal squares, so the defence play high up the pitch, the wide players stretch the play, and the attackers rotate position.

Another setting has the pitch divided lengthways into six narrow bands of 12 yards each – the back four must occupy the nearest four "bands" when the ball is on one flank, then the middle four when the ball is in central positions. There's also a strong importance placed upon positional responsibilities at transitions from attack to defence, with players ordered to organise themselves immediately, usually into two banks of four.

Reactive tactics

Moyes travelled to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to witness Chelsea's strategy ahead of Everton's trip there on the final day of the campaign. It was no surprise – it's hard to think of another Premier League manager so frequently found by television cameras in the stands, scouting upcoming opponents.

It sums up Moyes's approach – whereas other managers believe paying too much attention to the opposition affects self-belief, the Scot is a naturally reactive manager who varies his side's approach to nullify the strengths, and expose the weaknesses, of a particular opponent. Sometimes this reactivity can become negativity, and while Moyes has often frustrated big sides in the Premier League he has rarely beaten them – especially away from Goodison Park.

The value of width

The defining feature of Everton's play this season is the crossing of Leighton Baines from the left, where his partnership with Steven Pienaar is arguably the best wide combination in the Premier League. One of the key parts of Moyes's strategy is creating overloads – two-versus-one and three-versus-two situations – in wide areas. The movement of Leon Osman from a central position towards the channel often confuses opposition defences, who are reluctant to be dragged out of shape, and end up defending a stream of crosses. "We like our attackers to retain width whilst ensuring team-mates still occupy space in the middle of the field," he told the Elite Soccer magazine this year.

Ball retention in advanced positions

Compared to many other managers recently appointed at big clubs, Moyes is not overwhelmingly focused upon ball retention – Everton possess the 11th-best pass completion rate in the Premier League. However, when Everton do have possession, they keep the ball in advanced positions; 33% of their passes are played in the opposition third of the pitch – which on paper sounds entirely logical, but it's the highest percentage of any Premier League team, with Marouane Fellaini and Osman, two attacking midfielders, the most prolific passers. (The opposite would be a side like Swansea – 23% in the final third, with two defenders their most frequent passers.) Moyes's sides may not focus upon possession play, but nor are his sides ever guilty of sterile domination – he encourages positive outcomes, ie crosses and shots, at the end of attacking moves.

Switches of play

Moyes has always appreciated calm, patient midfielders who are happy knocking the ball calmly from flank to flank. Mikel Arteta was key when fielded in central midfield, and Moyes's purchase of Darron Gibson from Manchester United provided Everton with another reliable, unfussy passer in that position, which means Michael Carrick should continue to play an important role.

One of Moyes's favourite training sessions involves two small-sided teams attacking into three mini-goals, which are spread across the width of the playing area. The idea is to encourage players to attack down one side, realise the opposition are blocking the path to goal, and then play a quick lateral pass to attack from the opposite wing. The results are evident in Everton's play.

Comprehensive stuff. Interesting read, too.

Stupid Sticky Toffees.I doubt that he is even an Everton fan!