Ive been a "Moyes Apologist" (as some call it) on this board all season but his decisions last night were utterly baffling.
We had a decent, if unspectacular, winning performance against Palace. Why change that side??
Mata was cup tied, so swap him like for like with kagawa and try to get some consistency in our team and performance.
Instead he completely changes the team;
- picks two utter dross wingers in Valencia and Young who are simply not good enough and out of form. Playing two traditional wide men, leaves our centre midfield exposed.
- Leaves out Januzaj to "rest him" but its before an international break??
- To top it off he leaves out Felliani who was ok in the previous game and could provide us with a physical presence if nowt else. Instead Moyes chose Sir Thomas of Cleverley who is still to prove hes not a championship player let alone a united player. There were times Olympiakos walked through our midfield. Vidic and Rio may be past their peak but they've never been so ruthlessly exposed as this.
Moyes and United HAVE to start to accept that the midfield engine is vital in the modern game. Dont leave them exposed and outnumbered and dont make sacrifices in that area for dross wingers who add nothing to our game.
i'm getting bored of saying the same things and having backed Moyes to the hilt, as i felt the players were letting him down, i've now run out of patience. Its time for a fresh start in the summer with a new man at the helm given the chance to spend the millions weve been promised.
Going back to my original point, you only have to look at Mourinho. Once he gets the team in shape he sticks with it and that drives consistency in performance (not that i ever wanted him as our manager mind). We have NOT got the luxury of chopping and changing all the time.
Simple Ethos - Don't change a winning team
posted on 26/2/14
It is becoming harder and harder to defend the guy when he says things like "I chose to play Cleverley last week, so didn't bring Januzaj along".
I don't know the ins and outs of professional football management, but surely decisions about such an important match should take into account the performances in the most recent match (Saturday).
I just don't get it because he was always a very smart and calculated guy at Everton.
posted on 26/2/14
>There is not an international break, btw.
i guess if youre being pedantic, then youre right. However our next game is not till 8th March and England play midweek before then.
posted on 26/2/14
Vidic and Rio may be past their peak but they've never been so ruthlessly exposed as this.
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Rio was awful last night - exposed, maybe, but he was being made to look pub standard.
posted on 26/2/14
What about his comment 'they haven't lost their all season, it was expected' or whatever it was.
What a negative thing to say, the sooner he goes the better.
he's been picking and making awful subs all season.
He should get the back if we don't turn up at the home leg personally.
posted on 26/2/14
Sack... *
posted on 26/2/14
Tough CL game....big pressure as United's only chance of salvaging the season. Massive opportunity for Moyes to put the troubles behind him and
"I chose to play Cleverley last week, so didn't bring Januzaj along"
He deserves the sack just for that alone...
posted on 26/2/14
I'll say it in simple words, we've got a monkey in our dugout with his little chimp mates.
posted on 26/2/14
comment by Jay - I have thought of something profound and this is it. (U16498)
posted 12 minutes ago
Vidic and Rio may be past their peak but they've never been so ruthlessly exposed as this.
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Rio was awful last night - exposed, maybe, but he was being made to look pub standard.
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He wasn't awful, our defence was not awful, there was no protection and no out ball for them to play. You could see Rio screaming last night at Carrick and Cleverley.
Team is not balanced and the manager is to blame
posted on 26/2/14
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - MoyesIn, MoyesOut, ya shake it all about (U2958)
posted 20 minutes ago
It is becoming harder and harder to defend the guy when he says things like "I chose to play Cleverley last week, so didn't bring Januzaj along".
I don't know the ins and outs of professional football management, but surely decisions about such an important match should take into account the performances in the most recent match (Saturday).
I just don't get it because he was always a very smart and calculated guy at Everton.
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This, considering Mata was cup tied, he could have fielded the exact same team and played Kagawa in Mata's role and we would have kicked on from what looked a promising set up. Instead he went back to a flat 4-4-2 with crap. I've been a defender of Valencia for ages but when Smalling a crap RB looks more threatening that a RW, you are in trouble.
I'm sorry, Moyes has to go, the sooner the better
posted on 26/2/14
You could see Rio screaming last night at Carrick and Cleverley.
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Rio gave the ball away on countless occasions, worked himself in to more pressure with sloppy passing. He passing, control, and tackling were all miles off last night. Vidic was good last night. Smalling is not a right back, his passing was equally woeful, though he managed to defend relatively well.