(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
David Moyes would probably be the first to admit he got lucky yesterday!
His only setback was the news that Michail Antonio was unavailable but given his form of late that would have been a mighty shock ahead of the game.
From then on, however, everything went entirely his way with the biggest bonus being that an absolutely awful Cherries side – probably the worst in the Premier League right now – provided the opposition.
They truly are awful although let’s allow for the numerous injuries they have and extend some sympathy to their admirable manager at the worst time in his reign at the club.
The truth is, however, that they were exactly the right opposition for Moyes who then want on to see us get a penalty upheld by VAR plus a reversed red card.
Four goals on he was being hailed as a hero and as his way justifiably explained that it was all down to the players who had made it easy for him in his first game.
I believe he will keep us up and that in fact we will finish in a decent position. However yesterday was about the players rather than Moyes.
They looked as though they had been released from a Pellegrini prison who in the end had no idea how to get a performance from any of them.
Yesterday, they almost managed themselves and although one is tempted to believe that under Moyes we will be efficient rather than exciting that could be a false view.
Anderson, Lanzini, Haller and, increasingly, Fornals along with Antonio are indeed exciting players and with Moyes claiming we will get better, we may be able to prepare for some heady days at the London Stadium after all.
Great win, great relief – a win on Sunday and something from Bramall Lane a week on Friday and we will surely all be believers again!
Personally , I never doubted Moyes and Was disappointed to see him go and get replaced by Pelligrini . Anyway apart from all that , we have gotten off with flyer under DM . It doesn’t matter that Bournemouth were poor as we have been just as poor on more occasions than I have fingers to count with . To see the team playing with renewed confidence and ambition was like a Blast of Fresh Air blowing through the Stadium . This was a game that could easily have been lost under Pelligrini , make no mistake . So , it’s welcome back David . Hope we show the same commitment in the upcoming FA Cup game . We should try to keep this team together by playing them again . The Cup is very important to the Fans . Keeping a winning mentality is absolutely paramount to our survival in the Premiership .
Bit harsh Hugh I think the win definitely came down to Moyes.
Yes they had Injuries but so do we. The tactical display from Moyes was too much for Eddie Howe. Under Pellgrini we never pressed, in the defensive transition we would work back to 2 banks of four. Howe set up for this with Lerma and cook in the double pivot and they looked to play from the back. Moyes completely changed this, instead we did a 4-4-2 alleyway press, looking to force them into tight channels where Nobes and Dec would pinch the ball back. He put grafters on out wide in Snod and Fornals, and scrapped the slow tempo passes at the back, instead looking to launch fast tempo breaks, Haller was running in behind instead of a static advanced pivot role.
Pellegrini cannot speak at press conferences nor can he get his messaging clear. He obviously has a higher level of tactical astuteness than Moyes, meaning his philosophies are probably more successful than Moyes, but only with elite players. We are what we are, a mid-table decent team. Moyes is Pragmatic and a great coach for working with what he has. Anderson – “give us a Brazilian goal” etc. Since Moyes came 2 days ago all the messaging has changed. From: “in this moment 1 or 2 balls decide everything, we must remain tactically and defensively very good” to “I want every drop from you, earn the Jersey, work hard”.
If you’ve ever played football at any level this simple messaging can make a massive difference on moral. Rather than high disciplined “robot” football, he released the shackles. Eddie Howe wasnt expecting it and they were 3-0 down after half hour. Moyes is humble and obviously wont brag about it, but he got it spot on yesterday.
Fair enough Tommy and welcome 🙂