By Hughie Southon
David Moyes sent out coach Mark Warburton to answer media questions after last night’s not entirely shock result of being held to a draw by Blackburn Rovers before the penalty shoot-out defeat.
This isn’t an entirely new scenario in the Carabao and FA Cup matches as the manager need only appear after Premier League games according to the rules.
Unfortuntely Mr Warburton had little more to say on the reasons why we are struggling right now so it only leaves us fans to draw our own conclusions.
There are two big questions to which so far neither the manager of members of his back up team past and present are offering any answers:
These are:
- Why aren’t we scoring more goals
- Why are we starting so very slowly
All season we have waited for considered answers and nothing has been forthcoming although there are those including the manager who has suggested part of the reason is that players aren’t in the best form,
Most would believe there’s more to it than that but there was only a more little coming from Warburton to suggest what!
He said at the post match presser: “It’s that little bit of quality to get that end product from a good period of football [that’s missing].
Let’s be honest; we started the game poorly tonight and let ourselves down in the first five or six minutes with the manner in which we started the game.
But then we started controlling the football more and went in as we did – and then the second half was much better.
We were dominant on the football, passed forward, got into great areas and created chances. But football is about scoring goals – goals change games – and we just didn’t get the final touch to get the rewards in the second half.
To concede in that manner, late in the game, was very frustrating.
On Sunday, we had a good attacking position in the 92nd minute, which we don’t capitalise on, and 30 seconds later the ball’s in the back of our net and we have to recognise that.
Of course it was mentioned, of course it was looked at and studied, but again tonight from a good attacking area, we let ourselves down, don’t defend our goal properly, allow a dangerous player back onto his stronger side and we paid the price for it.
As a team we did enough to move into the next round, so we’re disappointed that we haven’t. It’s the final bit of quality in the final third, we lacked it, we went to the lottery of penalties and paid the price.”
Every match day seems to be Groundhog Day with the same predictability: lazy start,, very slow build up play, questionable tactics and substitutions, many shots but few on targe and losing at the death. Furthermore we no longer score from corners. Moyes is looking increasingly like a manager who is out of date and cannot adapt and most of his support team are similarly “old school”. He seems unable to shake off the defensive mindset he has adopted throughout his career and has been found out by the opposition. I imagine that the Board are hoping that Everton sack Lampard and approach Moyes which would save it the indignity, and cost, of sacking him. To add insult to injury Vlasic had a goal and an assist last night. Another player who never got a break under Moyes.
Staying the obvious about what happened – we know – not why. Lining up against lower league with two DCM and no width. Unable to play out and link up to front players. Mantra – we started slowly/ badly, went behind early, played a bit but few goals, then conceded late’. Subs – predictable and not reflective of the game, just a format. Demoralised team, fans and atmosphere. Everybody else’s fault. Leicester? No thanks.