David Moyes didn’t hesitate to pay tribute to Shrewsbury after today’s Third Round FA Cup tie declaring: “We’re fortunate that we’ve taken the tie to a replay.”
At his post match press conference he said: “Shrewsbury were better than us today so I’m pleased to still be in the FA Cup.
“We had hardly any attempts at all, maybe one or two, but very few. In the first half, Joe Hart made a couple of very good saves, and I don’t think anyone should be surprised by Shrewsbury because they are doing very well in their league.
“They have a bit of momentum so it was always going to be a tough game and not many Premier League teams are winning their games that easily. They are difficult to win.
“The biggest disappointment for me was that we didn’t show enough steel, because when you come to these places you have to show that you can battle and compete physically. I don’t think we did that at all.
“It’s a mentality thing too, wherever you’re playing you have to recognise and respect whatever you’re up against it’s going to be tough, whether that’s Tottenham or Shrewsbury.
“In the first half especially we didn’t compete at all.”
He added: “Josh was probably our best player today. Considering he’s only just come back and we’re getting to know him, he did well.
“He had two teeth knocked out and he’s gone straight to A&E to see if they can save them. Reidy just felt his groin kicking one at the end and we certainly don’t need to add to it [the injury list
Josh Cullen had a good game showing alertness and courage. He tried to make things happen, he played one-two’ sand tried to link up. Mr Moyes is right to recognise that. Rice looked like Bobby Moore in terms of reading the game, positioning, composure coming onto the ball, and those outstretched challenges. Burke was sound.
Hernandez and Ayew were simply appalling. No guile, no coherence, no pace, no penetration. How did Mr Moyes not change them both for a couple of young, spirited runners much earlier than 70+ minutes? What game was he watching?
Kouyate and Obiang’s distribution and possession were both appalling. Manukau had a slight s/h flourish. Cullen’s late s/h switch to central midfield gave us a little more shape. Ogbonna was okay at the back. As Reid stretched and twisted I grimaced anticipating an injury. Reid has physiological issues: he is knock-kneed, watch how he walls and moves. Why the club doesn’t use its riches to arrange a consult on Reid’s posture and physiology in order to minimise his injury proneness is beyond comprehension. For all the criticism on this blog, how would Marpuane Fellaini and Alfie Mawson not be useful signings? Overall an incredibly desultory performance, worryingly reminiscent of the worst of games during Slaven’s tenure.
Going mystical there seems to be a perennial and insidious issue at the core of our club. It’s never far away from showing itself on the pitch in the lacklustre performed. This was visible today. The sheer technical as well as tactical, game plan incompetence; the awful passing, handing possession over needlessly, and the absence of intelligent movement against hard working yet ordinary opposition.
Our club is crying out for progressive leadership from the top, a clear footballing business strategy. Strategic leadership from the top should trickle down through to the team on the pitch. A strategic policy for buying and offloading players should be in place. Without a concerted and coherent strategic leadership our club is in danger of becoming the next Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday or Sunderland. What is happening on the pitch is surely a reflection of the leadership at the heart of the club. Clubs that thrive and be one sustainable in the PL need good club and team coaching coherence. The lack of coherence on the pitch is a reflection of the incoherent business strategy of the club. Not even Mr Moyes can do anything about that. A club without its own ground is a club with its spiritual core ripped out. That is who we are, and this is the outcome of the combined leadership of the D’s x2 and Lady Brady.
Today all became crystal clear. Mr Moyes has indeed brought organisation and structure. But that’s the extent of his coaching prowess. Creativity, good footballing habits of passing, movement have gone. We lack pace, we lack striking quality and midfield presence, though the defence did a decent job. Hart had very little to contend with and this points to how awful we were against a very blunt, one dimensional but hard working and honest Shrewsbury.
Excuse the typo…Masuaku not Manukau.
Moyes has plenty of excuses.Nothing valid
His formation with Cullen out on the right being wasted.
Nearly all of the fans knew that team selection would not work.
Ayew or Hernandez with Martinez would of added more fight. Haksabanovic with either Obiang or Kouyate would have added the same.The senior players couldn’t be bothered in the main. they could of been brought on if we were losing .Pathectic from Moyes saying we didn’t have any alternatives,Haksabanovic must of been devastated he didn’t get any time.
I reckon Moyes bottled it and put in Kouyate,who was probabl your worst player.
Moyes got away with a draw but he was lucky.
I am not a football coach I do no hold any badges or certificates, but could any body see the point of putting two 5ft nothing forwards up front in Ayew and Hernandez ? and then just lob high balls up to them ? It’s not that they regularly get up high and head balls like Carroll, they are get in the box and then to feet players surely? So why at every chance of going forward our midfielders and defenders kept lamping it up? Because that to me seemed to be our main and only way of a game plan that certainly back fired today ??? Anyone agree??
What today has shown i hope is just how out of sorts some of the team has been.Kouyate is a shadow of the player he was and must be on borrowed time.Ayew is too lightweight and also looked lost(huge gap between him and chicharito all match)never looked a partnership but Kouyate is a huge worry with no energy or passing game or aggression in the engine room is criminal.No wonder the Boss is looking for a dominant enforcer in midfield.Cullen can hold his head up as he was the pick of them today but there was no craft in the midfield areas to feed the forwards who were totally redundant today.Serious money needs to be spent on that midfield area.
Cullen was the only bright spot of that game w Rice. should of put on Sameulsen or Sead with him & Toni (who should of started bc 2 poachers don’t work) Rather gone for it & loss. Sameulsen & Sead can create.
I’ve said all season why did we send Cullen on loan & would have him here now playing over Kouyate.
He was our best set piece takes which is sad but he was & wasn’t affradi to step up for Moyes told Arthur to take one & it was horrific. That shows how much we need creativity in this team been saying it forever & Moyes won’t find it In PL.
But back to Cullen Moyes praised him & hopefully he will keep him bc we need him in squad need that mentality of 110% he is Noble esq. On & off the ball is solid & might not have most natural talent but makes up for it w work ethic. So many wrote him off bc Bolton quit playing him when they went defensive but many players had not so great loands that turn good.
He is 21 that was is first start in months & would think will only get better training w team & getting more games.
Not like he is on high wages but would think Moyes has seen enough to keep him here.
He created are best chance w cross after first corner that Cheik could got head to then fell right at Ayews feet should of scored was solid cross.
I’d keep Burke too didn’t have best game but not used the RWB been playing CB mostly.
But can’t send us sensing Cullen back w 21man squad & that aren’t starting him after that against league one aide or not he gave more then anyone & was like that against Juve.
Him & Rice could link up well too.
Been saying he deserves a chance & now hopefully he will get one no reason to sell him for peanuts & Quina makea over 3x as much as him but I think Quina should go on loan w Vashom. Cullen looked ready & took his chance so reward him w place in the squad.