Moyes proving what you hear is what you get
One comment from him – which went virtually unnoticed recently – was his response to all the transfer window chat and rumour mongering when saying: “My only focus at this moment is concentrating on improving the group I have here.”
That came after a couple of reminders that he really did have a talented bunch of players at his disposal and relegation wasn’t in his thoughts.
Now okay, I will not get get carried away on the back of a couple of vastly improved performances but it’s clear already that this isn’t a guy who speaks for the benefit of microphones.
He really does appear to mean what he says and the improvement of which he spoke is now clearly apparent – he is already maybe be changing a lot of minds about himself – he certainly is mine.
That Marko Arnautovic is now putting in a shift and a half, that Arthur Masuaku is being used correctly and that Michail Antonio, of all people, finished his game early flat on his back exhausted, shows what’s happening on the training ground.
Improvement is underway very quickly and boy it’s showing. Yesterday in another throw away remark he said he wants to be playing like Chelsea at some stage – I’m beginning to look at these little messages far more closely than previously because he doesn’t appear to do a lot of manager talk. Refreshing!
There was also a telling moment for me when Antonio did finally rise from the turf and headed for the dug out/tunnel.
We have become a little too used to manager player love-ins with hugs, kisses, pats on the backside and head etc. There was nothing of the sort from Moysie. Just the briefest of hand shakes whilst he continued to concentrate solely on what was happening on the pitch.
It indicated clearly what he’s about – team management – and treating players for what they are; very highly paid employees who don’t need to be showered with affection and thanks for what they should be doing.
I’m becoming more and more confident about the future.
COYI