David Moyes is ready to concentrate on the attacking side of the Irons game after three games which have been all about “not conceding.”
He said: “When I saw the fixtures in front of us I though’ Here we go’ but we have tightened up. We’ll take the points and the clean sheets but now I want much better from them.
“Against teams like these it’s all about not losing or conceding. It’s very hard to go toe to toe with teams like that but the run of games coming up gives us a chance and we have two up front (Arnautoivic and Antonio) plus Andy Carroll, Chicharito and Diafra Sakho.
“We have been working on defence every day, repeating the same messages so it becomes second nature to them but now we need to do more on the attacking side.
“I’m really enjoying working with the players, I’m enjoying the club and the training ground which reminds me of Everton but we need to improve our passing and our all round game.
“I have to say too, the crowd here have been fantastic. This is big club, a great club, which is simply in a bad position and we have to get it back up there!”
YES, COYI!
True, but now that the players are finally into playing a collective sport, and are clearly following a game plan, confidence seems to be back. Step by step, this is rapidly improving. Just need to confirm and not relapse against Stoke and company, because the other teams around us have also woken up and are collecting points… We are only six points from tenth place, but so are Palace and WBA.
Moyes is making a might good fist of the management job..
In less than 2 months, he has put together a fitter, faster, and more organized team.
He could have easily been tempted to come in and go all out for scoring goals in order to pacify a very uncertain and dissatisfied fan base
To his credit, he has had a good look at the individual players and the potential of the playing squad.
I am sure he will continue to embark on keeping a tight ship at the back, while looking at different means of improving goal-scoring chances. For a guy who loves using wingers/wing-backs, he must be delighted at the quality and speed available on the flanks. (including Quina, Haksabanovic, Arthur, Diangana etc).
The sudden emergence of Arnautovic provides him with the ‘big-man/smaller man (Chicharito/Antonio) attacking’ potential, with Lanzini sitting behind.
Whether we create chances through the middle or via the flanks, or from set-pieces if we employ the optimally balanced formation (3-5-2, 4-4-2, but not the 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 just yet), then we should be able to create approx. 5-6 clear-cut chances/games, with the view of converting 33-50% times. The advent o a faster and fitter Arnautovic removes the reliance on Andy Carroll to act as a single lone-wolf striker.
What Moyes must try and do from the New Year onwards, is to make sure that we win the games which ‘we should be winning’ and getting good results in the more challenging games.
If Moyes can keep us in the EPL, we could move onto bigger and brighter things; we have an excellent Academy squad which I’m sure will be use in good time. Thus, hang onto our present top first team squad. start playing the best of our U-23s, and push the ‘Brothers’ for some decent Summer transfer funds (150,000 million pounds for 4 top quality players to take us up into the top 10 or higher).. Never dreamt of these possibilities! COYI
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+1
Two weeks ago it was impossible to predict we would come through those three games with 4points & only 2 goals conceded. It seems mad to question our survival hopes now, but as noted by others above we have only done half the job. Saints are 11th but only 4pts above the drop zone. The next 2 games-against two sides who are struggling – will tell us a lot. They will probably try to do what we have done in the last three games. If City, Chelsea & Gooners cannot break us down, how easy are we going to find it against sides as well organised as we have been in those games. Our creative spark is Lanzini but he has not impressed me at all recently.
Max-news that G&S have both just had heart attacks following your demand for £150 BILLION lol. You are not a man to do things by halves that’s for sure! I reckon you could buy the whole Real Madrid squad for £1billion.
Agree 64 & Max.
Moyes was no ones first pick & not known for fast starter but he has done an excellent job & we have a proper staff.
He took care of defense first which was needed it badly & shows how much now bc getting the best out of Oggy who most where sick of but there is that good Defender we bought from Juve just needed organisation directions & a TEAM which we are now!
And knwo we can focus more on attack when you trust you defence easier to let players get fwd. We still need work but Moyes has down a briliant job in a very little time e a squad that was just individuals & was worst then most even thought.
Seeing the light now & at first Moyes will be a stopgap a lot said even if he does do good replace .in summer.
But of he keeoa this up we finish top _12, or better & decent cup run I would give him is extension not expensive & is argueable better in his 2nd year which is what we need