By Hughie Southon
David Moyes is regularly receiving a degree of criticism on the forums for not giving his youngsters an outing and that was the case again with Craig Dawson suspended from the Arsenal game.
Calls for Aji Alese have been regular and loud particularly after the Irons were beaten by two incredibly soft goals which sadly saw Manu Lanzini at fault.
I have no doubts that had Daws been available we might even got away with a 1-0 win but it’s harsh to criticise the smallest man on the pitch for failing to get above Holding for the first and losing Gabriel Magalhaes.
It would be as easy to criticise Vladi Coufal for the first given that he should possiblly have been on the post as Holding rose to head home.
I’m reluctant to criticise Moyes for NOT playing Alese although I do believe he should have had a look at him by now given he has claimed the under 23s have been in great form this season and he likes what he sees.
However, he has to decide whether a game against Arsenal was the right one in which to launch a player from Premier League 2 – which in reality is a million miles from the Premier League itself.
It’s very easy to be wise after the event but I’m still ready to keep the faith with Moyes on this one given he will know the score far better than us as far as the young man’s form is concerned.
Alese will get his chance I’m sure and possibly against relegated Norwich but at this stage we have to trust Moyes yes to do what he believes is right.
This is one of those where Moyes really exposes his weaknesses and flaws.
Great job done for us. Definitely not without his negatives.
Your point is week made Hugh, only DM knows. Also massively agree that he should have given him and others minutes as subs. My gut ache is that it’s not just Alese, not just this year, but all of them including Coventry for two years. No internal development. So we got to Arsenal with a real problem – and it was incredulous to see Fredericks and Cress out of position,. No defensive height with Zouma, Fornals at left w/b. They ran us ragged all game down the flanks and we failed at set pieces at both ends of the pitch. I just submit that Liverpool in this position called up young players. We shuffled the same tired pack and lost, again. So I take your point but wish you didn’t have to make it mate!!
Sorry I meant ‘well made’