The perfect example of Moyesball . . . by Nuno
Something occurred to me whilst watching Nottingham Forest beat a flustered West Ham 2-0 at The City Ground. It quickly became evident that I was witnessing the perfect execution of David Moyes’ tactics; unfortunately, it was Forest who were using them.
The Robin Hoods/Friar Tucks (or whatever their nickname is) were organised in defence, combative in midfield, fast on the flanks, and had a mobile and strong No. 9 in attack. If David Moyes could create a team in his image, it would look like Nottingham Forest.
The never ending project
The counter attacking team is a utopian ideal in David Moyes, which I’m sure he imagines at the culmination of his project. Alas, it’s not something that ever manifests itself because Moyes builds teams too slowly. As good as Hudson-Odoi and Elanga were for Forest, Moyes would never have bought them. He’d have found flaws in their game or character, and the deal would never be done.
The same could be said for the excellent Murillo in central defence. Eighteen months ago, the centre-half was playing under-20s football in Brazil, and it took a huge leap of faith to sign him and play him. Had West Ham signed the player then, he’d have featured in the EFL Trophy but nothing more. Moyes is on record as saying that central defenders need to be mature and have experience. However, Murillo looks better than any of the four central defenders on our books.
Forest are a fast counter-attacking team with great physicality. I’m quite certain that Moyes would have admired much of what he saw from Nuno EspĆrito Santo’s team. But it would have been a fleeting admiration quickly dismissed from his mind. Many of this Forest team have been thrown together in the last 12 months, and that is not something we’ll ever see.
So whilst Forest are recruiting the likes of Awoniyi… David Moyes is still biding his time and waiting to see who he can get to replace Gianluca Scamacca.
Scamacca? He hasnāt got round to replacing Haller yet. How did he get on after he left West Ham btw?
Dithering Dave is alive and, well, he’s not looking too good for the job now.
I donāt know why weāre having this discussion, Moyes should be gone. Itās clear as day heās lost the players, the players are lost, their desire is lost.
Unless there is a plan at the end of the season then he should be released to save some of this season. The football has been smash and grab bar Wolves all season and weāre done in the main. What is Sullivan waiting for, heāll lose money by keeping Moyes.