I think calling for Moyes head now is still as bit premature.
Yes, he made some mistakes in the summer with perhaps the biggest being letting Stubbs go in favour of a new contract to Weir and not resigning Michael Ball instead of buying Nuno Valente.
He should have been able to see what was obvious - that Stubbs even with a lack of pace was a real captain, was a good organiser at the back and had a strong association with the fans and Ball was always a local lad with proven Premiership quality and experience - whereas Weir was finished and Nuno Valente unproven (He'll never be able to play in the Premiership).
Also he has really been badly disrupted by the fact that Gravesen and Carsley are no longer either at the club or are injured. Tommy's loss really has left us with little creativity and command of the centre of the park and Carsley was one of our best players in protecting the defence last year.
But in general the signings of Arteta, Martyn, Yobo, Van Der Meyde and Neville are good signings. I think Kroldrup and Beattie will come good - Beattie needs the right partner and service (He has been much improved when VDM has played). If we could add a pacey striker to play alongside him - AJ is the best option - then he will be ok. Kroldrup just needs time to get used to playing with Yobo and the rest of the back four.
Davies needs to up his game. He would be better if he is playing in the middle with someone stronger either alongside him or with another player covering the back four. Cahill is really off his game at the moment and too much is on Arteta as the only creative player. Van Der Meyde creates a threat for other teams and we need him back quickly - so far he has been ok but when he hits form and fitness, he'll offer Beattie more chances.
At the moment, Moyes needs to revert to 4-1-4-1 or 4-1-3-1-1 with some cover for the defence.
My team for tomorrow night with Carsely unavailable would look like this :
Martyn
Hibbert Yobo Kroldrup Ferrari
Neville
Arteta Cahill Davies
McFadden
Beattie
I think we need some more cover for the back four and Neville is the best bet for this and it's about time Ferrari was given his chance at Left Back - for the earlier games this season he looked ok and could be a good buy, given a chance.
This is my biggest complaint with Moyes - he buys Kroldrup and Ferrari and then doesn't get them into the team quickly to bed in.
He has stuck with Weir too long when it was obvious that his lack of pace was a problem for how high the defence can defend up the pitch, the wins over Boro and Newcastle were a bit of a defensive smokescreen and Moyes should have seen this.
In both wins and the win at Blackburn, Nuno Valente was injured. It was obvious that he wasn't up to the job and we should cut our losses on this signing quickly. He isn't settledeither - sell him in January !!
Finally in the game yesterday, Moyes can't do anything about Yobo falling asleep when he should have tracked Angel behing Kroldrup for the 3rd goal, he can't do anything about Cahill not picking up Delaney's run for the 2nd goal (Hibbo was at fault) and he can't do anything about the fact that Hibbert didn't follow Baros' run from midfield for the 4th goal. All 3 of these goals could easily have been prevented by basic common sense and effort by the players in question. I would be suggesting that the players need to take a serious look at themselves for these goals.
Just to add - on a very reliable source - Newell has already been approached with some of his coaching team and if results don't pick up over Christmas then a change will be made in early January.
Jason
