Column Patience Kieran Fitzgerald 24/12/2007 11comments | Jump to last During the last four or five transfer windows Moyes has had to try and obtain players that would improve every area of the pitch. Right now this would appear to have come to fruition with our defence and our forward line. Our defence is getting better by the week, as are it's reviews. And when you consider that it has not been as settled as we would like it is even more impressive. Our forward line is starting to score goals, despite not having a settled front two and two young players in Vaughan and Anichabe. (I'm purposely veering away from calling them inexperienced as I think that they are both a step up from that description at this stage.) This obviously leaves the midfield and to most of us, it is the weakest link at the moment. Because of this I think that Moyes will concentrate on it alone over the next two transfer windows. I'm not going to give a huge list of players that we should buy as it's pure speculation at this stage but I will say that Pienaar is an obvious signing. A long term replacement for Carsley is also a must. ( Vogel, if true that we're taking him, may give a season to eighteen month's breathing space on this.) An aggessive central midfielder would also be on my wishlist if not two. When it comes to it, I just hope that whowever Moyes does buy, they are out and out midfielders. I think that this season up to now has shown that the squad has developed beyond needing or relying on utility players. With all our players available, we have talent all over the pitch and are playing some excellent football. When we have some of our first choice midfielders out, our football regresses in a big way. Having utility players as backup in midfield is actually now proving to be a hinderance to how the team and squad are progressing as a whole. I think as fans we have to be patient though and just see how Moyes gets on with this. Our expectations have risen beyond all belief this season and we will all feel very hard done by if we reach the middle of May without at least UEFA cup qualification in the bag. However, I don't think we should look for anyone's head if things don't pan out. With just the midfield to focus on, we should be in position to really make a go of things next August and that is when I would be making demands for a trophy. Reader Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Andy Morden 1 Posted 26/12/2007 at 19:12:15 Report abuse Yes I agree, patience is required. I have stated on here before that the baying for action in the transfer market is silly. I increasingly trust Moyes’s judgement - If we had have signed Kamara, Koumas and Nugent like some were demanding I suspect we would not be in the position we are in now. Let us see what develops. I’m not advocating mute acceptance of events, just a measured weighing up of the pros and cons, with minimal feverish speculation! Erik Dols 2 Posted 26/12/2007 at 19:10:05 Report abuse Well, this feeling of "with just a signing or two we’ll really push for trophies" is something I read for at least two seasons now ;-).And don’t get the wishes for trophies to far away with thinking of next season. Chelsea look very vulnerable at the back last weeks. With some composure and a bit of luck we’re off to Wembley in just a few months!But let’s just take it one game at a time. The gunners never like to come to the north, COYB! Danny Smith 3 Posted 26/12/2007 at 20:27:42 Report abuse We need a winger and a holdinh midfielder player maybe Parker or Diarra and an out and out left winger like Manny. Danny Mullally 4 Posted 26/12/2007 at 20:52:11 Report abuse Kieran, Your sentiments regarding any new signings are spot on in my opinion. We are a good side but to improve we must not sign any more of these jack of all trades - master of none type players. As Moyes is probably all to aware you only get succcess by developing a side where each and every player understands their role-and can successfully perform to the best of their ability within that framework. I feeel we are getting closer each season but we do lack real quality in depth. Look at the injection of class that a quality finisher like Yakubu has done recently in attack, or the threat and intelligent defending of Lescott in defence - we need that type of impact in midfield. We did have that player I beleive but for whatever reason he went to Valencia. Fact is we should sign a player high in quality and established and comfortable in a central midfield role-nothing else. Tony Waverleas 5 Posted 27/12/2007 at 09:31:08 Report abuse Transfer speculation is a giggle; it?s harmless and we?re all guilty of indulging.But can we please draw a line under this vain nonsense of telling DM who to buy and what "weaknesses" he needs to addresss in his squad, please?Because you?d have to admit he really does seem to know what he?s doing.So, maybe he?s best left alone to just get on with things, wouldn?t you say?Just a thought, like. Andy MacFarlane 6 Posted 27/12/2007 at 18:26:32 Report abuse Now that we know that "Ze Bank" extended our overdraft facilities as a result of being guaranteed by Robert Earle, it may actually have been the case that we could have signed Fernandes AS WELL AS Yakubu last summer. That really would have been a major piece in the jigsaw for Moysey. Would we have Manny back now? You know, if any other Chairman had been made to look like a twat by Manny?s Agent like BK (OK, BK haters, don?t start with the "he is a twat, anyway") there would be NO WAY. BUT, I bet if Moysey wanted it, BK would sanction it. Brendan McLaughlin 7 Posted 27/12/2007 at 18:55:20 Report abuse FFS! What is it with some people? We are on a great run and at the half-way point in the season we sit sixth in the table. But there are still some people who can’t resist taking a dig at Moyes.Now we are signing to many "jack of all trades, master of none" type players. How many of these players have we actually signed - Neville, Jagielka (who had an outstanding game yesterday).Oh yeah I forgot that useless Spaniard Arteta - can play on the left, right or through the middle. Yes guys, you are absolutely right yet again - no more of these utility squad players, please. Andy MacFarlane 8 Posted 27/12/2007 at 19:20:55 Report abuse He He Brendan. Good shout, mate. But what about that "Jack of all Trades" Lescott? Centre half or Left back? DM really had better sort out his transfer policy! Kieran Fitzgerald 9 Posted 27/12/2007 at 21:33:51 Report abuse Brendan. It wasn?t a pop at Moyes. My point was that we have better quality indepth now and we do not need to rely on utility players to fill a number of positions. It?s actually a credit to Moyes in my mind that our squad is where it is and that our first eleven is of such a good quality at present.Andy Mac. Lescott is a centre back, it?s his preferred position and his best one. Why play him in a position that?s not his best. The same goes for Neville, he?s a better right back than midfielder. If you play players out of position like this do you not think it weaken?s the team when you are playing several players out of position like this? Andy MacFarlane 10 Posted 28/12/2007 at 01:08:34 Report abuse Keiran, err.. not necessarily. Lescott is most certainly one of the best English Centre backs in the Premiership, but if Baines is injured, and we have a fit and available Jags to play at centre half, I don?t think it weakens the team at all to play JL left back. Totally agree about Neville, however, and about the need to strengthen even further the midfield cover. Kissock is a great prospect, but maybe a season off getting into the first team squad. Tony Waverleas 11 Posted 28/12/2007 at 09:22:11 Report abuse Panic! Everybody panic!We’re having the worst season in living memory!The manager can’t do anything without my advice!Plus I know absolutely everything that goes on in the boadroom! Honest!Etc, etc ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Danny Mullally 12 Posted 28/12/2007 at 10:09:19 Report abuse Brendan, No one ere is having a dig at moyes, I was responding to a very valid point by Keiran about how IN MY OPINION we should strengthen with quality players proven and accustomed to a position. The jack of all trades comment was not a dig, it has been proven to work in some cases but you tell me what happened to the performances this season when we played Neville or Jags centre mid? Where they good enough? No-simple as. As Moyes is well aware, If we want to crack on and compete on the next level we wont get there unless we add quality to each position. Brendan McLaughlin 13 Posted 28/12/2007 at 20:29:06 Report abuse Hey Danny if the "jack of all trades" comment is you being nice I certainly wouldn’t like to be on the receiving end when you do decide to give someone a dig. © ToffeeWeb