Moyes reveals Baines concern

, 8 January, 52comments  |  Jump to most recent
David Moyes admitted that he played Leighton Baines at Cheltenham despite the left back carrying an injury out of a desire to field a strong side after the lesson at Leeds United earlier this season.

Moyes revealed after the 5-1 win that Baines, "has got a bad ankle problem which I need to watch and be careful with...

"I thought we needed him because we have to respect the players at this level as well and what they offer to the game.

"It was really important we didn't treat it any differently."

Baines played through the injury at Newcastle last Tuesday and struck a stunning free kick goal and played an hour tonight at Whaddon Road before being withdrawn with the score at 4-1.

His ankle was immediately strapped with ice and he will be assessed over the next few days as Moyes prepares for Saturday's visit of Swansea City.

His manager was happy with the professional job his strong line-up carried out against the Robins, though, as they progressed to set up a date with either Bolton Wanderers or Sunderland in the Fourth Round.

"I don't know if it was the strongest Premier League side put out this weekend or not but it could be folly if I had picked up injuries," Moyes said.

"Then it would have been made to look a bad decision. But I was disappointed when we lost our League Cup tie to Leeds United. I gave a few players a go and I didn't think we came up to scratch.

"I wasn't going to take a second chance, that's for sure. I just felt we needed the people tonight who knew what was going on.

"It was a very professional job. We did a job. I wanted to try and progress in the Cup if we can. We've got a bit of momentum and we want to try and keep it going if we can."

Quotes or other material sourced from Sky Sports



Reader Comments (52)

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Pete Anthony
1 Posted 08/01/2013 at 00:21:20
Well done David Moyes. Still the greatest cup competition in the world and well done for giving it the respect it deserves.

The Mickey Mouse credit card cup is less important. I would still like us to win it though, as the only tin pot missing from our collection.

Lifting the FA Cup in May? Heaven.

COYB.

James Stewart
2 Posted 08/01/2013 at 00:46:08
If Baines was carrying an injury, it was pretty stupid to play him for this. Surely we would have still had enough to beat the mighty Cheltenham without him!!?
Jim Knightley
3 Posted 08/01/2013 at 00:48:53
I'm with James on this one... I thought Cheltenham showed they had enough to bother us if we had played a second-string side... but to play Baines when he had an injury against a League Two side? Very strange. The Premier League should be the priority, especially at this stage of the competition, against lower league opposition.
Tom Dodds
4 Posted 08/01/2013 at 00:51:27
When I finally got the game on on the net tonight, the first Everton player I saw was Baines and I thought immediately ... Why?

And as for Moyes knowing he had an injury, the scenario begs stunned disbelief.

Colin Glassar
5 Posted 08/01/2013 at 01:04:25
If Baines was injured then this is criminal on Moyes behalf. He could have played Oviedo, Garbutt, Distin even, god forbid, Phil Neville at LB. I hope this doesn't come ack to bite us.
Mike Gaynes
6 Posted 08/01/2013 at 01:03:34
On the live forum, I called for Baines to be subbed out at halftime. And I didn't even know he was hurt. I understand Moyes' concern about winning, but Cheltenham ain't Leeds, and they weren't going to come back from 0-2 down. With Oviedo playing so well, Baines should never have come out for the second half.
Kris Boner
7 Posted 08/01/2013 at 01:17:27
We shall only be able to see if this is an error worth questioning come the weekend, against Swansea. Personally enjoyed watching a nice big win, though this cleansheet business needs to happen sooner or later.
Andrew James
8 Posted 08/01/2013 at 01:33:01
Garbutt is injured. I say drop Baines this weekend. I would hope we have enough at home to get past Swansea. They are a great team but Fellaini should be fresh as should Big Vic.

Leighton is fantastic therefore let's not make him play through the pain.

Jamie Sweet
9 Posted 08/01/2013 at 03:08:53
If Baines plays and plays well on Saturday then Moyes will be vindicated, but why take the risk? Starting with such a strong line up was the right idea, but surely subbing him at half time would have been sensible?

You could play the second half a hundred times and Cheltenham would never hit 3 unanswered goals in 45 minutes.

Rob Keys
10 Posted 08/01/2013 at 03:39:01
Moyes can't win, can he? There will be those who will crucify Moyes for not fielding a strong enough team if we had lost.
It's a tough call, u wanna win the cup, you put your best foot forward.
Isn't this our best/ only chance of silverware? Don't get me wrong, I want us to finish as high as we can. But wins generate confidence. There are those of you who said this isn't Leeds. For crying out loud, say that to those premier league teams who have already been dumped out. This is the FA cup; giant killing is most likely to take place in this competition.
Ernie Baywood
11 Posted 08/01/2013 at 03:57:44
DM is the best placed to judge whether a player needs a rest or not.

He may talk about the ankle but I doubt he has major concerns - as evidenced by playing him.

Graham Pearce
14 Posted 08/01/2013 at 06:42:33
I think Baines knows what he can do and if the injury isn't manageable he would have missed the game. Seriously, I think people just love to have a pop at Moyes. People want it all... they want us to be the club that rises above the actions of people like Saurez, Balotelli when Fellaini is out of line, Moyes is honest and refreshing.

When the FA Cup arrived, he plays just about full strength with the team packed with winners of which Baines is one. I trust Moyes and he made the call with Baines agreeing I suspect.

By the way, Coleman and Anichebe on the teamsheet before Heitinga and Naismith. Energy and pace and goals on both wings... with Kevin Mirallas hopefully back soon, I think we're in decent shape.

Matthew Salem
15 Posted 08/01/2013 at 06:57:56
You lot are truly unbelievable. You will moan and whinge regardless of who Moyes fields. The same people complaining about Baines playing today are probably the same who berated Moyes for the Leeds debacle.

Baines is our best player in in my view should be benched for 2 games, as extreme as it sounds, so he can get a rest with that ankle. Osman needs a break, too.

However, the FA-Cup is the only trophy we can win this season and every round should therefore be treated like it was a final, and that includes games against lesser sides.

Jamie Barlow
17 Posted 08/01/2013 at 07:36:12
It can't be that bad if he played last night and through the Newcastle game.

He knows his own body and obviously isn't bothered with the injury.

Chris Bentham
18 Posted 08/01/2013 at 08:31:24
I was just as disappointed with the substitutions. Surely at 3 - 0, 4 - 1 it was a chance to protect Baines, Fellaini and Jelavic and give Barkley, Duffy and Vellios a run out. When he did make subs it was Hitz and Naisy... Please tell me what we learnt from that! Missed opportunity, IMO.
Derek Williams
19 Posted 08/01/2013 at 08:43:23
Lots of players carry niggling injuries and play through them, both pros and amateurs. If it had been serious neither Baines nor Moyes would have risked it. A storm in a tea cup!

I'd expect him to be fit for Swansea; if he's not, so be it – have a game off and Oviedo slips in there, he looks perfectly competent.

Far too much negativity around at the moment... when in truth we haven't had this much to be positive about for years!!

Kjetil Moen
20 Posted 08/01/2013 at 09:25:19
This is a beautiful piece of tactical mockery by Moyes, I'm sure! Those pictures of Baines with ice strapped to both feet, sitting out in the cold so the cameras could capture him. Eager suitors should worry now! :D
Mark Threlfall
21 Posted 08/01/2013 at 09:38:44
I'm more than happy to support a club that treats the FA Cup with the respect that it deserves and the starting line-up chosen last night was testament to that. I was also extremely happy with the result and the way in which we played. Job done and onwards to beat Bolton or Sunderland.

The thing that I struggle to get over though is Moyes's use of his substitutes. At 4 - 1 and coasting, the fact that he introduces Steven Naismith and then Thomas Hitzlsperger is a joke. What exactly did Moyes (or we) gain from seeing them in the dying throws of a game won against League Two opposition?

Poor Ross Barkley (and Shane Duffy) is all I can say. The kid is a mercurial talent, whom I think we all want to see more of, and he has to sit watching a 30-year-old on a 12-month contract and a half crocked Scot.

I thought Everton was a team that encouraged it's youth?

Tony J Williams
22 Posted 08/01/2013 at 10:13:01
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

As Jamie sates above, Baines knows his own body and if he didn't think he couldn't play, he wouldn't. No matter what Moyes thinks.

I feel it has been longer than the Newcastle game, as he hadn't been taking the corners, probably the hammy then and the ankle now.

Jim Knightley
23 Posted 08/01/2013 at 10:24:11
Matthew/Rob... this isn't an argument about playing a strong team against Cheltenham... but an argument about playing an injured player, who is crucial to our long term ambition. There are worlds of difference. We could have put Oviedo in and left Pienaar in, and not weakened the team a great deal. There is a difference between general negativity, and questioning why we have used an injured player today.

Mirallas was rushed back this season when he wasn't ready... and as a result we have lost him for a month. Hibbert came into things too soon after being injured, and we have lost him for an extended period too.

Sometimes it is worth a risk... sometimes it isn't. But when our manager comes out and tells us that arguably our best player this season was risked in an away match to a League Two side, which we won 5 - 1 and played our best available team bar arguably one change... well, that's not negativity. I think Baines will make Swansea, but it doesn't mean this is not something to question.

Brent Stephens
24 Posted 08/01/2013 at 10:36:52
Somebody commented yesterday on the live match-day forum that maybe playing Baines and Felli was a way of cup-tieing them and putting off possible suitors.

It does sound strange otherwise to have played him with a niggle, when others could have stepped in.

Maybe more surprising is that Moyes came out and said he played him knowing he had a nigggle if indeed he has one.

Paul Hughes
25 Posted 08/01/2013 at 10:34:31
If Baines was fit enough to play, then he should have been selected. We have got to assume that Moyes/Round assessed that he was fit enough. If we hadn't made the game safe he'd have played the full 90 as he always does.

The same goes for all of our players – we should select the best available team for each match.

Did anyone see Phil Neville's interview after the game?

"We've only got 1 game a week from now until the end of the season (assuming no replays). Why does any of the 1st team need a rest?"

I couldn't agree more.

Paul David
26 Posted 08/01/2013 at 11:02:59
I don't subcribe to Moyes knowing whats he's doing regarding injuries. I remember Rodwell having to come off with a hamstring injury only for Moyes to start him about 3 days later, Rodwell lasted about 20 mins before having to be taken off and spent a long time out injured. There have been a few examples of Everton players breaking down after being declared fit to play.
Kevin Tully
27 Posted 08/01/2013 at 11:20:03
A very scary thought is this Everton side without Baines & Fellaini.

Thomas Surgenor
28 Posted 08/01/2013 at 11:14:12
To be fair, their right winger gave Baines a better test than most Premier League wingers have.

I would dread to think what would have happened if we started with Garbutt in there, he might have been tore a new one!!

I think he was right to start with Baines, and I'm sure Leighton would have been disappointed if he didn't start.

The only mystery to me is why Duffy didn't play instead of the aging Distin. Due to Distin's age and how vital he is to us, I would have liked him to get a bit of a rest.

And there was no need for Naismith to come on, game was dead and buried, we learnt nothing new from him. I thought it would have been a decent chance to learn more about Tolos.

John Crook
29 Posted 08/01/2013 at 11:40:17
Sunderland away (probably). You can't help but feel confident against Sunderland. They hate us and have that inferiority complex feeling about us. Obviously you would prefer to be at home but, if I had the choice of any Prem team away from home, I would go for Sunderland or West Ham every time
Trevor Lynes
30 Posted 08/01/2013 at 11:25:09
Paul... we are not a club with a big enough squad to have the luxury of resting players. I'm certain that Baines would have been asked if he wanted to sit the game out.

Cheltenham were no mugs and it's been proved over and over again that our youngsters do not come up to scratch. Oviedo is the only replacement fullback we have and he was already replacing Pienaar. Leave team selection to the players and manager and stop this stupid whinging.

Other top teams have really good players on their benches... We just don't have that option. When Mirallas is back it will put real menace into our attack, especially now that big Vic is playing better.

My biggest gripe is the lack of TV coverage of our game. It seems ours is the only one that has not had extended highlights so far. Now this evening Bradford and Villa is televised. Somebody up there definitely does not like us.

Tony J Williams
31 Posted 08/01/2013 at 11:44:15
Jim 275, Pienaar is carrying an injury too.

Thomas, as stated by Neville, only one game a week so no need to rest Distin. Naismith was brought on BECAUSE the game was over.

I agree it would have been nice to see Vellios but he wasn't needed, as the game was dead.

Our next game is on Saturday, so enough rest time for everyone.

Brian Waring
32 Posted 08/01/2013 at 12:27:30
You lads saying "Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't" — Not being funny, but if Moyes would have left Baines out and then explained that Baines had been carrying an ankle injury so he needed to rest him, I don't think you would have had anyone slagging Moyes off, because we all know we need Baines fully fit for the top 4 challenge.

Also, Moyes says "He has a BAD ankle problem" — To me, that says he shouldn't have been risked last night.

Jim Knightley
33 Posted 08/01/2013 at 12:28:20
Paul, as pointed out, Mirallas was played when he was clearly not ready... managers rush players back often. Arsene Wenger is a prime example. And Moyes description of a 'bad' ankle problem, probably suggests he shouldn't have been risked.

And it is not just about the games to come, but the games which have previously been played. We have played 5 matches in little over 2 weeks, with many of the same players appearing in all of them.

And Trevor, we did have options. We could have stuck Anichebe left, Naismith right, and Oviedo at full back. It is because we have such a small squad, that we need to take opportunities to rest players at the right time. Playing arguably our team's best player this season, against a league two side, when he has a 'bad' ankle problem, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Not sure why it counts as 'whinging', and I'm assuming that if we never discussed team selection on here, then we'd have a lot less discussion.

I think the team line-up was a refreshing statement of intent... but I can't agree that risking Baines was worth it. We must have enough confidence in our squad to rest two players against a side three divisions below us.

Robbie Muldoon
34 Posted 08/01/2013 at 12:38:22
I haven't posted on here for ages... even though I still take a look at the site regularly. It seems frustration and upset motivates me to take the effort to post on here. This season, Everton have been boss! Moyes has gone up in my estimation lots and I have been a critic of his for years! Long may this continue! How good is it to be a blue right now and we could be so much better, but that may still come! Come on you bluesss!!
Trevor Lynes
35 Posted 08/01/2013 at 12:57:48
I'm with you Robbie....we just need a few bob for DM to maintain the push.

We tried to get Ofoe and a technicality stopped the move, so now we have the chance to do something BEFORE we let things get too late.

DM must have targets so we must move soon to strengthen this tiny squad.

Chris Leyland
36 Posted 08/01/2013 at 13:10:06
Brian (292) You suggest:

'You lads saying "Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't" — Not being funny, but if Moyes would have left Baines out and then explained that Baines had been carrying an ankle injury so he needed to rest him, I don't think you would have had anyone slagging Moyes off,'

Erm, I suspect that if Moyes had done this you would have seen posts form the usual suspects on here saying that he wasn't really injured and he was being sold, hence him nor playing.

Ian Allaker
37 Posted 08/01/2013 at 13:04:51
Most professorial footballers at this stage of the season will be playing with knocks and other slight injuries, even at amateur level, playing less games, I would have some aches and pains, you just play through it.

Moyes knows what he is doing; if Baines thinks he is okay to play then he can play; otherwise, you wouldn't play a game all season if you were rested for every minor injury you had.

Derek Wadeson
38 Posted 08/01/2013 at 13:14:22
If Moyes had left Baines out last night and quoted a niggling ankle injury today's topic on Toffeeweb would be about how he and Bill Kenwright were planning to sell him behind our backs in the January transfer window by making sure he was not cup-tied.
Jimmy Kelly
39 Posted 08/01/2013 at 13:30:07
I think the use of 'bad' in the description is a bit of a curve ball really but it's the word that everyone's picked up on.

I don't for a minute think he would be able to play, never mind be picked against Cheltenham if he genuinely had a 'bad' injury. As has been mentioned by others, players carry on playing with injuries all the time, I can't see that it's anything new.

Anthony Lamb
40 Posted 08/01/2013 at 14:06:38
It is amazing in the modern era of all this talk about "players needing a rest" — It is another example of the self-indulgence of a sport losing touch with reality. These guys are paid obscene amounts of money to be fit and to play football — and nothing else.

Is the Premier League the first generation of players to occasionally have to play two matches a week? Did successful clubs of yesteryear not have to play more matches than the rest? The advantages of the modern developments in sports science should demand that they simply get on with it and not have to suffer as their colleagues of old did when they were simply pumped full of injections and put back on the pitch.

This culture of pampering has now seeped through to the support base who buy into it. So in some quarters Moyes is slagged off for playing his full team — all credit to the man. He respected the competition, the opposition and hopefully learnt from his past mistakes.

In playing his first team he turned the task into a practice match — whereas field five or six second rankers from the start and Everton are in a real battle. Could you imagine the situation with Naismith and Gueye on from the start???? Everton got home last night and play again in 5 days – get on with it.

John Gee
41 Posted 08/01/2013 at 14:39:31
Baines didn't look injured when he twatted that 35-yarder past Krul.

Baines seems to me as being the type of man who takes great pride in being an ever present in the team and given a choice would have played anyway. Maybe Moyes asked him how he felt and if he wanted to sit this one out? I'd guess this is what happened.

As others have said, scores if not hundreds of players are carrying knocks, this is what they do, this what they've ALWAYS done. There's no great conspiracy by Moyes to undermine the team. It's just a very ordinary thing, that happens... everywhere. How people can get their knickers in a twist over this is beyond me.

Still at least we can still find a negative after a 5 - 1 away win! As Kammy would say... "UNBELIEVABLE!"

Tony J Williams
42 Posted 08/01/2013 at 15:05:26
Exactly Jimmy, some on here seem to think that Moyes is that bad he would seriously risk our best player when he actually has cover for him in Oviedo.

Baines simply wouldn't have played if he didn't think he was up to it. It really is as simple as that.

Jim Knightley
43 Posted 08/01/2013 at 15:40:49
Anthony...seriously? Comparing football now to football in the past? the tempo has changed dramatically, footballers now play at a level which top players could not have coped with in the past. We don't get drinking, smoking superstars now...we get refined diets, temperance and hours and hours everyday in the gym.

Do you think top teams just rest players for the sake of it? because of some strange notion without basis in reality? Do England look tired every major tournament because they are unfit? Spurs were a perfect example of the failure to rest players last season. Instead of calling on Pienaar and Kranjcar, they played the same players week in, week out, and looked incredibly tired at the end of last season, most especially Gareth Bale who must have put in two of the most constrasting half season performances in the Prem League. It surely contributed to their second half of the season collapse.

Footballers push their bodies to the edge these days...that's why top teams need squads full of top players. A few players have the ability to play week in week out, but the majority need resting to maintain high levels, and avoid injuries. Why is it such a strange concept to grasp, and why all the accusations of negativity, when some of us dare to suggest that Baines, who plays week in week out for us, should perhaps have been rested against a league two side if he was carrying an injury? Why can't we question the decision to Baines, whilst applauding the general performance and intent shown by the club? he could have sat on the bench (as many predicted he would have) without Moyes fearing conspiracy theorist would have suggested he was on the brink of being sold. Teams don't buy players because they can't play in the Champ League...I have never heard of someone not buying a left back because they can't play in the FA Cup. I'm sure United or Chelski or City or any other potential buyers could survive with Evra, Cashley or Clichly at left back in a domestic cup competition....

I also can't fathom a belief that we would have struggled had we rested Baines. We won 1-5, with some to spare. How good do you think Baines is? and how bad the rest of our team?

And players are pumped full of injections these days and they carry on...but performances drop. I remember a certain Mikel Arteta being criticised throughout one season when he carried a thigh? injury, and played through the pain. Managers should not aggravate injuries, and risk long problems, for a third round FA cup match against League Two opposition.

Steavey Buckley
44 Posted 08/01/2013 at 17:43:42
There was more than an adequate replacement available for Baines, so why play him while injured?
Anthony Lamb
45 Posted 08/01/2013 at 18:44:32
Jim, thanks for the comments but I think you take me to task on the wrong charge! My comparison was only used to question this pampering of the modern footballer.

The top teams of the past also on occasion had to play a number of games in a compressed period of time, eg, I remember some cup ties for instance (Everton v Sheff Wed... forget the date) going to three and four replays and the teams still having to fulfil their league fixtures etc without everyone debating how players needed to be rested.

If memory serves me right, during Liverpool's ascendancy years, they won one Championship/competed in FA Cups/European Cups etc and only used about 15/16 players. I do not remember any public debates about players needing to be rested.

Nobody could possibly compare the fitness levels of today with yesteryear, I certainly couldn't which is why I mentioned the advances in sports science benefiting modern players. Of course the modern day footballer is infinitely fitter than yesteryear – aren't we all fitter thank God! However, "footballers pushing their bodies to the edge" may be a bit inflationary don't you think?

In addition, I did not mention Leighton Baines nor any issues about conspiracy theories etc, nor accuse anybody of negativity in that respect. What I did question was the opinion that Moyes should have rested a number of players to seemingly "take care" of lower league opposition and fall in line with the modern cult of players needing to be rested — especially when all at Everton have done so far is complete half a season or so with no particularly excessively extra demands on their time.

Maybe Baines could/should have been rested if he is carrying an injury; that I do not know and is for the manager to decide with the players at his disposal, which of course raises the question of squad quality. But in fielding the full side it transpired that it turned out to be no more than a "run out" for top professionals. Put Naismith etc in from the start and those senior professionals would indeed have had something to moan about! Anyway thanks for the response.

Noel Early
46 Posted 09/01/2013 at 00:34:25
Did he really need Baines last night?? Ross Barkley, Vellios and Duffy must be delighted knowing the Moyesiah doesn't trust them to be able to deliver against a League Two side.
Jim Knightley
47 Posted 09/01/2013 at 01:01:32
Hi Anthony, my response was not purely directed towards you, sorry if you got that impression. Stuff about negativity and Baines transfer theories related to other posters.

And I would stand by my 'pushing to the edge' comment. We've seen a bout of heart failures in football matches over the past few seasons... I consider this the result of the failure to properly screen for conditions, but also because footballers are pushing their bodies to the maximum. Our players don't just play Premier League football, they also play Internationals, and several of our top players were away during the summer.

I also think it is easy for football fans to forget that our players train, and do gym work, 6 days a week. If we don't rest and rotate, it will catch up with us. I don't think it needs to be proven that players need rest... that every top manager in world football rests players is evidence enough. But check out results after midweek Champions League or Europa games... there is a clear drop-off. We can consider other factors of course... but clearly tired players play less well.

I don't think Baines is a guy who needs resting once a month... but that's not the issue here. The issue is risking a guy with an injury, who is essential to our team, against a club three divisions below us. We would have won that match without Baines, given the strength of the rest of the team... it was not a risk worth taking. I liked Moyes's message, I liked our performance, but I didn't see the point in risking Baines.

Denis Richardson
48 Posted 09/01/2013 at 17:24:09
'Well done David Moyes. Still the greatest cup competition in the world and well done for giving it the respect it deserves. '

Where was this respect last season then?

Don't agree with playing injured players at anytime, but against a league two side, this smacks of ultra caution to me. As already mentioned, we should have had more than enough to beat them without him in the side.

Just hope he doesn't have a reaction to this and is fit for the weekend.

Andy Crooks
49 Posted 09/01/2013 at 17:54:43
Anthony, #315 was spot on, in my view. Jim takes the view that only modern day footballers push themselves to the limit. Jim the England team at the 1970 World Cup (the best England side ever) pushed themselves to the limit. Alan Ball pushed himself beyond the limit.

The fact that the game is undoubtedly quicker does not mean that in the past Alan Ball could have given more than he did if rested now and again. Professional footballers would not be top of the league as far as fitness goes but I accept that their training is geared more to football than general fitness.

The idea that a young man cannot play two games a week, now and again, is, in my view, utter nonsense that has been sold to the fans... Jim, you have bought this absurd notion.

John Ford
50 Posted 09/01/2013 at 17:58:43
Leave this to Moyes please. It's his call based on the impression he gets at the time. Using this to criticise Moyes is typical of some. He knew what the situation was, you didn't. Stop making assumptions.
Gary Mortimer
51 Posted 09/01/2013 at 18:47:44
Denis #623.

"Where was this respect last season then?" What does that mean? I think we played a full strength team at Wembley — but crumbled after Distin's howler and was absolutely nothing to do with lack of respect for the cup.

Is anyone really surprised by Moyes's cautious tactics? He's hailed by the media, but the detractors all point to his trophyless record. After his total misjudgement at Leeds, I didn't expect him to go for it with the kids.

John Shaw
52 Posted 09/01/2013 at 18:53:55
Moyes really can't win with some on here. If he'd picked an under-strength team and been taken to a replay, or even knocked out altogether (remember Leeds away anyone?), everyone would have been calling for his head and saying how he hasn't got a clue!!

And Denis, when you refer to last season, do you mean last season when we got to the semi-final at Wembley?

Jeez, get a grip, ffs !!

Dave Lynch
53 Posted 09/01/2013 at 19:04:34
Moyes to my mind has learnt a harsh lesson. He used to worry to much about the opposition and their strengths and play silly formations in an attempt to try to negate them. We then suffered with players being played out of position and becoming ineffective.

This season he appears to be letting the opposition worry more about us and is playing to our strengths, not the oppositions.

In past seasons we have taken a fair few batterings because of this but this time round we have held our own with everyone imo (except Leeds).

Ian Bennett
54 Posted 09/01/2013 at 19:39:23
Every player has some sort of knock that they are playing with, it's just fact. I would expect him to be fit for the weekend.

Moyes was right to play him as he's a key man in our play. I don't think Moyes did anything wrong here. You can wrap players in cotton wool, but they can still get injured falling out of lofts or on the training pitch.

Robin Cannon
55 Posted 09/01/2013 at 19:51:39
I think that more often than not it's the player who ultimately declares themselves fit. Assuming they pass a fitness test, any further detail on their injury has to come from them ("yeah, I'm still feeling it a bit, boss" or "nah, I'm totally good to play").

Remember reading "Left Foot Forward" (Garry Nelson's first book), when he talks about passing a fitness test, declaring himself fit, and then breaking down 20 minutes into a game. As he points out, in hindsight it seems like a bad decision, but it's a "risk" he'd successfully taken multiple times in his career without issue.

I think players in general want to play, and barring an obvious breakdown and inability to pass a fitness test, they're more likely to say "yes, I'm ready to play" than not.


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