Trying to be positive here ( well I try most of the time when doing the old predictions ) Really do not want to put a downer on the players , they almost made a European final and finished seventh in the league , but in all honesty they didn't perform as well as they did last season in my book , but I suppose they did the best they could do with what they had at hand . At the end of the day they had the Bug - Eyed Jock at the helm with his dithering in the transfer market after last season's exploits he had the opportunity to build on the progress made and if anything I feel we have actually gone backwards . Let's not forget his lack of any sort of a B-Plan and his non tactical subs in the majority of cases with young hungry energetic youth warming the bench ( don't think any of them got minutes in the league , could be wrong ) .
Not enough goals and far to many let in at the other end , Fabianski was a great keeper but think Areola should have got the gloves this season . Can't wait for Ashby to get his chance at RB because neither Coufal or Johnson looked comfortable starting , and Cresswell showed we need a replacement at LB . Still not happy with the quality of our Center Halves and that's after Moyes supposedly improved them by bringing in Dawson and Zouma .
Our Midfield looked lost at times with Rice running around like a very fit headless chicken trying to play the DM and the box to box role which he did fantastically at times , but this left Soucek in the wilderness , really not sure what he should be doing because he just hasn't got the same talent as Rice . All I can say about Benahma is sell him , why we ever got him I really do not know , just not premier quality for a full 90 minutes , not even 45 minutes . Vlasic needs for Moyes to play him centrally and to start games if we are to get the best from him , none of this playing him out wide . Fornals another who should be playing centrally not our wide .
Not much I can say about Bowen , just keep him happy please , as for Antonio never been a fan of his lack of ability ( used to love his attitude but well past that now ) he needs to get crutches if he is going to continue to fall backwards into defenders .
Well that's my appraisal , Moyes let the fans and players down especially when we had so much to look forward to at the end of last season .