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J.Riddle 3:43 Sat Sep 2
Soucek or Alvarez?

Who would you choose as first choice Soucek or Alvarez?

Assuming Paqueta is undroppable at the moment and JWP also due to his amazing start and both favoured by Moyes, that leaves Alvarez being the only one possible to make way for Soucek? Assuming Benrahma will make way for Kudus if he is as good as they say. I know Kudus is right winger but we have Bowen there and Kudus can play anywhere across the front apparently so expect he will move around depending to injuries.


Moyes saying we missed Soucek v Luton.

"It’s a job dealing with them. You have to deal with the balls up and the knock-downs and I think we missed Tomáš Souček for his stature. From that point of view, as the game went on we were struggling a little bit more. But we got a brilliant three points tonight.”

Alvarez stats against Luton last night make for hugely impressive reading. Early doors but some saying he protects the back four better than Declan.

Alvarez had 95 touches and made three tackles, one interception, five clearances, two blocks and won three aerial duels. He had one shot on goal and made one key pass. The Mexican made 74 passes and recorded a completion rate of 86.5% (Who Scored). You won’t find a more well-rounded, complete performance than that from a midfielder.

Soucek or Alvarez?

Takashi Miike 3:51 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Alvarez. Tomas isn't and never will be a defensive midfielder. Silly bollocks won't drop him though for the time being so he'll either push Paquets out wide, or change the whole formation to accommodate one player

SUM A DING WONG 4:00 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Obviously, it’s Soucek all day long.

Only an idiot would say otherwise.

lowlife 4:25 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Guaranteed that Soucek will be for the game vs. City. I wouldn't be surprised if we have lower than 20% possession.

I'd love Moyes to prove me wrong though and start with Kudus and Paqueta.

LeroysBoots 4:28 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

That's a concerning statement re Souceck from Moyes

He will being Souceck in v City to try to stop them.playing

He is by nature a very conservative manager so good luck to Kudus re his 1st start !!!

Nagel 4:29 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Nobody is seriously going to suggest choosing Soucek over Alvarez. I don't think even Moyes thinks in those terms. He'd want to play them together, probably dropping Benrahma and playing Paqueta at LW, like he did vs Brighton. Kudus will probably alternate with Antonio and Bowen at RW/ST.

"Kudus can play anywhere across the front apparently"

He's never played at LW before, so hard to know how he'd do there. I keep hearing it said that he'd be fine there because he's left footed, which don't make a lot of sense to me. Benrahma looks completely ineffectual as a RW and he's right footed...

"he protects the back four better than Declan"

To be fair to Declan, you would hope that would be the case considering Alvarez often drops between the defenders to make it a back 3 whereas Rice kept wanting to get forward. That sort of thing should be up to the manager to decide on, not the player.

Mad Dog 5:48 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Any sane person. Alvarez
Moyes. Soucek must play. We must move others out of position to accommodate him. For some reason.

the exile 5:56 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Alvarez all day long - no contest. I expected him to be good but he's been outstanding, undroppable. Expect the Jockosaurus to go defensive and pick both of them in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Keep dreaming 6:42 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

No doubts Moyes will play 5 midfielders with two DMs.
So in order to make place for Soucek, one from yesterday's match will be sacrificed.
Paqueta,, WP, Bowen or Benrahma

No competition really, Benrahma will be off leaving the midfield like this

Bowen Soucek Alvarez WP Paqueta

Next question is how that will inflict Kudus?
Kudus in for Paqueta or Antonio?

Only Moyes knows, but all I can say is we are a much better team without Soucek.

Capitol Man 7:12 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

He’s playing better this year, not sure why people always need someone to slag off.

solidbond 7:19 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Both,especially away from home.

Vexed 8:17 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

This is the easiest question ever.

Do you like playing with ten men?

Would you rather die painfully in a fire or spend the afternoon hanging out the back of Margot Robbie?

Tough one. Soucek have a seat on the bench son.

riosleftsock 8:33 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Alvarez should be undroppable after yesterday's performance.

Interesting stats on him, but I was more impressed with some of Paqueta's defensive work, didn't know he was so good in the air, he must have made more tackles and interceptions than anybody this weekend.

BillyJenningsBoots 9:48 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Moyes played them both against Brighton so he will do the same against Man City... and Liverpool, but what will he do when we play Sheff Utd that's when he has to choose surely as we should be looking to retain possession and attack.. only time will tell.

I'm sure everyone except Moyes would choose Alvarez... end of thread.

Mad Dog 9:50 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

That's exaxtly what he'll do.

He'll drop benny, shunt paqueta out on rhe left wing (he's not a left winger) and all to accommodate soucek.

It's no surprise to me we played much better after he went off with concussion paquetta moved back into the middle and we played with someone thay actually plays on the wing

Hermit Road 10:34 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

If he puts Paqueta on the wing to accommodate Soucek, the he needs to be taken to the Highlands and beaten round the head with a shinty stick

Hammer and Pickle 10:46 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

I think he’ll play Álvarez and JWP wide with Paqueta and Soucek in the middle.

It’ll mean Álvarez will have to cut in all game to support Soucek and his “stature”.

solidbond 11:08 Sat Sep 2
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Paqueta will play left midfield not left wing if Moyes plays him on the left ,I actually think he plays better coming in off the left and playing diagonals in behind the defence, links up well with Emerson as well.

Sir Alf 4:14 Sun Sep 3
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

I assume “Stature” means tall bloke who can head it out ?

Moyes being a CB who was a lump that was decent in the air loves a player like himself perhaps? Average technically but brave and throws himself into the aerial duels and at anything launched long at our defence? I didn’t see Luton do that much until the last part of the game when at 0-2 they were desperate and pushed a few forward and went more direct.

It’s thinly veiled bias from Moyes which is ok as he’s the manager.

As most say, he’s positioning to drop Benrahma who tbf was ineffectual but it’s only fans that forced Moyes to pick him in the first place. Benny was probably not a Moyes pick and as we’ve seen with several over players he eventually gets them out of the team and sold / loaned out.

Wide left seems to be the position he forces players into to an accommodate Tommy “square boots”. Soucek is useful to add more defensive height and physicality and suits a team not expecting or set up to not have the ball and having to repel countless attacks “Alamo style” in a backs to the wall defensive effort. But arguably if you keep it better you don’t rely so much on the likes of Soucek. I can see why he might want to use him in an ultra defensive set up against City and hope that’s what the comment is about but the worry and likelihood is Soucek remaining a permanent starter. His poor man’s Fellani. The success of Fellani and Moyes obsession with him continues in the guise of Soucek ?

All fine and good if we continue to win games but not the actions of a manager who would like the team to get and keep the ball better.

Manuel 4:14 Sun Sep 3
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Dog - Playing left mid doesn't mean you're a winger, of course he's not a winger he hardly has any pace and that isn't his game anyway. But yea, Soucek is clearly undroppable, which is very disturbing.

I think we all know what this board will be like after the City game, some are sharpening their keypads as we speak.

wansteadman 9:45 Sun Sep 3
Re: Soucek or Alvarez?

Man City generally keep the ball on the floor so the need for a big lump in the middle with a shit first touch is not needed. Alvarez wins tackles, gets around the pitch, never gives the ball away and backs up and is always available

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