Why not just play the strong team for the 1st half rather than then the second half when you are chasing a presumably more likely to get an injury. 
Previous Message
We have a very small squad.
Had we gone all out and had issues like our neighbours with a red and a serious injury, and quite possibly still have gone out anyway, people would be asking why Moyes didn't rotate, and would be concerned about the impact on our broader season.
If we want the squad to be deeper we need PSR breathing room and 1 or 2 places in the league outweighs the league cup financially. If we want to be in a position in a few years where we're regularly competing for silverware, from a managerial/long term strategy point of view it's absolutely the right way to go to prioritise the league.
I know others will say the point is to win something BUT...I'd rather swap a small chance of success in the league cup this year to be in a stronger position to compete on all fronts in a few years.
Yes, the one doesn't guarantee the other, we *might* have been successful on all fronts this year (if we're honest with ourselves, though, probably not). However sometimes it's wise to play the percentages. Previous Message
I understand we need to play some of the second string squad but why play so many from the off.
Surely it would have been better to play a strong squad from the start, to hopefully get a lead, and then introduce the second string once there is a little less pressure on them. Playing 7 players from the start who are normally subs just seemed a bit off / silly. Previous Message
Some very pessimistic posters on here in the last 24 hours.
Whilst I am disappointed with Moyes' selections he will have his reasons.
Last night will have told him many things and some fringe players didn't do themselves any favours.
If anything it will have crystallised the fact that we are a few chips short of a butty.
We have a decent first choice defence and a decent midfield with no threat whatsoever up front. That means ups and downs until that is rectified.
Beto and Barry sounds like a comedy duo on ITV2 although nobody is laughing. We probably need both to have a purple patch each with other goals coming from our attacking midfielders.
Its very early days and most of us were very optimistic just over a week ago. Europe, good cup run, turning over the shite et al.
Perspective reveals a very much work in progress that requires 2 summer windows before we can start to believe we can make the jump to the top 8.
Until then, enjoy the ride. We will get there.
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on September 24, 2025, 9:00 pm, in reply to "