11 place finish last year and 7th in the Premier League 2 years before. This summer they made the most expensive transfers ever: Arnautovic and Chicharito (who came in as the 3rd best striker in Germany after Lewandowski and Aubameyang)+ Joao Mario+ they had Lanzini, a jewel in terms of goals assists in the PL (25 yo and already 19 goals and 11 assists in his last 3 seasons, most from central midfield position). Michail Anotnio had had a few good years before.

What did Moyes do? Changed the formation to 5 in defense. Moved Creswell to cner back and he wasn;t able to have his usual runs and crosses down the flank anymore. Brought in mediocre 25 yo Championship striker Hugill for a large sum of money in the winter. Kept Chicharito mostly on the bench. Michail Antonio was injured too, but he didn't start him even when he was fit.

What did Moyes do last year at Sunderland? Before the season started, he marginalized the only players that could have kept Sunderland in th PL: Italian workhorse Giaccherini, Jeremain Lens, Tunisian Khazri (who had basically kept them up last year).
He brought in 35 year old Steven Pienaar!! How can you let go of Giaccherini and bring in 35 year old Pienaar in central midfield? Needless to say, they got relegated.

In winter, when there was still a chance, he sold the left back with the most assists in the league outside of top 6 teams left backs exactly to Palace! And he scored and kept Palace up while Sunderland went down.
That's Moyes! Oh yeah, I forgot to say: he made Ndong a record signing at Sunderland and played 5 denfenders and 3 defensive midfielders at the same time for a while! Team scored almost no goals. Same with West Ham

He did sign Pienaar,Anichebe and Lescott on 'Frees' but he did spend £8 Mill on Djilobodji, £4.5 Mill on McNair, a fee rising to £17 Mill for Ndong, Love for just over £1 Mill, Gibson for £4.5 Mill and Oviedo for £4.5 Mill.Spent money but not a great deal in PL terms.

Edited by Willo (16 May 2018 9.59pm)

News this morning is Benitez to West Ham. Newcastle may well be the ones to struggle.

Moyes left Spam not the other way round.

Did a good job, enhanced his reputation, back to Moyes Towers.

And best of all rid of Spam, ditto Allardyce and Toffees.

I hadn’t heard that. Maybe he is looking to become a lower - mid table specialist like Allardyce. Good luck to him. I just hope he never turns up at Palace.

I hadn’t heard that. Maybe he is looking to become a lower - mid table specialist like Allardyce. Good luck to him. I just hope he never turns up at Palace.