Moyes praises the midfielders — especially James Garner | OneFootball

David Moyes has been reflecting on his side's start to the season and particularly the effect of his midfielders in turning around the away form from the disappointing start at Leeds to the fantastic win at Molineux last Saturday.

“I thought Idrissa and James were fantastic. We want to keep it fresh. We want them all to be good. I think Jimmy's form at the moment is up there with some of the best I've seen around the country at the moment. So, let's hope that's recognised.

“Look, when you think of the away wins last season, we've done really well. We've lost to Leeds to a dodgy penalty in the end. We might have taken something from it. So, we want to be really good away from home because we've got a brilliant travelling away support and I hope they get more good away days this season.

"We'll get a few players who probably need a bit more pre-season training. We've got a few players who need a bit more recovery, we've got a few who have got some injuries, but it gives us a chance to sort of regroup but it's great to go away knowing we've picked up 6 points in the 3 games we've played.

"It's a decent start for us in the league and we want to keep challenging, we want to be in a high place if we can be but we'll certainly not get carried away, that's for sure. We've got a lot to do but I'm pleased that I think we've played well enough today."

Reader Comments (8)

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Coming to us just turned 21, Garner certainly was thrown in the deep end; especially given the Club's chaotic situation.

Hopefully, he stays injury-free this season.

"So, let's hope that's recognised."

I'm guessing we'll read something about a new contract. He came cheap and he's paid that way.

Christy Ring 2 Posted 04/09/2025 at 15:24:44

Sadly after Garner was immense in midfield against Wolves, with Mykolenko probably crocked again, he'll have to deputise again at left back again, which is ridiculous.

Reguilon, former Spurs left-back, is a free agent – we should definitely sign him up.

Jerome Shields 3 Posted 05/09/2025 at 10:29:31

The main factor is Garner is getting a opportunity to play football where ball progression is a priority and possible to achieve with the players he has around him.The reactive, deep tactics of a relegation dogfight do not suit him his game to the same extent

Bob Parrington 4 Posted 05/09/2025 at 12:58:13

Really, I can't think of any occasion when Garner has let us down, no matter which position he has played.

He's likely the least appreciated player amongst our TW pundits but he sure is a great team performer.

Liam Mogan 5 Posted 05/09/2025 at 14:02:37

Jerome 3 - you hit it on the head I think.

He'll have been brought up at Man Utd playing possession-based, short passing, movement etc. In his time at the club, we've never had the players or the tactics to enable him to play his natural game.

Sam Hoare 7 Posted 05/09/2025 at 15:20:52

I've been critical of Garner in the past, not because he's been bad but because he's just not done enough. Ironically for someone seen as a playmaker when he arrived most of his posession statistics are pretty poor in terms of assists, goals, progressive passes, pass completion, through balls, running with the ball etc compared to the rest of the division.

Part of that is because of the how the team has played (pretty poor in posession) but it's notable that he is even behind Idrissa Gueye in a lot of technical metrics. Garner's defensive stats are better and I do think he has worked hard at his positioning which has improved over the last year or so.

I think it is possible (and have said in the past) that some of our fans overrate Garner. I'm not sure he'd get into any other top ten teams right now. But he has started this season well and maybe we will continue to see better displays from him now we have some more players who are able to keep and pass the ball.

Bob # 4] Agree ref Garner. He’s been asked to play a variety of positions and hasn’t let us down or (to my knowledge) complained - this includes filling in at both right and left back.

Our title winning sides of the mid-80s had a couple of players of a similar type - and I’m sure Moyes appreciates them even if others may not.