Football
9y

David Moyes wants 'exciting' football from Sociedad in first home game

David Moyes says he wants to see his new Real Sociedad team play "exciting, fast, dynamic" football as he prepares for his first home game in charge against Elche on Friday, while the club have announced the appointment of former Blackburn player Billy McKinlay as the Scot's assistant.

Moyes oversaw a drab goalless draw in his first game as boss of the La Liga outfit at Deportivo La Coruna last weekend, while La Real have struggled in many of their home games this season, especially in the defeats to Getafe and Almeria.

The former Manchester United and Everton manager was not always known for entertaining football during his time in the Premier League, when his cautious approach at times frustrated supporters at Old Trafford and Goodison Park.

However, home wins at Anoeta over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have shown that the Txuri-urdin squad are capable of producing impressive performances, and Moyes told his pregame news conference that he now wanted to see "commitment and determination" from his players, and most importantly, a much-needed win to lift his side away from the relegation zone.

"What I really want to see is a team which is exciting, fast, dynamic -- a side which moves the ball about quickly and confidently," Moyes said. "I also want commitment and determination; I want the players to show how much they want to play for this club. And I hope to see all of those things at Anoeta tomorrow, that's the plan.

"After the game, I hope everyone will say that Real Sociedad put in a good team performance. But more than anything else, what I want is all three points -- that is what matters."

Regular centre-backs Inigo Martinez and Mikel Gonzalez are both still sidelined through injury, although captain and playmaker Xabi Prieto could return for Friday's game.

Moyes said that he was not planning to make many changes to his lineup, although he would be looking at different players through coming games in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

"We have a handful of players who are recovering from minor injuries but the rest of the squad are more than prepared," he said. "Training is going well but we can't make big changes now because we're in the middle of the season and we've got a series of games coming up in a short space of time.

"I hope that during the next three to four weeks I will have a comprehensive understanding of every member of the squad, I hope to see all of them in action at some point. I'm still assessing the group -- I've only been able to see a handful of players in one game so it will take a little more time."

Meanwhile, Sociedad have confirmed that former Scotland midfielder McKinlay has been hired as Moyes' assistant coach.

"William Alexander 'Billy' McKinlay has joined Real Sociedad's first-team coaching staff," a club statement read. "The Scottish coach's role will be as assistant coach to David Moyes. Completing the technical team are coach Asier Santana, physical trainer Karla Larburu and goalkeeping coach Roberto.

"McKinlay had a broad-ranging career as a player, spending time at a number of clubs in Scotland and England, including Dundee United, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Bradford City, Preston North End, Clydebank [and] Fulham. He represented Scotland at full international level, gaining 29 caps.

"After hanging up his boots, he started his managerial career with Fulham's reserves. He was assistant coach with the Northern Ireland national team and held the same post at Watford. He also acted as interim manager with the first teams at Fulham and Watford.

"With the incorporation of Billy McKinlay, Imanol Alguacil will take charge as coach of Real Sociedad's reserve team, Sanse, alongside Mikel Labaka. The other new addition to David Moyes' first-team coaching staff is 27-year-old, Vitoria-born Xabier Ruiz de Ocenda."

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