David Moyes's eleven

The challenge for new manager David Moyes is not just to get Real Sociedad back to winning ways, but also to help the team regain their identity on the field and, above all, get the most out of an experienced and determined side who have had an inconsistent start to the season.

There are multiple alternatives in all areas of the field and the Scotsman opted to stick to a familiar group in his first game. Now the manager just has to add his own flavour to a squad keen to regroup as quickly as possible. 'LFP.es, in depth' analyse the San Sebastián side's line-up going into their game against Elche CF, the new manager's first at the Anoeta.

A permanent fixture in goal:
Despite the team's ups and downs since the start of the season, there is a position on the field that has not changed in all these months. After the departure of Claudio Bravo to FC Barcelona, Eñaut Zubikarai was the club’s promising young star and since he donned the gloves for Real in the pre-season he has not taken them off for the 1,080 minutes that have been played this campaign.

A physical and experienced defence:
There are a dozen or so possible combinations for Real in defence. All of them so reliable and experienced that they have ensured that the team, despite sitting in sixteenth place in the table, has conceded just 1.3 goals per game, fewer than half of the teams in the Liga BBVA.

Carlos Martínez and Joseba Zaldua have competed for the right flank throughout the season, though the latter has played more minutes (839) and made more ball recoveries (34). On the left, Alberto de la Bella is the man to look out for. He was selected by Moyes in his first game as manager and, though he had been sharing the position this year with former SD Eibar player Yuri Berchiche, experience and his ability to attack down the flank make him the preferred choice of the new manager.

At centre back, Iñigo Martínez, Mikel González, Jon Ansotegi and Gorka Elustondo, versatile in the centre of the field and defence, have featured. Though Martínez, the youngest of them, had not missed a game until Moyes' arrival, the manager opted for Elustondo and Ansotegi on his debut. Iñigo has even scored two goals this season and has received no cards. Mikel González, with a throat infection, is doubtful for the clash with Elche. 

In the midfield, a puzzle for the managers:
The midfield is where there has been the most variation this season. In fact, on many occasions it has become a brainteaser for the coaches, first for Jagoba Arrasate and now perhaps for the Scottish manager as well. The wide variety of midfielders in the squad has led to much rotation in the part of the field.
Markel Bergara and Esteban Granero are expected to be selected by Moyes for his double pivot in the midfield. Xabi Prieto, unavailable for this fixture, is also considered a key man in the team and has played ten of the twelve encounters this season.

Further forward, the new manager chose Sergio Canales, Carlos Vela and Gonzalo 'Chory' Castro for his starting eleven. Three attacking players who don't think twice when facing the opposition defence and have played together for eight seasons in San Sebastián. David Zurutuza who, like Vela, has two goals for the team this campaign, is an ideal substitute for this position.

Agirretxe, key man in attack:
His physical strength and sharpness in the air have made him go form an attacking option to a permanent fixture in the side. Though in some games he has shared goal-scoring duties with, Alfred Finnbogason and even Canales, one of the most chameleonic players in the dressing room, Imanol Agirretxe has played almost every minute as a centre forward and claimed two goals.