COLUMNIST JOE JENNINGS
The Striker Issue
Comments (28) : For the first time in years we have five strikers who are more than capable of doing a good job for us. Johnson, Yakubu, Vaughan, McFadden and Anichebe. They all cant play for obvious reasons, but what combination will prove most fruitful and can we keep them all happy? Moyesy will have his work cut out but its a problem he will be relishing.
McFadden seems to be a player who remains divided amongst Evertonians. The majority would say if we were to lose one, it should be McFadden. Would we accept say a 5-6m from north of the border? It's an issue Moyesy will have to address, considering his stock has risen significantly following his performances for Scotland. I still feel it would be wise to keep him, he's a player with that element of surprise and although some will argue that surprise is a poor performance, he is more than capable of grabbing a goal.
Regardless of his recent drought in front of goal I still firmly believe AJ is without doubt our best striker in terms of what he does for the team. His pace provides us with another option, he works tremendously hard and will get you a far amount of goals given the service. My only issue is that although he scores a decent amount he is not clinical and perhaps his unselfishness is proving his downfall. It appears whenever he has to think about something (e.g a one on one with the keeper) he seems to fluff it. However I'm confident when he regains fitness he will be a crucial player for us
Yakubu is starting to show signs of why we paid so much money for him. I understand the initial frustrations regarding the Yak, many citing laziness etc. However he has scored a few goals for us now and seems to have grown in confidence. In contrast to Johnson he is not going to run around like a headless chicken chasing defenders but when he goes one on one with the goalkeeper, there's only one outcome. He's clinical and I genuinely believe he will prove a success.
James Vaughan has shown so much promise, when he has been on the pitch. There is no doubt he has the potential to be a great player for Everton. I love his work rate, pace, strength and how he appears clinical infront of goal. My only concern would be his somewhat injury pronenss and I do think this could be his downfall. I really hope it isn't but it is a problem that is causing me concern. Perhaps he's just been unlucky, I certainly hope so. Providing he stays injury free, he will be a huge asset this season, especially in Europe where him and Victor are virtually unknown.
Victor Anichebe has been great this season, especially in Europe. He started the season brightly with a goal against Wigan on the opening day then a solid performance away at Spurs. This proves to me he is capable of being effective for the full 90 minutes. Many seem to believe he is an impact, last 20 minute type player, I'm inclined to agree. He does remind me of a young Emile Heskey although more aggression and confidence perhaps. The impact he had in Nurenberg was fantastic, brilliant infact. He had a similar impact in the Ukraine. Similar to James Vaughan he is an unknown in Europe and Moyes should use this to our advantage.
Moyes will have to experiment to find his best pair, it could be difficult but providing we keep them all happy then I wont be complaining. Tim Cahill could be an issue though. In Cahill's fine seasons for Everton (2004/5 and parts of 2006/7) Moyes employed a 4-5-1 formation with either Johnson or Bent. I fear he doesnt have the same impact in a 4-4-2 formation but maybe he can become accustomed to it, I hope so anyway.
One final point, those stadium images, are they having a laugh? Totally unacceptable. We are a laughing stock already. I dont want to arrive at the ground and be in the shadow of a heaving retail park. They wouldn't have dared plaster those images on the propaganda brochure we received in the summer. My stomach is churning at the prospect. Keep the faith.
Reader Comments
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I think Victor is a fantastic prospect, but I believe playing in week out is what he needs to really develop-Vaughan seems to have the talent to develop naturally, but I would think a month or two with either a Championship (Irvine could take of him at Preston?)club or a Derby/Reading/Sunderland type would do Victor a lot of good. Only question is when-I don’t think we can loan at the moment, plus at end of Jan there is ANC. Maybe February/March.
Just a thought.
Yakubu - Lazy brings nothing to the team apart from a few goals, an amazing 4 so far this season.
Andy Johnson - only has one goal this season. In AJ has scored only 6 goals in the entire 2007.
James McFadden - Talented but inconsistant misfit. Has scored only 17 goals in his entire 4-year Everton career.
Victor Anichebe - promisng youngster but works better as an impact substition, pretty useless starting.
James Vaughan - Talented but injury prone. Has a great goals-per-games record but in the 3 years since he made his debut Vaughan has played less then AVDM.
Embarassesment of riches? Hardly.
You obviously don’t watch enough of our team to realise these guys all have proven ability, and have still to maximise their full potential. Who would you rather have?? maybe we should go back for Rooney in a double swoop for him and Tevez. Or maybe Robbie Keane? Or do you have a problem with him too? Get real, any team outside the top four would do anything for a strikeforce like ours. And you are a complete minority, because you’e the only one that talks this utter nonsense.
Please try to keep these extravagent claims in check until such time as this ’extravagence of riches’have actually achieved what they are paid to do ie. score hatfuls!
On this point, what the hells going to happen to our defence once this competition kicks off????
are you the person who sits behind me at goodison each week and does nothing but bad mouth the team you supposedly love?
get behind the team instead of sitting there slating every player we have we wll know that you would do a better job as manager etc but im getting sick and tired of these "fans"
who bring nothing positive to to the table
everton does not need fans like you
When did McFadden do it for us? He remains last choice, and unproven in the premiership, and I would wager that most midfielders have a better scoring record.
Plenty of people on AJ’s back, he hasn’t scored enough for us given his hefty price tag, nor so far has Yakubu.
Stats show that we dont presently have a striker who can score 15+ in a season (lets not even dream of 20+), which is the definition of good in my book. It appears that in fact 10-12 goals is more appropriate. This means we have five AVERAGE strikers. Barely, even...
He is a very good midfielder with a good engine the type of which we need and although I would not like to see McFadden go we do have an abundance of strikers.
What are you... kopites?
Jimmy Mac this season is having one of his best, scoring important goals for both club and country.
Yakubu, yeah slow start but there is no doubting he is a class player, finishing 2nd to Henry for the past 4 seasons for prem goals.Yes Jeremy he scored over 15 goals numerous times.
AJ also quality runs his arse off every game even with his injured ankles, I bet you wern?t slagging him off when he grabbed 2 in the derby in his first season were you eh?
Victor and James are the future,they are both still young and are learning there trade still,but the encouraging thing is is the comments and performances they put in when both fit.Both unknown in europe,look at Rooney in the euro championships people didn't know who he was really until after. Both will be brilliant in a few years.
So most premiership teams will be looking at our strikeforce and will be envious.
Take a look at spurs,i bet weve had more heart and quality shown this season than there supposed BEST STRIKEFORCE!!
Fans get behind there players not slate them and pray for the days of Brett Angel.
Good comments by the other guys who are true blues.Nice one
I remember years ago us completely relying on Mikel Offside Madar. What a contrast!
If you would prefer to simply assimilate everyone to your own blinkered views, I suggest moving to a small country with a dictator where that type of doctrine is practiced.
Now, if you can show me when ANY of the strikers mentioned have scored 15 in a season for everton, then I will doff my cap to you. Fact is, you can’t, and anything else is just pure rubbish. The same as every word you just wrote.
so i say its time to get behind the team and support them....enough of the negativity and the moo here and moo there attitude....its sickening to be reading all these when the team is already playing well......
What was all that moaning about our strikers not being able to score twenty between them? If its due to a lack of service, as you claim to have already specified then why then slag off the strikers on this thread. Have you nothing better to do?
Strikers need to gel.
Give them time.
Need creative midfielder.
How much time do they need? 1 season? 2? how about 3? How about Beattie? Time given and what happen? Another new player? Simply give him time before he can delivers. Another one, more time. Another, more time. By the time the latter gel in, the first sold. on and on.
Waht?s up with the 20 goals between them? this what i call embarrassing.
Ya ya ya Yak is a proven goal scorer...that?s history brothers. That?s when he was wearing Portsmouth & Boro?s color. Beattie was a great player before we bought him too ya know. G.R.E.A.T.
At the end of the day, we are all supporting the same club. THE PEOPLE?S CLUB. We just want the club to do well. But let?s be sensible.
I don?t agree with he point made by someone earlier that everyone outside the top four is envious of our strike force, what about Spurs and Newcastle.
For me Anichebe has been our best this season and has made the most impact. I dont care if he plays 10 min a game, he does what he does.
AJ puts em under pressure and disrupts their flow
1-on-1 Yak
Vaughny is great, young, flashes of brilliance but injury prone.
McFad....Use him on the left.
Cheers
Aussie Blue
What planet are you on?
My milkman is hard working too. Give him a run out eh?
The Yak?s the man.
There are very few tickets available for the AZ game - ballots all over the place, AND YET!!! The ?new ? Everton Travel Club (aka Thos.Cook) get their hands on tickets, so that they can earn themselves( and of course EFC) a nice comission........What about the supporters Mr Wyness? ?Let?s take as much money from them as we can, hey??
Yakubu - May well be lazy at times but is capable of grabbing a goal.
Andy Johnson - You fail to mention that Johnson has been injured for sometime now..
James McFadden - I agree with you summation of James McFaddenbr />
Victor Anichebe - promisng youngster I agree but puts in the same workrate starting as he does coming on sub, I wouldn’t say he was useless from the start at all..
James Vaughan - Talented but injury prone. Fair enough but he is a smashing young player and he will come right eventually.
C’mon Dutch, you know you’re talking bollocks.
We will regret it if we allow him to leave as it looks like this season may be his last at Goodison Park as every probarbly Scottish club would be willing to pay for his services.
If any blues in that, or the Hampshire area in general are interested then i will be happy to listen.
Call - 023 164721. After 6pm and weekends only please.
What we do have is a team, a collection of players ,with recent signings such as Yakubu and Pienaar that are starting to gel together and are churning out good solid results with contributions from Midfield. Arteta, Cahill, Osman, Pienaar and even Carsley have all scored recently along with the strikers.
I dont think it matters at all if all the strikers score over 20+ goals, or all get an average of 9 per season, as long as the team keeps working for each other, goals will come from any position, aslong as we win, thats all that matters.
Going back to my first comment about the strength of the squad. Look at the players not even in the squad for the Sunderland game. Baines, Stubbs, Hibbert and Jimmy Mac. ALL first team players with bags of experience that could all do a job for other teams in the Premiership. The future is bright.
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1 Posted 21/11/2007 at 00:11:36
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James Vaughan will be our top striker in years to come if he stays injury free, AJ is a class act.
Oh and yes, the new stadium looks shite! Coud have told you that back in the Summer though. Most buildings with look god at night illuminated with no sign of their neighbours. In the cold light of day..... wonder where that phrase came from?!!