NICK ARMITAGE COLUMN
Wheat and Chaff
By Nick Armitage : 01/02/2008 : 
Comments (17) :
Feed the Yak and he will score, it is as simple as that really. He gets the ball almost anywhere in the box at any height and any angle, then the net bulges. As far as I am concerned a centre forward?s job is to score, and goals are what sorts the wheat from the chaff.
Comments (17) : Now unfortunately for us our wheat is in Africa so we are stuck with our chaff and our chaff is Andy Johnson. Apart from that couple of months when he joined us AJ has done bugger all to justify his name and reputation as one of the Premiership?s top marksmen. His only weapon is his pace, so defences drop deep and he becomes utterly useless. He is a one trick pony and that trick is so easily nullified. For ninety minutes he is nothing more than a minor irritation to almost all centre halves.
And let?s be honest, the ?but he?s so hard-working line? is wearing a bit thin. Any idiot can graft and any idiot can run towards the corner flag and give away possession every time the ball comes near him. There is no end product and I have seen epileptic fits with better control than Johnson. He had one good season at Palace when they lined ten men up behind the ball and hoofed it up-field for AJ to chase. That was his one trick, but we don?t play like that.
Some fans said Beattie would come good, he didn?t. Some fans said McFadden would come good, he didn?t. Some fans are still holding onto the hope that Andy Van der Meyde is going to miraculously turn the corner and relegate Arteta to the bench, he fucking won?t you know.
All these examples tell you that leopards don?t change their spots, we have seen the best of Andy Johnson and it isn?t good enough for where Everton Football Club want to go. He?s a nice fella and top pro and I was hoping for and expecting so much more, but unfortunately he isn?t cutting the mustard at this level.
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Yep you can say it and it kinda rings true - but I had the same discussion with a mate last week and my line was give the lad a break - he’s only 5ft like and can’t be expected to outjump for these long balls to the the corner flags and hold the ball up.
If pace is his trick then it sounds obvious and its been said many times before but we shoud play him direct balls THROUGH THE MIDDLE, and ALONG THE DECK. He has shown he is capable when he gets a decent service, but its just that he is constantly expected to forfeit that and chase Nevilles clearances all fucking day.
Sorry about the rant but its bloody obvious he could be a good player
If pace is his trick then it sounds obvious and its been said many times before but we shoud play him direct balls THROUGH THE MIDDLE, and ALONG THE DECK. He has shown he is capable when he gets a decent service, but its just that he is constantly expected to forfeit that and chase Nevilles clearances all fucking day.
Sorry about the rant but its bloody obvious he could be a good player
Has AJ been shagging your Mum? He’s been injured, and in and out of the side, and only recently been in the situation where he’s started to get a bit of a run. Personally, in his last outing I think he was unlucky that the shot that went under Cerny didn’t make it across the line, and he won us a pen (just wasn’t given).
Probably the more fundamental reason for AJs ’poor performance’ is that he’s 3 foot 6, and weighs 3 stone dripping wet... so how do we give him the ball? We hoof it upfield, and see if he can beat his 6ft plus marker to the aerial ball, or we shove it down towards the corner flag, and wonder why he doesn’t score.
The reason he started so well was because for a while we played to his strengths, quick short balls between and behind the back 4 (like the one Manny fed him with against Spurs) or fast, flowing moves with low balls in from the flanks (like in the 2-0 at WHL).
AJ wasn’t a bad buy, and still isn’t, but unless we play to his strengths (and we’re starting to get the personnel to do this with Manny, Pienaar and Arteta soon to be available in the middle of the park), unless we play to his strengths, we won’t see the best of him. So, rather than have a go at AJ, try telling Pip and Hibbo that the 4 guys in the middle of the park are there for a reason, that way the creatives can get the most out of our considerable forward talent.
Probably the more fundamental reason for AJs ’poor performance’ is that he’s 3 foot 6, and weighs 3 stone dripping wet... so how do we give him the ball? We hoof it upfield, and see if he can beat his 6ft plus marker to the aerial ball, or we shove it down towards the corner flag, and wonder why he doesn’t score.
The reason he started so well was because for a while we played to his strengths, quick short balls between and behind the back 4 (like the one Manny fed him with against Spurs) or fast, flowing moves with low balls in from the flanks (like in the 2-0 at WHL).
AJ wasn’t a bad buy, and still isn’t, but unless we play to his strengths (and we’re starting to get the personnel to do this with Manny, Pienaar and Arteta soon to be available in the middle of the park), unless we play to his strengths, we won’t see the best of him. So, rather than have a go at AJ, try telling Pip and Hibbo that the 4 guys in the middle of the park are there for a reason, that way the creatives can get the most out of our considerable forward talent.
You’re forgetting one thing though Nick, they should both be playing together. That way, AJ can trouble the opposition with his pace, and if they try to drop deep as you say, then the Yak will capatlise. 4-4-2 is the future if a midfield of Pienaar, Fernandes, Cahill and Arteta can work.
Although not in the same class (unfortunately), AJ is a Michael Owen type player. To make him worth his place you need to thread balls along the ground between defenders, for him to run on to. Then mostly he will score. Mostly those balls come from centre midfield. Fernandes played one the other night. Unfortunately this time AJ didn’t convert.
Owen threw up his arms one afternoon during the Allardyce regime when yet another ball was lofted vaguely towards him in the air. He was saying: ’if you are going to play to my strengths, this is stupid’. Same with AJ. How ever was he going to show what he can do with the likes of Carsley, Neville and Jagielka hoofing the ball up at him?
The fact is, we need to play to AJ’s strengths, or not bother to play him. Maybe Manny in the centre can now bring out AJ’s scoring touch. If Everton aren’t going to play through the middle to exploit AJ’s pace, sure, let’s drop him and loft balls up to the Yak, hoping that Cahill or Vaughan will pick up the pieces.
Owen threw up his arms one afternoon during the Allardyce regime when yet another ball was lofted vaguely towards him in the air. He was saying: ’if you are going to play to my strengths, this is stupid’. Same with AJ. How ever was he going to show what he can do with the likes of Carsley, Neville and Jagielka hoofing the ball up at him?
The fact is, we need to play to AJ’s strengths, or not bother to play him. Maybe Manny in the centre can now bring out AJ’s scoring touch. If Everton aren’t going to play through the middle to exploit AJ’s pace, sure, let’s drop him and loft balls up to the Yak, hoping that Cahill or Vaughan will pick up the pieces.
I’m not a big fan of AJ at all. I think he’s a useful player to have but he doesn’t fill me with confidence when the ball is in the final third. To be hones he hasn’t been consistent since his purple patch at the start of last season. Maybe there was a spell when he was up front with Vaughan where he looked decent and capable of making a partnership but it hasn’t been enough. I like him and I really want to improve but he isn’t filling me with confidence at all.
People are harping on about AJ’s strengths but what are they? He doesn’t actually play of the last man and he doesn’t play through the middle. Even when the service has been excellent like the Arsenal game last season for example where Arteta was working his magic and Fernandes played countless through balls he never ran through one on one with the keeper. AJ just doesn’t use his pace well enough for me. He doesn’t play on the last defender as he always seems to be behind them.
Compare him to Robbie Keane. Keane may not be the quickest player in the world but what he does have is a brain. He knows where the passes are going and he makes the runs. Even when the service is awful he is always looking for the space. Spurs don’t actually play with ball playing central midfielders so no one can say he gets better passes than AJ as Jenas and Zokora there usuals aren’t great passers of the ball.
Even if we play the ball along the floor with Johnson in the team does he actually contribute to this and would he be more effective. He doesn’t have a good touch or a good footballing brain so playing him in a link role wouldn’t work whereas playing him as a target man doesn’t work because he’s 5ft 7 and 9 stone.
I think we’ve moved on from Johnson and the old Moyes. When we play our full team in our favored system we can play some decent stuff with the likes of Arteta, Fernandes and Pienaar creating, Yakubu linking and holding up play and Cahill making his runs. Johnson just attracts the long ball or the ball into the channel because in all honesty thats what he’s effective at doing. He’s not going to bully a back four, he’s not a penalty box predator and he doesn’t link play so sadly he doesn’t fit in.
I like him and hopefully he will prove me wrong and get his arse into gear. Maybe Vaughan alongside him and Fernandes behind him would improve him but we’ll have to wait and see.
People are harping on about AJ’s strengths but what are they? He doesn’t actually play of the last man and he doesn’t play through the middle. Even when the service has been excellent like the Arsenal game last season for example where Arteta was working his magic and Fernandes played countless through balls he never ran through one on one with the keeper. AJ just doesn’t use his pace well enough for me. He doesn’t play on the last defender as he always seems to be behind them.
Compare him to Robbie Keane. Keane may not be the quickest player in the world but what he does have is a brain. He knows where the passes are going and he makes the runs. Even when the service is awful he is always looking for the space. Spurs don’t actually play with ball playing central midfielders so no one can say he gets better passes than AJ as Jenas and Zokora there usuals aren’t great passers of the ball.
Even if we play the ball along the floor with Johnson in the team does he actually contribute to this and would he be more effective. He doesn’t have a good touch or a good footballing brain so playing him in a link role wouldn’t work whereas playing him as a target man doesn’t work because he’s 5ft 7 and 9 stone.
I think we’ve moved on from Johnson and the old Moyes. When we play our full team in our favored system we can play some decent stuff with the likes of Arteta, Fernandes and Pienaar creating, Yakubu linking and holding up play and Cahill making his runs. Johnson just attracts the long ball or the ball into the channel because in all honesty thats what he’s effective at doing. He’s not going to bully a back four, he’s not a penalty box predator and he doesn’t link play so sadly he doesn’t fit in.
I like him and hopefully he will prove me wrong and get his arse into gear. Maybe Vaughan alongside him and Fernandes behind him would improve him but we’ll have to wait and see.
AJ is a player that unsettles defenders better than most in the Premiership. His speed and work rate make him a valuable asset to the club. The problem is that he needs three or four chances a game to score and never really gets more than one or two. We have decided on playing this system of 4-5-1, which is fine cos Yakubu can play for 70 mins (after which he usually runs out of steam anyway) and put AJ on. A fresh AJ against knackered defenders will get goals, or at least chase down everything til the final whistle.
Anyway, the last thing we need, is to have to go out and buy another top class striker. As it is, we have lsoldtwo players and will need to spend about £15-20 million to keep Pienaar and Fernandes. Top strikers dont come cheap and we arent exactly the richest club around, in case you hadnt noticed. In the summer we need to concentrate on getting another defensive midfielder a back-up center back and a left winger but more importantly we need to keep the players we already have!
Anyway, the last thing we need, is to have to go out and buy another top class striker. As it is, we have lsoldtwo players and will need to spend about £15-20 million to keep Pienaar and Fernandes. Top strikers dont come cheap and we arent exactly the richest club around, in case you hadnt noticed. In the summer we need to concentrate on getting another defensive midfielder a back-up center back and a left winger but more importantly we need to keep the players we already have!
Surely to have forwards of different strengths and styles will give us the flexibility we need to do well against different types of opposition. If we can afford to pay AJ and Yak- we keep both, as long of course as they are both happy to be part of Moyes’s plans and we have enough games (such as Europe and cup runs) to keep them playing. Isn’t this what big clubs do?
I remember watching a game recently were the opposition hadn’t lost a European game in ages. Within what, about 5 minutes we were 1-0 up because of AJ. His control, vision, workrate and predatory skills enabled us to win that game. Oh the wine’s starting to talk now! I’m off for another:-) Sorry for the post but I felt I should be defending one of our own regardless and all that.
Aj is not a winger,midfield player,or 6 foot lump.
What he has to offer is pace to burn,A high work rate and the ability to score 20 goals a season with the right service.The Yak is no better in the air but slightly better at link up and better at converting chances but they both have a part to play.
We shouldnt let the boo boys turn on Aj now Hibbert has gotten better.
It wasnt long ago that Ossie was the brunt of everyone’s frustration.
What he has to offer is pace to burn,A high work rate and the ability to score 20 goals a season with the right service.The Yak is no better in the air but slightly better at link up and better at converting chances but they both have a part to play.
We shouldnt let the boo boys turn on Aj now Hibbert has gotten better.
It wasnt long ago that Ossie was the brunt of everyone’s frustration.
A week or so ago I posted a note about another matter, but mentioned that after McFadden and Hibbert AJ would become the next TW whipping boy. Thanks, Nick, you didn’t disappoint. Or maybe you have.
If I am correct in understanding his(AJ) missus is still in London or them parts. I draw that the message is that’s where he’ll finish back! he spends most of his time with his SIX autos!
Why isn’t she with him, anyone add to this?
Why isn’t she with him, anyone add to this?
STOP GIVING HIM ABUSE, REMEMBER THIS DATE .... 9TH SEPTEMBER 2006
EVERTON 3-0 LIVERPOOL
AJ BRACE
EVERTON 3-0 LIVERPOOL
AJ BRACE
Well if you?re talking like that Tom
EVERTON 4 - 1 TOTTENHAM
AMOKACHI BRACE
One brilliant match but nothing else
EVERTON 4 - 1 TOTTENHAM
AMOKACHI BRACE
One brilliant match but nothing else
You get what you pay for, top draw - Ronaldo, Drogba - cost 20 mill +
Then second tier, Anelka, Torres, cost 15 mill +
Aj is an 8 mill player, but he runs himself into the ground for our club, For that reason alone I will never knock him
Then second tier, Anelka, Torres, cost 15 mill +
Aj is an 8 mill player, but he runs himself into the ground for our club, For that reason alone I will never knock him
Remember AJ has been playing mostly when our squad has been weakened,put THE YAK in the same situation and lets see what he does then you can decide whose worth the their transfer fee and believe me AJ will be the better proposition most times.So lets hope we can combine the two so we all get our wish and EVERTON win the league.
I would be more worried about the fact that he has no confidence at the moment. He?s getting alot of game time right now, and with hoofball, is getting no opportunity to shine. The Yak comes back and he?s facing the possibility of being left on the bench again.
Imagine also what Vaughan and Anichabe are feeling right now. They both are too well established now in my mind to be labelled young players that still need blooding through substitute roles. To further themselves they need to be getting full games at this stage, and they?re getting nothing of the sort. How long before their agents start whispering in their ears? Twenty minutes here and twenty minutes there, even in european games, isn?t going to be a big enough draw for young players that just want to play.
Imagine also what Vaughan and Anichabe are feeling right now. They both are too well established now in my mind to be labelled young players that still need blooding through substitute roles. To further themselves they need to be getting full games at this stage, and they?re getting nothing of the sort. How long before their agents start whispering in their ears? Twenty minutes here and twenty minutes there, even in european games, isn?t going to be a big enough draw for young players that just want to play.
AJ runs around for 90 minutes and manages the odd goal in five. Yak hardly breaks sweat but can score a brace. I?d prefer the Yak?s clinical finishing to the hustle and bustle of AJ.
Sorry, Nick, but I don’t agree. Your summary is very one eyed.
You are missing a number of points:
1/ Yak has always been a half a season player. The goals have always dried up around this time of year. Why? Nobody knows, so let’s see how he’s doing come May before we make any hasty judgements. People were quick to slag him off in September when he didn’t .score and ws ’lazy’ etc. He’s done great since, but let’s hope he keeps it up before we ditch all our other forwards.
2/ Yak is the best option when we play 4-5-1, but who is to say we will always play that way? In a 4-4-2 we look better with AJ and Vaughan whilst Vic can fill in with any system.
3/ Regarding AJ himself he picked up 2 bad injuries last season, one of which hung oer into this season and he eventually required an operation. Since returning he’s scored 6 goals ( 7 if you include yesterday ) and done well despite hoofballs played up to him and 3 of our most creative players, Osman, Arteta and Pienaar, missing many of the games.
His workrate alone should give him enough credit for silly articles like this one to never be . Give the bloke a break and stop comparing him to Beattie and McFadden, both of whom were far less effective players.
You are missing a number of points:
1/ Yak has always been a half a season player. The goals have always dried up around this time of year. Why? Nobody knows, so let’s see how he’s doing come May before we make any hasty judgements. People were quick to slag him off in September when he didn’t .score and ws ’lazy’ etc. He’s done great since, but let’s hope he keeps it up before we ditch all our other forwards.
2/ Yak is the best option when we play 4-5-1, but who is to say we will always play that way? In a 4-4-2 we look better with AJ and Vaughan whilst Vic can fill in with any system.
3/ Regarding AJ himself he picked up 2 bad injuries last season, one of which hung oer into this season and he eventually required an operation. Since returning he’s scored 6 goals ( 7 if you include yesterday ) and done well despite hoofballs played up to him and 3 of our most creative players, Osman, Arteta and Pienaar, missing many of the games.
His workrate alone should give him enough credit for silly articles like this one to never be . Give the bloke a break and stop comparing him to Beattie and McFadden, both of whom were far less effective players.
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1 Posted 01/02/2008 at 18:54:23
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