COLUMNIST JIM HOURIGAN
A Blip or Some Hard Truths?
Comments (14) : I for one am baffled at the apparent refusal to try and get out from the back on all but a very few occasions. With Cahill required to go for all the long punts from Howard how does this help his game? His strengths are coming in late, unmarked — this approach negates that and questions his overall effectiveness. AJ upfront, with long balls from the back, strikes me as a one dimensional, limited tactic that does not work against half decent teams (Spurs, Blackburn?)
In terms of the players I feel yesterday highlighted some of the problems with 2 players in particular — Osman and Carsley. I think Carsley has played in every game this season and it is beginning to show. His performances since the New Year have been well below that of the start of the season and I just believe he is running on half empty. During the first half of the season he made tackles and interceptions and broke up the play allowing others to perform. He is now struggling to make those tackles and at times looks like a passenger. The classic example yesterday was when Howard did roll the ball out to him, he was in acres of space but mis-controlled it and the ball ran away — he blamed Howard for giving him the ball because he did not want it — a sign of tiredness both mentally and physically. As we move to the business end of the season will he be able to perform?
Osman, the same as at Blackburn, was almost peripheral to the game. His lack of pace and strength is not compensated by his ability on the ball, because he was so rarely on the ball. Unless he is fed the ball by those around him he is often anonymous, and with the long ball game employed that is exactly what happens. Leon does not have the pace to go beyond the forwards, his strengths lie in his quick feet and a short passing game. So once again how does this work within our present long ball approach?
Finally to a player who did not even play yesterday — the Yak. I fully agree that he needed punishing and that he cannot be led to believe he is bigger than the club. We got away with a win yesterday but for me the bigger question is who has the bigger ego? DM or the Yak? Without doubt we need his presence back up front, but will yesterday be deemed sufficient punishment? Does DM carry on 'cutting his nose off to spite his face' and show who the boss is? Does the Yak come back in a huff because he's been punished? God only knows, I just hope the two approach the situation with maturity — something that is very often lacking in the game of football!
Reader Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
The implications on our long term team commeraderie could be much more important than rushing Yak backinto the fold because we "need" him. Quite frankly, we dont need him, we need players hungry and determined to put this team into the champions league. For me James Vaughan is a much more deserving case than Yakubu at this moment in time. On merit-who do you think deserves the chance?
Whatever the rights and wrongs of Yakubus Lord Lucan act, we certainly do need him. I am not really arsed about who we think deserves to play, it who is going to have he biggest impact that counts. Moyes sets a high line on conduct, he could have stated that it was an internal matter and offered no further comment. My personal view is that he (Yak) will be on the bench against Brann and start the following league game, to do otherwise would be madness, the point has been made so lets move on.
we have a really small squad especially midfield and have had players away on Afcon and international duty.
When we keep the ball on the floor we are a match for any body but yesterday nobody wanted the ball and it was back to the "hoofball" syndrome.
The tactics need changing too.AJ cannot play the lone striker with Tim Cahill in support - a blind man can see that. I hope Moyes gives Vaughan a chance against Brann and we get Peanuts back for next weekend.
I also believe the Yak is less important than he seems to think.
Regarding Jims statement that Osman needs to be ’fed by those around him’. A midfielder’s role should be to win the ball, support his defenders and feed his striker/s.
By PL standards he is less than average on all counts.
I definately agree with Jim on his comments about AJ who in my opinion is not and never will be good playing a lone role up front. I think that with a strike partner he would be a totally different proposition. That will only be the case when we find a commanding replacement for Osman.
I also believe a reality check is needed for Manny. Any player half as good as he is supposed to be does not totally disappear as he did in his hour against Reading.
On that performance he is not worth anywhere near the ridiculous price on his head. We cannot afford that kind of money for someone who is not of a consistently high level.
On the other hand, Piennar is definately worth a punt.
Johnson isn’t good enough for me. He optimizes Everton of a few years ago. Hardworking but very little skill. Good back up but Yakubu is in a different league. People are mentioning Vaughan but everyone’s knows Moyes won’t drop either Cahill or Johnson for Vaughan despite him probably being more effective than both.
Thats probably the one problem I have with Moyes. He likes keeping his favorites happy. I very much doubt he’ll replace Osman with Pienaar straight away despite Pienaar being the better winger and I doubt he’ll drop Johnson for Yakubu or Vaughan despite them being better strikers. Thats probably one thing I don’t like about his managerial style.
I say get our best team on the pitch and finish as high as we can. There’s not alot of time for changing the team and rotating every week because the team with momentum and players that play every week will over take us.
It's interesting that the big two both played poorly yesterday with a day more rest than Everton.
On Yakubu we should shut up and let Moyes deal with it. He?s the manager and manages very well for me.
Certainly not the man himself.
I would argue that a heavy fine was enough. But not to play him has only deprived the fans and the team of a vital assett.
If we had been beaten on Saturday we would have bemoned his omission.
As it was we scraped home.
He is our only proven goalscorer, so leaving him out was a big gamble to my mind.
One which DM got away with this time.
But only just.
Punish him certainly, but not playing him is punishing the club.
"Joey, well done good lad for coming straight back - you can play, oh and Yak you didn’t come back til 2 days later - never mind you can play as well!"
All footballers want to play, so by not doing it has an effect. It also sends a message to others who may consider similar actions.
You could argue that on £40k a week what difference does a £80k fine make!
If I go missing from work for 2 days I get sacked. This man is being paid 40k a week to represent our football. That money comes out of fans pockets, anything less than a hard line on this kind of behaviour is an insult to the fans.
Besides that he has missed all the build up to the game and it would not be fair to the other players who have put the graft in during training to overlook them in favour of Yakubu. In my eyes Yakubu has lost his place now and only hard work and dedication should earn him the right to get back in the team.
I think there is a slight overeaction to one bad performance here. Our form this year has still been good overall. No panic or sweeping changes needed ahead of a big game in Euro and at Man C.
Over the past few months, particularly when we went on that unbeaten run, Moyes was bringing players off to rest them (usually Cahill and Yak). But what always surprised me was that Carsley (the oldest man in the team) was never subbed. For me, he’s the most likely to tire for the run in with his age and the fact that he’s still playing internationals. I don’t think he should retire from internationals, I commend him for wanting to carry on serving his country. What I do think though is that we should’ve rested him before now. It’s still not too late though and once Manny’s fitness improves I think it’s time to give Carsley a breather here and there. Two games a week is too much for him at this stage of the season.
Regarding Osman...I think he’s suffered from Pienaar’s absence, as have others in the team. He’s been asked to play the wide role which he clearly doesn’t have the pace for. He’s been much more affective for us this season playing central a 5 man midfield and I believe his form will pickup once we have all our players back.
I hope moyes shows some good sense and does not ommitt him the double header against the norwegians. We already have half a foot in the last sixteen with the opposition provided but with yakubu as a added bonus then we have a great chance in this years competition.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 10/02/2008 at 20:24:39
Report abuse
WTF Jim, Moyes has every right to punish him, what if tomorrow Cahill,Arteta or Lescott decides to go AWOL and offer a simple excuse? What signal it would sent through the squad, what will be the consequences in the furture?
Moyes has to keep the squad together, they have tough goal - to break the "Sky 4" group; there is no place for primadonas and big time Charlies, every successful team needs discipline, imagine the reaction of SAF if this has happened at this crucial time of the season with one of his key players?
Its not about ego its about team spirit,discipline and success