Mr Motivator

For the record, I'm not super Lee's biggest fan and I am certainly one of those fans that agitate when he is coupled with Phil Neville in what would best be described as a pedestrian midfield ? at worst damn right wasteful, cheap in giving away posession and counter-productive in any given attacking prowess. Yet given the task of doing what he does best, which is sitting in front of the back four, destroying the opposition's threat around the D and generally holding thing's together, is there really anyone better currently on Everton's book's ?

My original post focused on Carsley's contribution to the 4-5-1 system so often effectively employed by David Moyes, with reference to Carsley in some quarter's of the media as the poor man's Makelele. It has been ironic to see the urban myth that was spawned from the Thomas Gravesen transfer to Real Madrid with the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that they actually acquired the wrong foliclly challenged player. It would however be a disservice to Carsley to compare him to the pumped-up Gravesen who, although he posesses an abundance of flair, provides little in the way of an offensive foil. It is almost Everton-esque that the two baldies have once again been reunited in the form of Carsley's extended contract and Gravesen's last-ditch acquistion as a loan deal following the collapse of the Manny Fernandes transfer.

It has been well recorded that Lee Carsley was a man going knowhere under the Walter Smith regime, another £1.9 million seemingly wasted on the dross that permeated the squad at the time with the crab-like Tobias Linderoth viewed as the better prospect from the last two of Smith's desperate transfer's. In a general midfield role Carsley was widely derided by the vast majority of the Goodison faithful, symptomatic of a fatefully defensive and negative formation on a narrow and prohibitive Goodison pitch that finally culminated in the long overdue downfall of Smith and his sidekick the ultra cautious Archie Knox.

The appointment of David Moyes seemingly galvanised team spirit and over the past 5 years of Moyes's tenure it would appear that the affable Carsley has played a large part in boosting morale, eeking out results and offering both stability and the bedrock to a sustainable up-turn in fortunes. Carsley's own position would probably reflect that of Moyes, a season missed though injury which coincided with a disasterous European adventure and dissapointing league form on the back of the miraculous 4th place finish.

This season has seen Carsley used more sparringly as Moyes has continued to persist with playing Neville in Midfield, the arrival of Jagielka however plain it may be that the guy is primarily a defender, and the fact that Carsley is becoming a veteran as old father time continues to clock up the miles. Injuries to key player's such as Cahill and Vaughan, the return of Gravesen who was subsequently injured, and the stuttering form of Yakubu have all contributed to a less than spectacular start to the current campaign. However, as I write this appraisal of Carsley we remain competing on the Cup fronts, have hopefully ridden our poor league form and suddenly once again have competition for places and player's available.

Lee Carsley has around 6 months left on his current deal; word has it that a play-maker is imperative and required come January or next summer at the latest. The next 6 months will undoubtedly unfold as Everton's fortunes are judged, Carsley's role in those fortunes will largely dictate whether he is to muster a further contract extension or a change of tack is required. My personal sentiment is that we certainly appear a more robust outfit with Carsley in the holding role as an anchor.

Tactics and team selection will dictate whether he is required for every game and we can be more fluid with formations as the opposition dictates. However, I feel it is safe to draw the conclusion that Lee Carsley is much better in the 'Carsley' role than Phil Neville and or Phil Jagielka, and until a suitable holding midfield player is purchased to replace him then Carsley must assume the Makelele role for Everton in any given 4-5-1 formation.

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