The Mail Bag
Dr Jekyll and Mr Everton
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I can't work Everton out at the minute. Absolutely dire, without fight or bottle against Wigan, then up for it and looking like we would go hours without conceeding against Spurs. It seems emblematic of the entire league at the moment that we cannot string a consistent run, beat some average teams, lose to other average teams (are we just another average team? I hope not).
I don't think it is the quality of the league, the likes of Spurs, Newcastle and Arsenal are at their weakest in years. It makes it all the more annoying when we lose to the likes of Blackburn and Wigan, as we are capable of matching Arsenal, for a results at least. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that ourselves, Villa etc could make it into the Champions league. What chance us being bought by a billionaire then?!
I know today we had Pienaar back to his best today, buzzing about the pitch, and Arteta and Screech played much better, but we arguably had a stronger team out against Wigan a few days ago, yet still lost. Perhaps it is the fact that we are at our best when we are defending leads, playing with five in the middle and counter attacking. Moyes hasn't seemed to have found a plan B, despite hitting 300 games! I also wonder whether after 300 games Moyes finds it hard to muster new ways to motivate his players on a regular basis.
I was furious after Wigan, it was as bad as I have seen us in years...today I am hopeful of fifth or sixth...back on the emotional rollercoaster it is! It's like having a demanding mistress, and we all just keep coming back, hoping she will have changed for good, become conisistent and reliable, and treat us like adoring lovers!
All is well again, until next week I suppose!
Alex Quigley, Posted 30/11/2008 at 13:57:59
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Totally bizarre Prem this year - absolutely no one from top to bottom is putting in any consistency (either good or bad). Not sure what the explanation is.
Bad news about the Yak and Saha. But clearly today showed that 4-5-1 really is the system for us. Not sure Vic would be my choice though for the lone striker.
Bad news about the Yak and Saha. But clearly today showed that 4-5-1 really is the system for us. Not sure Vic would be my choice though for the lone striker.
The thing is Neil, that he is the only viable option now, what with both the Yak, Vaughan & Saha being injured.
I know Tony. We better hope that Cahill stays fit and recovers his goalscoring touch or we are definitely screwed.
Definitely.
Surely Lukas Jutkiewicz will now get something of a chance.
The Magic of Moyes! Only Our Davey could have transformed a side which played cluelessly on Monday to the brilliance that was displayed at White Hart Lane this afternoon. I feel so guilty about the comments I made just yesterday but I?ve felt pretty low all week for having made my old Dad suffer what we saw at Wigan.
It must have taken inspiration of Churchillian proportions to force home the message that Everton teams just don?t roll over like that and all the credit must go to the Moyesiah. I?ve no doubt now that, January signings or not, we?re certainties for a European spot and it will be a long time before I let my faith wane again!
Richard Dodd, are you really Bill Kenwright???
I'd sooner see Mikel further up as an attacking midfielder than a holding midfielder but Moyes ain't going to leave his record buy out of the team... Will Castillo ever get a chance?
Well, I slated them after Monday and I will now congratulate them after today. I have no idea why the team can play so badly one week and the next be so much better. I have a lot of Spurs friends though, so, next to the derby, this is the one I always want to win. Thank you so much for that boys.
Arteta helped in the middle big time. I’ve been saying it for months, he’s gone stale outwide and needs a run in the middle.
He played as a deep lying play maker today, similar to the role Fernandes played when he was here last season. He doesn’t quite have Manny’s vision but he’s certainly got the technique, intelligence and skill to play there.
He kept things moving, won tackles and kept hold of the ball for us.
He played as a deep lying play maker today, similar to the role Fernandes played when he was here last season. He doesn’t quite have Manny’s vision but he’s certainly got the technique, intelligence and skill to play there.
He kept things moving, won tackles and kept hold of the ball for us.
What I haven?t worked out is, at what point to you stop being an over-achieving team? For years we have been described as such, punching above our weight... surely if you?ve done that consistently then you?ve found your level right?
That?s 3 years on the trot we?ve beaten Spuds on their patch, does that mean we should go there next year expecting to win? Or do we see this as yet another anomaly and hope for a draw or better?
I just can?t believe that we?ve won so many more away games than at home this season!
That?s 3 years on the trot we?ve beaten Spuds on their patch, does that mean we should go there next year expecting to win? Or do we see this as yet another anomaly and hope for a draw or better?
I just can?t believe that we?ve won so many more away games than at home this season!
Shockingly bad luck for Saha and especially Yakubu today, I'm just a bit worried about where the goals are going to come from from now on because we all know Anichebe scores one goal every ten or fifteen games or so and Cahill, who usually helps us out, just isn?t doing enough at the moment. I for one thought he was quite poor again today and has been for a while! We're being linked with Lukas Podolski in the rags this weekend and he would be a great signing for us in January, at least on loan, because we certainly couldn?t afford to buy him outright.
Well said, Conner, we've been crying out for someone to collect the and distribute it for not just this season but longer than that. Carsley, as good as he was defensively had his limitations. I thought although we were absolutely desperate at Wigan, Arteta?s game upped slightly when moved into this position, and I don?t really agree with those who have called him disinterested and in some cases worse. He performed well,didn?t waste a pass and worked hard. He could be our Pirlo, he has the attributes.
You can?t please everyone though, quite why anyone would want to change the midfield after today to give Castillo a chance is beyond me. Fellaini was excellent at times and clumsy at others, but its obvious he is going to be a very good player, and it still amazes me that people were willing to write off a 20-year-old non-English speaker after two matches. We still need a pacy winger though.
You can?t please everyone though, quite why anyone would want to change the midfield after today to give Castillo a chance is beyond me. Fellaini was excellent at times and clumsy at others, but its obvious he is going to be a very good player, and it still amazes me that people were willing to write off a 20-year-old non-English speaker after two matches. We still need a pacy winger though.
Alex said that we might have had a stronger team out at Wigan. I disagree ? not with hindsight ? ask my brother who talked to me about it on the phone half an hour before kick-off about the line-up. Our first team, we both said. People who talk about attacking partnerships ? as in a 4-4-2 ? haven?t been watching us for the last five or six years. Or other successful teams come to think of it.
With only other people?s observations, and very limited MotD images to go on, we seem to have played to our strengths today. Not a bad thing to do on match day.
We should all wish the Yak a speedy recovery, but we should all want to see a talented, mobile and free-scoring midfield take us to safety and well beyond.
And I do think that Joleon Lescott could become a very good striker. But I?ll probably never know.
With only other people?s observations, and very limited MotD images to go on, we seem to have played to our strengths today. Not a bad thing to do on match day.
We should all wish the Yak a speedy recovery, but we should all want to see a talented, mobile and free-scoring midfield take us to safety and well beyond.
And I do think that Joleon Lescott could become a very good striker. But I?ll probably never know.
Mikel is going to be more of a plus as an attacking midfielder than holding midfielder. We cannot play both Cahill and Fellaini in midfield. Tim's goals tally speaks for its self. So my BALANCED midfield is Castillo, Arteta, Cahill, Osman, Pienaar. Let's give more 20-year-olds a chance.
Firstly, after watching that utter dross at Wigan it helps a little that we both fought hard and (blow me over) passed the ball around a bit. Still much room for improvement.
Secondly, the decimation of our attack is unbelievable. We can only pray for Saha?s fitness. I have one proposition for January... Heskey. If he?s good enough for England then he?ll do for Everton. He makes it happen for England due to unselfish running and strength in holding the ball up to bring the midfied into play ? perfect for a 4-5-1.
Hats off to Jagielka & Howard AGAIN today. His defensive capabilities are becoming the stuff of legend. If he could develop the confidence to bring the ball out of defence, attack space in front of him and pass it, he would be on 40 caps by now. Probably our player of the year so far.
Secondly, the decimation of our attack is unbelievable. We can only pray for Saha?s fitness. I have one proposition for January... Heskey. If he?s good enough for England then he?ll do for Everton. He makes it happen for England due to unselfish running and strength in holding the ball up to bring the midfied into play ? perfect for a 4-5-1.
Hats off to Jagielka & Howard AGAIN today. His defensive capabilities are becoming the stuff of legend. If he could develop the confidence to bring the ball out of defence, attack space in front of him and pass it, he would be on 40 caps by now. Probably our player of the year so far.
Castillo played at Blackburn 2 seasons ago. The Blackburn fans I’ve spoken to all say he was rubbish and ridiculed us for signing him. I think Moyes has seen him in action and has the same opinion. Fellaini looks like one for the future and has headed a few in already, so I don’t see Castillo making it back.
After years of being let down by the blues, I finally gave up on Monday. There was no effort, no desire, no skill and no interest. Sorry if I don’t get carried away by an away win against a team on the same points as the bottom three, but I really don’t see any real improvement. If we were just adequate them we’d be third by now almost out of sight, instead of being only 7 points from relegation with the toughest two months on the season yet to come. We could easily be in a relegation position by February!
Only picking up points against the world beaters of Blackburn, Portsmouth, Middlesboro, Newcastle and Wigan will bring us to where we believe we should be.
Reason why we haven’t; Moyes’ prevarication for 3 months whist everyone else strengthened!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’ll wait for the fat lady. If we are safe then, I’ll relax but please don’t ask me to celebrate.
6 years on and we still haven’t got the wingers that we have cried out for and been promised!
I doubt I’ll be wasting me precious time and money on another way game, only to be treated like shite. Even home games are no longer appealing! Looking at the attendances, I doubt I am alone.
And before you slag me off, I’ve gone to the game through thin and thinner over the last 40 years but never have I been so disgusted by the antics of the players but most of all the management! I can accept that indicduals are less than quality, but I can’t accept lack of care of the players and management and disrespect to the fans.
Only picking up points against the world beaters of Blackburn, Portsmouth, Middlesboro, Newcastle and Wigan will bring us to where we believe we should be.
Reason why we haven’t; Moyes’ prevarication for 3 months whist everyone else strengthened!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’ll wait for the fat lady. If we are safe then, I’ll relax but please don’t ask me to celebrate.
6 years on and we still haven’t got the wingers that we have cried out for and been promised!
I doubt I’ll be wasting me precious time and money on another way game, only to be treated like shite. Even home games are no longer appealing! Looking at the attendances, I doubt I am alone.
And before you slag me off, I’ve gone to the game through thin and thinner over the last 40 years but never have I been so disgusted by the antics of the players but most of all the management! I can accept that indicduals are less than quality, but I can’t accept lack of care of the players and management and disrespect to the fans.
Completely disagree with you there Steve.. it was a completely different performance to Monday and in my opinion, that was down to balance in midfield.
Having Pienaar back was a real plus, which allowed Arteta to move back to the middle, and everyone seemed to switch positions. Fellaini and Cahill were swapping brilliantly, Arteta playing a deep playmaker role. We just need a pacy winger to provide competition for Osman/Pienaar and everything’s looking good.
Bit worried on the striker front tho, it will be Anichebe’s first real spell of games now, so jus need to see how he does. If not, a loan or a buy is definitely needed. I like the sound of Podolski but someone else said Kevin Doyle, would like to see him here!
Having Pienaar back was a real plus, which allowed Arteta to move back to the middle, and everyone seemed to switch positions. Fellaini and Cahill were swapping brilliantly, Arteta playing a deep playmaker role. We just need a pacy winger to provide competition for Osman/Pienaar and everything’s looking good.
Bit worried on the striker front tho, it will be Anichebe’s first real spell of games now, so jus need to see how he does. If not, a loan or a buy is definitely needed. I like the sound of Podolski but someone else said Kevin Doyle, would like to see him here!
Yesterday’s result shows that 4-5-1 is the way to go - simple as! We look a lot more balanced and confident with that formation than with any other. Why fix it if it’s not broken???
As for lads criticising our players - lay off! As much as anyone I was very disappointed with how we played at Wigan but now is not the time for getting on their backs - now is the time for everyone to rally together (players, management, fans) and get this great club back to where it belongs - at the summit of the premier league!
As for lads criticising our players - lay off! As much as anyone I was very disappointed with how we played at Wigan but now is not the time for getting on their backs - now is the time for everyone to rally together (players, management, fans) and get this great club back to where it belongs - at the summit of the premier league!
Keith... glad to see I’m not the only madman here. My first thought when Saha went down after Yak was that I’d love to see Lescott spend some time up front. His mighty physical presence and well-proven nose for goal might help make up for whatever he lacks in skill. And it would bring Baines into the lineup, which I’ve been hoping for. It’s only for four games until the window opens, so why not experiment?
I think, however, that if a second striker is needed and Jutkiewicz isn’t considered ready, Moyes will move Fellaini up front. He has the aerial ability and the desire to score, and Castillo and Rodwell between them should be able to handle the defensive midfield responsibilities.
Poor Vaughnie must be seriously depressed. This was the chance he has waited for... and he can’t take it.
I think, however, that if a second striker is needed and Jutkiewicz isn’t considered ready, Moyes will move Fellaini up front. He has the aerial ability and the desire to score, and Castillo and Rodwell between them should be able to handle the defensive midfield responsibilities.
Poor Vaughnie must be seriously depressed. This was the chance he has waited for... and he can’t take it.
Just get behind the TEAM no matter what. Not like the kopites top of the league and booed off ? DISGRACE!
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1 Posted 30/11/2008 at 18:16:38
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