The Mail Bag
The Midfield
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In some ways we were very unlucky today; however, there's an intrinsic problem with the shape of the Everton midfield. The whole point of a 4-5-1 system is to have a holding midfielder a la Mikel, not to have 5 attacking midfielders. Why did we sign Castillo? An international and a central midfield player, surely he could do a job as a holding player?
Cahill and Osman are not traditional midfielders, Pienaar is neat, but can't tackle, shoot or pass beyond 20 yards and Arteta is a shadow of the player of two years ago. It is not a midfield. It does not really help the attack and certainly leaves the central defence exposed.
Anichebe is willing, but a Heskey manque, lacking an ability to threaten goal, and needs a support player alongside him.
Rick Tarleton, Posted 07/12/2008 at 16:19:40
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We just lacked that bit of killer instinct and Villa had a lot of luck.
Arteta looks a shadow of his former self? I disagree big time. In the last two games Arteta has played the holding role with class, composure and tenacity. He played well yesterday and he looked hungry.
We just need a winger, Osman is a useful centre midfielder but he can?t hack it out wide. We?ll have to cope until we get someone in.
I can take positives from this game. Everyone in the midfield was showing for the ball and the distrubution was far better. As was the energy and heart.
We just need to cut out the lapses...
1. We played well for the majority and were unlucky not to get something from the game.
2. We had a mistake that led to the 2nd goal ? Jags is human will all have them.
3. 1st goal was a belter, hands down... no more said.
4. Lescott scored twice one of which any striker would be proud.
5. It's nearly Jan and we will have a striker to go with others.
6. Arteta tackled very well today and passed the ball well except most dead balls.
It was a great game of hard tackling football and we were on the wrong end of result despite dominating and playing very well. Chew on that fat if you so wish!!!
I can?t help thinking that if he stuck to some sort of principles we?d be better off. Our football would still be shit but points wise we?d be doing better.
Everyone seems to agree that Moyes prefers to play 4-5-1. The reason he has had success with this is because we?ve had a tough tackling midfielder who has allowed Cahill, Arteta and Pienaar to get forward. Cahill is playing far too defensive as is Arteta and therefore Pienaar is too easily nullified. Plus Moyes has changed to 4-4-2 then back to 4-5-1 then back to 4-4-2 then back to 4-5-1 but with Arteta in the middle. No wonder the players can?t get a consistent run going. Moyes is tinkering too much.
Carsley was a half decent player. He has become legendary since he left but at best he was half decent. All he did was break up play then play the ball sideways or backwards. Carsley?s ability on the ball was poor. There are loads of these types of player around who don?t cost a fortune to replace. Since Moyes failed to identify that we needed a tackling mifielder, the 4-5-1 formation looks totally disjointed. So what are his principles? What is his preferred formation? He seems fucking clueless at the moment.
I would have loved Ashley Young here but that's a matter gone now. The reason we lost today was because of stupid amateur errors... AGAIN!! The midfield played well and we were the better team but, until we learn to stop making so many schoolboy mistakes, I'm afraid that there will be many more afternoons like today.
Obviously Carsley?s electic pace would?ve kept up with Young and he would?ve won the ball back. Or maybe we lacked Carsley passing and composure in the middle. It?s a boring excuse to be honest, the defensive problems started with Carsley in the team.
Arteta won the ball back a lot today, his performance in the holding role was very good. He made a mistake for the goal but that happens. He still put in a very good performance, as did most of the team.
I have to be honest. I?m fucking gutted, and incredibly angry at having lost due to the fact that, when our best players lose concentration, we always seem to pay a heavy cost. Already rowed with the missus, and on for more of the same. But even though I might be dealing with the break-up of my marriage, this afternoon (at least here in Canada), I?m happy that we bossed the game today but I?m fucking pissed off that we lost.
And the 9-year-old: "Yeh, and although we?ve only played two and a half games of decent football all season, we?ve still got 20 odd points and are improving". Why can?t they be bitter, twisted and irrational like the rest of us?
Who was marking Sidwell on that first goal? Usually a Carsely-type player but, with Castillo still a bench player and none of the others capable, it was far too easy once Arteta lost possession. Apart from the short spell after the break, Villa always looked like scoring as did Blackburn on the opening day. Sure it took an unbelievable blunder by Everton's best player this season to turn the game again but where is the team discipline?
To concede goals in the first minute and the last minute is criminal and does nothing to underline Moyes's coaching. Yes, some of the players are not good enough but Moyes must share the blame.
1. I haven?t seen Arteta play so well for God knows how long!
2. Fellaini won almost every aerial contest and was a little unfortunate in not scoring on two occasions.
3. AvdM played for the first time in 20 months and looked lively.
4. JL was back to his former self. This will give him a lot of confidence.
The BAD:
1. Howard hardly had a save to make all game and we still lost.
2. Our players never shoot from outside the penalty area.
3. Villa have now opened a 6-pt gap on us (+ superior goal difference).
As for Moyes if his celebrations were aimed at the Everton supporters then he?s well out of order. Howard Kendall, Joe Royle or any previous Everton Manager would not behave like that regardless of what they thought. No class DM, you?ve let yourself down badly. No matter how you?ve played, one home win in NINE games is unacceptable and has seen better managers than you lose their jobs.
By the way I thought the supporters got right behind the team today so I can?t understand it when Moyes says supporters should support the team.
We need pace up front from a player like Ashley Young who isn?t so lightweight that he gets pushed off too easily (like AJ did). We haven?t sorted out midfield yet and in Castillo, we obviously have bought a dud. But I don?t think we are a million miles away and I think we?ll be in the top 7 at the end of the season.
But I’ll go along with many who think this - never mind the January window, David Moyes has to sort out how the players we have are supposed to be playing together now.
We played a team the other week, who at the time were 2nd from bottom, and got beat. Yes, we out-played the 4th placed team, but we still got beat. You don?t get any points for being the better side in a game, unless you win.
I said when we equalised at 2-2 it was unfair as we had deserved to win, but man, that was seriously brain dead from the whole team collectively switching off.
I take more postives from this game, we have now remembered our best formation and today it showed. We were robbed, but that is football for ye, we have not deserved this season to have so many points but we have. Today was like the true Everton, long overdue, but stick with it Moysie, and we won't go far wrong.
Obviously we lost because Arteta twice lost posession in midfield and through Jagielka?s "folly". They were more clinical than us. I thought we were better than them, but not much. Most of our chances came through set-pieces and hoofball, rather than constructive play or indiviual skill. If they are the 5th best team in the league, then the Premier League really has gone down the gutter.
Jagielka may be our best player so far this season, but I?ve never seen anyone so unassured when in posession. That mistake was a long time coming, maybe next time he?ll just hoof it like usual. Seems to take ages to play simple passes too, putting the receiving player under pressure. The defence including Howard were pretty steady. Big question though, why was Jags not back in defence when they scored No 3? Lescott was playing centre-back, so was Jags still up front as a striker? Why they didn?t just boot it out or long I?ll never know.
Fellaini was the pick of the midfield. Arteta tended to drift in and out of the game and also gave away the ball twice which lead to 2 goals. Pienaar was below par, and Cahill and Osman where just plain bad.
Anichebe never had a look in and put himself about without ever threatening. Hope he proves me wrong but I think he?ll be shown up if he plays over the next few weeks. In fairness, he played most of the game with his back to goal.
Good to see Shandy back. Kudos to Moyes for the subs when we were 2-1 down. Saying that, if Neville was still on the field, we would probably not have lost. Very naive by us to not close out the remaining 10 seconds or so.
I must admit I was impressed with the team overall though. I don?t get to watch them often (they?re on Fox next weekend too v Man City) so it was nice to see Arteta play a decent game for a change!
I?m not convinced about Pienaar though; yes, he?s good and has some brilliant moments but 90 minutes worth? I?m not so sure. Osman too..... too lightweight.
On the plus side... Fellaini (if he could just stop fouling the opposing players) will develop into a very good player me thinks... he had chances today, pity they didn?t cross that line! I have to give a shout for Neville too... as a right defender he?s doing a great job (keep him there, not in midfield).
Despite all the criticism heaped on VdM, nice to see him get some time on the field, I do think if he got a run in the team (and it?s his fault he?s yet to get a run, of course) then he could be a tremendous asset to the team. We need a decent winger... he could be "the one"! I was impressed too with Lescott?s goals... especially the second one... not a bad job for a defender!
All-in-all, very disappointing but encouraging nevertheless... as I suspected at the beginning of the season it?s between us and Villa for that 5th spot... I really can?t see any of the Top Four slipping up and Villa do have the Uefa Cup to contend with (doing both was part of our downfall last season) so who knows... even though we lost today to them, we could still be in with a shout come the end of the season.
COYB!!
How ironic that Arteta, who is our most technically gifted player, miscontrolled twice, directly resulting in 2 of their goals.
Have to disagree with you about Pienaar. You seem to have a short memory (see last season). Clearly Cahill and Osman where our worst players. Not sure who was worse. Osman was on the ball more but hardly did anything good with it. Cahill was simply anonymous. Problem with him is if he doesn?t score, he doesn?t really add anything else to the team. Maybe it?s time to cash in on him? We can?t afford the luxury of 2 midfielders going awol each game. Moyes definately needs someone to sit in front of the defence to provide extra cover. Clearly he doesn?t rate Castillo, who he brought in for that reason, otherwise he?d be playing.
Don?t really care where we finish this season. As long as we don?t get relegated. Qualifying for the Uefa Cup hasn?t increased our spending power by any great means, or enhanced our ability to attract class players (see summer transfer window). Some decent passing football wouldn?t go amiss. Maybe Moyes should teach them to pass and move instead of standing like statues and resorting to route one so often. Carsley missed? Wonder how much of an influence Alan Irvine had.
We also need someone who can cross from the left when in behind the defence. Too many times yesterday we got in good situations behind them, and then passed back and went inside instead of crossing.
Whereas Arteta’s primary contribution to the game was to give the ball away cheaply not once bit twice in situations that led directly to crucial goals being scored by the opposition.
Normally I’d agree but this was one crazy cocked-up game where Arteta bwas better but committed two horrendous errors, while sman was awful but claimed two potentially game-winning assists (but for the mistakes of Arteta)...
It’s a funny old game alright!
So my point is why is he still getting slated? Why after today's game is Osman not getting slaughtered? This guy gets away with murder, yet he seems untouchable on these threads. We crucify our most gifted player yet cannot see were the obvious weak link is. Time and time again it is Osman, can no-one else see this? I hate to slag of anyone but he stands out for me like a sore thumb.
You can agree or disagree as much as you want.... I was giving my opinion, not asking for anybody to agree with me. You may have read me as saying that the first goal was down to "sloppy defending", I wasn?t blaming any specific player or position, just sloppy defending (i.e. one or more of our players giving the ball away in our half near our penalty area).
Based on what I?ve seen of Arteta I thought he played a better game today... I?m not a big fan of him to be fair (I?ve made it clear previously what I think of him)... I was just making a general comment that he played better today than what I?ve seen him do prior to this game.
Regarding the 3rd goal... I didn?t/wouldn?t say Lescott was to blame for creating the chance for Villa but Lescott IS a defender and I think he should have done better... Yes, Young is fast, but our defenders need to be able to handle fast attackers, not just slow one?s!
Re: Pienaar.... I did say he?s good but I?m just not sure he?s good enough, more so because with Arteta/Osman/Pienaar ... we have no real physical strength in midfield.... they?re all as light as a feather and play that way! By the way, I?m not saying get rid of Pienaar ? I?m just saying that I?m not all that impressed (although to be fair we got him on the cheap).
Cahill is a different situation... he can be missing 80% of the game but can produce that bit of magic (both ends of the field) to make it worthwhile having him on the team. Until such time as Moyes has a blank check, there?s not a lot he can do.
You referred to Castillo... I too wonder why we got him. I think he has potential but then so do a lot of bench-warmers! I guess we?ll never find out for sure!
As to where we finish... I do care, I think we?ll be Top Six; we need to be in Europe next season!
Analysing uncharacteristic individual errors is daft, every player makes mistakes, it happens. Not many teams have an Ashley Young who can punish them like we were yesterday, and considering Big Vic was our only recognised striker we done well as for the vast majority of the game we looked the only likely team to score. We needed improvement from our terrible start to the season. We?ve got it... now let's push on!
If we dont finish higher than this lot I?ll be amazed. Moyes is to be encouraged, he is trying to alter our style of play, he?s aware the percentage game will only get us so far, isn?t that what we?ve all been calling for?
For the first time in his reign we have set up to play through the middle on two consecutive games rather than focus on Arteta?s "errors" can we not take heart from the fact that we were far the more attractive team ?
Do we want to go back to grinding out results ? probably acheving European football, or are we prepared to break a few eggs in an attempt to make a tastier omelette?
To concentrate on Arteta?s errors is to deny the possibilties that a balanced midfield can provide. If we could replace him adequately on the wing then our prospects would be good.
The only player who should hang his head in shame (as I am sure he is) is Jagielka who basically threw the game away. He has played well this season. Do you want to drop him?
Get one signed Moyes and drop that lankey waste of £15 million.
Maybe you should watch the game on the box more often.
I like the look of Arteta in a deep central position although he definitely needs a quality defensive player to sit along side him so that he doesn?t get into the situation he was in today. I know it wont happen but I would like to see a midfield of VDM/Osman, Fellaini, Arteta, Castillo, Pienaar in the next game.
I wonder whether it is time to ?cash-in? on Cahill now because I don't think we can accommodate both him and Fellaini in the same side. It might fund a bid for a quality DM?
I agree with most of what?s been said including the fact that for all his considerable effort Osman is too lightweight. Cahill is... well I don?t know but he ain?t producing the goods. On the other hand, how anyone can say Castillo is rubbish when he?s hardly played is beyond me. LIkewise AvdM. He only had 10 minutes to do anything and when he was actually given the ball, he did something with it, but to be honest he looked worth a decent run because he has speed and can cross a ball.... for Fellaini to nod home.
And for what its worth, I was impressed with us yesterday. After 10 minutes I thought we were in for a real stuffing, but we played our way back into it and were very unlucky not to get anything ? albeit we contributed to our own downfall. Sometimes it's meant to be and yesterday was one of those.
I?ve just seen Villas winner again and Young took the chance brilliantly unfortunately... but definitely more positive than negative even if we did lose.
What we’re asking for is a balanced midfield, like a lot of other teams have - one that can defend as well as attack.
I?d rather have a poor performing Arteta and win games, than an in-form Arteta and loosing!!
10 mins to recover then battered them.
All the posession - unlucky not to be 2-1 in front at half time.
On top again then Jags mistake.
Battered them again.
Unlucky not to equalise earlier.
3 minutes added time.
Lescott scores in 93rd minute.
Ref adds another minute from nowhere.
Lescott stays at centre half and should have done a ’John Terry’ and took Young out, accidently on purpose, taking a card for the team.
Mind you, ref would have probably added another minute on for the free-kick.
Ref rubbish - Sidwell for one, should have been booked. Ref offered us no protection.
Very good performance.
Question now is can Moyes pick them up for the next game or are we going to see a repeat of the sulk fests endured after Villarreal, Fiorentina and Liege ?
Was thinking the same. The 4th schoolboy error.
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1 Posted 07/12/2008 at 20:58:23
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