The Mail Bag
Strikers redundant!
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Earlier today on another thread, I mentioned that Moyes was again looking a genius for inventing the 4-1-4-0 formation. I opined that it's advantage was that it necessitated us playing proper build-up football because the defenders now hve NO target man to hoof it to. Now quite a few of you may have thought I was being slightly tongue-in-cheek-and of course you would have been perfectly correct.
However, after our performance at Middlesbrough today, I now put forward the serious suggestion that Moyes abandons all thoughts of signing a so-called striker and puts all his faith in a tight defence and tencious midfield work conjuring that one goal a game that can win all the spoils.... And this time I'm not kidding!
Tony Clemson, Posted 26/12/2008 at 14:49:57
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Who needs Lee Carsley? We don?t...
We definitely need a striker in though, if we can get Saha fit he should be in the team with one of Fellaini or Cahill in behind. As good as Cahill?s played in the striker role we look toothless at times.
We are playing really well, better than last season in my opinion. We played well last season at times but we never controlled games and dictated the tempo like we are doing now. It?s pleasing to see.
Baines looks the business at left back with searing pace to get forward and cross from the bye-line which seems to give us better balance. Dan Gosling put in a very confident and comfortable performance and showed that he can play without any problem at this level, and the boy Fellaini adds class and another dimension to the team that achieved fifth last year. He played quite high up the field with Cahill and caused Boro no end of trouble. The defence were in total control Jags , Lescott and Hibbert were superb.
On the whole a formation that is mainly 4 -5 -1 but was sometimes 4-6-0 or even 4-4-2 at times, who ever is responsible for it and the 6th place we now have attained with the football that we are witnessing and is beginning to come to friuition needs a pat on the back. The rest of the season is looking pretty dam promising. Come on You Blues!
OK, so it's only Boro ? but there?s no such thing as only this year. We tore them to shreds (5 yellows). I sympathise with the idea that a proven striker would have upped the goal tally, but our 4-6 players leave the opposition chasing shadows, and are good enough and free enough to find space all over. We should play like this at home ? never mind the understandable wish for a striker to lead the line and stick the ball in. This is a very potent attacking formation.
Leighton Baines played as good a game for Everton today as I?ve seen anyone play for a very long time. Something must be going right.
It's obvious Tim is not everyone's favorite player but a fair critique is not too much to ask is it?? These broad statements claiming he does nothing are so wrong it's embarrassing.
Well done to Moyes and the lads for improvising but that?s all it is ? improvisation. Thought Gosling had a very decent game today and was unlucky on several occasions not to break his duck.
For me the inclusion of Gosling offered a more physical option to Osman. For once we had everyone of our midfielders prepared to get stuck in and make challenges and reaped the rewards. Fellaini has made all the difference, we now have someone in the middle of the park who?s prepared to run at the opposition. He is technically very good with his passing and insists on playing it to feet he gets involved in every area of the park and brings others into the game. He continues to improve with every game, as do Everton ? possibly the signing of the season.
Tim of course deserves a mention, his never-say-die attitude comes up trumps again. Have to agree with others he is often singled out for his goals but his overall contribution is often underestimated.
Much as I admire your admiration of Moyes, I would suggest that his greed in the summer has ruled out a possible Champions League place. In mid-summer we were apparently making bids for players which fell short. Moyes was therefore holding out for more money for himself. His demeanour at the start of the season was a disgrace. What a difference £3-5 million a year makes...
And anyway no-one knows what the fuck happened during the summer. Was it simply Moyes holding out for more money, was it Moyes trying to ensure that he wouldn?t be shafted as far as transfer funds were concerned, or perhaps Moyes did have second thoughts about how much further he could take this club. But I for one am glad that he signed & has the opportunity to prove either his "apologists" or his "bashers" right or wrong.
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