The Mail Bag
In Defence of Leighton Baines
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I have read much criticism of Leighton Baines's performance on Saturday, here and in other places. I must say I wasn't at the game yesterday but watched it via a live stream on the web. I agree it wasn't one of his better performances but for people to say he should be shipped out is way too hasty in my opinion.
This lad is only coming back from an ankle operation and has yet, through injury and supposed tactical selection of Lescott (height at set pieces) to enjoy a sustained run in the side. I for one will not forget how he kept Ronaldo in his pocket last season in the game at Goodison. He's a brilliant prospect given time to regain form and a proper footballer to boot, the like of which we need more in the team then less; if we are to try and play the ball to feet from the back and to use his undoubted ability going forward.
Give the lad a break, I say to those who are on his back. I'm sure he'll come good in time if he's allowed, as Jagielka was last season, to play his way into form. I'll be at West Brom Saturday hoping to see him and the rest of the team get the required result. COYB!
Paul Walsh, Posted 18/08/2008 at 03:38:49
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I must say Paul that I was there on Saturday, and on that display Baines was dreadful, albiet he spent most of the 1st half in midfield which is not hes natural position. For me though the jury has always still been out on Baines. I haven’t seen anything since he joined us to convince me he is good enough, I am willing to give it at least 5 or 6 regular games at LB to give a final judgement.
My main concern though is how bad Lescott was, and whether in the long run LB is hes best position. I really have never seen him play that badly and just hope it was a one off. My gut feel though is that Neville, Yobo, Jags, Lescott is our best defence.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/7567340.stm
But then again, you know what they say about that word ?assume??
He?s had a shit first season due to injuries and our three centre backs excelling, but he deserves a chance. He, like many others was played out of position in Saturday?s shambles. He deserves a run at left back, the position he was bought for. It?s time to get behind the payers, not start slagging off the ones who can provide us with quality this season.
I admit I did like the look of him when he first signed and I liked the look of him when he was at Wigan, I got the first impression that he could be a present day Andy Hinchcliffe and I do remember how well he played against Ronaldo yes..
I think the biggest problem of all that Everton have now is the fact that nobody knows just exactly where anyone is going to be playing from one week to the next..
I couldn't have predicted a midfield slot for Jagielka on Saturday although I did have a feeling that Baines would be on left midfield.
I think the thing for Baines is at the moment we are having a lot of competition for the left back place (can you believe competition for a place??) where in my opinion Lescott at the moment is better as a left back than in the middle I don't know if anyone else agrees? And I also like Valente when he plays too, I think he gets forward and is a tidy player, although I know this is his last season..
I just don't think it will be too long before the defence is Jagileka and Yobo in the middle and Lescott left back again as we had a lot of success there last season with that formation..
Like somebody said what we could all really do with is a much needed tonic of seeing a couple of new signings that would ease the tension and I am sure not only for the fans but the players too?
18
Aug
2008
at 06:50
NSNO have learned today that Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard will sign for Everton this week as part of the deal that took Andrew Johnson in the opposite direction.
Bullard originally wanted to stay at Fulham although they have failed to offer him the extended contract he was after.
The fee for the 29 year old former Wigan player is thought to be in the region of £4 million.
Id have him as a squad player.
I watched the game on TVU (Star Sports). Probably the best central spot to go is http://myp2p.eu and then check the Football schedule. It will give u a list of viewing options per game (TVU, Sopcast etc). You will need to download the viewers (Sopcast & TVU are the main ones I use).
Cheers
Ciaran
Baines has shown glimpses of quality, and I firmly believe that he will be our left back for many years to come, providing injury doesn’t strike again.
Lescott was brilliant last year in Left Back, but he’s well better as a centre half. Give him a run with Yobo and they will build up a brilliant understanding.
Where right back is concerned, I’m surprised Moyes hasn’t mentioned nothing about bringing a new right back in as both Neville and Hibbert are both fucking shite.
I know Jags is left out here but the fact remains that Yobo and Lescott are well better defenders than he is, so on the bench he goes.
Moyes needs to start being more ruthless by dropping ever-presents from last year and playing players in their proper positions that they were bought for (conincidentally, does anyone remember that Jags was bought last year to play midfield? How awful was he on Saturday?)
Paul
He regularly makes errors at CB and does not seem to have an understanding with Howard.
Whereas at LB he can use his strengths and goalscoring ability and go marauding up the pitch.
Conversely Jags is useless at anything other than a John Terry type role at CB where last minute tackles and throwing himself at shots are his forte.
Right now I would use Baines at left MF and use his crossing ability to better effect.
For me Jags has to back there, he’s a Stubbs type defender. He organises things, keeps everyone on there toes and is an old fashioned defender. Yobo and Lescott are better all round players but there powderpuff, they don’t talk to each other and can be bullied.
People will disagree but why do Lescott and Yobo always improve when they have Stubbs/Jagielka alongside them. It’s never quite right when there on there own.
The best combination at the moment is Neville-Yobo-Jagielka-Lescott. I’m yet to be convinced that Lescott’s best position is centre half, he looks alot better at left back. He’s an excellent defender, physically a powerhouse and he drives us forward from that position.
So yes I like Baines but the combo has to be right, at the moment he doesn’t fit into that. He’s not a left midfielder either, he looked lost in that position.
I would like to see Turner in goal for Sheffield Wednesday.
I would like to see Baines sold to Sunderland if they are really daft enough to pay that kind of money.
Lescott is not even close to being reliable enough to play in central defence but he was an excellent left back last season.
If we are going to continue with this tiny squad surely it makes sense for David Moyes to play his available players in their best positions.
What is going on with Vaughan ?.........is he injured / upsetting Moyes / abducted by aliens ?
I hope we can hold on to Arteta and if Schalke can hold on to their lead over Atletico Madrid maybe the Spaniards will lose interest in our one creative player.
Otherwise can we try a new idea of passing the ball along the ground to players in Everton shirts rather than blasting long balls into space.
That?s it for now !
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1 Posted 18/08/2008 at 07:41:15
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