The Mail Bag
Bill's Barclaycard
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I hope Bill Kenwright paid for Fallaini with his Barclaycard as if we lose him at the airport next week he will be able to get his money back!
The lad looked lost last night as another inept defensive and midfield display put paid to the Carling Cup for another year. Screech seemed to move in straight lines and passed safe and square too often. I am sure there is more to come from him but really unless he was following orders or something was lost in translation, he's not a player taking any initiative. He and Castillo on this showing can't play together. They both rooted themselves in front of the back four and apart from Fellaini's odd forage forward to the head the ball on the edge of the Blackburn box, he did little else. I willed him to win the ball and one time there was a lovely tackle followed by a brilliant turn, we all gasped and waited for the incise through ball to Saha............shit he bent it 40 yards to the invisible man and Blackburn swept up!
I thought we lacked balance and confidence all night with just Osman and Saha showing any real quality. Vaughan tried to fight and win the ball but his increasing frustration and occasional kung fu attempts at blocking the keeper's clearances was madness. He even tried to get sent off on a couple of occasions but the ref said to him, "If I 've got to watch this shite, then you're staying too!"
The only thing I will say from a miserable night is that we have defended poorly and started slowly for a number of seasons. The Champions League season shows lots of similarities. Also last season until he introduced Carsley back into the team at Metalist, we looked vulnerable at the back. Cars is sadly missed and I just hope his expensive replacement doesn't turn out to be Krøldrup in a Fellaini mask.
Neil Alecock, Posted 25/09/2008 at 16:35:40
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A problem with being part of a family is that you are always ’the kid’, or whatever. Leon Osman is a class act, was always going to be so, and is proving it.
As for Fellaini, things take time to be honest. He?s a youngster, he?s went from a mickey mouse league to one of the best in Europe and he obviously isn?t the finished article by any means.
It?s not his fault Moyes bought him for £15 million and I hope Evertonians give him time and don?t get on his back like we do with a lot of new players. We tried to do it to Yak, Fernandes and Jagielka last season, thankfully they came through and proved their quality.
I remember people slagging Pienaar off after 3 games last year and then he turned out to be one of our best players.
OK granted Fellaini had 2 briliant games against the shite last month, but he was part of a midfield that he played 40 odd games alongside last season, not to mention the fact he was able to communicate with them. He looks like light years away from this replicating this form at the moment. The fact that Neville can speak the queens and therefore bark orders out the middle of the park could prove priceless should Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano click and get into their stride early doors on Saturday. Anyone got Danny Cadamarteri?s mobile number ! ! ! ? ? ?
Couldn?t agree with you more that Neville cant pass for fuck, but he?ll get stuck in and have a go on Saturday and he certainly won?t go missing or hide which is more can be said for Fellaini on his showing so far.
Some of them carnt even find a blue shirt. Forget the school of science lads and just get back to doing the basics, because thats what they are missing at the moment.
Castillo - as I said after watching him in his last 2 Ecuador games does not pressurise, close down ? he fills space, he?s played only against teams who play to feet, slowly, look for gaps/weaknesses etc. He?s used to dropping back and hopefully clearing up any loose balls etc ? he repeating myself DOES NOT CLOSE THE OPPONENTS DOWN.
Moyes said himself that he see the start of a new team at Everton - I think what it means is that we can't do the old high tempo, aggressive, pressuring game he always done because Fellaini and Castillo cant do it. They are undoubtedly better footballers than we had before in the centre but we need to see it demonstrated - I?d say about mid December. Hope to god we are still in touch with 5/6 places and we have a good 2nd half to the season.
I have an inkling we?re gonna win on Saturday.
He needs time but I?m not even sure he is better than Fernandes and we could have signed him for £10mil.
I'm sure Fellaini will improve and Castillo will start closing down quicker.... but they?re certainly not, at this stage, ?the quality not quantity? we were promised.
I believe that he only speaks Flemmish/Dutch? If this is the case then why can’t we use Pienaar or AvdM to make sure he gets the message (we might actually get AvdM earning his wages!)? And if it is Wallon/French, then I’m sure Yobo and Saha could do the honours.
My belief is that once Pienaar is back in the team Fellaini’s game will improve.
Good players will adapt however (I?m not putting myself in that category), but need to be given time to adjust.
Very few young players come over from European leagues and are immediately a hit. Just look at Tottenham, they?ve made some good signings but aren?t performing at the moment.
I reckon Fellaini will come good, just don?t get on his back and give him some time.
Cheers for that Neil. I pissed myself!
Man On!....... pass the fucking thing... I?m open!... Jump you lazy basaard..... kick the fuck out of Gerrard/Carragher/Kuyt/Torres.
Job's a goodun!
Another point,does anyone track Phil Neville’s passing percentages.Even tossing a coin would yield a 50% success rate but Neville invariably finds an opposing shirt!
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1 Posted 25/09/2008 at 18:02:34
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