The Mail Bag
Que Saha Saha...!
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The lack of goals for a large part of the game against Fulham left me stating this line in disgust. The game itself came at a good time for us with Cahill back and the team playing with a reasonable level of confidence after a good week.
The team sheet though was a surprise with 4-4-2 quickly dropped in favour of the old 4-5-1. AJ was back at Goodison for the 1st time after his summer move and rightly was given a good reception. We started the brighter of the two teams and seemed to settle down to a good tempo of passing the ball on the deck. Arteta started on the left with Pienaar on the right but they switched flanks from time to time during the game. Fellaini who seems to be coming into his own was looking composed on the ball unlike when we first saw him. Cahill was looking a little out of touch and his usual brand of accuracy was missing. The back four were making some last ditch clearances when needed and it seemed that it would be just a matter of time before we went ahead....but that just never came in the 1st half.
Pienaar's passing was sloppy compared to his usual self but even at that low level, he was valuable to us. Play in the final third of the pitch left a lot wanting with move after move coming to nothing on the edge of the Fulham box. For Fulham, Bullard was showing how he keeps the Fulham midfield ticking with some good passes into AJ and Zamora. Fellaini hit the post with our best effort of the half but we really should have been ahead by a couple of goals at the break.
The early second half was actually controlled by Fulham and we were indeed fortunate to not pay dearly for our 1st half shyness in front of goal. Zoltan Gera( who was on his way to Goodison in the summer!) hit the post when he could have only scored and then later on Zamora hit the post from a rebound. Howard did well to deal with some sustained Fulham pressure. Saha came on for Fellaini surprisingly as Moyes looked for a goal. Anichebe came on for a tiring Pienaar later on and finally Vaughan came on for the Yak.The match seemed to be heading for a frustrating draw and more cursing from the fans when a cross from Osman on the right found Saha who steered the ball into the net... Goodison heaves a sigh of relief
Positives: Another clean sheet, another 3 points, momentum, confidence
Negatives: Failure to put away teams when we dominate them, Cahill's inaccuracy with headers today
We travel to Upton Park next weekend without the services of the Big Fella(ini)... really hope we can go back to 4-4-2...we really need to get Castillo back on the field, unless he is injured. He actually looked better than the Big Fella in the game they both played together and look how well the Big Fella is doing now. I could go with 1-0 wins till the end of the season but someone may have to take care of my stomach ulcer from the nervous endings!
Onwards and upwards.COYB
Santosh Benjamin, Posted 02/11/2008 at 15:51:14
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An odd game. Could have been wrapped up, nearly lost, Ossie to Saha winner. And it was more or less the ’first team’ from last season, except Mo Fella for Cars. And he’s not the same as we all now know, but coming on well. And is Ossie really going to be the next Cars? I suspect that Moyes is going to have more midfield options than he knows what to do with.
Fellaini for me would have went a treat next to Carsley last year. I honestly don't know what's happened to Castillo, who was brought in as basically the quick stop gap replacement for Cars. He has been banished completely over the last six games, not even making the squad in most of them. I find it strange as he looked a genuinely decent prospect in that holding role and I think he has only started three matches. The only thing I can think of is that Moyes isn't happy with him in training because we don't have another defensive midfielder in there to leave him out on that basis.
I thought Pienaar did ok and the thing I like with Pienaar is the fact that he is always buzzing around and busy. Yes, some of his passing was off and the one qualm I do have with him is that I would like to see him shoot a bit more and take a few chances to get himself in the box. He isn't in the box anywhere near enough for my liking, especially given the fact he is an attacking midfielder, other than that he is a player who when he plays Everton do look a bit more lively.
I honestly think we can go on a good run in November but our performances must get better as we are not going to keep getting away with creating so little... We could get punished at West Ham for that, but let's wait and see.
I?m not sure what has happened to Castillo but I feel that it may have something to do with the fact that David Moyes has certain player that he feels unable to leave out. Lescott must certainly be one of them. He is short of confidence and looks a long way short of being an England defender.
I think Moyes needs to decide on his best eleven and, barring injuries and suspensions, stick with it. I believe we are playing 4-5-1 at the moment because we lack a decent defensive midfielder. I thought this might be Castillo?s role but it seems not.
Baines deserves a run at left back with Lescott on the bench. Saha needs as many games as possible and needs a run partnering the Yak. Arteta has had a lot of stick lately but he gives us, when on form, a little bit of quality. Can he be dropped? Can he, Pienaar and Osman play together? Time for David Moyes to make some £3-5 million a year decisions.
What I can't believe now is Moyes?s decision to play Osman in that role, why can't Moyes leave certain players out? Now that Cahill has returned and Fellaini looks to be settling down, why not give Rodwell a chance to make the position his own instead of playing Osman out of position just so he has a place in the side? If Moyes thinks he should be in the side then why isn't he playing him in his best position?
I don't want to get on Osman's back because he does give 100% no matter where he plays and he is being asked to play out of position but no way is he a defensive midfielder. What was interesting in yesterday's game was Osman delivering a great ball from the right that found Saha who didn't disappoint. Arteta is capable of delivering these type of balls but we haven?t seen none for a good few games but then we haven?t seen anything from him for a good few games... maybe Moyes should be looking to fit Osman into another position.
If we must have Baines in the team then it would have to be for Pienaar. Moyes's plan at the moment seems to be defend for 80m mins and try and nick it at the end with Big Vic / Saha etc.
Lescott, Yobo, Jags and Neville have to stay; since Moyes has had them back, we have conceded one goal in three games, against Man Utd. I know there has been a bit of luck gone our way as well, but for me Lescott HAS to stay at left back.
By concentrating on getting maximum points from the lower order teams and not worrying too much about those against the top order, he has established Everton as a good top-half team. That was his remit when he was appointed and I have no doubt that whilst he (we) may now harbour more lofty ambitions, there won't be too many complaints if he continues in similar vein.
?Keep it tight and try to nick one? has brought Everton more success in the Prem than we could ever have hoped for. May it long continue to work!
I think your summary of the Moyes regime says it all and will be the single biggest reason I shall not be travelling 500 miles to and from Goodison for too much longer.
Whether anybody else could have served up more entertainment than Moyes, we shall never know... but that 5-year contract removed all hope of us finding out!
Im sure you?re well chuffed at having the agreeable Dodd backing up your opinion... But on saturday, Lescott was atrocious, as he has been all season in a position that is not his natural position. Baines should perhaps change his name to Neville, or Lescott, Or jags, Or Osman.... because he can?t get on the pitch any other way!
ps: Cahill in a 4 Man midfield? A five-year-old could tell you that doesn?t work.
"ps: Cahill in a 4 Man midfield? A-five-year old could tell you that doesn?t work."
er... but it did work, we won. One of our midfielders crossed it for a striker who had come on for a midfielder.
Anyway, no one can argue that Neville has hit a bit form by his standards, Osman set up a goal, Felliani has scored 2 and Hibbert is out of the team.
So what happens now? All the BOO BOYS look round for someone else!
"Yeah Lescot... boo.... wait Hibbert is warming up... boo... Neville has just cleared while under pressure... boo...Yakubu doesn?t run round like a headless chicken...boo..."
Another point ,Cahill doesn?t suit 4-4-2. A blind man can see that. 4-5-1, which suited him, is dead. So what do we do? I really don?t know but perhaps a £3-5 million a year coach might.
Lescott too who last season was one of the best in the league and did much to help us to high position. I would like Moyes to bring on Baxter and give a chance to Rodwell, Gosling, Vaughan and Anichebe etc. I think the side desperately needs new blood but it?s a risk I guess and please new signings in Jan and someone who can pass well and dribble and run at defences!
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1 Posted 02/11/2008 at 21:17:04
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