The Mail Bag
Formation and tactics
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With a fully fit squad in mind I don't see why Moyes cannot be more adventurous with his formation and tactics next season. However reasonably good using 4-5-1 has being to us regarding results, it's far to cautious and like the FA Cup Final showed, 4-5-1, when deployed against better opposition who are up for it... well it's a formation thats just turns us into cannon fodder. So I've come to the conclusion that a (diamond) 4-4-2 formation with the following players would yield better enjoyable football for the following Evertonian supporter.
1). Howard
2). Neville (DR)
3). Baines (DL) can go forward supporting and doubling up with Pienaar.
4). Lescott (DC) obvious goal threat 5). Jagielka/Yobo (DC)
6). Arteta as (DMC / MC / AMC) his creativity and passing makes him the box to box central midfielder most keep saying we still need.
7). Pienaar (ML)
8). Osman (MR) weakest link but all heart.
9) Cahil (AMC)
10). Jo/Saha (FC)
11). The Yak (FC)
I do honestly feel we have quaility to bury all teams that finished below us in the preimership last season with the exception of City and Spurs using the above. What would you use if you were Moyes?
Anthony Doran, Posted 16/07/2009 at 13:17:32
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I feel that a 3-5-2 with Baines and Neville as forward thinking wing-backs. One of four quality centre-backs, possibly Rodwell as a sweeper? And Pienaar, Arteta and Big Mo/Cahill in the centre with the Yak and whoever else is fit up front.
I think Jo’s movement would open up a lot of space for the Yak if they were to play together. All said I’m quite happy with whatever Moyes chooses, to be honest, as I think it’s the mentality rather than the formation which dictates how you play the game.
Someone like this will accumulate many a ref's card over the season, I think we need a more passive DMC, one who can tackle but focuses more on the ball instead of the oppositions shinguards!! This game is getting less and less physical and we need to sign players who are creative. I'm not a big fan of Fellaini and see him as money wasted.
Using 3-5-2 would take away from our defence and leave us way to open to teams with pace in the side. We simply need gifted players like...... well, the obvious example would be Manuel Fernandes, £15 million on him last season may have won us the FA Cup!!
I can see us not having goalscoring problems this season as long as the delivery to the Yak / Saha /Jo or Vaughan is of a high quality. We saw from the Confederations cup that Pienaar is very capable of getting to the byline or even moving inside and creating. Our problem as we all know is the rightside and Osman/Gosling or anyone else for that matter is cutting the mustard. This is where Moyes should focus some of our meagre wealth and create a proper balance in the side.
Our team spirit is second to none, we are the best of the sides outside the top four and have become a blueprint to those other teams when it comes to achieving through adversity.
I am confident that if we fill the problem on the rightside then we have a damn good chance of moving on next season regardless of City’s insane shopping spree. They may have all the money but lets see how long it takes them to settle. Remember when Real Madrid attempted their 1st Galactico project? They won fuck all.
Our team spirit and I genuinely believe our playing side is the best and most skillful we have had in my 32 years as an Evertonian. Let's look forward to another European campaign and the return of the Yak, Mikel and hopefully that rightsided wunderkid!
I honestly dont think Fernandes would have made anywhere near the impact, as he didnt have the stomach for it! The likes of Fella, Cahill and Neville dragged us through last season!
So rather, I like to look at if we have cover in every area. So my 22 (with first choice despite my prior comment in capitals) is:
HOWARD, Nash, NAUGHTON, Hibbert, BAINES, Coleman, JAGIELKA, Yobo, LESCOTT, Mustafi, ANICHEBE, Gosling, NEVILLE, Rodwell, ARTETA, Osman, PIENAAR, Orenuga, CAHILL, Fellaini, YAKUBU, Jo. Which still leaves Duffy, Garbutt, Wallace, Peterlin, Baxter, Saha, Vaughan and Agard.
I know Naughton hasn’t signed yet, but I’m convinced he will. And I wouldn’t mind additions at LB, RM and CM too!
I think with any team you play to your strengths and to me one of ours is physicality and aerial threat, something Fellaini has got in spades. I also happen to think he is a very good footballer who will develop over time and with good coaching. I honestly believe he will go on to be a better player than Cahill if we continue with the 4-5-1 over the coming years.
I agree that we need more creative outlets but to me this should be in the form of a wide man with pace which I think is one of the few things we lack at the minute. However, if we stay with the players we have, I stand by my earlier opinion on formations etc.
Stephen, when I say 'physical', you can see how Fellaini's use of it was not acceptable to numerous refs. Managers and coaches have to drum it into the more physical players in the team regarding what will be acceptable on the pitch and what isn't; Fellani still looks more clumsy than physical.
Your 3-5-2 approach has one major flaw and that's breaking up the back 4, which has served us well, and Neville as a wing back would provide the speed pace needed, but we’d be even more knackered on the right side using 3-5-2 with the current team.
So far he hasn't proved to be a good return on the money, but I'm being way too harsh here — I really do hope he fits in but I did hope at the time Fernandes would sign. I think it's a signing that would have said more about the club whereas Fellaini was and is still seen by many as a panic buy.
You value Fellaini higher than Osman though (whom you quote as "weakest link but all heart") surely? Any ’best’ line up that doesn’t include our club record signing is simply not correct.
Just out of interest, who do you think we are guna sign this summer and who in your line-up is being replaced? A complete new right side would be my vote.
In my opinion, 15-20 games for Fernandes was enough to show more than just potential, he went missing in most games or looked like he didn't have the engine to last the 90 minutes! Also, his transfer was complicated due to 3rd party ownership. By the time he went to Valencia (where he still isn't a regular) he was still half-owned by that 3rd party, the deal was sorted later for Valencia to purchase the other half, something which Everton were not allowed to do!
I'm not sure what ’return’ you were looking for from Fellaini? To me, 9 goals was a good one, and I think he will be a better all round player in the coming season.
Of course it’s all hypothetical, due to injuries, form, suspensions, etc. However some players are very effective on the pitch but don’t get the credit they deserve. For example, I have never been a fan of Phil Neville in midfield ... until this season. Especially in the second half of the season, I thought Neville was excellent and pushed himself in contention for player of the season. Unfortunately Neville is not a big name player and didn’t get the credit he deserved last season.
Arteta is more of a playmaker and not as defensive minded as Neville, but will take the ball off the defenders and play out of defence. Therefore, I think you need Neville and Arteta in the middle of the pitch. This means Hibbert will have to play at right-back until we can get someone better and Osman at right-midfield for ditto reasons. Cahill has to be included which makes it a five-man midfield with the Yak shading it over Jo upfront.
If we can get another DM, then Neville has to be first choice RB. Hopefully Naughton in as RB/LB bench cover. Much depends on what happens to Lescott and who we get in should he leave of course... but personally I don’t see us operating a conventional 4-4-2.
Chad- Jo RM? It would never work.
DM will probably stick with his 4-5-1. I’d like to think, at home at least, against the likes of Burnley, Wolves, Hull etc he will go 4-4-2 and get at them from the off. We’ll see.
It would be nice to have somebody with bags of pace, who could be used as an "out-ball" when we’re under the cosh. Somebody who can carry the ball from one end to the other, keeping possession and relieving pressure. Pienaar does a good job, but I still think we need more pace in the side.
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1 Posted 17/07/2009 at 14:43:09
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