The Mail Bag
Squad depth and injuries
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Everybody now seems well aware of our injury problems. However, I have felt for some time that when (or if) we get everybody fit, we now have a very decent squad to pick from. In my estimation, I reckon we have about 20 good to very good Premier League footballers to select from and that's not including the likes of:
- Gosling: not really found a position to determine his quality yet.
- Anichebe: I don't consider him a Premier League player and don't think he will be at club much longer.
- Baxter & Wallace: potential is there, but similar to Gosling, they need game time to develop.
Recently at Everton, we always have seemed to have injuries to key players, but we carry on and grind out results which is surely a testament to Moyes and the existing players. However, I'm hoping now that most if not all our players will be back and match fit by Christmas, we will have a very strong squad to enable us to kick on and challenge for honours.
Unfortunately (especially at Everton) these things don't always work out the way you hope and after christmas we will have the African Federation Cup of Nations to deal with. Our target until then is surely to remain in contention for a strong end-of-season finish. My worst fears are that we will be out of all competitions by February (including CL qualification) and then we will face a summer of struggling to hold on to our best players like Rodwell, Arteta and Pienaar as the vultures from the top 4 loom.
The 'middle league' within the Premier League has strengthened this season with Spurs and Man City spending a lot of money and both have big quality squads to challenge the top 4 now with Aston Villa not far behind. I believe Everton are still in this middle group due mainly to us grinding out the results but we really need to at least keep up with Spurs and Man City and take advantage of a possible slip by Arsenal or Liverpool.
If we can keep in touch until February, I think we could be the surprise team of the season, barring any more injuries!
Matthew Lovekin, Posted 03/10/2009 at 12:19:38
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It may have escaped your notice but, despite a lengthy lay off through an injury he picked up just as he was making the right mid position his and despite being barely out of his teens, he’s already played in 40 odd prem games.
Didnt bother reading the rest-->
When a club loses 2 or 3 of its main men, it really is difficult for the rest of the squad to handle that loss.
I am in agreement with many posters on here that if we have everyone fit, we are a match for all the teams in the Prem, even the top 4, although I concede we will probably lose more than we will win against them.
One thing that worries me about our current new intake is the level of dissatisfaction with Heitinga. Perhaps also the criticism of Neill.
I havent been able to see us live so far this season, but a fair number of our fans appear a little less than satisfied with Heitinga. It wouldnt have worried me too much if he had come to us on a "free" as a useful filler in, but given that we paid around £6 mill for the guy, and his wages/contract, that does worry me??!!
Were we getting panicky because the Lescott sale was close to the end of the transfer window, and should we have gone for Turner instead??
Not worried about Bily or Distin, I feel confident they will be ok, Neill may give away the odd penalty now and again, but may prevent certain goals which will make up for his errors.
I am prepared to give Anichebe another chance because maybe the penny has finally dropped with him, given the firework shoved up his arse just prior to his injury at Newcastle.
Hope Vaughan is ok, and that his career is not threatened. Also, would like to see more of Coleman and Mustafi as these two seem to be attracting all the right reviews.
Jo is also a problem for me, I really want him to succeed, but he needs help up front, he isnt capable of achieving things on his own, unlike Saha. If Jo plays, we cannot play 4,5,1 it isnt for him.
Gosling, also I am not yet convinced about. Fellaini, yes, Pienaar yes, Cahill yes, no idea about the team v Stoke but given our recent results, I will be disappointed if we dont win even if it is only 1-0
Over the last few years I always believed Vaughan was the better prospect over Anichebe. But now I think Anichebe has more chance of making the grade at Everton. Admittedly its a small chance but its more then poor old Vaughan’s got.
Moyes, a cautious man, is speaking about the strength of the squad in terms of quality, and many of us feel that he is right. As some have already said, the team that we put out at BATE won a Euro game. The team we couldn’t put out that night could put us into Europe next year on their own. Of the lads you mention:-
Gosling is already a potential starter, certainly in these Euro games, with at least a guaranteed place on the bench in the PL.
Anichebe, depending on his rehabilitation, could develop into a more creative player, but should have a lot of competition in that part of the line-up. He won’t be discarded lightly.
Baxter and Wallace, without doubt, are the ones Moyes wants to bring through. They will get chances, a bit of grooming if you like, but any signs of quality will be taken very seriously (we look forward to their ’Gosling goals’ in vital matches).
I fear very much for James Vaughan’s future in the game.
John B - Jo is not a lone striker, never was, never will be. Like Tim Cahill, he is a support striker, a footballer good enough to play in midfield, control, pass, win a ball, get into the area and score goals too. We would have called him an inside left many years ago. Cahill, of course, would have been an inside right, and a very good one.
Heitinga has hardly had chance to settle. Neill has had no chance at all. Let’s have a look at them before we make our judgements shall we? The only thing we know for sure is that they have given us more potential strength in depth, and that is what Matthew’s post was about.
Yes when everyone is fit we can challenge the Sky 4, but until then we have started to put a run together. Matthew, why be so negative about being out of all competitions by Christmas? Would you rather be Pompey or Bolton or Wolves, with all your eggs in one basket (staying in the Premier League) or fighting for cups and a European spot, like we will be?
I can’t understand all this negativity from our supporters. Why will we be losing players come the summer? People on this site are so pessimistic, is it a prerequisite as a toffee supporter?
Anichebe WAS our right sided midfielder mate, He played very well at Stoke, West Ham and Anfield on the right and although he pissed Moyes off big time and was dropped, he was soon brought back. Remember his MotM performance against Villa in the cup? He was also our best player at Newcastle until THAT challenge. Since then we have had a man who is two yards short and three stone light playing out there... Do you really think there is any serious doubt that Anichebe wouldn’t have continued to play wide right? Seriuously?
To say Anichebe isn’t a Prem player is every bit as idiotic as saying Gordon Brown isn’t an MP, Just because you don't rate him, its still a FACT. He’s also an International footballer, Fact. He was also voted Young Everton Player of the Season 2008 — by Evertonians — Fact. He’s never played Championship football as you suggest — that’s another fact.
Gareth
Have most Prem players played 40+ games before they are 20? I don't have any stats, but I’d be very surprised if the ones that had were not the exception rather than the rule.
I think, had Neville not been injured, we would have not gone on the run we have these last 5 games, certainly not winning in the style we have done against some of the teams.
Now with Neville out of the centre of the park and Moyes forced to field a more attacking line up due to injuries, our football has generally improved quite a lot.
Although he’s done a fantastic job so far, I worry sometimes that Moyes does not know the best 11 players, or what those players are capable of. If you remember a few seasons ago, at home to spurs when the fans made their feelings known after some very defensive football & subs lost us a winnable game, we went on to be far more attacking and did really well.
Then there were the recent comments about jack rodwell becoming a centre back, and Moyes not realising that he had a shot on him (aren’t these things practiced in training?). Ever since I saw him play in the middle of the park for us, I’d be gutted if he ever moved to CB... and I’m sure I’m not alone in that feeling. He is a very gifted and complete midfielder.
As for the squad depth, I agree with the comments that we can give any team in the PL a run for their money with our best 11... and the second string isn’t doing to badly either at the moment. Moyes has worked wonders on a budget of 0 these past few seasons to strengthen the team and keep us competitive, even with 10 or 11 players out.
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1 Posted 03/10/2009 at 18:07:41
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