The Mail Bag
Please let me be wrong
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There is plenty of evidence that absence makes the heart grow fonder but methinks it also causes amnesia. Many have pinned their hopes, I believe falsely, on a return of Jags, Arteta, Osman and Neville plus a return to match fitness of Yakubu.
Before their injuries, Jags and Arteta each had a run of half dozen games that were rated good but that rating was based on a much lower standard that preceded it. Both were shockingly poor free-kick takers, Jagielka's kicks went everywhere bar to a teammate and He was another who was over fond of the big boot. He also made a number of Yoboisms.
Arteta's free kicks and corners more often than not did not clear the first defender. Remember how we hoped for for someone else to take them. He also was inconsistent to the point of being almost invisible against top teams.
The same can be said about Osman but he like Jo had the added weakness of being unable to stay on his feet in at slightest challenge.
With Phil Neville we got the same high level of commitment game after game. He was not a fancy ball player but a solid performer in whatever position he was named.
I would not hold my breath waiting for the first four but I hope Pip comes back before it is too late.
Yakubu is the biggest disappointment, it is two months since he was given the all clear and he is yet to display anything like his form when first arriving. He is nowhere near as fast to the ball as he was then. If anything he is slower and less active than he ever was. He needs the ball on a plate simply because because he can’t jump or sprint.
Such was his attitude and effort before his injury it was suggested by many on this very site that he was looking for a way out and another fat pay cheque.
Dick Fearon, Posted 01/12/2009 at 04:24:42
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If Jagielka had been fit this season I’m confident we’d have beaten Villa, Wolves, Stoke, and Hull. That equals 9 more points. There is also no way we’d have capitulated against Arsenal and I also doubt we’d have lost to the shite. That would see us sitting in the top 4. Jagielka’s contribution to the team and defence is massive.
’David moyes tactics have been found out’.
How do you work that out, as we haven’t had a full squad to find out what it can achieve, but I guarantee that it would be plenty good enough to stay in the premiership, as player for player I (and many others) believe we have the best squad assembled for a number of years - the problem at present is getting it out onto the pitch!
As for Yakubu needs to start games, so you are suggesting we play an unfit Yakubu instead of Saha just so he can get fit. Bringing him on as sub will give him some match practice whilst improving his fitness without devaluing the team we can turn out.
You obviously don’t get the same view from your seat that we get in the Lower Gwladys or you’d be aware of the immensity of Jagielka’s peformances
After the usual difficult settling in period (Kendall, Steven et al) he grew to become Watsonesque in a rock-hard they-shall-not-pass way
He’d have got in Drogba’s face at Wembley
As for the Main Man - you can see how devoid of skill, class, flair, inventiveness and direction we are without the Basque magician
1) Granted that Yakubu’s injury has the potential to take a lot of a player given the serious nature of it. However, the flip side is that Moyes has already stated that Yakubu will need 6 months to get back to match sharpness. Patience. Perhaps judge then?
2) Arteta, whilst I concede that at time his free-kicks were rubbish, was running our midfield once he moved into the centre last season. He is so much more than a set piece specialist. Movement, ball retention and clever play - that is what we need and that is what he gives.
3) Got a point about Osman, don’t think he’s vital, but he is reasonable cover in the squad. He does a job against the poorer teams in the prem at least.
4) Neville, not sure about him being vital to midfield, but he’s the captain and we’ve been all over the shop since he has been out.
5) Jags. Yes he hoofs it, can’t deny that. He has made a couple of errors. The biggest clanger was the backpass against Villa last season. But nowhere on the scale of Yobo. Yobo is constantly slicing the ball, misdirecting headers, pancking clearances. I for one cannot wait for Jag’s return. He reads the game fantastically, his positioning is excellent and he rarely switches off.
On a side issue, Yakuba. Im worried about him. Ive got that feeling that his injury is gonna prove to be one of those from which you never really recover just like Michael Owen suffered from firstly when he 1st went to Newcastle and then especially after his World Cup injury. Hes never been anywhere near as good a player since and I feat the same is going to be said about Yakuba. Its not that he doesnt look match fit he simply doesnt look fit. Period. He looks slow, overwieght and with lead legs. I hope Im wrong but I fear Im not.
Arteta and Jags cant come back quick enough dickie boy!!!
My opinion is that Phil Jagielka prior to his injury was one of the top 5 centre halves in world football based on form and merit.
People will throw foreign names around of players they know very little about....names meannothing to me, performances mean everything.
Aside from his recent dip in form which could be attributed to injury Rio Ferdinand has been head and shoulders the best central defender in the world for a good 5 years.
After him there is an gulf and nobody stands out to me.
Personally Jagileka heads up that list for me, he is THAT good.
Whether he will reach the same level again only time will tell...there is nobody I would rather have if he can though, NOBODY.
I am happy nonetheless to be corrected and chastised on my assessment of Jags, Mikel, Leon and Yakubu.
You have no idea how bloody frustrating it is to be so far away and forced to watch my team on TV as it struggles for survival and not being able to give it some vocal support.
It is with pleasure and renewed hope that I take on board everyone’s counter opinion of the players I mentioned, particularly I appreciate the views of those who actually support the team in the flesh so to speak.
I often muse about who is now sitting in my old speck at Goodison. Whoever it is I seriously envy him/her.
knowing that our playing problems will soon be over this mornings dip in the warm waters of the Indian ocean will be more contented and pleasurable, er they will won’t they.
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1 Posted 01/12/2009 at 14:28:13
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Our strength was always built on the sum of the team on the pitch, not their individual talents, if they all excelled at the tasks you point out then they wouldn’t be playing for Everton.
You need to sit back and take a realism pill for gods sake.
If my auntie was a bloke she would be my uncle.