The Mail Bag
Only two places up for grabs with a fully fit squad?
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I was thinking about what the Everton team would look like with a fully fit squad and came to the conclusion that only two positions would be up for grabs once the team is back to a full compliment. With everyone back there may not even be a starting berth for Cahill, Fellaini or Rodwell.
Here's my starting 9 who pick themselves:
Howard
-------- Jagielka Distin Baines
Pienaar Arteta --------- Bilyaletdinov
Saha Yakubu
Whilst Cahill is an excellent player and often gets crucial goals, this season his role has been nullified — not just by Fellaini as many think but by Saha. Cahill worked very well as a forward but now we have a quality striker, it is Saha who has popped up with the headers and in the positions where Cahill used to be. Fellaini also covers a fair bit of the ground Cahill used to cover. In my opinion, this potentially relegates Cahill to a second option in a 4-4-1-1 when one of the strikers comes off.
With two places up for grabs, it's difficult to pick who should play there. I don't think anyone can dismiss the influence Phil Neville has when he's on the pitch. Like him or loathe him, Phil has been the Mr Motivator of our team and leader on the pitch. This means he HAS to be there and, in my view should be in the middle of the park.
This leaves the rightback slot which is between Hibbert and Heitinga. The choice, is yours. Which means that Rodwell and Fellaini particularly miss out on starting roles. Another alternative is to have Rodwell as defensive midfield and Neville at rightback?
Anthony Hawkins, Posted 01/12/2009 at 10:24:04
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Michael Kenrick
Three comments: David Moyes plays 4-5-1; he always plays Fellaini if he's available; and, even if by some miracle they were all fit with zero injuries, he will more than likely vary players from game to game.
What about Osman and Neville, who are dead certs to start in any Moyes side when fit. That's your team complete then, Anthony. As for Bily, I wouldn't care if I never set eyes on him again.
Neville in midfield of course, then its Hibbo or Neil...
Neville ,captain and rightback. Heitinga holding in central midfield.
Im worried by a number of things...
That people think the Yak deserves a starting place in a fully fit squad.
That people think Heitinga is a midfielder
That Neville will essentially walk straight back into midfield..
That people think our most effective formation will be a 442..
That they cannot see Fellaini is a far better player with decetn players around him...
That people think the Yak deserves a starting place in a fully fit squad.
That people think Heitinga is a midfielder
That Neville will essentially walk straight back into midfield..
That people think our most effective formation will be a 442..
That they cannot see Fellaini is a far better player with decetn players around him...
Tony Marsh...
Give the Russian lad a break... he needs time to settle down in a new city/team etc....
To suggest you’ve made yer mind up about him after only a couple of months is just utter shit.
I gotta say though Tony, I agree with you most of the time lad...
Give the Russian lad a break... he needs time to settle down in a new city/team etc....
To suggest you’ve made yer mind up about him after only a couple of months is just utter shit.
I gotta say though Tony, I agree with you most of the time lad...
Ciaran.. I’d agree with ya on most of those points
But I think Heitinga has nailed that holding midfield spot. He can tackle and pass. He’s certainally better than Neville there. Right back’s a tough one, probably Neville there at the moment to be honest, but Neill and Hibbert can certainally play there.
But I think Heitinga has nailed that holding midfield spot. He can tackle and pass. He’s certainally better than Neville there. Right back’s a tough one, probably Neville there at the moment to be honest, but Neill and Hibbert can certainally play there.
I’ll go along with Ciarán.
I’m happy to have Neville and Heitinga, but they belong in the back four in a 451 formation.
As I’ve said before, Sunday was the first time that Pienaar, Fellaini and Bilyaletdinov have started together since Sep. 17th, at home to AEK.
I’m happy to have Neville and Heitinga, but they belong in the back four in a 451 formation.
As I’ve said before, Sunday was the first time that Pienaar, Fellaini and Bilyaletdinov have started together since Sep. 17th, at home to AEK.
What successful side plays 4 4 2 ? i can only think of maybe Spurs, who are not that consistent.
So Anthony, out goes Saha for Cahill.
4 5 1.
So Anthony, out goes Saha for Cahill.
4 5 1.
Tony Marsh,
Now I know for sure you only say these things for effect!
I always had my suspisions that you were paid by the editorial staff to stoke up debate with your mad nonsense and so say out spoken views. But you have confirmed it today!
Billy has undoubted talent. He is quick, can use both feet (ok glaring miss against the shite accepted), a hell of a shot, tricks and vision.
We may not have seen all of this in his very very short Everton career but I have seen it both in the russian league and playing for Russia.
Guss Hidink rates him right up there with Arshavin. So who’s opinion should I trust on this? My own eyes and Guss Hidink or Tony I spout nonsense and put eveyone and anyone down to cause debate Marsh?
Give him a chance lads and he will shine.
P.S was he not player of the month on this very site last month despite only playing a couple of games?
Now I know for sure you only say these things for effect!
I always had my suspisions that you were paid by the editorial staff to stoke up debate with your mad nonsense and so say out spoken views. But you have confirmed it today!
Billy has undoubted talent. He is quick, can use both feet (ok glaring miss against the shite accepted), a hell of a shot, tricks and vision.
We may not have seen all of this in his very very short Everton career but I have seen it both in the russian league and playing for Russia.
Guss Hidink rates him right up there with Arshavin. So who’s opinion should I trust on this? My own eyes and Guss Hidink or Tony I spout nonsense and put eveyone and anyone down to cause debate Marsh?
Give him a chance lads and he will shine.
P.S was he not player of the month on this very site last month despite only playing a couple of games?
’Billy has undoubted talent. He is quick’
--------------
Undoubted talent? Yes
Quick? not by any stretch of teh imagination..
But you’re spot on..Tony seems to be basing his reactionary opinion on that missed opportunity on Sunday..
See the bigger picture Mr Marsh...
--------------
Undoubted talent? Yes
Quick? not by any stretch of teh imagination..
But you’re spot on..Tony seems to be basing his reactionary opinion on that missed opportunity on Sunday..
See the bigger picture Mr Marsh...
Seems to have decent pace to me Ciarán, not Ashley young quick but rapid enough in my humble opinion.
P.S How much do I loath that arrogant, petulant , one trick pony Ashely Young. Sorry I just needed to get that out
P.S How much do I loath that arrogant, petulant , one trick pony Ashely Young. Sorry I just needed to get that out
Well, he’s not fast at all Christian...and luckily he doesn’t need to be....
Bily certainly isn’t a sprinter of the A. Young - and James Vaughan - type, but he is ’quick’ as in having ’quick feet’ and, increasingly, speed of thought as he gets acclimatised to what he’s called the ’playing in a washing machine’ experience of the PL.
Jags was accused of lacking pace as he found his feet, and position, in his new club and I think Bily will work out much the same. And he really does remind me of Duncan McKenzie - who, it has to be said, could be a bit frustrating at times.
Jags was accused of lacking pace as he found his feet, and position, in his new club and I think Bily will work out much the same. And he really does remind me of Duncan McKenzie - who, it has to be said, could be a bit frustrating at times.
Fair play Ciarán I shall accept you are the Oracle on all things Russian and pacy.
I shall keep an eye on him from now on and if he out sprints Lennon on Sunday to nick the ball, runs the length of the pitch and smashes in the winner I will be back!
I shall keep an eye on him from now on and if he out sprints Lennon on Sunday to nick the ball, runs the length of the pitch and smashes in the winner I will be back!
Tony Marsh what a twatty thing to say regarding Bily, in only his first 10 games, but of course your the first to jump on any player not performing to your high standards, i remember Jags getting murdered on here and 6 mths later picked for england im really starting to wonder if your not Rafa beneathus during his spare time !! the people on here at times have very little to say but are not twars like you
Bily looks too lightweight for the Premier League and after 10 games or so he has yet to go past a man. He lacks real pace for a wide man and has to cut back inside all the time, Peter Beagrie style. He can cross a decent ball but, with the injury to Arteta, Moyes should've signed a player with a bit more bout him considering the price tag. A player with EPL experience who would've hit the ground running should've been a priority. Everton can't afford to baby sit players for 6 months in our current predicament... The miss on Sunday reinforces all I say above.
If Guus Hiddink thinks Bily is as good as Arshavin i,m going to change my brand of vodka. I,m clearly drinking the weak shit!
I really dont get this Guss Hiddink lark, the mans treated like some sort of Guru, why ?
He inherited an Eindovan team that was already top in the eighties, won a European cup in the absence of the then dominant English teams - even then he bored the arse off everyone by failing to win any of the games in the quarter final, the semi final or the final.
In the past thirty years he’s managed some of the worlds top teams - Holland, Real Madrid etc - without winning a thing, he’s been fired more times than the one oclock gun.
He makes his name by steering the host nation to the world cup semi’s on a tidal wave of emotion and by taking a bunch of very ordinary Aussies to the knock out stages - beating no one of note on route.
He finally ends his 30 years of nothing at wembley last year - ironically enough with another team he inherited.
Guss Hiddink genious ? tell it to the Russians
He inherited an Eindovan team that was already top in the eighties, won a European cup in the absence of the then dominant English teams - even then he bored the arse off everyone by failing to win any of the games in the quarter final, the semi final or the final.
In the past thirty years he’s managed some of the worlds top teams - Holland, Real Madrid etc - without winning a thing, he’s been fired more times than the one oclock gun.
He makes his name by steering the host nation to the world cup semi’s on a tidal wave of emotion and by taking a bunch of very ordinary Aussies to the knock out stages - beating no one of note on route.
He finally ends his 30 years of nothing at wembley last year - ironically enough with another team he inherited.
Guss Hiddink genious ? tell it to the Russians
I meant to say 20 years , of course
After the debacle against Hull I never want to see us play 4-4-2 again. We dont have the players to play that formation and if Hull can expose us then it surely isn’t the way forward. 4-5-1 everytime for me but with a more balanced midfield, which means either Cahill or Fellaini not both and the same with Heitinga and Rodwell.
With all our players back my team would be:- Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Pienaar, Arteta, Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini, Saha.
However I’m doubtful we’ll ever see that with our bad luck with injuries.
With all our players back my team would be:- Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Pienaar, Arteta, Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini, Saha.
However I’m doubtful we’ll ever see that with our bad luck with injuries.
Hell, given that this selection is based on Moyes being the manager presumably, you will be really pleased about the following comments by Moyes about his job:
"I’ve said all along that this is a great job, I really enjoy it and I intend to see it through until the very end," he said, as quoted by the Press Association.
Moyes’s comments come in the wake of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright’s public support for the Scot; support which was well received by Moyes.
"I’ve said all along that this is a great job, I really enjoy it and I intend to see it through until the very end," he said, as quoted by the Press Association.
Moyes’s comments come in the wake of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright’s public support for the Scot; support which was well received by Moyes.
Neville to play right back, which is his position and always has been. Of the current squad, Fellaini would fill the midfield blank (possibly Rodwell) and Cahill would replace Yakubu (possibly Fellaini).
If we hurry up and sign the two players we’ve all known we’ve needed for God knows how long we can play Pienaar down the middle (instead of Yakubu) and some wonderful exciting new right winger who will score and set up goals for fun...
Moyes has mentioned signings in January, and I usually try to defend him but he struggles in the transfer market. I wonder which defence/midfield utility players he’s scouting now.
If we hurry up and sign the two players we’ve all known we’ve needed for God knows how long we can play Pienaar down the middle (instead of Yakubu) and some wonderful exciting new right winger who will score and set up goals for fun...
Moyes has mentioned signings in January, and I usually try to defend him but he struggles in the transfer market. I wonder which defence/midfield utility players he’s scouting now.
Given the fact that none of our creative midfielders are not naturally wide players here’s what the best line-up may look like:
Howard
Neill (Neville) Jagielka Heitinga (Distin) Baines
Fellaini (Rodwell)
Arteta Billy
Pienaar
Yakubu (Cahill) Saha
The so called diamond works well for Chelsea who don’t have/use natural wingers. I’d love to see Moyes try something along those lines. Here Fellaini is used in his natural position; he can shine when he plays with people who can pass the bloody ball (look bact at the derby on Sunday). The system allows Pienaar and Billy to switch between the positions they are best at, and has Arteta at his best position too.
Howard
Neill (Neville) Jagielka Heitinga (Distin) Baines
Fellaini (Rodwell)
Arteta Billy
Pienaar
Yakubu (Cahill) Saha
The so called diamond works well for Chelsea who don’t have/use natural wingers. I’d love to see Moyes try something along those lines. Here Fellaini is used in his natural position; he can shine when he plays with people who can pass the bloody ball (look bact at the derby on Sunday). The system allows Pienaar and Billy to switch between the positions they are best at, and has Arteta at his best position too.
Dave,
Nobody is saying Guss Hidink is Howard Kendall but what I am saying is he knows a whole lot more about football than Mr Marsh.
As demonstrated by his last coments ’he has yet to beat a man’ oh yes and ’The miss on Sunday reinforces all I say above’.
What a clown! Oh and his best position if Tony knew anything about football is not on the wing, but Moyes has been forced to play him there as we had nobody else fit to play there!!!!!!!!
Nobody is saying Guss Hidink is Howard Kendall but what I am saying is he knows a whole lot more about football than Mr Marsh.
As demonstrated by his last coments ’he has yet to beat a man’ oh yes and ’The miss on Sunday reinforces all I say above’.
What a clown! Oh and his best position if Tony knew anything about football is not on the wing, but Moyes has been forced to play him there as we had nobody else fit to play there!!!!!!!!
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