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Up the Arsenal
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With the game against Arsenal looming and our desperate need to get more points on the board, I thought back to this time last year when we were keeping clean sheets for fun and getting results we didn't expect.
One of the key factors for me was the presing game that Everton have employed so well... particularly led by Jags. In fact, losing Jags and then Lescott has IMO had a pronounced effect on the defence because replacements are not the type to "stand on a player" or "Get in their faces" as the expression goes.
I see Distin and Neill as players who stand off rather than press; however, Heitinga has pleasantly surprised me in this regard as he seems to have found his best position.
This inability to press is compounded by a constantly changing midfield with very little defensive qualities. The big Fella is the only one to attempt to defend and even though I'm a big fan of his he sometimes loses concentration defensively and makes clumsy challenges.
Now that Phil Neville is fit again he may be the answer although unlike Fellaini ,who is always looking for a pass, PN is a natural hoofball merchant which, given Arsenal's penchant for keeping possession, may not be a good thing.
I also feel that Billy needs the bench for a while and would suggest that Coleman would not be uncomfortable on the right flank and would help out defensively too.
Jay Harris, Posted 07/01/2010 at 10:45:27
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In fact they were surprised it was called off.
May be Wenger didnt fancy facing the blues a few days after Bolton!!
Moyes, like all mangers on a limited budget, has to make use of what he has. Moyes increased Lescott's value by probably around £10mil by showing he could also be employed as a left back and not just a centre half.
Last year, Moyes played Cahill upfront (out of position), yet this also paid off.
Admittedly Moyes has employed Cahill on the right this season; however, this has been due to necessity. Everyone can see the injury toll has forced Moyes to employ players in unfamilar positions, but no player, as far as I can recall, has been destroyed by this. Most have actually improved their game. So please don't make such a silly statement just to be able to dis a man you clearly don't like.
Lol... only Moyes!!!
Osman,a decent enough, though limited, central midfielder... Played wide on the right and suffered dogs abuse.
Neville, good captain, ok right back... played as holding midfielder, not good enough.
Arteta, most gifted player at the club. Played out of position on the right. Did ok but might well have cost him his international career.
Jagielka, started as a holding midfielder, was total shite.
Lescott, played at right back even when Baines was fit. Honestly,Ryan, I don’t think he did anything there to add £10 million to his value.
Bily, I think he can only play if Pienaar is in central midfield, certainly playing on the right is not for him..
I accept that injuries necessitate compromise but with the case of DM, injuries have often forced him to make changes that were ultimately for the best.
Moyes then dropped him and he totally lost his confidence, it was at that time when he looked a great defender, with no shortage of skill. He was bringing the ball out of defence and looked the real deal till Moyes fucked him up.
Osman is a great little ball-player and he has been hung out to dry on the wing for years, and suffered terrible abuse because our manager failed to bring a wide player in with pace. Mind you, he might bring one in soon... we have only waited eight years for one.
Back to the original post, you're quite right Jay, Bily needs a blow. I still feel he's a good player though and will prove it, and Coleman could do a job wide because he's a bit more robust and with his direct running style could upset most teams.
I did mention that he was one of the highlights of our season not so long ago, and I think he could be the find of the season.
However, come Saturday, I think we’ll be forced to play... it’ll either be ’try and play’ or 'watch for them play for 90 minutes'. However, this will need to involve putting our best passing players on the pitch... and that doesn’t include Neville or Cahill.
It's really quite simple, you just watch the game 1st half and then decide who is doing the damage. Then you just change your team to stop that player playing. Rather than just admiring him!
And didn’t Bily say he’s not an out-and-out left-side player when he first came? More like an inside left rather than an outside left (for those of you that remember when footy had a proper formation).
Now if he continues to play a player out of position when it clearly isn't working, then that's a different matter.
Hope that clears that up ,John, and by the way, what are you up to since you left Tranmere?
But list of postponed fixtures on same website doesn’t list it - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8443978.stm#list
Confused?!?
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1 Posted 07/01/2010 at 15:13:36
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