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The Mail Bag

We all need one!

What? — you are probably thinking... Why, a Utility man, of course. The two best Everton sides had one each: Sandy Brown for the 1970 side and Alan Harper for the mid-1980s side, the former even playing in goal, all along the back four, in midfield and up front; while the latter was a back-four and midfield player.

Having a man to slot in a number of positions is invaluable. They know the pattern of play and continuity is vital. Ask Rafa the Tinkerman!

I'd be the first to say that the current side isn't a patch on 1970 and 1985. But the group as a whole is a good one and if it stays together, I can see silverware glinting in the distance.

We do, however, have a class utility player on the books. John Heitinga has played right-back, centre-back (with a number of different partners) and in midfield. Arguably he was the Man of the Match against Hull. Because he ensured that Mikel Arteta could do his stuff.

For next season, we need a lot of cotton wool to ensure our injury jinx does not continue. And we need our lads to have a moderate World Cup! Particularly Holland and South Africa!!!
Mike Berry, West Yorkshire Posted 08/03/2010 at 19:22:21

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Nick Entwistle
1 Posted 08/03/2010 at 17:22:02

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Blimey, Moyes has been villified for consistantly buying utility men, and now its the reason for our good form!

Andy Crooks
2 Posted 08/03/2010 at 18:50:15

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Mike, David Moyes believes we are coming down with utility men. Either that or he hasn’t a clue who’s best where.

Neville, full back or midfield.
Vic, a striker or wide right.
Arteta, wide right or central midfield.
Pienaar, wide left or central midfield.
Bily, wide left or behind the striker.
Heitinga, centre half or midfield.
Gosling, right back or wide midfield.
Fellaini, well... who knows.
Jags, well we might just see him in goal sometime.

Where would David Moyes be without injuries? Lacking excuses for a start.

Ernie Baywood
3 Posted 08/03/2010 at 21:02:37

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Nothing wrong with a bit of versatility... may have been both the reason for our improved form in recent years and our failue to kick on to better things.

Personally I would like to see people play in their best position nowadays. Neville isn’t a top 4 midfielder, neither is Big Vic... and for me Heitinga’s best position is in the centre of defence with the oppositions best centre forward in his pocket.

He was great against Hull but, lets face it, we’d have beaten them comfortably with Claus Thomsen in the centre of midfield.

Brendan O'Doherty
4 Posted 08/03/2010 at 21:46:45

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The difference between then and now is that it is a squad game, so a lot of players have to be adaptable and as stated above we already have a squad full of them. DM has bought players with this in mind, which has been well documented and debated.We certainly do not need any more - in fact we could do with a few ’specialists’.

While mention of Alan Harper brings a wistful smile, you can’t mention Heitinga in the same sentence. He is not a ’utility player’, just very good at both positions he plays in.

I wouldn’t ask the Corpulent One anything, unfortunately his days are numbered after tonight’s result.

Martin Clark
5 Posted 09/03/2010 at 04:25:17

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Could add Rodwell, Yobo, Distin and Osman all to that list. Moyles has had them all in different positions.

Its good to have that adaptability through the squad. The squad looks quality, just missing some pace as a counter attacking option!

Steve Pugh
6 Posted 09/03/2010 at 05:02:41

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Some of the best sides in world football, think Ajax in the 80’s, were so good because so many of their players could swap position during the game. How hard is it for a team to cover our midfield when Billy, Mikki and Peanut swap places so often. Defensively if JH is in midfield Jags can roam forward and we know that Jonny will just slot into the gap, If Bainesy gets caught forward we know that Billy can comfortably cover him at LB.

If, and it is still an if, DM can get it right we could be looking at one of the best teams we have seen in the league for years with total fluid attacking football.

Peter Warren
7 Posted 09/03/2010 at 08:44:45

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We are littered with utility players and now need specialist players particularly right side midfield and right full back

Roy Mcleod
8 Posted 09/03/2010 at 09:10:22

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It’s Moyes for goodness sakes — NOT Moyles

Keith Glazzard
9 Posted 09/03/2010 at 18:10:04

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I remember Mick Lyons being tagged ’The 6 Million Dollar Man’ (a popular 1970’s TV show, for our younger listeners). I think someone worked out that if you had to buy a player for all the positions he had played in, the figure would come to a number of millions of GBP, prices being what they were at the time.

He was obviously better at some that others, but we loved his total commitment to the cause.

Last I heard he was managing in Oz.

Keith Glazzard
10 Posted 09/03/2010 at 18:36:30

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I remember Mick Lyons being tagged ’The 6 Million Dollar Man’ (a popular 1970’s TV show, for the benefit of our younger listeners). I think someone worked out that if you had to buy a player for all the positions he had played in, the figure would come to a number of millions of GBP, prices being what they were at the time.

He was obviously better at some that others, but we loved his total commitment to the cause.

Last I heard he was managing in Oz.

Keith Glazzard
11 Posted 10/03/2010 at 15:50:27

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Did I ever tell you I remember Mick Lyons?

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