FAN ARTICLES
Does the Jag Have a Warranty?
The continued need to field Neville and Jags at the heart of the team shows our lack of true quality and depth. Yes we are unlucky with injuries, but Cahill has been out for a long time and we knew from the end of last season we needed Fernandes or another to fill the creative void.
For me neither Neville nor Jags are midfielders. Both try hard, but both look confused. Neville simply doesn?t have the technique to match up against top class opposition, and Jags looks like he has lost his contact lenses. Time and again on Sunday he lost the man he was supposed to mark. The Boro midfield picked up possession at will especially in the first half. It appeared to me that Moyes had asked him to get forward and support the front two as often as he can. Cahill does this by instinct, timing his runs well, getting on the end of through balls and linking with the strikers. He is able to get back quickly as he knows when to go and when to stay. Jagielka by comparison goes forward at the wrong time and leaves behind him a hole.
I may be unfair to him as he has only been here 5 minutes, but he looks like a defender to me, never a centre midfielder. He needs to be back 20 yards with players and the ball coming on to him, to give him time to read the game as a defender. Several times on Sunday he was caught with the ball. He was also ball watching quite a lot instead of tracking players, getting in Neville?s way.
I can?t remember that many tackles going in on Sunday from centre midfield. I can?t say for certain but I wonder who in the midfield has the highest tackle and interception count. It could well be Arteta! Looking at the space we gave Boro, why the hell doesn?t he match graft and covering excellence ? Carsley, with class and application - Arteta?
That looks to me like balance. Arteta started his Everton career as a centre midfielder and was put out on the wide to get in crosses while we had Cahill and Carsley. Let?s put him back there, he can?t have a lower tackle or interception rate than Jags or Neville surely, and his ability to keep ball and create chances would ensure we don?t give it back so quick. When Mikel migrates in to the middle from the wings he causes all sorts of problems. Let?s get him in there. Carsley can hold and let the magician work some magic to salivate over.
Neville should be right back ? his best position, with Jags to cover. Ossie and Pienaar on the flanks where we could even use Van der Meyde ? remember him?
Those options can?t be worse than what we had on Sunday. The lads that lined up then didn?t tackle couldn?t pass and didn?t track well. I bored the life out of my mate and my boy pointing all that out so now I?m boring you. Time to rethink Davy lad as the engine is broke and the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to get it fixed.
Reader Comments (40)
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2 Posted 03/10/2007 at 22:52:24
3 Posted 03/10/2007 at 23:29:28
Editorial Team
4 Posted 03/10/2007 at 23:54:56
But let’s not overlook the fact that his greatest talent is his versatility and I’m willing to bet that’s why he was so high on Moyes’s list of priorities over the summer.
I don’t think many were under any illusions that he could compensate for the failure to land someone like Fernandes, particularly given the fact that he is primarily a defensively-minded player. It’s just unfortunate that his early Goodison career has entailed so much expectation on his shoulders in central midfield.
5 Posted 03/10/2007 at 23:52:42
I have been asked on occasion to play centre midfield, when we have had injuries etc and I have looked out of sorts and uncomfortable at best.
It was interesting to read the article about Leighton Baines and his lack of self belief on coming to Everton. At least the guy is being allowed to play in his favoured position. I feel sorry for Jags. He must wonder what’s happening.
If the Goodison boo boys start to get on his back, then we could have big probs because from what I have observed, Moyes will continue to play him in the middle.
6 Posted 03/10/2007 at 23:59:44
Jagielka has definitely got ability and is very decent with his distribution unlike someone who I wont mention. He is a player who will come in to his own when we settle our midfield down. We have been ravaged by injuries in our engine room and it has not been an easy introduction for the lad. We need to get behind him and the team tomorrow and kick start our season again. Don’t panic, he aint Scott Gemmill.
7 Posted 04/10/2007 at 00:05:50
defenders should play in defence
new blood in jan,
davey boy
8 Posted 04/10/2007 at 00:26:10
I think the only one who can compensate for Fernandes is Pienaar. He looked good against Boro and was our only creative midfielder to come in the summer. Hopefull Pienaar can make up a bit for Fernandes’s loss. He is a different player but can be just as effective in his own way. Hopefully he makes a season out of his Boro goal and performance.
9 Posted 04/10/2007 at 01:25:16
10 Posted 04/10/2007 at 02:00:23
11 Posted 04/10/2007 at 07:32:29
Firstly, I don’t think it’s fair to judge Jags, Carsley or Neville until they’re played in their proper midfield role - defensive midfield. At the moment they’re all being asked to give more going forward which certainly isn’t their stock trade. Think of Gerrard and Lampard for England. Good players when supported by a defensive midfielder, distinctly ordinary when asked to share the defensive duties.
Secondly, I don’t think a midfield of Pineaar, Arteta DCM and Osman would work for the simple reason that three of them are midgets. Ok Arteta and Osman have some strength to them but are still easily muscled out at times. We’d be overrun. The current system is a compromise until Cahill and Gravesen return and may that be soon.
12 Posted 04/10/2007 at 08:22:09
13 Posted 04/10/2007 at 08:59:00
Jagielka was playing in a poor team give him time he played all last season at centre back.
Yakubu was not match fit when we signed him he has scored 2 in 5 which is a great ratio.
Davies was hounded out of the club by boo boys and now he is playing well for Fulham.
Beattie was crap I admit that.
Pienaar is improving needs time.
AJ is having a goal drought how many droughts does Rooney have quite a few, England included his last competitive goal for England is when he played for us.
14 Posted 04/10/2007 at 08:59:11
15 Posted 04/10/2007 at 09:42:01
16 Posted 04/10/2007 at 09:45:08
17 Posted 04/10/2007 at 11:45:59
I actually think proir to the boro game he has looked the best out of our 3 defensive midfielders (Cars & Nev the others) his workrate, distribution & energy against Man u and blackburn in parts was fantastic. Admittedly he was shite against boro but that was a one off so far & may be more to do with his stop start season. After all he was a player who played every minute of every game at Sheff Utd & he is just adjusting to not being the main man at a much bigger club.
I honestly believe he’ll do well, in a defensive midfield role or across the back 4. Still think he’ll look a steal at £4m
18 Posted 04/10/2007 at 11:59:57
19 Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:05:52
20 Posted 04/10/2007 at 11:48:54
In time , Neville will move to right back, Cars will move on or retire and Jags will be joined by Cahill or Gravesen and depending who’s fit, who’s scoring, who’s not suspended.
Arteta , Osman , Pinnear will be eaten alive in the centre of midfield.
Moyes’s job is still to get a quality midfielder who can combine the defensive and forward role naturally, they dont grow on trees
21 Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:17:27
Osman and Pienaar, yes. Arteta, no way. When he first started his career in France he was being deployed as the holding midfielder in the trio of him, Okocha and some random Brazilian by the name of Ronaldinho.
Jagielka can play central mid, but at the moment he needs a creative influence alongside him so he can stick to his job. Once Gravesen, Cahill et al return our squad will look a lot better. Yes, it’s still painfully thin but until we get a major cash injection, we can’t change it in one transfer window with today’s inflated market. Moyes knew that, that’s why £4m for a player who can play four positions was a reasonably good price (admittedly we could have just not let him go 6 years ago and saved ourselves that £4m but no-one’s perfect)
22 Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:26:36
The problem is not Jagielka himself. The problem is that we have been playing him partnered with Neville, who I actually like but is definately better at right-back. I think Jagielka will be a different player when coupled with either Gravesen or Cahill. However, they are both injured at present so we will have to make do for the time being.
Also, why would anybody want to move Arteta inside? His performances on the flank have been exceptional. It’s not like he hugs the touchline anyway - he drifts inside and even to the other flank on occasion. Keep him where he is.
23 Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:26:33
Jags was rubbish against Boro, but that doesn’t mean he’s a poor signing. We all know that Moyes didn’t buy him to spray the ball around. Of course we still need a more creative midfielder, Moyes did attempt to buy one but failed. I’m sure he will try again in January.
For the time being, we are winning whilst playing poorly. Great! Now all we need to do is work on the performances. Confidence is everything, so if we get behind the lads instead of jumping all over them as soon as they have an off day then the confidence will grow and the performances will improve.
Massive game tonight and a win would do the spirit and confidence the world of good.
COYB
24 Posted 04/10/2007 at 12:42:58
Every goes on about Moyes not playing people in the right place. Now the suggestion that we play Arteta in the middle? Why? He’s doing great from wide positions.
Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
25 Posted 04/10/2007 at 13:20:06
26 Posted 04/10/2007 at 13:41:15
27 Posted 04/10/2007 at 13:50:04
28 Posted 04/10/2007 at 15:42:12
29 Posted 04/10/2007 at 16:02:00
30 Posted 04/10/2007 at 16:48:52
I agree Jags does not look like a midfielder, but i do believe we do not need to go chasing the game too early, therfore start with what we know, if we get a goal then they need to come chasing us and I believe they wouldnt get a sniff with us playing this formation. If we dont get a goal then switch it at say 60 minutes to a 4-4-2
My team injuries permitting tonight would be:
Howard,Baines,Stubbs,Lescott,Neville,Arteta,Jags,Carsley,Osman,Piennar,Johnson
What everyone think ???
31 Posted 04/10/2007 at 17:08:14
On To The Next Point, Neville I Dont Think Should Be Played In The Middle Gives The Ball Away To Much, Put Him At Right Back And Get Rid Of Hibbert..Very Poor Displays For Us This Season..Absoloutley Awful!! We Can Not Judge Jagielka On The Game Against Boro. He Probaly Is The Player Who Will Get Into The Oppisitions Box And Cause Some Problems More Than Cars And Phil. Also With Neville In The Right Back Position He Can Whip Some Crosses In When He Gets Beyond Arteta!!!
Good Luck Tonyt Lads!
I Know..We All Know Ya Can Do It
Come On Your Blue Boys!! Europe Is Were We Belong!!!
32 Posted 04/10/2007 at 17:50:04
Neville Yobo Lescott Baines
Jagielka Carsley
Arteta Pienaar
Yakubu Johnson
subs McFadden, Stubbs, Wessels, Anichebe, Osman, Hibbert
33 Posted 04/10/2007 at 18:13:53
jags is a good buy and he will come good..i just hope we can scrap a 1 nil win 2nite with hibbo getting the goal...lol if we win we could have a great season bar injuries and a transfer splash in jan..good luck 2nite lads...come on the blues
34 Posted 05/10/2007 at 01:41:08
Everyone at Sheff utd said he was a better central defender than anything else.
Give him a go when Yobo goes to the african nation’s.
Much rather see Carsley playing the midfield role than either Jagielka or Neville.
35 Posted 05/10/2007 at 10:47:47
I´m beginning to feel that buying Jags was a mistake (OK, he needs more time to show what he is capable off - maybe). We have already players like him in Neville and Carsley. And we need creative players like Arteta. When Arteta is out, we haven´t got any to make chanses. - Maybe other than Van der Meyde.......
Best regards
from a norwegian ToffeeFan
36 Posted 05/10/2007 at 13:16:41
37 Posted 05/10/2007 at 13:14:30
38 Posted 05/10/2007 at 16:55:44
Also, Dave couldnt agree more. Phil Neville and Alan Stubbs had me on my knees beating the floor last night. At that level you have to pass the ball not send optimistic punts up the field for Yakubu to battle a wide eyed giant to the ball! Even more worrying, I see Phil Neville is in the England team again for the qualifiers. One of the top 26 English players on offer? His reputation precedes him because his recent performances have been shocking
39 Posted 05/10/2007 at 16:35:00
40 Posted 05/10/2007 at 20:18:46
Pienarr; Gravesen; Carsley/Cahill; Arteta
Jags and Neville: sorry, not good enough!
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1 Posted 03/10/2007 at 22:47:03