FAN ARTICLES
By The Left
Comments (14) : Martin Petrov was outstanding down the left wing for City: fast and tenacious with the ability to make space for himself to deliver dangerous crosses. It is hard to think of a time when Everton had a genuine left winger since the marauding Dave Thomas in the mid-70s. Sheedy was a boyhood hero for me but was a left midfielder ? most certainly not a winger (involved too much running at speed!). Beagrie had his moments but was naturally right-footed and had the annoying habit of doing 10 feints before delivering a cross. Ginola was a (large) shadow of his former self by the time he arrived at Goodison whilst I thought Kevin McLeod had potential but he left for QPR after a handful of games.
In more recent years we have seen Andy VDM, Arteta, Osman, Davies and Pienaar fill the berth ?albeit all off them out of their ?natural? position. Which leads me back to Faddy. When he arrived from Motherwell and tore Leeds apart it seemed that we had a wing-wizard successor to Dave Thomas. However over time he has become a central striker and through a mixture of poor decision making, lack of confidence and, dare I say, lack of support from the fans he has failed to deliver upon the early promise.
We are being linked now with Andrei Arshavin who ? from what I can tell, is a naturally right sided player (albeit with a decent weaker foot). There has been a dearth of quality left midfielders/wingers in the UK for over a decade ? the likes of Downing have an inflated £10M tag put upon their heads. But I hope that one day we may again see a left-footed wing maestro hitting the byline and swinging in the crosses for Victor, Cahill and Yakubu to put away.
Reader Comments (14)
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2 Posted 17/01/2008 at 16:09:56
Rob - Arshavin is left footed although not in Petrov mood; he has a good vision and can deliver superb through balls and if we can sign him it would be a good peice of business
3 Posted 17/01/2008 at 17:27:07
Hibbert had him in his arse pocket and you know what some of the posters on here think of him, so it is hardly a glowing recommendation is it?
4 Posted 17/01/2008 at 18:23:32
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu7x98AKcSs&feature=related
/>http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gkw-Gq2_op0
6 Posted 17/01/2008 at 22:17:16
He would have been told to do a few different tasks, but what the hell, he would have just got on with it.
Naturally left sided players are rare, not because we are 20% of the poulation, but because aresole coaches think we are "one-sided". Right footers can kick with their left? Bollocks.
Most of the good midfielders have that ’balance’, no matter their natural first foot. Arteta will have been coached for hours and hours and hours in his football education to help him to play all over the field. It isn’t ’just natural’. Steve Pinenaar (return soonest!) similar.
I think little Leighton is going to be an Everton great. He has so many qualities, including his absolute ease in and potential control of the left third of the park. But being a left footer, perhaps I’m biased.
7 Posted 17/01/2008 at 22:44:49
8 Posted 17/01/2008 at 23:28:59
And in case I don’t get a chance to say this on our pages tomorrow - good luck to Faddy, with us, or whoever. He’s been a great mate to us, and always will be.
9 Posted 18/01/2008 at 04:13:42
10 Posted 18/01/2008 at 09:20:19
I do like to cut of Baines? jib - just needs an injury-free run - I suspect it will be next season before he starts to really blossom.
Good luck to Faddy be it at Parkhead, St Andrews or maybe St James Park.
11 Posted 18/01/2008 at 11:25:58
12 Posted 18/01/2008 at 12:42:13
Is Anelka cup-tied for the Carling Cup clash against us next week? Does such rule apply in domestic cup competitions?
13 Posted 18/01/2008 at 12:50:23
You can be cup tied for both the domsetic cups, but Anelka didn’t play for Bolton in the League Cup this season, so he is eligible to play. Unfortunately.
15 Posted 18/01/2008 at 23:22:00
With Anelka in their side, I am a little bit worried about our defence without Yobo. I hope Jags can handle Anelka though.
COYB!
16 Posted 19/01/2008 at 01:45:31
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1 Posted 17/01/2008 at 15:05:53
They lack the work rate required, hence Faddy and AVDM not getting a proper run in the side. To be worthwhile they need to be exceptional, say Giggs, and our finances don’t run to that level to afford such a luxury.
I’d rather have top notch more versatile players in the wide midfield positions e.g. Pienaar and Arteta, supported by the likes of Baines (and hopefully Gosling in future) ’bombing on’. COYB!