ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Pre-season Double-Header

After watching the highlights of both the Bury and Northern Ireland games, probably the two best players in both games where Anichebe and Vaughan. Anichebe may not be the best or cleverest footballer in the world but he is a handful. His body strength, pace and power where obvious. Compared to Jutkiewicz he looked a man mountain. Anyone who watched the game will know that Jutkewicz is not ready. He looks far to lightweight to me and his goal was very scrappy. Vaughan also was in my opinion the best player against Ireland. He has looked a more complete player than AJ in every game I have seen him so far.

All in all both games where poor and very booring to watch. Anderson De Silva showed a good passing range yet looked very static. Van der Meyde showed a few skills, flicks and runs but needs to get involved more. Out of the youngsters I would have to say Agard has impressed me. I have seen him and a few reserve games and he looks to have really come along. He is pacy, hardworking and showed he can finish yesterday.
Connor Rohrer, Toxteth, Liverpool Posted 15/07/2007 at 14:13:16

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John Holmes
1 Posted 15/07/2007 at 16:16:30

Whilst the insights into the game are interesting and it’s good to get a look at players ultimately these kind of games are worth very little in terms of generating meaningful analysis. The players are unfit, they lack sharpness, the teams are experimental and the opposition lightweight. They serve little purpose for the fans and just offer the management and coaches away of preparing for the season ahead.

Jeremy Benson
2 Posted 15/07/2007 at 16:55:21

Not so John....anichebe was a handful in pre-season matches last year, and proceeded to do very well for us in the few opportunities he got for real later on. Whilst during the same friendly matches, BT couldnt hit a cows backside with a banjo, and proceeded to do the same for the rest of the season.

Its about time one of vaughan or ani were considered first or second choice strikers. They are clearly more up for it, and more likely to score, than mcfads or BT, and even AJ has his poor spells. They might be young and not have cost us anything - but thats no reason to play poorer choices in the role.

David Barks
3 Posted 15/07/2007 at 18:08:45

I agree with ya Jeremy, the two of them are coming along very well. And you make a very good point about them not costing us anything, we developed them from the youth ranks and it can be forgotten sometimes since they don’t grab the headlines that a big name transfer does, even if they prove to be better.

Dave Turner
4 Posted 15/07/2007 at 18:45:33

I think it is very harsh on Jutkiewicz to write him off after one, pre-season game. Indeed he is another young lad, he is yet to reach potential.

Lets see how he gets on, but I think we talking seeing over the next few seasons, rather than next few pre-season games.

Gavin Ramejkis
5 Posted 15/07/2007 at 20:24:53

Have to agree about Vaughan being ready for one of the first names on the teamsheet, if you can do the business age means nothing, I replied to a posting some time ago saying I?d rather he had the number 9 shirt that Beattie as he has done more in the few games he has played than Beattie has. Anichebe is another for the bench and more than capable of crowding the opposition defence to tire them early in a game or commit tired defenders later on. The other new kids on the block with the exception of Boyle are still too raw for the Premier League in my mind.

John Holmes
6 Posted 15/07/2007 at 22:17:09

Anichebe and Beattie may have replicated their form but Johnson failed to score in pre-season and had people worried then went on a scoring spree when the season started. That said I agree that Vaughan should be considered as the second choice after Johnson. I’m vaguely worried about the idea of Smith signing just because I don’t want the two teenagers to have only limited apperances. Then again maybe Moyes wants to carry on with him in midfield.

Connor Rohrer
7 Posted 15/07/2007 at 22:26:15

I wans?t being harsh on Jutkiewicz I was just telling the truth: He is not ready and nor should he be. He is a 17-18 year old boy who should not be considered a squad player. The best place for him is either out on loan or in the reserves.