ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Second Eleven

We are all worried about the size of Evertons squad and our lack of spending. Want to feel even worse?? Today I decided to put together my second 11 for everton based on the fact that at some stage of the season, most if not all of our first team 11 are going to be missing. So, although we won't all agree on this as the 1st eleven, but just for the sake of the exercise lets say this is our 1st choice 11:

HOWARD/NEVILLE/YOBO/STUBBS/LESCOTT/PIENAAR/JAGIELKA/CAHILL/ARTETA/ VAUGHAN/JOHNSON (Cahill & Vaughan already injured, but 1st choice when fit)

Now everyone, put together your second 11 (or 10. I struggled with 11)...its scary!

TURNER/HIBBERT/BOYLE/?????/VALENTE/CARSLEY/SILVA/OSMAN/VAN DER MEYDE/ ANICHEBE/McFADDEN
Ian Ankers, Cheshire Posted 05/08/2007 at 14:24:59

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Dutch Schaffaer
1 Posted 05/08/2007 at 22:59:36

Actually the second 11 looks pretty good.

Turner. Ok has made blunders but many rate him highly.

Hibbert. Personally I would have him in the starting 11. Defensively sound.

Boyle. Admittedly not the best.

Valente. Solid International player. Injuries aside has looked decent.

Carsley. Has to be in starting 11. A fucking rock. Great last season.

Silva. Another unknown really but could be useful.

Osman. Useful player. Great on the ball but lacks strength. Still a better then average squad player.

AVDM. Waste of space. Talented but we are unlikely to see his best.

Anichebe. Decent enough young striker. Quite a few Prem teams would like Victor on their books.

McFadden. Isn’t he the Scotish Rooney? Again a useful player and the more he matures the better he gets.

Actually your argument only highlights how much quality we have in the squad. In all honesty only AVDM and possinly Da Silva are weak links.

Ian A
2 Posted 06/08/2007 at 13:46:34

I think you are looking at the second eleven through rose tinted glasses?!!??

Turner - Far from ready to be relied upon in a top 6 side competing in europe - come back in 5 years!
Hibbert - Slowly going downhill, but yes, ok as a 2nd
Boyle - GOING to be good eventually, but wouldn’t like tyo rely on him too much
Valente. - Ok, I like him, but very injury prone
Carsley - Fine
Silva - Unknown, but again, not holding too much hope
Osman - Not for me
AVDM. - At least we agree on something
Anichebe - The silver lining in this team for sure
McFadden - No end product

YOU QUOTE:
Actually your argument only highlights how much quality we have in the squad. In all honesty only AVDM and possinly Da Silva are weak links.

Do you really believe that second team (which I again point out is a team of ten as I was struggling for another centre back - which says alot in itself) is strong?
Yes Carsley, Anichebe and at a push Valente and McFadden will do as second string, but its hardly strength in depth is it! We obviously all have different opinions on different players, but on the whole surely you can see that we are way, way short of a decent squad.

Dutch Schaffaer
3 Posted 06/08/2007 at 15:15:43

Not really Ian because I rate Carsley as a Top Player, Osman, Hibbert, Valente and Anichebe are all also very good. McFadden is useful and Turner and Boyle are hopefully improving.

I would guess many Prem side would like a second side which included Hibbert, Osman, Valente, Anichebe and Carsley. In fact a few Prem sides would probably like those players in their starting 11. Alan Stubbs will also be a second stringner now that Baines is joining.

The quality of the squad is very high its the numbers which are worrying. I would say Everton are about 2 world class players and 4 squad players short of a title challenge.

Ian A
4 Posted 06/08/2007 at 15:26:29

Ok So we’ll agree to disagree on this one. I’d love to be as optimistic as you. Title challenge with 2 world class players and 4 squad players? It’d be nice, but I doubt the world class players will be arriving anytime soon (despite the rumours). Baines is a most welcome addition, but say we lose Arteta to injury next week? Cahill already out.. Where an earth are you getting this quality second midfield from? Osman, Carsley..good to have in the squad, but we need something stronger to rely on should they have to be the main men.
Right now with Cahill out, none of the possibilities to fill his boots are exactly filling me with optimism!
To be honest, I think Osman has been a complete waste of space last season. At times it was as if he just wasn’t even on the planet, let alone in the team!
McFadden, promises so much yet very very rarely delivers...I could go on!
Like I said, its all about opinion and you, like me are entitled to yours. You like some of the players and I simply don’t! We could go on forever with this...