ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

4-5-2

If or when Fernandes signs we will undoubtedly have one of the best midfields in the league, and I say that without even considering Cahill. Tottenham for all their firepower couldnt match us in midfield.

Now we have out-played many a team across the middle of the park over the last year or so, including some of the 'big four'. The big difference last night was that we did it playing 4-4-2, as opposed to the 4-5-1, deployed all to often against 'superior' teams. Now I know the two front men worked their backsides off, but we outclassed a team many consider to be one of the best attacking outfits in the league. Playing 4-4-2. Without Cahill or Fernandes. And away from home.

Now I'm torn. Once Fernandes we have with Cahill, Pienaar, Arteta, Osman and Van der...forget that, attacking ball players, possibly Mcfadden can be thrown into that grouping as well. Then we have Carsley, Neville and Jagielka who can all protect the back four (the latter two doubling up as defensive cover). I won't go through the whole squad, we all know it. What I'm trying to say is with a couple more quality additions we will have have a top-quality side, with cover for all but a injury crisis of Newcastle proportions.

A couple of selection headaches for Moyes in that Fernandes is a starter if fit, but so is Osman (at the moment), who to drop out of Neville and Carsley (who played like they shared the same brain last night), and just who to play at right back. Teams such as spurs may have 20+ players to choose from, but how many are unfit, unreliable, unconsistent, unproven or just plain useless (see Jenas). I'm much happier with a potential core of about 18 quality players. Possibly a few promising youths added and things aren't as doom and gloom as we all thought.

On the Yakubu front, I feel he would be an excellent addition, and could form a tantalising partnership with AJ, and could really help Vic develop (and I dont say that because they could both play for Nigeria). I can't help but question the logic in breaking our transfer record again on a player who we will likely be without for the tought Xmas period due to the African Nations Cup (we will already lose Yobo and could even lose Vic).

If he does sign I will still be made up, but perhaps we'd be better loaning someone, or getting this Ezquerro guy and then save the money till January when we will have a better idea of how the campaign is going, what the injury list is like and how long we have to wait for the second derby game so we can complete the double over them.

Finally if we do sign him, with Cahill and Fernandes, wouldn't a 4-5-2 formation be ideal?!?!?
Eddie Harrison, Peterborough Posted 15/08/2007 at 16:04:22

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Comments

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Jon
1 Posted 15/08/2007 at 20:35:50

yes it would be ideal...IF YOU WERE ALLOWED 12 PLAYERS ON THE PITCH !!!!!!!!!!

Steve L
2 Posted 15/08/2007 at 20:36:01

Love us to play 4-5-2 but we either need a keeper or rule change!

Harvey
3 Posted 15/08/2007 at 20:39:23

4-5-2?!! I’ve heard of the crowd being the 12th man but putting them in the line-up is going a bit far!!!

Dave Roberts
4 Posted 15/08/2007 at 20:40:13

Eddie, are you a YES or a NO voter. A declaration could swing the whole thing!
(Don’t worry we all make daft mistakes....all part of being human I’m afraid !)

Dutch Schaffaer
5 Posted 15/08/2007 at 21:03:25

Eddie are you suggesting that if we play 4-5-2 we will be so good that we wont need a keeper?

Chris Winslet
6 Posted 15/08/2007 at 21:03:21

Guys - I’m pretty sure Eddie was joking!

Pablo
7 Posted 15/08/2007 at 21:05:30

Nice to have some different options for a change,can only be good for competition...

Eddie
8 Posted 15/08/2007 at 22:32:36

I’m not suggesting a rule change or dropping the keeper, I might not get too Goodison often but I’ve seen enough last few seconds of match of the day to pick up that we can only have 11 players.

I was merely trying to highlight that if we do indeed sign Fernandes and a top striker it creates a selection headache for Moyes, does heaccomodate the midfield talent, or the strike partnership, or mix and match and risk loosing the cohesion we seemed to have last night.

Though I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a rule change in the mean time.

Unfortunately I’m not eligible to vote, if I was I’d probably vote no, but thats mostly down to hope, the hope that an alternative might be achievable, otherwise Kirkby might be the only option. I’m not as against it as sum, and I believe that if it is followed by success then the erosion to the fan base will be minimal. However I’m still not keen on moving out the city, artificial boundaries or not, don’t fancy being called trolley boys either.

Ray
9 Posted 15/08/2007 at 23:03:44

Anyone else see the Portsmouth v Man Utd match?. Got to say I think Moyes did the right thing on Nugent..I know its early days but he just doesnt look Premiership class..He seems to me no better than McFadden having seen him many times now. Certainly looking at Chopra and even David Healy I think Nugent could be the one who is least effective..But thats not our worry now I just think more clever business by Davie M

Per
10 Posted 16/08/2007 at 10:00:32

It’s too bad we didn’t invest a small sum of money in Healey.. he’s always looked good when playing for his national side and with two goals in two matches he’s doing good in the PL so far.

MP
11 Posted 16/08/2007 at 10:12:04

Fernandes will more than likley sign this week, we are just negotiating with the sports company who hold the other 50%, it will probably be a deal similar to Man Utds where we sign him on a fixed loan for 3 to 5 years with an option to buy.

With the Yak I think the deal will be done early next week for 10 - 12 mill. Once Boro have signed Mido as a replacement.

I think that with a fully fit aquad it gives DM options, I think with Fernandes, Arteta and Cahill it makes the 451 much more attacking away from home, and a 442 with Fernandes, Cahill, Arteta and Carsley at home very aggressive.

Andy Callan
12 Posted 16/08/2007 at 11:55:16

Ha ha ha ha - if you don’t see the tongue-in-cheek aaproach here, then you need English Lit lessons. 6-8-3 would be best mefinks, however there wouldn’t be much room on the pitch. I would watch a game of it though, just to see what a shambles it looks like....

Andy
13 Posted 16/08/2007 at 12:19:27

If we can Yakubu & Fernandes we would have an amazing squad. I think another striker is vital as Anichebe has limited ability and not having Vaughan till Xmas we look short up top. Yakubu is a proven goal scorer and would be so much better than Nugent or Smith in terms of the goal return. He’s also a pure striker which is something we lack at the moment - AJ is amazing but more for his overall contribution and commitment than his goals.

Seamus Murphy
14 Posted 16/08/2007 at 13:15:35

Eddie - the solution is simple enough in my eyes - Drop Neville to rightback and slot Manny in beside Cars.
Not so clearcut as to what to do with Cahill when he comes back though??
Play him just off AJ in a 4-4-1-1??
Of course if we have Yakubu by that stage that could rule that out so i’d be stumped as to who would lose out in midfield then - Cars? Osman? Defo not Manny or Arteta!
Wouldnt it be a good worry though!!

Andy
15 Posted 16/08/2007 at 13:46:55

You’ve got to think it’ll be Cahill who will ultimately make way - he’s a great man & evertonian but his goals mask lots of faults in his all round game

James Elworthy
16 Posted 16/08/2007 at 14:17:52

When Yak and Manny sign the ideal 11 for ME would be Howard, Jagielka, Lescott, Yobo, Baines, Arteta, Fernandes, Cahill, Neville, Yakubu, Johnson, Subs (any 5 from)Turner, Osman,Vaughan,Pienaar, Anichebe,McFadden,Carsley, VDM,Stubbs,Hibbert,Ruddy, Vidarsson, Justiewicz and Valente

Billy Barrett
17 Posted 16/08/2007 at 15:46:28

Sounds a powerful side Mr Elworthy. I would put in Carsley ahead of Neville to protect the back four but with Ossies form at the moment even Tiny Tim would have to go sub for him.
Does the bloke who wrote 4-5-2 know anything bout footie, I know we are good but to play without a keeper is a bit too cocky

Eddie Harrison
18 Posted 17/08/2007 at 10:33:13

Yes playing without a keeper could be deemed cocky, however I think we could pull it off with Yobo and Lescott, they’re that good. I think we could even do without full backs and just play a back square of Cars, Neville and the two CB’s, and then have the remaining 7 in free-roles.

Perhaps I don’t know all that much about football, or perhaps my tongue has been placed firmly in my cheek here, as it was when I originally suggested 4-5-2.

ronan mcg
19 Posted 17/08/2007 at 11:34:26

this is our best 11, and definitely good enough for 4th place. Howard; neville (rb), yobo, lescott, baines; arteta, fernandes, cahill, jags; johnson, yakubu.........Eddie;to not sign a top class striker for 5 years because he will be away for jan/feb is ridiculous, plus Ezquerro is rubbish, would be a terrible signing.