ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

If no replacement for Fernandes is found....

Let's face facts - despite all the conjecture, its very unlikely that we will sign a midfielder before midnight tomorrow (although I would love to be proven wrong - Appiah in particular would be great). Things don't happen that quickly, especially at Everton, and Moyes will not have his hand forced by greedy clubs upping their asking prices because they now know we have 12 million to spend.

So, that leaves us with an opportunity to look at the current squad and assess our chances going forward through the season. The reliance on Arteta for creativity and craft in midfield is worrying, but I'm not sure all is lost. Consider the following 'best XI': Howard (GK), Neville (RB), Baines (LB), Yobo (CB), Lescott (CB), Pienaar (LM), Arteta (RM), Jagielka (DM), Cahill (AM), Johnson (CF) and Yakubu (CF). Subs Wessels, Osman, Anichebe, Stubbs, Vaughan (or swap AJ and Vaughan).

This is certainly not a team of alehouse hoofballers, with Arteta, Pienaar and to a lesser extent Cahill all capable of opening up defences. I guess the problem actually lies in the fact that its not always the players themselves, but rather the way they are trained to play by the manager. However, Moyes's recent attempts to sign Fernandes and some early glimpses of ball-to-feet (Spurs away) might indicate a slight paradigm shift in the boss's thinking. Let's hope so anyway!

At the very least I think we have a team that can do the business until the January window, when there may be more room for manouver regarding a centre midfielder. In the meantime let's hope Cahill and Vaughan have speedy recoveries so that Moyes can have a nice selection headache.
Neil Humphrey, Oldham Posted 30/08/2007 at 12:10:34

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Comments

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Declan Critchley
1 Posted 30/08/2007 at 09:29:14

38 Hours (and counting!) left to identify, bid and agree a fee for, agree personal terms, pass a medical and get pen to paper on a world class midfielder. All the Everton Way... piece of cake right?

I'm off to light a candle and say a novena at every church I can find...

Shaun Brennan
2 Posted 30/08/2007 at 13:21:59

Why is Baines, Piennar, Jag in the team. Certain assumptions being made.

I’d assume we wouldn’t sign someone else either.

Robin Byrne
3 Posted 30/08/2007 at 13:30:44

We’re cutting it very fine but its still possible that a deal could be done pending a medical. I’d be over the moon if we did somehow manage to get Appiah in, even if we would lose him for the African Cup of Nations.

Jay Sankey
4 Posted 30/08/2007 at 13:44:20

The way things have been for us this summer in the transfer market I can't see us signing anyone — as much as I want to sign someone. Appiah would be great if we could get him but I won't hold my breath on that one. One good point made was putting Neville at right back because he's most effective there and that's were he has his better games.

Simon Templeman
5 Posted 30/08/2007 at 14:02:15

Its fairly simple: if you have good passers in the team, you play passing football; if you have six defensive players in there, then you're gona play defensive. Our team has got a lot better this season so it is inevetible that we will change tactics.

Norman Merril
6 Posted 30/08/2007 at 14:11:16

Neil, I have no disagreement with your team, it's up to the manager to start giving Pienaar more games, sitting on the bench will not give him the experience he requires in the Premier League.

Neil Humphrey
7 Posted 30/08/2007 at 14:23:40

Shaun, Jags is in the team because in the time he has been on the pitch so far this season he has demonstrated a better passing ability and pace than Nev or Cars, whilst matching both for defensive skils. Likewise, both Pienaar and Baines have looked great when they have been given a chance (Baines was a star going forward against Blackburn in an otherwise shite performance from the team, and Pienaar has looked good in his stints, particularly against Wigan). Pienaar, Baines and Jags is surely a better bet than Osman, Valente and Cars/Nev.

Seamus Murphy
8 Posted 30/08/2007 at 14:34:05

Yeah that looks good Neil - only problem is Cahill is out until November. So who comes in instead? Cars? Osman?

Allan Hobbs
9 Posted 30/08/2007 at 14:49:52

To be fair, since the Manny cock-up, DM has had some time on his hands. Just because we’ve heard nothing from the club doesn’t mean the wheels of a transfer haven’t been in motion for a day or 2 already. OK Im being optimistic, but you never know.

steve
10 Posted 30/08/2007 at 16:25:36

what about joe cole hes not happy at chelsex

Chris Masey
11 Posted 30/08/2007 at 17:32:09

Pienaar? He has played 10 mins against Wigan, and that is enough to justify him being in the first eleven? He may have looked lively, but personally I thought he looked lightweight, and will get kicked off the ball against the so called pub teams like Blackburn and Bolton. But I agree, I think Leon could be a weakness, and we are a strong winger short. Jags looks good though, sooner we get him in the centre the better, get Neville back at right back, cuz Hibbert is soooooo average.

Dan Greenwood
12 Posted 30/08/2007 at 18:40:33

I didn’t want to blurt this in a big single thread:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2007/08/30/gravesen-poised-to-re-sign-for-blues-100252-19711620/

Brendan McLaughlin
13 Posted 30/08/2007 at 19:06:19

Tommy G. is back. Its on the official site.