ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Just a runner?

Not having the "gift" of explaing and describing how I see things during and after an Everton game I, like perhaps many supporters, just pass on saying what I feel.

However, I now would like to ask my fellow Blues what is it they see in AJ that I fail to see. I have watched my team for over 50 years and I can not see him as anything more than a "runner". I feel he has very poor technical ability, he cant trap a ball, take it in his stride. His pace is a asset but not a massive one.

His decision making when faced with "should I or shouldn?t I?" always seems I shouldn?t!. He is I feel destined to struggle in the premiership and as for 20 goals..well I like a gamble so if there is anyone out there who fancys a bet, no problem. I see AJ as another signing which will follow the Beattie path, championship player out of his depth in the prem.

I dont blame him for all this as Moysie continues to have me scratching my head with his game plans. Plans which invariably involve by-passing the midfield. If he were 5 mins into the job OK, but hey it?s 5 years! Will this man ever be a risk taker?

Answers on a postcard. I do think however YAK is a gifted striker and will do the biz where ever. He has great feet and upperbody strength and a good brain. I only hope he can become part of an IMPROVED Everton. I welcome any objective dialogue and now await the torrent of abuse!!
Roy Jordan, Liverpool Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:59:24

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Allan Hobbs
1 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:02:40

What the fu.....oh no sorry, force of habit.

I like AJ, and I tihnk he’s a good foil for the Yak. AJ took that ball against Bolton in his stride quite nicely and last season everyone was singing his praises when he played well. I can’t help feeling thats its only because he hasnt scored yet this term that people are on his back.

He’s in the England squad too so it can’t just be Moyes who thinks he’s a good player. Oh, and I’ve not noticed the media saying he shouldn’t be in the England squad either which, like it or lump it, is a good marker for a players quality.

Of course its all about opinions and I respect yours, but I’d trade AJ for 10 James Beattie’s and 20 Darren Bent’s for example.

How about that left foot finish against Arsenal in the snow last year? The goals against the shite? C’mon Roy, the kids class.

Phil Bellis
2 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:09:28

Roy Vernon, Alan Whittle and The Latch would struggle to score with the (lack of) service from the current midfield

Joe McMahon
3 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:23:54

Couldn?t agree more Roy. If anyone else mentions how he laid the ball to Yak in the Bolton game I will scream. Does anyone remember his miss at Reading?

Pat Mustard
4 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:25:51

James Bond would fail to score with the service our strikers get. We are too concerned with the opposition. Somewhere inside this current squad of players there is an attacking formation that will score goals.

Moyes has got a solid foundation in defence - he needs to unleash the midfield more from its defensive restraints. Wouldn’t it be lovely to watch an Everton team pour all over an opposing defence?

Peter Laing
5 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:27:29

Roy I would say that the days of a 20 goal a season striker are long gone in the modern age of the Premier league for run of the mill teams, unless of course there is the system and infrastructure in place to create the opportunities to score. Johnson is undoubtedly a team player, I would agree he is neither a natural in front of goal or a goal poacher. The lack of creativity in midfield and width means he constantly has to go wide to receive the ball, cutting in with the ball to feet and 3 or 4 defenders to beat. Either Everton change their style of play / and or personnel whereby we may see a more free scoring approach, however under Moyes I very much doubt that this will happen.

Graham Holliday
6 Posted 18/09/2007 at 14:12:47

Allan - does that mean that you would equate 1 James Beattie to 2 Darren Bents?!?

Stefan Tosev
7 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:44:36

i think you are unfair on AJ. Every week there is some contributor who slates some of our players and this week its you.

AJ is crucial for our style of play, if he is not scoring he is creating space for the others and his presence is keeping the opposite defenders on their toes.

"when faced with "should I or shouldn?t I?" always seems I shouldn?t!" - based on what fact is this statement - AJ has the most shots on target from every player in EPL, that shows that he is not short of confidence to shoot just needs a goal. He has a hand in 3 of our goals so far, picked up Jag on open goal had an effort cleared of the line against MU. His work rate is just enourmous.

"AJ (is) championship player out of his depth in the prem." you must be kidding, last year he scored 12 goals and was not given at least 5 pen. He comes for 30 min in international game and sets up Owen with a perfect assist and you are claiming that he is Championship player, stop taking the pills mate.

Even Wenger considered taking him to Arsenal and he knows more about the football then everyone here. Nevermind next week I expect the same story about our cast off Spaniard, keep them comming

Mark Stone
8 Posted 18/09/2007 at 14:32:44

Stefan - nail ... hammer ... head

Allan Hobbs
9 Posted 18/09/2007 at 14:53:04

Graham,

I’d say 1 James Beattie looks as though he’s eaten 2 Darren Bent’s.

Tony Marsh
10 Posted 18/09/2007 at 14:49:24

Roy AJ would be smashing goals in left right and center if he had a manager who knows how to play attacking football to work with.AJ scored 19 goals in the premier league for Palace the season they went down so he can do it at this level.The way Moyes plays the game with his
clausterphobic tactics every striker struggles.
Bent,Ferguson,Beattie,all had trouble scoring.Now Johnson is suffering and next yakubus goal tally will start to dry up.What do you expect though from a manager[MOYES] who earned his coaching badges while Howard Wilkinson was technical director at the FA.Playing 1980s style football in the EPL 2007 is a recipe for disaster.Dont blame the players blame the manager and his Prehistoric approach to the game.I am sure we have seen all Moyes has to offer as a coach and this is as good as it gets.Oh I am sorry I am not allowed to have a go at Moyes.Some want me banned for doing it.Well the truth hurts at times doesnt it?

Allan Hobbs
11 Posted 18/09/2007 at 15:09:32

Tony, who shot JR?

Dave Lynch
12 Posted 18/09/2007 at 15:42:34

Tony.
Stole my thunder before i got there.
Woe-full tactics for a know goalscorer who does his best work playing off the shoulder of defenders.
That type of play requires a good midfield able to pass the ball effectively. We have not got this and i doubt we ever will have under the present manager.
As for Bent ! Lucky escape that. Just like Vassel, one good season and proved to be average after all the hype.

Seamus Murphy
13 Posted 18/09/2007 at 15:52:37

Simple reason - No service whatsoever.

Sometimes i wonder what exactly our midfield contribute to a game. No service to the strikers, bypassed by the defence with (as Tony says) airbombs to the forwards.
People say we have a defensive midfield - well clearly they are not performing in that aspect either as we havent kept a clean sheet in 6 ATTEMPTS!!!

Moyes needs to sort it out - he has assembled as good as squad as i can remember but is he capable of getting the best out of them??

Time will tell i suppose.

Gavin Ramejkis
14 Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:10:40

Got to agree with Tony on this one, I watched AJ for Palace a few times and balls played along the floor for him to run onto are his bread and butter, even the odd cheeky chip over the last man but they both need a creative midfield to supply and not some pub side carthorse hoof and expect him to beat a six foot plus defender and the keeper, enough people kept giving lard arse Beattie the benefit of the doub claiming it was the team style not the player, well how about this being true for AJ?

Jake
15 Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:21:46

I’d have to agree. We’re absoloutly shite to watch...

Too reliant on Arteta and when he happens to have an off day we’re lost for ideas.
Baines looks great up and down the touchline but besides that there’s very little threat from elsewhere.

But of course we’ve known this for years. And i seriously doubt mad dog will solve our problems, although not a bad man to have in there on a freebie.

I think its time to get the finger out Davey. Its not just a case of individual players, its a case of team mentality. Although we’d all admit that manny was a loss i seriously doubt that if he had of signed things would be terribly different now...

AJ can not be blamed for his current blight. Its clear that Moyes has him runnig the channels. Its a part of the ’masterplan’. Its not just something AJ does on a whim...

patty blue
16 Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:30:30

Don’t go slagging James Beattie off - he’s knocking in the goals now something he didn’t do for us. Perhaps it was a loss of confidence on his part.

Brian Waring
17 Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:33:52

The reason AJ doesn’t net,simple, Moyes seems to have him playing more as a winger than a striker.

dave t
18 Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:16:04

im probably gonna get shot down for saying this but i think arteta is more practical used down the middle

that would also help yaks and johnson because they are off the shoulder strikers, not target men
he can cross with the best of them but to be honest it needs to be really really pinpoint unless cahill is playing, so whats the point?

Allan Hobbs
19 Posted 18/09/2007 at 16:54:25

But James Beattie was rubbish for us? I like slagging him off! Everyones has a level Patty. : )

Mark Stone
20 Posted 18/09/2007 at 17:00:07

Tony whilst I disagree with you nearly all of time I certainly wouldn’t like to see yo banned - I like to hear other peoples opinions. I agree with your points about Moyes not playing attacking football and about AJ not scoring as a result of it - my worry though is that if we went out playing more attacking football all the time we would be exposed and concede more - I actually think our defensive mindedness is what has led to us slowly but surely working our way up the league table. I think maybe when Gravesen and Cahill are fit Moyes will have a starting 11 at his disposal which has the quality to take the game to the opposition more and hopefully we’ll see that happen. I certainly don’t blame him for playing that way to date.

Neil Pearse
21 Posted 18/09/2007 at 17:03:30

Agree with Tony, Brian and others on this. AJ is not getting any kind of decent service, and spending most of his time either jumping against giants, or chasing hoofballs towards the corner flags. Imagine if he had a Scholes or a Fabregas sliding balls through to him? (Nice idea...)

As it is, he’s made three and almost scored another three even so. AJ is not the problem. The (absent) midfield is the problem.

Steve B
22 Posted 18/09/2007 at 17:21:47

A simple fact: as the transfer window deadline came and went, Moyes wanted to add 2 bodies and he ended up with Tommy.
He needed a creative midfielder to take the work load off Arteta. Now with the squad the way it is, how about giving the likes of Advm a run. Give Ossie and Hibbo a break.

When Vaughn gets back AJ will be fighting for his place.
Competition is great for the team, a nightmare for the manager and the second guessing is left for us.
I’m not opposed to the defend first mentality just as long as it gets us points.

A Codd
23 Posted 18/09/2007 at 17:35:19

is there always someone whining and moaning and whinging constantly on this site.
If its not about the football its about stuff like the ticket office or the fucking pies or the beer.
I used to slate the redshite for there constant bickering but fuck me the amount of old woman on here is untrue. Some people go the game i suppose just to have a gripe.
Fuck off you miserable bastards Contribution removed by Editor due to abusive content

Seamus Murphy
24 Posted 18/09/2007 at 18:03:35

A CODD - you have a point, there always seems to be someone giving out about customer service, ticketing, Evertonia and the like!! But grow up - if you dont like it why don’t YOU fuck off??

Brian Waring
25 Posted 18/09/2007 at 18:45:50

A Codd,this was a good thread with a lot of good points.And then you came!At the end of the day,no-one is twisting your arm to come on this site and read the posts.If you don’t like what is posted,I suggest you do what Seamus said.

Tony Marsh
26 Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:07:44

A Codd comes on and has a go at moaners and ends up being the biggest moaner of the lot.Moaning Twat that Fish Face Fella

Brett Shaw
27 Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:07:35

A CODD
I suppose I am 1 of the whingers that you refer to, but the simple fact is I (and many others) cannot get our hands on "away" tickets ( Sheff. Wed this time). As stated by many others the official website is a joke, and its not practical for me to travel from Chesterfield to the Goodison box office to collect tickets. Does anyone have SENSIBLE suggestions as to how I can obtain said tickets?

A Codd
28 Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:26:11

Contribution removed by Editor due to abusive content

Ray Robinson
29 Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:35:07

AJ is worth his place in the team but a natural striker he is not. He has no left foot for a start (yes, I know he scored against Arsenal last year with his left). He generally does not choose the right option in front of goal when he does get chances and needs, in my opinion, to shoot more instinctively rather than try to tee himself up all the time.

As for Stefan’s comments which he must be good because Arsene Wenger wanted him - Francis Jeffers!

Tony Marsh
30 Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:56:21

OOOH A Codd you are awfull ...But I like you.

Dominic Blaird
31 Posted 18/09/2007 at 20:24:02

In my opinion neither AJ, Yak, Big Vic or Vaughany are cut out for European football. Firstly AJ has absolutely no pace at all whereas Yak is too lazy and just not strong enough. The same goes with Vic and he seems completely put of his depth at this level. Whereas Vaughany is non-existent in games. The only player worth playing is Faddy who has goals against top quality opposition like Faroe Islands and Lithuainia. We should then employ Nevs as an attcking mid, where in my opinion, his spectacular passing range can be used to full effect. Another view is that Bainesy and Jags could be put on either wings and Hibbo could be put in the centre of the park so that as per usual he can spray killer balls around the park. Just a few thoughts...

Jonathon Gillen
32 Posted 18/09/2007 at 20:39:55

There’s only one Tony Marsh!

Mike Allison
33 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:04:50

"There?s only one Tony Marsh!"

If anyone finds another one we can just lock them in a room together and let them get on with it...

roy coyne
34 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:34:29

Roy think back to all our goal scores in the past from Dave Hickson onwards they have always been players inthe team that can create,how many would Joe Royle got without the holy trinity or Bob Latchford with out thomas over the tears the only srtiker who did not need help was Kanchalskis (cant spell i know)

Anthony Kelley
35 Posted 18/09/2007 at 22:33:23

When AJ was bangin them in start of last season he was the best thing since sliced bread remmeber yakubu is lazy bastard so anichebe so AJ gota work twice as hard.

Mark Stone
36 Posted 19/09/2007 at 07:47:21

"AJ has no pace" - is that an objective opinion? He’s pretty quick by my reckoning but that’s my subjective opinion. You may know better.

Stefan Tosev
37 Posted 19/09/2007 at 13:44:23

Ray Robinson I had hoped that noone would poit Franny but fair play I take your point.

However you would admit that Wenger is knowledgable manager, which mistakes are few and between and he has eye for a talant