The Mail Bag

Midfield madness

Comments (16)

My my, never have I witnessed such a cacophony amongst the Everton ranks for such a long time. I will refrain from joining the chorus of vitriolic four letter words that have transcended this site in the aftermath of what I can only describe as an appalling display from a midfield totally deficient of any creative imagination.

I can?t blame my fellow blues in venting their anger with such colourful metaphors; what was Moyes thinking when he named that midfield? Or more to the point, with the injuries to Arteta, Graveson and Cahill, could he have put anybody else in? In my opinion, which seems to be shared by many others; is that if Phil Neville can force his way into our first choice midfield, then we have some serious problems. I don?t dislike the man, but Moyes has to see past the totally committed model pro that he undoubtedly is, and either play him at right back or leave him in the stands where he the only pass he has to make is the one at Arteta?s rather tasty wife.

Osman is an enigma, against quality players at Spurs he looked the part, skilful, strong and with a good eye for goal. Tonight, against second rate opposition (Lets face it, they are second rate, so what does that make us?) I can?t even recall him getting involved in anything creative at all, did he actually kick the ball tonight? Carsley did what he always does, he tries to mop up the loose balls and pass back to Yobo or Lescott who must have been under strict instructions to hoof the ball forward at every available chance. Mcfadden! Well what can I say, great goals for Scotland, well done Jimmy now come and play midfield for your club, or just behind the front two, oh whatever just do what you want.

I am so very disappointed at what I saw tonight; sure the game probably made great telly, it's a shame that all that effort in qualifying for Europe last season may have been in vain. If Moyes puts out that midfield against any Premiership opposition then we are in danger of being humiliated. It really isn?t good enough.
Shaun Sparke, Prescot     Posted 21/09/2007 at 00:18:13

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Steve Hopkins
1   Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:07:29

I don’t know about we will be humiliated Shaun, we WERE HUMILIATED last night!
Steve Sweeney
2   Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:16:10

Why oh why was Hibbert Playing, he cost us another Goa. Great appraisal
Barry Johnson
3   Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:02:14

Yes the mifield was really poor, osman, macF just cant cut it, Phil should of played right back as hibbo has lost all his ability ti tackle or mark since comming back from injury, Jags should of been in midfield and im sure anderson would have done a better job than ossie, the only good things to come out of the game was our keeper and bains and against oppenents like them we should be dispatchimg easily
Paul Tran
4   Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:18:26

The point about Phil Neville is that he actually demonstrates the difference between a top-notch manager who can build teams (Ferguson) and an obsessive of ’utility’ players (Moyes). Surrounded by good players, in a team with a recognisable shape, given clear instructions by his manager, Neville looked a half-decent honest pro. Moyes is increasingly giving me the impression that if he sticks enough honest utility men in a midfield and shouts at them for 90 minutes, something will happen. Why not just put out a team with some shape, give the players simple instructions and let them do it? What do they do on the training ground?
Liam Reilly
5   Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:10:49

I couldn’t believe the teamsheet, having 2 defensive minded midfielders gave us no creativity whatsoever. Surely Jagielka or Vidarsson was worth a punt, or because we are so weak in numbers in the middle, then bring back Anderson or Shandy.
There was little point in having three forwards up front and hoofing long balls up to them. Soul destroying to watch. Surely we all can’t be wrong about Neville, Moyes must put him at right back, where he’s actually not a bad player.
It really could’ve been worse, if they had they taken their chance at the end of the game.
It’s going to be very difficult to turn this around over there as we have to score now.
Let’s hope we have Mickey and Tommy fit or it could be another embarrassment.
james elworthy
6   Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:35:24

Moyses had all summer to add to the creative part of midfield even if it just was a squad player he added.
However we are burdended with a midfield heavy on defensive minded players and not enough on attacking players in the central midfield areas. Granted he went for Manny, but did he once describe himself as a new Makele who is regarded as the best holding player in the league.
ian tunny
7   Posted 21/09/2007 at 11:38:28

all this crap about about mcfadden he was one of the few players actually trying to do something usefull and imaginative with the ball when he got the ball that is, the service was awful. he won the corner out of nothing with 2 players on him then put it on lescotts head for the goal. And actually tested the keeper an got a shot on target with a great volley at the end.
Matt Geraghty
8   Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:40:27

Personally I thought that until we scored, we played really well. After that it was poor.
Bains, Lescott and Wessels were great.
Yakubu, Neville & Hibbert were awful.
As far as Moyes is concerned, one minute I love him, the next I don’t.

IMWT/ MOYES OUT, FFS I don’t know what to think!!
Paul Kish
9   Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:57:36

Davey, bless his soul, has taken us as far as he can, and it's time to move on.

There's a pretty well tanned bloke with greying hair who's out of a job right now. I'm sure he'd welcome the chance to become neighbours with his fellow Iberian football nut, Rafa.

If not, maybe the prospect of walking his terrier past Rafa's palace and letting it soil his yard might prove and irresistable lure.

A special Club for the Special One.

Yeah, I know..but we're all allowed to dream aren't we??

It seems about as realistic as Everton playing beguiling and bewitching football on the deck that involves crisp and accurate passing and smart movement off the ball.

Tom Brown
10   Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:54:32

What a lot of over-reaction.

We will win the second leg and go on to have a few more wins in Europe this season.

Even without the injured players (all teams have injured players so forget about them), we clearly had the better bunch of individuals on the pitch last night and even with the odd tactics, play that game the same way in 10 parallel universes and we would have won it maybe 8 times.

So what about the odd tactics... Where did they come from? Was Moyes making a ballsy attempt to overrun FCMK in the first leg, putting the second leg beyond doubt and taking pressure of the congested fixture list? Was Moyes trying to play exciting football realising that the European Cup is not normally a money spinner and we desperately need to keep (1) TV cameras on us and (2) Goodison sold out if we are to make money out of this tournament (to invest in the team and build us further...)?

The tactics were definately bold even if they were not as effective as the tried and trusted normal tactics often derided as boring. And... I think Moyes always knew that if the bold tactics started looking like LOSING the game (which they never actually did) then he could easily switch to the old faithful tactics in the blink of an eye - all the necessary players were on the pitch.

Whatever the reason for the tactics last night... we were never going to lose the game... we will win the second leg for sure... The tactics last night are not what Moyes is going to play against tougher teams... So calm down!

Darren Watts
11   Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:16:58

I didn't want to believe that Everton could play as badly as some people said they did. That David Moyes was tactically blinkered. That our £19 million pound strike force was worth £19. But now I do. I'm a lonely Evertonian based in Aberdeen, ToffeeWeb my main link to a club I've supported for the 18 years I've known about football.

Financial, family and personal constraints have meant I haven't been to matches, don't even get to watch that many. Last night was my chance to see the Blues for a full 90 minutes for the first time this season, my chance to see whether the stuff that is written on this site was right or wrong.

I would never say people aren't entitled to their opinion, I just hoped that some of the opinions on here were a bit over enthusiastic. Now I know they aren't. Hoofball up the centre of the park against nine men does not win matches. Right backs posing as central midfielders doesn't. Allowing a confidence-stricken striker three attempted penalties doesn't. FFS, even John Barnes on commentary had a better idea of how to win that game (it hurts to say that). Keep the ball, pass, stretch them.

I have uprooted my tent and am now off camping in the heart of the Moyes Out section. A nice bloke, done a lot for us, in fact has done all he can for us but that was just unbearable. Maybe Jose would like a real opportunity to prove he is the Special One and take on a club with less resources, less quality but with a great fan base and history. Give him a shout Bill, see what he says. Maybe Davie could have Buster's job if you want to keep him close by.

ps: Any North East Scotland based Everton Fans, give us a shout!!! Be happy to congregate over a pint and debate all things Everton!!!

Allan Barratt
12   Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:43:10

The Yak, what a complete waste of money, he's the laziest footballer I've ever seen. With the worst touch & little pace! He's built like a heavyweight boxer but is soft as shite.

As for playing 4-3-3 formation, this didn't work from the first minute. We looked clueless in midfield, well i say midfield, 3 fellas stood in the middle of the park were clueless! They had runners bursting through from midfield & neville/carsley let them go. Only down to Wessels for a finger-tip save in the 1st half kept it 0-0.

Hibbert should be sacked!! The Yak needs a good kicking to wake him up, he's not at shitty boro now!! Were too slow in possesion, lack movement, no skill on the ball, in a word SHITE!!

Not to mention the utter balls up of the ticketing! Stood in a cue for an hour to get tickets i bought last friday. Well done Everton!! Got home at 2am, pissed of, tired as fuck today at work today, all to watch a load of shite!

Ah well, I could be a red!!

Tom Edwards
13   Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:20:18

We appear to have pissed £11.25m down the bog. Admittedly, I have not seen a lot of Yakubu in a blue shirt yet, but what I have seen has been complete shite. Even I could have scored the goal he tapped in on his debut. It gave me shivers seeing Emile Heskey Mk2; built like a brick shithouse, but able to be knocked off the ball by Jimmy Krankie! He looked like it was all too much of a chore and couldn't be arsed. In fact, he makes Beattie look swift.
Edmund O'Sullivan
14   Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:26:33

Again after another hopless night of european action, does anyone see with all his running into corners Aj just dos'nt have enough quality to be the main striker at a big club!!!!!!!!!!
Dave Lynch
15   Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:14:44

Could not post last night after getting in from the game as all and sundry would have copped for it. To say I was upset is an understatement, how long do we have to put up with Moyes pathetic attempts at football management?

One look at the team sheet revealed all. No creativity in the midfield and 3 strikers. Ayone who has played this game will know, if you play 3 upfront you have to be confident that youre back line and midfield have enough about them to work as a unit and support each other. But then again, we have no midfield to speak of, so that theory is out of the window. No midfield means no creativity, which then = hoofball tactics.

Don't give me this Arteta was missing shit either, he built this squad with a style of play in mind and it is at best a poor mans Wimbledon. To blame certain players shows a lack of nouse, Neville is not and never will be a midfielder. AJ is an off the shoulder striker, not a channel runner, as for Osman and Hibbert? Enough has been said already.

Moyes once stated that we should judge him when he has built HIS team. Well that time has arrived Davey boy and it doesn't look pretty. This cannot go on. We are fucking awful and it's down to his tactical inability. The apologists on here have stated that this is our best squad for a decade or so. If that is so, where is the football ? Because we don't play any as far as I can see. Can you imagine if Man Utd, Aresenal, Chelsea or the unmentionables where playing that lot last night. They would have torn them up for arse paper.

Missing 2 penalties is not an excuse for a defeat, WE ARE SHIT! End of. All this talk of breaking into the top 4 and good cup runs is deluded nonsense. The quicker this useless charlatan pissess of back to the lower leagues the better. Then maybe we can start building a proper FOOTBALL team. ps: Don't DARE anyone say give him time.

Leon Drake
16   Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:24:56

Phil Neville: I have to say he's down there with the likes of Danny Williamson and Mitch Ward for one of the worst midfielders ever to don the blue. Plus he's got to be the worst captain we've ever had. I think the Mancs pulled the heist of the century offloading him on us for £3.05M!

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