The Mail Bag
Is he worth it?
Comments (26)
Whatever made AJ worth 8 mil has long vanished and a total rethink of his role in the team is urgently needed, that is, if he still has a role to play.
In him I see a smallish bloke running around like a hairy (baldy) goat who, after useless attempts to reach even more useless long balls, gives thumbs up to the team mate who kicks them. Others are finally beginning to recognise that AJs strictly limited range and his preparedness to chase anything is a major reason for our over use of brain-numbing long-balls.
I would appreciate enlightenment if there are other attributes that distinguish him as an 8-million-pound man. I would start with, er... er... hang on a minute while I think of something. Colm is one of AJs fans, perhaps he can start the ball rolling.
Meanwhile it would make a nice change to see Moyes urging the players to settle down, knock it around, keep it on the deck etc instead of his, up an at em, faster ever faster urgings.
Dick Fearon, Posted 21/09/2007 at 00:41:01
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Mikhail Ridhuan
2 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:06:02
2 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:06:02
It’s interesting to say the least how AJ would give thumbs up, or a clap or two, for any long ball which he had to chase, even useless ones. If he was a complainer ala Thierry Henry, whipping his arms up in despair and such, might the long balls attempted be lessened?
Brian Wolf
3 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:16:23
3 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:16:23
I think AJ was totally at fault last night. He should have had the balls to say "You know what I’ve missed one penalty the keeper has seen me take two already so he probably has an idea what I’m gonna do, there’s a bit of pressure on me here, tell you what Faddy/Victor you take it." Alas no, we ended up with the balloon careering way over the bar.
Brian Wolf
4 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:19:01
4 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:19:01
Dick, also, I don’t know whether you heard Moyes during much of the first half on Five but he did keep shouting about composure, and telling Phil Neville to calm down. The idiot was running around like a headless chicken for much of the first half. He was also telling them to knock it around and keep it on the ground (even though they insisted on hoofball on occasion).
Ray
5 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:40:08
5 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:40:08
Let me put it this way..If you take away that small bloke if your referring to AJ and leave him on the bench who would you replace him with?. McFadden spends most of the time losing control, moaning to refferees and wont do half the running that Johnson will..Anichebe is also not a 90 minute player..His main strength is backing in mainly falling over most of the time..Vaughan is crocked and Cahill who we are missing terribly now is also gone for at least a month Im told..That performance last night was dreadful because there was absoloutly no shape there whatsoever..The midfield was diabolically patterned with two hatchet men and one who is not good enough in Osman..We didnt have a single wide player to go down the line thus no service for the strikers,thus the strikers having to run out wide,to put the ball in the box for...Nobody. If you are reading this David Moyes please please make it a top priority in January that you buy two PROPER wide midfielders or wingers or whatever you call them now..Never mind square pegs in round holes and all this crap that Osman can play out wide and so can Faddy..For Christs sake they cant, they havent the pace the skill or the strength..We must have a pattern..Four defenders..Four in midfield who are all comfortable with their position and two up front and please Davie can we have a brand of football that is pleasing on the eye..This is your team now. You have been here more than five years and still we dont seem able to attack teams with any purpose or look like scoring from open play..Last night Kharkiv looked the better football side and their goal spoke volumes about what European football is all about.We still havent learnt our lesson..The ref was wrong but should we need THREE penalties to beat a team of so-called minnows?. Also why persist with a right back who’s distribution is so bad he would struggle to make it playing in the Championship when we have signed a player in Jagielka worth 4 million? Why are we waiting to play Jagielka?. Its not as though he hasnt played Prem football before? Im all just baffled at why we are stuttering so badly and now we face going out of a cup competition at the first stage YET again unless we muster up something out of the ordinary for the way we have played this season Id say its another European disaster.
ray
6 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:58:22
6 Posted 21/09/2007 at 07:58:22
There’s alot of talk about AJ on these pages but, let’s be honest,penalties aside,Henry, Ronaldinho, Latchford even,would struggle to score with the service he gets.Before he came here,and don’t start on about "It’s only The Championship",he had an excellent penalty taking record. Once a striker has lost his form and confidence even a penalty is a daunting proposition.Why not let him play as a wide man? He can’t be any less effective than the Mcfadden everyones been clamouring to see given a game and he has more pace. And get that lazy get Yakubu to do a bit more, although he shouldn’t have to be looking for the ball on the touchline by the halfway line, he should be expected to put his weight about and move around more.
Dutch Schaffaer
7 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:16:58
7 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:16:58
Its funny how a few weeks ago people were wondering if AJ and Yakubu could be one the best partnerships in the country.
One’s a lazy git who doesn’t put himself about enough to score goals and the other runs around like a puppy chasing a ball with no real chance of scoring a goal.
If there’s a poorer partnership in the Premiership I haven’t heard of them.
Once January arrives I would try and pass AJ and the Yak off on bargain deals and bring in a decent striker to parner Vaughan.
One’s a lazy git who doesn’t put himself about enough to score goals and the other runs around like a puppy chasing a ball with no real chance of scoring a goal.
If there’s a poorer partnership in the Premiership I haven’t heard of them.
Once January arrives I would try and pass AJ and the Yak off on bargain deals and bring in a decent striker to parner Vaughan.
Ian Short
8 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:12:56
8 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:12:56
Yes, we’re feeling a bit deflated from last night’s drama, but let’s not start AJ-bashing. He’s clearly short of confidence at the mo, so what he needs is the fans to get behind him during this difficult period for him (as most do) and... who knows, we may be rewarded in the long run.
When he first came into the team, we worked hard on playing to his strengths and we were rewarded with goals. For whatever reason, that has been lost and the lads need to work out how to get the best out of him again.
Let’s not get too downhearted with Europe again...remember how it affected us last time around with a long losing streak and zilch goals scored. Let’s put this right by beating Villa on Sunday!
When he first came into the team, we worked hard on playing to his strengths and we were rewarded with goals. For whatever reason, that has been lost and the lads need to work out how to get the best out of him again.
Let’s not get too downhearted with Europe again...remember how it affected us last time around with a long losing streak and zilch goals scored. Let’s put this right by beating Villa on Sunday!
Ray
9 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:46:39
9 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:46:39
Dutch..go back and get sober mate
Gavin Harris
10 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:49:54
10 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:49:54
Someone on here a while back said johnson was better than owen. How wrong was he?
I said at the time and I’ll say it again, a striker’s role is to score goals and johnson doesn’t do it. We need to sort this out otherwise I see another beats situation.
I said at the time and I’ll say it again, a striker’s role is to score goals and johnson doesn’t do it. We need to sort this out otherwise I see another beats situation.
Barry
11 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:54:07
11 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:54:07
I feel sorry for the lad i know as a fact that if his 1st penalty would of counted he’d of put the second penalty away... Good luck AJ
Martyn Valentine
12 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:54:42
12 Posted 21/09/2007 at 08:54:42
For crying out loud what is going on here!! We have a poor game and end up drawing, personally I saw nothing from last nights opposition to think we cant go over there and get a comfortable result! Dont forget they now have their two centre backs suspended and they were scared stiff from our crosses last night! With Arteta and Grav likely to be back we’ll have a better balanced midfied (and hopefully a better right back) and I think we can take them!
Had AJ’s first penalty been awarded, as any competent ref would have done, then you’d all be on here singing his praises but no, one person starts the slagging off and everybody jumps on the bandwagon
Yes I was as frustrated as every other Evertonian last night, I was swearing at the telly all night, I could have kicked the cat when they equalised but lets all just take a step back for a minute. We took them apart for 90 minutes but luck wasnt with us, we didnt lose we drew, they had 2 shots on target all night and scored with one of them.....we had a Chelsea night in front of goal. Who’s to say in 2 weeks time we dont go over there and take them apart again?
Let’s get behind the boys, they will be feeling as bad as we do today. AJ looked close to tears at the end so he’ll be feeling like we do. For my money if he get’s a goal over our next two games he’ll start scoring like he did last year.
So let’s get last night out of our systems and get back to doing what we do best, supporting our team through thick and thin better than any other supporters in the counrty!
Had AJ’s first penalty been awarded, as any competent ref would have done, then you’d all be on here singing his praises but no, one person starts the slagging off and everybody jumps on the bandwagon
Yes I was as frustrated as every other Evertonian last night, I was swearing at the telly all night, I could have kicked the cat when they equalised but lets all just take a step back for a minute. We took them apart for 90 minutes but luck wasnt with us, we didnt lose we drew, they had 2 shots on target all night and scored with one of them.....we had a Chelsea night in front of goal. Who’s to say in 2 weeks time we dont go over there and take them apart again?
Let’s get behind the boys, they will be feeling as bad as we do today. AJ looked close to tears at the end so he’ll be feeling like we do. For my money if he get’s a goal over our next two games he’ll start scoring like he did last year.
So let’s get last night out of our systems and get back to doing what we do best, supporting our team through thick and thin better than any other supporters in the counrty!
Brian Waring
13 Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:25:01
13 Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:25:01
Martyn,so we took them apart hey?Ahh, that’s how you do it?By twating the ball right down the middle at every given chance.I thought you took teams apart by playing football.You know?Passing it to feet,getting the ball out wide,making chances for the strikers.But,obviously I’m wrong.
Paul Tran
14 Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:59:11
14 Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:59:11
Dutch, is that the same Vaughan you were slagging off for being ’injury prone’ a few months back?
Vaughan and Anichebe are promising youngsters. Johnson and Yakubu are proven goalscorers. I’ve seen some brilliant Everton strikers over the years. Two things they all had in common was a team with a recognisable shape and good service. We could Henry and Drogba up front and they’d struggle to score, because Moyes appears completely unable to communicate ideas and tactics to decent attackng midfielders and strikers.
Vaughan and Anichebe are promising youngsters. Johnson and Yakubu are proven goalscorers. I’ve seen some brilliant Everton strikers over the years. Two things they all had in common was a team with a recognisable shape and good service. We could Henry and Drogba up front and they’d struggle to score, because Moyes appears completely unable to communicate ideas and tactics to decent attackng midfielders and strikers.
ray
15 Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:57:36
15 Posted 21/09/2007 at 09:57:36
Brian, you say " You know?Passing it to feet,getting the ball out wide,making chances for the strikers." You are dead right.
Watch the game again....when we let them,that’s exactly what Metalist did.The number of times we were caught with no cover at the back, Christ, a top side would have battered us out of sight. I’m sick of people coming on here saying we’ll be fine. We won’t with another performance like that.They looked more comfortable on the ball than we did and I fear for our chances over there if we play like that again.
Watch the game again....when we let them,that’s exactly what Metalist did.The number of times we were caught with no cover at the back, Christ, a top side would have battered us out of sight. I’m sick of people coming on here saying we’ll be fine. We won’t with another performance like that.They looked more comfortable on the ball than we did and I fear for our chances over there if we play like that again.
Brian Waring
16 Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:11:57
16 Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:11:57
Agree Ray.Thats my only worry for the second leg, that we have to go for it big style,and they looked at times,like they were a decent footballing side.
Seamus Murphy
17 Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:54:28
17 Posted 21/09/2007 at 10:54:28
Dutch - cop to fuck on. "If there?s a poorer partnership in the Premiership I haven?t heard of them"
Think about that statement man.
And then this:
"Once January arrives I would try and pass AJ and the Yak off on bargain deals and bring in a decent striker to parner Vaughan"
You are off your trolley. There is no way you are the Pro Moyes sap that was on here before. There is clearly no middle ground with you - everything is either black or white in your eyes.
As i said already - cop on mate.
Think about that statement man.
And then this:
"Once January arrives I would try and pass AJ and the Yak off on bargain deals and bring in a decent striker to parner Vaughan"
You are off your trolley. There is no way you are the Pro Moyes sap that was on here before. There is clearly no middle ground with you - everything is either black or white in your eyes.
As i said already - cop on mate.
Dick Fearon
18 Posted 21/09/2007 at 11:03:29
18 Posted 21/09/2007 at 11:03:29
Brian Wolf, Sadly, I rely on TV for my view of the match. When the camera pans to the dug out it shows a very animated Moyes,eyes bulging, arms waving, screaming at the players. I get the feeling that if he was allowed to use a Cat O Nine Tails some unfortunate players would be on the recieving end of a damn good flogging.
(Now that is something I would like to see)
He certainly does not give the impression of demanding calm, controlled football. Do our players more than those of other clubs need that kind of touchline performance?
(Now that is something I would like to see)
He certainly does not give the impression of demanding calm, controlled football. Do our players more than those of other clubs need that kind of touchline performance?
Brian Wolf
19 Posted 21/09/2007 at 11:56:30
19 Posted 21/09/2007 at 11:56:30
Fair enough Dick,
He was telling the players to calm down though, I heard it with me own ears.
He was telling the players to calm down though, I heard it with me own ears.
joe
20 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:07:41
20 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:07:41
i think AJ is just going through i bad spell i think we all now what he can do and once this bad spell has finished then he will get back on track i think fuckin hibbert should go and learn how to pass he was shit last night i also think we need play the ball along the floor more going forward insted of just booting it forward hoping that yakubu will get it
Brian Wolf
21 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:21:55
21 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:21:55
Yeah Hibbert was poo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hibbert
Interesting to check his stats mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hibbert
Interesting to check his stats mind.
Robbie Kirkham
22 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:25:59
22 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:25:59
in reply to Dick Fearon AJ is having a bad time in front of goal lets not turn him into another player who the fans love to blame for everything like Beattie, also we were trying to play a patient game last night building from the back until the usual howls from the crowd put the players under pressure to lump it up bad performance yes but if we sort ourselves out for the 2nd leg we’ll go through
Seamus Murphy
23 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:49:44
23 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:49:44
Brian i also heard Moyes shouting "composure" on more than one occasion. It seems to be something Neville doesnt have though. But Moyes keeps picking him. I would really like to see Moyes take the bull by the horns and drop Neville and Hibbo. They both continuously frustrate - simply not good enough.
So on to our forwards.
Yak - WTF? Last night he looked totally disinterested (and not for the first time).Vic came on and showed him up - its not like Vic is a star, far from it. But Vic has youthful exhuberance to deal with anything thrown at him whereas Yak already looks pissed off with the Airbombs.
AJ - If ever a player needed a goal its AJ. Really unlucky to be made retake the penalty. Second penalty miss simply down to pressure after missing the previous one. Should not be dropped though as some people are suggesting.
Mc Fadden - It appears this guy is one of two things - a luxury to have on the pitch as he has a great shot but contributes nothing else - or an impact sub. I think he can only be used for EFC as the latter.
Villa away next and i would start with Anichebe and AJ up front. But with Moysie who knows. Just sort out that FUCKING MIDFIELD!!!!
So on to our forwards.
Yak - WTF? Last night he looked totally disinterested (and not for the first time).Vic came on and showed him up - its not like Vic is a star, far from it. But Vic has youthful exhuberance to deal with anything thrown at him whereas Yak already looks pissed off with the Airbombs.
AJ - If ever a player needed a goal its AJ. Really unlucky to be made retake the penalty. Second penalty miss simply down to pressure after missing the previous one. Should not be dropped though as some people are suggesting.
Mc Fadden - It appears this guy is one of two things - a luxury to have on the pitch as he has a great shot but contributes nothing else - or an impact sub. I think he can only be used for EFC as the latter.
Villa away next and i would start with Anichebe and AJ up front. But with Moysie who knows. Just sort out that FUCKING MIDFIELD!!!!
wes b
24 Posted 21/09/2007 at 13:23:25
24 Posted 21/09/2007 at 13:23:25
we were poor no doubts about it but we got to put that one behind us, Villa at weekend is a huge game and one where the boys owe us and moyse a performance, changes need to be made!! I would pick
Howard
Neville Lescott Yobo Baines
Arteta Jagielka Gravesen Pienar
Yak AJ
its a big game for a few of these players, but lets not get at them,. that helps no one. saying that though, Arteta needs a performance, been quiet for three weeks now, Jag could cement a midfield role if he plays like he did for sheff, neville is a good RIGHT BACK full stop! Pienar can beat a man and get to the bye line,,,So do it!!! leave AJ to play of the defenders shoulder, just need to watch owen score goals of his arse/shin/face/shoulder/knee/ to see how pace scares the shit out of defenders, dont waste it heading to the corner flag. Yakubu obviously is not a fan of the dark art of running, so tell him to stay in the box and out muscle people, dont let him get involved in the play because not only is he built like a brick shithouse he has the touch of one as well. Let grav and arteta get on the ball, they can pick a pass, vital in prem football...easy as that moyse cmon blues 3-1 against villa Johnson first goal, off his arse!!!
Howard
Neville Lescott Yobo Baines
Arteta Jagielka Gravesen Pienar
Yak AJ
its a big game for a few of these players, but lets not get at them,. that helps no one. saying that though, Arteta needs a performance, been quiet for three weeks now, Jag could cement a midfield role if he plays like he did for sheff, neville is a good RIGHT BACK full stop! Pienar can beat a man and get to the bye line,,,So do it!!! leave AJ to play of the defenders shoulder, just need to watch owen score goals of his arse/shin/face/shoulder/knee/ to see how pace scares the shit out of defenders, dont waste it heading to the corner flag. Yakubu obviously is not a fan of the dark art of running, so tell him to stay in the box and out muscle people, dont let him get involved in the play because not only is he built like a brick shithouse he has the touch of one as well. Let grav and arteta get on the ball, they can pick a pass, vital in prem football...easy as that moyse cmon blues 3-1 against villa Johnson first goal, off his arse!!!
Anthony Dilworth
25 Posted 21/09/2007 at 13:56:44
25 Posted 21/09/2007 at 13:56:44
When we were linked with Johnson I described him on this site as a quick ,penalty taker .Now he’s not even that ,he’s just quick
Adam Carey
26 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:29:14
26 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:29:14
I think the problem lies in the way we play?
Beattie arrived with a respectable goal record and ended up scoring 2 penalties in his last season. Johnson was banging them in for Palace and now can’t score from the spot and, (I know its early days but), Yakubu has gone from the 2nd highest goalscorer in the last 4 seasons to a player who hasn’t looked like scoring since his debut!
I know its a strikers job to score goals but you have to tailor your play around them somewhat to achieve this. Moyes seems intent on bringing in players and then making them change to way they play!
Beattie arrived with a respectable goal record and ended up scoring 2 penalties in his last season. Johnson was banging them in for Palace and now can’t score from the spot and, (I know its early days but), Yakubu has gone from the 2nd highest goalscorer in the last 4 seasons to a player who hasn’t looked like scoring since his debut!
I know its a strikers job to score goals but you have to tailor your play around them somewhat to achieve this. Moyes seems intent on bringing in players and then making them change to way they play!
© ToffeeWeb
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 21/09/2007 at 06:58:11
Come on Everton lets fucking get at the bastards over there, straight from the off. Come on lads more of the same, but just score the penalties!