ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Andy van der Meyde

I may have missed something here, although I do try to check everything on this site and the official one at least once a day. I figured when the reserves played on Wed, they picked a young team (Only Turner from the seniors played, and then for only 45 mins) that they were keeping everyone available for the Uefa Cup match the next night.

Arteta, Gravesen and even Pienaar were injured, but where is VDM? I understand he's blown more or less every opportunity he's been given, and has an appalling injury and disciplinary record so far, but two simple facts remain:

1 - He is the only senior natural wide man at the club.

2 - The transfer window is shut and even if it wasn't, we cannot afford to buy a talented winger anyway.

This means there's surely no decision ? give him a try. Obviously leaving him on the bench or in the reserves isn't motivating him, so let's PLAY him. Few could argue that when he plays, however unfit, he does offer something no-one else in our team can.

This may sound like a controversial opinion, but in the worst-case scenario, he only has to hit one cross, say the one that lets Yakubu score the winner in the derby, or the goal that gets us into the next round of the Uefa Cup, for him to have achieved something. Then he can be sold. Leaving him to rot (not even) in the reserves achieves nothing.

If he's injured, or there's something else going, if someone could point me in the direction of the appropriate article I would very much appreciate it.

Furthermore, can anyone shed any light on the story that he has a seriously ill child in Alder Hey and that (may) be affecting his ability to play for EFC?
Chris Marks, St Albans Posted 21/09/2007 at 13:57:07

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Michael Kenrick

Well, I think you finally got there, Chris. No-one's talking about it but I feel sure he is simply not in the right state of mind to play for Everton at the moment, the primary reason being the condition of his little daughter. Someone wrote in a while back that they saw Andy van der Meyde at the hospital, and he was there for a good long while, so I suspect Everton may have (hopefully) given him some compasionate leave to help him cope with the situation.

Chris Marks
1 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:37:53

Thanks Michael. I do recall reading that myself. I just figured the club may have made a statement of support for VDM, or a fellow player may have mentioned it. Even someone from the press.

I just didn’t expect to hear it from someone else who, if I remember correctly, had an ill child in the same ward. Does it surprise anyone that that’s the way it came out?

jr
2 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:48:04

I agree, if he is in the right frame of mind to play football, I think he should play.
I’ve got him sorted out on Championship Manager and he charges down the left banging in crosses to Beattie(!!) who scores all the time.

philip mcavoy
3 Posted 21/09/2007 at 15:16:49

Maybe he doesn’t want the club making statements about his personal life, and that it’s actually none of our business?
we may support the club but there’s a limit to how far our curiosity should go.

Neil Styles
4 Posted 21/09/2007 at 15:10:56

I would love to see Andy click for us but Michael has it spot on, AVDM’s personal life is so unbalanced at the moment but if, please God, his daughter recovers I strongly believe Andy WILL click into gear and we’ll see him perform as well as he has done for previous clubs.

Ray
5 Posted 21/09/2007 at 15:28:19

Van Der Meyder is obviously a very talented footballer..He was coached at the Ajax school of excellence where the impetus is actually based around good football..He has played and looked fantastic for Holland..Played in the Champions League and scored for Inter Milan, I remember one match at Highbury where Milan won 3-0 and VDM was class.. Yes he has had alot of problems but there is a player in there ready to burst out one day and we have seen glimpses of what he can do..Remember West Ham at home last season?. God what we would do to see him play like that week in week out..We really need some inspiration from somewhere dont we?

Jeremy B
6 Posted 21/09/2007 at 15:41:31

Did he get his drinks spiked whilst at hospital then? No.

I think "clutching at straws" is the term here.

Whatever OTHER distractions he has, its pretty clear that its just one of many....

wayne rooney
7 Posted 21/09/2007 at 17:38:20

once a blue always a blue :-D

Tom McCann
8 Posted 21/09/2007 at 17:46:53

Andy Van Der Meyde is quality but i do believe he has at problems at the hospital becasue i av erd baout is lil girl aswell.but if he was givin the chance wid arteta on the wing i beleeve everton wud score alot mre goals

philip mcavoy
9 Posted 21/09/2007 at 17:55:00

Tom, from your spelling I think you’re having one of what Andy was having

Phil S
10 Posted 21/09/2007 at 19:18:58

I don’t think AVDM has been given a fair enough chance. Sure he’s peed off moyes with his social habits but he should of got given more games last season on the left instead of Osman, Who in my eyes was awful last season. Think it’s fair to say that we won’t see much of AVDM now. Not that we have.

Jimmy Crack
11 Posted 21/09/2007 at 21:54:42

Completely agree. VdM deserves another shot, I’ve always thought so. I was so excited when he came here, and when he played he delivered a decent cross and we played wide. I don’t want him rotting in the reserves, I’d say start him against Villa, with Anichebe and Yak up front. Neville at right back, Carsley and Osman in the middle (hopefully either Pienaar or Arteta will be back to play the other wing).

Chris Kearns
12 Posted 22/09/2007 at 13:49:24

Andy should have been playing against Metalist. We didnt have one attacking midfielder fit and he walked past me in his hat and coat!

HE is an everton player and based by that horrendous performance on thursday he was what we needed. Phil Neville in midfield just dont cut it and lets face it leon osman is not a winger.

Get van der meyde back on side and if we have noone available at the weekend again get him playing!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have seen him as a spectator every game this season. We need him back until the likes of micky, gravo and tim come back!!

And please lads keep a clean sheet ffs!