ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Phil Neville ? The Difference

Phil Neville was the difference tonight at Hillsborough. Everton were poor in the first half, non worse than Hibbert. Brining on Neville in his place was an inspired (lucky?) move, and something we have all been crying out for on these pages for weeks now.

More skill, better passing, better touch. He was heavily involved in the first goal, and hit a perfect cross for the second. He must must must start at right back on Sunday. My man of the match, and he only played a half!
Philip Howden, Sheffield Posted 26/09/2007 at 22:46:03

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Lee Smith
1 Posted 26/09/2007 at 22:54:00

Sounds like a good result and performance (2nd half anyway) against Wednesday, but I'm a bit confused as to what happend to Andy van der Meyde? All the press, including the offical EFC website, were bigging up the fact that his suspension had been lifted and he was to return to the squad for tonight's game, but there was no sign of him. Don't tell me he's had ANOTHER fall out with the top brass!!! Anyone got the low down?

Jimmy Crack
2 Posted 27/09/2007 at 01:12:11

Is David Moyes the Second Coming of Christ??...or am I overreacting to a win over Championship division fodder? <> Good win, let's see McFadden and Yak up top against the Barcodes, keep Neville at right back (you'll notice that's when we started scoring).

Steve Pendo
3 Posted 27/09/2007 at 02:31:17

Not sure what to make of our result as I read on another website the following quote 'But the scoreline flattered the Premier League outfit as they struggled for most of the night to overcome brave Wednesday, currently bottom of the Championship and until five days ago without a point.

Not sure whether to take it as a good win from the final result or as a result that we were lucky to get...

edWIN
4 Posted 27/09/2007 at 04:31:53

Has Moyes ever tried 5-3-2? Put neville and baines as the marauding overlapping fullbacks with jagielka/stubbs complementing the yobo-lescott axis at the back. the ’3’ in midfield will have carsley patrolling, and arteta plus pienaar forming the central platform. strikeforce shall be yakubu and anichebe to win the aerial battles because this strategy hinges heavily on baines n neville whipping in delectable crosses though.

Robert Chanman
5 Posted 27/09/2007 at 02:56:11

Hooray! Finally moyes plays his in-form strikers, what does McFadden need to proove, he has the form to be playing in a starting line up.

Stanley Ashbourne
6 Posted 26/09/2007 at 16:29:10

Quote from David Moyes: "We haven't been able to give the supporters enough excitement through the cups." Is the man on another planet? Everton supporters haven't had any excitement since the day he took over. The sooner he goes the better.

John Anson
7 Posted 27/09/2007 at 07:37:54

DM wakes up and praises Phil Neville’s performance as a right back, Quote ?He was excellent at right-back, the crosses he put in when he come on and he was getting forward and joining in. Both Phil and Faddy were involved in nearly all the goals.

?Right-back has always been his position ?

Why is he the last to cotton on to playing players in their best position can only help deliver an end result which is not turgid to watch/

Neil Pearse
8 Posted 27/09/2007 at 07:53:37

It would be interesting to know how many goals we have got from Neville’s crosses when he is playing right back. I think it is quite a few. He’s actually a rather good full back! As everyone has said - why on earth can’t Moyes see this??

Baloo Johnson
9 Posted 27/09/2007 at 07:57:28

But who would you rather have standing on the goal line defending a corner, Hibbert or Neville?

Gaz Davies
10 Posted 27/09/2007 at 08:04:14

Who would I have standing on the goal line defending a corner?
Depends if it was against Man Utd...

Totally agree with the viewpoint that Neville is best at right back, and a better all-round option than Hibbert. When two of our first choice midfielders get back in (Cahill and Arteta), I would suggest that Neville will drop to right back anyway with Cahill playing in the middle with Jagielka or Carsley.

Ed Winchester
11 Posted 27/09/2007 at 08:25:50

To be fair to Neville he can put in a cracking cross - If you watch the goals from Last season montage on Etv, then he provides the cross/pass for a fair few of them. Neville right back works for me.

Ernie Boyce
12 Posted 27/09/2007 at 08:36:06

First clean sheet this season, three goals, all from strikers, fantastic.

Neville at right back, Stubbs and Lescott centre backs, Mcfadden and Yakubu up front for Sunday. COYB.

Denis Maeers
13 Posted 27/09/2007 at 09:25:11

If Tony Hibbert lines up at right-back next Sunday rather than Neville,it will demonstrate that Moyes is a football ignoramus.It will be my last visit to Goodison whilst he remains in charge!

Garry
14 Posted 27/09/2007 at 09:36:09

Morning Lads, great win last night. Moyes mentions the fans being great, can anyone tell me how many we had there? I tried to get a ticket and was told it was sold out for our end but could buy on the night. Didnt wanna risk it incase but gutted now.

Jason Siri
15 Posted 27/09/2007 at 09:36:59

I bet he will be ignoramus.

Crozza
16 Posted 27/09/2007 at 09:55:51

Garry - I reckon there were about 4000-5000, it didn’t quite sell out with the tickets on the gate but near enough. Wednesday’s areas were half empty though. Trust me mate, you really didn’t miss too much - second half goals were good, great ’team goals’, but apart from that it was cold and dull!

Chris Lawlor
17 Posted 27/09/2007 at 10:17:49

Not looking to piss on anyone’s parade here but did Moyes not take
Hibbert off because he was already on a yellow and continued to make dodgy tackles towards the end of the 1st half? In truth Neville played a great 2nd half and should hopefully cement his place there for Sunday, but the cynic in me tells me that Moyes didnt want Hibbert getting sent off and missing subsequent league games....perish the thought!

Ray
18 Posted 27/09/2007 at 10:39:13

I reckon its also worth mentioning that if we give Yakubu or any of our strikers good service for that matter the end product can be there..Ok it was only against Sheffield Wednesday but I had a bad feeling going into this game with the way we had been playing.. The goals we scored last night are the kind we should be trying to create all the time. Yakubu recieved a nice through ball from McFadden and well we know Yak can finish those chances judging by his goal record. I do have to laugh at some people though on some of these posts..Yakubu has been a bigger disaster than Beattie someone said..Hahahaha. He has played four games for goodness sake and has scored twice..Played ok at Bolton, started well against United but admittedly faded with the rest of the team though be it said.. The oly poor 90 minutes he has put in was Kharkiv when collectively we were utter shit..I get the feeling some people just support football clubs to moan and see the worst of every scenario..Ok we havent played at all well yet this season but to make statements such as that one about Yak being a disaster is hilarious..Get behind the team and more importantly get your facts right.

tony finn
19 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:10:10

moyes harps on about how great a full back neville is. Well if hes that good how come he hasnt played there for the last few matches,when hibbert has stunk the ground out?? Why did we buy Jagielka? play him CM when neville plays full back! Moyes is clueless

David McMillan
20 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:17:30

To all the folks so keen to see the back of Moyes, i.e. change for the sake of change: Just remember Charlton and Curbishley. It’s the same situation. Change for the sake of change is not in the interests of EFC.

Steve Pugh
21 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:19:13

When Nev left United one of the reasons was that he wanted to play in midfield and not at full back (apparantly).

Steve Syder
22 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:37:07

David - it’s not change for the sake of change, it’s change for the sake of progress.

Connor Rohrer
23 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:34:46

It was an awful first half and the second was mixed aswell but we got the job done. If it gives us any bit of confidence for Sunday then I will be happy.

Neville is actually a good player when he plays at right back. He would get half the stick he gets if he actually played there on a regualar basis as he would play. I keeps everyone happy. Moyes could play his captain everyweek and he would be away from our midfield which would keep alot of the fans happy. Last season we kept 14/15 clean sheets with Neville at right back with him contributing 5 assists which proves the fans point. Phil Neville is a right back and always has been.

Michael Tracey
24 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:34:06

Well hopefully Hibberts silly tackles have been his undoing! Surely Moyes will have to now realise that Neville is a right back and thats it. I like the 5-3-2 idea as well! Something different and should provide good service to the front two. I would also give McFadden a start with Yakubu on Sunday. Anyway good result and a clean sheet as well. I know they are only in The Championship but it will give the lads some confidence for Sunday and hopefully a good away leg on Thursday. Ray agree with you 100% lets try and stay positive CYOB!!!!

Neil Millichip
25 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:42:28

Right-back is Neville?s Position. So why DM plays him in midfield when we have Jags who can play there is beyond me. Our first choice back 4 should always be Baines, Lescott, Yobbo And Neville. When DM pushes Neville into midfield and puts Hibbert at right-back our Possession and creativity goes tits up.

Emil
26 Posted 27/09/2007 at 11:51:00

Nev at right back has to be the way forward. He is as much of a liability in midfield as Hibbert is a right back. Its a shame we have so many injuries in midfield, as withouth these I am sure nev would start at right back every game. Mcfadden sould start now. AJ can come on later on and run the tired defence ragged in a hunt for late goals (which this season we have needed every game!)

matt bone
27 Posted 27/09/2007 at 12:49:26

Think Neville left Utd to get a regular game, not because he wanted to play in midfield instead of RB.