ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

The AJ & Big Dunk Link

I appreciate Big Dunc's status with the Everton fans, though for me while in a relegation fight his presence would be useful, I always felt when higher up the league balls played long to him was the easy way out of having to play joined up football. This negated the need for any passing play which hampered our prograssion.

Fast forward a number of seasons and the 'punt up field for AJ to run down' tactic has now, during his injury spell, led to a more passing game in the last few fixtures. Is this coincidence???
Nick Entwistle, London Posted 01/10/2007 at 12:51:34

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dave t
1 Posted 01/10/2007 at 16:06:08

i think its coincided with baines being played who likes to bomb forward and pienaar and arteta getting back into the team
i do agree that moyes has a reliance on johnson getting us out of the shit all the time by making him chase lost causes

Peter Singer
2 Posted 01/10/2007 at 16:12:04

"i do agree that moyes has a reliance on johnson getting us out of the shit all the time by making him chase lost causes"

True, but it damages his confidence and effectiveness. When he came here a year ago, the first thing I’ve seen was that this lad really scares the sh*t out of defenders. Remember the nervous fumble of Carragher the RS supposedly dream a whole team of? Even when he had absolutely no chance to get the ball, defenders bombed the ball to the stands fearing he might dispossess them.

This year he hasn’t frightened anyone. Not because he’s willing to chase every lost cause but because he does nothing else. He has to score some goals if he’s to regain his reputation and from then on it all works by itself: fear breeds defensive errors, which AJ can exploit, score more goals which means more fear and so on. However, I feel a single goal is not enough to kick the process in.

dave t
3 Posted 01/10/2007 at 16:32:04

another problem is with johnson running after every lost cause at more or less full pelt then he hasn’t got the creatine stores to give that massive burst of speed when he has a REAL opportunity to chase the ball through on goal.
this mixed with his recovery from an ankle injury makes it look like he’s lost his zip.
i think if the midfield worked harder further up the pitch we could see johnson utilise his speed and scare people again
its nice to see commitment from your players and it gives me goosebumps seeing everyone "up for it" but we have to be realistic.
henry never chaed a lost ball in his life
what he did do was, when the chance came he left everyone for dust

Andy Shaw
4 Posted 02/10/2007 at 06:07:34

sorry mate,

absolute twaddle !!!!
Not sure if you have been to any games on a regular basis over the last 20 years. I have had a season ticket for most of them. Dunc’s power, prescence and goals is the only thing that has stuck in my mind, apart from the FA cup final over Man ure. As for AJ, he has only been here for five minutes so how can you judge him.....