ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Totally Baffled

Phil Neville at r/full back, good most of the time, sometimes exellent, occasionally brilliant. Phil Neville in midfield, (the role he playes a lot) unbelievable shite! Mr Moyes must pysically see him playing this Jeckle/Hyde role, so if we all can see this, why can't the management? Phil must know where his best place is, and as a pro must be embarrassed when giveaway balls lead to goals to the opposition. Funny enough he rarely gives a ball away at full back, I hate criticising any blue player, I am blue through my very being, but management should have a good hard look at this one.
Edward Draper, N/Wales Posted 01/10/2007 at 14:46:15

back Return to the Mail Bag

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

Michael Kenrick

Applying the Moyes Rule of Football: 1) It's all about defence. 2) The more defenders on the field, the better the defence. 3) Hibbert, Neville, Jagielka... all defenders, must all play. 4) Hibbert can only play right back, therefore Neville plays midfield 5) Midfield doesn't matter anyway as our main transition is hoofball.

See; it all makes perfect sense.

John Holmes
1 Posted 01/10/2007 at 16:29:36

Sorry Michael and Edward but I think you’re wrong on this one. Moyes made quite clear his views on Neville’s ability at full-back on Wednesday night. Whether he was aware of it before is a moot point but he was obviously impressed.

Hibbrt actually did a good job on Sunday as he usually does when confronted with a winger in the Downing mould so we can either assume he impressed Moyes in training with his improved passing or it was a deliberate decision to silence Downing in this way. No one can reasonably claim it wasn’t effective.

Why stick with Neville in midfield? Carsley isn’t as young as once he was and it’s unlikely he can make three games in 8 days. Perhaps he was simply rested. With no one else realistically able to fill the role Neville was the only man available to play in central-midfield (we can assume a questionable move infield of Arteta or Pineaar and VDM on the flank is a non-starter for the present due to the latter only just returning to the squad and the former two both impressing on the flanks, or the free-role Arteta was playing yesterday).

Frustrating it may be to watch the central-midfield at the moment it’s not like we have other realistic options. You’re keen to point out the transfer window has closed Michael so I think it’s only fair to accept Moyes has to work with what he’s got until Gravesen and Cahill are fit. No one’s suggesting we don’t want more creativity in there and it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to buy some but we are as we are until January.

Allan Hobbs
2 Posted 01/10/2007 at 16:35:25

I get the feeling Moyes is trying to change things gently. Talking alot more about creativity and then the masterstroke of playing 4-3-3 againts the mentalists.

John Andrews
3 Posted 01/10/2007 at 17:58:58

I have to confess to being totally baffled. After the game against Wednesday Moyes made a point of saying how well Neville had done and, possibly, changed the game in our favour.
Then come Sunday he picks Hibbert again ! What the hell is going on ? I have to agree with John that Hibbert did rather better than usual yesterday but nevertheless.......
I really am baffled by some of Moyes team selections considering some of his aftermatch quotes.

Ste Birkett
4 Posted 01/10/2007 at 19:00:25

Without getting personal or too Moyes-apologistic, I have one question: if the tide of opinion is so against David Moyes preferred style of football and his 5 years in charge, why aren’t there mass protests at the games calling for his head?

This isn’t to have a go at anyone or any opinion, it’s just that an overwhelming amount of posts and comments at matches appear to be anti-Moyes, so wouldn’t it follow that fans would gather in large numbers to put their view across and try to change things? Staying away from games would be a form of protest, I suppose, but wouldn’t it be preferable to effect the change they want so that they could watch games and still support the club?

As I say, not a critique, just an open ended question.

John Holmes
5 Posted 01/10/2007 at 19:32:08

Ste,

I think the answer to your question lies in the extent of the disaffection with Moyes. Certainly there are some, the Tony Marsh’s of this world being obvious examples, that want Moyes out. But there are others who are frustrated with his approach but still value the good things he brings to the club. Obviously we can all see he has failings but some are willing to put up with them and accept him as he is, some want to keep him but change his ways, others, a small minority in my view, want him out now no questions asked.

Michael Kenrick
6 Posted 01/10/2007 at 19:18:58

Ste, I think your premise is a non-sqequitor. Some fans are clearly not that impressed with Moyes’s style of football. If sufficiently motivated, a portion of them may write in to a website like this one. They are more motiviated to write in than the ones who are satisfied, and so their voice may seem louder. But ganging together and offering up mass protest is on an altogether different plane.

It can happen but I think needs spontaneity and an obvious reason (eg, Spurs at home last season), whereas the planned protests (eg, KEIOC two weeks ago)... Dead in the water. Not a chance. I think things would have to really be utterly dire (bottom of the table for two or three months) for that to even stand a chance. And even then, the appologists would tell us it was just part of the overall progression under Moyes, just part of the 10-year plan. And most of the punters would accept it.

George Carroll
7 Posted 01/10/2007 at 19:55:07

Ihope Edward Draper is no longer baffled John Holmes has given you the answer for the selection against Boro though the anti Moyes brigade would find fault with the man even if we won every game.Oh by the way Michael an apologist is defined as a person who explains or defends a doctrine by reasoned argument.That will do me for those who support Moyes but what the term for the anti Moyes posters?

peter sosnowy
8 Posted 01/10/2007 at 20:34:23

Hay Guys, we won, what does points make?? PRIZES, thats right, how many times did you see EFC won by the odd goal in the mid-80’s!!

Lee Spargo
9 Posted 02/10/2007 at 12:44:33

I agree that Neville is far better at RB than CM, and he is a better RB than Hibbert as well.

In defence of Moyes though, our two best CM’s are out injured. Neville is versatile, so best make use of that until Cahill and Gravesen are back.

To be fair to Neville as well, he was better than Jagielka on Sunday.

Mark Jensen
10 Posted 02/10/2007 at 08:28:16

I don't want to dwell on the game on Sunday as most has already been said. C+ in my opinion and must do better.

Did anyone else notice Hibbert passing the ball, and even putting in the odd decent cross? I am not Hibbert's biggest fan but believe, even by his own (crap) standards he had a decent game. Is this the 'Arteta' effect or has the penny finally dropped? I also thought he played Downing quite well.

Just thought I would share these thoughts as it is all to easy to miss the positives whilst negatives make the headlines with this guy.