ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Yakubu ? A Moyes Buy?

Is the purchase of Yakubu a buy proposed by others but ultimately endorsed by Moyes or is Yakubu a Moyes choice?

An analysis of the historical transfer deals involving Moyes indicates to me that the Yakubu deal is a strange one. The key characteristics of all of Moyes buys to-date are hard-work and a team ethic. Look at Baines, Jagielka, Neville, Lescott, Johnson and many others before them.

Yakubu is such an individual he stands-out like a sore thumb. Have you noticed how Moyes has already relegated Yakubu to the sub?s bench and how he is substituted after 60 minutes in each fixture? Clearly Moyes is not happy and yet we are expected to believe that Yakubu is a Moyes buy and someone he has been chasing for some time and someone who Moyes was happy to pay £11.25m.

Now I do not normally see snipers on the grassy knoll but this deal seems suspicious to me. I would not be surprised if Yakubu lasts less than 18 months at Goodison. Am I alone?
John Sheron, London Posted 02/10/2007 at 11:30:29

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john pac
1 Posted 02/10/2007 at 14:14:51

I don’t get it either, Yakubu has proved he can score goals, yet we buy a player that needs a certain type of service, but play the sort of system that oesn’t suit him. Like buying a gun without bullets.
It’s not Yakubu’s fault.

Nick Entwistle
2 Posted 02/10/2007 at 14:20:50

I thought it strange, as he’s now onto his 6th club, yet he’s only 24. He left Portsmouth quick, once Harry was out and a better offer came along, and now Boro after 2 seasons. Moyes’ men tend to stick around so for me it raised eye brows.
But his strike rate is second only to Henry. Maybe a reaction to the whole Beattie BS he had to endure for 3 seasons.

Ernie Boyce
3 Posted 02/10/2007 at 14:36:40

At the time, and even now, I agree it did and does seem an illogical purchase.

Looking at the relative merits of our squad, in midfield we were and are desparate for added quality, and arguably we were in need of a quality replacement for Stubbs at centre back more than the need for an extra striker.

But......lets give the Yak a chance. he’s a proven goalscorer, young and he hasn’t yet played in front of our full compliment of attacking and creative midfield talent. He has loads of ability, and we should be excited about him lining up for Everton for years to come...not 18 months.

Why do we get on the back of strikers so quickly, don’t wreck his confidence before he’s had a chance to settle in and play infront of a better midfield quartet. He’s got 2 goals in five games, which isn’t that bad seeing as in most games he’s subbed after 60 mins.

Ernie Boyce
4 Posted 02/10/2007 at 15:11:56

Of course Yakubu can score goals Jack, he was Middlesboroughs top scorer with over 30 goals in 2 seasons. Why be so pessimistic?

Michael Newton
5 Posted 02/10/2007 at 15:15:26

I have been disappointed in Yakubu and much prefer Anichebe at the moment, at least the lad hustles round and gets stuck in, Yakubu does not leave the ground when he goes for headers.
I also doubt Yakubu’s age he is the oldest looking 24yo I have ever saw.
Once my 13yo daughter came home and said Rigobert Song of Liverpools daughter went to her school, how could she I said he is only 23.

Brian Noble
6 Posted 02/10/2007 at 15:42:33

Moyes always buys ’the flavour of the month ’when it comes to strikers!Look at the signings of Beattie and Johnson and his reluctance to have a punt on Ashton and Nugent whom he watched a thousand times and were both available for half the price.
You Moyes apologists will be saying next that it was someone else who signed Kroldrup,another of his cock-ups!

Colin Fitz
7 Posted 02/10/2007 at 15:50:50

John,

It’s a bit like not being paid until Christmas Eve then you go to the shops and find all the good presents have gone so you end up paying over the odds for some crap presents, I don’t have to spell it out do I?

Tim Lowe
8 Posted 02/10/2007 at 15:58:52

Give the guy a chance, for gods sake. Ok so maybe he doesnt fit into the normal moyes type of player but no one can question his goalscoring record at lesser premier league clubs like boro and pompey.

Michael- I too like anichebe, i think he has a lot of potential but after he just about scrambled the ball over the line against wigan on the open day, he said afterwards he was scared of missing. Doesnt exactly fill me with confidence. The Yak will come good with good service

Neil Millichip
9 Posted 02/10/2007 at 15:51:06

Jack...Yakubu can score goals. He has netted 78 times in 195 games since arriving in England in January 2003 (A goal every 2.5 games). And that?s with 2 barren spells at the end of the last 2 seasons. If DM?s tactics are right and the balls not aimlessly hoofed up to him he will continue to score goals for Everton. Give the guy a chance.

Neil Styles
10 Posted 02/10/2007 at 16:26:21

I think the aquisition of the Yak is not as standout-ish as many think. DM has bought quite a few ’flair’ players (AvdM, Mikel, Pienaar etc) perhaps the boss felt that considering the majority of the hard work would be done by Yak’s firing partner AJ or McFadden, Yakubu would act as more the poacher. Thats just my guess. Personally, I think we may have been better off going with Alan Smith-he’d fit in great with us. Dont mean to go off track here but while we’re talking about suitable Everton players I would have loved to see Barton wearing a blue shirt.

Yankee Blue
11 Posted 02/10/2007 at 16:30:51

Just another point I wanted to add to Neil M’s comments. Yak has played 5 games for us and scored 2 goals. That equals his career average of scoring every 2.5 games. Give the guy a chance. He is a different player than we are used to, but change isn’t bad. Who knows, he may have scored a few more goals if he wasn’t subbed out in the 60 minute the last few games.

Teddy Draper
12 Posted 02/10/2007 at 17:06:52

On friday morning, you lot of F.....G moaners will be singing the lad YUKUBUS praises, after the HAT TRICK on thursday night, and im not joking.!!!!

Teddy Draper
13 Posted 02/10/2007 at 17:14:10

Well not really.

Jeremy Benson
14 Posted 02/10/2007 at 19:32:25

Not Moyes type of purchase? Yak is the only lazy one he’s ever bought?

What about Beattie....or VDM....or Per Kroldrup...hardly known for their work ethic, were they?

John Holmes
15 Posted 02/10/2007 at 19:34:29

Ah yes, Moyes should have signed Smith (obscene wage demands) or Nugent (already being touted to other clubs he’s been so bad for Portsmouth) or Ashton (why would West Ham sell him again?) instead...

Anthony Jaras
16 Posted 02/10/2007 at 23:25:42

I must admit, I am appalled by Yakubu so far.

I rated him highly, however that was based on watching him on highlights to games and not for 90 mins.

I was very excited by the signing originally, however I would not go for Anichebe over him at this stage based on recent performances, even McFadden looks to have a greater effect.

I just want James Vaughan back, as I rate him very, very highly.

I do feel that Yakubu will get better, but hope it is soon as I can’t bear anymore 25 yard pea-rollers.

Anthony Jaras
17 Posted 02/10/2007 at 23:28:56

Sorry, I meant ’I would NOW go for Anichebe over him’.

Ste Birkett
18 Posted 03/10/2007 at 00:19:33

Yak needs to be given a chance to settle in and build an understanding with the rest of the team, just like any player. He can be as lazy as he wants if he starts banging one in every other game. With the rest of the team running all over the bloody pitch, we could certainly do with one goal hanger waiting to receive a cross in the box.

Versus Anichebe, he does look less of a handful but his build up play and touch are better. Vic still has a way to go before he’s a regular starter, so I’d rather see him coming off the bench and breathing down Yak’s net. Hopefully the competition will be a bonus for us over the season as a whole.

Rich
19 Posted 03/10/2007 at 01:14:04

The point that Leighton Baines made the other day about the kind of service we provide our strikers sums it all up for me.

How often do you see one of our strikers running through with only the keeper to beat? Hardly ever.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed with the Yak’s showing so far but I can’t help thinking that anyone’s going to struggle with an Unsworth special from 40 yards.

Peter From NZ
20 Posted 03/10/2007 at 01:47:30

I have not been impressed with the Yak at all so far. A superb cross from Pienaar against Middlesboro and Yak leaves it to late to jump for the ball, resulting in a flat header over the top, so typical of a lazy player, yet when Pienaar scored his goal, who was standing beside him in an superb ’on side’ position, the Yak, would we be complaining if he has just scored his third goal?
He is in the mould of Bob Latchford, he needs it handed on a plate and then he will score bags of goals.

Steve Grimshaw
21 Posted 03/10/2007 at 02:08:08

I was impressed with his first goal fed by Johnson. The way he moved into space just before receiving the ball I felt was quite impressive showing an acute understanding of what it takes to score goals. However I have been a little bit nervous about what has gone on since! Laziness is not a good fit with this team and here?s to hoping we who think he is lazy have got it wrong. Anyway here?s to winning on Thursday, and kicking the Aussies arrogant ass on Saturday (rugby). Sorry Tim (Cahill) country first!!

Rick Cole
22 Posted 03/10/2007 at 05:37:35

Agree, The guy is obvioulsy lazy, what i want to know is how he passed the Medical, don’t they do the pinch test in those things?? In saying all that he is an Everton player now and i’ll support him all the way. You guys have no chance in the rugby by the way, go the Wallabies.

Yakubu
23 Posted 03/10/2007 at 07:21:50

Give me a break! Give me some service and I’ll score a hatfull............just keep the ball away from Hibbert and Neville.

blue
24 Posted 03/10/2007 at 07:47:08

not messin but for all the people who think victor is better than yak because he gets stuck in then i must be too. there is one thing anichebe does not have and never will have in his locker and that is goals. yakubu and mcfadden all the way. esspecially against Kharkiv because AJ (if fit) will not be able to get in behind against a team who sits on their goal line.
3-0 the blues (i hope).

MARTIN BERRY
25 Posted 03/10/2007 at 08:54:04

Moyes is doing it his way, to let Yak know that no one is automatic choice, you have to work and deliver. Would you be happy seeing Yak not performing and Moyes still leaving him on the pitch ? Perhaps a bit of Sir Alex’s mind games are being adopted here. I expect Moyes to turn Yak into a better allround striker and maybe those barren spells of no goals will disapear. As for Vic, as i have said before, if not for our needs he should be loaned out to a lower level to learn ruthlessness and confidence in front of goal, as one posting said, he is frightened of missing, it musnt be easy for him. Judgement at the end of the season please

Peter Keating
26 Posted 03/10/2007 at 10:13:32

Would Yak have been bought if James Vaughan had not been seriously injured? I personally don’t think so as Moyes is happy with his front line. I think once Vaughan was injured Moyes was forced possibly by the board to buy

Pete from NZ
27 Posted 03/10/2007 at 10:22:05

Surely Rick you do not support the Wallabies over England, have you given up hope already or are you a secret JAFA (Just. Another. Fucking. Australian)
either way the All Blacks will triumph (finally)
Anyway the subject is the Yak not rugby

Chris Rogers
28 Posted 03/10/2007 at 11:34:01

I cannot believe people are moaning about Yak already, maybe if people got off his back a little bit he might have more of a chance. God forbid if any of the youth players go through a bad patch will you be straight on their backs aswell!!!

Steve Lyth
29 Posted 03/10/2007 at 12:49:46

I think its fair to say that the Yak and the forwards in general have recieved very little service of late.
We all know the reasons for this and its up to Moyes to sort them out, his fitness level and work rate bother me though.
Once Vaughan is back I dont think the Yak will be an automatic choice, although it would be great if he was . Too soon to judge, every player needs time to settle in to a teams system, we dont have one at the moment and thats the main problem.
Gotta hope that Tommy G and the reformed Shandy come good

chris keightley
30 Posted 03/10/2007 at 16:15:35

yak will bag a couple tomorrow night and all you knob jockys will be in hiding for a week, hes a proven striker !!! hes adapting to our ways everyday and will come good remember doughnuts hes scored twice in 5 games, let me think a goal every 2.5 games what a suprise knobheads !!!!!!

Steve Lyth
31 Posted 03/10/2007 at 18:43:39

Chris K learning our ways everyday ?
I hope not given the present set up