ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Central midfield problems

We are clearly missing the quality of Cahill and Gravesen in centre midfield. I live in Sheffield and Blades fans warned me repeatedly that Jags is not a midfielder. After seeing his performances against Man Utd, Sheff Wed and Metallist I now see what they mean.

He's a centre back who can play right back so why not play him there instead of Hibbert who's having a terrible time of it? Phil Neville is also not a central midfielder and contributes much more from right back. When fit Lee Carsley has been one of our most consistent players so why does Moyes prefer Jags to him in centre midfield?

Lastly, as a big Gravsesen fan I can find no news about his injury or expected return other than a 'knee injury'. Does anyone know what is actually wrong with Tommy and when he might be available to us again? Or is the news so bad i.e. medial/cruciate ligament that he is unlikely to feature for us anytime soon?
Peter Herbert, Sheffield Posted 09/10/2007 at 21:04:44

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sean cunningham
1 Posted 09/10/2007 at 22:03:38

do us a favour lad go da game and den come back and talk to me about everton people like you are a disgrace to everton u see 1 game and base your opinions on them jagielka has been one of our best players this season while playing at centre mid

Brian Waring
2 Posted 09/10/2007 at 22:10:22

Sean you are taking the piss I presume mate?How you can say Jagielka has been one of our best players in midfield has got to be a joke,he has been woeful.

David Barks
3 Posted 09/10/2007 at 22:45:39

Jagielka played well in the center of midfield his first couple of games there, I believe off of the bench. But the past few have been poor, no way around it. Given the defensive errors committed in the last couple of games I wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes puts him in the center of defense in training for the next two weeks. Yobo was very good for us last year, but I have no idea what he was doing on Sunday. Stubbs can do a job for us but not playing 2 games a week as we will be doing for the coming months and Christmas period.

I just hope Cahill and Gravesen are back for the Derby, two players who will not hoof the ball forward. Gravesen will finally take some pressure off of Arteta and Cahill will provide us with the goal threat we have been missing from midfield. With all the injuries we had we treaded water pretty well. I know the football wasn’t beautiful but the entire table is bunched together, nobodies setting the league on fire. Every game is going to be very competitive this year, and we have been doing it all season without our central midfield pairing and a few games without Arteta. Now AJ is out again, immediately following his first goal of the season. We just can’t get a break, but Gravesen and Cahill will, I believe, completely change the football that we play. It might not be a bad idea to go to 4-5-1 with Cahill providing support for the striker, Carsley hopefully solidifying the defense, and Pienaar, Gravesen, and Arteta providing the rest of the midfield. We just might be able to pass the ball around a bit better and stop giving up so many poor goals.

Ciaran Chu
4 Posted 09/10/2007 at 23:03:09

Went to Newcastle on Sunday and I thought although we got beat for 75 minutes we more than held our own. Carsley definently needs to play in midfield as he gives us much more balance with Cahill ahead of him when hes fit. Pienaar is also starting to look the player he was at Ajax the more he has played although he is a bit lightweight so can’t be played with Osman in my opinion.

Agree with you David that Jags could get a chance at centre half because Yobo has been responsible for most of the goals since Vidic’s header against Man Utd and Stubbs can’t play twice a week.

Steve Ryan
5 Posted 09/10/2007 at 23:23:59

David. I hope you are right when you say that Graveson and Cahill’s return will completely change the football we play. But haven’t we played the big welly out of defence for nearly 6 years now even when these players were in the team? So why are you suddenly expecting a change? The problem is not the personnel mate; its the tactics as even the 85 team would be asked to play hoofball under the current regime.

David Barks
6 Posted 09/10/2007 at 23:42:56

Steve, I think we played that style when we didn’t have to personnel to do otherwise. Also Gravesen was not here the past two seasons and Cahill hardly played last season. With these two players back in the team I do believe the passing game will improve, it has to!!! Currently everything has to go through Arteta, so defenses crowd him out knowing that Carsley, Neville, Jagielka do not pose an attacking threat. Put Carsley and Cahill in the middle and suddenly you have Arteta and Gravesen able to make plays with the ball, and Cahill demanding attention from defenses. Suddenly more space opens up and passing becomes a whole lot easier. If you look at Arsenal and the way they pass (and I’m not comparing us to them) each of their players for the most part has time on the ball because defenses know they have to try to cover more than just Fabregas. Currently, we give Arteta the ball and three players surround him, because defenses know they can afford to leave Carsley and Neville alone in the middle. When Gravesen and Cahill are back, if Moyes continues to pick a midfield of Carsley and Neville then I will wonder what the hell is going on. But at the moment, I truely believe it is out of necessity.

Connor Rohrer
7 Posted 10/10/2007 at 00:08:03

Gravesen will be back after the international break which probably means the derby.

David Barks
8 Posted 10/10/2007 at 00:10:07

I truely hope so Connor. The other point I think we are missing is the emotional side that Cahill brings to the team. The guy plays his ass off which makes everyone around him play just as hard. Put him in the midfield with Gravesen and I’m sorry but we are a completely different team. Suddenly we are an attacking threat in all 4 midfield positions whereas we currently only have two. I noticed Neville trying to get forward and take a couple of shots at Newcastle’s goal on Sunday, but the shots were awful as this is not his game. He tried to keep the defense honest but it just isn’t what he does. Having these players back for the group stages will be immense, not to mention the energy that Vaughan will bring as well. Unleash a fresh Cahill and Gravesen on an emotionally beaten Liverpool and we could have a very happy day in two weeks time.

Brian Noble
9 Posted 10/10/2007 at 08:49:53

Let’s face it,Jagielka was a waste of money as was Yakubu.All my Scottish mates laughed when we took back Graveson as his legs went halfway through last season.Just face the facts,when Moyes has money to spend he’s like a kid in the High St.toy shop.The only time he grabs a bargain is when he shops in the corner store.

Pete Herbert
10 Posted 10/10/2007 at 08:53:17

Sean,
I may have lived in Sheffield for over 25 years but I’ve been supporting them for nearly 40 years and had a season ticket for many years. My opinions are based on what I’ve seen so far this season. Jagielka & Neville are good defenders not central midfielders so the sooner we get some quality into centre mid the better. I hope Moyes won’t feel the need to play either of them in midfield (except in emergencies) when Gravesen & Cahill are both fit. Given Hibbert’s performances this season Neville should play at right back and Jagielka to challenge Stubbs/Yobo at centre back and/or cover for right back.

Franny Porter
11 Posted 10/10/2007 at 10:28:15

Sean,
get a grip you tit.
Also mate, using terminology such as ’go da game’ or ’u’ instead of ’you’ just highlights how ’tick’ you really are.

As regards Graveson, Im starting to suspect he may be dead.

Jane Guest
12 Posted 10/10/2007 at 14:55:07

I best david wishes now he had purchased 19 million bottles of irn bru rather than the same amount he paid for Andrew and er... the yak. Theres more chance of the loch ness monster thrashing to the surface or Blackburn winning the fair play league than there is of those two proving a lethal partnership. Not since the days of Lineker-Sharp have we had such a fearsome strikeforce.
Players such as jagielka and other culprits have been blowing hot and cold ever the season started. Lets hope they dont freeze over the winter months as by the time spring arrives and we thaw out it may be too late to salvage anything.