ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Hmmm... I might just get used to this

Not so much spending the lost hours doing menial tasks around the house, in the absence of ToffeeWeb and its various editorial demands.... No, I'm talking about watching the Boys in Blue put together sumptuous moves some us knew they were capable of.

I'm talking principally about the brilliant football that led to Osman's superb strike, from the moment it left our area to the moment it smacked the back of the net. If only they had the self-belief and the motivation from Moyes to do more of it. THAT is what some of us have been craving for.

Hopefully it will forever silence the idiotic response that we can't be expected to play like Arsenal/Man Utd/Brazil... well, I seen it wid my own eyes!!! Just as I did early last season with AJ's goal at Spurs ? we CAN do it. Why can't we do it just a bit more often?
Michael Kenrick, ToffeeWeb Towers Posted 28/10/2007 at 05:49:45

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Dave wilson
1 Posted 28/10/2007 at 07:57:07

Michael

I loved it too, but lets not get carried away, doing it (periodically) against a greek team who are used to a less physical, slower, game will prove a whole lot easier than doing it against a Derby team trying not to let you breath today
That said your point is still a valid one, its about intention, we intended to pass through the middle on Thursday, and whilst at times it was alien to some of our players, there was also definate signs that if we maintain the belief and intention we are more than capable. It was so obvious that the players enjoyed it too, scoring our best team goal for at least 20 years must have helped.

Come on DM, your getting your injured players back now, silence your critics - I promise they’ll / we’ll forgive you - send our boys out to outplay Derby, entertain us

Arthur jones
2 Posted 28/10/2007 at 08:23:14

Totally agree Michael , we are capable of playing attractive football , it can’t be a coincidence that we played like that when TC returned , his enthuiasm alone seemed to galvanise the whole team , Keep it going please boys

Danny Mullally
3 Posted 28/10/2007 at 09:54:25

Like Michael, I too hope that the display against Larissa and passing in particular was a glimpse of what is to come. All the detractors of Moyes may have had a field day after the poor showings of certain individuals recently, but I have always said judge the bloke when his team is fully fit. It has only been one single game since Tim Cahill and Tommy Graveson have returned but what a diference in display it was.
The best player on the park for me ironically though was Lee Carsley. He was integeral to the performance and held his position well coming in with a couple of cracking break-up tackles.

Come on blues lets get our season back on track, and show everyone what we are capable of.

Barry Bragg
4 Posted 28/10/2007 at 09:57:56

Welcome back Michael! I for one was getting worried you were gone for good.

As for the footy on Thursday..........it was great and I keep watching the goals over again on youtube....and I can’t stop smiling.

More of the same please lads.

Brian Noble
5 Posted 28/10/2007 at 10:28:22

I’m convinced that many of this season’s defensive problems could have been avoided if more use had been made of Lee Carsley.How Moyes can prefer Neville and/or Jagielka in that role defeats me.But i guess that’s David Moyes who even loves Hibbert at right -back! talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

Dave wilson
6 Posted 28/10/2007 at 10:40:00

Danny and Brian

Your spot on, Carsley will never be confused with Micky, but he covers that position better than Nev or The Jag, he is far more likely to give a simple ball to the feet of more talented players than launch the long percentage ball, I say leave him in and try the Jag at right back , he did well for the blades there

Iain Thomson
7 Posted 28/10/2007 at 11:21:26

Was great to see goals of that quality, and chances created from decent passing MaFadden’s chances were both excellent so on another day scoreline could have been better. Still though early on the long ball was in effect , we have decent players just need Moyes to trust them to play football. I agree with above messages Carsley is the best we have providing defensive stability and discipline in midfeild. Lets hope we beat Derby, and that in so doing we have more possesion than them and pass the ball through them.

Phil Bellis
8 Posted 28/10/2007 at 12:45:06

Barry..you’re comment about re-watching the goals: I was doing that and suddenly realised my face was aching - I, too, had been sitting there with a huge, soft grin on me face. I don’t think I’ve been as made up with a goal since the 95 semi-final. It could have been Bracewell and Steven, Harvey and Ball in that move. Most players at this level ARE capable of playing footie as it should be played - it’s all down to the inhibitions (and practicalities?) of tactics and coaching. Come on Moyes...strike off the shackles for once.

Brian Noble
9 Posted 28/10/2007 at 10:28:22

Connor Rohrer
10 Posted 28/10/2007 at 13:20:55

The football does improve when we play an attacking 4-4-1-1. By fitting our small but creative players into the starting line up we play better football and keep the ball alot better. Osman, Arteta, Pienaar and even the underrated Cahill are all capable of playing good football but they need to be used in the right formation. I know people will say we have 5 strikers but its about the team and what fits best.

Our midfield is very lightweight so I think that 5th midfielder toughens us up a bit aswell as giving us that extra player to pass to when going forward.

The only thing I’d change from Wednesdays line up would be Jagielka for Hibbert and maybe Yakubu for McFadden. There is no doubting Faddy is improving but a lone striker he is not. Yakubu may not have the "work rate" but with hardworking players around him like Cahill, Carsley, Pienaar, Arteta and Osman I think he would be more suited to to the lone striker role. He is big enough and strong enough to play up there and has done it with both Boro and Pompey in the past.

Osman really impressed me on Wednesday. I have never been a fan as I think he is a frustrating player. I sit in the St End and he always seems to lose the ball but having sat in the upper bullens on Thursday I really appreciated what he was doing for the team. Always looking for the ball, lovely close control and was running the show. He needs to be played centrally as it his best position and we have no one better at this moment in time. People mention Arteta but Moyes doesn’t fancy him in the middle. Pienaar is improving week in week out and offers good ball retention which we lack at the moment. He is such a clever player as he showed last Thursday with that sweet back heel. A typical Ajax player.

The way I see it is we need a settled team and formation and at the moment 4-4-1-1 looks the best bet as it allows us to play all our creative players which improves the football.

brian
11 Posted 28/10/2007 at 13:48:41

does anyone know of any websites that will have todays game on?

Gavin Harris
12 Posted 28/10/2007 at 15:23:11

Arteta love it fucking love it!!! :-)

1.0

Stefan Tosev
13 Posted 28/10/2007 at 15:50:40

Well I dont know about you but I am enjoying the game. We are confident on the ball, Cars gives us the protection and all our creative midfielders are doing great job. They are changing places, trading good passes and really putting pressure on Derby.

Its the half time though and hope we continue in the same manner. COYB

Stefan Tosev
14 Posted 28/10/2007 at 15:55:45

Had forgotten to say thank you to Michael,Lyndon and all the guys that are contributing here.

Beeing offline for 3 days showed me that I missed the website and made me realize the great work you are doing here. Tx

Pete Lovell
15 Posted 28/10/2007 at 19:29:16

Just got back from the game today. It was a comfortable performance, with Arteta, Osman and Pienaar impressive. Really it could easily have been 3 or 4 against a poor Derby team. Only annoying thing was that we had to sit with Derby fans and so had to contain our celebrations.

Well Done Blues !!

colin malone
16 Posted 28/10/2007 at 19:56:42

We sure do miss Neville, NOT.

Lee Carsley, the unsung hero and may he reign for many, many more games for the blues.

Ray Robinson
17 Posted 28/10/2007 at 20:09:41

Very encouraging signs today. We tried to play decent football and we kept going forward even at 2-0. Osman and Pienaar overshadowed Arteta and kept the ball moving nicely. Yak IS lazy but actually adds a lot to the team - what an outrageous dummy for the first goal.

However, we do have to be realistic. That was quite simply the worst Premiership outfit I think I’ve ever seen. Derby are certs for relegation.

But we did the job well with minimum fuss, so mustn’t grumble!

Stig Meacham
18 Posted 28/10/2007 at 20:06:16

Great post, MK, and some excellent comments, too!

Folks, how excellent is Steve Pienaar turning out to be? Every week he just gets better. Not even thinking about Fernandes anymore. We’d better buy that kid quickly before Real or Milan realise what we’ve got!

Dave wilson
19 Posted 28/10/2007 at 20:23:55

The improvement continues, Pienaar, Leo + Cars battled it out for MOM award, the Yak netted, Tiger got about 75 mins under his belt. Yobo n Lescott - 2nd 1/2 Stubbs - were solid and comfortable, the Jag looked much better at right back too, you know its been a good day when Micky isnt the sole topic of conversation afterwards
two things stopped the day being perfect, the injury to bainzeee, and trying to get the car out of that shithole after the game

Brian Waring
20 Posted 28/10/2007 at 20:43:39

A half decent game today from the lads.I don’t think we had to play above ourselves against a terrible Derby side.It was a shame Baines never came out for the 2nd half,as he was our best player in the 1st half,He has to start every game.Carsley was solid as usual.I’m still not convinced about Pienaar,he has a good touch,but for me he is just to light-weight,and gets knocked off the ball to easily.All in all,a comfortable 3pts against a team who are deffo for the drop.

ian tunny
21 Posted 29/10/2007 at 02:02:54

I'll tell you exacly why, because it is only possible to carry a certain number of players, 3 or 4, so without hibbo, nev, jags, osmen and stubs to name a few of the main culprits all in the same team who arnt the best at keeping possesion, and with the benefit of the better players returnig from injury who can actually pass a ball and the advantage of a 5 man mid so osmen can be covered and not do as much deffending and closing down which he is poor at. This is what i have been saying all along when moyes was getting slagged off, he was getting the best out of the tools he had without his central midfield the most important area now gravasen can dictate the tempo and cahil has the movement and tenasity both linking with ateta and both on his wavelength.