ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Five Strikers!

What, oh, what is Moyes going to do with 5 strikers, and decent strikers at that?! Something surely has to give, with Anichebe and McFadden doing well, and Yakubu being our record signing.

Johnson is now coming back from injury along with young James Vaughan. I don't think Moyes expected McFadden to do what he did for Scotland (mind you who did expect it?!) and he has been given a big problem ? but a nice one at that.

So... would you sell any of the strikers, or would you keep all 5? What do you think about the general situation with McFadden? Do you think it's wise to keep him or sell him when his value is at its highest?
Gaz Kruger, Solihull, West Midlands Posted 30/10/2007 at 19:59:36

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Jof
1 Posted 30/10/2007 at 20:24:17

I’m not a massive McFadden fan and he’s probably my last choice but I do realise he does offer an alternative to what we have.

I’d keep unless we need the money to buy a really good midfielder or something.

Barry Bragg
2 Posted 30/10/2007 at 20:21:14

With Vic and Yak off in new year to African nations cup I can’t see Moyes selling anyone before the summer.

We do have an embarrassment of riches up top especially when you take Cahill into the equation and long may it continue.

I think the key this season is to stay in all competitions for a decent run. This will give Moyes more opportunity to rotate and keep everyone happy.

If it’s right what they say about competition for places being the key driver of form we should be in for an interesting season. As an aside I think AJ will start scoring again now that we seem to have the midfield resources available to supply some decent possession.

Louis Huglin
3 Posted 30/10/2007 at 20:30:24

What a fantastic thing to see... Evertonians worried that our strike force is "an embarrassment of riches", that we have too many quality forwards. When did this last happen?! Look back to just last season... realistically, Vaughan and Anichebe were too inexperienced to be relied upon so we had Johnson, supported by an unreliable McFadden and am impotent James Beattie. Go back to Marcus Bent, Radzinski, and, ignoring the brief appearance of the young Shrek we have had little to shout about up front for a decade. Jeffers... Joe Max Moore (!)... Michael Branch... Danny Cademarteri... the only constant was Big Dunc and he was hardly a consistent performer.

This is a wonderful problem to have: two top class premiership strikers, three/four internationals, two young prospects... exciting times!

Terry "marsbar" maddock
4 Posted 30/10/2007 at 20:37:14

Yes things are looking up...one more win and we will be in the knockout stages of UEFA,...two more wins and its a cup semi final...and twenty five more league wins and we are back in the champions league..!!!!...oops getting excited..

By the way ...has anybody heard from Tony Marsh, Gavin Ramejkis and Brian waring lately?.......Ohh how silly ..we have been winning and playing decent football..they must be gutted

Neil McKinney
5 Posted 30/10/2007 at 20:37:26

We do seem to have a lot of strikers at the moment.

This is especially interesting as we seem to be playing best when only playing one striker and 5 in midfield. Save injuries and suspensions, even cup runs wouldn’t keep everyone happy if we’re only playing one striker out of five.

BTW that is not a moan about the 4-1-4-1 formation. I am happy as long as we’re winning and happier if we play nice football along the way. Just an observation.

Ben Jones
6 Posted 30/10/2007 at 21:03:21

The good thing is all the 5 strikers we have is at a good age and will keep on improving. It is a great problem, but a problem nonetheless.. I expect we’ll sell McFadden if we had to sell any of the strikers

Brian Waring
7 Posted 30/10/2007 at 21:23:05

Terry,I’ve been around mate.I’ve commented on a few threads in the last couple of days.I thought we played quite well in the last couple of games,and the Osman goal against Larissa was a joy to watch,hows that?

Tony Marsh
8 Posted 30/10/2007 at 21:46:13

Only played crap sides don’t get carried away lads, I still dont rate moyes and think he gets a little lucky and the ground move KEIOC

Anthony Newell
9 Posted 30/10/2007 at 22:20:48

Give McFadden the heave ho for definite. Against Larissa he was 4kin bobbins. Cash in based on his Scotland antics FFS, it’s a no brainer!

David Barks
10 Posted 30/10/2007 at 22:30:19

Why not wait until the end of the season and see who performed well and who we could cash in on. Currently we have five strikers who all offer something different in their styles of play and it’s good to have those options available. McFadden could still be useful to us playing behind the striker in a type of 4-4-1-1 with a midfield of Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill and Carsley in the holding role. This would still be a 4-5-1 really, which we play well in. We bitched all summer about wanting options, now we have them, lets enjoy it.

Brendan McLaughlin
11 Posted 30/10/2007 at 22:09:27

Personally, I’d sell McFadden with his stock so high, particularly in Scotland, at the moment. Of course January is still some way off, so this could all change by then.

Steve Jones
12 Posted 30/10/2007 at 22:39:38

Dont forget McFadden can also play wide left midfield, if he can get in past Pienaar who Moyes likes and is working hard and can play the final pass.

It looks like shandy andy has dissappeared ( - wonder if hell get a run out against Luton?)

Back to the strikers - James Vaughan will turn out to be the best of the lot in time.

guy hastings
13 Posted 30/10/2007 at 22:41:02

Vic and Yak off to ANC, Faddy’s sold, AJ does his ankle again and JV red-carded and out for three games. Phil Neville up front, it is then...

Iain Thomson
14 Posted 30/10/2007 at 22:54:40

2 of our strikers are ANC bound.
2 are teenagers who though exciting may end up as championship players.
MacFaddens stock being high in Scotland doesnt matter as Rangers and Celtic dont spend the money they used to

We are a premiership team ,3 internatial strikers and 2 exciting prospects isnt excessive.

Kevin C
15 Posted 31/10/2007 at 00:24:24

I’d keep all of them for season after season after season. Allow them to be an Evertonian for life if possible!!! hehehe...

Why? Cause I foresee us doing well in the league, FA cup, Carling Cup, UEFA/Champions League season after season. We need all of them!! Cant afford to lose any.

harry charles
16 Posted 31/10/2007 at 01:30:59

We also have the young striker we bought from Swindon ,who plays and runs and works like sharpy to come in ,when the two [yak and vic go for a month or so in January]see this lad take his chance from sub spot .now whats his name jucka???.

Yankee Blue
17 Posted 31/10/2007 at 04:58:20

I agree with some of you that having 5 strikers is a good problem to have, in fact, its a necessity. If you look at our past history, all of our current strikers have been injured at one point or another other than the yak. In addition, all of them have stuggled and have been inconsistent the past year and in the current campaign. Having 5 strikers will lead to competition and hopefully will encourage all of them to bring up their game. If we were to sell one of them and I hope that we don’t, we will be one injury away from being down to one stiker due to the yak and vic leaving for African Cup of Nations. We do not need to sell to have money in the transfer window for another midfielder. The money should be there that was put aside for Fenandez, I hope!!

Kieran Agard
18 Posted 31/10/2007 at 05:05:30

Erm...

Not everybody thinks it’s good news! The futures bright, the futures blue!

Eric L
19 Posted 31/10/2007 at 06:41:16

What say Everton saw McFadden for Graverson ?
Would that be a straight swap or some extra money needed - (Graverson is worth more isnt he ?).

patty bee
20 Posted 31/10/2007 at 09:55:55

I don’t know why I bite when I see a Tony Marsh comment. Only played crap sides have we - I guess Man United and Liverpool would be pleased at being called that!!

Monty Ferris
21 Posted 31/10/2007 at 09:26:08

An embarrassment of riches?-what total bullshit ! Not one of our ’Fabulous Five’has yet scored more than a handful of goals for the Club. AJ’s early promise decimated once opposition managers sussed his in-box antics and now drive him out wide where his effectiveness is marginal.
Yakubu is an idle sod who under Moyes will go the way of James Beattie.He’ll become a box to box runner who rarely finds the net.
Mc Fadden is a scorer of great goals for Scotland but will never become a great Scottish goalscorer whilst the other two are just babies who may or may not make it into the big-time.
OK, so we’ve got a choice on which ’average’strikers we field but to call this an embarrassment of riches is just another sign of how Evertonians get carried away on the back of a couple of wins.
The spirit of Dodd lives on!

patty blue
22 Posted 31/10/2007 at 11:14:58

Actually I think Monty Ferris has made some good points and I am a die hard Moyes Supporter...and he’s right when he says we all get carried away with a few wins on the trot.

Dana Barrett
23 Posted 31/10/2007 at 11:57:27

Although this is an everton supporters forum, i can remember when Tottenham played with five up front in a absurd 2-3-5 formation under Ardiles. Sure they scored lots of golas with the likes of Klinsmann, Rosenthal, and Sheringham but by the same token the spurs defence shipped more goals then the titanic let in atlantic water.

Now, back to our team. Im not suggesting that moyes goes by that formation but i have to say i would be an interesting concept. With quality defenders such as lescott, stubbs and baines we should have no problem keeping tonights opposition at bay, but a five man strike force if only for tonight would be worth the entrance fee alone. And as for McFadden, why get rid? He may be as happy as a sandboy when playing for the national side, but although when it comes to domestic matters he is not as effective, he does serve a purpose. I hope in the event that Scotland do not qualify for euro 08 it does not effect his league performances. Just a thought.

Colin Melville
24 Posted 31/10/2007 at 14:05:08

Ferris is absolutely right.The four who were with us last season managed only 23 goals BETWEEN THEM and the tally from all five so far this campagne is a mere 12!
Just don’t get carried away-it always ends in tears and disenchantment.The time to take stock is next May but if we have to sell to buy, I’d say McFadden is the most dispensible and Johnson likely to net the most cash.

Bri
25 Posted 31/10/2007 at 15:06:00

Top 5 Everton Srikers

Brett Angell
John Spencer
Mikael Madar
Paul Wilkinson

Irbihima Bakayoko

Morgan Jones
26 Posted 31/10/2007 at 15:21:43

That above comment would be more appropriate being put on April Fools Day.

How about Robert Warzycha and Nick Barmby?

And of course theres Yakubu. An Everton Legend. The likes of Dave Hickson and Tommy Lawton not fit to clean his shoes.

nick flack
27 Posted 31/10/2007 at 15:47:14

I’d like to see him play with 3 up front. Faddy left, Anichebe or Yakubu cenral and AJ right

Arteta Cahill and Ozzy in the middle.

I watched the liverpool Arsenal game and Benitez tried to do something similar with Kuyt, Torres and Voronin.

Be interesting to see how well our three would play together upfront.

It’s the rumour that won’t go away, but how many of us would happily snap a 12m offer for AJ in January. Swll the coffers for next season and get a truly class midfielder and a right back?

Michael Newton
28 Posted 31/10/2007 at 16:01:16

With it being more common that modern day footballers get injured and only 3 of our 5 strikers 100% fit why should we get rid of any of them.
Dont West Ham have 12 players injured for example at the moment.
The RS despite their 55 man squad are also suffering from injury. Man Utd have had a large injury list but have got through it with their squad size. The lack of centre backs for example at Chelsea possibly cost them the title. Dont the RS have only 3 centre backs themselves.
So lets not get shut of players lets get some more in.

patty
29 Posted 31/10/2007 at 16:29:08

Michael Newton.... Are you going to pay the extortionate wages of all these extra players you think EFC should get in? Glad your not managing my house-keeping!!!

Michael Newton
30 Posted 31/10/2007 at 16:34:17

Patty if you were my Mrs you would be shopping in Sainsburys not Kwik Save.
Get rid of VDM his wages will pay for a couple of players.
I agree wages are extortionate but if your succesful it generates extra revenue resulting in better players coming in to the squad. If Kenwright would allow outside investment which he obviously doesnt we could entice even better players in.

nick flack
31 Posted 31/10/2007 at 17:23:07

especially if you’ve had the email with Riise’s pay on it!

Frightening!