ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Starting XI v Luton

Comments (34)

Have you seen our starting midfield tonight?

Osman, Pienaar, Carsley and Neville!

Why are Cahill and Gravesen, who both surely need games, not playing?

That foursome as a midfield stinks and I don't know what Moyes is thinking about.

Good news that Vaughan is back in squad.

Yet again Moyes's steam selection disappoints!
Bri L, Liverpool Posted 31/10/2007 at 20:27:31

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Lyndon Lloyd

This may come as a surprise to the likes of "Joe Black" but I've got no qualms at all with that team selection. It lessens the risk of Cahill and Gravesen picking up fresh injuries and also keeps the likes of Howard and Yakubu ~~and Lescott~~ out of harm's way and fresh for Saturday and then Nuremburg after that where they'll be needed more. Despite the fact that Luton walloped Sunderland and then Charlton on their own turf in earlier rounds, that Everton team should be able to win at a mid-table League One side.

Bri L
1 Posted 31/10/2007 at 20:36:30

Lyndon, Cahill and Gravesen both need games as they’ve been out for while. This is an ideal opportunity for them to get a run out.
This is a game we can win and get in the quarter finals. That midfield is limp to say the least just like it was at Sheffield Wednesday. We were very lucky not to be losing at half time there and we certainly didn’t create anything at the other end until we changed things at half time.
Cahill and Gravesen should be playing

Anthony Newell
2 Posted 31/10/2007 at 20:38:17

I agree Bri, Gravesen should be in to get valuable match fitness, were going to need him. Sticking Neville in midfield is tantamount to saying " lets shore things up, no risky passing football tonight lads, just boot it" - fucking bonkers and just when I thought the penny Marsh refers to had dropped. Fingers crossed, we shouldn’t be passing up the opportunity to progress in this competition. I won’t be moaning if we win though PS Lescott is playing

Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
3 Posted 31/10/2007 at 20:44:24

"Lyndon, Cahill and Gravesen both need games as they?ve been out for while. This is an ideal opportunity for them to get a run out"

I agree, Brian, and had Moyes played them I would have been fine with that too. It?s all about weighing up the risks, I suppose.

Although, the more I think about it, perhaps I'd be more confident if one of Cahill or Gravesen were playing instead of Neville...

Mike Hunt
4 Posted 31/10/2007 at 20:50:58

More creative quality and firepower on the bench (Cahill, Grav, Yak and Vaughan) if needed....fret not!

Bri L
5 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:20:51

Well surprise surprise, listening to this game, we are dire. We haven’t even had a proper chance.
This is all because of Moyes poor midfield selection.
We are asking to me knocked out

Jimmy Crack
6 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:23:37

Is Arteta injured or something?

Bri L
7 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:26:52

Arteta has been rested completely

Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
8 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:34:16

Match commentary said that Arteta has a slight calf injury that should clear up by Saturday.

Allan Hobbs
9 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:34:59

I think its fair to say, David Moyes knows what he’s doing. Let him pick the bloody team and stop complaining all the time. Wessels hasn’t had a shot to save, we’re piss poor, yet its still nil nil. Just be patient, you’ll probably see Tommy & Timmy in the second half.

Anthony Newell
10 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:31:47

As someone else accurately pointed out Moyes likes his loyalties which explains why Neville is straight back in. Moyes is obviously shit scared of leaving him out for fear of pissing him off. Well, I’m sorry but that ain’t good enough for a Premiership Manager and sometime it’s about making uncomfortable decisions. It took long enough for Moyes to get the captains armband off Weir and I fear were going to see the same shite with Neville. On recent evidence Neville is an out and out detriment to our footballing ability and effectiveness. Get Cahill and Grav on for the second half and not with 20 minutes left

bri l
11 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:37:14

arteta is fine. He’s been rested.

The point is Hobbs that we shouldn’t be giving Luton a chance to knock us out and at nil nil, they’ll be fancying their chances.
That midfield quartet is teribble like I said before the game and it’s no surprise we’ve been sh*t. We’ve got no guile in there
So why can everyone else predict that we’re going to be sh*t with the midfield apart from Moyes.

bri L
12 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:45:43

here here Anthony

If Neville plays the only place for him is at righ back
He’s not a midfield - full stop!

Allan Hobbs
13 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:47:08

I think its a damn good job we?ve got you lot to advise these professionals with a lifetime in the game on how to play the game - imagine where we?d be without you!

Anthony Newell
14 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:50:32

Oh, here we go again, "why don’t you go off and become a football manager" - grow up FFS

bri L
15 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:50:41

Alan, I?m generally not negative. Moyes team selection is extremely negative and sh*t. Any football fan with half a brain can see that.

Allan Hobbs
16 Posted 31/10/2007 at 21:53:51

Not exactly my point Anthony; I just find it amazing when people slate the team choices. Surely DM knows what he’s doing don’t you think?

Iain Thomson
17 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:00:36

Allan

I think it?s acceptable for someone to have an opinion about something without it being their profession. To castigate people who are fans for expressing an opinion on their team either positive or negative is as ludicrous as saying if you?re not in the military you shouldn?t state opinion on the war in Iraq

Opinion informed or otherwise is what makes reading the discussions on this website interesting.

To only have opinions on something that is your job would be very dull indeed

Allan Hobbs
18 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:02:30

I don’t think I said people couldn’t give an opinion, but I guess you’re right if thats how it came across - it wasn’t my intention so my apologies.

Anthony Newell
19 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:08:59

"it needs a good delivery from Phil Neville"

’it’s not a good delivery from Phil Neville"

Jesus Wept

bri L
20 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:33:24

well Hobbs. Looks like we were right doesn’t it?

Poor team selection = poor result
90 minutes of total rubbish and now we’re playing another 30 mins that our squad doesn’t need and more importantly in danger of going out (probably on pens at this rate). All because of picking a sh*te midfield 4.

Andy Shaw
21 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:36:12

Allan,

i have said it before and will say it again, you are a wind up merchant.......

Allan Hobbs
22 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:38:05

Well done Brian, you should apply for a job at Everton.

My name is Allan by the way.

I see Chelsea are 3-3 with Leicester, probably due to poor team selection by Avram Grant - shocking.

Allan Hobbs
23 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:39:48

I think I apologised if I was antagonistic Andy; it seems you like to stir the pot my friend.

Andy Shaw
24 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:40:53

Allan,

of course you are entitled to your opinion. The thing is with you is that you don’t really have a point to your posts, you are just looking to wind up people.... but i suppose it is whatever floats your boat.....

Allan Hobbs
25 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:43:58

’I think its fair to say, David Moyes knows what he?s doing. Let him pick the bloody team and stop complaining all the time. Wessels hasn?t had a shot to save, we?re piss poor, yet its still nil nil. Just be patient, you?ll probably see Tommy & Timmy in the second half. ’

I’ll let you pick out my ’points’ in that Andy.

Oh, and Gravesen & Cahill are both on. Shall we stop arguing now?

Anthony Newell
26 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:47:40

Yeah, we eventually get the team that should have started (Neville excepted) on after 90 minutes - great that Allan, fucking marvellous mate

bri L
27 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:51:00

Get in!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anthony Newell
28 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:50:42

Well of course, it was all in Moyes plans wasn’t it?, a good work out followed by the decent players on at the death to try and salvage something. The PE teacher does it again. Bet we get the shite in the next round!

Dan Button
29 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:55:51

Its going to be difficult in the next round if we get through. Us, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chealsea, Totenham, City, Blackburn and West ham

Stefan Tosev,Vienna
30 Posted 31/10/2007 at 22:56:38

Guys you are getting a bit over the top. Leave the personal abuse out, concentrate on the game we are winning, maybe Moyes has a reason to cautios with Tim,Tommy and James, we cant criticize his every decision.

Anthony Newell
31 Posted 31/10/2007 at 23:00:59

Easily said now Stefan, where were you for the other 90 minutes of pap?

Stefan Tosev,Vienna
32 Posted 31/10/2007 at 23:03:01

I just came home Anthony and i am llistening to the live comentary and imo we are looking decent

Mick Mac
33 Posted 31/10/2007 at 23:03:21

extended highlights ITV 1 for all the armchairs like me

Michael Hunt
34 Posted 31/10/2007 at 23:21:45

Surely Moyes must see that such a negative central midfield pairing as he played tonight totally stunts Everton's creativity? I just don't get it, I mean it just does not work...how many times does it have to be proved? When we play a midfield like that, why bother with two up top? On weighing up all the factors, I'm just dumbfounded. What say you? PS. Thank god we scraped through in the end though, after finally changing to a better centre midfield pairing of course.