ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Tommy or not Tommy, that is the question?

I cannot understand why Tommy Gravesen has not featured much since his return from injury. Games such as Luton away and Chelsea away when we were missing the creative Arteta, we should have brought him in but instead opted for Neville who is neither creative nor a midfielder. Surely he should have played in those games.

Whilst you can say, he hasn't made that much of an impact (apart from Bolton away), the statistics for Tommy's apperances actually make interesting reading. See below:-

Bolton (a)
Score when he came on: 1-1
Final score: 2-1 win

Luton (a)
Score when he came on: 0-0
Final score: 1-0 win

Larissa (h)
Score when came on: 2-0
Final Score: 3-1 win

Birmingham (h)
Score when came on: 1-1
Final Score: 3.1 win

Chelsea (a)
Score when came on 1-0
Final Score: 1-1

Coincidence?
Brian Law, Liverpool Posted 12/11/2007 at 15:33:09

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Comments

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Jon Sellick
1 Posted 12/11/2007 at 19:16:23

Haven’t you answered your own question? - He’s an impact player! No longer seen as a long term option, Tommy will come on, rouse the troops, wave his fists around and make significant late contributions to games.Then he will move on in the summer and make way for a younger, more complete midfielder.

I know what you mean though - i was expecting to see more of him, but it probably says as much about how well the players who are in the starting line up are playing as it does about him.

Andy Mckenzie
2 Posted 12/11/2007 at 19:26:58

No coincedence

There’s one player who has contributed enormously to them results and its not gravesen, its a spring heeled aussie.

Brian Law
3 Posted 12/11/2007 at 19:34:37

Cahill never played against Bolton

Jeremy Benson
4 Posted 12/11/2007 at 19:53:31

There was a rumour on here that he was on pay-as-you-play. Allegedly. Which would explain it.

James McDonnell
5 Posted 12/11/2007 at 20:17:18

i noticed a mistake, just wanted to clear it up, the game vs larissa was actually 2-1 when gravesen came on. not 2-0. he is an impact player, but he is getting on and some people just like to moan, 6 games unbeaten........just enjoy it instead of finding little problems.

Brian Law
6 Posted 12/11/2007 at 20:26:49

Thanks for the correction James.

I?d like to point out that I?m not trying to find problems. I?d just ike to have seen Gravesen in certain games, thats all. I?m delighted how thinsg are going.

One question for you - would you prefer Phil Neville or Gravesen in midfield ?

That's why I?m asking the question. It?s called discussion mate. Not finding little problems.

Gary Popopmendozo III
7 Posted 12/11/2007 at 21:23:49

Graveson is right-footed and what has that got to do with anything. If you don’t like it then I suggest you do the same as Neville because the shot from Mendez was definitely over the line.

Michael Kenrick
8 Posted 12/11/2007 at 21:09:52

Well said, Brian.

How is that 95% of our contributors can engage in some great discussion and debate about the game, yet there are always these people who have to stick their noses in and moan about what they call "moaning"?

A message for these malcontents: This is a Discussion Forum. We are discussing the football. If you do want to participate, then do so constructively. If you don’t want to participate, then keep quiet or take your bloody moaning elsewhere.

Andy Mckenzie
9 Posted 12/11/2007 at 22:41:53

Gravesen did have a big influence in the bolton game and as you say Brian Cahill wasn't playing, I just feel one of the main reasons for our recent good form is down to getting Cahill back fit, we really miss Cahill when he?s out.

Michael Tracey
10 Posted 12/11/2007 at 23:04:05

I agree Michael, I posted yesterday about why Neville started in midfield when TommyG was on the bench! I got accused of being negative against the manager! Its seems that Moyes is a very touchy subject to some on this site. If we can?t in a civil matter question certain aspects of our teams progresss then whats the point of even bothering posting?

Anyway I would like to say that on Sunday I couldn?t understand why Pip started in midfield and Hibbert was at right back! We could of had Tommy Gravesen in midfield and either Pip or the Jag at RB. Hibbert although he played well has been pants this year and I don?t think he should be anywhere near the starting eleven. Thanks for the website though and I?m sure I will be shot down now for being critical of team selection. CYOB

Ian Tunny
11 Posted 12/11/2007 at 23:38:09

I too am a little bemused by the bit-part appearances of Tommy G. I was so excited by the prospect of seeing what was our best player a few seasons back return to play along side the new talent, Arteta and Cahill, and I noticed in the Larrisa game a big smile on Arteta's face when he and Tommy were keeping the ball at the end taking the piss. I thought finally someone is on Arteta's wavelength and he can obviously appreciate it.

But obviously Moyes has his reasons, he sees him day-in, day-out in training; perhaps he doesn't have the legs he used to to complete a full 90mins or perhaps he's thinking long term on the continuing development of Oman Pienaar and other potential long-term signings ? like when McFadden was given the nod over Jeffers at Spurs when Franny threw a tantrum on his loan spell.

Steve Bird
12 Posted 13/11/2007 at 01:03:22

The reason he hasn't featured much is because he's not fully fit. He was struggling with a swollen knee, which seems to have taken a long time to get back to normal.

Pete Moore
13 Posted 13/11/2007 at 03:18:20

I’m hoping it is due to caution over recent knee problem rather than a more serious doubt over whether Tommy has the engine/legs for 90 mins anymore. Baz Rathbone interview on EvertonTV says Arteta has a serious groin strain/problem that could mean he is out for a while, so I am hoping Tommy is fit to start in two weeks as creativity is sorely lacking otherwise.

Glen McEwan
14 Posted 13/11/2007 at 09:40:08

Anybody who has ever read a Scottish newspaper will have seen Mad Strachan’s frequent assertions that Tommy couldn’t last 90 minutes because ’his legs have gone’.that’s why he was so keen to offload him in the summer.It seems Moyes shares that view and thus uses Tommy in the way he can have most impact.