ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Full Strength

Looking ahead to tomorrow's encounter with Sunderland, the word is that David Moyes has a full compliment of player's to choose from. Moyes indicates that this is probably the first time in his tenure that he can select from a fully fit squad as the niggling injuries to Arteta, Baines and Stubbs have receded.

The million-dollar mouth-watering question will be, given such availability, the fact that we are at home against a newly promoted side, and Moyes will be flying solo after the departure of Alan Irvine, who will he select and does this indicate who he see's as his best starting XI?

Formations apart, there is no mid-week game to worry about, will he stick with the 4-5-1 or revert to a more natural 4-4-2? For fantasy football purposes I would go with: Howard; Neville, Baines, Yobo, Lescott; Carsley, Cahill, Arteta, Gravesen; Johnson and Vaughan.
Peter Laing, Liverpool Posted 23/11/2007 at 16:02:48

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joe mcparland
1 Posted 23/11/2007 at 18:16:29

Howard
Neville
Baines
Stubbs
Lescott
Arteta
Carsley
Cahill
Pienaar
Johnson
Yakubu

John Lloyd
2 Posted 23/11/2007 at 18:34:41

Your last paragraph starts with "formations apart" then immediatly after you ask "will he go with 4-5-1 or revert to a 4-4-2"???? Funny that mate!!

I dont think its a full quota just yet, I think Bainsey & Arteta are not gonna make it. I think the real question will be who plays centre half & up top for us as I believe that thier only threat is Kenwynne Jones who would prob give stubbsy the run around.

I also think Its a shoe in to be the Yak & Johnson or McFadden (depending on AJ’s fitness)

Hopefully we’ll roll them over, get a few goals and keep a clean sheet in the process

Connor Rohrer
3 Posted 23/11/2007 at 23:34:59

"For fantasy football purposes I would go with: Howard; Neville, Baines, Yobo, Lescott; Carsley, Cahill, Arteta, Gravesen; Johnson and Vaughan."

Completely disagree with that team. 4 central midfielders? If its Arteta on the right with Carsley and Cahill central then where does Gravesen fit in? Left midfield? He can’t play there for one and to be honest he isn’t anywhere near fit as he showed in his brief cameos against Larissa, Luton and Chelsea. Once he gets fit and a few reserve games under his belt then he should be in contention but so far a place on the bench is the best we should be giving him.

How can you drop Pienaar, Osman and Yakubu. All three have been on fine form over the past 6 games and definatly deserve to start. If Moyes’s goes for 4-4-2 then my strike force would be Vaughan and Yakubu personally. I think Moyes will go 4-4-1-1 though. It hasn’t let us down in the past 6 games and the football has been alot better.

Ricardo Edward Humphries
4 Posted 24/11/2007 at 07:26:30

Connor, I dont like to agree with you, but you right on the money! To maybe go with Vaughan and Graveson can be good to see were are in terms of soon loosing a few of our African stars to their national teams. Moyes need to start changing te team soon due to AFCON, the transfer window opens soon, but not a cood idea at this stage! Lets start our strongest possible team to pick up as much points possible, especially against weaker teams. Yak has really impressed me the last few games and i can’t imagine us without the big Nigerian. Peter, good team, but not good enough

Alan Bird
5 Posted 24/11/2007 at 09:27:07

I can’t see any way we can lose to Sunderland-whatever team Moyes goes with.Having seen Keane’s team lose so frequently via MotD,they look pathetic and in our present form we should destroy them.
What a joy it is to go into every game almost knowing we’ll get the full compliment of points-Moyes is a genius!

tom
6 Posted 24/11/2007 at 10:18:56

Howard
Neville
Baines
Yobo
Lescott
Carsley
Peinaar
Arteta
Cahill
Yakubu
Vaughan

Subs
Wessels
Stubbs
Johnson
Osman
Anichebe

madness....no place even on the bench for Jagielka, McFadden, Gravesen or Hibbert...Happy days!

Neil Coleman
7 Posted 24/11/2007 at 10:34:31

Looking at that line-up and subs ,tom,makes me realise how far we have come under Moyes.Without a shadow of doubt we have the best set of players since mid eighties and there is just no way we can not be as successful as we were then.I’m dead against the Kirkby move but you have to admit Kenwright and Wyness have seen to it that our greatest modern manager has been given the tools to do the job on the field.

Jim Hourigan
8 Posted 24/11/2007 at 10:36:20

Can’t see him playing Vaughan, too soon and probably rightly or wrongly, 3rd in the pecking order. I think he likes Osman more than others - which I don’t, (I think Piennar has equally quick feet but more importantly has pace). I think it is also dependent upon injuries - is Yobo fit? is Arteta fit?.

I’m also fascinated to see if Irvine leaving will affect the selection. If everyone is fit will he play 2 up front or Cahill plus one other?. Against a team that we should be expected to beat, and be able to outplay with either formation, what will he go for?

Anyway my team (today only) would be

Howard
Neville
Yobo
Lescott
Baines
Arteta
Carsley
Cahill
Piennar
Yakubu
Johnson

Subs
Vessels
Jagielka
Gravesen
Vaughan
Anichebe

However I reckon Yobo and Arteta won’t be risked and we might end up with:

Howard
Hibbert
Stubbs
Lescott
Baines
Neville
Osman
Carsley
Cahill
Piennar
Yakubu

Subs
Those left

Clive Rogan
9 Posted 24/11/2007 at 11:14:32

What veritable riches the manager now has at his disposal! I can’t ever remember us having so many really great players to choose from in my 20 years as a regular supporter.All credit is due to Moyes as well as Kenwright and Wyness for supporting him.
Everton 5 Sunderland 0
COYB!

Neil McKinney
10 Posted 24/11/2007 at 11:58:42

If we can shut down Jones the we should be able to roll this lot over.

It would be good to see Baines start as I’d almost forgotten we had him. This is Yaks chance to get a brace and really get going.

However, I predict a scrappy battle. Sunderland will pack the midfield, probably leave KJ up on his own and try to hit on the break, therefore I wouldn’t go with Stubbs, I’d go with pace at the back.

We know we should be winning games like this so it adds a little pressure, but hopefully the lads will rise to it. Can’t agree with any team that doesn’t have Pienaar in, the lad’s been in fine form. If he was dropped it would have to be on the grounds of resting him because he’s really been putting in some hard work in the recent games.

Let’s have 3 points today please lads.

COYB!

Brian Noble
11 Posted 24/11/2007 at 12:11:10

Some people need to get real! Great,my arse,when we have the worst defensive record in the top half of the table.OK,we’re on a good run but to me that does not mean we are destined for success.Moyes has a lot more to do to prove he is anything other than a fairly good,methodical manager. As for the shysters at the top,their record of mis-management speaks for them!

Mark Pendleton
12 Posted 24/11/2007 at 12:20:21

My concern today is that Kenwyne Jones is exactly the sort of player who causes us problems. But, having said that i think we’ll be able to field a side that should be able to get the victory today. I think the team will be Howard in goal behind Hibbo, Stubbs, Lescott and Baines. The midfield i think will be Arteta, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar and Ossie and i think it’ll be Yak up front on his own. If Mikel fails to make it i can see Carsley in there. With a strong bench keeping them on their toes we’ll see, but a victory is a must with a tricky trick to Pompey up next....COYB!

John Lloyd
13 Posted 24/11/2007 at 13:30:12

Mike Nesbitt, have I just read that right? that our club is "controlled by some very astute businessmen" are you serious, have you not read the report above about the losses and reduced profits? With Wyness mumbling for excuses??
I hope he gets fucking crucified at the AGM, he is useless as a chief exec and thats aside from the kirkby project. Do a bit of research before you come out with SHITE like that mate.

While I’m at it, Sunderland are a well organised and hard working outfit, but we should beat them just dont for one minute think its gonna be a walk in the park, couple of goals & a clean sheet & I will be happy as Larry my friends. COYB

John Lloyd
14 Posted 24/11/2007 at 13:38:29

MIke dont mean to get on your back an that but I’ve just re-read your comment to see if I was being harsh (I wasn’t) and you also say Moyes is our greatest ever manager!!! Kendall & probably Catterick may have something to say about & I am a fan of DM.

So either there was a large portion of sarcasm with chips & curry or you are a little bit deluded pal.