ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

James McFadden in midfield

After a more-than-satisfactory display playing in midfield and pitching in with a well-taken goal, has David Moyes found a new midfielder in James McFadden?

I know it was only one game and it was a less-than-impressive Middlesborough for opposition, but I thought he worked hard, tackled back well, passed inteligently, and linked up well in counter-attacks. What more do you need from a midfielder?

Should Moyes risk giving him more exposure at playing in midfield, or look for midfielders in the transfer market.... or both?
Brian Baker, Aldershot Posted 03/01/2008 at 10:24:13

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Gavin Ramejkis
1 Posted 03/01/2008 at 13:52:45

I’ve a feeling he will play him there again on Saturday and maybe try to rest Pienaar for the potentially tougher game against Chelski if he gets the nod to fly out late to the ACoN. I thought he did ok and started to pass the ball rather than his old trying to get past one player too many, certainly linked up with AJ very well for the second.

Dan Mckie
2 Posted 03/01/2008 at 14:13:59

Dont think Moyes has much of a choice but to play him at the moment so I hope Jimmy Mac can start to do the biz on the pitch! We may even see him being forced to play Andy VDM in the coming weeks if he doesnt manage to sign more midfielders (although I think Moyes will start himself before shandy gets another game) :)

Declan O'Shaughnessy
3 Posted 03/01/2008 at 14:48:41

Was I the only one who thought that McFadden?s goal against Boro summed up everything that drives supporters mad about him? Made good initial progress with the ball. Drew the defenders. Then should have passed to an open and screaming for the ball Yakubu, but instead carried the ball too far and only saw the narrow option of Johnson. I thought he was very lucky to get the ball back and score.

But I?m probably just being overly critical! I prefer Mcfadden in midfield, but I think the lad needs confidence building. He needs to trust his first touch (assuming that lack of confidence is all that?s wrong with his first touch of course), get his head up, keep it simple and move the ball on quickly to another blue shirt. I?m not sure he?s ever going to do it though, sad to say.

Jim Hourigan
4 Posted 03/01/2008 at 15:26:54

I too thought his goal had more than a hint of good fortune, the pass from AJ was also a little fortunate as it almost looked like a piece of poor control. However, with some of the luck we have been getting so far this season I will take any on offer.

As for McFadden’s overall performance I thought it was only satisfactory. I watched him warming up and his body language looked poor, his shooting was wayward beforehand and his mind was clearly on other things (Phil O’Donnell). Perhaps this distraction stopped the dribbling and made him more of a team player - who knows?. I also think he will play on saturday, with one or two other fringe players, but as for a regular place in midfield then I think not. He doesn’t have the work ethic that Moyes demands from his midfield players and I still think that he is best suited to a forwards role, his awareness of runners is not good and no one could seriously say they have seen him put in 2 good tackles in a match. For me he is still a complete enigma and I don’t know if he will ever cut it or will suddenly blossom into a quality player - how many chances do you give a player like this?

Danny Militwitch
5 Posted 03/01/2008 at 17:09:59

To me he is and always will be a nearly man at Everton. "The Scottish Rooney" is not a good enough Premier league class striker and he is not a good enough premier league class midfielder.
He would excel in the SPL but for me he will never cut the mustard here. I think that the Phil O Donnell death was clearly affecting his mood before the match, and by the looks of his interview, afterwards aswell. I like what the lad has given us, but in my opinion I think that his market value will never be higher than what we could get for him now, and if we did cash in we could plough that into the coffers for other players.
Dont forget he is fast approaching mid twenties now and should have shown enough to be a regular if hewas good enough.

Keith Glazzard
6 Posted 03/01/2008 at 18:08:54

Enigma - ’a statement with a hidden meaning to be guessed’ (I just looked it up).

Faddy qualifies for that like mad for us. Goal of the season last year and the goal that, according to Moyes, kept him as our manager (vs Metallisk). He was put into midfield in a struggling side when he came. He now shapes up to the ball and his opponents in a very individual way. And he upsets them (as Tim does). He is a gifted, very skillful player. I think we will keep him if we can.

Barry Stevens
7 Posted 03/01/2008 at 21:52:33

We should sell Faddy now, like Danny said, while his market value is good. When he first joined I was creaming in my pants after his first 2 games. I even went as far as to tell anyone that would listen that he was better than Rooney. Now, he just reminds me of the cheetah in Bedknobs and Broomsticks ? you know the one, gets the ball, puts his head down and just runs down the line, not realising he lost the ball 50 yards back. He can't tackle or head the ball, always tries to go outside his man... Fair enough, his goal last year was quality but you can't just keep hoping. Sell him to Rangers in a swap for Alan Hutton

Dan Johnson
8 Posted 04/01/2008 at 10:25:14

lets face it as our squad improves Faddy is going to become more and more of a squad player. The guy is in his mid 20?s so hes as good as hes ever going to get.

I think hes a great player to have in the squad tho he can play midfield and also as a striker. Hes always capable of nicking a goal as well.

SO there you have it Faddy= a quality squad player nothing more.