ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

The spine of the team.

After witnessing today's debacle it's obvious our squad is not as good as some might have thought (Moyes incuded). Yobo is about to leave for Africa which leaves us with Stubbs, who is clearly past it; Lescott, who seems more comfortable at left back; and Jagielka, who is clearly not of Premier League standard yet.

Couple this with the possibilty of Howard getting injured we are left with Worzel Gummidge in goal ? remember 1986 when Big Nev got injured? it destroyed our hopes of the double. For me we need a keeper who is better standard than Wessels, even if it is just to keep Howard on his toes, and an experienced short term replacement for Yobo as Stubbs is no longer the answer.

If Moyes does nothing in the window then we will get what we deserve if things do go pear-shaped in the next month or so. We are still handily placed; let's not throw it away now Moyes.
Colin Hughes, Norris Green Posted 05/01/2008 at 23:52:43

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Ben Houghton
1 Posted 06/01/2008 at 09:37:17

Theres nothing like a healthy dose of optimism/realism......and that post was nothing like a healthy dose of optimism/realism.

How many times has Howard got injured? I don’t think Wessels is going to be a problem....
Lescott better at left back? Truth is, he’s one of the best defenders in the country and who can play both positions comfortably.
Stubbs past it? Ok he’ll get done for pace all day but so would Dave Watson. Stubbs experience marshalls the defence.
Jagielka has been the recipient of some fine praise for recent performances recently showing he’s adapting to the higher standards Everton demands over Sheff Utd. Sure he’s made mistakes but lets not go down the scapegoat road.

Our strongest team would have to play out there skins against Chelski to get a result so lets not go barracking Moyes for a lack of transfer activity when we’re 5 days into the month as this time last month would anyone really have expected our midfield to be as decimated as it is now? (Pienaar aside, ANC).
Tuesdays result will be won or lost on the strength of our midfield. Personally I expect Cahill fit and starting, beyond that I worry for the creativity. However, as ever, until the final whistle goes I shall be cheering the lads on! COYB

Patty Beesley
2 Posted 06/01/2008 at 10:18:23

Personally I think Davey did the right thing against Oldham.... the second stream he had on the field should have beaten Oldham and it was a wise move to rest our "best" players for the game against Chelsea. What would you rather be in - the final of the League Cup with the hope of winning or the 4th round of the FA Cup. I know what I would choose.

The only first team player I would have left in was Howard. I think he might have made a fingertip save of McDonald?s goal and what a cracker that was.

Andy Brittenden
3 Posted 06/01/2008 at 10:51:34

Still can’t belive that DaSilva didn’t get a sniff yesterday. All that time it took to get him here we hardly see him. I’ve read it on here before that he could be a useful player for us

Brendan George
4 Posted 06/01/2008 at 13:04:02

What we need is a midfield general, first and foremost ? that is the backbone of any good team. Every top team has one; Liverpool have Gerrard, Man Utd have Scholes, Arsenal have Fabregas, Chelsea have Lampard. The thing is, purchasing one won?t come cheap.

Dave Charles
5 Posted 06/01/2008 at 13:05:17

That team was good enough to beat Oldham. It’s obvious when Arteta is out, we are limited in creating from midfield. Carsley, by his own addmission knows he’s no playmaker but does a good job breaking other teams down. I don’t think Gravesens return is going to be what we all hoped for. If the Fernandes rumours are correct, it will be step in the right direction.

We have played well over the last couple of months. It was annoying that the old hoof and hope came back into our play against Oldham. It got us no where but we kept on at it.

I hope it was a one off and Tuesday, we can back to what has been getting us noticed.

Allan Hobbs
6 Posted 06/01/2008 at 16:05:11

Looks promising...

Valencia agree to sign Argentine midfielder Banega
MADRID, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Valencia have agreed to sign Argentine midfielder Ever Banega on a five and a half year deal from Boca Juniors, the Primera Liga team said on Saturday.
Boca announced on Thursday they had agreed to sell the highly-rated 19-year-old to Valencia for a fee of 18 million euros ($26.50 million).
Banega, who had a medical on Saturday, is expected to fill the gap left by former Valencia captain David Albelda and out-of-favour Portugal international Manuel Fernandes.
Coach Ronald Koeman has told Albelda he will not play for the club again this season while Fernandes, dropped this week after being involved in an incident at a local nightclub, is expected to leave this month.

Brendan George
7 Posted 06/01/2008 at 17:02:48

The Manuel Fernandes and Everton episode is like a Richard Burton-Elizabeth Taylor saga. Let’s hope the marriage works out second time around, if the wedding is going to happen.

Steve Williams
8 Posted 06/01/2008 at 18:19:21

For God’s sake stop bleating man!

We’re on the best run for years - sure the football isn’t great at times but we’re not alone; City, RS, Chesea and even Utd have had games when things haven’t gone well.

We’re the paupers of the PL so why should we be any different?

The team yesterday was spot on for me - it should have been able to dispose of Oldham easily. The reason they didn’t was more a question of attitude than ability. Too many players were fooled into thinking they just needed to turn up (the only thing I picked up on was perhaps a mode of relaxation was offered by the team selection - it was up to Moyes and the coaches to make sure that the attitude was right).

In any event we just need to make sure we’re still in the tie after Tuesday. Even if we are, I still doubt the moaners will shut up. COYB!

Alan Rycroft
9 Posted 06/01/2008 at 19:47:01

I think we should all let by-gones be by-gones. Yes, every team has off days and yesterday’s farce was that for the Evers. Look at man U. at West Ham! Oldham rode their luck a real necessity in football and played their hearts out, they couldn’t repeat that week in week out. They wanted to win more than Everton did. Anyhow I for one am not lamenting, our somewhat threadbare squad soon to be even more threadbare couldn’t cope with being in FA cup and UEFA and Premier League etc. and if we by some miracle get past Tuesday!... Please may the footie gods provide us the gift of mannie fernandes - he would make a real difference.! As the lads are short on skill in midfield at times.