ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Midfield concerns for Tuesday

Does anyone have ideas as to our midfield line up for the Chelsea game?

We only have Carsley and Cahill left, with Osman injured, Pienaar gone, Arteta suspended. Maybe just Carsely if Cahill is not passed fit.

I guess McFadden and Neville will be brought into midfield, but neither are really midfielders. We could turn to some of the youngsters, but the Semi Final of a cup is not really the right place.

Was hoping Fernandes would come in time, but that's not going to happen. I am really worried we are going to get rolled over in the first leg.
Stuart Mitchell, Milton Keynes Posted 07/01/2008 at 12:13:13

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Colm Kavanagh

Looks as though Moyesy is ready to test the mettle of Safa (and Fifa?) by playing Steven Pienaar, who has not travelled to Africa.

Stuart Mitchell
1 Posted 07/01/2008 at 13:28:51

The 14 day rule does not apply! so Fifa can block him from playing on Tues!

Stuart Mitchell
2 Posted 07/01/2008 at 13:30:30

I did not mention Gravesen, but is there really any point!!

Tony Williams
3 Posted 07/01/2008 at 13:41:31

Why doesn’t it apply?

I may be missing something here.

Not having a go, just curious about your statement

Allan Hobbs
4 Posted 07/01/2008 at 13:45:50

The SAFA will claim that the 14 day rule applies to the start of the tournament, not to the first game for the country concerned. If they do that, then FIFA have the power to stop him playing tomorrow night.

Stuart Mitchell
5 Posted 07/01/2008 at 13:48:18

This clears it up

http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_2670837.html?menu=

dave trudgeon
6 Posted 07/01/2008 at 13:48:40

I don’t think they’ll do that to be honest allan as the rule is for the game not the tournament.

Allan Hobbs
7 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:03:51

Dave, consider yourself ignored mate! ; )

Stuart Mitchell
8 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:09:22

So with Pienaar gone

Does anyone have any suggestions for our midfield line up tomorrow?

I am assuming Moyes will go

Cahill, Neville, Carsley, McFaddon

Or a 5 man mid with Gravesen joining those 4.

I really hope this does not happen. but bar a new signing today I am out of ideas.

I would have settled for a 3 man midfield of Cahill, Carsley, Fernandes with 3 up front of AJ, Yakubu and Anichebe, with AJ and Anichebe playing wide and moving in when needed.

Pete Dancer
9 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:19:51

On a different note... does anyone know if the game is on TV? Cheers.

Allan Hobbs
10 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:18:27

Only one thing for it to my mind; pack the midfield, stifle Chelsea and hope to bag one on the break. We cant afford to play 3 strikers, we’ll get murdered, even if they are missing Drogba, Essien, Obi Mikel and Kalou. Damage limitation under the circumstances I reckon is the best policy. Get out of there with a narrow defeat, or a draw and an away goal would be good.

Stuart Mitchell
11 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:29:28

The game is being shown on Sky Sports 1 at 7.30pm

Stuart Mitchell
12 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:30:37

Allan, you did not say who you would play in this packed midfield!

Chris Keightley
13 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:19:08

Stuart, no chance of Fernandes ? unless someone knows different ? and, as has been said in numerous threads before, we need midfield players Asap. Moyes seems to know what he's doing but the season could start spiralling if this is not addressed soon.

I can see us getting brushed aside tomorow night and that's a real shame. The only hope is that Moyes plays 5 across the midfield as Stuart suggested, maybe with AJ wide right McFadden left, with Cahill covering back and providing support for Yak, Carsley and fingers crossed Pienar in the middle. Back four of Neville Yobo Lescott and Baines. Howard in goal.

Allan Hobbs
14 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:34:14

Good spot Stuart; no flies on you mate!

Howard
Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott
Neville, Carsley, Jagielka, Gravesen, Cahill
Yakubu

Theres not much else we can do is there??

Chris Keightley
15 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:37:19

Howard
Neville Yobo Lescott Baines
Johnson Pienaar Carsley Cahill McFadden
Yakubu

Jos Jones
16 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:38:45

Would playing 5 along the back be an option, playing Hibbert and Baines as wing backs? It would also depend on the fitness of Yobo, if he is not available then there is always Alan Stubbs?

Howard
Jagielka Yobo Lescott
Hibbet Baines
Carsley
Neville McFadden
Cahill
Yakubu

Chris Keightley
17 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:45:03

Admit it, guys, you love my team selection pace skill and enough quality to snatch a draw.

Stuart Mitchell
18 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:45:07

I think the main thing to notice is just how much we are all struggling to name a team. So much for good squad depth this season.

I agree it has to be damage limitation and get a few midfielders in soon. I would go

Howard
Neville, Yobo, Jags, Lescott
AJ, Carsley, Cahill, Gravesen, Baines
Yakubu.

Rather not have Gravesen starting, but hey not many options.

Baines is a better bet than McFadden on the left as he can track back to LB when Lescott moves to CB to support Yobo and Jags.

Ant Mills
19 Posted 07/01/2008 at 14:59:16

Howard
Hibbert,Yobo,Lescott,Baines Pienaar,Carsley,Neville,Mcfadden Cahill
Yakubu
I?m not sure whether we should risk playing Jagielka in such a big game he got found out against Arsenal. Fingers crossed Pienaar can play and then we?ll av Arteta back after that. Moyes needs to sign a centre mid (Fernandes) and a left mid for wen Pienaar?s away because I?m not convinced about Mcfadden.

Jay Harris
20 Posted 07/01/2008 at 15:33:55

Hate to say it but Pienaar or not, Phil Neville will have to play in midfield unless we pull a rabbit (Fernades or AN Other) out of the hat. I also think we need the physical presence and athleticism of Lescott at left back to negate SWP.
Howard Hibbert Yobo Jagielka Lescott
McFadden Neville Carsley Cahill
Yakubu Anichebe
Won't happen; he?ll play AJ but I feel the only way to get a half-decent result is to pressure Chelsea and not sit back and defend and I feel Anichebe is better than anybody at making a nuisance of hinself.

Ian Turgoose
21 Posted 07/01/2008 at 16:01:45

Howard
Hibbert, Jags, Yobo, Lescott
Gravesen, Neville, Cahill, Carsley + McFadden
Yakubu

Ben Atkins
22 Posted 07/01/2008 at 16:13:53

It’s got to be this for my money.

Howard
Neville
Jags
Yobo
Lescott

Pienaar
Carsley
Cahill
Baines

Yak
Johnson

Tom Campbell
23 Posted 07/01/2008 at 16:25:18

Neville Yobo jagielka Lescott

Carsley

Johnson Graveson Peineer Baines

Cahill

Yak

David Smith
24 Posted 07/01/2008 at 17:06:34

Tom nice team but what about a goalie

Neil Styles
25 Posted 07/01/2008 at 17:13:57

Stuart you mentioned in your post that Manny Fernandes wont be here in time; so is that to suggest that he will arrive eventually? Have we got him?

Stuart Mitchell
26 Posted 07/01/2008 at 17:27:06

Neil I know as much as you, I am just assuming that we will get him once he has sorting his problems out (re: his arrest)

Stuart Mitchell
27 Posted 07/01/2008 at 17:38:46

Manny deal depends on Spanish police

Whether or not Manuel Fernandes joins Everton is apparenlty in the hands of Spanish police, according to reports eminating from around Valencia.

The talented Portugese play-maker was arrested last week for apparently stealing a policeman’s watch, or being sick in his hat, or using a traffic cone as a hat, or something else rich youngsters do when they’re not allowed to play football.

He was not allowed to leave Spain to complete the deal which will see him return to Everton on loan due to needing a Spanish judge’s permission to leave the country, and all of them being in bed - although not together, we presume. Aren’t online translations great?

Regardless, press reports in Spain continue to insist that everything is in place for Fernandes to return to Everton except his signature, which is being hindered by the police investigation. If only there was some kind of low-cost way of getting to Spain, perhaps by plane, so that Everton officials could go and get him to sign....

These reports, very badly translated on the internet, also insist that once the investigation is completed, that Fernandes will rejoin Everton on loan. They expect the investigation to take two weeks.

Paul Sherlock
28 Posted 07/01/2008 at 18:06:40

Howard

Neville Yobo Jagielka Lescott

AJ Gravsen Carsley Cahill Mcfadden/Vaughan

Yakubu

or how about playing with a sweeper? allowing lescott and neville to get forward

Howard

Stubbs
Neville Yobo Jagielka Lescott

AJ Carsley Cahill Mcfadden/Vaughan

Yakubu

Chris McCormack
29 Posted 07/01/2008 at 18:54:05

Nobody has even mentioned playing Andy van der Meyde or recalling de Silva. Or even bloody some of the youngsters like Viddarsson(sp?).

I wouldn’t play Gravesen until he has been on a very big diet. I’d honestly choose VDM over him based on his last 2 performances.

In fact, I’d even play Baines on left mid if I had to.

Hibbo - Yobo - Jags - Nuno

Carsley
Nevillie-Cahill-Baines-de Silva
Anichebe

James Andeson
30 Posted 07/01/2008 at 19:07:07

no lescott chris?

Howard

Hibbert Yobo Lescott Baines

Neville Carsley Cahill Tommy Faddy

Johnson

We’ve got to have someone to work tirelessly up front. Pace instead of braun (AJ instead of Yak) as he midfield aren’t going to get up quick enough to support (where’s the creativity?) Damage limitations with the 5 man midfield. Longball break away with Aj. I know its a negative veiw but lets get a draw at the bridge and get arteta and ossie back for the second leg and we’ll do them at Goodison!

Karl Masters
31 Posted 07/01/2008 at 19:17:02

Howard

Neville Yobo Lescott Valente

Carsley

Johnson Jagielka McFadden

Cahill

Yakubu

Keep the defence solid - back 6 all vital, then we have a base toi build on. Although they are missing Cech, Cuducini, Terry, Carvalho, Essien, Lampard, Drogba and Kalou we’ll still have a tough time and a draw will be a good result. That said, we can win and why not if we can avoid conceding early?

Mike Hughes
32 Posted 07/01/2008 at 19:14:48

Howard
Hibbert Yobo Lescott Valente
Carsley
Neville McFadden Cahill Baines
Yakubu

Subs - Wessels, Stubbs, Jagielka, AJ, Big Vic

Defence has got to be the main aim tomorrow away at Chelsea so 4-5-1 has to be the formation. I’d be happy with 0-0 or 0-1 defeat at worst. Anything more than a one goal deficit will be a challenge. I saw Gravesen against Arsenal and thought he was up his own ars*hole. By all accounts he was worse against Oldham. Drop him for good. My main worries are with Neville and McFadden giving the ball away though I don’t think we’ll have much of it tomorrow anyway so main aim is to stop them playing. Piennar is definitely out unfortunately.

Stuart Mitchell
33 Posted 07/01/2008 at 19:20:45

AVM is injured but De Silva is a good call, although not sure a semi final is the best place to test him out.

Stuart Mitchell
34 Posted 07/01/2008 at 20:19:13

Everton: Howard, Wessels, Hibbert, Neville, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, Baines, Valente, Carsley, Pienaar, Gravesen, McFadden, Johnson, Yakubu, Vaughan, Anichebe

Thats the squad list from the Offical Site.

I guess you can scratch Pienaar from that.

Bit worried that Cahill was not on the list!

Mike Hughes
35 Posted 07/01/2008 at 21:38:31

According to the BBC website, Cahill is fit and back in the squad.

Paul Gladwell
36 Posted 08/01/2008 at 10:19:12

AvdM ? Why do people persist with this shout ?
I think he is still at that New Year's Eve party on the Leasowe doing what he does best... Why can we not sack this gobshite?

Paul Niklas
37 Posted 08/01/2008 at 16:09:06

I want us to play Tom Campbells team.

Would that not be just great- rush goalie.?

Tom Campbell for the next England Manager

Sorry Tom-