ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Manny left?

I seem to remember Fernandes being employed down the left flank in one or two games last season - what money on him now fulfilling that role until Ossie or Pienaar make it back. As I recall he didn't look particularly comfortable out wide, so here's hoping some other options materialise and quick!
Andrew Humphrey, London Posted 19/01/2008 at 09:41:24

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Mick Simo
1 Posted 19/01/2008 at 10:57:28

Andrew I would say Fernandes is more an holding player, win tackles, protect the back four and distribute the ball calmly and effectively, reminds me a bit of Gilberto. He did play wide a few games, but that is not his position.

Mark Griffiths
2 Posted 19/01/2008 at 11:01:54

He could play Baines there or what about Valente? Good going forward, crap defender.

Any predictions for the team on Sunday?? I think it will be the same team as the City game, with Fernandes swapping Faddy?s place.

Steve Ferns
3 Posted 19/01/2008 at 11:10:49

I hope Manny stays in the middle where he belongs. I do fear that he will be "eased" back into the side my being asked to fill Peanuts boots. However, is there not a chance that little Leon will be available for a starting place?

I think Fernandes may well be a holding player in Portgual or Spain, but from what I saw last season, he is more of an all round midfielder. I think he lacks the strength, and is a bit short on tackling ablility when compared to someone like Carsley who is the perfect example of an English holding midfielder.

Perhaps, Fernandes can be the player that Gravesen always threatened to be. He?s got everything. I know I may have implied he can?t tackle above, but what I mean is that he is lacking when compared to a Carsley, but in a more traditional central role I feel he can do a job like Peter Reid. He only needs to get that drive, a determined winner?s attitude, consistency leadership qualities to add to his all round game and I feel we have a real world class midfielder on our hands.

It really is the mental side of his game that Fernandes needs to improve, and surely he will as he matures and gains experience.

But back to the main point - leave Manuel inside.

Mark Griffiths
4 Posted 19/01/2008 at 11:22:48

It seems Osman and AJ will not play accoding to the OS.

So, it could be Manny on the left, but Wigan are not Man U, so I would go for Baines on the left against his former employees!

Michael Hunt
5 Posted 19/01/2008 at 11:44:28

I think (assuming AJ and Ossie are out) Moyes should play Anichebe and Vaughan up front (working their nads off) and a central midfield 3 of Carsley, Fernandes and Cahill, with Arteta in a free role to defend and create as he wishes. The quality of players should am improved goal threat as we can outclass the workmanlike but inferior Wigan side. This may not be as aggressive as it sounds because the two young guns up top can defend when we don?t have the ball (more effectively than AJ and Yak are able). Failing this, Moyes should play Baines (if fit) on the left of Midfield with Arteta on the right, Big Vic or JV alone up front with the other on the bench to come on later as desired. We NEED to win this one to really get in amongst the CL places, so COYB!

Connor Rohrer
6 Posted 19/01/2008 at 14:03:04

Fernandes will have to play out wide if Osman is not fit. Its certainly not his favored position but he can do a job out there. He played wide right against Watford and wide left against Man utd and in both game he gave a decent account of himself. Kept the ball well and scored his goals etc but his future is defiantly in the middle.

What is all this bollocks about him being a holding midfielder? His attacking qualities far outweigh his defensive therefore his is a more attacking player. I have no doubts he could play in the holding role as he has a decent defensive game but it would limit him. He’s the only player in the squad bar Gravesen who can spot a through ball and dictate the pace of a game. The likes of Arteta, Pienaar and Osman can pass a ball but they dont have as much vision as Fernandes in terms of spotting the killer pass. They are better in there short passing than there long passing so to speak.

I expect the midfield against Wigan to be Arteta, Neville, Carsley and Fernandes with Cahill playing of the striker but when we have everyone back Fernandes should play in the middle.

Tom Carter
7 Posted 19/01/2008 at 14:32:16

Lets just hope nobody jumps on the bandwagon of "get Fernandes out" like they did with McFadden for playing out of position and not living up to it.

Gavin Ramejkis
8 Posted 19/01/2008 at 16:27:25

Tom, after four years I think McFadden was forgetting himself what his best position was! He must have had plenty of chances in training or the reserves to show DM his best position. In fairness he played better in internationals due to the fact it?s a different game where he had a free roaming role behind the striker(s) and not closed down, the EPL doesn?t give that opportunity.

I don?t wish the lad badly I just dont think his feet lived up to what his brain thought they were capable of. Fernandes has undoubted quality and skills and still has to win over some fans after the summer but that's what football will always be about ? winning over the fans who pay your wages. In this day and age I wont deny booing players who are shite or not pulling their weight as I pay a slice of those huge wages the fans could only dream of.

Andy Macfarlane
9 Posted 19/01/2008 at 18:35:14

I don?t personally see Manny as a replacement / successor to Lee Carsley. I don?t think he has the tackling or defensive heading power to do that role in the Premier League. Once Piennar is back, I see the first choice midfield "four" as Carsley, Fernandes, Arteta, and Piennar, with Cahill playing the attacking link role, Manny the "up and down" bridge between Cahil and Carsley as the holding player, and Arteta and Piennar given licence to attack wide and swap wings. No disrespect to Ossy, but I think he may not start as first choice. So, we still need a dominant replacement for the incredibly "unsung heroe" Lee Carsley, in due course.

Tom Carter
10 Posted 19/01/2008 at 19:10:21

Gavin, you're missing the point: I never said McFadden was any good. I'm stating a fact that if Fernandes is played out of position don't read to much into it if he doesn?t have the best of games. You can?t judge a player if he?s not playing were he should be, that is what the post is about mate.

Mick Simo
11 Posted 19/01/2008 at 19:33:27

Fernandes as been primed for that position holding midfield player, ask Jose, he rates him as the new Claude Makelele, Moyes might play him on the left or center mid, but he is a holding midfield player. That is where he plays for the U21s

Connor Rohrer
12 Posted 19/01/2008 at 19:44:42

Mick, he just isn’t a holding midfielder. Mourinho made that statement a number of years ago and whilst he might has been primed for the holding role then he isn’t now.

I’ve seen him play for Everton, Benfica, Valencia and the Portugal under 21s and he has never played what I would call a defensive role. In one game against Holland in the under 21s he played a deeper role but it was hardly defensive. Miguel Veloso also seemed to be playing the holding role from what I saw.

Anyway, he will never be a defensive midfielder with us as he has to many good attacking qualites to waste in a limited role.

Anthony Newell
13 Posted 19/01/2008 at 20:37:47

You actually gave me a fright when I first saw that headline, I thought he’d buggered off again!

Seriously though, I don’t care where he plays as long as he is in the side tomorrow and Neville reverts to RB

Nicholas Marsh
14 Posted 19/01/2008 at 20:54:31

Manny will play right wing with Arteta playing on the left I think. As for the "is he a defensive midfielder or an attacking one", can he not be both? I know it sounds simple but when he has the ball, attack; when he doesn't, leg it back and defend! SWP came off after 30 mins, is he injured? Goodison is going to be amazing when we beat Chelsea.

Mark Griffiths
15 Posted 19/01/2008 at 20:56:54

Just seen on Sky that Vogel, who has left Betis and is a free agent, has been offered to Sunderland but they declined.

A few months back he was coming to us, I wonder why Moyes does not seem interested in him now??

Ben Thomas
16 Posted 19/01/2008 at 21:13:55

I think Moyes wont play Fernandes wide he isn’t one apart from McFadden and Lescott alone to play people out of position so he knows Fernandes will belong in a center midfield role. tomorrow it will look like this:
Carsley Neville
Arteta Fernandes
Cahill
or something like that. or neville to move up a bit.

Roy Coyne
17 Posted 20/01/2008 at 00:42:04

Hopefully Mark we have someone else lined up or maybe he wants to high a wage

Jay Harris
18 Posted 20/01/2008 at 02:59:48

I agree with Ben Thomas and would expect the following line up
Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Lescott Baines/Valente
Neville Carsley Fernandes Cahill Arteta
AJ/Vaughan