ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Question of Balance

What did today's game at the JJB highlight? Firstly that we are capable of winning when not playing well ? which is always a sign of a good team. 12 wins away from home this season proves our resoluteness and determination.

However, today's match also illustrated some potentially worrying aspects. Firstly, we seemed a SMALL team and Wigan caused us lots of problems in the air ? good job that Lescott and Jagielka were up to it. I actually thought Bruce missed a trick when he brought off Heskey and replaced him with Sibierski as I wasn't quite certain how our defence would have coped against Heskey, Bent, Sibierski and Scharner from set pieces.

Secondly, we were frequently knocked off the ball in midfield. We do have some lively but lightweight midfielders. The heavy pitch really slowed down our midfield and negated their superior touch. We certainly need some athleticism and muscle in midfield.

Thirdly, we don't seem to have a natural target man anymore (even when Yakubu plays). When we do hump the ball long (mercifully less so these days) we seem to rely on Cahill to contend for the ball. Well he's great at arriving late to score with headers but when jumping from a standing start, he's understandably not so good ? although he competes manfully. Perhaps this is why he looks so knackered these days?

Obviously these aspects are not hitting us too hard at the moment and hopefully Moyes is looking to bring in players with these attributes to complement what is looking like a very promising squad.

Final thought as we approach Wednesday night ? how come Chelsea have an extra day's rest before such a big game? TV dictating schedules again!
Ray Robinson, Warrington Posted 20/01/2008 at 20:38:13

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Comments

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Chung Meng Hong
1 Posted 20/01/2008 at 21:25:26

Spot on! To compete consistently in this League we need to have players with different skills. Our team will be more unpredictable. Hope someone involve in the club read this.

Well written!

Dave Kelly
2 Posted 20/01/2008 at 22:10:59

Heskey had a back injury,thats why he was subbed.

Peter Pridgeon
3 Posted 20/01/2008 at 22:48:12

I thought it was because Heskey is shite, has been shite and always will be shite, in fact he played for the shite so he must be shite

Stuart Duncan
4 Posted 20/01/2008 at 22:44:56

Wonder who Moyes will play against Chelsea. I don?t think today?s selection will open up the Chelsea defence. I would like to see Manny in from the off with Neville at right back. I also think that big Vic would give their defence more trouble than AJ.

Paul Ramsey
5 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:04:07

This article misses the point? Yes, we did not play great football today; yes, the only time Wigan looked dangerous (if that word can even be ascribed to Wigan) was in the air, but we were always more than comfortable throughout the match in every aspect of the game. We never looked like conceding and I always thought we would steal a goal on the break or through adventrous complacency from Wigan. Which we did?

We do not need a target man, especially if that target man cannot play football. We are a team now that is designed to play football and attractive football at that. The Arsenal game being but one example. But, despite being a small midfield, it is a solid midfield, with great skill. The use of body shape to win the ball through the guile of Osman and Arteta has always impressed me.

Ask yourself this, would you prefer a worse player with more strength and greater height that offers less to our current style of play? NO?

Let us bring back Marcus Bent if you want a strong tall guy who might cause trouble in the box or act as a target man?

Let us see the return of Alex Nyarko if you want a tall strong shite midfielder?

I seem to recall Arsenal and Man Utd not having particularly big midfielders or target men in their team?

We are currently at a juncture in the club's fortunes, one signalled by the departure of James McFadden, whereby we are no longer in the need to buy players mearly to bolster the squad, or offer different attributes; we need players that can better the first eleven, offer extra quality.

Jimmy Changa
6 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:23:34

Maybe we should sign Peter "Timmayyyyy" Crouch? Target man if ever I’ve seen one, and good on the deck "for his size"

Also I’ve heard that there is a lad called Ferguson who loves the club and would play for free... can’t be that bad a gamble eh

Steve Hogan
7 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:25:30

Good point you make Ray about the physical aspect of Everton’s midfield mini’s.

On a quagmire of a pitch today we were out-muscled on numerous occassions by inferior but bigger players.

I notice Wenger has made a point in recent years of always recruiting and selecting (mostly) very athletic and robust players who can all play football.

In the past, you could ’get at’ Arsenal, but not any more, if you kick them, they will simply go toe to toe with you.

I feel we miss out in this dept, particularly in the middle of the park

Rich Pembs
8 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:19:26

For winning headers, Vaughan is one of the most effective strikers that plays in the Premiership.
Cahill when attacking the goal is also exceptionally effective, and not just relatively for his size.
But for flick-ons and challenging for the ball, Vaughan is top class - it’s all in the timing. Something Yakubu is abysmal at. The guy can’t even jump!

All the same, I think a free transfer target man striker would be nice for the option, but not something we need to progress as a squad.
It’s a relief that the long ball is so much less of an option these days and finally we avoid playing the ’Duncan Ferguson’ football that so characterised the 90s and beyond. For so long it seemed our only goal threat would come from a corner or free kick.

I read today that the Premiership team average of goals scored from set pieces is 26% and ours is only 13%. What a turnaround!

Agreed we need more height in midfield though. We would be even more effective at set pieces and we do sometimes struggle against big physical sides when defending them too.

It’s no coincidence that Pompey are so tough to play these days now that they have a team stacked full of stacked Africans! Strong, fast and athletic - we need more of that in midfield to complement the lovely options we already have.
With that one Maekele-type player I think we are serious top 4 favourites rather than ’mere’ contenders!

Dick Fearon
9 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:52:06

AJs usual tactic of going hell for leather at every opportunity creates a huge space between him and potential support.
Cahill who is supposed to lend that support has to go like the clappers merely to get within passing distance.
We do need a target man that could retain possession until the cavalry arrived.

Paul Coleman
10 Posted 21/01/2008 at 00:03:00

Talking about Cahill, I am finding him a bit one dimentional.
A fantastic buy, who scores goals but when he is not scoring, like today what else does he do.
I think someone like the much touted Arshavin, put in Cahills place would score nearly as many, retain posession better (thus conceding less) and provide more assists, win more free kicks etc.
In fact to put in bluntly, I thought todays midfield was a load of shite. Neville frustrated the life out of me. The general inability to retain possesion was abysmal. Everytime we won the ball we gave it back to Wigan.
But we are 4th so who cares - NSNO

Michael Tracey
11 Posted 21/01/2008 at 01:46:01

I thought that the only 2 players that constantly gave the ball away today were the usual suspects. Hibbert is a fucken joke and Neville continually gave it way. Should have been Neville RB (at least he can cross) and Fernandes in Midfield. We did win but I was concerned especially when Hibbert got himself another pointless yellow card. Cahill did run and run and saved a goal as well. Not one of his best games but he was ceratinly no worse than others. We need a RB and another holding CM and I think one other ? then we have a very good side.

Dominic Duerden
12 Posted 21/01/2008 at 06:41:41

A great result and Lescott has to be the best centre half in the country at the moment, he is formidable. What a difference having Lescott to marshall Heskey, Davey Weir used to have a nightmare against him, but Lescott was brilliant.

I would like to see us playing two up front, with Hibbert dropped, Neville right back and then Cahill and Carsley in centre midfied. I can not understand why Moyes substitutes Neville, surely it is obvious to sub Hibbo and move Phil to right back?

Dan J
13 Posted 21/01/2008 at 09:52:39

Yeah Chelski played a day early but they had to travel to Birmingham whilst we had a short trip to Wigan.

Plus they also have to travel to us on tuesday.

It could have been a lot worse for us.

Mark Griffiths
14 Posted 21/01/2008 at 10:45:59

Could well be another lie of a transfer, but Sean Davis???

Can anyone tell how he would improve our squad if there is any truth in it??

We need to buy at least one quality player this JAN, but it has to be someone who will improve the squad!!

Sorry but Sean Davis is not as good as anyone we have, he is Koumas in disguise.

According to sky, Arshavin really wants to come to england and the three clubs are us, newcastle marseille (not in prem i know).

This Arshavin transfre seems to be picking up speed, but in which direction i do not know!!

Probably go to Keegan and Ashleys love pad for £15m!

James Elworthy
15 Posted 21/01/2008 at 11:48:57

Marseilles are not even in England never mind the Prem

Jimmy Hoffa
16 Posted 21/01/2008 at 08:03:17

I saw the Wigan goal again, and I must say it?s not Tim Howard?s fault.

He was going for the ball and he got blocked by a few guys going for the same ball.

I think the ref should?ve call for roughness on the goalkeeper