ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Moyes improving as well?

The squad is obviously improving, but I wonder if anyone else senses that the manager is improving as well?

We can?t see what goes on off the field, butt we can see substitutions. Can?t prove it, but I just know that in his early years Moyes responded to game situations only after they had gone against us. We went behind, we switched to 4-4-2 : attempted rescue. Once in a while it worked, mostly it was too late.

OK, the options on the bench were not what we have now. But in the last two games Moyes has made substitutions when we have been ahead and has changed to 4-4-2 because (I guess) he saw that we were getting swamped and couldn?t get the ball out of our half. Each time it has stemmed the tide and could easily have resulted in a goal to finish the game — but at the very least it took some pressure off our defence.

Ferguson is a master of substitutions to change the game before a crisis. Wenger? You can see a sub and change of plan coming in the crease of his brow.

I feel Moyesy has moved up a notch recently in his reading of the game and confidence and is making changes before damage is done. Am I the only one to think so?

Afterthought — could it help his decisiveness that he has no-one to consult now Irvine has gone?
Peter Hall, Wirral Posted 20/01/2008 at 21:42:56

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Jack Johnson
1 Posted 20/01/2008 at 22:58:01

No question Moyesey has improved as well as the squad Peter. Still only 44 and if you ask me he?s already one of the Prems elite managers. Looking back at today?s game, it was ugly but we won. That wouldn?t have happened so much in the past. Our ability to dictate the pace of games has helped as well, something I believe you learn by playing more regularly in Europe. I thought Moyes?s decision to keep Manny on the bench today was a fine move as well. A lot of managers would have played Fernandes today considering how depleted our midfield is. Moyes obviously sensed it was not the game for Manny, taking the nature of Wigan?s play and the pitch into account. Playing Ossie was a great move. Come on you blues!!

Peter Pridgeon
2 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:13:03

I agree with Jack here in as much as not playing Fernandes, I was impressed with that decision, Fernandes will need to prove to Moyes that he has the desire to succeed. However in saying this I felt he could have brought Anichebe on for either the ineffective Cahill or the tiring Osman, as when Vaughan was introduced for the rather average Phil Neville the game started to change. Goal difference may well be the deciding factor in a champions league place come the end of the season

Chris. R
3 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:26:06

Peter
I think you hit the nail on the head about Irvine. Since he left we have taken a leap forward.

Matt Lavery
4 Posted 20/01/2008 at 23:39:00

Great result today, especially when we were under some pressure from a brute team such as Wigan. I have been impressed by Moyes this season with his pro-active approach as opposed to the reactive response that we’ve seen too many times from Everton managers over the years. Personally I think Moyes has done a fantastic job and long may it continue.

My main reason for writing however has to be the continued stance that Cahill had a poor game today. I don’t know if people were watching the same game as me but even though he didn’t get to grips on the offensive side of things as well as he has been recently, I thought he was brilliant in defensive situations today. There were a number of near goal line clearances and headers today which made me think twice about this idea that he is more of an attacker than a midfielder. True he’s not the trickiest player we have or the best passer but I thought he was fantastic helping back today.

Very impressed with Osman today as well considering he’s been out for a while and played the whole 90. My only concern at the moment is Howard... I don’t know if he’s having difficulties vocally at the moment but there doesn’t seem too much confidence from him coming for kicks or crosses... made apparent when Lescott cleared the ball into the stands in the first half where normally the ball would have been played backwards. Still, he’s a good keeper I just think he’s off form personally.

Anyway up the blues and bring on the Romans ... COYBB!!

Peter Bourke
5 Posted 21/01/2008 at 01:01:54

Agree, Matt, on your analysis of Cahill. People seem to not notice the amount of work he does in defence. I can?t count the number of times in recent games he has saved us off the line, etc.

I also think Moyes is developing nicely as a manager and he is still very young.Funny how some people have gone very quiet, even though this topic is an invitation for another round of Moyes bashing. Who was it that said Bruce was a far better manager than Moyes and we would do better to have him?????

Gavin Harris
6 Posted 21/01/2008 at 05:36:37

Hi think you are dead right. I have been thinking the same. He is turning into one fine manager.

Keith Harrison
7 Posted 21/01/2008 at 08:03:58

Agreed that Davey is definitely maturing at, for him, an alarming rate this season, and wether this is to do with a vastly superior squad than when he came, or losing Alan Irvines’ negativity as suggested by others, I don’t really care.

I do, however, still think he does not fully use subs to our best advantage. The number of games where I feel fresh legs would give us impetus (Chelsea, yesterday) and we end up only putting one guy on very late on does not really help us. I know the pitch was heavy and Wigan are physical, but would giving Manny 15 minutes for Ossie or even Carsley have lost us the game? These guys have to play a semi-final on Wednesday, and Manny could have done with a taster, and one of the starters given a breather.

Moyes was asked about this by the BBC (it wasn’t shown on MOTD, but is on the BBC website), and he stated he thought players were better playing the full 90 minutes to get them match fit for Wednesday.

Not sure I agree there, but hey, he’s the manager, and I’m one very happy supporter. Bring on Wednesday.

COYB, FTRS

James Elworthy
8 Posted 21/01/2008 at 10:06:14

I also think Cahill had a poor game. What annoys me about him is his constant appealing to the ref for fouls and he stops playing waiting for the whistle which never happens. I wish he would get on with it.

I thought the introduction of Vaughan was a good substitution he took the pressure of Johnson and gave us another outlet, he is a willing runner and I would like to see him start up front with Johnson at the expense of Neville in the next league game, as Hibbert is banned Neville would be at right back.

Jimmy Millican
9 Posted 21/01/2008 at 11:05:35

Since Moyes joined the Blues I have not doubted him, Bar the beggining of the season, when our European adventure nearly never took off. I think that Moyes was himself injected with self-confidence as a manager when we got past Metalist.

I noticed it in his interviews he seems very cocky and confident, not quite Jose style but still he tries his little jokes and always corrects the interviewer.

His substitutions seem to work even though I always feel we should get them on a bit sooner but I am no manager and I am not going to argue the toss.

I just see us going from strength to strength with Moyes but we need to get him to sign that contract because it end the end of the season.

Also did anyone think that Vaughan looked very sluggish when he came on. I was in the stands and he didnt seem quite as speedy as usual but that may have been the pitch???

Richard Parker
10 Posted 21/01/2008 at 13:50:32

Matt Lavery, I would suggest that the state of the pitch probably had a big part in Lescott’s decision not to play the ball back. Sound judgement if you ask me.

Peter Hall
11 Posted 21/01/2008 at 22:24:16

Thanks for your responses, I think they suggest that Moyesy could be on a run himself.

On the Irvine point, I don’t mean to criticise the ex assistant , I just think that when you’ve got someone to consult you can waste time consulting him when you know in your heart what to do. Almost out of politeness.