The Mail Bag
(T)rouble at mill??
Comments (14)
The best pound-for-pound team just got devalued against the Rouble. So does that mean we are really in the sub-prime bracket? well on balance, imho no.
We, as in Moyes and the team, seem to be slowly learning how not to lose, ie Wigan, West Ham etc. But the fact remains we have still to beat a team from the otherside of the glass ceiling.
A trip to Wembley would have been nice and since Spurs won we would have fancied our chances, no mental block there.
So it's back to the PL to try and get some momentum and confidence going to keep 4th place, whilst giving Manny time to get some games under his belt. All the better for some more Uefa jam on our 'plain' PL bread and butter.
Derek Thomas, Posted 24/01/2008 at 03:49:53
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Jimmy Hoffa
2 Posted 24/01/2008 at 08:46:01
2 Posted 24/01/2008 at 08:46:01
Chelsea is probably the best team in Europe right now and we?re second to them.
So here are a few of the realistic targets:
a. WIn UEFA Cup for this year
b. Finish 3rd or 4th this in the PL this year. If we can beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelski again at home.
c. Qualify for CL next year.
It?s not too bad. We?ll be getting back Pienaar in a few week?s time anyways
So here are a few of the realistic targets:
a. WIn UEFA Cup for this year
b. Finish 3rd or 4th this in the PL this year. If we can beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelski again at home.
c. Qualify for CL next year.
It?s not too bad. We?ll be getting back Pienaar in a few week?s time anyways
Paul McMullan
3 Posted 24/01/2008 at 08:30:04
3 Posted 24/01/2008 at 08:30:04
Last night showed up the difference between the haves and the have-nots.
Chelsea may have been missing the guts of their first team but over the 2 legs it was obvious that their ’squad’ players were more than capable. They were fit to bring in guys like SWP and Malouda who between then cost £34m. That’s more than our team last night cost.
Chelsea lost a tall athletic striker to the ACON but were fit to go out and spend £15m on a striker with simlilar qualities. We lost a striker as well but unfortunately we hadn’t a hope of replacing him. I would go as far a saying that there is only a handful of strikers in the Premiership who would have the capability to play the exacte role Yak does for us. Adebayor, Drogba and Anelka are 3 who come to mind.
I find it hard to be critical of Moyes or the team when faced with these hard facts. We can’t afford to spend 10 or £11m on squad players which is why we tend to be found found wanting against the top 3 sides.
Chelsea may have been missing the guts of their first team but over the 2 legs it was obvious that their ’squad’ players were more than capable. They were fit to bring in guys like SWP and Malouda who between then cost £34m. That’s more than our team last night cost.
Chelsea lost a tall athletic striker to the ACON but were fit to go out and spend £15m on a striker with simlilar qualities. We lost a striker as well but unfortunately we hadn’t a hope of replacing him. I would go as far a saying that there is only a handful of strikers in the Premiership who would have the capability to play the exacte role Yak does for us. Adebayor, Drogba and Anelka are 3 who come to mind.
I find it hard to be critical of Moyes or the team when faced with these hard facts. We can’t afford to spend 10 or £11m on squad players which is why we tend to be found found wanting against the top 3 sides.
Brian Waring
4 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:18:39
4 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:18:39
I don’t understand how you cannot be critical over the game last night? We are chasing the game, but we decide to go with one up front, and then for the first 20 mins continue to just twat the ball up to AJ, who is being marked by 2 6foot plus defenders, what is the sense in that? We were bad in open play, giving the ball away too much. People keep mentioning how much the team Chelsea put out cost. But, if you look at the teams man for man, I wouldn’t say they were much better than us. It was all down to tactics, and Grant had it spot on, and Moyes never, that’s why they won. We have gone out of the cup with a whimper. We can be proud of how far we have come in this competition, but to say you were proud of the team last night is a joke, over the 2 legs Chelsea were by far, far, far the better team. If people think we are getting closer to the top 4, they need to dream on. Also, this is no knee - jerk reaction, just reality.
jimmy hoffa
5 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:49:37
5 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:49:37
I felt that DM never should’ve played Fernandez but i bet he was taking a chance with him.
If Fernandez had shone last night, thing’ll be very much different.
Arteta and Cahill was shackled, and Osman was never effective against Chelski anyways.
So the burden is on Fernandez and DM must’ve known that.
If Fernandez played a bit more flair, Chelski’s defence could’ve been pried open.
But he had been outta game for a long time and he needs to regain his touch.
Having said that, I think Petr Chek is the reason why Chelski won last night.
mark-chester
6 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:36:15
6 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:36:15
Frst off, i am proud of the performance last night, they could not have give any more, ossie and arteta looked shagged at the end, every player had either a good game or near good game.
Yes there may have been times when we may have been a little more creative and cunning but the lads had to be so careful of the counter attack and Chelsea are a very good team.
I thought manny played very deep last night but had a good game for the first 30 mins but started to make the odd mistake in the second half, but that will come better with match fitness.
Overall, we were beaten by the better team a very good team and i think by next season we really need a few class signings if we are going to try and break that top 4 monopoly.
Yes there may have been times when we may have been a little more creative and cunning but the lads had to be so careful of the counter attack and Chelsea are a very good team.
I thought manny played very deep last night but had a good game for the first 30 mins but started to make the odd mistake in the second half, but that will come better with match fitness.
Overall, we were beaten by the better team a very good team and i think by next season we really need a few class signings if we are going to try and break that top 4 monopoly.
Richard Parker
7 Posted 24/01/2008 at 10:08:14
7 Posted 24/01/2008 at 10:08:14
Have to say we played fairly well in patches last night, but in all honesty we were found wanting in attack.
AJ up on his own was never going to trouble a defence of their calibre. But it was always about a balancing act, enough up front to grab one but plenty back to stop the deficit from growing.
The team Chelsea put out tonight was incredibly strong despite all the absentees. To say they were there for the taking is not realistic in the slightest.
The problem was the reliance on the long ball AGAIN. AJ on his own was never going to win a thing in the air against Alex and Carvalho. Our lads needed to adapt to the situation.
I think that is the huge downfall of our lot, they bang their heads against a brick wall. Long balls into the heads of a mutant defence against little AJ, the bloody throw-ins from Philip.... you could see, every time, what was coming. It’s so frustrating, you’d think after 2 or 3 failed attempts they’d realise that it ain’t gonna work and find an alternative. But the thing that makes it so incredibly frustrating is that once we did shift the ball on the deck, down the wings, into feet, it worked. We didn’t win much in the last 3rd but we got a lot more out of the defence when we played around them. Maybe DM should have been brave and started with 2 up? easy with the benefit of hindsight I know....
Despite tonight and an under-performance (this was a semi-final, where we needed only one goal!), I honestly think the reason that we’re losing so much more against the top-3 plus the 5th place (ha!) shite, is that we are trying to play a more open, creative game and they exploit that much better than the rest of the premiership sides.
If we manage to hold down 4th spot, losing to Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and the shite but doing well against all the others, I’ll take it right now.
AJ up on his own was never going to trouble a defence of their calibre. But it was always about a balancing act, enough up front to grab one but plenty back to stop the deficit from growing.
The team Chelsea put out tonight was incredibly strong despite all the absentees. To say they were there for the taking is not realistic in the slightest.
The problem was the reliance on the long ball AGAIN. AJ on his own was never going to win a thing in the air against Alex and Carvalho. Our lads needed to adapt to the situation.
I think that is the huge downfall of our lot, they bang their heads against a brick wall. Long balls into the heads of a mutant defence against little AJ, the bloody throw-ins from Philip.... you could see, every time, what was coming. It’s so frustrating, you’d think after 2 or 3 failed attempts they’d realise that it ain’t gonna work and find an alternative. But the thing that makes it so incredibly frustrating is that once we did shift the ball on the deck, down the wings, into feet, it worked. We didn’t win much in the last 3rd but we got a lot more out of the defence when we played around them. Maybe DM should have been brave and started with 2 up? easy with the benefit of hindsight I know....
Despite tonight and an under-performance (this was a semi-final, where we needed only one goal!), I honestly think the reason that we’re losing so much more against the top-3 plus the 5th place (ha!) shite, is that we are trying to play a more open, creative game and they exploit that much better than the rest of the premiership sides.
If we manage to hold down 4th spot, losing to Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and the shite but doing well against all the others, I’ll take it right now.
John Hughes
8 Posted 24/01/2008 at 10:14:53
8 Posted 24/01/2008 at 10:14:53
The game was lost at Stamford Bridge.There for the taking in the last half an hour against ten men and Moyes bottled it instead of going for the jugular. Again last night we start the game 2-1 down and he elects to go defensive and try and nick a goal. Chelsea were always going to score-it was a matter of when they did it.
As somebody said, it?s difficult to criticise Moyes on one level but on another he continues to frustrate owing to his lack of guile and refusal to take chances at the right times. That said, fourth in the prem and still going strong in the Uefa Cup. We would have taken that in August!
Chris Leyland
9 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:34:31
9 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:34:31
The decision to play one up front was based on the fact that we only need to win 1-0 and that wre have been successful in winning games by playing the 4-5-1 system.
The fact was a lot of players didn?t perform to the best of their abilities last night. Cahill didn?t get into the game, Fernandes had a few nice touch and turns but drifted in and out of the game and gave the ball away too often. Arteta didn?t get going, Osman wasn?t match fit and Johnson grew tired of chasing down the channels. I thought that Lescott and Jags looked good and even Phil Neville had a shot on goal!
Yes I?m disappointed but we are making progress and we can focus on the league and the latter stages of the Uefa Cup.
The fact was a lot of players didn?t perform to the best of their abilities last night. Cahill didn?t get into the game, Fernandes had a few nice touch and turns but drifted in and out of the game and gave the ball away too often. Arteta didn?t get going, Osman wasn?t match fit and Johnson grew tired of chasing down the channels. I thought that Lescott and Jags looked good and even Phil Neville had a shot on goal!
Yes I?m disappointed but we are making progress and we can focus on the league and the latter stages of the Uefa Cup.
Cliff Zampost
10 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:35:21
10 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:35:21
Everton have progressed and improved this year, but are only a genuine Uefa Cup level team, they clearly demonstrated today though galant in defeat, they still lack the class of a genuine Champions League team. Everton had all the ticks to beat Chelsea, with the form, team, home ground advantage, but sadly still aint good enough and couldnt penetrate a depleted chelsea team in defence. No excuses, evrtons heading in the right direction, but its a long way to the top. The positives was Lescott was outstanding today and will be a star in years to come.
Mark Stanley
11 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:48:36
11 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:48:36
Before the game I was pleased with the team Moyes picked, but the way the game unfolded I think we might have been better with two up front to give us more presence up front, possibly Anichebe and Johnson. Chelsea are such a strong unit at the back that Cahill was virtually anonymous supporting Johnson, which leads me to my point, it occured to me last night that although Tim Cahill is a goal threat, i feel he may be better suited to away games, especially against the better sides now that we have the creativity of Fernandes and Pienaar in midfield (Hopefully we will make their signings permanent). Is anyone else of this opinion?
Mike Whittaker
12 Posted 24/01/2008 at 12:48:06
12 Posted 24/01/2008 at 12:48:06
I think the reason we played with only 1 up front was that Moyes knows we just arent strong enough to play 4 across the middle against a side like Chelsea. Cahill would create a problem for any manager - he isnt strong enough technically or defensively to play as one of two central midfielders but then if you leave him out of the side, one of your main goal threats is sat on the bench. I think it was the right formation for the players he had available, but maybe Anichebe would have been better starting. In essence though it all comes back to the fact that two thirds of the team are not comfortable or incisive with the ball at their feet and that includes three of our midfielders last night: Carsley, Cahill and Osman.
Ian Tunny
13 Posted 24/01/2008 at 12:45:26
13 Posted 24/01/2008 at 12:45:26
Tim Cahil and Osman were by standers in that game but sometimes this happens especially with lack of possession and if the opposition has fantastic players like Carvaliho and Makelele who break everything up. John Terry gets all the plaudits for Chelsea as he is the England captain but for me Carvaliho is always outstanding and has everything and more, one of the few players who always has Rooney in is back pocket for club and country.
Mick Simo
14 Posted 24/01/2008 at 13:07:48
14 Posted 24/01/2008 at 13:07:48
The difference between the two sides was that Everton needed a bit of luck or a touch of genius, while Chelsea just needed to stick to a basic game plan. We gave our best and the fans did us proud but after all the best team won over two legs. We nearly got the luck with Cahill and the foul on the keeper which wasn?t a foul. It was obvious we had players coming back from Injury in Osman, and Fernades playing his first game in over a month, they faded in the second half, I was at the game and thought we shaded it in the first half and was outplayed in the second.
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1 Posted 24/01/2008 at 07:53:33
Last night we played arguably the second best team in the country (I feel Chelsea are better then Arsenal). They are certainly the best team I have seen at Goodison this season. Not in terms of flair and creativity so much, but they were well organised, strong and defended superbly - thats what gets you results. We have given them a great go over the two legs and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before we make that step of beating the "BIG 3" regularly. Who’d have thought 5 years ago we’d have turned it around so quickly to be beating the other small 16 week in week out!!! I don’t think we should over analyse last night.
Another 4th place finish is very possible and I don’t think we are going to have to face anybody of Chelsea’s quality in the UEFA Cup and I would quite happily take winning that over the Carling Cup this season as good a run as we’ve had!! And you know what.......I think we just might!!!
Come on you blues!!!!