ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Missing Ingredient

David Moyes's post match reflection clearly indictates that he is well aware of the defeciencies that exist within the team that has so far this season prevented us from beating any of the so called 'top-four'.

Without singling out any one player, collectively Carsley, Osman and Cahill offered very little creatively in the 4-5-1 formation. All three player's are vital member's of the squad and never shirk responsibility; however, when it comes to opening up the opposition Arteta and Piennar aside we have very little else.

Moyes is looking at remedies and I'm sure that a midfield playmaker is a priority. Arshavin has stated his desire to play in the EPL and is continually linked, although cup tied for the Uefa Cup, he would bring experience and an extra attacking dimension to play.
Peter Laing, Liverpool Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:17:20

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Comments

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John Lloyd
1 Posted 24/01/2008 at 14:14:30

I think your pretty much on the money, for instance I think Leon has continued to improve year after year but if we wanna challange for serious honours, then he would only be a squad player, someone to cover for player in the ’world class’ barcket.

The same could be said for 3 or more players last night. But I’m still positive, maybe we will get the investment without selling our soul & we are closer now than we have been for a while, so while improvement continues I’m happy 7 hopefull

Graham Holliday
2 Posted 24/01/2008 at 14:51:51

Odd... this is pretty much what I said in an article I posted last night and I got battered for it.

I suggested that a player that can play in wide positions when one of Pienaar and Arteta are missing is a priority rather than a central player though - as we have Carsley, Osman, Cahill, Fernandes and even Neville that can play through the middle.

Whenever one of Pienaar or Arteta is out we look lopsided creatively.

Tony Oldwin
3 Posted 24/01/2008 at 15:15:21

The current set of players are solid and have done a great job so far this season, however we have no backup to the first team. I personally believe that it is a crime to put Phil Neville in the center of midfield, since his passing is just not fluid enough to play in that position. We have solved that problem by bringing in Manny Fernandes, however we still are a bit light on wide men. Arteta and Pienaar are great creative players, however they cant play every game and we need another equally good player to fill in for them. I really like this player Arshavin, who is a good dribbler, great passer and has two great feet. Not only that, but he scores plenty of goals which is perfect. Hopefully he will be the next player to put on our shirt! COYB!

Paul Chisholm
4 Posted 24/01/2008 at 17:06:32

I suggested in an earlier post that we need to play with more width, hence the signing of someone like Downing. It stood out for all to see again last night how narrow our play was, thus the up and under type football displayed. We desperately need some width in order to create a better passing game, otherwise a season with still so much promise, will dwindle into something far less palatable.

Simon Birdsey
5 Posted 24/01/2008 at 18:10:44

I agree with you Paul. It’s unfathomable that we can play five across the middle and still be so narrow.

Arshavin would be great, but his preferred position is just behind the main striker, in a role that Cahill currently fills.

I’ve said this before, but if we could adopt a more Chelsea-esque system, then we could have two from Pienaar, Arteta, Johnson, Vaughan or (fingers crossed) Arshavin tucking in beind Yakubu to give us creativity and width ala Cole and Wright-Phillips. Cahill would sit in the middle as Lampard does and then we could have Manny and Carsley performing the Essien and Makelele roles. Seems like pretty much a perfect fit to me for the players that we have.