ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

The thrill of the chase

After being relieved of the unwelcome distraction of a cup run in a Mickey Mouse competition (at least that is what is often said after an exit), we can at last look forward to the more regular hustle and bustle of the league. The match against Spurs represents an intriguing challenge, in more ways than one:

- Will EFC have recovered (mentally) from the defeat against Chelsea, or will they succumb to a depression as in 2005 after the Champions league adventure?
- Will Spurs have recovered from their implosion against Man United at the weekend? They've had less recovery time.
- We all know that they're in a bit of a false league position. Them with Villa, Pompey, Blackburn, Citeh and the Anfield soccer stars are our direct competitors. A win on Wednesday would send out a message to this tier of would-be challengers. It'd put us on 45 points with Liverpool our closest challengers if they win their games-in-hand.
- Is it time to finally ditch Aj as a lone striker and instead pair him up with a second striker from the off?!! Surely Moyes will have realised this by now!!!
- Will we actually see Vaughan finally complete 90 mins?!!
- Will the second coming of Fernandes herald an upturn in our fortunes much as last season?

At any rate, there's a large part of the season yet to come but we've still reason to be optimistic, COYB!!!
Harvey Smith, South Glamorgan Posted 28/01/2008 at 17:16:55

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Comments

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Jip Foster
1 Posted 28/01/2008 at 18:40:55

- yes
- no
- correct
- maybe not tonight
- no
- definitely

Jack Calvert
2 Posted 28/01/2008 at 18:50:35

Almost certainly it will be 4-4-2 as Cahill and Hibbert are suspended. Unless he brings in Stubbs and moves Jagielka to midfield (which is unlikely) we are going to play 2 from AJ, Vic and Vaughany, my money’s on Vic and AJ although I would love to see Vaughan and Anichebe given a run of games together

Matthew Lovekin
3 Posted 28/01/2008 at 19:53:27

Jack, I have also been waiting to see Vic and Vaughany as our front partnership for a long time. This is just not because they have come through our academy, but I genuinely believe that these are our best two strikers. Moyes obviously prefers to play two different strikers, one big man (Vic & Yak) and one more mobile and pacy striker (Vaughan & AJ).
Whilst Vic and Yak are both physically strong and can both score goals, Vic is the harder working of the pair and chases lost causes. AJ and Vaughan are both similar in that they will run all day for the cause and are both have pace to burn, but Vaughany is obviously a genuine goalscorer whereas AJ seems to struggle for goals.
Anichebe and Vaughan also have an understanding having come through the ranks together. The only thing Anichebe and Vaughan don’t have is experience and there is only one way to get that...

Clyde McPhatter
4 Posted 28/01/2008 at 21:44:14

Matty...about AJ’s struggle for goals...AJ has 5 goals in 17 appearances with 10 starts and Vic has one goal (in the prem). I think we sometimes forget when Andy scores, as at Wigan last week. Or the derby last year.

Here on TW, we sometimes hope for the best from our youngsters when in fact they need more time. Vic is okay, and probably will be better in 2 years. James in my opinion has a better chance of being great. But, AJ is by far better than either of them RIGHT NOW. We tend to look to the bench quicker then we should, when our best options are already on the field. Think of all the players so far this year who have made costly mistakes. Pinnear, Howard, Jags, Lescott. All of those players have cost as games this year. But all of those players have won as games too. The YAK was taking major abuse when he first joined, now he gets high praise.

If you put out James and Vic against Spurs I think RIGHT NOW it is not a winning combo, but in 2 years time it might be the best in the league. First thing though, Vic would have to learn who to get to the 90 min mark. Every ball doesn’t need to be chased down. We as supporters love to see it, but when was the last time (besides Titus’ mistake) was a goal created from a chased down ball?

Mark Hill
5 Posted 28/01/2008 at 23:00:41

I would like to add that Tottenham didn’t implode, ai thought they played very well and exposed Utd several times during the game, such that the score could have been wholly different!! I get the feeling they are building some momentum down at White Hart Lane....such that we should be very wary when we play them next!

Kieran Kinsella
6 Posted 28/01/2008 at 23:12:34

The last few years the trend has been that we beat them at the Lane and they beat us here and I worry that the trend will continue. Despite our recent cup losses our league form has been good inspite of players missing and players out of form but I think we are now getting to the breaking point with Cahill out. I would feel better if we used Vaughan upfront alongside AJ. I think Vaughan is a bit of a rough diamond but his work rate and strength give us another option up front. I think AJ takes a lot of flak because he isn’t a prolific scorer but when you consider the goals to games ratio of Ferguson who was a "legend" you can see that his treatment is unjust to say the least. The sad thing for AJ is that when we are shit we are grateful for the meagre contributions of Rideout, Stuart, Campbell, Ferguson or even Newell but now that we are half decent we expect AJ to be as good as Thierry Henry.

Tony Williams
7 Posted 28/01/2008 at 23:34:17

I still feel that Johnson has yet to get the service he deserves.

I have mentioned in another thread that when we hit that purple patch and started to actually play football on the ground, poor old AJ was having his surgery.

He comes back and we suddenly return to hoofball again, obviously down to the loss of Piennar.

It would be nice to see him play when we are "playing" and to see if he really is the £8.6m striker we bought or an expensive championship player. I would bet on the former but who knows

Richard Grisdale
8 Posted 28/01/2008 at 23:50:15

Tony Williams.. you make some very good points...the times AJ has played he has not had the service at all, he has just been feeding off scraps. Be interesting to see whether a partnership of yak/AJ would ever work or whether we would actually ever see that. Its either Yak or AJ with Cahill behind. Dont think Moyes has found his best partnership yet, this being down to a number of reasons. Vaughan being at start of season, also AJ getting injured. Yak off to African Nations plus the fact he had McFadden to try and keep happy. Hopefully moyes will find his best partnership in time, only if he abandands the 4-5-1. It that risk worth taking? 4-5-1 has done the biz so far.....

Andrew Corrie
9 Posted 29/01/2008 at 00:04:00

Honestly?
I think we’ll be outclassed, sorry but there’s far too many key absences for us to beat Spurs in their current form and AJ just isn’t hitting the back of the net at the moment..

Tony Williams
10 Posted 29/01/2008 at 00:10:22

Just a slight poinr Andrew, AJ scored against Wigan but I know what you mean.

There are 4 possibly 5, if you include Hibbert, absentees from the usual starting XI and Spuds are simply buying replacement, ie Woodgate (if he is not injured)

I fear the worst on Wednesday but I will still be singing my loudest for the lads

Jay Harris
11 Posted 29/01/2008 at 00:37:21

What happened to all the "We?re gonna whack Chelsea" confidence. We?re only talking about Spurs for gods sake.
With arguably a better more rested team...

Roy Coyne
12 Posted 29/01/2008 at 02:49:58

Over the years Spurs have always been a difficult team for us to beat. That said they had a hard game on Sunday and I thought the score flattered United but, with our lads being fresh and whoever comes in to the team eager to prove a point, we have a good chance of getting the points.

Patty Beesley
13 Posted 29/01/2008 at 09:07:26

With our depleted side - only only having lost the services of our African players buT also the suspensions of Cahill and Hibbert, I think, to be realistic, that we are going to be pushed to beat Spurs who now are hitting form and playing some fantastic passing football.. gone seem to be the days of scoring goals but also letting a lot in - Ramos has evidently seen to that. Having beaten them at the start of the season, I fear it is their turn to win!!! Hope now, as we don?t want to lose that 4th spot.

Paul Lenehan
14 Posted 29/01/2008 at 09:28:39

I would like to see a 442 as well. Vaughan would be my choice to partner AJ as I feel his work rate his huge. This will be vital when we don’t have the ball as we are down a man in midfield.

Mike Gwyer
15 Posted 29/01/2008 at 09:56:04

Steady on guys, our 4-4-2 will win.
Solid back 4, thats all you need to beat the Spurs - and from what I’ve seen they definately aint no Chelski or Arsenal. It will be 2-0 at half time, 3-1 full time (Osman, AJ and an Arteta pen). IMO I feel that we need to push teams more at GP, with AJ & VIC in and Cahill out the Spurs back 4 are going to be busy. COYB.

Peter Corcoran
16 Posted 29/01/2008 at 10:47:39

Is anyone else having doubts about Vic & Vaughny? And I hate myself for saying that.

I have not been that impressed lately when they have started the game. Maybe they need a run in the team - sounds a bit like Faddy doesn’t it?

Mark Griffiths
17 Posted 29/01/2008 at 10:59:15

I am worried about the Spurs game as they are playing very well at the moment, but I think it is one of those games whenever we play Spurs that a little bit of luck comes into it, it will be 50/50 amd maybe a brilliant bit of skill, little bit of luck or a mistake will win the game... let's just hope it is us! Does anybody know the last time we did the double over Spurs??

Also any news as to whether we are on tv away to SK??

Harvey Smith
18 Posted 29/01/2008 at 22:10:00

Have we really sunk so far that we doubt whether we can beat Spurs at home?!!

Tight back line and a bit of mobility going forward that’s all we need!
It’d also be good if Arteta would pull his finger out! All this talk of Everton moving to the next level, it’s about time our Spaniard showed he’s ready to grab the bull by the horns!