ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

A fully fit squad!

I just read that we have a fully fit sqaud for Brann. I can't wait to see Pienaar back again!

This is where we wanted to be. Another post asks is there reason to be cheerful? Of course there is. I think most would have said when the African lads went that if we could stay in and around 4/5 then we could push on when they come back. Now they are back, fit and rested after the weekend off.

Finally we will have options in midfield again. I for one am very optimistic and am confident we can go to City and win (after beating Brann of course!)
Paul Lenehan, Armagh Posted 20/02/2008 at 11:21:43

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Graham Nolan
1 Posted 20/02/2008 at 09:57:18

Just wondering what line up Moyes will go with tomorrow night. With a massive game to come at the weekend I think he will try to rest some players. This might mean a start for Hibbert & Valente in defence. Or more excitingly a start for Vaughan or Vic up front. And perhaps he can rest Cahill before the Aussie maestro scores a hat trick against City? Ok maybe not.

Gai Roberts
2 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:16:30

I feel he should start with his strongest eleven from the off,get the goals needed to see us through,give arteta and pienaar a good run out,and then bring on the likes of vaughan,victor and the fringe players! Anyone agree......?

Ian Tunny
3 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:07:49

For the last 18 months I have been pretty confident that with a fully fit squad we could just about beat anyone in our league unless the top 3 had a good day and were really up for it, or we sufferd because of bad reffing. If any system we play doesn't work we have the option to change it from the bench to create different problems for other teams.
Since Moyes arrived even with a poor side with no quality the opposition have found it difficult to breakdown such a determined resolute well organised Everton. Add to this quality all over the park and it is quite a prospect. Perfect timeing to have everyone back is what I say. COYB!

Joel Grates
4 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:20:44

Couldn?t agree more. Moyes has to take it seriously from the off, he?s already said there?ll be no complacency. I expect a full strength team, and if we get a couple of goals, THEN ring the changes.

As for the full strength team...no idea who will start in midfield. I hope Moyes goes back to 4-5-1, with the Yak up on his own. Then I think it?s a toss up between Osman and Fernandes for the final midfield position (assuming Arteta, Cahill, Cars & peanuts are first choice?). Can?t decide....

Defence picks itself for the game, as they were massive last week!!

Paul Chisholm
5 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:26:21

Yes Gai. I agree with all three of your posts.

David Nicholls
6 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:22:53

If Moyes does go with his strongest XI to start with, I will be very inrigued to se how we line up and in what formation. I have been hoping to see more of Baines as I think he hit the ground running when he joined. I dont expect to see him line up on Thursday due to - 1)Jags’s impeccable form at CB & 2) The ariel threat posed by Brann. I’d also like to see how Manny links up with Piennar and Arteta in the middle but I think this is also unlikely as Osman is doing really well this season. I think we’ll employ a 4-1-3-1-1 consisting of Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jags, Lescott, Carsley, Arteta, Osman, Pienaar, Cahill and the Yak.

Richard Parker
7 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:21:31

I’d personally like to see a solid side put out, with maybe a couple of first teamers rested.

Maybe give Vaughan a start for AJ and rest Cahill, going for a 4-man midfield. Definitely wouldn’t touch the back 5, they’re doing so well at the moment, leave it be.

Would also be a bit hesitant about chucking Pienaar straight in for the full 90 straight after injury, maybe a half-time sub??

Mark Pendleton
8 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:38:04

I’m with the "start with your best 11" idea on this one. Get ahead then rest players if you need to. Not risk getting into trouble and bring your better players on to chase a game. Having said that, must be the first time in a long time i don’t really see it being a case of better players as opposed to "other players". Such is that nature of our squad now.

As for the City game, it’s not at the weekend, it’s Monday night so we’ll have a little longer for recovery time.

Trudy Boston
9 Posted 20/02/2008 at 15:48:51

Whatever side Moyes deploys tomorrow we should be through to the last sixteen. No doubt Brann Bergen will have accepted defeat by now, which should lead to a more free-flowing game with added opportunities for our men. I cannot see nothing less than an Everton victory and will settle down tomorrow safe in the knowledge that progress has been achieved. A far cry from the nail biting last day finishes of 1994 and 1998 when everybody was on tenderhooks.

The Uefa Cup is a long and prestigious competition and many a decent side has won it down the years, except us of course, but it would be wonderful if we could add this years trophy to the 1985 Cup Winners Cup success. Our first, and so far, only European piece of silverware.

Richard Parker
10 Posted 20/02/2008 at 16:11:55

I’m sure there’s no way that Brann have accepted defeat. All they need is to nick a goal and they’re right back in it.

We need to put out a good XI. But it’s no longer the case that we have no alternatives beyond our best XI, as has been the case until recently. We can put out a side suited to the opposition.

As it’s at home, I’d like to see 2 up, one the Yak and the other from AJ and Vaughan. With at least Arteta and Ossie creating, I think that’s enough for us to bag at least one goal and give Timmy a breather. I can’t see Brann scoring 3.

Mick Dempsey
11 Posted 20/02/2008 at 16:35:26

You play your strongest team and all this about Brann accepting defeat is bollocks, lets just hope our team dont think they just have to turn up, we have got a record to protect remember 5 straight wins

Santosh Benjamin
12 Posted 20/02/2008 at 16:56:12

Id go with a strong team...we need to put the game away soon and then play good football.

I think
Howard
Hibbert/Neville
Jags
Yobo
Lescott
Arteta
Pienaar
Carsley
Ossie
Yak
Vaughan

Subs
Wessels
Cahill
AJ
Vic
Baines
Manny

We need to beat City convincingly too so we keep up the confidence we have built up.Brann will be no walk over..lets get that straight.COYB

Ben Howard
13 Posted 20/02/2008 at 16:58:36

I for one cannot wait to see Manny link up with Arteta again - they both brought out the best in each other last season.

When you find players that compliment each other and contribute to the balance of the side, you’ve got something very special.

I think that Pienaar shows a similar understanding with Arteta too and the proposition of the three of them stroking the ball around the midfield has me salivating!

I’d take the opportunity to drop Cahill and Carsley to the bench, as they both seem in need of a rest, and bring Vaughan up alongside The Yak.

I believe that Ossie, Manny, Pienaar and Arteta can boss the midfield and give the Goodison faithful something to remember. They might lack a little in height but that will mean we have to play along the floor.

The defence picks itself at the moment, assuming Moyes doesn’t want to rest any other them.

Ben Howard
14 Posted 20/02/2008 at 17:10:57

Howard
Neville Yobo Jags Lescott
Arteta Ossie Manny Pienaar
Vaughan Yak

Dean Johnson
15 Posted 20/02/2008 at 17:29:53

hmm, what he said^

Stephen Kinder
16 Posted 20/02/2008 at 17:55:11

Howard
Neville Yobo Jags Baines
Lescott
Arteta Fernandes Osman Pienaar
Yak

Try Lescott in Carsley role as i feel Cars is looking a bit tied, also give tiny tim a rest.

subs: Wessels, Cahill
Carsley, Vaughan, AJ,
Anichebe.

Steve Ferns
17 Posted 20/02/2008 at 18:12:43

Don’t we get 7 subs in the Uefa Cup?

Tony Tinker
18 Posted 20/02/2008 at 18:48:36

I think we should go for the kill and go for all out attack.

Howard
Yobo, Lescott, Jag
Neville, Manny, Pienaar, Osman, Cahill
AJ, Yak

Paul Hennessey
19 Posted 20/02/2008 at 20:25:09

it would be a perfect game to start Vaughan alongside Yakubu - pehaps giving Cahill a place on the bench to be used if needed?

Gavin Ramejkis
20 Posted 20/02/2008 at 20:28:10

You should be playing this game with the best players available, its a home game on a decent pitch against a decent team not a bunch of lower league cart horses so expect a hard game but a fair one so the pitch and game shouldn’t throw up injuries, the following game is a short journey down the M62 not the end of the earth so another strong squad. Treat every game the same - play it to win it with the best players available at the time.

Caron Jôs
21 Posted 20/02/2008 at 21:40:36

Howard
Neville Jags Lescott Baines
Ossie Arteta Fernandes Pienaar
Vaughan Yakubu

Subs.
Wessels, Hibbert, Yobo, Cahill, Gosling, Vaughan, AJ.

Steve Woods
22 Posted 20/02/2008 at 23:34:13

Great news about the squad fitness, Pienaar and Arteta will help us push on again.
COYB !

David Edwards
23 Posted 21/02/2008 at 00:15:29

Let’s start with our full first team, with the option of the youngsters up front towards the end. Perhaps 4-4-2 with Cahill rested for Monday. I’m so looking forward to getting Peanuts back - he’s a smashing little player who makes the left-side tick, and I think we’ve really missed him of late! COYBs

Brendan Woods
24 Posted 21/02/2008 at 01:21:56

Seeing as how realistically they shouldn’t be troubled in this game i’d like to see Vaughan get a start, AJ rested, Pienaar back, as well as VDM given a chance to do something. It would also be good to see some room on the bench made for a youngster or two, i.e Rodwell and/or Gosling in case the boys get it in the bag with time to spare.

Patty Beesley
25 Posted 21/02/2008 at 09:56:03

Doesn?t anyone take in what David Moyes says? On the EFC web site yesterday he said he was loath to play James Vaughan in these Uefa Cup games as he felt his style of play would not be appreciated by European referees and they would penalise him. [See "Vic - the danger man"] If that is the case then Davey would be quite justified in not playing him.

As for Paul McCartney being a blue ? see also yesterday?s EFC?s web site ? I wish he would put his money where his mouth is and treat us to a player we can?t afford!!

Tony Williams
26 Posted 21/02/2008 at 11:15:20

I would love to see an all out attacking side but I honestly do not see the sense in that.

I think we will play a 4-5-1, defensive I know but this formation with the Yak up front has brought us many goals and should smother their attacks.

We have no reason, apart from the fans wanting a goalfest to go out and attack them. We have two away goals, all we have to do is not conceed and that is sufficient.

Heart says go for it, Devil may care but head says there is no point doing that and possibly leaving ourselves open to a counter punch.

Ben Howard
27 Posted 21/02/2008 at 12:07:16

Tony. My head says you’re right. My heart says live a little. The fans need something to get excited about.

Mike Coates
28 Posted 21/02/2008 at 12:36:09

The 4-5-1 has and will work wonders for a long time to come.

---------------Howard--------------

Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines

---------------Carsley---------------

Arteta-----Fernandes-----Pienaar

----------------Cahill-----------------

---------------Yakubu---------------

Subs : Anichebe, Vaughan, Wessels, Osman, Hibbert, Johnson, Yobo.

Jags is doing so well, its difficult to decide whether to bring in Yobo or not, its a tough call.

Also I’d love to have Osman in, but I really want to see the Arteta/Fernandes/Pienaar combo. Cahill ofcourse I like to think of the striker support man and keeps his place on that basis! (plus I’m an Aussie) ;)

Hibbert I’d rather to Neville but can’t see the captain ever being left out. I really feel sorry for the guy who had been in great form of late.

Mike Coates
29 Posted 21/02/2008 at 12:57:19

Oh, and I forgot to say I’d really wanna have Johnson out front aswell, but other than dropping Cahill I don’t see how :(

Make the changes at half time as long as we have scored. Drop Cahill then, bring on Johnson. Drop Pienaar aswell as he shouldn’t be run out too much just yet and replace with Ossie.

With half hour remaining, bring on the super sub! :)