The Mail Bag
Arteta's free kicks
Comments (23)
Like many Evertonians I am a fan of Arteta, but am also highly frustrated with his contribution so far this season. Niggling injury? or Big Fish in Small Pond syndrome? I don't know, but yet again he didnt deliver the goods against a relegated Derby.
Many people have posted on here asking why Arteta is still taking the free kicks, and I just wanted to show some opta stat evidence (courtesy of Sky Sports) just why he should stop taking them.
In a letter to Martin Tyler, Lawrie Neal from Birmingham asked about the most effective free kick experts in the prem. Martin wrote this about Arteta:
"Everton's Mikel Arteta has the most off-target having sent 10 of 14 wide of the mark,"
Full article
Martin Roberts, Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:24:50
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Michael Hunt
2 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:54:17
2 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:54:17
Mikky has been well below par lately for sure. On Sunday it looked to me like Baines asked Mikky if he could take a free kick near the edge of the box; Arteta refused and duly lumped it over the bar. Surely other players, like Baines, Osman or Pienaar should be given a crack now?
Syd Morton
3 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:45:15
3 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:45:15
I used to think Arteta was a natural central midfielder who would emerge as a leader. I no longer think this. He is at an age now where he should be controlling matches but he doesn’t do it. I think his best position is on the right.
This summer is the time for Moyes to sort out that central midfield. Fernandes seems to have woken up in the last few games to the fact that there is nothing for him here unless he starts to show endeavour. We know he has the skill - I think he could be another Jeffers - all promise but no application. If anyone can get the best out of him it’s Moyes. If he doesn’t succeed with Everton I can’t see him being of interest to anyone else.
I still haven’t given up on Scott Parker as a player. I think he has the ability and the desire - he went for the megabucks at Chelsea and Newcastle and got nowhere. If he could be tempted away from West Ham he could at least fill the Carsley role, maybe even more under Moyes’s guidance.
I’m reasonably happy with the rest of the squad but centre midfield is a big hole.
This summer is the time for Moyes to sort out that central midfield. Fernandes seems to have woken up in the last few games to the fact that there is nothing for him here unless he starts to show endeavour. We know he has the skill - I think he could be another Jeffers - all promise but no application. If anyone can get the best out of him it’s Moyes. If he doesn’t succeed with Everton I can’t see him being of interest to anyone else.
I still haven’t given up on Scott Parker as a player. I think he has the ability and the desire - he went for the megabucks at Chelsea and Newcastle and got nowhere. If he could be tempted away from West Ham he could at least fill the Carsley role, maybe even more under Moyes’s guidance.
I’m reasonably happy with the rest of the squad but centre midfield is a big hole.
Nick Entwistle
4 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:27:38
4 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:27:38
Give him a rest when Pienaar comes back so he and Fernandas can provide the sparks... or VDM... kidding!
Anthony Osullivan
5 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:31:13
5 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:31:13
It might sound mad but Carsley actually has a very good free kick on him. He has popped up before and curled them into the top corner. It also allows everyone else to push up the pitch into attacking positions.
Pienaar Osman and even Manny have shown they aren’t any better in Artetta’s absence.
I think Baines for corners Carsley for free’s
Pienaar Osman and even Manny have shown they aren’t any better in Artetta’s absence.
I think Baines for corners Carsley for free’s
Andy Callan
6 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:47:45
6 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:47:45
Says LOADS for the rest of em then that doesn’t it?
He must be the best in training otherwise someone else would take them wouldn’t they....?!?!?!?
It’s not rocket science is it?
He must be the best in training otherwise someone else would take them wouldn’t they....?!?!?!?
It’s not rocket science is it?
Seamus Murphy
7 Posted 08/04/2008 at 18:46:39
7 Posted 08/04/2008 at 18:46:39
Yep Carsley can hit them - remember him scoring a cracker against Newcastle. Mc Fadden could hit them as has been proved since he moved to Brum - trouble is nobody else seems to be allowed.
Andy Shaw
8 Posted 08/04/2008 at 20:18:13
8 Posted 08/04/2008 at 20:18:13
Andy Callan
Nice to see that you have reduced the size of your paragraphs.....
Nice to see that you have reduced the size of your paragraphs.....
John McCabe
9 Posted 08/04/2008 at 20:44:10
9 Posted 08/04/2008 at 20:44:10
I got proper fed up with the stick Mikel took on Sunday. The lad has an injury, it has been stated on numerous occassions, if we had the strength in depth he would have been rested. He has been playing through the pain barrier, staying in the firing line when he’s obviously not playing his best, the morons in the park end need to have a word, with themselves. Not like that end of the ground ever really acts as a twelth man!
Nice to see such resounding, vocal displays of solidarity behind our playing staff who were so horribly abused at Anfield by the way! Must have been great for them knowing they had our support, how can you not raise your game in such an atmosphere?! I know we pay our money so have a right to criticise if we want, and we generally do, but Moyes has a right to speak up too, and quite frankly we were shit and he said so in not so many words. I came away embarrased by some of the pricks behind me in the Glwadys Street, having been so proud after the Chelsea & Fiorentina games too. We really need to pull together for the run-in, no matter how badly seem to play.
I still think Fernandes will come good.
Have faith
COYB
Nice to see such resounding, vocal displays of solidarity behind our playing staff who were so horribly abused at Anfield by the way! Must have been great for them knowing they had our support, how can you not raise your game in such an atmosphere?! I know we pay our money so have a right to criticise if we want, and we generally do, but Moyes has a right to speak up too, and quite frankly we were shit and he said so in not so many words. I came away embarrased by some of the pricks behind me in the Glwadys Street, having been so proud after the Chelsea & Fiorentina games too. We really need to pull together for the run-in, no matter how badly seem to play.
I still think Fernandes will come good.
Have faith
COYB
Brian Waring
10 Posted 08/04/2008 at 21:53:41
10 Posted 08/04/2008 at 21:53:41
I don’t understand all this injury crap. If as you say John, he is playing through the pain barrier, wouldn’t he wan’t someone else to take corner’s, free - kick’s, as not to aggrevate it any further?
Ray Robinson
11 Posted 08/04/2008 at 21:57:15
11 Posted 08/04/2008 at 21:57:15
Arteta’s poor performances down to niggling injuries, I’m prepared to concede. Consistently poor free kicks and corners down to niggling injuries, I am not. If he’s not 100% fit, he shouldn’t be insisting on taking them. You can’t have it both ways.
John Roberts
12 Posted 08/04/2008 at 23:24:00
12 Posted 08/04/2008 at 23:24:00
After watching the game on Sunday I have to admit that Arteta’s deadball delivery was crap!
I’m a big fan of his and think he’s one of our better players, but his delivery on Sunday would’ve embarrassed a pub player - I honestly can’t remember him beating the first defender when taking a corner, and as for his free kicks, less said the better! Terrible is putting it lightly.
I’m a big fan of his and think he’s one of our better players, but his delivery on Sunday would’ve embarrassed a pub player - I honestly can’t remember him beating the first defender when taking a corner, and as for his free kicks, less said the better! Terrible is putting it lightly.
James McCarthy
13 Posted 09/04/2008 at 00:33:11
13 Posted 09/04/2008 at 00:33:11
Fer gawds sake! Whats all this rubbish about him having a sore groin?
He has to kick a bag of air, not climb mount bloody Everest.
He has to kick a bag of air, not climb mount bloody Everest.
John Gee
14 Posted 09/04/2008 at 00:44:20
14 Posted 09/04/2008 at 00:44:20
I think the reason why Arteta?s dead balls don?t hit their target that much is because he?s not just hoofing the ball with hope. It seems to me that he?s trying to put the ball on someone?s head or maybe inch it over the wall.
He might not be the most accurate but when it works it quite often results in a goal. I?d rather him keep on doing what he does in the hope that his stats improve and continue getting maybe 5 or 6 assists a season through that way then getting everything on target (and saved) or being a bit of a world cup Lampard and shooting everytime he looks up and sees the goal. We could help his stats by having Lescott attack the near post instead of the far post but then why change a winning formula?
He might not be the most accurate but when it works it quite often results in a goal. I?d rather him keep on doing what he does in the hope that his stats improve and continue getting maybe 5 or 6 assists a season through that way then getting everything on target (and saved) or being a bit of a world cup Lampard and shooting everytime he looks up and sees the goal. We could help his stats by having Lescott attack the near post instead of the far post but then why change a winning formula?
Brian Wolf
15 Posted 09/04/2008 at 08:19:44
15 Posted 09/04/2008 at 08:19:44
Carsley, Baines, Pienaar or Fernandes.
I’d like to see one of these boys on the free kicks, and a bit of variety in the corners as well.
I love Arteta but I don’t want to see him taking EVERY corner and EVERY freekick.
I’d like to see one of these boys on the free kicks, and a bit of variety in the corners as well.
I love Arteta but I don’t want to see him taking EVERY corner and EVERY freekick.
Andy Callan
16 Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:16:27
16 Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:16:27
Andy Shaw - my new graphs are the size of you brain.......
Small.
Small.
John Lloyd
17 Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:28:48
17 Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:28:48
I defended him earlier in season as it looked like the way the runners in the box were going that it was a plan to have Mikel hit the front post of corners but to be honest his corners have gotten worse & his free kicks havent been much kop. It must be down to his groin cos you dont just lose ability an we all know he’s got it.
Its up to Moyes or even his captain to make a decision to get some one else on them. We have other players Pienaar, Baines, Osman, Manny or even Cars at a top club it shouldnt be a problem.
Its up to Moyes or even his captain to make a decision to get some one else on them. We have other players Pienaar, Baines, Osman, Manny or even Cars at a top club it shouldnt be a problem.
Anthony Horabin
18 Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:25:12
18 Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:25:12
Does a free kick always have to be just a shot on goal? Is that all that is practised on the training pitch? I would prefer to see a variety of free kicks taken over the course of a game. But I guess that would mean our team showing some more creativity, which it is surely lacking at the moment.
stan sheppard
19 Posted 09/04/2008 at 10:04:05
19 Posted 09/04/2008 at 10:04:05
The lack of quality in Mikkys recent displays/dead ball deliveries makes them easy to criticise, however this is the same player who, for the last 3 years, has been setting Goodison on fire with the high quality of his football.
If we can see his set pieces have been below that what is expected then I’m sure David Moyes and the rest of the players can see it too. Therefore they must shoulder some of the blame for him being continually allowed to hit them.
He is, with out doubt, suffering a dip in form, but you do not become a bad player over night, or in the course of a month or two. He started the season magnificently and played a key role in our great run of form at the start of 2008 and in our UEFA Cup campaign.
Even when he plays poorly he is still head and shoulders above the majority of the rest of the team, yet we now seem content to have a bash at the lad. Yes I accept that we need him playing well now as we push for 4th but he, along with the rest of the team need encouraged.
Don?t forget what it has taken for us to be in the position we are and who have been the chief contributors.
If we can see his set pieces have been below that what is expected then I’m sure David Moyes and the rest of the players can see it too. Therefore they must shoulder some of the blame for him being continually allowed to hit them.
He is, with out doubt, suffering a dip in form, but you do not become a bad player over night, or in the course of a month or two. He started the season magnificently and played a key role in our great run of form at the start of 2008 and in our UEFA Cup campaign.
Even when he plays poorly he is still head and shoulders above the majority of the rest of the team, yet we now seem content to have a bash at the lad. Yes I accept that we need him playing well now as we push for 4th but he, along with the rest of the team need encouraged.
Don?t forget what it has taken for us to be in the position we are and who have been the chief contributors.
Andy Hegan
20 Posted 09/04/2008 at 10:44:34
20 Posted 09/04/2008 at 10:44:34
Moyes is scared of upsetting him. The evidence is plain to see, end of.
Greg Doyle
21 Posted 09/04/2008 at 11:03:56
21 Posted 09/04/2008 at 11:03:56
His free kicks and corners haven’t been great I must admit. Let’s not do our usual trick of booing him until he believes he is a shit as we think he is.
I remember when Hibbert first started he would get up and down and wasn’t afraid to attack - once the crowd got on his case that stopped, and now his confidence is so shot his delivery is more miserable than Tony Marsh. See also Ebbrel.
I remember when Hibbert first started he would get up and down and wasn’t afraid to attack - once the crowd got on his case that stopped, and now his confidence is so shot his delivery is more miserable than Tony Marsh. See also Ebbrel.
Seamus Murphy
22 Posted 09/04/2008 at 12:00:27
22 Posted 09/04/2008 at 12:00:27
Christ even Beattie scored a crackin free kick last night!
Other players can score them - we need to mix it up a bit!
Other players can score them - we need to mix it up a bit!
Alan Taylor
23 Posted 09/04/2008 at 13:08:15
23 Posted 09/04/2008 at 13:08:15
James McCarthy, your ignorant comment about groin injuries shows you know nothing about football. Or are you just stupid?
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1 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:43:51
Like many, I have to assume despite the best PR attempts of the club, he is still not 100% and carrying his niggling injuries.
As he’s central to our future, let’s hope he can fully recover this summer, put in some Beckham-like practice to sharpen up his lofted passing, and put much of this season down as just one of those things.
I don’t know what % of dead-ball deliveries he’s asked to make in a game, but I think spreading the load is not a bad idea in these last few games of the season.