The Mail Bag
A Midfielder Discovered?
Comments (21)
Firstly, being here in Yorkshire (Rugbyland), this site has been my main source of keeping in touch with the thoughts and feelings at my beloved club. Whether I agree with all comments or not, keep up the good work lads.
Right, I have converted my new family into Blues, not been too hard really ? nothing else worth following over here, and whilst watching the game on Sunday, my Father-In-Law came up with what I felt was a genius idea.
Replacing Carsley is going to be hard, but what about Lescott? He constantly proves his commitment, his drive, he has an eye for goal, he has a good engine, and can drive forward, as we have seen many times from the back.
I would like to see this at least attempted. Baines will be a class left back, and looks like Jags & Yobo got the centre covered, so surely it would clear the way for Lescott to strive for this position.
Just an idea... I got a feeling we have been overlooking a potential gem for what would be a very expensive position to fill.
Steve Foster, Posted 29/04/2008 at 09:21:55
Comments
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Jonathan Fletcher
2 Posted 29/04/2008 at 13:50:53
2 Posted 29/04/2008 at 13:50:53
He is our best defender by a country mile, so let’s play him in defense eh?
Rich Grisdale
3 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:06:41
3 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:06:41
Worst idea ever.... we're tryin to break into the top four and you want Lescott in midfield? Sort yourself out......
Richard Murray
4 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:05:16
4 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:05:16
Let’s have Nev and Jags in midfield..
Maybe AJ and Baines on the wings..
Lescott, or even Jags, up front; maybe even bring Steve Watson back to partner him.
The common denominator? Players out of position: ridiculous.
Let’s keep the defenders in defence, FCS and buy midfielders for the midfield.
Maybe AJ and Baines on the wings..
Lescott, or even Jags, up front; maybe even bring Steve Watson back to partner him.
The common denominator? Players out of position: ridiculous.
Let’s keep the defenders in defence, FCS and buy midfielders for the midfield.
Colin Jones
5 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:07:29
5 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:07:29
It’s an interesting point, of all our Centre Backs I would say Lescott looks most capable of playing at DM! And what have we lost so far by having Jags and Yobo in the centre?
But Jole wants to play at CB so imagine that’s where he’ll stay.
But Jole wants to play at CB so imagine that’s where he’ll stay.
Mike Allison
6 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:31:31
6 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:31:31
Converting players doesn’t work very often, and when it does its usually the other way round. Evra was an average forward and became a good left back, Southgate was an average midfielder and became a good central defender. Pushing players further forward rarely works, and one of my biggest frustrations with Moyes is that he continues to play people out of position.
We have an excellent player for that position - Manuel Fernandes is a defensive midfielder, don’t be fooled by the fact that he’s good at football and doesn’t dive into tackles. He wins the ball in a much more effective way than Carsley, anticipation, balance/body strength and speed.
We have an excellent player for that position - Manuel Fernandes is a defensive midfielder, don’t be fooled by the fact that he’s good at football and doesn’t dive into tackles. He wins the ball in a much more effective way than Carsley, anticipation, balance/body strength and speed.
Connor Rohrer
7 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:43:00
7 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:43:00
Mike Allison, I?m not convinced Manuel Fernandes is a defensive midfielder. He plays deep yes and he operates infront of the back four but he?s not a defensive midfielder.
I stick by what I said: He is a deep lying play maker who links the defense to midfield and brings people into the game with his passing. I don?t think he can be placed in the attacking or defensive catagories.
On the question I disagree. Lescott is a centre half who can play at left back that is all. He?d be lost in midfield. He lacks the quality on the ball as well as the agaility to play there. He also neve goes to ground. A very good trait for a defender but a poor one for a midfielder.
He?s good at running in a straight line and using all his pace and power to bulldozer his way through but in midfield there?s lots of twisting and turning on the ball and Lescott couldn?t hack it. He also has a limited passing range.
He?s the best centre half at the club and once we get a tall right back, Baines moves to left back then he will player centre half alongside one of Yobo or Jags.
I stick by what I said: He is a deep lying play maker who links the defense to midfield and brings people into the game with his passing. I don?t think he can be placed in the attacking or defensive catagories.
On the question I disagree. Lescott is a centre half who can play at left back that is all. He?d be lost in midfield. He lacks the quality on the ball as well as the agaility to play there. He also neve goes to ground. A very good trait for a defender but a poor one for a midfielder.
He?s good at running in a straight line and using all his pace and power to bulldozer his way through but in midfield there?s lots of twisting and turning on the ball and Lescott couldn?t hack it. He also has a limited passing range.
He?s the best centre half at the club and once we get a tall right back, Baines moves to left back then he will player centre half alongside one of Yobo or Jags.
Michael Hunt
8 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:58:27
8 Posted 29/04/2008 at 14:58:27
NO WAY: Lescott himself has said he does not have the passing ability of Jags, who did not do the biz for us in the middle. Jolly is a DEFENDER, FULL STOP!
Richard Parker
9 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:15:06
9 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:15:06
Manny might pass for a defensive midfielder if he looked like he gave two shits when the opposition are in possession of the ball. You ever seen him bust a gut to get a challenge in, or to block a shot?
We need a Makelele, not a Manny.
We need a Makelele, not a Manny.
Dan McKie
10 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:24:38
10 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:24:38
Lescott would never fit into that position, I for one have thought that he has started to look less and less like a left back over the past couple of months and should be moved back to centre defence! We complain that we need a bigger squad but constantly try to find ideas to accomodate players we already have, I say let Lescott, Yobo and Jags battle it out next season for the 2 CB slots and go out and buy Carsleys replacement, whoever it may be! In my opinion we are wasting a brilliant young left back in Baines (albeit he has had 1 or 2 injuries)!
Jimmy Millican
11 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:33:51
11 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:33:51
Steve I see where you are coming from and he could probably do a job there but end of the day he wouldnt want to play there ! and in turn would end up becoming unsettled.
I agree with some comments its a case of Moyes identifying a class act in that position.
In regards to the Manny comment, I dont think he really knows how to fit into the team at the minute because carsley is in there. I think he would automitcally sit deeper if he played the role.
I agree with some comments its a case of Moyes identifying a class act in that position.
In regards to the Manny comment, I dont think he really knows how to fit into the team at the minute because carsley is in there. I think he would automitcally sit deeper if he played the role.
Andy Hudson
12 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:36:38
12 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:36:38
I agree with most people here. He can’t pass the ball well enough to play in that position and isn’t skillfull enough.
As for Manny I agree with Connor. You play Manny alongside a more defensive midfielder, with someone like Cahill ahead of them both. Although saying that I think its highly unlikely we’ll be seeing Manny playing anywhere in an Everton shirt next season
As for Manny I agree with Connor. You play Manny alongside a more defensive midfielder, with someone like Cahill ahead of them both. Although saying that I think its highly unlikely we’ll be seeing Manny playing anywhere in an Everton shirt next season
Dan McKie
13 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:47:30
13 Posted 29/04/2008 at 15:47:30
We may get Manny for a good price if Valencia go down! There is talk that David Villa is now valued at £16 mil when that was almost double that in the last window! I say between 6-8 mil then we should buy Manny purely on potential and age, he will not be valued at less than that for a long long time! We would still need someone to play midfield behind him tho!
Callum Wilson
14 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:43:37
14 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:43:37
Just a comment I picked up on, saying that converting players doesn't work and it's the other way round, can I just say that Henry was a midfielder and we all know where he played for the Arse and he was prolific. Oh about the question, it could make sense. I just feel that Lescott gets done sometimes and tries to skin one too many. I would prefer to see him at the center of defence for a change, And hey heres a thought: play a left-footed player at left-back! Wow, that's geninus! How did i think of it? Left side... left foot... amazing! Then they don't always have to cut inside... hmm.... seems common sense eh?
Connor Rohrer
15 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:55:49
15 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:55:49
6-8 million would be an excellent price for Fernandes. Anything over is too much in my opinion.
David Mathieson
16 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:52:33
16 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:52:33
If I remember correctly, Nev and Jags were signed to play as defensive midfielders. Moyes is a loser ? look at his record: all big games and not a single trophy to his name as manager. He got PNE to the play-off final and lost. Villarreal lost against the Mancs. When they had already secured the league at Goodison, we lost on the last day of the season Villa on Sunday ? the list is endless. We need a winner to play in d/m not Lescot, We also need a manger who employs good football so we can win big games who is a winner. Moyes is a loser.... FACT!
Declan McCarthy
17 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:47:21
17 Posted 29/04/2008 at 16:47:21
Lescoot in midfield is a no situation Steve, the position would be too demanding for him, I’d like him in his best position of centre half, I,ve no doubt he will our captain someday,as for Fernandes I’d like to see him sign here, I think the problem is here that he is only 22 and is asked to do too much, he is a typical continental midfielder in the sense he is not entirely creative or defensive midfielder, I agree with Connor in that he is better at linking defence and midfeild than anyone else we have at the moment, a situation I’m sure Moyes will deal with in the summer, he has been unlucky with injuries and they have taken their toll with his confidence being low, I still belive he has great potential and with Valencia in trouble the price here will not be much less than£8 to £12 million as Soler who is the president of Valencia has stated that no further team improvements can take place without players being sold by them, this maybe good news for us but I have my doubts that Moyes really wants him, and we still need to find another defensive midfielder to take over from Carsley, interesting summer ahead and lets hope we finish 5th to bring better players to the club, like us they want to play in europe too.
Jason Lam
18 Posted 30/04/2008 at 03:36:48
18 Posted 30/04/2008 at 03:36:48
Not meant to be rude or anything but I could almost picture how you got your in-laws supporting the blues based on our recent performances. Lots of running and running and hoofing and running and hoofing. Long throw-ins and jumping and running and running and hoofing and hoofing and running. I would easily be hooked myself.
Is Lescott the type of model scrum-halves they deploy in rugby?
Is Lescott the type of model scrum-halves they deploy in rugby?
Steve Foster
19 Posted 30/04/2008 at 09:02:06
19 Posted 30/04/2008 at 09:02:06
Well, I will take that as a no then!
Suppose I would of get a better response if I would of suggested a ground share with our neighbours!!
Cheers to everyone who took the time to reply.
Suppose I would of get a better response if I would of suggested a ground share with our neighbours!!
Cheers to everyone who took the time to reply.
Colin Jones
20 Posted 30/04/2008 at 23:05:07
20 Posted 30/04/2008 at 23:05:07
"Let?s have Nev and Jags in midfield..
Maybe AJ and Baines on the wings..
Lescott, or even Jags, up front; maybe even bring Steve Watson back to partner him.
The common denominator? Players out of position: ridiculous.
Let?s keep the defenders in defence, FCS and buy midfielders for the midfield."
Err, Nev and Jags have both been in midfield, AJ has been on the right wing and Baines on the left, Lescott has pushed up into a CF role a couple of times late on in games. So...I guess that was what you were talking about?
Maybe AJ and Baines on the wings..
Lescott, or even Jags, up front; maybe even bring Steve Watson back to partner him.
The common denominator? Players out of position: ridiculous.
Let?s keep the defenders in defence, FCS and buy midfielders for the midfield."
Err, Nev and Jags have both been in midfield, AJ has been on the right wing and Baines on the left, Lescott has pushed up into a CF role a couple of times late on in games. So...I guess that was what you were talking about?
Mike Allison
21 Posted 01/05/2008 at 21:39:27
21 Posted 01/05/2008 at 21:39:27
Callum - Henry was never a midfielder. He always played up front. His ’conversion’ was from playing out wide to playing centrally. He is currently playing out wide for Barcelona, and even when playing centrally for Arsenal, made a habit of pulling wide left to find space and pick up the ball.
Don Hutchison on the other hand, he was a midfielder who went up front and did well, so it can happen. But generally speaking, players need to go backwards in the team to become better. Half the best full backs in the world used to be wingers, midfielders or forwards when they were younger.
Don Hutchison on the other hand, he was a midfielder who went up front and did well, so it can happen. But generally speaking, players need to go backwards in the team to become better. Half the best full backs in the world used to be wingers, midfielders or forwards when they were younger.
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1 Posted 29/04/2008 at 13:46:47
He is a defender, best we have got at the minute and a potential future captain of this club at centre half.
Its a credit to Joleon how comfortable & good he looks at left back but dont get it confused he is a top drawer centre half. In fact I believe, if he’d of been centre half on sunday, we would of played a little better than we did & possibly won the game.
I understand Moyes was scared of Villa’s height & that is why a midfielder or two with stature will be a target come summer but this will free up JL to play in his true position of CB & hopefully go on & become one of our greats as he has all the potential to.