The Mail Bag
Worried
Comments (13)
Like the rest of you, I'm continually scanning all the appropriate websites to see who we're signing or at least trying to sign. I'm glad to see the back of Wright and Naysmith but am getting a bit stressed over the fact that Beattie is still hanging around like a bad smell. It shows how bad he is when even the new Premiership teams and the lower echelon newly rich teams, just don't appear to be interested.
He represents Moyes's worst mistake and the sooner he can get rid the better. He epitomises the lack of technical ability that Moyes seems to take or leave in players, and unless we introduce that ability in our next few signings we'll be crucified in Europe again.
Apart from Arteta, even our good first team players like AJ, Vaughan,Neville and Lescott aren't what most would regard, as gifted technical players. Of the rumoured signings Koumas seems the most skillful, but Smith and Richardson are decent and hard working, which fits the Moyes prototype, but just won't cut it in Europe.
Mike Price, Posted 07/07/2007 at 00:18:59
Comments
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Jason Broome
2 Posted 07/07/2007 at 12:06:14
2 Posted 07/07/2007 at 12:06:14
I admit to being worried about the Smith rumour. We need goals, he can?t score, so why are we blowing 6M on someone we don?t need?!
We looked class with Fernandes last season. At times he looked better than Arteta. DM almost lost Arteta to Liverpool in 2006 for silly reasons... could you imagine!!!
Fernandes has awesome passing ability, can shoot from anywhere, tackles hard, is fast, has flair and exceptional skill, can hold his own against Man U & Arsenal, would look comfortable at Barcelona or Chelsea... and he is only 21.
6 month loan 4M January, 4M July... gifted, technical problem solved. However expect another English, reject, pretty boy, flop... cue Smith... the new JB.
We looked class with Fernandes last season. At times he looked better than Arteta. DM almost lost Arteta to Liverpool in 2006 for silly reasons... could you imagine!!!
Fernandes has awesome passing ability, can shoot from anywhere, tackles hard, is fast, has flair and exceptional skill, can hold his own against Man U & Arsenal, would look comfortable at Barcelona or Chelsea... and he is only 21.
6 month loan 4M January, 4M July... gifted, technical problem solved. However expect another English, reject, pretty boy, flop... cue Smith... the new JB.
Dim Armadoros
3 Posted 07/07/2007 at 15:42:45
3 Posted 07/07/2007 at 15:42:45
We definitely need a wing-back; it seems we are skinny in numbers at the back... This is a truly demanding season and we do have Valente and Hibbert coming back from injuries.
I am glad to hear that Nugent is not going to Portsmouth. AJ and Nugent in the front, plus Vaughan and Anichebe as back-ups would be the perfect scenario... Hope we’ll get rid of Beattie truly soon
I am glad to hear that Nugent is not going to Portsmouth. AJ and Nugent in the front, plus Vaughan and Anichebe as back-ups would be the perfect scenario... Hope we’ll get rid of Beattie truly soon
Karl Jones
4 Posted 07/07/2007 at 15:44:49
4 Posted 07/07/2007 at 15:44:49
I totally agree with regard to Fernandes. This is the only type of player who can take us another step forward. we should do all we can to get him signed, even if its only on loan...We have to progress next season.
Tony Marsh
5 Posted 07/07/2007 at 15:53:35
5 Posted 07/07/2007 at 15:53:35
As usual Mike is spot on and has every right to be worried especially where Europe is concerned.I honestly believe we will struggle in the Eufa cup regardless of what players we have.The way Moyes sets his stall out is bread and jam for continental sides.
Possesion is the key in football
and we always give the ball away to cheaply.The long ball game will not work in Europe.
Possesion is the key in football
and we always give the ball away to cheaply.The long ball game will not work in Europe.
Patty Blue
6 Posted 07/07/2007 at 16:09:57
6 Posted 07/07/2007 at 16:09:57
What?s Mike Price doing in Vancouver? Thought he was based in Thailand. Moving nearer to the UK Mike, or acting as a scout for EFC?
Roger Osbourne
7 Posted 07/07/2007 at 16:30:24
7 Posted 07/07/2007 at 16:30:24
Well that's Wright, Naysmith and some other of the deadwood out of the way. But there are still others who are well past their sell-by date and have no place in our current set-up... or do they? Beattie is still here because quite simply no-one else wants the great tub of lard. Southampton must be laughing their bollocks off with the £6 million they recieved. And in all honesty we have only three or four players of genuine talent or quality that could get into a side that finished above us. I must be realistic and cannot see Johnson being a prolific goalscorer next term. And who is going to partner him anyhows? Vaughan, Anichebe or Osman perhaps. Maybe not. It will be a long time before there is another partnership of the likes of Ssharp and Lineker. And even in that year (1986) we still won nothing. As for Fernandes, how in the blue hell can we meet Benfica's asking price whatever it was. The best things we can hope for is stability and consolidation. Sorry to be so pessimistic.
Alan Clarke
8 Posted 07/07/2007 at 22:42:51
8 Posted 07/07/2007 at 22:42:51
Lescott, not technically gifted? Lescott was my player of the season. He has everything anyone would wish for in a defender.
Don’t do him a disservice.
Don’t do him a disservice.
Scott Robinson
9 Posted 08/07/2007 at 00:42:01
9 Posted 08/07/2007 at 00:42:01
Please can people drop the "Beattie is a fat lard waste of space" - You seem to have short memories: If it wasnt for his goals in the season before last, we would be plying our trade in the championship...
Sure, it is a given that he had a shocking 06-07 season but lack of technical ability? I don?t quite think so. If you remember his goal (as part of his brace in such game) against Fulham where he chipped the keeper, this was sublime. For a while thereafter there was a call for Beattie for England in WC ?07. How short memories we all seem to have.
Beattie?s work rate is credible and if it wasn't for his efforts against West Ham at home, Osman wouldn't have scored a cracking goal.
His current (or shall I say past) lack of form doesn't stink of an inability, but rather lack of confidence. Confidence is everything in life, whether it be in the office environment or out there on the field. Give the guy another chance and be human and then you can reserve judgment as to whether he is past his prime.
Sure, it is a given that he had a shocking 06-07 season but lack of technical ability? I don?t quite think so. If you remember his goal (as part of his brace in such game) against Fulham where he chipped the keeper, this was sublime. For a while thereafter there was a call for Beattie for England in WC ?07. How short memories we all seem to have.
Beattie?s work rate is credible and if it wasn't for his efforts against West Ham at home, Osman wouldn't have scored a cracking goal.
His current (or shall I say past) lack of form doesn't stink of an inability, but rather lack of confidence. Confidence is everything in life, whether it be in the office environment or out there on the field. Give the guy another chance and be human and then you can reserve judgment as to whether he is past his prime.
Mike Newhouse
10 Posted 08/07/2007 at 11:37:39
10 Posted 08/07/2007 at 11:37:39
I am extremely worried that our squad numbers have dwindled below our already skinny numbers of last season. I’m not one for buying for buying sake and I want quality here not quantity but at the moment we are lacking both BIG time!
As most were crying out for Manu so was I but that is looking like it wont happen, not even on loan as I?m sure Moyes would want him for pre-season with the rest of the lads to try to get the fabled Everton team spirit knocked into him (as that seems why there may have been a doubt over him.)
We need signings just to bolster the numbers for an ordinary Premiership season but with Europe as well (fingers crossed we make a better fist of it that last time) we will have a first 11 of totally knackered players by Christmas.
Blue Bill needs to pull his finger out and get moving along with the rest of ?em and get into the market quick before Tiny and Mikel think they have been duped by Bill?s big words, get disillusioned and want away in January when we have crashed out of everything and look like a crocked team. Contract or not in this day and age its not worth the paper its printed on!
Oh yeah Well said Scott lets not bad mouth what few players we have! Beats had an horrific season last time out and confidence must have played a big part but that?s by the by now it looks as if he is staying and if he does I’ll cheer him on to the pitch if he starts.
As most were crying out for Manu so was I but that is looking like it wont happen, not even on loan as I?m sure Moyes would want him for pre-season with the rest of the lads to try to get the fabled Everton team spirit knocked into him (as that seems why there may have been a doubt over him.)
We need signings just to bolster the numbers for an ordinary Premiership season but with Europe as well (fingers crossed we make a better fist of it that last time) we will have a first 11 of totally knackered players by Christmas.
Blue Bill needs to pull his finger out and get moving along with the rest of ?em and get into the market quick before Tiny and Mikel think they have been duped by Bill?s big words, get disillusioned and want away in January when we have crashed out of everything and look like a crocked team. Contract or not in this day and age its not worth the paper its printed on!
Oh yeah Well said Scott lets not bad mouth what few players we have! Beats had an horrific season last time out and confidence must have played a big part but that?s by the by now it looks as if he is staying and if he does I’ll cheer him on to the pitch if he starts.
Bob Turner
11 Posted 08/07/2007 at 13:42:33
11 Posted 08/07/2007 at 13:42:33
I agree with what Scott Robinson (how have you been since Neighbours??) says about Beattie - I forced myself to watch the DVD of the season the other day, and he certainly did the business for us, and some of the goals he scored were very skilful. If I remember correctly, he was above Crouch in the League standings that season, but who got to go to the World Cup??
I think his problem is definitely lack of confidence, not ability, but I’m not sure Everton are going to be playing in a way that will bring out the best in him. But given the coming season’s demands on bodies, I think he would be useful to keep, at least until January, and we can see how the season is progressing
I think his problem is definitely lack of confidence, not ability, but I’m not sure Everton are going to be playing in a way that will bring out the best in him. But given the coming season’s demands on bodies, I think he would be useful to keep, at least until January, and we can see how the season is progressing
Mike Price
12 Posted 08/07/2007 at 14:44:00
12 Posted 08/07/2007 at 14:44:00
In my opinion anyone that thinks Beattie is close to a Premiership player is clueless and he did not save us from anything a couple of seasons ago. The only thing he has done was mess up the team and cause us to nearly miss out on 4th place and then embarass the blue shirt ever since. His lack of technical ability, pace, power, aggression and finishing are almost joke-like, its as if a sunday league, 10 pints and a curry plumber has been planted at a Premiership club as part of a sick social experiment... or for a reality TV show. Trouble is , he cost us 6 million and is draining about 35 grand a week out of our club.
Oh and Patty Blue, I live in Vancouver full time now...and even though they prefer ice-hockey the Whitecaps are up and running again and James Beattie wouldn’t get a game with them either!
Oh and Patty Blue, I live in Vancouver full time now...and even though they prefer ice-hockey the Whitecaps are up and running again and James Beattie wouldn’t get a game with them either!
Su Jo
13 Posted 08/07/2007 at 15:09:09
13 Posted 08/07/2007 at 15:09:09
Who should we sign? And Why? To be able to answer this question, let us look, first, at the typical team next year:
- Strikers: (1) Vaughan/Anichebe/Beattie (2) Johnson
- Midfield: (3) Osman (4) Cahill (5) Carsley (6) Arteta
- Defense:(7) Lescott/Valente (8) Stubbs/Lescott/Yobo (9) Yobo/Jagielka (10) Neville/Hibbert
- Goalkeepers: (11) Howard/Turner
So, we need options for:
- Johnson ? possibly in Defoe (also seen as a complement to Johnson)
- Osman ? possibly Richardson
- Cahill ? possibly Smith
- Carsley & Arteta ? possibly Koumas
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1 Posted 07/07/2007 at 12:46:24