COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From my seat: Boro (H)
Comments (45) : The Boro seemed determined to contain and play on the counter, something that should not have been unexpected but our response was to play some good buildup play without showing either confidence or desire in the final third and we ended up not knowing whether to stick or twist.
This indecision was calamitous as early as the eighth minute when some terrible defending after one of our unconvincing attacks broke down and Downing raced down the left worked the ball via Tuncay to a totally unmarked O'Neil on the right who slotted via the post. Whatever happened to tracking back or indeed tracking a run I don't know.
This setback set the tone for the rest of the game as Boro were now content to offer two banks of four and say "play through us if you can" and they were ever prepared to counter when the opportunity arose. Attack we did, though, and created some chances that on another day could have seen us 3-1 up at the break.
About five minutes after the goal, the Yak was put clear one-on-one with the keeper who made a good save but I would have expected a 20-goal-a-season man to have netted. Lescott came close when his floated cross went over the keeper but clipped a post.
The Boro countered when possible and Afonso put himself about aided well by Tuncay who for some reason the Blues found almost impossible to pick up. Still we attacked and from one such foray forward Yak was grounded by the keeper in one of those situations where anywhere else on the field was a foul but in the box ? never!
Cahill rose high to meet a corner unmarked and only eight yards out but headed well wide, last season it would have been a foregone conclusion.
Half-time and I wondered would those misses cost us and would the manager change it as there seemed to be just that something missing that is hard to define. No changes and more of the same except we seemed to have had a good talking to during the break and the tempo was a touch higher.
Even so, the Boro were just as dogged and ever willing to break, which once again caught our lads in two minds on quite a few occasions. By the hour mark, our football had got better and a good flowing move saw build up down the right culminated in a good cross, although just behind Saha, the striker sent his header just wide. Another good move this time down the left resulted in a free kick and from Arteta's delivery the Yak got enough on it to level things up.
We were now looking the more likely but Boro put fresh doubt in the players minds when Digard hit a 20-yarder that Howard tipped onto the inside of the post, it came back across goal and caused panic until the ever dependable Jags got it away.
Still, we were not done and the Yak was put through in the box but could only drive across goal when a man of his finishing ability really should at least hit the target. Both sides huffed and puffed a little but the 1-1 at the whistle was probably a fair result.
Overall I thought we still lack conviction at home and although much less hoofball today nearly all our pretty flowing football was played where the opposition were happy for us to have the ball. Man of the match? Well from my seat it had to be either Jags (again) or Neville and playing at home that pains me.
As a fan, many things puzzle me when it comes to team selection and substitutes: now I am not with the players all week so I have no idea what goes on but when I see over the last few successful games Ossie do a sound job as the holding man yet today he his shifted wide to accommodate both Cahill and Fellaini, who appeared to me to be too similar and never got to grips with who should hold and who should go... should the manager have been bold enough to leave one out?
The introduction of Pienaar for Ossie; now Ossie may have needed replacing for whatever reason but to my eyes Pienaar seemed to come on still injured and played the game out in that vein.
Why was Vaughan given only three minutes when he is the sort of player who can shake up a defence who are playing to keep what they have.
Why is it only Arteta ever takes set pieces? Whatever happened to variety and the unexpected?
I have no answers and I am sure the manager wont tell me but after 6½ years I thought we may have more strings to our bow by now.
My own assessment of our one-dimensional approach to most games comes down to lack of competition for places, which brings with it the reliance on players to motivate themselves rather than have someone breathing down their neck... but, to rectify that, we know takes good money and, given the present situation, we can't look forward to that, so we will just have to rely on those with no competition to do the right thing.
The attendance today is telling the club something and allowing for only about three coachloads from Boro the few assembled and the graveyard like atmosphere should give them a clue as to what the traditional match-going fans think.
Still - Wigan a week Monday, thank goodness we are away. See you there. UP THE BLUES
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Interesting point about dropping players - i would ask about Lescott. Seemed to be out of position for Boro’s goal for me and, well, it wasn’t the first time this season. What does Baines have to do to get a start? Still, i understand the value of not changing a back four of a winning team.
Cahill and Arteta are well below form (stating the obvious i know) and as a team we really suffer when they don’t play well. Is it fitness for Tim and confidence for Mikky? answers on a postcard...
Thought Neville was good and Jagielka was excellent
In an at times disjointed midfield Fellaini was for me the pick of the bunch, Cahill was always willing but not quite effective, having said that if he’d buried that header few would have complained about his peformance. Plus battering the horrible O’neil at the dropball was a highlight for me. Osman showed good skill to create a chance for himself, but for large parts was ineffective, I would’nt start with him. Arteta, clearly still out of form, however, his much maligned set pieces created 3 clear cut chances and his chipped ball out to Neville was sublime. In short even though I agree he’s not playing well he still contibutes more than Osman. Maybe a move inside sitting deep to collect the ball (his original position I believe) is the answer rather than dropping him.
I thought we had three major problems today. Arteta, Lescott and Yakubu.
From my seat they let the team down and we had Pienaar, Baines and Vaughan on the bench????
Depends on your view I suppose.
Now I have some sympathy for those who would drop Lescott, he clearly isn?t last seasons player, his form seems to magically been transfered to, much as it pains me to say it, Neville, fair play to him.
But not on the grounds of the goal. The true culprit is Moyes's (and Round?s for all I know) robotic defensive coaching and original team selection. Which resulted in jackshit in the holding dept.
Capt Pip and others were all up around their box and we had a semi decent bit of pressure brewing, the ball was blocked and was quickly wizzed down out left on the counter.... AS ONE MAN! The remaining 3 of them all dutifully shuffled over, thus leaving O?Neil waving his arms about like a demented wind mill, pick me, pick me, the 3 stooges going one way and the ball came the other, about face and Lescott being nearest, had to do the futile, day late and a dollar short, slide in.
I blame Moyes, 65K per?? I wouldn?t pay him in washers.
More paper required here I can still see the cracks.
Yak sucked and so did my favorite player Cahill. Mickey couldn?t cross. What?s that all about?
Moyes continues to confound. Three minutes for Vaughan? Run ye legs off laddie! Peanuts for Cahill? I would have seriously considered Rodwell & release a forward-thinking midfielder.
Did I also count five straight corners to the near post? Only one of which reached a blue (Jags the third of the bunch, high and wide)? That has got to be down to Moyes. With Fellaini; Yobo, Lescott, Yak, Jags and Cahiil in the box? I don?t get it.
Why oh why don?t we play him centre midfield? He seems to link nicely with Fellaini.
I would like to have seen Anichebe and Vaughan come on sooner as well, but overall thought we played well and were the better team.
This time, I have to take up issue ? not so much with the match report itself ? but with your conclusion that there is a "lack of competition for places". I think it is more to do with DM having some ?sacred cows? in the team ? i.e. Lescott, Cahill, Arteta, Yak, Osman (to some extent).
In my opinion, we have sufficient quality players, if only DM keeps confidence in them. Why are Vaughan, Baines, Anichebe, Castillo consistently kept out ?
We have 4 good strikers to choose from (Yak, Saha, Vaughny, Big Vic), 6~7 decent mid-fielders (Ossie, Arteta, Peanuts, Fellaini, Cahill, Rodwell, Castillo), 6 good defenders (Baines, Lescott, Yobo, Jags, Neville, Hibbo).
The problem seems to be that DM is loath to experiment, unless absolutely necessary (injuries, suspensions, etc).
You can now almost pick the team asleep ? when everybody is fit: Yak, Saha, Arteta, Osman, Cahill/Peanuts, Fellaini, Lescott, Yobo, Jags, Neville, Howard. Nothing wrong with a well settled squad, if everybody is playing well, but obviously, at the moment there seem to be a few dead-weights, who need a fire lighted below their back-sides to get them going.
Look what happened to Pip neville after he was dropped for a game. He is playing far better now that at any time in his career.
I thought Fellaini deserved a bit of praise yesterday for his constant showing for the ball (even though he was ignored a number of times by Jagielka and Yobo) and his willingness to receive it no matter what the situation because there aren't many players willing to do this at the minute. His distribution was excellent too, he kept everything on the floor and I can't remember him giving the ball away once. I think his work rate is getting better with every game as well. This probably went unnoticed to a lot of people but I thought it was worth a mention.
Two or three times yesterday he picked up the ball in a bit if space and I was willing him to carry it on, take a player on, change the pace. We know he can do it, I just think he isn?t so sure of himself for whatever reason.
I?m not having a go at him (far from it), I just want to see him get back to his best because we are a different team when he does.
On one occasion, Arteta came inside to start a move and passed it out to Lescott on the left. Straight away the guy in front of me was screaming "effing get out wide Arteta you useless prick". Usain Bolt could not have got out wide that quick! Yakubu was being called a "fat lazy bastard" ? until he scored, that is, and then he was great again.
It really is starting to become a problem for Everton in my opinion that the crowd is starting letting frustrations turn into real negative and sometimes vicious abuse towards the players. It has to stop otherwise our better players won't put up with it.
On the whole, a much better performance from the players... let's hope the crowd improve theirs.
But at least Moyes took the right midfielders off this time... If we replaced Cahill and Osman with Moutinho and Dalmat we?d have a seriously decent team.
And the solution for Lescott is hardly a mystery.
Better all round performance but too many attacking midfielders who are ineffective in providing...
ps: Neville was excellent... after years of slating him, I'm happy enough to have him in the right back position!
They had 2 real efforts on goal all afternoon. The goal (which was a little fortuitous as the ball fell to Downing from a Jagielka tackle) and the shot tipped onto the post. The rest were shots from distance that didn?t really trouble Howard.
We on the other hand created a series of guilt-edged chances. Played better than we have done all season and very rarely reverted to Hoofball (copyright ToffeeWeb).
I was more encouraged by this performance than any other I?ve seen this season. A good positive performance against a team of some talent.
No wonder the team are nervous, Everton fans will find anything to complain about (although I don?t think we are unique in this respect; there were Arsenal fans calling for Wenger's head when we took the lead a few weeks back).
Don’t be ridiculous.
How about getting stroked by Alves at the corner flag?
How about looking like and oaf when trying to dribble?
How about getting involved in triangles on their 20 yard line and then not being able to make it back whenever he gave the ball away?
How about you realising that he is not a left back?
How about since we started playing the current back four we have conceded 3 in 5 rather than 18 in 8!
Would I have been calling it a mistake if it had went in? Er, YES... Because it was! That is indicative of Lescott's innability to cross the ball.
As for your suggestion that a back line should not be changed because of two clean sheets against Fulham and Bolton... pure rubbish. If players are underperforming, and if there is an alternative, then that option should be taken...
Players should not maintain their place through some sort of misguided collective responsibility.... he has been shite at left back ? and should be dropped.
And Jon Power you believed that Fellaini had his best game for us? What did he actually offer for us yesterday? Are you trying to imply he had a better game than against United? ? I don't think so. Our best player was Neville again. Credit where it?s due he's been magnificent recently. Jagielka had another good game and how he's not in the England squad is beyond me. Howard made a couple of good saves and is coming back to form.
And I thought Lescott played better and would not blame him for the goal, that was Arteta?s fault. Aside from the cross for the goal his delivery was very poor again. What does the guy have to do to be dropped. On the whole he?s been below par for more than 18 months. And to think I once thought he was better tha Fabregas. I've truly ate my words.
Osman was crap again. What does he actually offer us? He scores every now and then and that's it. I'll hold my hand up and admit I once thought he should be picked for England. How wrong I was.
Cahill pretty much summed up the performance. Huff and Puff. And he missed a sitter. As far as I'm concerned, sell him while he still has value because he's not justified the fact that our team is selected around him.
Yakubu should have buried one in first half and he?s still his usual bone idle self. Saha clearly is finished. And bringing on Vaughan with 2 minutes to go... doesn?t that sum it all up? He is 10 times the player that Anichebe will ever be. He turned the game on its head at West Ham and if that didn?t convince Moyes that he?s good enough then I'm afraid nothing ever will. He should be starting as he has the ability to be an exceptional footballer.
Another one who should be starting every week is Pienaar. He gives us creativity that we desperately lack and works harder than Arteta. A draw was about right as Boro set out well. I'm sorry but that's not good enough. I except better than huff and puff against Middlesbrough. It's just not acceptable.
And I'm tired of all this "support the lads in the blue". Why support them when you're watching absolute shite? We are not 7th on merit, because we have been a shambles this season. I guess now I must have got over excited with the West Ham game because this was boring. Over our next 6 games we should pick up maybe 8 points which will put us closer to safety. Its pathetic and dire, it really is. But unfortunately it's 5 years so I guess I'm going to have to try and accept it. COYB FTRS
Wise up!
I agree Neville played well again and Arteta didnt play particularly well but still set up the equaliser and was trying to create. The players (and manager) get stick for playing ?hoofball? then when they try and get it down and play, it's all ?huff and puff? despite the fact that apart from the goal we had 3 or 4 great chances to score.
Give them a break and try getting behind them, the stick they are getting at the minute is out of order and must be a boost to the opposition.
Ciaran, I think you?re right on Arteta and the Yak. If we aspire to quality football then we must stick by the quality players we have.
James Carlyle, I honestly don?t remember what I said that upset you so much but, to be honest, my wife agreed with some of what you said. Personally, what you said didn?t offend me and I wouldn?t have removed it but thanks for the apology.
I?m about to upset you again, though. I wasn?t at the game game and you were so I accept that you have a better perspective, but.... I saw the game on tv and I don?t think Arteta was superb ,nor do I agree that we dominated the game.
1) The goal was unfortunate ? Jags got in a good solid tackle and the ball goes straight to Downing with a free run on goal which is covered by Lescott ? which left O?Neil free who put it in off the post. Anyone who thinks that was Lescott?s fault is just looking for someone to blame.
2) Anyone who watched the first few matches of the season would realise that Baines is not the answer at left back and it would definitely not be him who popped up to power in the equaliser against West Ham. Lescott?s problem is that he sometimes gets so far forward that, if the move breaks down, he can?t get back. In my opinion his form is improving game by game.
3) Micky is struggling at the moment and his dead ball delivery is very hit and miss. If it weren?t for that fact that the Yak hasn?t got a clue about heading, his free kicks and corners yesterday would have been very disappointing. Perhaps we expect to much from him. A couple of times he had the opportunity to cut in on his right foot and have a go, but he chose to go out wide and cross with his weaker foot. I hope he can regain his confidence and form ? quickly!
4) The Yak does not work the channels enough ? when Vic and Vaughan come on, the first thing they do is put themselves about and let the defenders know that they are in a game. His greatest crime in my eyes though is when he ?closes? down the keeper when he?s kicking from the floor, only to be still strolling back towards the half way line, if and when we get possession. The number of times yesterday that our midfielders had to pass back or sideways, because he would have been offside if they?d tried to pass forward.
5) Phil Neville played really well yesterday.
6) Jags played well and was unlucky when they scored.
7) The Big Fella(ini) had another solid, if unspectacular, game.
8) Why play Cahill if he?s got a bad heel injury and is only playing because he had an injection? With Castillo and Peanuts on the bench and Rodwell we have enough cover (and extra variation) in midfield, and there?s no need to be ?carrying? him. He clearly had orders not to pile forward and that doesn?t suit him.
9) Does anyone really wonder why there is the occasional hoofball? From my viewpoint (above the halfway line in the Top Balcany), I could see there was one situation yesterday which summed it all up. The ball was played forward by Jags (I think) to Ozzie on the half way line, who turned the wrong way into a Boro player and lost the ball, much to dismay of a number of fans, who started barracking. The next time Jags had the ball, Ozzie hid behind his marker and no midfielder showed for the ball and as he was being closed down Jags just lumped it aimlessly through to their keeper. Who?s to blame? Jags for not trying a risky pass to a midfielder (who clearly did not want the ball anyway) and thus just ?getting rid?? The midfielder?s for not having the confidence to show every time our centre halves have the ball? Or us, the fans, for screaming abuse every time one of our player?s lose the ball? DM for not buying players who are comfortable on the ball at all times? Or perhaps BK?
A better performance, but a poor result ? we should be beating Boro at home. At least we came back.
CYOB
In fact he was the best player in some of those matches!
Don?t get me wrong, I like Baines and no one wants him to succeed more than me (having watched him from a young age through links I have with the Wigan youth team).
But he does have obvious flaws. One being that he leaves us short at the back when he bombs forward a la Lescott and the other being his lack of height. Other team targeted our full backs with high balls especially when Hibbert played on the other flank.
The argument that Baines should be held responsible for the goals conceded is about as hollow as the argument that says we should not change a back line that hasn?t conceded...
I also recall, Baines clearing the ball of the line several times and assisting at least one goal...
Irrelevant, I suppose.
And we need a change of tactics. At the moment it is the full backs who are being asked to do most of the crossing, which leaves our defence exposed. Left (and right) backs should not be wing backs unless there is a true sweeper/Carsley sitting back to help the two central defenders. Fellaini does not seem to be playing a Carsley role (and I dont think he should) so we are playing a true 4-4-2. Peanuts and Mickey should be playing wider and getting the crosses in.
My biggest concerns are a) the overall atmosphere - GP is so subdued these days - think the hangover is still there from the summer; and b) Moyes suggesting that Fellaini and Cahill played well together. I thought the midfield disappeared everytime they countered.
Onwards and upwards - but defo 2 points dropped!
I can only imagine what kind of effect it would have to a member of the playing staff. What kind of confidence would that install in you? Would you want the ball? One missed place pass resulted in a horrific abuse and it started so early in the game!!!
Those people are not only spoiling it for the players but for everyone watching the game who paid good money and time to be there!! We didn?t lose and that's four games now without a loss ? take the postives and build on them. We had the chances to win the game and hey if we were away from home it might have been a different story as there wouldn?t have been enough negative voices to make an impact. Get behind the team and stop spoiling it for everyone else!!!!!!!
If you dropped Arteta, who exactly would take his place? And it?s not just HIS PLACE but his meaning to the team and the opponent?
If you dropped Lescott who would take HIS PLACE? And if you say Leighton Baines... please come up with something original.
Also, James Vaughan is NO world beater. And probably is a Championship player.
Big Vic on the wing, don't make me laugh.
Whats all the fuss about Fellaini?
Arteta still our best midfielder but why not play him in the middle?
If I was a midfield fringe player and saw big Vic getting the nod, I would be very disapointed.
But some positives starting to emerge at last. Cpt Pip is playing the best I’ve seen him play and is actually putting some passes to his own team players. Jagielka has been outstanding for weeks. It looks like Yobo has made the decision to stop dithering around, Fellaini is settling and, as said by some, really making himself available (means we don’t always have to play hoofball). Lescott looks like he is starting to come out of the black hole of nervousness he’s had all season. Saha is starting to show some of his class.
On the down side I think we still need to see more effort from the Yak and the crowd should get off Arteta’s back. Talk about rapid transition from Hero to villain. Give the guy a break! Even off form the guy’s better than any replacement we have.
Question. Any idea why Castillo was signed?
We definitely need to fix that channel on our left side - it hasn’t mattered whether it’s Lescott or Baines at left back - I feel it is a mid-field covering issue.
The best part for me - it was good to see us trying to take it to the opposition for most of the game. it’s been lacking for a while.
COYB!
Last season he was mostly injured and this season he?s yet to get his chance, the only time this year I?ve seen him play 90 mins was in the mini-derby were he played well and scored a brace. He?s a terrific athlete with a superb attitude and is only 20, so how you?ve formed this opinion I?m not too sure. I?m not saying he won?t end up in the Championship, just that those asking for him to be given a chance, might have a case.
* Howard was again pretty good denying Digard at the end and with his overall play
* Neville is playing better for us than he has ever done... both defending and going forward
* Yobo looked solid
*Jags was my MOM... some great tackles especially that one at the end off the Digard deflection
* Lescott looked good going forward but is not his usual self at the back... still prefer him to Baines though
* Arteta?s corners don't seem to cross the near post but I still can't see us doing any better without him
* Fellaini looks better with each game
* Osman should not have started if Pienaar was fit
* Cahill is lacking confidence... that's obvious from his missed header which he would have buried in past seasons
* Saha with his new look lacked the finishing
* Off the Yak?s back but still a goal after a long break... he should have slotted past Turnbull in the 1st half when one on one with him... also in the 2nd half when put through by Saha should have hit the target or crossed for the oncoming Cahill in the middle.
* Pienaar didn't look fully fit....Vic didn't do much and Vaughan just about had time to get some mud on his boots before the game ended... which is a little better than poor Castillo who continues to rot on the bench.
If Cahill needs surgery... get it done. Ossie needs to start on the bench with Castillo/Rodwell doing the defensive midfield job... we need to beat Wigan convincingly away next Monday... COYB
ps: Not sure why the Yak didnt get a penalty when Turnbull tripped him in the box... also why the free kick was denied when the Yak was manhandled just outside the area???
Ok then, how about replacing him with Carlo Nash?
Question: would a more ruthless manager, Mr Ferguson, stand and watch vital players constantly play so poorly? Moyes needs to become more of a manager to these players and less of a friend.
As striking options go, I think we have some great options. Saha (when fit) is a class act and Yak will always get you goals over a season but like others, I wonder why isn't Vaughan given more of a chance?
I would love to see the team built around Fellaini. The boy loves to have the ball and looks confident, a commodity that has not always been there in a blue shirt.
And he was not at fault for the goal. Last season, he would have had both Pienaar and Carsley back there covering for him. Arteta, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen until it was already far too late.
I would like Moyes to re-sign Carsley in january like he did Stubbs that time (which changed our season). In the summer we should look for a Carsley repacement but still keep hold of Carsley so as not to make the same mistake twice. With him we can play a formation that best suites us and supports our defence.
We are also missing a captain in midfield. I don't think Neville should play there but I think he will when Jacobsen and Hibbert are fully fit.
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1 Posted 16/11/2008 at 21:22:11
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I would like to see the effect it would have on some of our players to be dropped. Lescott and Arteta would be by my two. Yes we may lack creativity without Arteta but at the moment he is giving us little and we know he can play to a higher level. If he is injured or his groin is still torubling him it is counter-productive to keep playing him so the enforced R&R would help. I don’t see it happening though...