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Portsmouth... must win!

By Paul Lally :  29/08/2008 :  Comments (33) :
3 points tomorrow would give us 6 out of 9 and should see us sitting pretty in the top 3 to 6, only a maximum of 3 points behind the top of the league, with an international break to come. It's a massive game then, and the supporters can help bring the win... if we can stop the doom and gloom.

Castillo to play; Lynch pin of the Ecuador team and a quality player. Antonio Valencia, the ?new? superstar of Ecuador, is up the road at Wigan, so hopefully Castillo should settle in quickly as he has a fellow countryman nearby.

Obinna?s work permit is delayed so he probably will not play but a great move by Moyes & Jose. Bring him in to learn from his fellow Eagles including the ?Chief? Yobo and main striker Yakubu. Victor has already praised Yakubu regarding how much he learns from him on a daily basis. Obinna will learn as well and has pace to burn and cuts in from the left. Plus Vic has just been away with the Eagles without Joe and the Yak to hold his hand so hopefully has come back a better and more mature player.

Saha in ? lots saying he is a crock etc. Is Moyes that stupid? Saha may need a change of environment to get back to his best. Yes, it may be a gamble but to compare him to Andy van der Meyde is not on. AvdM had a track record before he came to us of being a wide boy. Saha has an impeccable record and just needs to get fit. He has always been a goal scorer.

Try before you buy is an excellent policy. Yobo, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, and Lescott were all untried in the Premier League. And as for laughing stock of the league(!!)! Look across the park ? Keane £20M [hahaha], and the off-and-on Barry saga. £8M for Reira ? is he that good? (Ask City fans) ? I personally do not think so. Espanyol needed to get rid as they are skint. Also look at other clubs ? lots of strife...

At least Moyes has a plan. Whether we are now on Plan B or C is neither here nor there. He is not an amateur and who knows what restrictions have been put upon him.

M?Bia may still come ? seems like he wants to use us as a stepping stone but hey if we achieve what we want to achieve and his price rockets then we would be in a position to sell on at a big profit and bring someone else in. But by then would he want to move if we have achieved and EFC has now got under his skin?

Moutinho is the big one but even if we do get him his work permit will not arrive in time for Portsmouth. No worries on that score. We can wait for this boy. Possibly more signings to come. The international break will give all new signings time to settle in...

So on Saturday, full-on Goodison roar required. Portsmouth will be on fire after 2 defeats and we have to kick them when they are down and keep them bottom. Plus we have to start Fortress Goodison now. 6 points out of nine would be a very good start considering all that has happened throughout the summer.

As for Liege - so what ? weeks away ? all new players in plus some back from injury. If we have hopes of winning anything this season we have to turn over teams of this calibre. Let us not build them up into something they are not just because they gave the Dark Side a game. So what? Liverpool simply proved how shite they. As hopefully will be properly proven this season.

Come on you blue boys, Saturday is a massive game. 3 points is a must regardless of performance then we can all chill out and get ready over the next 2 weeks for the season to start properly in a very good position in the league. United we stand, divided we fall.

Reader Comments (33)

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Richard Murray
1 Posted 29/08/2008 at 15:29:36
Is Moyes stupid enough to buy a crocked player?
No, but he’s desperate enough.

Think AVM, think Gravesen.
Paul Gladwell
2 Posted 29/08/2008 at 15:44:05
He has been on the OS stating captain marvel will become a central midfielder now, great eh.
Nick Entwistle
3 Posted 29/08/2008 at 15:53:59
We can win the next 3 games before the harder games that come after that. From the worst to the best of the Premier League...

I get the impression the only other time Paul writes is in text speak or sent that in via morse code.
Terry Smith
4 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:00:10
Richard Murray - I was thinking the same as you. We are starting to sign players only one I know a bit about. But when you compare the players coming in compared to players coming in at other teams ,we are not doing well at all. Let's just hope Castillo turns out to be what we are looking for. I do have a feeling Moutinho will be here on deadline day...
Ajay Timothy
5 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:05:18
Great article. I was down all summer and maybe I am clutching at straws but a fully fit Saha alongside a returning Cahill, Pienaar, Vaughn plus Castillo and hopefully others, means that we could be a force this year.
Denis Richardson
6 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:04:02
Saha may be injured but he must have come cheap so definitely worth the gamble. He?s a quality striker and if fit would be a massive improvement on AJ. Jury?s out on the Equadorian - finges crossed he?s up for the PL but at least we now have a defensive midfielder with a good engine (who is no Phil Neville!). The new Nigerian kid is also fucking quick......... finally looking forward to a game with no dread.
Gerry Allen
7 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:05:45
Great post Paul Lally. I’ve almost been put off reading Toffeeweb because of the negativity in recent weeks and this article puts everything into a solid, realistic context. Spot on about Standard Liege - is weeks away and will be a completely different game.
Dan McKie
8 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:23:34
Who cares about who other teams have signed? Villa havent done bad but apart from them its just been the usual suspects wasting millions (Spurs, RS) on average hyped up players! So far, without spending alot, Moyes has pinpointed problem areas in our team such as right back and defensive midfielder and now looks like a couple of quality attacking players are joining too!
Dominic Murphy
9 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:35:47
Not sure Castillo will play to be honest, may not have received International Clearance by then. But Pompey have started badly and have lost Krancjar for 3 months, who is a massive influence for them. They are stuck with out any real width, althought the size and strenght of their spine is quite formidable. I am hopeful though that we can win this one
Paul Lally
10 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:18:44
Nick E - In my defense, I did not have too much time and I felt good things were starting to happen, for the first time in a while.
I was compelled to try and pass on my optimism at once.
It has just been reported on another thread that no fee was paid for Saha.
Even better.
3 points vital Saturday.
Come onnnnnnnnnnn
Ed Casey
11 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:43:48
Richard Murray - I was thinking more along the lines of Anthony Gardner!

Got to say I do have faith in Moyesy but this summer has been frustrating to say the least. All the exciting names we have been linked too have turned out to be red herrings and we are now operating a scattergun policy that sounds a bit worrying.

Ultimately, we’ve still got a very good squad which has a Carsley shaped hole in it. Perhaps Castillo is the man to plug the gap, perhaps not! We’ll wait and see.

I for one would be a very happy man if we got at least one of our main targets before Monday night instead of watching them all sign for other clubs or telling us they are not interested (very sad).

But hey, I’m an Evertonian of knocking on for 30 years and I’m accustomed to disappointment!

COYB?
Trevor Lynes
12 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:48:12
We still need that one great boost to really set Goodison on fire..ok we have picked up some warm bodies one or two of which may be worth playing..but they are really unknown quantities..especially Saha who has been released by Man Utd when they are already short up front..seems a bit strange to me...anyway, if we buy Moutinho we will have an instant hero who will get the crowd excited and make Goodison a place to fear for away teams as it used to be. We would have games played like we played against Fiorentina every week...with fervour and ability..BUY MOUTINHO and all is forgiven.
Steve Guy
13 Posted 29/08/2008 at 17:05:50
Is there such a thing as a "must lose" game or a "must draw" ?!

It will be great if we do win and I see no reason why we shouldn?t.

However, I don?t expect any of the new players to feature much, except probably the Dane; Saha maybe if we need the extra fire power late on.

They need to bed in and get fitness levels nearer where I am sure Moyes wants them. In this respect the International break has done us a favour as the new players will get two weeks to get settled in.
Ste Jones
14 Posted 29/08/2008 at 17:20:04
Sweet Jesus thank you Paul. Someone with the wit and objectivity to pull all the strands together and see the picture as it really is.

An unmitigated pleasure to read a very well constructed piece of work.
Joe Thomas
15 Posted 29/08/2008 at 17:53:26
Is there any truth in the rumour that Moutinho is at EFC for a medical?
Clive Lewis
16 Posted 29/08/2008 at 17:50:26
Why do you think we are linked with these expensive players? so we all buy season tickets
Michael Dawson
18 Posted 29/08/2008 at 18:57:01
Great stuff Paul - sums up my view on our current situation perfectly.

No matter what you think of the signings, things are looking a lot more rosy than some of the posters on here a week ago were expecting.
Lee Spargo
19 Posted 29/08/2008 at 19:31:22
Clive, if you buy your season ticket based upon transfer rumours in the papers, then you need your head feeling.
Anthony Millington
20 Posted 29/08/2008 at 19:39:55
Does anyone know if Saha is injured at the moment? I presumed he was, because he hasn’t been in the Man United squad at all this season even though they’ve been short of strikers and Frazer Campbell has been starting for them. Also, its funny how we’ve brought in four players (including Obinna) and haven’t paid anything for them and Moyes says there is money to spend. Let’s hope there is and he brings in a couple of top notch midfielders, can’t see it happening but we’ll find out in the next few days.
Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
21 Posted 29/08/2008 at 19:53:35
Sir Alex Ferguson said only today that Saha was fully fit so we’ll see.
Jay Harris
22 Posted 29/08/2008 at 20:51:02
Apparently Saha has been on a special fitness program to address the injury problems he has had and he is now near full fitness.

Lets hope we get the benefit of the only class player we have signed so far.
larry bird
23 Posted 29/08/2008 at 22:23:46
I was in Croatia 2 years ago, in and out from the pool to the internet PC to see us break our transfer record for AJ.

Went on holiday last year in Majorca and did the same thing as we again shattered our transfer record for the Yak.

Going to Portugal tomorrow and I’ve a funny feeling that it’s going to be a hat-trick..... There’s a big signing on the way.

Delighted that we’ve signed a few palyers. Think Saha could be an inspired buy..
Matthew Lovekin
24 Posted 29/08/2008 at 22:53:22
Great to hear a positive article for a change.
Steve Jones
25 Posted 30/08/2008 at 00:01:46
Great piece Paul, lets banish the doom merchants and produce some positivity tomorrow - I am sure the vibe got to the players against Blackburn , did anyone really expect us to get a result after all the expectation, no signings and disappointment?
Seen it somewhere that Saha is having his medical in the morning, but has a calf strain and hasnt played any pre season games , so we should look forward to having him as an option after the 2 week break.
IMWT
Matt Span
26 Posted 30/08/2008 at 03:06:38
Why would Moutinho need a work permit?
Joeynkoo Ludden
27 Posted 30/08/2008 at 11:55:57
Think The Times is reporting that Saha came on a free. Moyes has brought in 4 (if Obi signs in) and spent nothing. Surely the hula is there for one big name come 11.45pm Monday night...

Though I have to say, we were awful v Blackburn save for 15 minutes in the seond half, and woeful v WBA, again, save for a short spell in the second half. This does not bode well. Let’s hope its just a case of early days.
Mark Duggan
28 Posted 30/08/2008 at 12:59:29
Anyone know where I can watch the game online? Am on a Mac. Cheers
Dave Lynch
29 Posted 30/08/2008 at 13:28:17
Right boys !
Just on my way out to the boozer for a few swiftys before going to the game.
Here’s hoping for a good win and a straight pass or 2 from PN.
Got that churny feeling in me gut, no better feeling in the world.
Commmmmmmmmmmme
ooooooooooooooooooonn.

Robert Jones
30 Posted 30/08/2008 at 15:14:20
TBH Mark all the myp2p channels are terrible this week, it’s watchable on Fox Espanol but it’s pretty crappy:

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=17359&part=sports
Chris Stewart
31 Posted 30/08/2008 at 15:46:08
Oh dear oh dear oh dear......not best of first halves!!
Vinny Garstrokes
32 Posted 30/08/2008 at 16:45:58
Inept performance. Yak should be playing for Wigan coz he looks like a Pie Eater just now. Our stars from last year are not cutting it so far and the sale of Carsley is looking like a very poor decision by DM. Hopefully a good thumping by Standard Liege will leave us to achieve something which I am more used too which is achieving premiership survival !!!!!!
Chris Stewart
34 Posted 30/08/2008 at 17:04:39
oh dear oh dear oh dear....not the best of second halves.



Thank fuck for the 2 week break before we the trip to Stoke...3 points a must!!
Paul Lally
35 Posted 30/08/2008 at 16:57:04
Bollocks.
One shining light was Baines. He looks like he is getting back to his best.



We have got to get our shit together.

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