The Mail Bag
Some thoughts on the game...
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Just some thoughts on the Man Utd game:
- Vic Anichebe is not up to the standard necessary to play for an Everton team trying to break into the top four.
- Tony Hibbert has become quite possibly our outstanding player. He must be due an England call up. Some of his tackles today were first class.
- Howard is now playing at the top of his game. He is a fantastic shot-stopper.
- Fellaini has great energy, but has a long way to go before he is the finished article.
- Moyes needs to give Gosling a chance, he is a better player than Big Vic.
- Our defence is the reason for our good form of late, today they were strong again. United could only score with a dodgy penalty.
- Cahill and Arteta and Osman need a rest; however, this is not going to happen ? there is no-one to repace them.
- I can't help but think that Moyes should have rested some players for Wednesday. A defeat to United is less important than a win against Liverpool.
Paul Andrew Davey, Posted 31/01/2009 at 16:28:26
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On the bright side, that?s the end of our shocking run of games and all of our remaining league fixtures apart from Chelsea and Villa away are very winnable (and, hey, after the way Villa burgled 3 points from us at Goodison, you?ve got to fancy us getting something out of that game).
Oh, and lets roll over the a dispirited and disjointed RS on Wednesday after Chelsea put them out of the title race tomorrow.
COYB!
Another point I’d like to make is that it has been proved once again that Leon Osman is not good enough to play against the top teams, because although he works hard he has a very little impact on the game and he provides no outlet down the flank because he is too slow and lightweight. I think if we really want to break into the top four then we need to bring in a better quality player who can pose more of a threat to our opponents and use Osman as more of a squad player.
I to think that Big Vic will never develop into an Everton Premier League player ? he has neither the determined drive and commitment to make it. For one so big, he is too easily put off.
I also think that Osman fails to contribute in the "big matches" where we have to dig in and graft. He contributes when we play "lesser teams" but hasn?t the power to overcome the real top Premier League players. I would retain him as a good squad player whereas Big Vic can leave whenever?s appropriate.
Overall today I thought we played well against the world?s best team and if we can only get some forwards back and maybe some pace out wide ? Gosling for now.
My main concern is that Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar and to some extent Fellaini (it is his 1st season in Premier League) will soon be completely knackered.
This is the area I?d like to see targeted in the summer for improvement, if we've got two pennies to rub together that is.
Great linking up with Baines on the left, very brave, good eye for a pass and good positioning.
Only problem is his size really
Whilst I wish we?d not lost, lets not lose sight of reality. With home advantage and a top striker (Yak), but for finger tip from Van der Sar on to the post we?d have beaten them at Goodison. The lads have had a mental run of games against the ?Sky 4? and there is one left (though the Shite are a lesser force than Utd's champion winning side)... we?ve held our own and but for daft mistakes we could have beaten the shite twice and the Arse already in 3 of the 4 games!
Lets put this defeat behind us, and have confidence that getting behind the boys in the Royal Blue will see us back on an unbeaten run, starting with Weds night in the Cup... COYB!
Hibbert was awesome!
Roll on Wednesday... Screech is gonna get ya!
Moyes has no idea how to coach going forward. We had no original thoughts (aside from Pienaar and Baines occasionally).
Arteta I?m afraid will never take this team by the scruff of the neck and bring them to a new level. Sad. Manuel Fernandes actually did sometimes when he got his game legs going.
Anichebe?s 1 goal in 41 matches (now 42) is beyond comprehensible. I?m embarrassed for him and for us for not having a better option. Surely some of the kids desrve a try. 1 in 42 ? think about that...
With out recent form and what I’d argue as fantastic displays (all of them in different aspects) against top 4 teams I think Moyes was right to run out our best, not look ahead, and have at it against ManUre.
I was actually fairly pleased with us today. Of course winning is the goal, but I thought out effort was there. The result was a fair one. Sure, Mikel’s challenge was NOT a penalty, but surely Lescott’s was.
Onwards... and pray we have enough in the tank to take the RS down.
Vic is dead weight. He is utterly useless. A body to fill in with injuries and fatigue.
Our left side was spectacular. Our right side lacking. Hibbo was MOM, but that side can?t attack at all. Hibbo has been stellar defensively, but offers no options or vision attacking.
Howard has been superb. I wish the Gerrard goal in the Cup hadn?t happened, but the man?s human.
Ozzy?s a squad player. A reality of of "smaller" club with no funds to sign someone. But he doesn?t hurt us per se. Just doesn?t offer that quality body to put us over the top against Sky 4 opponents.
We are, as you Brits say, threadbare. It?s scary.
Gosling deserves a run. Vic should be off this summer.
Did anyone see Yobo coming in around the 88th, only to be sent back to the bench by Moyes? What was that? Someone shed some light on that for me.
I take the point about Anichebe who is not even Championship standard in my opinion but in his defence, his goals record is something like 11 in 86. Minor point, I know because he still doesn’t cut it.
Overall I thought we played reasonably well tonight. Some of the interplay between Baines and Pienaar in the first half was brilliant - only let down by the final ball in from Baines - which is unusual.
But at least we’ve shown that we can compete against any team and the never say die team spirit is fantastic. Just a bit more quality in the final third and we’d be laughing.
Time and time again, he has eschewed the opportunity to sign creative midfielders and we went into this season with only ONE striker with a reputation for scoring goals season on season. Now I know everyone will be putting the blame on Kenwright but the club can only spend what it generates and too much of Moyes?s spending has been on iffy players like Fellaini, Saha, VdM and the like.
If you are happy with sixth ? Moyes is your man.
In DM?s defence, all the players that get the most stick (Hibbert, Osman, Anichebe) are players that have cost nothing but have on the whole done a good job. But I agree, if we want to step up, they shouldn?t have regular places in the team.
14 games left and most of them are winnable... but can we impose ourselves and win enough to give ourselves a chance of finishing in 5th place???
He is being played out of position and I think he has been tasked with winning free kicks (as well as the rest of the Everton midfield) as this is seen as our main threat against the big 4.
Due to his age and lack of experience I am loth to criticise Anichebe?s play but his gormless childish pained facial expressions are ridiculous and a sign of immaturity.
Many employers in high profile occupations provide advice on public relations; I can think of others as well as Vic that might benefit from that kind of thing.
1. For me, Anichebe has lost the plot. Last year he was using his youth, energy and physique to try to make a mark. Now he seems to think he deserves it just by coming on the pitch and can get decisions on a 50/50 with the likes of Ferdinand just by posturing at the ref. Like those guys know nothing! If he was playing against Jagielka he wouldn?t get a kick. His moment came and he wasn?t up to it.
2. Tony Hibbert ? I thought he had been demoted to Mr squad reserve man ? and his moment came. Unlike Anichebe, he took his chance and has been consistently terrific as a defender ? but that is because we?ve played the best teams since he has come in. Not England because he doesn?t offer enough going forward, but he?s now persuaded me that he belongs in our squad for years to come. And yes, MOM today.
3. Yes, Howard was and has been excellent ? but I think I could score a penalty against him. Ronaldo knew Howard would sell himself if he kept calm. He commits himself too soon; the best keepers don?t guess, they let the kicker guess.
4. Fellaini has disappointed in both games since he came back ? is he frightened of yellow cards? He really hasn?t got that involved.
5. I?d try anyone ahead of Anichebe. Especially Gosling. I think Moyes will have learned from today. By the way, Pienaar is something of a problem to me in terms of decision making, obviously not in terms of commitment. In extra time against Arsenal we had a break , Pienaar got the ball in space on the left of the halfway line. Only big Vic ahead on the edge of the pen area. He tried a pass to him. Vic went down screaming as usual and Arsenal went up the other end and equalised. Today Giggs got the ball in similar areas in the last few minutes several times. He did the opposite ? even with Ronaldo and Tevez to pass to ? he made sure they kept it. Pienaar often makes awful decisions that open us up.
6. Defence were terrific, and while Baines got some whinges from the commentators for his crossing, he got into more good attacking situations than any Man U defender. I watched Bridge earlier today ? what a load of crap compared to Baines ? though Baines has something to learn.
7. Osman is too weak and slow to play game after game against top opponents. They just brush him aside. Against that, it?s been his best season for me, but I?d have him on the bench as often as starting ? if I had an alternative.
8. Totally disagree here. Try and do your best in the next game and deal with the game after next when you get there. Don?t bring fat waiter tactics here mate. A draw at Man U would have completed four unbeaten in the Prem against the Sky 4 in 5 weeks, and if that isn?t progress...
And ?outside this?, I posted in October saying that we are nailed on for sixth.
http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/08-09/comment/mailbag/november.asp (but I sent it in October)
And we are.
I?ve just thought we all know we have some problems and where we are going wrong but we?ve got no cash so enough said.
One thing though did you see Fergie going on about our talented young players on long contracts. If Moyes could just manage to pull 3-4 more rabbits out the hat but he needs to dive into the Goodison slush fund and with his track record, he won't need much, so come on Kenwright.
Number 3. Utter bollocks lad, if you've ever faced a penalty kick against a professional footballer as a professional football you will know that for the overwhelming majority of the time the ball goes down the sides and if you wait to see which way it goes the ball will be past you.
Also, even if you do try and wait to see which way it goes, top class players like Ronaldo disguise it and send you the wrong way.
Everything else I do not despute, but I just thought I would let you know you were talking shite on Number 3 if that's okay lad.
Let's kick the kopites the length and breadth of Goodison now in the week...
John Talbot, the referee just afterwards asked the bench if they wanted to make a substitution when Man U had a free kick but was told no. Perhaps you were putting the kettle on?
Ozzzie is a great player who doesn?t let us down, Hibbert has always been top notch at defending ? although average going forward but he is not paid to score 12 a season. Fellaini covered for Artetea who for once had a very poor game and didn?t look interested.
So hopefully they will all be bang up for it against the Redshite on Wednesday and give the Fat Spanish Waiter all he deserves - the SACK....
Some bloke did a study of 1500 PK’s as viewed from behind the goal and 95% of them were predictable. there is a window of opportunity between the kicker finally committing and actually taking the kick, this is where the reflex part comes in ( aka backing yourself )
When the none kicking foot ( left )is placed down, the direction it is pointing, straight at the keeper or at an angle somewhere towards the keepers right post, means that almost invariably the ball will go to the keepers right....to test this yourself try kicking a ball at the keepers right post with your foot pointing toward the keepers left post. The feet, the legs, the hips and hence the whole torso is pointing the wrong way.
Use the none kicking foot Tim Skywalker, use the foot.
Definitely agree that Gosling deserves a run out on the right in place of the worn-out Ossie, but there?s another solution ? Big Vic may be totally useless up front, but he has shown well on the occasions he?s been used wide. He likes having room to run. Worth a try.
And I?m sorry to say I disagree on Baines... I?ve been his biggest booster, but his crossing today was horrendous. Got free four times at the byline, served four ugly balls right to the defenders. Loved his interplay with Pienaar... let?s keep that going.
The mind boggles......
The studio anchor man asked why then do keepers always dive. The ex- keepers looking slightly embarrassed muttered something along the lines of it being in a keepers instinct.
That's a fact.
Conversely, the germans prove that 95% of the time the peno taker will score. The sheer speed of the shot, together with accuracy and conviction, leaves it near impossible to save. It’s all in the mind, and going through the structure routine of composing yourself, filtering out all emotions and the crowd.
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1 Posted 31/01/2009 at 19:49:38
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