ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Why Oh Why?

I managed to get a seat at Old Trafford just behind the Everton dugout.

In truth, United controlled most of the game without threatening to completely over-run the Blues, as it became patently obvious that messrs Cahill and Fellaini were clearly not fully fit. My gripe is with David Moyes, after 60 mins, Cahill was dead on his feet and Osman's contribution to the game was well, zero! Gosling warmed up for a total of thirty minutes but the manager never saw fit to use him?

Why is it tha,t when supporters can clearly see certain individual players contributing absolutely nothing to the team, that a manager will continue to select them week in week out? I just don't get it. Why not give the kid a run for the last 30 minutes and try and salvage something from the game without relying on a set-piece?

Gosling has shown great promise when he has been introduced and we needed to do something to break the stranglehold United had on the game. I just think the manager is far too stubborn sometimes and he continues to select players who are stinking the place out!

Victor came on and did what Victor does, continue to believe he's 'Johnny Bigtime' but his game has gone backwards in the last 12 months. Shouldn't he be busting a gut to prove to everyone concerned that he's now ready to stake a regular place in our first team?

So frustrating...
Steve Hogan, Chester Posted 31/01/2009 at 19:52:35

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Derek Thomas
1 Posted 01/02/2009 at 06:24:05

Johnny Bigtime.... love it, spot on and yes the introduction of some youngsters to have an extended run, yes even big Vic would not be the end of the world, for me anyway but two things might stop this.

1) Loss of 6th place and every other place dropped would sent panic into the cash flow at £500k per place.

2) For some one to come in some one would have to drop out and Vic might not be the only ?Johnny Bigtime? when push comes to shove on the bench.

Trevor Lynes
2 Posted 01/02/2009 at 08:10:17

Fully agree, Man Utd coasted for a lot of the game as we posed no threat at all...6th place is certainly not nailed on and a lot of work is needed to maintain our position..Gosling showed ball control and the ability to beat a man...this is something that only Pienar tries to do and to a lesser extent Baines..Arteta does not dribble at all lately and Osman is too light weight. Baines has good ball control as does Gosling. I would give Osman a rest and play Gosling in his place..I reckon he would be a natural in that position. Unfortunately we do not seem to be able to ’FIND’ players like Wigan do eg; Figeroa, Valencia, Chimbonda and Palacious who have all been worth money to the club and kept them above water..We over spent on Fellaini and I dont see the Yak as being anywhere near world class as some people seem to think he is. We lack cover for Howard, Fellaini, Arteta and Cahill...its a shoe string policy we are adopting and one day the shoe string will snap Im afraid unless some money is found from somewhere..Utd played a lot of the game in 2nd gear and never felt threatened by our powder puff attack.
The only plus point was that no one got booked so everyone is still available.
The defence have been herculeon but we cannot keep on baling out and repelling borders for ever..Jags and co at the back deserve medals for valour...!!

Ajay Gopal
3 Posted 01/02/2009 at 08:51:57

I agree; it was frustrating to see only onesubstitution ? that came after 65 minutes. What was all that about Joey Yobo getting ready to come on in the last few minutes ? then Moyes and JoYo have a few words and then Yobo goes back to sit on the bench??

Gosling should have been given a run instead of Osman; also Rodwell (maybe in place of Arteta, who IMO had a shocker yesterday) after having been a favourite early on in the season now never gets even a 5 minute run-out.

I am a big Moyes fan but his game strategies (if he has any!) frustrate the hell out of me.

Neil Scott
4 Posted 01/02/2009 at 10:38:45

Totally agree. Apparently it's been TEN YEARS no since we won at away in a visit to the Sky 4...

...so at 1-0 down and with our big players showing signs of fatigue, and Wednesday needing them 100% fit, why would you NOT bring on the likes of Gosling to bring them on and mix it up a bit???

Tom Campbell
5 Posted 01/02/2009 at 10:58:30

Trevor, what about Lescott, Cahill, Arteta?

Terry Downes
6 Posted 01/02/2009 at 11:34:29

Couldn't agree more ? has Moyes never heard the saying "bring fresh legs on"? His obsession with the same 11 is driving me nuts. Surely he could bring Pienaar or Ossie off with 20 mins left and give the others a go, they must realise they're not going to get on when they turn up.

Give Shandy a run or Gosling... give anyone a run, even if it's only up the touchline, or they might as well turn up in their slippers.

Ian Kearney
7 Posted 01/02/2009 at 12:10:35

After about 120 mins of football I?m already convinced Gosling is a better option than Osman.

Ajay, come off it son, Rodell for Arteta, Arteta has one quiet game and the anti-Arteta brigade return, we saw how the midfied and team suffers when he's not their to take possesion in tight areas in the Cup Derby. The difference in stats between the two derbies was in no short part due to Arteta?s absence.

Tony Waring
8 Posted 01/02/2009 at 12:38:13

Spot on Steve. That thought has been stopping me sleeping last night. Osman was anonymous, Cahill and Fellaini obviously knackered and carrying injuries. The situation was crying our for Gosling. He?s young, quick, quite skillful and well worth more time on the pitch. I?m a great fan of DM but like other Blues wonder sometimes about his tactical nouse.

Paul Olsen
9 Posted 01/02/2009 at 09:24:08

Ajay, try dropping Arteta and see us crumble.

He’s the only one capable to holding on to the ball and passing to someone in blue.

He wasn’t great yesterday, but seing the likes of Pienaar and Osman play rubbish once again makes me wonder what you’re thinking of dropping Mikel.

Also, last night might have been Fellaini’s worst performance yet in royal blue. He’s looked a bit off after his suspension.

Trevor Lynes
10 Posted 01/02/2009 at 12:54:24

Tom... Arteta was not a find, he was a club trotter before we bought him, as was the Yak, but you missed Pienar who along with Jags, Cahill and Lescott have all been great buys... BUT we are a big club with an established scouting system... so I just ask how is it that Wigan can find top notchers like Valencia, Palacious, Chimbonda, Figeroa etc, sell on at vast profits and keep Wigan relatively solvent?

I only say this because not so long ago Wigan were non-league and I played against them myself years ago in the Lancashire Combination when EFC were winning things at the top level. I'm just a bit mystified that Hull and Bolton are in the running for players while we are seemingly ?broke?. I just don't swallow all this poverty stuff when small clubs are active in this window.

We have been picking up good money finishing in the top few places so why don't we make sure we stay there by at least investing something. After all we are a football club and players are the people who bring in the finance and fill stadiums!!!!

John Martin
11 Posted 01/02/2009 at 13:30:29

Trevor, you are right: Wigan have found players and sold them at a vast profit and should be congratulated for it. But so have we... the difference is they are still playing for us. Cahill, Lescott & Arteta could all be sold for vast profits you talk about but we?d have a rubbish team. Let's see how Wigan get on without Heskey & Palacios. Back to the original point, I agree Moyes is frustrating with his non-use of substitutes ? especially for the non-performing Osman.

Mick Wrende
12 Posted 01/02/2009 at 14:40:30

If anyone here thinks our kids are good enough to get an extended run then you are in dreamland. They are simply nowhere near. Get real, for fuck's sake.

Ian Kearney
13 Posted 01/02/2009 at 14:43:22

Mick, Gosling has played one game and got one MOTM award, do you seriously think he couldn?t at least do the same job as Osman?

Ped Pearl
14 Posted 01/02/2009 at 15:14:28

Yes point proved Ian.

Iain Love
15 Posted 01/02/2009 at 15:36:59

There is only so many times you can go to the well, players that have being outstanding recently looked knackered against the best team in the league / Europe at their place. Tell me, if you thought about it, it?s what you would expect. As for substitutions, Gosling, Rodwell, AVDM and Baxter (where is he?) should be given game time to (a) see if there good enough, and (b) rest key players.

As for Wigan's finds, yes, they do appear to do well at selling players for a profit but they are a selling club... plus I can't think of a player they have sold who was worth the money (Chimbonda? please...). So they have more players going through their ranks... I can see them dropping like a stone after the last 2 outgoings though.

As for us... WE HAVE NO MONEY! We could always do a Leeds and go for it if that's what people want; me, I just want to see us play good football. (I?d like more but not at the expense of our tenure in the top flight.)

Sean Condon
16 Posted 01/02/2009 at 17:52:15

It is mystifying why the manager won?t give Dan Gosling more time on the pitch. Particularly at the expense of Anichebe. Of the three youngsters given a chance this season he certainly looks the most likely.

Let?s hope not, but this paper thin squad is in imminent danger of doing the Moyes-in-Spring thing again: running clean out of fuel and collapsing.

Jo is coming? Errrrrrr...

Robbie Muldoon
17 Posted 01/02/2009 at 20:25:48

OSMAN IS SHIT.
ANICHEBE IS SHIT.
PHILL NEVILLE IS NO MIDFIELDER.

There is three simple areas we could easily improve our decent squad.

Ciaran Duff
18 Posted 01/02/2009 at 21:03:33

I think the original point that Steve was making here was not about dropping half the team or buying new players. The main point is, why does Moyes not try to make better use of his subs?

Ok, let the regular 11 start (incl Osman) but if we have run out of steam or don?t look like getting much out of the game then introduce some new blood. Not only do you get fresh legs and fresh ideas but it also helps to develop them as players. A couple more injuries and they?ll be in the starting 11 anyway.

Good managers (eg SAF & Hiddink) are well known for putting trust in young players and on most occasions it pays dividends.

Iain Love
19 Posted 01/02/2009 at 22:26:55

Well said Ciaran, obviously Moyes doesn?t rate them and just fills the bench, it?s down to those around him Round etc to say look give them a run out, From what I?ve seen, Gosling defo, Rodwell probably and Baxter maybe.

Anthony Dyer
20 Posted 01/02/2009 at 23:59:50

Get on to the Chief Executive quickly there?s money to be made. Seven seats available to the highest bidder, would you like to be close to the action, be named in the Everton squad in the PL, no need to register with the FA as you won?t actually get on to the pitch. You can run up and down the touchline for 90 minutes and sample the atmosphere inside the most famous grounds in the country. Just send an application form and a cheque (prefer cash) to SUB FOR A GAME c/o Everton Football Club Terms and conditions apply. Note:- Should Everton go a goal down at any stage it may be deemed necesary to use a professional player (no refunds)

Robbie Muldoon
21 Posted 02/02/2009 at 12:42:59

^ ha ha ha