We don?t need another Gary Lineker situation

Comments (18)

I grew up watching the blues and Gary Lineker was one of my fav players, albeit the short spell he had with us. The blues machine of the 80s was perfectly tuned in all departments, the players had skill, the team played with speed mixing short and long passes, and the midfield would scythe through whatever showed up on the opposing team. Neville Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world. They were men amongst men. And then we signed an up-and-coming striker in Lineker. It seemed like the perfect marriage and consolidates our dominance.

I had a soft spot for Lineker, as I grew up playing striker in my youth. Playing for Everton must?ve been a dream. The blue machine providing chance upon chance as he notched up 40 goals during the season. There wasn?t a need to track back as in modern football too.

Needless to mention, we ended the season empty handed. It was fun whilst it lasted but there was a flaw in the Everton machine ? our over reliance on Gary Lineker. The team was basically modded around him, even though we had Sharpy and Health in the squad. And when Lineker lost his boots (so he claims) so were our silverware chances. Of course the best goalie in the world being injured didn?t help. He was irreplaceable anyway.

Fast forward 20 odd years and here we have an Everton that plays the 4-5-1 formation. The modern lexicon is the ?lone striker?. Whether by choice or forced due to circumstances such as improved defenses and tactics, players that can run a marathon each game, midget gems and no pot to piss in, we will be stuck with 4-5-1 for some time. Or 4-4-1-1, 4-1-4-1 whatever rings your bell. It?s lone striker up front.

I wrote an article last season feebly providing insight as to why we play 4-5-1, maybe to compensate for Cars lack of pace, and [insert midfield player of choice] lack of size and skill. So we could pit ourselves against Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal?s first choice 4 midfielders. To be fair, we?re doing quite alright. Except when it counts.

Marcus Bent, Beattie, AJ, Yakubu. They?ve all come in, and with some exception to the Yak, all failed miserably as the lone striker. Not entirely their fault, as they are no Gary Lineker. Who had a much better Everton side behind him. Moyes has had to call in a midfielder in Cahill to help solve this puzzle during the recent striker injury crisis.

If we are to compensate for us playing 5 across the middle then we need a World Class striker who can play on his own up front against a top4 defense. And World Class means big bucks. But to be safe, we need two of them, who we can rotate by providing equal playing time on the pitch. The current midfield will sort themselves out. We play 5 of them, and there?s much hope in Rodwell and Fellaini. Arteta and Cahill will be our future senior midfielders in the mentor role as Giggs and Scholes at Man Utd.

We don?t need another Gary Lineker situation, where our hopes and aspiration disappear when we hinge all our striking aspirations on one personnel. Kudos to Cahill, but he is not our long-term striking solution. Whether it was by sheer luck, Howard removed Lineker from the team, and our over-reliance on him. And when you win the Championship before and after Lineker, it can?t be down to sheer luck.
Jason Lam, Hong Kong     Posted 09/02/2009 at 00:53:02

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