ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Crucial times

Well, here we go again... as in the last season, injuries and suspensions are taking their toll. For the game with Newcastle we will be without 8 players: Saha, Yakubu, Vaughan, Pienaar, Fellaini, Osman, Cahill and Hibbert. I can imagine getting through Newcastle but in terms of pushing for CL spots our lack of depth will prove crucial. Not only is Cahill suspended but from what I have seen on the post match interview he is carrying some kind of injury as his right shoulder was bandaged.

It will be interesting to see how the team and Moyes will cope with the situation. I am pretty sure we can overcome the loss of Hibbert, Osman, Yakubu, Saha and to some extent of Pienaar but losing Fellaini and Cahill will be one obstacle too much. If they can manage to finish within the places giving CL qualification, given this injury list and the disastrous start of the season, this should be classified as the best achievement for the last 15 years.
Stefan Tosev, Vienna Posted 16/02/2009 at 12:04:04

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Dave Whitwell
1 Posted 16/02/2009 at 15:43:26

Thats a hell of a list Stefan, but whilst Yakubu & Vaughan are long-term absentees and Hibbert & Cahill are definately out, I thought there was a possibility that the likes of Pienaar, Felliani, Osman and dare I say Saha could actually be back, do you know otherwise? Despite that though I do share your view that if by some stretch of the imagination we do pull off a CL spot, it would be a hell of an achievement.

Ajay Gopal
2 Posted 16/02/2009 at 15:51:35

Look at it this way - it is 15 days recovery and rejuvenation time for the crucial run in - especially for Cahill, Hibbo, Fellaine, Pienaar, Osman, etc

My team for the Barcodes game:

Jo, Anichebe, Gosling, Rodwell, Arteta, Pienaar (if he is fit, otherwise, AvDM), Neville, Jags, Lescott, Baines, Howard

Bench: Saha (?, if fit), Castillo, Yobo, Jacobsen, AvDM, Nash

Steven Gough
3 Posted 16/02/2009 at 16:11:09

Team against Newcastle will be the same with Jo and Jacobsen as straight swaps for Cahill and Hibbo.

Aide Dews
4 Posted 16/02/2009 at 16:09:27

As daft as it sounds, the suspesnsions that Pienaar had this weekend, although he was injured too, and the ones Hibbert and Cahill will serve could be a benefit to us as after a tough couple of months for the Blues ? a much needed rest for those will do them the world of good I think! Even with all those that you mention above possibly missing at the weekend, I still think we've got enough in our squad to go and beat Newcastle on Sunday!! Oh and btw, Cahill has had that strapping on for weeks now, god knows what's up with him but it's obviously not affecting his performances!!!

Chris Furry
5 Posted 16/02/2009 at 16:22:43

I could be just making this up but I thought his shoulder strapping was to cover something (presumably offensive) in his tattoos.

Col Wills
6 Posted 16/02/2009 at 16:31:41

Trick as usual is to make as few changes as possible against the skunks ? that means Jô in for Cahill and Yobo in for Hibbert. The other lads will simply have to "earn" the right to get back into this team. We will be by far the fitter team and will need to play at the high pace we have been setting recently and the Barcodes, with the likes Viduka, Martins and Alan Smith coming back, won't be able to live with us.

Dave Roberts
7 Posted 16/02/2009 at 16:44:16

Cahill has been wearing that ’bandage’ or whatever it is around his right shoulder/arm for months. I have no idea what it is but it can’t be an injury.

If it is a tattoo he daren’t show in public I’d love to see it!

Stefan Tosev
8 Posted 16/02/2009 at 17:12:47

I think about straight swap between Jo and Cahill and either Jacobsen for Hibbert, or the choice I think Moyes will make ? Yobo in and Jags moved as a right back, leaving the midfield untouched.

Andrew Bankes
9 Posted 16/02/2009 at 17:16:23

He’s most likely in the middle of having another tattoo ’sleeve’ done. Depending on size, these can take weeks if not months, hence the bandaging for the last few matches. Nothing to worry about.... unless he gets septicemia!!!

Joe McMahon
10 Posted 16/02/2009 at 17:42:07

Chris Furry - his Tattoo hasn’t any offensive content. The covering will be protect the latest ink work he has had done. Work of this calibre will take many hours to complete, it’s ongoing.

I’ve been dissapointed in Piennar, so no great loss, nither osman. I want Rodwell and AVM to have more games.

Mike Oates
11 Posted 16/02/2009 at 17:47:54

Not sure which game but, about a month ago, Cahill injured his right arm in an aerial challenge and held it for a couple of minutes. Baz came on and looked at it and both decided to carry on. I wouldn?t mind betting he?s damaged muscle or slight dislocation.

Colin Jones
12 Posted 16/02/2009 at 18:00:20

No, you?re all wrong, the strapping is part of a heart monitor and distance monitor for stats.

Neil Quinn
13 Posted 16/02/2009 at 18:19:37

I thought I read that Fellaini could be out for 6 weeks. Supposedly a crack in his back.

Anyway ? I?m not so downhearted about injuries & suspensions as normal (Cahill excepted) because Rodwell & Gosling have proved to be more than able deputies.

Dave Roberts
14 Posted 16/02/2009 at 19:14:10

According to Goal.com, Rodwell has agreed a 5-year deal at Everton. Due to be signed up before the weekend. Hope it is true!

Gerry Morrison
15 Posted 16/02/2009 at 19:22:13

If United win the League cup, that Uefa spot will go to the team who finish sixth in the league.

Lynn Thorne
16 Posted 16/02/2009 at 19:46:05

Re Cahill?s bandage ? it is strapping for an injury he sustained a while ago. Presumably some support.

No way is it covering another tattoo - ?ead in an interview that there was no way he would have another tattoo, as he hates needles. May just add to the current one if his brother?s have more kids.

Alasdair Mackay
17 Posted 16/02/2009 at 19:42:56

Team v Newcastle will be Jo on his own up front, supported by Gosling on the left (or Piennar if he is fit), Anichebe on the right, three in the middle will be Castillo, Arteta and Rodwell and the back four will be Neville for Hibbo and as you were.

At some point he may want to bring on Jacobsen at RB, but he won’t start. Similarly, VdM will be a possibilty off the bench if we need a goala and need to go two up top.

The bench then will be Nash, Jacobsen, Yobo, VdM, Piennar, Osman, Jukes.

For the run-in we will have Cahill, Hibbo, Piennar and Ossie rested, but not out for so long that they will lose their edge. Fellaini may be out for a little too long to be able to come back all guns blazing, same with Saha and Vaughan, but we should have enough with the extra confidence the youngsters are gaining by being so involved and performing well.

I think we have an outside chance of the top four, but we have to aim for maximum points out of the next 6 games before we go to Villa and Chelsea in successive league games, with the cup QF inbetween. If we come out the other side of those three within 4 points of the top four, I would fancy us, although I don’t want to be going to Fulham on the last day needing something - we haven’t won there since 1966!

Paul Gladwell
18 Posted 16/02/2009 at 19:52:08

Never thought I would say these words but keep Neville in the middle and bring Jacobsen in, He has been vital to our transformation in the middle of the park so leave him alone.

Alex Salmon
19 Posted 16/02/2009 at 20:20:24

Howard
Yobo Lescott Jags Baines
Anichebe Neville Arteta Rodwell Gosling
Jo

Don?t mess around with Jags and Lescott centre-half partnership and I trust Yobo to do a job.

Tony Hyland
20 Posted 16/02/2009 at 20:39:57

In regards to Cahill's shoulder strapping, I think it stems from the practice of AFL footie players here in Aussie to just protect the area when they are colliding going for the ball in the air especially.

Robbie Muldoon
21 Posted 16/02/2009 at 21:42:05

Fuck a place in the EUROPA LEAGUE!

Waste of time playing teams in Slovakia on a Thursday night then kicking off on Sunday's against teams down south... why would you want that burden placed on such a small squad?

There is no financial gain in the Uefa/Europa Cup unless you actually go all the way and win the thing!

Andy Hudd
22 Posted 16/02/2009 at 23:23:17

So Robbie, you don’t want us to finish as high as possible?

Jason Lam
23 Posted 17/02/2009 at 07:22:02

Everton is a team that is perpetually littered with injuries, seasons upon seasons. It’s part of the norm and testiment to Moyes’ managerial skills (or more likely forced to make changes), and Kenright’s transfer policy (i.e. more players leaving than coming in).

We’ve got too many players available for barcodes. Don’t neglect the nursery players.

Robbie Muldoon
24 Posted 17/02/2009 at 12:26:44

Andy Hudd,

I would prefer to miss out on a place in the UEFA Cup by way of a league placing - which is 5th... so I want us to finish above 5th!

I would rather finish a respectable 6th and build for a top 4 push next season, then finish 5th and have our campaign burdened with bullshit fixtures the following season.