The Mail Bag
Optimism?
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Unfortunately the prognosis we all feared has now been made official. I'm sure I wasn't alone in clinging to the unlikely hope that by some minor miracle we would be seeing Mikel Arteta play some part towards the end of the season. Realistically, we all knew there was no chance. But I'm an Evertonian and over the last 20 years have had only my unfaultering optimism to act as a crutch through some extremely dissapointing times.
Now a pessimist may say that as we saw our talisman carried off yesterday any hope that we had of some long overdue silverware disappeared on that stretcher along with our only creative outlet. But im no pessimist. A pessimist may have been of the opinion that our FA cup hopes were over as soon as the draw was made and it became clear that the likely semi final lineup would involve Man utd, Arsenal, and Chelsea ( Conspiracy theorists may even want to link this with Twattenburg, Collina and the top seeded P L side being drawn against the C L potentials/ Belgian champions. If the draw wasn't live in front of TV cameras that is.) A pessimist may also say that this 'generous' run in of potentially winnable games suddenly looks a great deal more daunting, and European qualification may not be as nailed on as predicted. Not me, for Im no pessimist.I am an Evertonian.And only my optimistic, maybe even masochistic nature kept me from shedding a tear yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday Everton looked pretty much how The Shite did after, soon to be prison bike, Gerrard was replaced a couple of weeks ago. There was no plan b. Creativity was replaced with... Well Im not exactly sure what Castillo has to offer but between now and the end of the season I hope we find out. Even if we have a to wait longer for a trophy,the return of some midfield creativity (However lightweight it may be), a rock solid defence and an actual striker for Cahill to play off should ensure that "the best little Spaniard we know" will be returning to UEFA cup (Can't bring myself to say Europa league yet) football next year.
I never thought the phrase would ever be uttered by me, as we all knew that The Shite would fuck it up eventually, but come on Man Utd. Lets have an extra UEFA cup spot. Chin up everyone, especially you Mikky lad. All the best. Get well soon. Come on boys. Do us all proud.
Fran Wycherley, Posted 23/02/2009 at 08:06:46
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Moyes will somehow have to create a balance in the side that was so sadly missing against Newcastle once Arteta departed. We are going to have to grind out results and hope against hope that we have had our fair share of injuries. The team spirit is excellent and we are second to none when it comes to overcoming adversity.
Where is our creativity going to come from? It is going to have to be a collective effort, we cant replace Arteta with any single player so the rest of them are going to have to chip in with more than just gut busting effort. Time for a few to step up and start using thier football brains.
Dave Whitwell is right - Mikkey will be back in a blue shirt for August and is going nowhere but Everton. The only positive from a real frustration weekend.
Firstly, with regard to Mikkey. Losing him showed just how much we HAVE relied on him as we were going nowhere after he went off and looked clueless against a very poor Newcastle side. Him going off showed that the Geordies do have SOME sense as the round of applause he received as he was carried off resounded around the WHOLE ground.
On the flip side of that the Geordies then ruined themselves by booing Vic after being on the receiving end of what can only be described as an assault. Not knowing (but secretly fearing the worst) the full extent of Mikkey?s injury I was disappointed that we couldn?t seem to muster the enthusiasm or the guile to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and make the Geordie maggots pay for "everytyhing".
DM has got a job on his hands now to re-enforce that team spirit that?s been hailed by all and sundry lately and encourage the lads to do it "in spite of" everything that?s gones against us.
On a last note. It just goes to show how near each and every player is out there to a season, or career, threatening injury every time they go all out for a challenge or whatever. COYB.
No different to a boxer headbutting an opponent. It’s not in the rules. But its hardly assault. Man’s game. Things like this happen.
It would have to be Sir David Moyes.
The FA Cup is not completely out of reach we can win all the matches on pens(lol)
Luck has nothing to do with it. The fact that we are the smallest squad in the premier league has everything to do with it.
It’s a fact of life that at some point in the season key players will be injured. The fact that we are so high up the table with such limited resources is credit to David Moyes and his staff.
True, it’s good to aim high, but let’s put it into perspective. We don’t have the resources of other clubs. When we lose players like Arteta, we struggle. We don’t have a big enough bench or bank balance to replace him.
That’s not bad luck, that’s just a fact of life. Liverpool lost Gerard. Arsenal Fabregas. They struggled.....and they’ve got a far bigger squad, and more money than us.
So, let’s cheer the team on, inspire them, and stop bemoaning our luck because like I said, luck has nothing to do with it.
COYB!!
And you watch, Moyes WILL do something out of left field and we will all be presently surprised. :) :)
Anthony - cheeky monkey
Robbie Rae - "Man’s game.....hardly assault"? Get real. Check the rules of both. It was assault in precisely the way that Duncan Ferguson’s was, only far more dangerous. A David Busst career-ending injury (at 20 years of age) only avoided through a freak of physiology.
On a positive note, we do have other players returning. I thought Saha looked tasty, Jo looks up for fight with us (and saying all the right things), Pienaar, Cahill & Osman due back, not sure why Felaini was even on the bench as he is so obviously injured.
It’s time for us fans to really get on the case now in every game, home & away. The team have been fantastic recently in the midst of an injury crisis of biblical proportions. Support & solidarity, in numbers. Villa will slip further and Arsenal still have problems. I want to see Phil Neville lifting that trophy and I want to see EFC at the Nou Camp & San Siro.
Christine Foster wrote "Alan, let me hold that picture for a minute... lol".
I?m hoping that Christine will offer a similar scenario. :0)
Howard, Nash, Turner, Ruddy, Neville, Hibbert, Jacobsen, Jagielka, Lescott, Yobo, Nuno Valente, Baines, Osman, Pienaar, van der Meyde, Fellaini, Castillo, Arteta, Cahill, Rodwell, Vaughan, Saha, Yakubu, Anichebe.
Now add to that Jo, Gosling, Baxter and Jutkiewicz.......that’s 28 players plus Irving, Wallace and Kissock. I know some of these lads are kids, but we don’t have a small squad, we’ve just been very, very unlucky with injuries this year.
Shandy Andy must be wondering what he’s gotta do to get a run..? Especially after that neat cross in the cup....come on Moyesy, give him a go....I remember a few years ago he played up front against Tottenham and was awesome....why not play him off the main striker?
What right do Everton have to win these games? None ? but what we have earned over the past three months is the right for all of us Evertonians to be extremely happy with our lot, and exceptionally pleased with the mentality, ethic and output Moyes has coaxed from what remains of our threadbare squad.
We are not a top four side. There is not enough investment available to warrant that, and the sooner some of our less than satisfied fans appreciate this, the better.
We ARE however, comfortably the best of the rest ? and I include Aston Villa in this, despite the similariities between the side, the manager, the ethos ? Villa have millions to invest. Supporters of Spurs, Newcastle, Man City et all would give their eye teeth for DM to be on board for them, creating a side which clearly enjoys each other's company and take pride in their employers, their fans and their history. The workrate of the current squad is remarkable, everyone pulls their weight bar none ? the effort from Anichebe for the past two games is testiment to this.
It just frustrates me that following one poorish performance practically everyone on here is baying for blood and seeking wholesale changes to a settled line up. Why oh why?
Jagielka has blossomed into an international centre half in two seasons. Don't forget he was a jobbing utility player originally bought in to provide cover for right back and midfield as well. Jacobsen has managed 60 minutes of competitive football all season, which I'll hazard a guess no-one here has seen... so why would Moyes play him?
Castillo ? had his best game in a blue shirt when he came on. He didn't misplace one pass, which has been his biggest downfall thus far.
Felliani ? I've just twigged that this lad doesn't speak English yet. Get off his back ? three weeks ago, when he missed the derby everyone was doom & gloom; for some reason he's now public enemy #1... this despite him clearly not being fit.
Please, get behind the side. It's going to tough for the run-in now with Arteta out, but we've still got the quality to keep ourselves in the Uefa Cup places. Personally, I'd like to see Osman in the middle when he's back. He has the vision which alas our remaining midfielders seem to lack ? again despite his lack of support here.
I know we all like a moan, but it can get a bit tiresome boys. Especially when we're all supposed to be on the same side.
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1 Posted 23/02/2009 at 16:54:39
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