The Mail Bag
Life after Arteta
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I think by the time the Man United game comes around we will be attacking two fronts. We have Stoke and Wigan at home with Portsmouth away in the next three. It's not a stretch to think we can win them all. If we do, we will go into the Villa game no more than a few points behind them and probably level with Arsenal. Villa have Spurs at home, Man U and Liverpool away in the same time. They won't get more than 3 points from all of them.
The great thing about today is that, after 3½ games, the players realised that they can play well with out Arteta. If everyone stays fit, Tiny must now drop into the centre with Neville. He can't give us Mikel's artistry but, for the first time since Villa, we were competitive in the middle.
For those of you who have critisised our record signing, were you glad to have him today? I am thinking in particular about the fella wrote the article 'Felliani, the Odd one Out'. It just shows how fickle and impatient some fans can get. He will be vital from now until the end of season and, despite Boro's unpunished assaults, they couldn't live with him today.
Our other main hope is Saha. It's quite simple: if he stays fit until May he can turn out to be Moyes best signing. Both him and Cahill have have skill and confidence to take chances. It sounds simple but many a talented player freezes in front of goal. To have 2 players who are clinical without fear in front of goal means you don't have to win the midfield battle to win a match.
It would be great to have him but we still have a winning combination of brilliant defenders, quality players and finishers so there has to be life without Mikel, for now!
Paul Connell, Posted 08/03/2009 at 18:54:27
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He dropped back for the last 10 minutes against Blackburn and the team looked far more balanced with him there than for the 80 minutes previous.
It was no coincidence that he had the same effect today and ideally that would be the formation for the rest of the season. The problem though is Saha’s fitness or lack of it and whether he will be able to play a full game sooner rather than later and miracle of miracles stay fit for the remaining 12 games hopefully.
The only other real question is what to do at the back once Hibbo returns. For my money Yobo should drop back to the bench as we look a far more organised outfit with Jags and Lescott central. Jags is arguably our most effective player when played central and is a peripheral figure at right back while Yobo still seems a little hesitant and is the most likely to revert to the hoofball of almost distant memory now.
As you say 4 more games for these players to gel as a unit again and we could be ready to upset the United apple cart at Wembley COYB
We are going to need the entire team to play at their peak to win this thing. I agree, once Hibbert is available, shift Jags back to the centre. How long is Hibbert out for anyway?
We looked far more balanced with Saha up front, Cahill dropping that bit deeper and Fellaini causing a nuisance of himself a bit further back but still keen to get forward. A fit Saha could be the key to a decent finish to the season.
Love him or hate him, Fellaini was a handful for Boro today and I think he?s the kind of player you?d rather have playing for you than against you. Many of you have scoffed at those who say we?ll see the best of him next season, but I think it could be true. He?s a rough diamond alright, but I think he could polish up nicely!
Special mention for our Captain today who I also thought was outstanding. I can see why Moyes wants him in the middle of the park even at the expense of splitting up Jags and Lescott. I?m actually looking forward to Hibbert coming back and agree with Barry that when he does, Yobo should take a place on the bench.
Let's hope that he continues like his. Now, how can I get myself one of those wigs....
At the end of the day the best chance we have of beating Utd is rough them up, keep it tight, and nick a goal from a corner or free kick. We need Hibbert back and get that back four back, Yobo is shakey.
As for Fellaini, he contributed much more than he has done to date but in no way merited rave reviews. He is clearly a target for the wind-up merchants and did well to keep his cool under extreme provocation. Whether he will maintain his cool and thus escape the attention of less liberal refs than Halsey is a matter of great conjecture and I certainly wouldn?t bet on his being available for the semi-final!
Everton are being forced to revert to a ?Dogs of War? approach in the absence of key personnel. This should be enough to cope with the lesser lights and hold on to sixth but is unlikely to make much headway against the big boys left in the Cup... But then, miracles do happen!
COYB
Man Utd is a stern test but so would be Arsenal & Chelsea who in reality would see the FA Cup as their best chance of silverware this season and would be more likely to field their strongest side against us than Man Utd, who might be distracted by other trophies.
I see our best chance against them by being solid at the back, Jags in the centre, combaattive in the centre. Timmy centre mid, and a pain in the arse up front, Screech against Vidic / Ferdinand. We do need Hibbert back but if he ain't fit Lars has to be used with Ossie or Gosling told to help out. Neville has to be in the middle with Timmy. I can see us frustrating them and getting a set-piece goal.
COYB
Moyes is a genius who gets players to perform 505 above their natural ability. Long may it continue.
In the first half, Neville and Rodwell were rarely involved in any area of the pitch. Cahill, when he dropped back, was moving up, down and sidewards as could be seen when he crossed for Fellaini. This drags the opposition out of shape and while making it more difficult for them to defend it also makes it more difficult to attack.
He doesn?t have the flair and creativity of Arteta but he does have a superb ability to get himself up and down the pitch, almost tirelessly at times, and with Neville along side him he will still get into good positions to score. I think people forget that in 04-05 he played CM. It was Gravesen who had a free role, so Timmy still had his share of defensive duties.
Now we can effectively replace Gravesen with Fellaini and allow Cahill to play in that role. And, whether we play well or not, we will never be out-battled with those two in the middle!
Based on his performance in the 2nd half yesterday, IMO he is definitely more valuable, especially in the absense of Arteta, filling that central midfield role.
So from playing in the hole behind the striker, to actually leading the line as a lone striker, he is now proving his worth as an orthodox central midfield player. Wow! I wonder what he is like in defence?
Apart from the dressing room bollocking yesterday, switching Cahill back in to midfield made all the difference. It seemed to give us more control and suddenly we were passing the ball in silky flowing moves, even without Arteta!
As long as Moyes continues to play Cahill in that central role, the next two or three games will hopefully prove this theory.
First half, one of the worst displays ever, digraceful. Cahill looked lost upfront. We just hoofed it up to him and every time we lost possession. As for Yobo?s passes, he?s never been able to pass a ball, he?s truly dreadful at passing it long.
Then Saha comes on, so Cahill is in midfield. Second half we played football, no denying that. We passed it around nicely and Cahill was at the heart of everything. He seemed the nearest thing to Arteta. Besides the goals (which are obviously crucial), when in central mid, I had him down as a grity midfielder, well not yesterday, he was superb. I thought Baines and Pienaar down the left were great and Lescott had a great game too. There?s hope!!
We had a much better shape second half, well we had none first half! Here?s hoping Saha can get fit. I never want to play the way we did first half, ever again! COYB.
In that dream Louis Saha, and Mikel Arteta play together week in week out, injury free and Everton are the new Arsenal.
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1 Posted 08/03/2009 at 23:55:30
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