The Mail Bag
Silky Play
Comments (15)
Now don't attack me for the comparison but just hear me out. Some of the passing play I saw in some stages of the weekends game shone of Liverpool of the Dalglish era. At training camps when I was younger we would be regularly shown footage of a game where Dalglish and his compatriots put together a string of about 50-odd passes in a row, finally being threaded wide and then being beautifully crossed in for a goal. I think it was against Forest?? Anyway, my point is I saw that same precision passing and movement being effected on Sunday and I can't think of many times I have seen it played so effectively and accurately.
We were always taught that possesion is the main focus of the game with the goal the icing on the cake. You can't be beaten by a team that can't get the ball.
Moyes is building a team capable of playing that style of passing play that can be so effective in finding gaps and driving the opposition crazy. I was excited and quite frankly stunned by the fluidity of some of the passing but then I was equally as stunned and gutted by the lack of consistency and the ease at which Villa appeared to be able to force and keep us on the backfoot.
Keep us moving in the right direction, Davey, and we'll be challenging for the top honours soon enough.
Kerry Frahm, Posted 14/04/2009 at 10:43:05
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Michael, I think you are confused, I don't think it is true that people on here have meant that a Moyes team ??could never ever play such pass-and-move football??. Yes, it is unrealistic to expect it every match because we don't have enough footballers in the team.
Moyes is slowly bringing in a footballer at a time that can retain possession and pass and move, but the team of footballers is not yet complete which is why passages of play usually break down.
I think the performance was more to do with the ability of the footballing players on the left hand side and the link-up and hold of play of Fellaini allowing Piennar and Baines to charge forward.
Yes, the Villa match showed we can play football sporadically when there are enough footballers on the pitch and on form and when they are allowed large chunks of possession, which was the case in the first half.
The football will improve if Moyes continues to bring in footballers not because Moyes says to the players to play football, otherwise if that were true Hibbert and Osman would have been linking up the same way as Baines and Pienaar on the other side of the pitch.
Moyes is slowly bringing in a footballer at a time that can retain possession and pass and move, but the team of footballers is not yet complete which is why passages of play usually break down.
I think the performance was more to do with the ability of the footballing players on the left hand side and the link-up and hold of play of Fellaini allowing Piennar and Baines to charge forward.
Yes, the Villa match showed we can play football sporadically when there are enough footballers on the pitch and on form and when they are allowed large chunks of possession, which was the case in the first half.
The football will improve if Moyes continues to bring in footballers not because Moyes says to the players to play football, otherwise if that were true Hibbert and Osman would have been linking up the same way as Baines and Pienaar on the other side of the pitch.
I don?t think that is the case at all Michael. I think the point most people were making was that with our squad and resources, it is almost impossible to maintain that quality week-in, week-out. We played like this for large periods last season too when we had Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill and Osman playing together. I think it is Moyes's aim to play like this in every match. All it takes however is for a few key players to be off form or injured and we are forced to revert to the trying not to loose tatics of old.
Those tactics thankfully are the exception now rather than the norm as Moyes and the team develop and improve. The key is having at least 4 of our genuine ball players available and on form, that wasn?t the case at the start of this season or at the end of last.
Those tactics thankfully are the exception now rather than the norm as Moyes and the team develop and improve. The key is having at least 4 of our genuine ball players available and on form, that wasn?t the case at the start of this season or at the end of last.
As soon as I arrived in work today, phone goes: Manure fan I know couldn?t believe how good we looked on Sunday. Let?s hope they have a really tough game against Porto tomorrow.
I firmly believe we will beat Manure next Sunday, they were running on empty against Sunderland and Berbatov reminds me of Beattie on a bad day. A full week off for our lads and we will be fresh both mentally and physically.
2-0 with Timmy first scorer. COYB.
I firmly believe we will beat Manure next Sunday, they were running on empty against Sunderland and Berbatov reminds me of Beattie on a bad day. A full week off for our lads and we will be fresh both mentally and physically.
2-0 with Timmy first scorer. COYB.
Try this for the second sentence.
"Some of the passing play I saw in some stages of the weekends game shone of Everton of the Holy Trinity era."
Or alternatively
"Some of the passing play I saw in some stages of the weekends game shone like the great Everton ’85 vintage".
See, fixed.
"Some of the passing play I saw in some stages of the weekends game shone of Everton of the Holy Trinity era."
Or alternatively
"Some of the passing play I saw in some stages of the weekends game shone like the great Everton ’85 vintage".
See, fixed.
We played some excellent "school of science" style football against The Villa and I truly believe that we are one Moutinho or Krancjar away from having one of the best midfields in the country and if we can get the right player to replace Osman(who would become an excellent back-up if one of our midfielders gets injured) as a starter I believe we challenge the top 4 very closely next season. but for now wembley beckons and we’ve got the chance to end the season on a high by winning a trophy for the first time in 14 years COYB!
Excellent performance in the first half on Sunday, some really quality football. Shame we couldn’t bring home the 3 points but credit to Villa for the 2nd half fight back.
Michael - That is a poor comment. As others have pointed out above, it proves nothing of the sort and I am surprised by your words. In the same way that Osman having one good game doesn’t suddenly make him an amazing player (or vice versa), one game (half) of lovely joined up footy does not prove all those other people wrong! Producing it for 45mins is one thing, consistency is another. Let’s face it Michael if I posted an article claiming we were going to win the league next year, citing the football played in the 1st half at Villa as the proof, you wouldn’t even allow it on the site. Double standards?
Excellent football though and a joy to watch. Gutted by the result.
COYB on Sunday!!!
Michael - That is a poor comment. As others have pointed out above, it proves nothing of the sort and I am surprised by your words. In the same way that Osman having one good game doesn’t suddenly make him an amazing player (or vice versa), one game (half) of lovely joined up footy does not prove all those other people wrong! Producing it for 45mins is one thing, consistency is another. Let’s face it Michael if I posted an article claiming we were going to win the league next year, citing the football played in the 1st half at Villa as the proof, you wouldn’t even allow it on the site. Double standards?
Excellent football though and a joy to watch. Gutted by the result.
COYB on Sunday!!!
Michael, you’re being a little mischievous there - and I think you know it. Nobody ever said we can’t be expected to play good football. In fact, the "Moyes Apologists" - as you cheekily call the people who recognise the good work our manager is doing - have long said that the man is building a very, very good footballing side.
Indeed, the people you seem to be implicating in your comment are the ones who have repeatedly pointed out just how well Moyes’ Everton side can play. These people are also realists, however, and they know that there will be ups and downs along the way. We simply don’t have the depth of squad - or indeed the basic quality - to make changes when players are exhausted or have a dip in form.
I do find it strange, incidentally, that whenever Everton play well, you use it as an excuse to criticise Moyes - in a strange way - by having a sly dig at those who have consistently supported him! Bizarre.
Indeed, the people you seem to be implicating in your comment are the ones who have repeatedly pointed out just how well Moyes’ Everton side can play. These people are also realists, however, and they know that there will be ups and downs along the way. We simply don’t have the depth of squad - or indeed the basic quality - to make changes when players are exhausted or have a dip in form.
I do find it strange, incidentally, that whenever Everton play well, you use it as an excuse to criticise Moyes - in a strange way - by having a sly dig at those who have consistently supported him! Bizarre.
Playing it on the floor is a tactic, and hoofing it is a tactic. Whichever is right for a particular game where Moyes believes he can get the points, I’ll settle with that.
Those not in the top 4 rarely have the fortune to play with beauty every game and will suffer if they did.
Those not in the top 4 rarely have the fortune to play with beauty every game and will suffer if they did.
G’day Kerry, I would imagine there arent many Evertonians in Casino !! Myself girlfriends grandparents live there.. So Ive been there many times..
I missed the game on Sunday after purposely going out on the piss to stay up.. only to pass out 10mins before the game..
Sounds great to here us playing football.. it wasnt being played very much when I emigrated last year..
Things are definitely stirring at Goodison, the back 4 are solid, attack looks good.. just 1 maybe 2 quality additions to midfield.
I missed the game on Sunday after purposely going out on the piss to stay up.. only to pass out 10mins before the game..
Sounds great to here us playing football.. it wasnt being played very much when I emigrated last year..
Things are definitely stirring at Goodison, the back 4 are solid, attack looks good.. just 1 maybe 2 quality additions to midfield.
If Moyes only has the money to make one great signing in the summer, it will be a right sided midfielder, as that is almost the missing link.
If he makes a second signing then it will be a holding midfielder to replace Neville who will revert to rightback, the right side then hopefully will be as effective as the Baines/Pienaar partnership which is looking superb, then I think we will see the flowing football against Villa on a regular basis.
These are exciting times for Everton.
Best of luck to the lads on Sunday, we really can do it. Fellaini against Rio is going to be very interesting because they will forget Cahill, oops... 1-0!
If he makes a second signing then it will be a holding midfielder to replace Neville who will revert to rightback, the right side then hopefully will be as effective as the Baines/Pienaar partnership which is looking superb, then I think we will see the flowing football against Villa on a regular basis.
These are exciting times for Everton.
Best of luck to the lads on Sunday, we really can do it. Fellaini against Rio is going to be very interesting because they will forget Cahill, oops... 1-0!
For 20 to 30 minutes we played nice stuff, Michael? It’s funny because I thought a game lasted 90 minutes.
Setanta flashed a stat up after the first 20 minutes of the second half showing Villa had 72% of possession that half. Our downfall in that game came because we reverted to hoofball again and couldn’t retain possession in midfield. And yet we should count ourselves lucky that we were treated to 20 minutes of sliky passing!
I’m so pissed off that we didn’t take all 3 points on Sunday and yet so many people here seem to want to give the boys a big pat on the back. Nil satis and all that, I don’t think many other team’s fans would be so congratulatory of allowing a 2 goal lead to slip.
Setanta flashed a stat up after the first 20 minutes of the second half showing Villa had 72% of possession that half. Our downfall in that game came because we reverted to hoofball again and couldn’t retain possession in midfield. And yet we should count ourselves lucky that we were treated to 20 minutes of sliky passing!
I’m so pissed off that we didn’t take all 3 points on Sunday and yet so many people here seem to want to give the boys a big pat on the back. Nil satis and all that, I don’t think many other team’s fans would be so congratulatory of allowing a 2 goal lead to slip.
Brian Richardson, spot on mate! I have long known that Mr. Kenrick, when confronted with the obvious display of quality football (which he and others so often lament the lack of), has no alternative but to agree (I’m sure this pains him no end). Yet, even in such times the man will resort to having a dig at Moyes, bemoaning the fact we don’t play great football all the time, or somesuch. It really is annoying but it does reveal much about the man and his knowledge of the game (MK, not DM ;)
I will no doubt now be a marked man, or this will not be printed . . . either way, I am glad others have noted this too. FFS, can you not see what Moyes is trying to build here (with hands often tied behind backs)???
Its funny how when people compare David Moyes’ tenure to that of Walter Smith and other dross before him we are told we cannot keep clinging to such comparisons, yet when Moyes’ team plays consistently well (as on this current run, one or two dodgy performances aside) we are consistently reminded of the hoofball that was played (most of which was dictated by circumstance) and asked why the team cannot always play that way.
To answer your thinly veiled question Michael, the reason the team has not played quite so well in the past is because it is evolving, and now contains better players. Simple innit? And that, incidentally, is down to a certain Mr. Moyes.
Apologist? Moi? Nah mate, someone who gives credit where its due.
I will no doubt now be a marked man, or this will not be printed . . . either way, I am glad others have noted this too. FFS, can you not see what Moyes is trying to build here (with hands often tied behind backs)???
Its funny how when people compare David Moyes’ tenure to that of Walter Smith and other dross before him we are told we cannot keep clinging to such comparisons, yet when Moyes’ team plays consistently well (as on this current run, one or two dodgy performances aside) we are consistently reminded of the hoofball that was played (most of which was dictated by circumstance) and asked why the team cannot always play that way.
To answer your thinly veiled question Michael, the reason the team has not played quite so well in the past is because it is evolving, and now contains better players. Simple innit? And that, incidentally, is down to a certain Mr. Moyes.
Apologist? Moi? Nah mate, someone who gives credit where its due.
Your missing the point David
The question is a perfectly valid one. lots of people have actually claimed we simply dont have the players to play on nice football.
Surely that argument is blown away every time we do. I doubt theres a single Blue who expects nice flowing football every time, but they are entitiled to expect the team to go out at least with the intention of playing the right way
Yes circumstances can influence any teams approach to the game, but you cant deny that sometimes we have 3-4 players hellbent on hoofing it from the off, they’ve actually gone out with that intention. Thats got to be unacceptable.
The question is a perfectly valid one. lots of people have actually claimed we simply dont have the players to play on nice football.
Surely that argument is blown away every time we do. I doubt theres a single Blue who expects nice flowing football every time, but they are entitiled to expect the team to go out at least with the intention of playing the right way
Yes circumstances can influence any teams approach to the game, but you cant deny that sometimes we have 3-4 players hellbent on hoofing it from the off, they’ve actually gone out with that intention. Thats got to be unacceptable.
Last Saturday's Mail gave a list of the long-ball teams ? Route one
Liverpool 2182
Portsmouth 1943
Hull City 1930
West Brom 1910
Fulham 1897
Blackburn 1876
Newcastle 1865
Everton 1851
Wigan 1838
Aston Villa 1793
That confirmed my opinion of how Liverpool scored most of their goals, apart from their penalties and dodgy free kicks.
Liverpool 2182
Portsmouth 1943
Hull City 1930
West Brom 1910
Fulham 1897
Blackburn 1876
Newcastle 1865
Everton 1851
Wigan 1838
Aston Villa 1793
That confirmed my opinion of how Liverpool scored most of their goals, apart from their penalties and dodgy free kicks.
Paul Daly ? Unfortunately growing up in North Queensland, Australia in the 80s & 90s, all they used to show us was Liverpool. Something to do with an Aussie playing there I suppose. Anyway if this style they showed is reminiscent of Everton of the past then that?s great and let?s hope it becomes a consistent thing of the now!
John Maxwell ? No and strangely enough playing football in Brisbane for 15 years I only met one other family there who were blue! But my two oldest girls sit with me and watch if a game is on, so maybe I can grow the tradition.
© ToffeeWeb
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The sad irony is that when some of us were crying out for exactly this from Moyes's teams, we were told in no uncertain terms not to be so unrealistic and that the poor quality of players Moyes could afford under his limited budget could never, ever play such pass-and-move football.
They have been proved wrong, thankfully.