ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

A look to the rest of the season

After achieving European qualification, I think that winning the cup should be our main priority now, because we have already achieved our realistic goal in the league this season, as I don't think Arsenal will slip up in the Champions League race.

What I'm proposing is I think Moyes should start playing more fringe players in these last games in the league. For example, I think we should start Rodwell and Gosling in all of our remaining games, I think Jacobsen should start in right back in all our games to try and prove his worth to stay at Everton.

Baxter and maybe even James Wallace should be given runouts to have valuable Premiership experience. We should rest players, notably Lescott, Jagielka, Osman, Fellaini, Pienaar and Cahill (obviously not all at once) as they have played so many games for us.

I just think back-up players like Yobo, Gosling, Rodwell, Jacobsen etc should all play to benefit them with gained fitness and experience, and to give key players a rest for the cup final. I just hope Moyes does this with the game against Chelsea tonight!
Ben Jones, Anglesey Posted 22/04/2009 at 12:33:15

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Michael Kenrick

Seems Moyes heard ya!

Fran Mitchell
1 Posted 22/04/2009 at 16:30:46

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Howard Jacobsen Yobo Lescott Baines Osman Castillo Neville Pienaar Cahill Jo

Subs. Nash, Jagielka, Hibbert, Rodwell, Gosling, Vaughan, Saha

No 13 yellow card Felliani in squad... Surprised at Tims Inclusion, hopefully he'll get that penalty miss out of his system soon enough.

I expect an open game 2-2

Nick Logan
2 Posted 22/04/2009 at 18:46:01

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Perfect oppurtunity to bring Vaughan or Saha or both on at the Bridge. Both need match practise. Why not go for it, we got nothing to lose, were not going to lose 6th or lose ground on 5th. At the end of the day we should be taken the game to Chelsea, we know at the back were pretty secure, so why not see if we can get at them a bit. I don't get Moyes!!!

Chris Kelly
3 Posted 22/04/2009 at 21:19:11

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Is it just me... or should have Castillo been given a few more matches? He was our best player (and Baines).

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Any team with Leon Osman in it's starting IX can/should kiss the Champions League away. Same goes for phil Neville (in the engine room; not right back, but arguably)

And the same went for Andy Johnson... The list goes on... COYB

Robert Jones
4 Posted 23/04/2009 at 03:44:41

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Nevilles been one of our best this season but please continue to needlessly slag him off as per usual

Mike Green
5 Posted 23/04/2009 at 09:03:45

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We clearly need to finish the season as a 5 game build up to the FA Cup but also pay respect to the incredible job the lads have done in the league this season.

It’s really important that we finish 5th for the psychological good of the team and also so that the history books read that we were the best of the rest. I assume 5th gives us an easier passage at the start of next seasons Europa League too.

Players like to play. I don’t want them turning up on the 30th acting like they’re strangers.

Iain Love
6 Posted 23/04/2009 at 11:25:11

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Good result and well played the players who came in didn?t fuck up and we created some decent chances. The problem as I see it is we don't have enough in attack; the rest of the side ok, but we dont have a killer in front of goal. Jo looks better every time I see him but he is cup-tied...

Myself I?d try some variations in our formation between now and the final to see if we can threaten more, maybe Vaughan or Baxter or both. We?ve done ok scoring against the shit sides but struggled against the better ones (I know that's obvious). We could do with a plan C up front (plan B is Timmy up top).

Nick Xenos
7 Posted 23/04/2009 at 11:48:25

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Ben, I see what you are getting at but with only 5 games remaining in the season, you want your first XI going into the final in top form. Chopping and changing the core of the team and (possibly) notching up a few losses along the way will only curb our confidence and distrupt the continuity we have going at the moment. The team we had out today showed that Moyes has the players to reshuffle the pack to an extent, but I expect him to revert back to his best XI as we draw closer to May 30th.

Gary Creaney
8 Posted 23/04/2009 at 12:41:12

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Nick,
Don’t they say form goes out the window for one off games like the cup final. So might aswell blood some up and coming talent.

We have enough to beat City at the weekend with any arrangement of the squad at Chelsea last night plus the big Fella.

Noel Early
9 Posted 23/04/2009 at 14:07:59

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Good result last night deserved more than a point.Was very impressed by Castillo seen this lad play in South America qualifiers and has more than held his own against Brazil and Argentina.Jacobsen in my opinion is a better option than Hibbert at right back,i know he has only played 2 matches but is full Danish international plays always for them has 2 good feet seems strong in air comfortable in possession and likes to get forward,can we honestly say the same about Hibbert.Also Yobo is a quality player,my fear is that Arsenal mite come knocking this summer for either off our centre halfs and we might be forced to sell.Is it only me or could Moyes have used his bench alot earlier both yesterday and on sunday,Osman looked knackered at kick off last night and whats the point continously playing him and Piernaar until the cup final.My line up on saturday would read bearing in mind im resting players now this isnt my cup final team.Howard Jacobsen Jags Yobo Lescott Gosling Rodwell Castillo Fellaini Cahill Saha.Jo wont be able to play cause off loan agreement im sure.Give Vaughan a good half hour and Osman and Peanuts get some rest along with Neville.