The Mail Bag
Pienaar against New Zealand Brazil
Comments (18)
Watched the Brazil V South Africa game. Peanuts had a great game in the whole of the midfield. What a player and bags of energy. Nearly scored twice with long-range shots.
Hope he can do it for the Blues ? needs a free role IMO. If he and Arteta can click, we will see some great football.
Frank Duffy, Posted 26/06/2009 at 07:57:46
Comments
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Malcolm Evans
2 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:08:42
2 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:08:42
I agree, Pienaar looked really good last night, he was all over the pitch. I think the problem is if he?s given a free role then that's gonna essentially mean another central midfield position taken. We already have Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini, Neville possibly Rodwell a lot more next season as well. Also he has struck up a good understanding with Baines on the left.
Alex Kociuba
3 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:22:54
3 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:22:54
Stop calling him Peanuts!
Arghghghhhhhhhhh!!!!
Arghghghhhhhhhhh!!!!
Dan McKie
4 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:21:58
4 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:21:58
Nobody has a ?free role? anymore! For Everton, Pienaar is all over the place, switching flanks, going wide, coming inside, but he still has to work his socks off and get back when we haven't got the ball. I think he is fine where he is for us, providing he has Baines playing behind him.
Peter Benson
5 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:47:45
5 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:47:45
He has had a very good tournament playing in the centre. The only thing putting me off about him playing just off the forward for Everton is his lack of goals. He doesn?t get in the box enough and into goal scoring positions.
I think to play 4-5-1 then it is important for the player in that postion to get you 10 goals plus a season, I can?t see Pienaar getting that many.
I think to play 4-5-1 then it is important for the player in that postion to get you 10 goals plus a season, I can?t see Pienaar getting that many.
Keith Glazzard
6 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:41:42
6 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:41:42
Steven has stepped up to accept the responsibility in midfield for us since Mikel?s injury and has now shown it on a world stage. Definitely another EFC success ? expect a bid from City any minute.
I wish he was on his hols right now but they have to play the meaningless 3rd-4th game against Spain. Any bets about those sons of fun from El Campo de Anna picking up a meaningless yellow for a late tackle?
I wish he was on his hols right now but they have to play the meaningless 3rd-4th game against Spain. Any bets about those sons of fun from El Campo de Anna picking up a meaningless yellow for a late tackle?
Tony Williams
7 Posted 26/06/2009 at 16:41:53
7 Posted 26/06/2009 at 16:41:53
He had a good game but as with Everton he goes down very easily and then gets dispossesed quite often.
A great talent but needs to stay on his feet more.
Am I missing something with the title of this thread, where does New Zealand factor into it?
Alexamundo, people give players nick names, to save your blood pressure, get over it
A great talent but needs to stay on his feet more.
Am I missing something with the title of this thread, where does New Zealand factor into it?
Alexamundo, people give players nick names, to save your blood pressure, get over it
Ricardo Humphries
8 Posted 26/06/2009 at 10:26:55
8 Posted 26/06/2009 at 10:26:55
Again the lad was played in the center of the park, and I have to admit, Pienaar really made Kaka look average. Superb skill and vision.
Moyes needs to wake up and start playing the guy in his natural position.
Andy Morden
9 Posted 26/06/2009 at 17:58:27
9 Posted 26/06/2009 at 17:58:27
Having looked at Pienaar’s stats across his career he has never managed more than 5 or 6 goals in a season at the top level. Ok, maybe it is something that would be a welcome addition to the game, but I think his main strengths as a player are his movement, passing and awareness. His movement off the ball alone causes teams problems because it drags their shape apart or creates space for others. He might not always hit the final ball in, but his link play is excellent when on top form. Goalscoring is important, he still brings a hell of a lot to the table for a team.
Terry White
10 Posted 26/06/2009 at 18:12:50
10 Posted 26/06/2009 at 18:12:50
Surely the opportunity is there to play Pienaar in the Arteta midfield link role until Spud is fit enough to return? We would need another wide player to replace Pienaar, but we need another wide player anyway. Although the club has reportedly denied any interest in Reyes, somebody of his age and pedigree wiith pace, and for a "reasonable" price, would be a great signing. Pace is something we really need going forward.
Dave Roberts
11 Posted 26/06/2009 at 20:41:41
11 Posted 26/06/2009 at 20:41:41
Stop calling him Spud!
David Nicholls
12 Posted 26/06/2009 at 22:05:51
12 Posted 26/06/2009 at 22:05:51
Based on the perfromances in the Confederations Cup, I?d love to see Pienaar in a central midfield attacking role for Everton.
The problem is, top class wide midfielders in this day and age are like gold dust, we?ve already moved our best player into the centre, leaving Pienaar our only oustanding wideman.
It?s a pity we don't have £50M lying around to go out and snap up two world class wingers, I expect he?ll continue plying his trade on the flank for the foreseeable future.
I?m really chuffed that Steven is getting the praise he deserves and that the BBC commentary team were waxing lyrical about him. He?s my favourite player bar none and I sincerely hope we sign him up on a long-term deal sooner rather than later.
The problem is, top class wide midfielders in this day and age are like gold dust, we?ve already moved our best player into the centre, leaving Pienaar our only oustanding wideman.
It?s a pity we don't have £50M lying around to go out and snap up two world class wingers, I expect he?ll continue plying his trade on the flank for the foreseeable future.
I?m really chuffed that Steven is getting the praise he deserves and that the BBC commentary team were waxing lyrical about him. He?s my favourite player bar none and I sincerely hope we sign him up on a long-term deal sooner rather than later.
Suzy Whitehead
13 Posted 27/06/2009 at 07:06:57
13 Posted 27/06/2009 at 07:06:57
For me, PEANUTS, is a bag of talent that never fails to frustrate - in som,e ways very similar to Osmasn. With so much ball skill, vision and energy i feel he needs to produce more significant moments in a game; score and create more goals. With so much talent and 28 years of age 2 goals and 8 assists simply isnt good enough in team that finishes 5th, got to a cup final, and played in europe. I must say though that he took responsinbility of the foootball excellently when Arteta got injured and really helped us keep some momentum.
The signs are there and i really hope he delivers big time next season. He needs to.
The signs are there and i really hope he delivers big time next season. He needs to.
Tom Brown
14 Posted 27/06/2009 at 12:08:48
14 Posted 27/06/2009 at 12:08:48
Hi Suzy,
Odd that you try to use the stats to back up your criticism of Pienaar.... You are correct in stating that he made 8 "assists" in the Premier League last seaon.... but were you aware that NO player for ANY club managed more than 10? The players with 10 assists were Fabregas, Lampard, Ireland, Gerrard, Van Persie and Berbatov. Pretty esteemed competition - and dont forget that most of these players played more games than Piennar (he only appeared in 28 Premier League games).
I'm not sure your criticism based on the stats really works.
Forgetting the stats, I love the little man. He is my favourite player. I just love the way he plays.
He is often criticised for losing the ball too much and this is possibly a fair criticism. Given how much he achieves with the ball, I am happy to forgive him much of this... and anyway I worry that if he changed his game to keep the ball more, then he may lose some of the edge on his game.
Odd that you try to use the stats to back up your criticism of Pienaar.... You are correct in stating that he made 8 "assists" in the Premier League last seaon.... but were you aware that NO player for ANY club managed more than 10? The players with 10 assists were Fabregas, Lampard, Ireland, Gerrard, Van Persie and Berbatov. Pretty esteemed competition - and dont forget that most of these players played more games than Piennar (he only appeared in 28 Premier League games).
I'm not sure your criticism based on the stats really works.
Forgetting the stats, I love the little man. He is my favourite player. I just love the way he plays.
He is often criticised for losing the ball too much and this is possibly a fair criticism. Given how much he achieves with the ball, I am happy to forgive him much of this... and anyway I worry that if he changed his game to keep the ball more, then he may lose some of the edge on his game.
I am also comfortable with the number of times Pienaar loses the ball because of the fantastic covering back he does. No one works harder to get back, close down players, pester the opposition out of possession... and he has the speed, stamina and ability to be effective doing it. How many times have you seen him lose the ball only to see him win it back or be a big part in the team effort to get it back? We also see him doing this when others lose the ball.
He is an absolutely fantastic little player and I really can?t see any grounds for questioning his ability. Of course he can improve (all players can) but he is class and the contribution he makes is top draw.
You compare Pienaar to Osman... IN MY DREAMS Osman is as good as Pienaar. If he was!!! Wow that would be good. Osman gets unfair criticism (someone has to be the weakest player in the first team, it is not his fault that it is him or Hibbo) but he is not in the same class as Pienaar.
Jay Woods
15 Posted 27/06/2009 at 14:58:57
15 Posted 27/06/2009 at 14:58:57
@Tom Brown: Good post and 100% agreed re the comparison to Osman. Pienaar is vastly superior. Let’s hope all the speculation about him leaving is of no substance and we can add 1-2 more attacking, hard-working players.
Colin Callaghan
16 Posted 27/06/2009 at 15:06:52
16 Posted 27/06/2009 at 15:06:52
I love calling him Peanuts.
Not so much Spud :)
Not so much Spud :)
John Crook
17 Posted 27/06/2009 at 16:37:35
17 Posted 27/06/2009 at 16:37:35
I agree David Nicholls. Pienaar would be great as a centre mid and quality wide players are not too frequent. But take a look on YouTube at a player we have been linked with: Ivory Coast right winger Kader Kieta. Fair enough, it's only YouTube but he looks awesome.
Peter Roberts
18 Posted 27/06/2009 at 17:00:17
18 Posted 27/06/2009 at 17:00:17
Agree with Tom Brown. Osman doesn?t knit the play together as well as Pienaar does. When Pienaar plays we play more on-the-deck and thanks to him, have re-opened The School of Science.
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1 Posted 26/06/2009 at 15:06:04
Only for his slight frame he would gain much more recognition for his hardwork, trickery, movement and creativity. My mouth waters at the thought of having Pienaar, Arteta and a Moutinho and M?Bia type as a settled midfield.