ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Sunday can't come soon enough

Well what another exciting week of blogging there has been on Toffeeweb.

With the divide between the Bill-lovers and thew Bill-haters getting bigger by the day and DK getting to Grand Canyon size proportions, doesn't anyone just want to concentrate on the big game against Stoke on Sunday?

I for one am looking forward to a good showing from our lads and hope to see some good football. With a couple of handy players bought in, it will be interesting to see what starting 11 Moyes will put out!

With proven quality players like Cahill and Peanuts not far off and a hopefully injury-free Vaughan I think the next month or so should be quite exciting!

I say let's cheer the lads who are representing Everton on as we should and leave the internal issues for another day. Here is what my team would be if I was Moyes on Sunday:

Howard; Neville, Yobo, Jags, Lescott; Arteta, Castillo, Fellaini, Baines; Vaughan, Yak.

Subs: Nash, Baxter, Rodwell, Osman, Valente

CYOB!!!!
Michael Tracey, Vientiane Posted 12/09/2008 at 05:22:26

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Comments

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Ron Leith
1 Posted 12/09/2008 at 07:34:12

I thoought Yobo was out with an ankle problem, Osman with a knee and Castillo with jet lag. With Standard Liege coming up and Fellaini excluded, I suspect the term paper thin is very apt.

Ron Leith
2 Posted 12/09/2008 at 07:37:20

As an afterthought, why not put Valente at right back and Baines at left back? Thus giving us Neville to bolster the depleted midfield. So my team is Howie, Valenty, Jaggy, Lescy, Bainsie, Nevie, Roddy, Arty, Fellaini, Yaki and Vaughny

Jarrod Prosser
3 Posted 12/09/2008 at 08:10:43

Ronny,
Maybe you should let Moyesy picky the teamy.

Michael Brien
4 Posted 12/09/2008 at 08:52:07

Michael - sorry to nitpick, but teams are allowed 7 substitutes in the Premier League this season. I agree with your sentiments ?let?s gets back to the footy!!! Hopefully the lads can hang in there as they did in the first part of last season until we get some of the injured players back.

Stephen Stuart
5 Posted 12/09/2008 at 09:03:08

This isn?t football - this is Kenwrong?s new musical farce, soon to be shown nationally - "The Dithering Moyes? Injury Prone Moving to Kirkby Slapstick Soccer Show" ....roll up, roll up, plenty of tickets.....

Tony Part
6 Posted 12/09/2008 at 09:04:24

If fit, my team for Sunday would be:

Howard
Neville
Yobo
Jagielka
Lescott
Rodwell
Castillo
Fellaini
Rodwell
Baines
Yakubu

I have no idea how fit Yobo is with the rumoured ankle problem or whether Castillo will be jet lagged but I think for Sunday this could be the best option..

I would have Vaughan on the bench as I don't think he is 100% fit yet and looked low-key against Pompey when he started. If things are not going well then he is a good option to have from the bench with half-an-hour or so left against weary defenders.

The midfield picks itself such as the lack of numbers we have there although it will be far less straight forward when Cahill and Pienaar come back..

Taking both Neville and Jagielka out of midfield will merely take away the dangers of any of them looking like fish badly out of the waters... I am not yet convinced Rodwell is the answer in midfield either. He is a defender by admission and he, like Jags, looks a bit lost in the middle at times and through no fault of his own through inexperience seemed to fall asleep in crucial parts of the field against Pompey playing them onside when the likes of Defoe and Crouch found too much space. But it will come for Rodwell soon, he shouldn't really be a regular evey week but, as is said, it's needs must at the moment.

One look at the fixture list for October quickly tells me that we need to get down to real business against Stoke and Hull and take the maximum 6 points so no more schoolboy errors must occur. It's been said before but the season really must start NOW.

Steve Williams
7 Posted 12/09/2008 at 09:27:48

Tony,

I know that Rodwell has real potential but to ask him to play 2 positions in the same game is a bit much!

Personally, I’d give him a break, ask him to play just one and give Arteta a game.

Seriously, I’m sure that’s what you meant :)

Andy Crooks
8 Posted 12/09/2008 at 09:35:43

No matter what eleven is sent out the sale of AJ leaves us seriously lacking in pace.

James Marshall
9 Posted 12/09/2008 at 09:42:34

I seriously doubt DM will give Fellaini and Castillo their debuts at the same time, especially in an away game - Castillo doesn’t even speak English!

Ciarán McGlone
10 Posted 12/09/2008 at 10:21:25

We will basically have the same team that has struggled so far this season..

I don't expect anything more than a draw.

Tim Veitch
11 Posted 12/09/2008 at 10:31:42

A lot of people are favouring Jag at centre back, rather than Lescott. I’m not a big fan of the Jag in any position (though I think he’s a great bloke). He’s a good defender, but the man can’t pass. I think he was a big reason why our passing game fell apart late last season. The most common pass in our games would have been Jag to Opposition Goalie...

So, I’d have Lescott in the centre, and Baines at LB. I’d also play five in the middle. Keep Rodwell in there, as I think he’s looked great so far.

So, I’d have:

Howard
Neville
Yobo
Lescott
Baines
Osman
Castillo
Rodwell
Fellaini
Arteta
Yakubu

Ciarán McGlone
12 Posted 12/09/2008 at 11:05:14

Osman's out mate. But the rest is exactly what I'd like to see... but as we dont have another midfielder I can see Jags back in the middle.

Darren Bailey
13 Posted 12/09/2008 at 10:55:32

Have to agree with Tim with this one I?m afraid. I think Jags played well last season, as his England call up shows, but so far this season he?s been poor. Baines had a very good game against Pompey getting forward down the left so he should keep his place. I do think that in the long term Joleon will end up there again though. Also agree that Jack should retain his place for the foreseeable future as I think he?s been our best player for the first three games. People will dissagree but for his age and experience he?s been fantastic so far when some of the more experinced players have been very poor indeed. He also should have had a goal to his name. Fellaini will be the spark we need on Sunday but Castillo will need time. Yak brace, 2-0.

Mike Oates
14 Posted 12/09/2008 at 11:24:23

Rodwell was injured playing for England U19?s on Wednesday night, he was taken off at half time. Osman is injured and Castillo will be jet lagged, and surprise suprise Cahill will have to play - Watch This Space

So team will be :
Howard
Neville Yobo Jags Lescott
Arteta Felliani Cahill Baines
Yakubu Vaughan

Subs: Nash Castillo Baxter Irving Anichebe Wallace Valente

Joeynkoo Ludden
15 Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:21:15

Moyes will go 4-5-1

Andy Fredson
16 Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:31:51

Mike, Rodwell came off at half time as DM requested he was to play only 45 mins. And Ron, are you joking put Valente right back. That right foot he has is for standing on mate.

Has Castillo got a work permit???

Lee Spargo
17 Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:37:31

Why does everyone seem to be playing Castillo instead of Osman!

How many of you have seen him play. Osman is a proven match winner!

James Marshall
18 Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:42:56

Yes he has a work permit.

Trevor Lynes
19 Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:47:41

Any more injuries and we will be calling our bench the boys pen :0)
Plus of course their grand dad Nash.

Damian Wilde
20 Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:48:40

Ciaron,

The same team? Unless you noticed we have signed a few players who will probably start e.g. Felliani

Expect a draw at best? Whatever you post on here is always miserable, you?re always moaning about something. I?m glad you?re not in the dressing room. Let?s go and have a go and hopefully win. COYB.

Billy Dean
21 Posted 12/09/2008 at 13:35:00

When has jet-lag ever stopped someone from playing in a football match? I’ve never heard of that before!

Ciarán McGlone
22 Posted 12/09/2008 at 13:42:30

Damion,

Thats one player.
What I said was that it will ’basically’ be the same team as last time...

And mark my words, it will be. there will be two changes at the most..and more than likely only one change!

Connor Rohrer
23 Posted 12/09/2008 at 14:00:40

Fellaini will play, I think so anyway. Probably alongside Rodwell with Neville at right back. Castillo will probably be on the bench, he’s been to South America so they might not rush him back.

Personally I’d play both Castillo and Fellaini, if we get a solid centre midfield in there we’ll be much better and much more competitive. I just hope he has the bottle, he did last season against Bolton when he threw Yakubu, Pienaar, Baines and Jagielka in.

The players need a boost and the new players will give us some added energy which can only help.

Tom Green
24 Posted 12/09/2008 at 14:15:31

Lee, Osman is injured, and we all know what Moyes is like with new signings, expect to see Castillo and Fellaini on the bench.

Damian Wilde
25 Posted 12/09/2008 at 14:36:03

You?re joking right Tom? We?re mega short on midfielders and we have a £15 million midfielder, you seriously think he?ll be on the bench? If everyone was fit, then he probably would be, but they?re not, so I am almost certain he will start.

Mike Coates
26 Posted 12/09/2008 at 16:39:03

Can I just say.

OMG!! Stop getting injured already people!

Is Everton cursed by this plague of injuries or are our players just so gun ho they need to get themselves into instances where they get injured so easy. Which is good to see such dedication but there is a fine line you need to be wary of!

I know I’m making a big deal out of no doubt coincidence but Lars 4 months and Rodwell now injured, along with the masses already recovering.

Wow..

Joe McMahon
27 Posted 12/09/2008 at 17:30:21

What is it with this fucking club with injuries? Torres & Gerrard are back already for the Yanks with the 60 man squad, and then we have players out most of the fucking season, from what is the smallest sqaud in the division. So yet again....roll out the teenagers......It’s pathetic!

Anthony Newell
28 Posted 12/09/2008 at 17:37:57

Do these loan deals have any appearance related pay conditions? I know Lars didn?t choose to get injured but 4 months on the sick after just joining a club is a bitter pill to swallow. I was personally looking forward to him getting established in the side - bollocks to that then.

Bilbo Baggins
29 Posted 12/09/2008 at 20:13:37

Leon Osman a match winner, blimey he is pushed of the ball in normal games, so for the Stoke match I am affraid to say Moyes will go for the big guys.as Stoke are very direct and are dangerous from dead ball situations.
Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, the bean pole, Castillo, Arteta, Cahill, Baines, Yakubu

Connor Rohrer
30 Posted 12/09/2008 at 20:37:49

Bilbo Baggins, he gets his fair share of goals, goals win games, so yes he can be a match winner.

I wouldn’t like to go to Stoke with only one creative midfielder on the pitch (Arteta). I hope Osman is fit.

Scott Jenner
31 Posted 12/09/2008 at 20:23:46

Yobo, Cahill, Osman seem to be in alot of the teams picked above, but thay are all struggling. Cahill is not ready, Yobo?s ankle is fucked, and Osman is a major doubt as confirmed by Rathbone this week. Castillo is still in South America, as of Friday so surely he won't start, not having trained with the team yet. This doen?t leave us with much so Vaughan may be pushed in again even though he is not ready.

Howard
Gosling
Lescott
Jags
Baines
Arteta
Neville
Fellaini
Rodwell
Vaughan
The Yak

Maybe Vaughan could patrol the left flank in a 5-man midfield or maybe we will all be surprised and see Cahill, Osman and Castillo, but I doubt it.