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No time for quitting
Comments (17) : One week, we win and therefore WILL be enjoying the Champions League next season and the following week, we draw and therefore there is no longer any point in playing the rest of the season. Beside the fact that the Premier League frowns upon clubs quitting the league mid season, I want to explain why I believe the remaining nine games are so important to the club. (And it's not to qualify for the Europa League or to try overtake Liverpool.)
In fact, the main reason was staring at us today. We admittedly completely outclassed Birmingham in many ways; however, like so many times this season, we showed no real grit and determination. Something that the Birmingham players are being fed on.
I first encountered Alex McLeish at Motherwell in the early 1990s whilst playing as a "youth" there. Motherwell never had any "gifted" players, but Eck always made sure the team had a bit of bite and punched above its weight. In truth, this was always his model, even when he took over Scotland and now Birmingham.
It's also something Everton always have had under Moyes. Even when the squad had no skill or talent in his early seasons, they made up for it through commitment and endeavour. Over the last few years we have acquired players of fantastic capabilities and our squad, let alone 1st XI, is starting to look as strong as anybody's. However, rather remarkably, it's that grit and determination that we are starting to miss and which we need to regain.
So the season's run-in is ridiculously important. The team need to get back there fighting for games, even if they seem to bear no real importance. And it also follows that us supporters do too. Look at the positives, learn from mistakes, move on, stand up.
If Everton can play as well as they can with the ball, and fight for it when they don't, well then we really can start to dream. If Moyes can teach his new class the lessons of his old ones, then I for one believe that we are strong enough to take on the whole fucking lot of them.
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Yesterday we didn’t do that... and if that was Moyes’s initial concern, 8 years down the line, you’d think he’d have taught them how to hold a 2-0 lead.
At our best, we can beat anyone; however, too often we are capable of losing to anyone.
I believe that we have the most talented squad for some time but our inconsistency comes from lack of mental toughness. It’s up to the coach to change that. Every player in the team should fear for his place.
Don't get me wrong — I say yesterday as an essential 3 points and we shouldn't have got anything less but three mistakes I believe from Jags cost us. This isn't a dig as we have rushed him back and there is bound to be rustiness! I would be more concerned if we were on the back foot and hanging on which isnt happening.
Andy, what makes you think Birmingham have lots of money to throw around? I wouldn't say I am particularly concerned about Birmingham pushing for a CL spot next season with the squad they have. But if as you say they are going to spend big money, then it's surely possible.
But please tell me why he took Johnny Heitenger out of the back four? He should be in there with either Jags or Joey and Jack Rodwell should have replaced Ossie in midfield. We ship goals too easily lately we can score against anybody but its no use having a lead and then letting in silly goals.
How many different CB pairings have we had this season due to injury ?
Howard is a good but not great keeper. We have leaked too many easy goals this season. Untill we get a set back four playing consistantly we will remain mid table at best.
?? - Jags( when fit) - Johnny - Baines
This season we seem to lose confidence as soon as we score !
We have hardly kept a clean sheet all season, whereas the the last 2 seasons we have broken records for doing that and as a result racked up loads of away wins which again we have not done this time around.
Distin is not as good as Lescott. Heitinga, however is so Jags, Heitinga, Baines and Hibbert/Neville is our best, most robust back line. That said, the midfield cover for defence has not been brilliant either so a lot of work on the Training ground is required.
Interesting today to see McLeish being linked with Liverpool in the Summer as apparently FSW is ’at the end of his tether’ !! Mind you it was the News Of The World who printed that!
1 gets crocked for 12 months, the other gets lured away by an ambitious local competitor, our left back has just settled in and our right backs "polarise" support.
Jags is back, we have Distin and Heitinger to play alongside, Baines is completely settled in now and right back is what it always was. The issues we have in defence is - if we get a quality right back what do we do with captain Pip and do we play JH with Jags or as DM and stick Distin in.
Next season we’ll have one of the top 3 defences in the league - the problem we have to fix is right midfield and new, young, injury free, quick, goals goals goals centre forward. Do that and it’s done.
He would be a welcome addition if we could though.
Even if we don’t but manage to keep hold of everybody, I am extremely positive about our chances of getting into that elusive 4th spot next season. There’s no deja-vu for me, unlike some in past 2-3 seasons who though we may stand a chance, i didn’t but we have a real good team now and will compete well next season.
I think we should be able to afford Wright Philips, Beckford and Samba and I’d be made up if we got those 3.
We are missing Felliani no question but I think Moyes will find a left footed CB better than Distin and a striker capable of 20 + goals.
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1 Posted 14/03/2010 at 03:06:04
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