ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Time For James Vaughan To Depart?

Once again, there are rumors circulating that James Vaughan is injured. It's been over four years since Vaughan first burst onto the scene, breaking goalscoring records as the Premier League's youngest scorer.

Since then Vaughan has suffered one injury after another and his contribution to the team has been restricted to just a handful of appearances. In fact, of the last two seasons Vaughan has managed just two goals for his club.

If one of the senior strikers like Saha or Yakubu had scored just two goals in two years almost all the fans would be screaming for blood but, because of his age, Vaughan is excused. Don't get me wrong, I think Vaughan has shown some promising moments in his stuttering career and he could be a good player but all that potential is wasted if he can't get fit to play.

At what point do we cut this injury-prone player away?

At what point do we question paying his wages every week for almost no contribution to the team?

At what point do we move Vaughan out of the way so younger players like Baxter and Agard can get a chance?

I like Vaughan but the simple hard facts of life are if you are not medically fit to undertake your job then you have to be removed from that job. Two goals in two seasons is simply not good enough. In fact it's pitiful contribution from a member of our already small squad.

You can't blame Vaughan for his injuries but surely this season is make-or-break for the player and so far things are not looking good.
Dick Anderson, Essex Posted 08/09/2009 at 08:23:18

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Comments

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Michael Kenrick

It's disappointing no doubt, but injuries are part of football.

And... He's under contract! People have written a lot of nonsense about contracts not being worth the paper they're written on, but in this case, I believe they protect the player from exactly the kind of early dismissal you are advocating.

And if he's out injured, how exactly does he stand in the way of younger players like Baxter and Agard???

Tony Miller
1 Posted 08/09/2009 at 14:21:30

Ditto - Michael Kenrick loyalty to players is important.

Patty Beesley
2 Posted 08/09/2009 at 14:39:11

Equally players’ loyalty to the Club should also be important.... ask Lescott.,

Andrew Ellams
3 Posted 08/09/2009 at 14:47:54

Whilst I don’t think for one moment we should be tearing up anybody’s contract, I do believe that we should be thinking about moving Vaughan on when January comes around. A terrible shame, but it’s a tough game and a hard life.

Gary Drain
4 Posted 08/09/2009 at 15:01:20

I think this is really sad news if it is true. Every time he has been fit you can see how much effort he puts in to the game and it’d be great to see as much effort turned into good luck.

I understand that people will say to off load him but let’s give him a break if you’ll pardon the pun.

Fingers crossed it’s not as bad as it seems but it doesn’t sound too good does it?!

Dan McKie
5 Posted 08/09/2009 at 15:26:44

If we did try and sell him, we would be lucky to get anything for him. The thing we should do next time the lad is fit, is loan him out. Its ok being highly regarded by the backroom staff, but he needs games, and until he gets them, none of us will know what kind of player he could be!

Micheal Hunt
6 Posted 08/09/2009 at 15:57:28

James Vaughan has certainly had more bad luck than most footballers...bloody shocking.
I think part of the problem could be that breaking into the first team is a big ask and so he, almost literally, blows a gasket trying all out, flat out, all the time! As a very fast supreme athlete when fit, his all out effort and all action style means he soon breaks down again.
A possible solution may be to let him out on loan for a while, at least half a season, at a much lower level. That way he’d get games more easily and hopefully would not blow a gasket trying his heart out to get ahead of the one or more of the likes of Saha, Jo, Yak, Cahill, Big Vic (and now Baxter and Agard) when fit.
I’ve never seen a player try give as much, per minute on the pitch, for the shirt as James Vaughan. On his day, on form and fit, he has proved genuinely unplayable and a goal getting quality striker (ask John Terry when Vaughan ended Chelski’s unbeaten run, but for the cheating ref allowing a Drogba equaliser - when Moyesy was so incensed he ran on the pitch to remonstrate with the errant official - and promptly got send to sit in the stands with Chelsea fans behind the dugout!).
Good luck Vaughany lad!

Liam Reilly
7 Posted 08/09/2009 at 16:09:52

I think there would be plenty of takers if JV was put on the market, for the very reasons stated above by Dan & Michael. In today’s marketplace his salary wouldn’t cost the earth and he’s would be worth a punt. A fit JV would be accepted in most Premier League squads.

The lad needs games and a loan to the barcodes might’ve been just the ticket. Unlucky kid.

Suzy Whitehead
8 Posted 08/09/2009 at 16:19:23

We need to get him fit (if possible). Play him in games where we think he can make an impact then sell hime for as much money as possible. Not because he is injury prone because he is overrated.

Ajay Gopal
9 Posted 08/09/2009 at 17:04:39

I am 100% with michael Hunt on this one. Vaughan has had the most terrible luck - and for this reason alone, i think he should be loaned out for a season - Preston, Newcastle, Middlesborough - it does not matter. He needs to get away from Everton for a while - put his injuries behind and resume his role as a professional footballer. I wish him all the very best as a footballer - if it is destined that he will blossom into a great footballer outside Everton, then so be it. I will be grateful for the special moments - including the penalty that he took with great aplomb in the FA Cup semis.

Jay Harris
10 Posted 08/09/2009 at 17:28:17

It is rumoured that he was going to Newcastle for3 to 5 million before he got injured.

If anyone deserves some luck it’s this kid.

Let’s hope the injury isnt too serious and he may get some better luck come January.

Anthony Doran
11 Posted 08/09/2009 at 17:34:09

We should have flogged to Stoke if ya believe hte papers! Why have we got the most crumbliest flakiest team in terms of injuries in the whole wide world??!

Tony Williams
12 Posted 08/09/2009 at 17:39:58

I doubt his wages are that high and he will still be on the same contract as he ha when he first came onto the scene, as he wouldn’t have been offered an improved deal whilst injured all the time. The contract is probably nearing the end and if his luck doesn’t change or his knee get stronger than I fear it’s goodbye to our little record breaker

James Boden
13 Posted 08/09/2009 at 17:43:14

2 goals in 2 years- I wonder how many minutes he has actually played during this time. Would probably add up to 4, maybe 5 games if we’re lucky. I do agree however that he will never be able to fulfill his potential due to these horrendous injuries. A real shame as this really could have been something special on our hands.

Norman Merrill
14 Posted 08/09/2009 at 18:16:35

Blimey a bit drastic, isn’t it, just last May the kid stepped up to take a vital penalty.
Ahead of many senior players.
Short memories.

Philip Bunting
15 Posted 08/09/2009 at 18:22:08

Well from what i have seen of James Vaughan he brings it upon himself. Hate to say it but his gung-ho tackling is what has contributed to his injuries, hes always so enthusiastic that he makes career threatening tackles usually coming off worse. Needs to cam down and move into space to receive the ball rather than chasing it from the front. He cant tackle, simple as.

Martin Mason
16 Posted 08/09/2009 at 19:01:01

Philip is correct, James is a self inflicted series of injuries. I don’t want to be negative about such a keen club player but for me he isn’t Premiership first eleven standard; I hope that he proves me wrong. I feel the same about Victor A too. Moyes knows better than me though and he’ll hopefully handle it correctly. We aren’t short of good forwards and I see James moving on after another try.

Tom Bowers
17 Posted 08/09/2009 at 19:18:31

It is sad that such a talent cannot ply his trade and more especially he cannot do it for Everton who nutrured him along.Without doubt he could have provided a great strike force alongside Yaks or even Anichebe who was alos showing some form at the time of his Injury. Everton have had little luck over the years with young protege’s who burst on the scene and then contribute very little else for albeit different reasons.To name a few-Cadamateri, Jeffers, Rooney and now Vaughan. Hopefully whilst they are still here Vaughan and Anichebe can still contribute as they have youth on their side if they can get a run of games without the injury bug striking again.

Ray Robinson
18 Posted 08/09/2009 at 19:40:04

Granted he does fly into tackles but how do you self inflict a severed artery - apart from during a suicide attempt? He may be injury prone but he has had some terrible luck and it isn’t all self-inflicted, surely?

I like the lad’s enthusiasm and wish him well but I don’t think he’s a natural finisher - so a loan to a lower league club, I agree, would help his confidence and give some indication as to whether he could really cut it at high level.

Dick Anderson
19 Posted 08/09/2009 at 20:37:02

We can all agree that the lad is unlucky. We can all agree he is trying his best. We can all agree that when he plays there is promise but the point is this player is not pulling his weight in the squad.

For the last three years he’s done next to nothing for the team. Even AVDM had more impact on the team.

There are five senior strikers on the books at Everton Yakubu, Saha, Jo, Anichebe and Vaughan. We should be expecting all of them to contribute something to the first team.

Over the last few years Vaughan has done nothing. That is the cold hard fact and I say players that do nothing for the team need to be shipped out.

I’m all for allowing players to have injuries but this lad has had one after another for his entire career. How many more years will we give him?

Big Dunc use to get alot of abuse over his injuries but at least he contributed something every season.

If Vaughan was 10 years older he wouldn’t be getting such an easy ride from the fans.

Andrew Conroy
20 Posted 08/09/2009 at 22:20:48

Steady on, Dick!! I think it’s a bit much to suggest Shandy had more impact on the team than JV! Unless you’re talking about the hangovers he caused them following ’bonding’ sessions?

Anthony Millington
21 Posted 08/09/2009 at 22:30:01

It’s so sad to hear he’s pulled out of the England squad with a knee injury. Vaughan has had so much bad luck with injury and always comes back with such great hope and optism only to be knocked for six weeks later.

I remember when Vaughan first came on the scene and he seemed to have all the attributes to be a top all round striker with pace, strength, work rate and an eye for goal. Then he got injured playing for England under 19’s and was out for over a year with a bad knee injury and if rumours are true then it looks like he may have suffered a re-occurence of this knee injury and I really cannot understand why Everton didn’t seek compensation off the Football Association for the injury caused to Vaughan on international duty. Similarly why Everton didn’t sue Newcatsle for Nolan’s challenge which has ruled Anichebe out for 6 and a half months so far. We get walked all over at times for not standing up for ourselves as a club.

Jason Lam
22 Posted 09/09/2009 at 02:22:23

What Philip Bunting said. The lad needs to exercise restraint and can’t throw his frail body on the line all the time. Half the time we’re aimlessly hoofing the ball and he should know better after all these years. The Yak tried running and look what happened.

Michael Brien
23 Posted 09/09/2009 at 17:55:35

Dick - you say at the end of your article -"You can’t blame Vaughan for his injuries ...." but right at the start of the article you refer to him as "injury prone". Wasn’t it last week you were having a go at Tim Cahill!!!!!! Is slagging off Everton players your favourite hobby or something!!!

I reckon that the person who is most pissed off with James Vaughan’s injuries is James himself!!

He is still very young and if he has a bit of luck re injuries he certainly deserves some luck — I am sure he will prove you and several others wrong. He has loads of talent and I for one hate to see talented players being cast aside. Everton have done that too often in the past and it’s come back to haunt us.< > I wait with interest to see which of our squad you will next have a go at.

Steve Jones
24 Posted 09/09/2009 at 22:27:33

Even when fit he hasnt shown much improvement - his first touch is very poor so he has to stretch or tackle to retain the ball, hence his injuries.
Granted its a vicious cycle and its hard to improve with no game time so I wish him all the best - get fit Vaughny, get out on loan and try to relax with the ball.

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