ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Back on the road again

International break over and it’s back to the grind of gaining points in both EPL and Europa League. Fulham are first up and a stroll through a park to that quaint ground by the river is always enjoyable although the results have been less than enjoyable apart from 1966-67 and 2008-09.

Part of the buzz on Sunday will be that we have new players on board, Distin, Heitinga and Bilyaletdinov; will all three be in the starting line up? I doubt that. Distin seems a given but due to the short time the manager will be able to work with the other two due to the said international break I don’t think our manager will chance disrupting the team much at all.

Away from home and points on the board being preferred to performance I expect little change from the tried and trusted 4-5-1 to start and maybe with a bit of tinkering in the mid-field the players who took to the pitch v Wigan look the likely ones with our two new men on the bench.

At some point in the game I expect the ‘New Two’ or maybe just the ‘New One’ to be introduced, hopefully at 2 up and not 2 down, as I am sure the manager will have thoughts on using Bilyaletdinov v AEK, European expertise and all that, but with Heitinga being ineligible for Europe he may just ask him to watch and learn and the Blackburn game being the one when our line-up gets a new look.

This should ensure plenty of commitment from the players on view at the Cottage as competition for places enters their minds and comfort zones will need to be abandoned leading to a feisty high tempo extravaganza with three points to boot. Having witnessed the ‘Moyes Way’ since he came to us a starting line-up of – Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Neville, Rodwell, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill and Jo would not surprise me.

A bench of Nash, Bilyaletdinov, Heitinga, Osman, Saha, Gosling and Wallace has things looking a little less threadbare although knocks and strains taken on international duty or training may yet play a part so it may be best to just turn up, see who are in the Blue, let the manager and players earn their corn and just cheer them on.

I see no reason for the Blues not getting all three points just as the Fulham fans will see this game as one of their home bankers, so let battle commence and come the final whistle may the walk through a park be a Bluenose sing-a-long.

UP THE BLUES
Ken Buckley, Buckley Posted 09/09/2009 at 19:30:45

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Steve Carter
1 Posted 10/09/2009 at 09:15:42

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Hope to goodness the result’s also enjoyable this time around Ken - given the 10,600 odd miles I’ve traveled to get to the game. It’d be good to see Bily and Heitinga get some sort of outing.

Ciarán McGlone
2 Posted 10/09/2009 at 10:48:44

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"Having witnessed the ‘Moyes Way’ since he came to us a starting line-up of – Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Neville, Rodwell, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill and Jo would not surprise me"

Maybe Saha in for Jo... but I’d suggest you’re spot on Ken... slow change is always the way under Moyes — caution first, caution last... until a horredous run of form or injuries forces Moyes to make the most obvious of changes!

Dan McKie
3 Posted 10/09/2009 at 11:16:42

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The line-up that wouldn't surprise you Ken, would surprise me. Nobody to play on the right in your line up there, unless Neville does. Moyes has said he needs to freshen things up and I think he will. I think Heitinga will play from the start, if Bily doesn't start then Osman will and 1 of Cahill/Fellaini will be on the bench, probably the latter again. Saha upfront.

James Thomas
4 Posted 10/09/2009 at 12:23:24

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Have to agree on the queries over your formation Ken. One would imagine given Moyes’s cautiousness that it would be:
Howard
Hibbert Yobo Distin Baines
Osman Rodwell Neville Pienaar
Cahill
Saha

There’s a slight change that he might drop Rodwell for Heitinga, Fellaini or Bily but I very much doubt it.

Mike Prendergast
5 Posted 10/09/2009 at 15:30:43

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It will be the first time in the UK in four years.
So I hope we win.
See you at the Cottage.
If the Plane is on time. LOL

Tony Williams
6 Posted 10/09/2009 at 16:36:59

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Mike, you’re taking a chance with this game. It’s never been one for the purists and it has been a wastelane in regards to points for us.

Hope you bring us some luck.

Ian Tod
7 Posted 10/09/2009 at 17:45:50

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Come on, people, there’s no doubt Moyes’s team against Fulham wil be:
Howard
Hibbert Yobo Distin Baines
Osman Neville Rodwell Pienaar
Cahill
Saha

Bench: Nash, Billy, Heitinga, Gosling, Fellaini, Jo, Vaughan.

Keith Glazzard
8 Posted 10/09/2009 at 22:37:47

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Moyes’s resistance to change is legendary — and has served us well enough in its own way. But he seems to be on the verge of a bit of restructuring. Heitinga not mentioned as a midfielder, Cahill and Fellaini as almost interchangeable, and of course, Dini (as he calls him) is no longer a debutant.

One thing I wonder about is the predictable statement that ’Jack Rodwell has to be protected and not played in too many games’ schtick. My guess is that Moyes now has him as an automatic choice.

Saha will start on Sunday, sans doubt. Jo, for the moment, will be plan B.

Pienaar, of course, and probably Cahill take two of the other three places. So, as I think Felli will be on the bench, Osman or Dini?

Steven Pienaar can play center or right. I have a feeling that Moyes is feeling lucky and we could see

Howard
**** Yobo Distin Baines
Neville Rodwell
Cahill Pienaar Bilyaletdinov
Saha

**** = Hibbert or Heitinga? Don’t expect too much from the great man all at once. My mind’s frying about it and I’m not responsible for three points on Sunday.

Mike Coates
9 Posted 10/09/2009 at 23:41:44

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Here’s hoping Moyes's complaints about his weaker players result in the new players substancially outclassing them in training and getting the nod :)

Howard
Heitinga, Distin, Yobo, Baines

Bily, Cahill, Neville, Pienaar

Saha, Jo (or Yak if avail)

Yes Yes.. Moyes likes 4-5-1...

If I had Yak and Saha, I know I’d have them up front working magic.

Dave Wilson
10 Posted 11/09/2009 at 13:37:17

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Steve Carter and Mike Prendergast.

Fair play to you guys, enjoy the game.

Jay Harris
11 Posted 11/09/2009 at 17:55:26

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It may be nothing to go on but looking at the way the squad was announced it may be the Hetiga will play defensive mid with Neville and Peanuts and Billy oy on the flanks with Cahill or Fellli supporting Saha (who will probably get the nod in front of Jo because of how often he played at Craven Cottage.

So I expect the back 4 to remain Hibbo,Yobo,Distin,Bainsey.

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