ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Confidence Is Key

Watching Everton this season, it seems very apparent to me that there is a profound lack of confidence on the pitch. We can point the finger all we like and look for scapegoats but sometimes the biggest problem is blindingly obvious. In this case I believe the 6-1 defeat to Arsenal sowed seeds of doubt into the players' minds, whose heads had already been turned by the Lescott saga.

Last season, churning out the results breeded confidence in itself, we never had to rely on a Plan B. We were well set up and solid, never had to worry too much about our style of football. We invariably nicked a goal and the defence did the rest.

To my mind, Premier League teams are becoming more adventurous all the time; by trying to grind out results constantly we are putting so much pressure on the defensive side of our game that it seems to have affected our offensive play. To this point, I believe that David Moyes needs to play his part by giving the players the freedom to play and by reminding them that they are good players still.

I'm no fantasist, I realise that we have our limitations... but we also have players who have shown in glimpses that they can play. The likes of Pienaar, Arteta, Baines, Rodwell, Fellaini, Gosling, and Saha — not to mention Bily and Heitinga — are as good as anyone outside the big 4 when they get the ball down and play.

However, when confidence is low, players often become fearful when in possession, hence the hoofball as they are quick to want to get rid of it! At this point in time we need the footballers in the side to be brave enough to take responsibility on the ball. Young Jack Rodwell is already doing this — much to his supreme credit.

Now it's up to some more senior players to step up to the plate and show us that they can play once more. Until this happens, confidence will continue to dwindle. We might grind out the occasional win against poor opposition but that won't paper over the cracks long term. Come on lads, show us what you are really made of.........COYB
James McLaughlin, Suffolk Posted 15/09/2009 at 11:30:13

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Offensive play... I find far too much of our play to be offensive to the senses, the eye, the palette and the heart... but somehow I don't think that's what you meant.

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