The Mail Bag
Finally!
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A few days ago, I posted in here stating that most Evertonians were praying for a midfield of Bilyaletinov, Rodwell, Cahill and Pienaar against Fulham — especially when Neville went off. It didn't happen.
Tonight, against an albeit poor Greek side, it's happened — and it's happened to an amazing effect.
I'm actually sending this in during the half-time break! Such is my confidence in the new look side that has shown brilliant balance, poise, strength and a killer instinct.
Football fans often get the tag of "wannabe armchair managers", yet I think this is sometimes unfair. Evertonians are amongst the most knowledgable football fans in the land — if not the world — and I honestly think David Moyes was the one who made the collossal mistake against Fulham.
Suddenly, with the absence of Hibbert, Neville and Osman (all of which, in my opinion, have been justifiably criticised by the fans), we're playing football. Actual, honest-to-God, football!
On another note, Bilyaletinov has the best left foot Everton have seen grace Goodison since Hinchcliffe (I actually mean that as a compliment!). It doesn't matter what the quality of the opposition is; you could be playing Real Madrid — whipping in a corner is always the same. And in 45 minutes, he's shown more than Osman has since last Christmas (sad, but true). Gosling deserves a mention in that he has given us a bit of "talent" on the ball at full-back, combined with Pienaar meaning we have a dangerous right wing as well as left.
Hopefully, Moyes won't "dither" and revert back to Osman for the league — Leon is a decent squad player but we have better options. This season is a time for Everton to have a go at sides given we have, arguable, the best squad to pick from since the 1980's.
Lee Kidd, Posted 17/09/2009 at 17:55:49
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If this is the way they can play, what the hell happened on Sunday?
Jo even looked like he was a footballer at times. Gosling, Fellaini, Yobo, Distin and Baines where magnificent imo.
But Rodwell. Christ ! This lad is going to be world class, he reminded me of Bobby Moore at times.
For a lad so young his composure and reading of the game was something to behold.
His passing is simply awesome. More of the same please in the prem. No excuses, we did it tonight so we can do it again.
But for me,the biggest plus point of the night was the performance of Dan Gosling at right back.Thought he gave a very mature showing,composed on the ball both going forward and defending plus rarely caught out of position. Don't know what other peoples opinions are but I think he has done enough to earn his place in the next starting line up?
Tonight's game demonstrates very clearly that we have talent in this team and that the "hoofball" we so often revert to is eliminated when the right attitude and confidence which tonight we displayed in spades is allowed to show through.
That first half performance was among the best I have ever seen at Goodison. Looking forward to reading the comments of the negative squad, particularly Tony Marsh and that ray of sunshine Ciaren Mcgloom. Viva EFC!!
If you’re a doom merchant, please keep quiet for the moment and let us enjoy this one.
Well done, boys!
Confidence is key to pushing on so that game can only do us good and it showed Moyes what option this side has. We have a real squad this year so let's see Mr Moyes use it.
It's another thing doing it in the EPL but I think we saw some of Everton’s long-term future tonight with Felli and Jack in the middle.
Everyone knows that Everton can play football. My worry is that Everton played well only when they are not down in terms of the scoreline. What will happen when they are down? Panic and hoofball. They need confidence and self-believe.
Prove me wrong guys.... and dont make this performance a flash in the pan. Still believe in Everton.NSNO.
COYB
Excellent performance throughout, keep it going for Sunday.
COYB!!!
Everton looked competent at 4-5-1, 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 last night.
I’m not saying this vindicates (completely) the negativity which has been eveident of late, but without Hibbert and Osman holding the right side Everton were a much more fluid outfit - so perhaps the comments were justified.
Even after one game, I am confident of getting through this group, because they are crap and so are the Batty boys.
Have to give a mention to their fans, they were brilliant. I think that most of them must have been introduced to a wonderful invention called Stella before the game. Best fans at Goodison for a long while...
Fazackerley!
Hey Dave, that was great tonight - just like Leicester away with Gordon Lee eh??
Seriously, as one who has been fuming about recent performances lastnight was exactly what I was hoping for and is what we are capable of on a regular basis. Which is the point some, not all, of us have been trying to make.
If we were shite and couldnt do better I would accept Fulham, Burnley etc.
But we are capable of much more, as last night showed. Am I wrong to expect that we play to potential? Am I wrong to be critical when we dont?
All those players looked the part tonight. Everyone wanted the ball. Everyone was comfortable on the ball.
Rodwell was a giant!
Lets hope that the confidence can carry over to the league games and we can at last get this season off the ground!
Those crowing about the ’doom and gloom’ merchants are so short sighted they fail to realise that the doom and gloom merchants have actually been vindicated...
Look what happens when you play the right players in the right positions instead of Neville and Osman....
Let’s hope it’s a lesson learnt...
The midfield was very good, although Cahill is wasted when he plays deep.
Bily was very impressive, we now have someone who can hit great corners and free kicks which will add to the danger we cause from set pieces.
Hope the injuries to Pienaar and Bilyaletinov are not serious. Great to see Yakubu getting a decent amount of pitch time.
It’s what we’ve learned about Moyes, he only gets it right when forced to do the bleeding obvious. Will he ever learn? I think not!
1. It was an excellent performance and result.
2. The opposition were very poor.
3. The team almost picked itself. With no Hibbert, Heitinga and Neville and there was no way Moyes could have had carried on picking Osman, all we were left with was attacking players.
Moyes may have stumbled across that team but he needs to be brave and confident and pick an attacking team from now on, that’s how you score goals and win games.
No excuses. Let’s pass Bburn off the park.
As for labeling some of us doom merchants Mr Lloyd and Sullivan.
All we wanted to see was some decent footy and last night we got it.
See, i’m easily pleased.
A plus point Mark was i didn’t get arrested last night.
Unlike that Leicester game.
Never forget that bastard coppers face who lifted me, he was laughing like a demented hyena whilst knocking the shit out of me. I’d of taken the hiding gladly if he had let me in to see the game though.
How can you vindicate, "Moyes is a coward", "We are in a relegation battle", "Our players have no fight" with one game against shite opposition?
So all the doomers are right now are they? Their word is sacrosanct?
My comments were in reference to what Andy McNab and Mac Lloyd wrote, I’m pretty sure that I have written some remarks concerning DM’s negative tactics etc over reent days.
Hey ho - but like you say, no excuses...
Rodwell superb, 3 forwards at the same time, pity we had stepped off the gas when they were on.
Let's take this performance and start up the League
Those crowing about the ’doom and gloom’ merchants are so short sighted they fail to realise that the doom and gloom merchants have actually been vindicated...
Look what happens when you play the right players in teh right positions instead of Neville and Osman....
Let’s hope it’s a lesson learnt
---------------------------------------------------
Wow Ciaran, you know better than everyone, including our experienced manager, backroom staff, and players. Ring Goodison and ask for a job sure.
Please accept my apologies. That should have read Mr Brierley.
Got my wires crossed along the way as i
was rushing out to work. Sorry again buddy.
Though I can’t really take the credit - considering it was so bloody obvious...I’d also say there’d be a queue of tens of thousands who also realised the problem areas...
Thanks all the same.
Yes - you heard it right. Bily did his groin clearing the ball from his own penalty area about 2 minutes before he went off. He immediately started limping.
Then we won a corner and he took it and it was the one bad corner he took as it didn’t clear the first defender and then he went off. I reckon he is out.
As for the Cahill comment. I thought he was excellent last night. He played the holding midfielder role brilliantly. He was always available for the pass, broke up so much of their play and was instrumental in our 3-0 HT lead.
That's life, people who complain may not influence the way our team is set up, but when the changes they were calling for are made and improvement is instant, they will of course feel vindicated.
To say "Moyes is a coward" is a bit harsh, but if you were to say "Moyes's team selection isn't the bravest" that would be accurate.
The bottom three go down and we are in the bottom two; until we pull away from there, anybody suggesting we are in a relegation battle need only point to the table for vindication.
That Everton probably is a better team without the captain - I agree.
That Everton is a better team because of the signing of Bily - I hope the doom and gloom and "the transfer window was a scandal" would agree.
That Everton is more likely to continue passing to feet and quick pass and move with Heitinga as a right back - I think this is likely.
That Jack Rodwell is a potential midfield general - undoubtedly.
That Everton, even without Jagielka and Arteta, hailed as the two best players we have by many, looks like a really exciting team - I hope Ciaran, Tony and the rest of you lot (you know who you are!) agree.
I hate to break this to you...but you’re the one eventually agreeing with us...
Ciarán do you really have to post such crap all the time, your posts are endlessly boring and obivious.
Anto..great contribution and well on topic as usual...Was that predictable?
To all those that say the oppo were shite, not the greatest fair enough but remember the blokey up-front has been top scorer in the Greek Super League for the last 2 years, last night Yobo and Dusty didn’t give him a sniff.
It’s about time some people gave praise where praise is due and not fall back on pathetic "I told you so" comments.
Particularly liked the combination of Big wig and Rodders who both put a tremendous amount of work in and were always looking for the ball thus preventing hoofball.
Let’s hope Billy is fit for Sunday and we carry that confidence into the game.
I just have a question for the statto’s.Does Saha’s red mean he is only banned in Europe or does it count in the prem too?
Aren’t you the same person who spent the summer transfer window insisting that Bily was a central attacking midfielder? He didn’t look very central last night.
But i cant confirm if its a 1 match ban or a 2or3 match ban for a straight red.
thanks for the feedback.
Lets hope the club appeal it because I think it’s 3 games for violent conduct.
Also, the fans being labelled doom mongers, weren’t they acctually right?
He and Rodwell look so composed on the ball you can’t help but start to feel a little optimistic..........some will obviously argue that last point
Re this thread, I’m getting confused. Surely Ciaráns point is that he (as was I) has been suggesting that a change of tactics, approach and team selection was needed by Moyes in order to avoid shite like Fulham, Wigan, Burnley etc? And when, as last night, all three occured then surely he, and others like him (not all!) were vindicated??
Why are people having a go at him? Surely we are all entitled to have a go if the team isn't fulfilling its potential? Isn't that all that Ciarán did?
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1 Posted 18/09/2009 at 00:31:34
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Jo truly deserved his goal tonight, if we can toughen him up he will be a hell of a player. Fellaini and Rodwell magnificent in the middle, for 18 and 21 they are frighteningly good. Bily wasn't too involved (besides assisting all 3 goals!) but showed great promise with an eye for an early pass (think that Gwladys Street corner probably did for him making Blackburn as he was already limping before he took it).
Baines was superb and would still be marauding forward now if they hadn't blown for full time. Yobo and Distin seem to be visibly building a good rapport. So nice to see 3 hungry, quality strikers on in the second half too, shame about Louis’s red (not seen it yet but would be surprised if he did anything when 4-0 up so late on) but all in all a text book night.
Some excellent football played that was hopefully enjoyed by some of the usual miserable sods on here. AEK fans were incredible too, think they’ve been rehearsing some of those ’westside story’ esque moves all week. COYB!