The Mail Bag
Winning in Style
Comments (50)
Yobo and Distin have been class today. They are forming a really good partnership.
Heitinga... well at least he got some game time and can settle a bit more. I am not seeing this world class right back though that people have been banging on about.
A decent performance, that hinged on Tim Howard’s double save. Had Blackburn got one back then, the whole game could have changed.
But the win should give us some much needed confidence. 7 goals banged in without conceding. Let's keep it going.
Dan Brierley, Posted 20/09/2009 at 15:19:34
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One very good thing agood run in Europe can do is to transfer confidence — and good football — into PL performances.
The boys done good today.
The boys done good today.
I’ve always regarded Fellaini as an enigma. Decent in some games, rubbish in others. Able to score match-winning goals but also prone to not turn up in a game.
The last couple of game Fellaini appears to have found some form and started looking like a £14 million midfielder.
It would be great if Fellaini and Rodwell could forge a partnership. It has the potential to be world-class.
The last couple of game Fellaini appears to have found some form and started looking like a £14 million midfielder.
It would be great if Fellaini and Rodwell could forge a partnership. It has the potential to be world-class.
Ronnie Goodlass would beg to differ with you Dan about Heitinga.... said he was excellent... I’ll reserve judgement myself until the highlights.
Good point Keith. It happened 2 season’s ago and it’s happened again here.
Unlike the gloom merchants who don’t even want us playing in the Europa league, I want us to progress and try to win it. It would be brilliant.
And yes, success breeds success and confidence. Winning can become a habit and winning teams don’t tire as easily as losing teams.
Everton seem to be getting the hang of European football and I, for one, am delighted because I see it having benefits all round.
If we now start winning and playing well it will be unbearable on here. The gloomers will either not appear, or they will come on and claim they were always right because the team is doing what they wanted. Yeah right.
Watch with amusement.
Unlike the gloom merchants who don’t even want us playing in the Europa league, I want us to progress and try to win it. It would be brilliant.
And yes, success breeds success and confidence. Winning can become a habit and winning teams don’t tire as easily as losing teams.
Everton seem to be getting the hang of European football and I, for one, am delighted because I see it having benefits all round.
If we now start winning and playing well it will be unbearable on here. The gloomers will either not appear, or they will come on and claim they were always right because the team is doing what they wanted. Yeah right.
Watch with amusement.
Also having watched the Manchester derby it was great to see Joleon ’gimme money’ Lescott lose.
All the commentators said City looked good going forward but were weak in defence.
Poor old Lescott.
So far I think Distin is the better player anyway.
All the commentators said City looked good going forward but were weak in defence.
Poor old Lescott.
So far I think Distin is the better player anyway.
Strangely enough, well though Yobo and Distin played, I thought we looked defensively frail at times today and were on the whole lucky to keep a clean sheet (well done Tim Howard). However, offensively we were very good and that probably accounts for some of the chances that Blackburn managed to create.
It was a breath of fresh air to see the crisp interchanges of passing with all players seemingly comfortable with the ball at their feet and with the ball going sideways and forwards through midfield rather than sideways and backwards. Is it any coincidence that a certain two players were not playing from the start?
The one player that didn’t impress me was Fellaini. Sorry, he did well at times - but he’s so bloody slow!
I wasn’t too impressed with the substitutions though. I know we need to conserve players but why was Hibbert brought on with Heitinga moving into midfield? Seemed pretty pointless to me.
But all that’s nit-picking. A great performance with some delightful football
It was a breath of fresh air to see the crisp interchanges of passing with all players seemingly comfortable with the ball at their feet and with the ball going sideways and forwards through midfield rather than sideways and backwards. Is it any coincidence that a certain two players were not playing from the start?
The one player that didn’t impress me was Fellaini. Sorry, he did well at times - but he’s so bloody slow!
I wasn’t too impressed with the substitutions though. I know we need to conserve players but why was Hibbert brought on with Heitinga moving into midfield? Seemed pretty pointless to me.
But all that’s nit-picking. A great performance with some delightful football
We’re a different side when the confidence is flowing. A stop-start first not helped by the pathetic Lee Mason but the passing returned after the 2nd goal. Heitinga looked solid if unspectacular. Yobo and Distin seem to have hit it off. Pienaar was outstanding today though, bright and lively as ever, he seems confident enough to shoot on sight this season rather than trying to walk it in too! Time to kick on.
But Alan, was that or was that not the difference? The team did exactly what those people posting on here have rightly been asking for: Play the ball on the ground; Pass and Move; Break with at least a little bit of pace... No Hoofball!!!
Is Heitinga, as the only material difference in personnel, the real cause or the full explanation for difference in performance? I don’t think so. All the excuses the apologists (I’m sorry but there is no other appropriate word for them) provided for last weekends dismal performance and result are surely still apply, don't they?: The spine is missing; the investment from the board is non-existent; We have no money: Our players are not top class Premier League players; etc. etc ...blah blah blah ... and yet today proved, as some of us knew, that the players are capable of playing good footy and winning.
Is Heitinga, as the only material difference in personnel, the real cause or the full explanation for difference in performance? I don’t think so. All the excuses the apologists (I’m sorry but there is no other appropriate word for them) provided for last weekends dismal performance and result are surely still apply, don't they?: The spine is missing; the investment from the board is non-existent; We have no money: Our players are not top class Premier League players; etc. etc ...blah blah blah ... and yet today proved, as some of us knew, that the players are capable of playing good footy and winning.
So the real question we should be asking is: what (or who!) is stopping them?
Ray, my guess is that because a) we were three goals up and b) Blackburn had started to mount a little bit of pressure, it made sense to exchange an attacking midfielder for a defensive one. Bringing Hibbert on for Cahill, then moving Heitinga into the midfield was the only real way of achieving that given who was on the bench.
Good day with promise of greater things to come with Bily and the boys back soon.
Day made better still by Shitty losing...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8265719.stm
What a muppet.
Day made better still by Shitty losing...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8265719.stm
What a muppet.
Hey everyone. We need to put things into perspective and move on. We lost against Arsenal because we didn't turn up. We lost against Burnely because we missed a penalty, even though Burnely deserved it. We lost against Fulham because they were the better team and played better. We have no god given right to beat teams like Fulham away from home.
Excellent performance.
Moyes has spent well again with Heitinga.
Still think Goodison is quiet this year - nothing a couple more wins wont sort out.
£24 mil for Lescott? Get in.
Some good posts above ;-)
Moyes has spent well again with Heitinga.
Still think Goodison is quiet this year - nothing a couple more wins wont sort out.
£24 mil for Lescott? Get in.
Some good posts above ;-)
Wow!!! The first good result and performance in the prem, and everyone is gushing.
When we are going through a bad run, and someone comes on here having a go or demanding changes, it’s called a knee jerk reaction. One question: what is it called when someone comes on here after one good result, gushing how great we are?
When we are going through a bad run, and someone comes on here having a go or demanding changes, it’s called a knee jerk reaction. One question: what is it called when someone comes on here after one good result, gushing how great we are?
Probably as someone who is classed as a doom monger, I have to say that I am well impressed with the last two games.
Football is a lot easier to play when played on the floor. The lads look much more comfortable playing a passing game rather than the long ball. If we continue in this vain we can only gain in confidence, and the displays I feel will also improve.
Same again next week please.
Michael Kenrick you have made a very good point. It is weird that one week the players struggle with hoofball and the next they pass it around beautifully but it's not a question of who is stopping them.
Some fans would have you believe that Tony Hibbert is the cause of the problem. But personally I find it silly to blame a right-back for Everton’s style of play. Hibbert doesn’t help at times but to suggest he has that big of an effect on the game is crazy.
I also don’t blame Moyes. I cannot believe he would send out his team with instructions to play hoofball. At times he may ask for some direct play but in his heart I believe Moyes wants to play good football.
So why does it happen? Well I think the main reason is as follows.
The Fulham game is easy to explain. We have an awful record at their place and the confidence was low. When the team is playing badly you are going to get hoofball. It's the easiest form of football.
I bet Moyes despairs at the hoofball as much as the fans but it's a fact of football that, when a team has its back against the wall, the hoofball will rear its ugly head.
Last season we played some cracking football. But most of it was while we were in good form.
Hoofball only creaps into the team when they are a) desperate for a goal, b) struggling for form or c) up against a far better side (like the big 4).
I won’t blame hoofball on Hibbert or limited passers like Cahill. I wont blame it on Moyes either. It's just a sympton of playing badly.
The more we win the higher up the league we go and the better the standard of football.
Some fans would have you believe that Tony Hibbert is the cause of the problem. But personally I find it silly to blame a right-back for Everton’s style of play. Hibbert doesn’t help at times but to suggest he has that big of an effect on the game is crazy.
I also don’t blame Moyes. I cannot believe he would send out his team with instructions to play hoofball. At times he may ask for some direct play but in his heart I believe Moyes wants to play good football.
So why does it happen? Well I think the main reason is as follows.
The Fulham game is easy to explain. We have an awful record at their place and the confidence was low. When the team is playing badly you are going to get hoofball. It's the easiest form of football.
I bet Moyes despairs at the hoofball as much as the fans but it's a fact of football that, when a team has its back against the wall, the hoofball will rear its ugly head.
Last season we played some cracking football. But most of it was while we were in good form.
Hoofball only creaps into the team when they are a) desperate for a goal, b) struggling for form or c) up against a far better side (like the big 4).
I won’t blame hoofball on Hibbert or limited passers like Cahill. I wont blame it on Moyes either. It's just a sympton of playing badly.
The more we win the higher up the league we go and the better the standard of football.
Aiden
At 3-0 up I’d have left Heitinga where he was and brought on Wallace. What better opportunity for some first team experience?
At 3-0 up I’d have left Heitinga where he was and brought on Wallace. What better opportunity for some first team experience?
Good point Brian W. We played well today, as we did on Thursday. We made Blackburn, like AEK, look very poor. But that’s partly because they are poor (certainly the weakest teams we’ve played so far this season).
It’s a lot easier to play a quick passing game against sides like these with limited midfields and weak attacks. Don’t hold your breathe that Moyes will risk playing this way against the bigger boys. I’m not even sure he should (risking obviously the wrath of Michael....).
Anyway, it seems we are over the usual halting Moyes start to the season (still not sure what that is about); that we strengthened during the transfer window; and that we probably won’t be fighting a relegation battle after all.
It’s a lot easier to play a quick passing game against sides like these with limited midfields and weak attacks. Don’t hold your breathe that Moyes will risk playing this way against the bigger boys. I’m not even sure he should (risking obviously the wrath of Michael....).
Anyway, it seems we are over the usual halting Moyes start to the season (still not sure what that is about); that we strengthened during the transfer window; and that we probably won’t be fighting a relegation battle after all.
Ray Robinson,
At 3-0 up it made more sense to bring on Hibbert and close up the shop. Job’s a good ’un at that stage mate.
What is the point of bringing on Wallace and weakening the side? Giving away an easy goal? Take the clean sheet I say.
If Wallace is any good his time will come. When the team is desperate for points I say use seasoned professionals like Hibbert.
Besides why make an effort to give another young player a chance. Already had Rodwell and Gosling involved. Not like Moyes isn’t giving the kids a chance.
At 3-0 up it made more sense to bring on Hibbert and close up the shop. Job’s a good ’un at that stage mate.
What is the point of bringing on Wallace and weakening the side? Giving away an easy goal? Take the clean sheet I say.
If Wallace is any good his time will come. When the team is desperate for points I say use seasoned professionals like Hibbert.
Besides why make an effort to give another young player a chance. Already had Rodwell and Gosling involved. Not like Moyes isn’t giving the kids a chance.
Brian,
I think the phrase is ’right-hand jerk’ reaction.
I thought the team played well today, could have had more with luck and and continued Thursday’s passing game against ’tougher’ opposition. It’s a real bonus having a two-footed player in midfield, the lad never got flustered and always played a sensible ball. And Distin v Lescott — at the moment, no contest; plus Yobo 2 goals ahead so far...
I think the phrase is ’right-hand jerk’ reaction.
I thought the team played well today, could have had more with luck and and continued Thursday’s passing game against ’tougher’ opposition. It’s a real bonus having a two-footed player in midfield, the lad never got flustered and always played a sensible ball. And Distin v Lescott — at the moment, no contest; plus Yobo 2 goals ahead so far...
Rob - your perspective is not mine. I expect us to beat Burnley and Fulham because I believe we are capable of being the better team. If we get our tactics correct (manager’s job), and we perform as we should (player’s job) then, we will, most of the time, get the right result.
The "god given rights" you speak of are ones I have not heard of. If we do have a special blessing from God to help our cause, I have not seen any evidence of it on the field. Unless, the knee injury to Neville is a sort of divine intervention. Hmm, It is said he works in mysterious ways (both god and Neville).
Better performance today — great to see it. COYB.
Beat ya to it Chris.
Dick Anderson, I could make a tongue in cheek comment by stating that you are weakening the team by bringing Hibbert on - but that’s the subject of a separate thread!
I’d say that you’re far more likely to weaken a side by making two changes with a single substitution but it’s again a matter of opinion. If you can’t blood a promising player at 3-0 with only a few minutes to go, when can you?
I’d say that you’re far more likely to weaken a side by making two changes with a single substitution but it’s again a matter of opinion. If you can’t blood a promising player at 3-0 with only a few minutes to go, when can you?
My main worry for today was that the way we played against a continental team - and played them off the park - would crumble against an Allardyce team.
From my on-off stream here in Catalunya it looked very much like we played the same way, with the same result. OK, so AEK and Blackburn aren’t sides we should measure ourselves against, but should be the ones we score 3 or 4 against, which just happened.
The squad gets better:
Heitinga -definitely good enough, and only just begun
Distin - already a Goodison favourite
Gosling - keeps on improving
Rodwell - double his wages now Davey
Pienaar - steps out onto a world stage
Saha, Jo and the Yak - a handful of attack
Billy to come.
Mikel, the Jag and young Victor to return.
And Tim’s mate the Aussie captain now wears the royal blue jersey.
We’ve got to be up there fighting for something after Christmas, haven’t we?
From my on-off stream here in Catalunya it looked very much like we played the same way, with the same result. OK, so AEK and Blackburn aren’t sides we should measure ourselves against, but should be the ones we score 3 or 4 against, which just happened.
The squad gets better:
Heitinga -definitely good enough, and only just begun
Distin - already a Goodison favourite
Gosling - keeps on improving
Rodwell - double his wages now Davey
Pienaar - steps out onto a world stage
Saha, Jo and the Yak - a handful of attack
Billy to come.
Mikel, the Jag and young Victor to return.
And Tim’s mate the Aussie captain now wears the royal blue jersey.
We’ve got to be up there fighting for something after Christmas, haven’t we?
Ray, it certainly would have been a good opportunity for Wallace, but that wouldn’t have been foremost in Moyes’ mind. We all know that he tends to err on the side of caution. It’s also true to say that a lot of Everton’s (relative) success is built on the back of team spirit and collective confidence.
It was a decent performance today, but Everton are still a team with brittle confidence and a side that’s short on points. His main objective would have been to comfortably see out the game, secure the points and cultivate his squad’s self-belief. A mistake from a rookie could have led to a very anxious finale which could potentially undermine a burgeoning sense of confidence. There’s no way that Moyes would jeopardise that.
It was a decent performance today, but Everton are still a team with brittle confidence and a side that’s short on points. His main objective would have been to comfortably see out the game, secure the points and cultivate his squad’s self-belief. A mistake from a rookie could have led to a very anxious finale which could potentially undermine a burgeoning sense of confidence. There’s no way that Moyes would jeopardise that.
"Is Heitinga, as the only material difference in personnel, the real cause or the full explanation for the difference in performance? I don’t think so. All the excuses the apologists (I’m sorry but there is no other appropriate word for them) provided for last weekends dismal performance and result are surely still apply, don’t they?"
Really? So the fact that we had just twatted the first team this season had nothing to do with confidence at all then? Heitenger did nothing at all different than Hibbert would have done, I did not see Heitenger get past the half way line at all game until he was moved to midfield. There was nothing down the right side at all......however it must be Hibbert’s fault we lost the other games, I mean the second he is missing/dropped we win......it doesn’t matter how good the other side is, it must be Hibbert’s fault.
Really? So the fact that we had just twatted the first team this season had nothing to do with confidence at all then? Heitenger did nothing at all different than Hibbert would have done, I did not see Heitenger get past the half way line at all game until he was moved to midfield. There was nothing down the right side at all......however it must be Hibbert’s fault we lost the other games, I mean the second he is missing/dropped we win......it doesn’t matter how good the other side is, it must be Hibbert’s fault.
Ray Robinson
Moyes works with Wallace on an almost daily basis so he knows more about him then you and me ever will.
For all we know Wallace could be another Clarke, Schmacher, Hughes, Kissock or Jutkiewicz, a youngster not quite up to the grade required.
Hibbert was brought on for a reason.. The two-time-manager-of-the-year Moyes made the decision and who are you to question it?
I’d rather Moyes made tactical substitutions which he feels will win games rather then bring on a youngster (who he maybe suspects may not make the grade) just to give him a run out.
The fact is Moyes brought on Hibbert and we won the game 3-0. You cannot question his decisions when we win so convincingly.
Moyes works with Wallace on an almost daily basis so he knows more about him then you and me ever will.
For all we know Wallace could be another Clarke, Schmacher, Hughes, Kissock or Jutkiewicz, a youngster not quite up to the grade required.
Hibbert was brought on for a reason.. The two-time-manager-of-the-year Moyes made the decision and who are you to question it?
I’d rather Moyes made tactical substitutions which he feels will win games rather then bring on a youngster (who he maybe suspects may not make the grade) just to give him a run out.
The fact is Moyes brought on Hibbert and we won the game 3-0. You cannot question his decisions when we win so convincingly.
Tony, if you didn’t see Heitinga get past the half way line at all while playing RB, you must have been watching a different game to me.
And Dick, of course I can question Moyes’s decisions. Doesn’t mean I’m right - again just a matter of opinion. He’s right far more often than I ever will be but not he’s not necessarily right all the time.
And Dick, of course I can question Moyes’s decisions. Doesn’t mean I’m right - again just a matter of opinion. He’s right far more often than I ever will be but not he’s not necessarily right all the time.
Ray Robinson
Sorry mate didn’t mean to suggust you weren’t entitled to your opinion.
Sometimes it just bugs me. I mean we win 3-0, result, good performance, and yet some people (Tony Marsh for example) will look to pick bones.
Can’t we just enjoy the wins?
Sorry mate didn’t mean to suggust you weren’t entitled to your opinion.
Sometimes it just bugs me. I mean we win 3-0, result, good performance, and yet some people (Tony Marsh for example) will look to pick bones.
Can’t we just enjoy the wins?
No Ray, I was at the game and I did not see one cross from Heitenger at all.
Dick Anderson — good analysis of why we sometimes resort to hoofball. Some people should take heed and bear this in mind - get behind the team.
Tony, for fuck’s sake... if you were at the game, could you not see how his name was spelt out on his shirt? It’s H E I T I N G A — not Heitinger.
Michael what difference does it make how I spell his name? My point is still valid........for fucks sake!!!
Why is it that the right back position always gets so much attention?
After every game there’s a massive debate over the performance of the right back.
Nobody has mentioned Saha’s two goals or Baines performance at left back. Its always about the bloody right back.
Is Hibbert any good? Does Gosling offer an alternative? Did Heitinga cross the half way line? Will Neill get a chance?
Why is it always about the right back? Do other teams continually talk about the right back position?
For a change why don’t we talk about Baines at left back, or Saha up front or Cahill in midfield.
I’m sick of right backs, it's probably the least important position in the team and yet on this web-site we treat it as though the right back controls the game and dictates how well we play.
After every game there’s a massive debate over the performance of the right back.
Nobody has mentioned Saha’s two goals or Baines performance at left back. Its always about the bloody right back.
Is Hibbert any good? Does Gosling offer an alternative? Did Heitinga cross the half way line? Will Neill get a chance?
Why is it always about the right back? Do other teams continually talk about the right back position?
For a change why don’t we talk about Baines at left back, or Saha up front or Cahill in midfield.
I’m sick of right backs, it's probably the least important position in the team and yet on this web-site we treat it as though the right back controls the game and dictates how well we play.
@Dick Anderson, have you watched Tim Cahill’s passing lately??
Anything but limited, in fact he passed the ball brilliantly against Blackburn with some nice classy touches and in recent weeks has been doing a grand job with his ball distribution. Let's not forget he is sacrificing his natural game to do a job for the team in a more defensive role in midfield.
Anything but limited, in fact he passed the ball brilliantly against Blackburn with some nice classy touches and in recent weeks has been doing a grand job with his ball distribution. Let's not forget he is sacrificing his natural game to do a job for the team in a more defensive role in midfield.
Can anyone suggest a decent website for extended highlights of all Prem matches? IMWT
@Mat Parks: Not sure if this fits the bill, but you can download Match of the Day from www.uknova.com. Sometimes you have to try a number of times to get a login. I watch MOTD and MOTD2 on a regular basis ...
Thanks, Julian!
@Mat - I am downloading now ..
Consider the difference in style and confidence has happened since Pip has been injured ... nah, probably just a coincidence.
Funny, I thought they looked shaky as a duo today, I was longing for Jags at the back!
Heitinga looks average by the way... is it me or have we got loads of right backs in the squad now?
Heitinga looks average by the way... is it me or have we got loads of right backs in the squad now?
I am in agreement with most points. Although from what I saw, Heitinga certainly did nothing that Hibbert is not capable of doing. Just a solid performer, nothing spectacular. I ma sure he can improve, give his apparent pedigree. Baines did well, and the two centre halfs were solid as I have already mentioned. And we still have Jags to come back in yet.
Michael does raise a good question regarding what was the principle difference was to the Fulham game? For me, the only difference was the opposition. Fulham played a very effective pressing game, and allowed us very little time on the ball. Their tactic seemed to be only to supress our game, and nick goals. In effect, we were beaten by our own common tactic. Blackburn and AEK however, looked like they had no gameplan. We should remain cautious in our praise when beating teams of that standard of performance. We have yet to see us beat a team that really looks up for it.
Another win will see us 3 points behind Spurs. Our next 4 opponents see us playing Pompey away, and then home against Stoke and Wolves, then away to Bolton. Some good results and performances will see us go to Villa Park with confidence and belief.
I am dying to see Arteta back into the side. How much of a lift is that going to be, to see the ’best little spaniard we know’ back on the pitch. I think that once Bily and Arteta are fit, I would expect to see Osman and Cahill will be dropped. A midfield of Bily, Rodwell, Fellaini, Arteta, Pienaar sounds pretty exciting and dynamic doesnt it? With Cahill able to come on in the event of Fellaini having one of his off days. This is a 4-5-1 that would see the front man well supported.
Up front Saha is on form, Yak is still to come back. Jo is not exactly catching the eye, given the fact that he really has to impress as his chances are going to be severly limited once the Yak is fully match fit.
So all in all, the future is not as bleak as has been made out of late. I think the manager has to be culpable for 2 pre-seasons in a row that have not had us firing from the start. Lets hope that we can produce performances like yesterday against stronger opposition. And isnt it a better feeling to wake up on a Monday morning after a win? COYB.
Michael does raise a good question regarding what was the principle difference was to the Fulham game? For me, the only difference was the opposition. Fulham played a very effective pressing game, and allowed us very little time on the ball. Their tactic seemed to be only to supress our game, and nick goals. In effect, we were beaten by our own common tactic. Blackburn and AEK however, looked like they had no gameplan. We should remain cautious in our praise when beating teams of that standard of performance. We have yet to see us beat a team that really looks up for it.
Another win will see us 3 points behind Spurs. Our next 4 opponents see us playing Pompey away, and then home against Stoke and Wolves, then away to Bolton. Some good results and performances will see us go to Villa Park with confidence and belief.
I am dying to see Arteta back into the side. How much of a lift is that going to be, to see the ’best little spaniard we know’ back on the pitch. I think that once Bily and Arteta are fit, I would expect to see Osman and Cahill will be dropped. A midfield of Bily, Rodwell, Fellaini, Arteta, Pienaar sounds pretty exciting and dynamic doesnt it? With Cahill able to come on in the event of Fellaini having one of his off days. This is a 4-5-1 that would see the front man well supported.
Up front Saha is on form, Yak is still to come back. Jo is not exactly catching the eye, given the fact that he really has to impress as his chances are going to be severly limited once the Yak is fully match fit.
So all in all, the future is not as bleak as has been made out of late. I think the manager has to be culpable for 2 pre-seasons in a row that have not had us firing from the start. Lets hope that we can produce performances like yesterday against stronger opposition. And isnt it a better feeling to wake up on a Monday morning after a win? COYB.
In terms of the Hibbert sub & moving Heitinga to MF etc, there may be a couple more things going through Moyes's brain.
Firstly, he probably wants to keep a few people involved like Hibbert & Gosling and not just sitting on the bench. With Europa, League & Carling Cup games coming up, we may need all of these guys at some stage. He may have moved Heitinga to MF to give him some game time in that position. We have limited options for defensive midfield at the moment (eg if something happened to Rodwell) so it is good to give the backup player some time there. 3-0 up to Blackburn at home is ideal time to achieve above.
I was impressed with similar subs v AEK midweek, in that Moyes changed the formation 4-5-1 -> 4-4-2 -> 4-3-3 and gave the Yak, Jo & Saha some gametime together.
I also forgot to mention that Pienaar and Rodwell were outstanding yesterday. Both easily the most comfortable players when in posession. Pienaar has really carried on his form as he left off last season. His energy and work rate is incredible. And he seems to have developed the confidence to have a go from distance, which is something that we have been lacking for many years. If Bily can be anywhere near as effective as Pienaar, then we can look forward to some decent football being played.
Hear, hear, Dan. Pienaar is a diamond. I keep thinking back to his performance against Arsenal and how he was chasing everything down long after his teammates had given up. The sort of player who deserves praise because he never lets us down. Goals are still the missing element but all indications are that since his rocket against Villa last season he is taking more responsibility in that area.
By the way, the apologists/doommongers thing is getting a bit old and has ruined this site. How about everyone just grows up a bit and discusses the football rather than taking it in turns to have a dig.
By the way, the apologists/doommongers thing is getting a bit old and has ruined this site. How about everyone just grows up a bit and discusses the football rather than taking it in turns to have a dig.
Pienaar is a superb player and I can’t wait to get him and Arteta in the same side.
The only lacking area of Pienaar’s game is his long passing and goalscoring. He simply doesn’t score enough goals to be considered world-class.
But if he keeps on playing like this it won’t be long before Moyes has to try and fend off a Top 4 or Man City.
The only lacking area of Pienaar’s game is his long passing and goalscoring. He simply doesn’t score enough goals to be considered world-class.
But if he keeps on playing like this it won’t be long before Moyes has to try and fend off a Top 4 or Man City.
’The two-time-manager-of-the-year Moyes made the decision and who are you to question it?’
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Yeah, close down the site......
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Yeah, close down the site......
Haha don't say that, Ernie. I find it very amusing when people throw in the cheap shots, it's like being down tha pub listening to all the fickle clueless idiots, I think it all adds to the site. As long as people don't take it personally, it's all good fun.
Even though I hardly ever agree with them, I especially like Ciaran's sarcastic comments and and Tony Marsh's rants which clearly show he has lost touch with reality and should not be taken seriously; they are priceless, but even better are the reactions from everyone else who ca'nt take it and hurl abuse back at him for daring to question David Moyes.
It would be boring without them.
Even though I hardly ever agree with them, I especially like Ciaran's sarcastic comments and and Tony Marsh's rants which clearly show he has lost touch with reality and should not be taken seriously; they are priceless, but even better are the reactions from everyone else who ca'nt take it and hurl abuse back at him for daring to question David Moyes.
It would be boring without them.
What was the difference between this game and the Fulham game? We didn’t shirk the challenge that lay before us. At half time against Fulham, we had played pretty well without being great, and lead 1-0. Ditto Blackburn. Only against Blackburn, we carried on playing in the second half.
A poster on another thread posed the question; why is it wrong to predict doom and gloom when things are going bad, and not wrong to get over excited when things are going well — well, we’ve had some people on here saying we are in a relegation battle this season. Others saying we can definitely challenge the top 4 after our 2 home wins this week.
The truth obviously lies somewhere in-between, but I’d prefer, with spending around £30 every week following Everton, to lean towards a more optimistic viewpoint, and agree that we are finally playing encouraging football, and getting the results to go with it.
A poster on another thread posed the question; why is it wrong to predict doom and gloom when things are going bad, and not wrong to get over excited when things are going well — well, we’ve had some people on here saying we are in a relegation battle this season. Others saying we can definitely challenge the top 4 after our 2 home wins this week.
The truth obviously lies somewhere in-between, but I’d prefer, with spending around £30 every week following Everton, to lean towards a more optimistic viewpoint, and agree that we are finally playing encouraging football, and getting the results to go with it.
Someone asked why focus so much on the RB? Maybe because it’s the major weak link in the armour?
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1 Posted 20/09/2009 at 17:14:51
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Well done Pienaar... Rodders and Fella... we’re getting there... onwards and upwards...