The Mail Bag
No Yobo in Athens
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Yobo has been confirmed as not travelling to Greece. I am always in favour of not playing people out of position unless an absolute emergency. What I'm saying is who should partner Distin on Wednesday?
Heitinga, Neill, Neville and Yobo are out so I say start Duffy or Mustafi and not Hibbert at centre-half, as we had in the same senario at Benfica. Rodwell is also an option but we are also short in centre midfield too so I think we will need Rodwell there.
John Crook, Posted 30/11/2009 at 14:40:13
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Mustafi should play seeing as he has played for Hamburg and is ahead of Duffy for me. You can pretty much bet it will be Hibbert though.
Good shout Stuart about Orenuga. Shame we have a manager who never seems to use youth players until it is absolutely necessary. Rodwell would not have got in but for injuries and neither did Rooney. Moyes is probably the most predictable manager in the EPL. The team for AEK will not include any surprises.
Good shout Stuart about Orenuga. Shame we have a manager who never seems to use youth players until it is absolutely necessary. Rodwell would not have got in but for injuries and neither did Rooney. Moyes is probably the most predictable manager in the EPL. The team for AEK will not include any surprises.
I know I am risking some flak, but...
...I’m going to open the can of worms that questions the worth of this competition. Now, normally i love being in Europe and really enjoyed our run a couple of years back. However, I really think we need to concentrate on the league. This means not risking our most influential players. I do NOT want to see Pienaar in Athens. I know this probably piss off a lot of the comitted travelling fans, but in the wider picture I think it is more important to keep him fit for the league. He ran the show on Sunday and makes the difference between us being good and poor. His leg was heavily taped up for Sundays game and visibly flagged after 70 mins. Wrap him up in cotton wool! Ditto Saha, I just don’t think it is worth the risk when our resources are so stretched and we are so fragile in the league.
I await reasoned critique of my position! ;)
...I’m going to open the can of worms that questions the worth of this competition. Now, normally i love being in Europe and really enjoyed our run a couple of years back. However, I really think we need to concentrate on the league. This means not risking our most influential players. I do NOT want to see Pienaar in Athens. I know this probably piss off a lot of the comitted travelling fans, but in the wider picture I think it is more important to keep him fit for the league. He ran the show on Sunday and makes the difference between us being good and poor. His leg was heavily taped up for Sundays game and visibly flagged after 70 mins. Wrap him up in cotton wool! Ditto Saha, I just don’t think it is worth the risk when our resources are so stretched and we are so fragile in the league.
I await reasoned critique of my position! ;)
While I understand your argument Andy, here are a couple to counter that:
1. I think that team continuity and confidence is more important (especially now) than trying to save players. If we rest key players (unless they need it obviously) and we get our arses kicked (again), that is no good for anyone.
2. Obviously avoiding relegation is the No 1 priority. I’m hoping that we can do that without too much drama but I cannot see us getting into the top 5 or 6. So, Europa and maybe FA Cup look like our only hopes for some success this year.
Is it just me or has Yobo yet to play abroad in the Europa League? Does he need a Visa to play in Europe and therefore an injury all of a sudden appears! If we had proper options I wouldn’t mind but this just puts the team under more pressure.
'Tis true Ciaran and those thoughts crossed my mind. However, I am not so sure that ’resting’ players with knocks will damage team continuity. However, the getting our arses kicked is probably the most pertinent counter argument. Tricky call to make. I wouldn’t be so concerned if the players I refer to weren’t carrying knocks.
I havent seen Mustafi or Duffy play, but it has to be one or the other, playing Hibbert (who can't do the job anyway) there means playing someone who isn't a ready right back.
It was obvious from day one we didn't have the depth of squad to cope with this competition. I would blame this competition for people like Cahill and Rodwell running out of gas before the Christmas decorations are up.
However, we are here and as Evertonians we must want to win... in fact. given our circumstances, any sort of success would prove to be all the more remarkable, if we can just hang in there and hope our injured playes come back strongly.
It was obvious from day one we didn't have the depth of squad to cope with this competition. I would blame this competition for people like Cahill and Rodwell running out of gas before the Christmas decorations are up.
However, we are here and as Evertonians we must want to win... in fact. given our circumstances, any sort of success would prove to be all the more remarkable, if we can just hang in there and hope our injured playes come back strongly.
As shit as we are, I saw enough on Sunday to convince me we’re not going down. We may well finish bottom half but I really can’t see us going down. Therefore the Europa league should be our top priority. I would sooner play a full strength team against Athens and rest players against Spurs. It’s all very well gloating over the red shite dropping out of the CL but if we don’t even qualify for the next stage then we’ve nothing to brag about.
I also think Yobo’s injury is a massive blessing. He is by far our weakest link. His concentration levels are shocking and he gives a goal away every game. He was the main one at fault for Wolves’ goal, Huth was his man against Stoke, he fucked his clearance up at Hull. Any decent centre half knows where his goal is and therefore doesn’t stick a leg out at a wayward shot to deflect it in and the 2nd goal against the shite was his fault. Yobo is a complete liability at the moment and is easily the difference between us being comfortable in mid-table and fighting relegation.
I also think Yobo’s injury is a massive blessing. He is by far our weakest link. His concentration levels are shocking and he gives a goal away every game. He was the main one at fault for Wolves’ goal, Huth was his man against Stoke, he fucked his clearance up at Hull. Any decent centre half knows where his goal is and therefore doesn’t stick a leg out at a wayward shot to deflect it in and the 2nd goal against the shite was his fault. Yobo is a complete liability at the moment and is easily the difference between us being comfortable in mid-table and fighting relegation.
Great article and I agree 100% with Stuarts first response.
One of our big problems this season has been a lack of balance and we should be playing young people in their right positions as opposed to experienced players in their wrong positions. I would love to see both Duffy / Mustafi and Orenuga play just to see what they are about. However we all know that it will be more square pegs in round holes come tomorrow evening.
On a positive I thought Felli had one of his best games in a conventional central midfield position on Sunday and I hope this is the start of a massive improvement in his consistency. He has talent there is no doubt about that but he needs to start showing it. Him playing in centre mid also allows Cahill to operate in his most effective position.
One of our big problems this season has been a lack of balance and we should be playing young people in their right positions as opposed to experienced players in their wrong positions. I would love to see both Duffy / Mustafi and Orenuga play just to see what they are about. However we all know that it will be more square pegs in round holes come tomorrow evening.
On a positive I thought Felli had one of his best games in a conventional central midfield position on Sunday and I hope this is the start of a massive improvement in his consistency. He has talent there is no doubt about that but he needs to start showing it. Him playing in centre mid also allows Cahill to operate in his most effective position.
For me its a no-brainer... and I expect Moyes to choose this option tomorrow night aswell.
Hibbo has to come into the centre, and Gosling at right-back. The reasons for this are:-
Pre season Moyes tried Duffy and Rodwell at Centre Half at least 2 or 3 times against poor teams, and were absolutely shocking. I haven’t seen Mustafi there for Everton, but saw him on the telly for Germany U18’s against the Argentinian youth team, and he was terrible (dragged a forward down to give away a penalty).
Hibbo is the only one of the 4 who has slotted in and played ok.
Hibbo has to come into the centre, and Gosling at right-back. The reasons for this are:-
Pre season Moyes tried Duffy and Rodwell at Centre Half at least 2 or 3 times against poor teams, and were absolutely shocking. I haven’t seen Mustafi there for Everton, but saw him on the telly for Germany U18’s against the Argentinian youth team, and he was terrible (dragged a forward down to give away a penalty).
Hibbo is the only one of the 4 who has slotted in and played ok.
Forget all this nonsense about Duffy, Mustafi and Orenuga. We need to win or draw this game in order that we can control our own destiny in the competition. Lose this and if Athens then beat Benefica in last game and we are out, even if we beat Bate.
These kids aren’t even regulars in the reserves and from what I’ve seen Duffy seems to give goals away at will .
Wallace and Baxter might get on a s subs sometime in the game but that’s it.
These kids aren’t even regulars in the reserves and from what I’ve seen Duffy seems to give goals away at will .
Wallace and Baxter might get on a s subs sometime in the game but that’s it.
Any chance of us getting stubbs or moyes on there?
I cannot pick Hibbert at the centre. He is also suspect with passing and clearances. May as well play Rodwell as we need Hibbert at right back not Gosling. Rodwell is growing and just like Huddlestone in my book would be best suited to defence and not midfield.
Pienaar, Bily, Cahill and Mophead in midfield with two front men Yaks and Saha to keep their defence on it’s toes — otherwise they will have extra men to throw into our half if we play one man up front.
Moyes doesn’t help himself does he? Ok, people can feel sorry for him for the injury list we’ve had this season, but there is only one person to blame that we are searching for an emergency centre back tomorrow and that’s Moyes!
Why oh why does he always leave signings until the last minute? We should have signed Neill and Heitinga (if we really needed him at all) before the start of the season and they would have both been registered to play tomorrow and we would have had much stronger options.
Why oh why does he always leave signings until the last minute? We should have signed Neill and Heitinga (if we really needed him at all) before the start of the season and they would have both been registered to play tomorrow and we would have had much stronger options.
I hope whoever does come in for him plays a blinder and keeps him out of the team for the rest of the season cos he has been fucking awful.
The line-up at home to AEK was
Howard
Gosling Yobo Distin Baines
Rodwell Cahill Pienaar Fellaini Bily
Jo
Hibbert for Yobo looks an obvious change.
If Moyes does want to protect Pienaar he might use Jo as mid/second striker on the back of a confident performance on Sunday and in his best position anyway.
Howard
Gosling Yobo Distin Baines
Rodwell Cahill Pienaar Fellaini Bily
Jo
Hibbert for Yobo looks an obvious change.
If Moyes does want to protect Pienaar he might use Jo as mid/second striker on the back of a confident performance on Sunday and in his best position anyway.
Just read on the official site that Distin is a doubt and Rodwell is unlikely to return.
Huge problems at the back, that leaves Duffy and Mustafi as the only recognised centre backs he’s got to give one of them a go.
Huge problems at the back, that leaves Duffy and Mustafi as the only recognised centre backs he’s got to give one of them a go.
Ian
What you are doing there is thinking logically something our esteemed manager does not do.
Why play one player out of position when you can play 3
Hibbert will play centre half instead of Yobo and if Distin does not make it he will probably play Baines there and Gosling at left back such is his tatical nous
What you are doing there is thinking logically something our esteemed manager does not do.
Why play one player out of position when you can play 3
Hibbert will play centre half instead of Yobo and if Distin does not make it he will probably play Baines there and Gosling at left back such is his tatical nous
Correct Ian - I suspect a new post will soon renew this thread at the top of the postbag.
What will Moyes do? I guess that he will protect his first team players for the PL, Spurs at home on Sunday. Distin will not be risked.
Could be a very interesting evening.
What will Moyes do? I guess that he will protect his first team players for the PL, Spurs at home on Sunday. Distin will not be risked.
Could be a very interesting evening.
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1 Posted 30/11/2009 at 20:08:59
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I said sometime ago I would love to have seen Femi Orenuga from the academy playing out on the wing rather than the Central midfielders or strikers we have played there.