ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

Daniel Hutchinson
1 Posted 20/02/2010 at 00:01:47

I think our problem has been when Fellaini and Rodwell don’t play we have no one linking defence into attack. That is why we resort to long balls. So with the big Fella out we need to play Rodwell.

My team:

Howard
Neville - Heitinga - Distin - Baines
Rodwell
Donovan - Arteta - Pienaar - Billy
Saha

With maybe Osman instead of Mikel.

Jay Woods
2 Posted 20/02/2010 at 00:10:49

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Before I’d worry about line-ups, tactics, formations, etc., I’d tell them to for once not lie down and play like they’re not worthy to be on the same pitch as Utd. I’d point out that United have ordinary players too, like Fletcher and Brown, and are actually fallible human beings after all, as evidenced by losses at Burnley, Man City and Fulham this season, amongst others.

The whole problem as I see it for years against United has been fear and far too much respect when we should be ready to have a go at them. I’d rather we lost trying to beat them than enduring another white flag performance like the one at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Andy Paolacci
3 Posted 20/02/2010 at 00:06:44

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Give the Yak a run! Like we did against Chelsea in London, why not start with 2 up front? Have the strikers feed off each other & sit Arteta in defensive midfield. Something different..

Howard
Neville - Heitinga - Distin - Baines
Arteta
Donovan - Osman - Pienaar
Saha - Yakubu

Kai-Chiu Chung
4 Posted 20/02/2010 at 00:26:23

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Shall we give some players such as Saha, Baines or Osman a rest for the preparation of next week’s two away games?

I think our young players like Coleman, Vaughan, Gosling and Rodwell will not ’fear’ Man Utd — give them a try!

Andy Crooks
5 Posted 20/02/2010 at 00:34:13

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Jay Woods, absolutely spot on. I’d love to see "our Seamus" start and make no apologies for that. It’s not an Irish thing... He deserves a chance. (I’m not related to him!)

Simon Kirwan
6 Posted 20/02/2010 at 01:27:12

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Bily, Donovan on't wings. Rodwell, Pienaar, Osman center of a 5-man mid with Rodders deep. Don't like how Mikel is been rushed back.

Nick Xenos
7 Posted 20/02/2010 at 01:56:10

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It’s got to be two up front with the Yak and Saha leading the line. Without the presence of Cahill and Fellaini, we need someone who is capable of holding the ball up and the Yak will give us that.

Manure’s result at Milan masked their deficiencies in my opinon, especially in defence. I fancy Pienaar and Baines to give Rafael the real run around on the left. Vidic is expected to return after almost 6 wks out so there should still be some rustiness there. Evans/Brown will line up next to him, ’nuff said. Heitinga has been immense in the last few months and is more than capable of keeping Rooney in check.

If Moyes is positive with his team selection, I think we can win this game.

James Stewart
8 Posted 20/02/2010 at 02:37:58

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_________________Howard
Coleman___Heitinga__Yobo___Baines
___________Rodwell___Arteta________
Donovan______________________Pienaar
____________Saha______Yakubu______

Jamie Crowley
9 Posted 20/02/2010 at 04:08:17

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Howard
Neville - Heitinga - Distin - Baines
Rodwell - Arteta
Donovan - Bily
Saha - Yak

see Jay Woods’ comments - for the love of God tell them to give them no respect and play with courage looking to attack!

And give Seamus some time, especially if Neville lumps the fuckin thing forward constantly.

Chris Keightley
10 Posted 20/02/2010 at 07:07:26

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when does pienaars ban kick in you all have him playing ??

Jay Wilson
11 Posted 20/02/2010 at 07:21:47

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He missed the Chelsea game, ban over.

I would play

Howard
Neville
Heitinga
Distin
Baines
Arteta
Osman (I think he has been magnificent in recent games)
Bily
Pienaar
Donovan (in the Tim Position he is the USA all time leading scorer after all)
Saha

Pat Finegan
12 Posted 20/02/2010 at 07:45:40

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Howard
Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines
Pienaar, Osman, Arteta, Bily
Donovan Saha

I don’t think Yobo has been back long enough to start. Donovan to play either striker in a 4-4-2 or attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1.

Ciarán McGlone
13 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:14:28

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Ohhhh, this is a very tasty one...If we can keep Mr Rooney quiet we can get a good game of football out of this one..Like chelsea they’ll try to play football against us...and they’ll do it with a 451 for most of the matc - so it’ll be very tight in midfield a we should also employ the fluid 451....this is game of the clever and technically gifted midfielder - a perfect opportunity to give billy some time in the Cahill role in front of arteta and Rodwell,,,,playing Arteta and Osman made the centre looked unbalanced in midweek - and we need a bigger man in front of the back four as Osma will get lost....

It would be good to see a fluid attacking 3 midfielders of Pienaar, Billy and Donovan - with Arteta and Rodwell pulling the strings behind..

Howard
undropable ... Heitinga...Senderos...Baines
..............Arteta....Rodwell
Donovan.......Billy.....Pienaar
.................Saha

(although Osman wil probably get the nod ahead of Rodwell)

It should be a decent game....better get he armchair out.

Ciarán McGlone
14 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:22:34

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Sorry, In my old age I forgot Joey was back...he definitely gets the nod ahead of senderos...

Kevin Thompson
15 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:24:45

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What about putting Seamus Coleman as a right winger, he may not be experienced enough as a defender full time this season, but has enough energy to defend when needed and help out Neville and is not afraid to take on defenders.

Ciarán McGlone
16 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:36:29

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Play people in their natural positions.

Tony Waring
17 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:33:56

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I love the Saturday morning build-up to these big matches. You can almost smell the anticipation in the air - and I live over 300 miles away ! Here’s hoping we put out 11 guys who don’t give a damn for Utd’s reputation and have a real go. They are beatable.

Kevin Thompson
18 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:30:03

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Howard,
Neville, Hetinga, Senderos, Baines
Coleman, Osman, Arteta, Piennar,
Donavan
Saha

Kevin Thompson
19 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:45:25

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Ciaran, Rodwell has been playing out of his "natural position", as he is a centre back

Dick Fearon
20 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:34:09

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My back line is Neville, Yobo, Heitinga, Baines. my midfield four is Coleman, Arteta, Bily and Pienaar with Donovan behind Saha. Barring injury in order of preference my 2nd half Subs would be Yak, Vaughn, Distin.

Ciarán McGlone
21 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:52:05

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Having seen Rodwell play centre half - i’d disagree,,.

His senior career at everton has been overwhelmingly in midfield...

And even if you did start playing Coleman out of position - who do you takeout? Donovan?

Tony Cheek
22 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:55:31

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What about giving Heitinga one job , mark Rooney !!! Play Distin og Yobo and let our little giant take their biggest threat out of the game....a thought ????

Kevin Thompson
23 Posted 20/02/2010 at 09:57:59

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with Cahill out, put him up front, just behind Saha, where he plays for USA. Coleman is a more attacking minded fullback than a defensive one

Matthew Tait
24 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:03:39

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Is Hibbert fit yet? If so I expect him to come into right back with Neville moved into midfield along with Pienaar and Donovan on the flanks and Arteta and Osman in the middle. I’d be surprised if Moyes risks starting Rodwell against Man U after his error in the Europa game. If Hibbert’s still out, will be interesting.

Personally think I’d like us to like up with a 442, Yakubu and Saha up front, Pienaar Arteta Osman Donovan in midfield.

Ciarán McGlone
25 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:17:28

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I can’t advocate playing a kid out of of position in a big game like this..

Kevin Thompson
26 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:28:20

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Ciaran, It would be more of a risk playing him at right back where he could make a rash challange an give away a dangerous free kick or penalty than at right wing, where he could earn a penalty

Ciarán McGlone
27 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:39:06

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well, why advocate playing him at all then - if you think he’s a liability

Kevin Thompson
28 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:44:34

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only at right back being inexperience he might be a danger. giving a free out at their penalty area is not been a libility, he will probably get a lot more frees in their half because he runs at defenders

Geoff Edwards
29 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:42:56

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Couldn’t agree more with those advocating playing Donovan through the centre rather than on the right. With Evra at LB for Man U, Donovan’s pace won’t be so effective. He could get a llot of joy through the middle against the likes of Vidic and Evans. My team:

Howard

Neville Yobo Heitinga Baines

Arteta Rodwell

Pienaar Donovan Bily

Saha

Rob Murphy
30 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:51:04

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Donovan will play right to try to nullify the attacking threat posed by Evra, Ossie will play in midfield and we’ll have 1 up front. C’mon lads this is David Moyes picking the team after all!!

Fran Mitchell
31 Posted 20/02/2010 at 10:56:55

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i would like

Howard
Coleman Yobo Heitinga Baines
Arteta Neville
Donovan Bily Pienaar
Saha

This would give us pace and the ability to counter attack, while Pip could lead the team and play short passes to Mikky.
or

Arteta Neville Pienaar Donovan
Yak and Saha

I expect
Howard
Neville Distin Heitinga Baines
Arteta Osman
Bily Donovan Pienaar
Saha

Kevin Sparke
32 Posted 20/02/2010 at 11:08:43

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With yet another change in the back four - with Distin playing like a twat and the powder puff midfield we’re seemingly putting out... and Rooney playing like a man on a mission

I expect us to be on the end of a bloody good hiding today - I so hope I’m wrong.

Jay Wilson
33 Posted 20/02/2010 at 11:27:58

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Unless we win 3-0 and play football akin to Brazil 1970 I will be bitterly disappointed.

Mike Elbey
34 Posted 20/02/2010 at 11:19:52

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My first hope is that Yobo is preferred to Silvain ’liability’ Distin. Whilst i accept Yobo has his faults they are less than Distins.

I feel as though we have played quite well recently and would like to keep a similar shape to the team. Against Chelsea Tim Cahill was crucial in his closing down of their defence and I believe this role is crucial against the better sides.

As such I would play Vaughan for TC - he will run his socks off whilst also offer an areal threat in the absence of TC. I also rememebr him playing very well against Man U at home a few seasons back. Alternatively I would play big Vic wide right and push Donavan inside.

howard
neville
yobo
heitinga
baines
donavan
arteta
osman
pienaar
vaughan
saha

Stuart Ansell
35 Posted 20/02/2010 at 11:20:49

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I think it’s going to be a 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 with Donovan taking the Cahill role.

Howard
Neville Yobo Heitinga Baines
Billy Osman arteta Pienaar
Donovan
King Louis

I would like to see young Seamus get a few more chances but I think Neville is the right choice today, he’ll bust a gut today to get one over on the reds. Big Big game for Arteta, with Fellaini and Cahill out, we’ll be looking at Peanut and Arteta to be pulling the strings in midfield. I think Arteta is going to need another 6-8 games to get back to the genius we know he is, but he’s already showing the composure and confidence on the ball we know he has. He just needs time and games to get his sharpness and fitness back to what it was.

I’m backing a very tight 2-1 win with the nervey end to the game that we seem to endure week in and week out.

Come on the blues, 8th by the end of the day.

Ray Said
36 Posted 20/02/2010 at 11:35:25

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My team would be;
Howard
Coleman,Yobo, Heitinga, Baines
Donavan, Rodwell, Pienaar, Bily
Yakubu Saha

But I wouldnt be surprised if Moyes goes for Yobo and Distin and moves Heitinga to defensive midfielder. He wont drop Liability Neville (wh is nailed on to give away a pen, own goal or get sent off) or Osman and he wont go with 2 strikers unless someone puts something in his tea.

Kunal Desai
37 Posted 20/02/2010 at 13:53:03

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ossie having a stormer so far!!! whats going on

Jason Broome
38 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:41:19

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Just made my day... 3-1!

Dave Jeanrenaud
39 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:41:22

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Absolutley brilliant performance.

Osman man of the match and a supreme managerial performance from David Moyes with perfect choice and timing of substitutions.

Who was that idiot on here the other day who has ’zero respect’ for David Moyes?

Get real, the man is the greatest thing to happen to our club since Howard Kendall left for Athletic Bilbao.

Anthony O'Sullivan
40 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:45:47

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Osman is playing well again guess thats what happens when you play players in their correct posistion.

Paul Mackie
41 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:51:52

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Can we now stop all this "we show too much respect to the top 4" shite now?

Kevin Sparke
42 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:51:31

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I was wrong HAHAHHAAAAAAAAA!!!

Hahahahah... I WAS WRONG! heheheheheh!

Briliant possession footaball at times... we need to break the bank to keep Mr Donovan... he is a first class player

Andrew Ellams
43 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:52:33

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I can’t believe Andy Gray suggested Rodwell should be sent off for his celebration. What a wanker.

But what a goal !! £20million, they can have his boots for that

Paul Foster
44 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:48:06

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Absolutely brilliant performance from all our players.

And don’t forget yet another stunning performance from our manager - a man I and 99% of all Evertonians have utmost respect and admiration for, whatever our esteemed "Executive Editor" may say.

Christopher McCullough
45 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:54:30

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Alex Ferguson-’we were well beaten. Simple as that.....2nd best at everything.’

Kunal Desai
46 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:57:10

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I LOVE YOU EVERTON!!! Totally made up. 6points against the mancs and chavs in the last 10 days!!! Absolutely beautiful!!!

Jamie Crowley
47 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:56:24

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Before I drive the 2 hours to Orlando FL to conduct some business:

YYYYYYEEEEESSSSS!!!!!!!!
Fucking Fantastic!

MOM - Baines

Noteworthy play of the match: Neville out-muscles (sp?) Rooney in the box after he was clear. Could have been horrific if he scores there.

Fantastic!

Paul O'Grady
48 Posted 20/02/2010 at 14:56:58

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Dion Dublin gave Rodwell the man of the match, he’s a twat. Rodwell took his goal brilliantly but dare I say, I thought Ossie may have deserved it!!!!

Paul Rimmer
49 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:02:07

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Osman and Heitinga were excellent but that was a real team performance. Respect due I feel.

John Andrews
50 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:09:22

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Abslolutely fanatastic ! We have just gubbed manure 3-1.

Kevin Chung
51 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:07:14

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This must be a dream!

Mike Allison
52 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:10:26

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Osman deserved man of the match for the second game running, he’s been a revelation in central midfield this week, passing, dribbling, and even tackling and covering.

Ste Lewis
53 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:10:24

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Brilliant team performance today. ’Useless’ Leon was everywhere. Glad we ruined Sky’s Rooney roadshow but I doubt we’ll get the credit we deserve, even from some of our own on here. Ah well, fuck em. 3-1! Get in!

Jay Woods
54 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:21:20

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Well, we didn’t show them the respect we usually do and we showed how United don’t like it when the opposition has a go, so that’s the ticket from now on against the Sky 4, I hope!

And to Paul Mackie, no need to be so anal on such a happy occasion. We HAVE shown too much respect to such sides before under Moyes, but not against Chelsea and United in the past few weeks, hence the great wins.

Ernie Baywood
55 Posted 20/02/2010 at 15:26:02

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Paul Mackie - in the past we have shown the Big 4 too much respect.

That selection was spot on from Moyes. In the past he would have shored things up with Heitinga or Neville in the mids rather than take a punt on Bily... paid off handsomely.

3 top class goals and a top class performance.

Who can believe that we’ve come from behind like this against Chelsea and now Man Utd?

Eugene Ruane
56 Posted 22/02/2010 at 12:51:20

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- This post maybe delayed arriving at TW due to connection difficulties -

Well I’ll leave selection up to Moyes, although Utd will be tired after Milan, so if we’re not getting beat, I’d bring on a couple of the young lads near the end. Maybe Gosling then Rodwell. I’d also play Bilyaletdinov. Good luck for this afternoon lads!

What?