ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

Martin Clark
1 Posted 07/03/2010 at 23:47:45

To be honest I haven’t seen much of Yakubu since his return. Moyles always said it was going to take him a long time to fully recover.

He seems to be at least getting in the right position to be getting these opportunities in front of goal.

If he does return to something similar to that of 2008 we could be looking to have a serious impact on the league next year! With Saha and Yakubu two of the best forwards in the league. Consistency is the problem, especially with Saha but if Yakubu is fit and firing and either playing alongside or challenging for the lone striker, they could be pushing each other to perform!

Hopefully well be feeding a hungry Yak sooner rather than later!

Mike McLean
2 Posted 08/03/2010 at 00:16:26

Pity about the missed opportunities, I agree. But I thought he put a hell of a shift in holding up their defenders and allowing our midfielders a more or less free passage through on their last third.

Steven Pendleton
3 Posted 08/03/2010 at 00:43:03

Wouldn’t have said his performance was poor. He did create the first goal, created a penalty and hit the post. Not all fell into place for the Yak as his penalty was quite poor but there were signs of the Yak of old with his body positioning, turns and instinctive runs.

Only his second full game in a row. Give him a chance.

Steven Barton
4 Posted 08/03/2010 at 01:33:12

Not worried at all. Won't be long now and he’ll be banging them in left, right and centre. (I hope!)

Adam Fenlon
5 Posted 08/03/2010 at 01:54:06

Sorry Chris, I don't agree. I thought the Yak did fine today — he didn't convert his opportunities, but that happens sometimes. I saw him wanting the ball and trying to be creative when he had it.

Jamie Rowland
6 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:27:12

Apart from his 3 missed chances (including the penalty) I think the Yak put in 100% against Hull and therefore could disagree more with the original post.

I am concerned that he isn’t scoring the golden chances but at the same time his passing and work rate is back up to the level they were at before he got injured — scoring (sharpness) will come good soon, it wasn't that long ago that he couldn’t even work a chance — at least now he's getting the chances...
COYB

Dick Anderson
7 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:30:50

To be honest I though Yakubu was great against Hull. It was probably his best performance since the injury.

He held the ball up brilliantly. It was the old Yakubu with strength and power. He also created Arteta’s first goal.

Admittedly it was disappointing he squandered a couple of easy chances and missed that penalty but overall he look a lot better then he has done in recent months.

Andrew Ellams
8 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:31:14

Jury is still out, I was more concerned by the lack of possible replacement on the bench. We need an impact player to come off the bench and run the opposition ragged. I don’t think Vaughan is going to be that man, so maybe it’s time to cash in on him and snap up the guy Piquionne who is currently on loan at Portsmouth

Dan McKie
9 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:33:27

The only thing the Yak did wrong was take the penalty from Arteta. When you do that, you have to score, and he never looked like he was going to. Hitting the post was unlucky and the one he skied was a bouncing ball that came more off his shin. His overall play was good, he was strong when he had to be and was bringing the midfielders into play quite well. Highlights of the game wouldnt have looked good for him yesterday, but no panic.

Gerard Carey
10 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:42:27

Think he's doing ok, needs more games. Should get them now.

Mike Elbey
11 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:45:48

Yak showed signs of improvement in second half against Spurs and his overall display yesterday was excellent - if he carries on like that the goals will follow without doubt.

Andy Codling
12 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:53:25

Thought he played well, set up the first, hit the post, then won a pen, people need to get off his back... like the prick behind me in the Park End.

Mike Green
13 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:50:24

Goes to show we all see different things when watching the match.

Fair play to Yak I thought he put a shift in but the chances he spurned were horrendous and if I’m honest the pen has to be one of the weakest I’ve ever seen — if it hadn't been so comical it would've been cringeworthy.

We all have a degree in hindsight but why didn’t Leighton take it? At least you’d be guaranteed he’d put his laces through it.

I’m willing to give Yak the benefit of the doubt but think his last injury may be one too many and this is the begining of the end for him. Hope I’m proved wrong.

Gerry Quinn
14 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:53:38

His first touch had deserted him totally yesterday - it was extremely poor for him.

Larry Boner
15 Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:49:03

I think we play our best joined up football when Yakubu is up front on his own. Against Hull he could easily have had 4 goals and his overall play deserved that.

People are focusing on the misses, the penalty should have been retaken as the keeper was 3 yds off his line when he saved it, but his hold up play and bringing players into the game was top class.

I also thought he looked fitter and had got some of his pace back, witness the run from his own half where he outpaced the defender, finishing with a poor shot.

Saha is a different player to Yakubu, not really getting involved in the play and holding the ball up, more hanging on the last defender, but effective in a French kind of way.

Give the Yak a good pre-season and he will be back to his old self, just don't add another one to the "We hate Hibbert, Osman..." group — none of them deserve it.

Gareth Humphreys
16 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:06:44

I thought everything apart from his finishing he was superb yesterday. If the keeper goes the other way, it's a class pen, nonchalantly tucked away. If the keeper guesses the right way he looks like an idiot. That's the chance you take. Hard luck with the one that hit the post.

The one from Donovan came at him very quickly. The Heitinga incident he created all on his own from his own half and was in just as good a position as John to score.

Ian Kearney
17 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:12:38

Puts in his best performance since returning (finishing aside), and still has to endure articles like this, and constant abuse in the stands from certain elements.

I was very encouraged by his display today, and rate his all round game higher than Saha’s.

Mark Stone
18 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:29:43

With the exception of the penalty and another poor attempt on goal he played very well.

So ... no. Unconcerned.

Giles Larkman
19 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:30:19

I thought he put in a good shift too. What I love about the Yak (when fully fit), is when he runs at people with the ball. He is a terrifying sight for any centreback. In my humble opinion, only Drogba is stronger striker on the ball.

There was talk that he wouldn’t come back the same player, after a genuinely bad injury, so really... so far so good.

Paul Doyle
20 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:37:04

Sorry Chris, not many of us could walk never mind play 90 mins after the type of injury he has had. With a few more games under his belt and a full pre-season, he will be back to his best next August. Whether you're a fan of his or not, we play our best football with him up front, as today proves.

John Keating
21 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:54:49

Agree with most of the posts. I thought his overall play was good.

I would be concerned if he was not getting into goalscoring positions but now he is. He’s like most goalscorers — goals make confidence makes goals.

If his first effort which hit the post had gone in he probably would have gone on and scored a hat-trick

Liam Reilly
22 Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:55:13

People should get off his back and offer encouragement.

Their keeper was 3 yards off his line and the penalty should have been retaken. He put in a great shift and was very unlucky not to get the goal his performance richly deserved.

A fit Saha and the Yak, with a good pre-season behind them will be a sight to see next season.

Connor Rohrer
23 Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:09:24

Not at all, his performance was good yesterday. He worked hard, Intelligent movement, good link up play, strong as always and created a goal. It was his finishing that let him down, and we all know Yakubu can finish, so in the long term that’s not a problem.

I’d be worried if he’d actually lost something but he hasn’t. The only thing he’s lacking is a bit a sharpness, which is expected, considering he hasn’t been a regular and was out for about 10 months.

He’ll be fine next season, of that I have no doubt. We play better football with him in the side.

James Newcombe
24 Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:11:05

Not concerned at all. He won’t miss that many chances in a row again! The Yak also chipped in with an assist and he never seemed to stop running yesterday. Get off his back... on his day, he is awesome.

Andy Paolacci
25 Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:26:44

Glad people are sticking up for him. I’ve got the Yak on the back of my shirt and I’m Aussie. Says much about what I think of him. Thought he did really well & yes, he missed a few chances, but it was no Nicklas Bendtner.

He’s starting to show he’s fit enough to last the 90 minutes. With a full pre-season behind him, he’ll start putting them in the back of the net.

Peter Warren
26 Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:48:18

Class is permanent, form temporary and Yak is class. Not concerned in the slightest.

Dave Street
27 Posted 08/03/2010 at 09:29:34

I agree with Mike Elbey on Yak. His all round performance was the best he has put in since his comeback!

We should really start worrying if he becomes anonymous in games. He will get on one of his goal streaks very soon.

Luke Dunn
28 Posted 08/03/2010 at 09:42:48

I thought he was great, should have had a few goals, but did no one notice him track back in the 92 min to win the ball back? He is returning to his old self and soon his delightful smile will be a permanent fixture again.

Dave Roberts
29 Posted 08/03/2010 at 09:43:07

Made the first goal.

Hit the post.

Got a penalty.

Missed it.

Missed a sitter.

Held the ball up very well.

As hard to move off the ball as a bus-stop.

Is actually a lot quicker than he looks.

Made space for others by occupying their defenders all afternoon.

Keep him away from Africa because I think he eats buffalos when he’s there and always comes back overweight.

No concerns....he’ll come good. He is a top class striker and he won’t lose that.

Tom Bowers
30 Posted 08/03/2010 at 09:55:27

Yaks did okay apart from the penalty miss. Don’t forget Saha has missed 2 one of which was very costly. I think Yaks and King Louis are our best bet. Anichebe looks lost and Vaughan seems out of favour. Yaks is very mobile from both sides of the field and plays well with his back to goal.He can only improve with fitness.

Rich Williams
31 Posted 08/03/2010 at 10:04:21

thought he looked sharp today, his first touch for the shot that hit the post was world class. he worked hard and despite a missed pen his contribution was top notch. i cant remember which game it was, maybe man city, but he came on a couple of weeks ago and looked sharp last 20 mins and i thought the yak is back....trust me folks he is back, the goals are coming!

Duncan McDine
32 Posted 08/03/2010 at 10:14:49

Not at all bothered Chris. He’ll be back to his best before long, especially if he can get a full pre-season without injury. His one-touch turn to setup the left footer which hit the post was class.

The penalty was poor, but a lot of pens are missed when you have to wait that long for the ref to stop farting about. He should have gone back and re-spotted the ball, then taken it in his time.

After that moment, he lost some confidence. I’m more than confident that he will be back before long.

Chris Kelly
33 Posted 08/03/2010 at 14:51:51

Ok great, the consensus seems to be that the Yak is on his way back to being his old self! And for the sake of this post, let's say he does...

Now here's the question: Under Moyes, there really only seems to be one spot for an out and out striker. With King Louis signed on for two more years, is the Yak the kind of player who will be content on the bench — especially with the prospect of us missing out on Europe? (Not to be a downer, just throwing it out there...)

Or will he fight for his place and maybe even win the starting spot back? Will Moyes change tactics and formation and accommodate these two? Or can both these players head into next season still content to be 1-2 strikers?

I know there are injuries to account for but both of our strikers WANT/NEED to be starters in this league and there seems to be only one place (Unless Moyes goes against type)... Something has to give... How do you see it playing out?

Kiern Moran
34 Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:13:10

Personally if we can get big bucks for him I would sell him now before anyone else works out how old he really is. Good player non the less.

Ged Dwyer
35 Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:14:16

Quite simply Vaughan should be second choice behind Saha as every time he plays he makes a difference and the Yak just isn’t willing to work for the team. And Vaughan scored arguably the most important goal of the season for us when he scored late on to set up the home win against Burnley when we couldn’t find a win from anywhere. I am completely baffled by Mayes’s treatment of Vaughan and to leave him out the squad yesterday when we didn’t have a forward on the bench was very unfair.

Matthew Tait
36 Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:35:44

I’m really glad to see the majority of positive comments about the Yak. People have been getting on his back a bit since he came back, but I’ve seen flashes of his pace and sharpness returning.

Yesterday he put in a very good shift. Yes, he missed a couple of very good chances, but as others have mentioned his link play was top class, he worked hard, and he looked quick and strong. Yes the penalty was a dud that he took too casually, but otherwise he was very good.

Now he just needs a goal or two. I’m really confident that after a solid preseason he’ll be back to the top class striker we know he is.

As to your second question Chris - horses for courses. Sometimes Yak should lead the line, sometimes Saha, sometimes both. Depends on form, the opposition and the makeup of the rest of the team. Given the number of games in a season they would certainly both get games.

Dave Street
37 Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:42:27

Vaughan was out of the squad due to illness I believe.

Mike Allison
38 Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:43:28

Skimmed a lot of the replies so this may have been said, but Yakubu was good yesterday. He did miss chances, and his run up style is always going to annoy you when he misses a penalty, but he ran more and worked far harder than any other game I can remember. He was constantly involved in link up play, tracked back to make tackles, and his movement was excellent and contributed to the ability of our midfielders to arrive late into space to score the goals they did.

I’ve always seen Yakubu as someone who you get goals from but not much else, yesterday he was the opposite, doing all the ’Heskey’-work but failing to take his chances. Pretty much totally disagree with Ged’s point that the Yak "just isn’t willing to work for the team" based on his performance yesterday. If he’s getting fitter, he probably feels more comfortable putting the effort in and not having to pace himself the way he does at times, and certainly has done recently.

I have to say I’m with you on Vaughan though Ged, I see him as a real exciting prospect, fast, strong, a great work ethic and a natural finisher. I don’t know what Moyes has got against him. I wouldn’t make him second choice behind Saha at all though, as I think he’s much more effective in a two up front, and he’d be on the bench as an impact sub as part of my full strength squad.

Chris Fisher
39 Posted 08/03/2010 at 12:01:03

I am a little concerned because he has been back a lot longer than Mikel and Jags but them two seem to have picked up basically where they left off and the Yak just doesn't seem the same at all...

Like I said, he’s been back a lot longer now so coming back from a long injury just doesn't add up anymore. But I do think he will come good eventually and we’ll see that big ol' smile back on his face! I hope so anyway because he is a quality player.

Karl Masters
40 Posted 08/03/2010 at 12:25:31

i ’m going to go against nearly all of these posts because Yak has looked like an elephant playing football in his last 2 matches.

If we had lost yesterday and not beaten by far the worst team I have seen this season ( Carlisle and Sigma had more about them ) apart from AEK Athens I bet you’d all be far less generous.

Yes, it was an horrendous injury although he’s been playing 6 months now and should be fit. I really hope the Yak of old returns, it’s his first touch that needs working on most.

He did well holding the ball up, but could have easily scored a hat-trick. I’ll be amazed if he gets that nany chances again this season.

Anand Rabheru
41 Posted 08/03/2010 at 12:44:39

I was waiting for all the Yak "haters" to come out after yesterdays game, but come on, seriously?!?!? he is one of the best finishers in the game and me for one, he would be one of the first names on my team sheet!

Yesterday he got 90 mins, he hasnt had that in a long time and he looked sharper than he has for a long time! Yes, Yak should have had a hat-trick, 3 easy chances for him, but I am not concerned as he is a great finisher and will start scoring soon and as soon as he does, he wont stop! But Moyes has to play him and Saha together coz Yak up top on his own does not work, he needs a partner and not Cahill! He needs to play up top with Saha, Vic or Vaughan!

David Holroyd
42 Posted 08/03/2010 at 13:45:31

The Yak played better yesterday, he is one of those streaky players he will end up with ten goals by the end of the season.What he needs is games n lots of them.

Aiden Doyle
43 Posted 08/03/2010 at 13:49:28

Karl, I can understand your frustration with the Yak’s lack of sharpness, but some of the comments in the article below may help to put things in perspective:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2009/10/17/david-moyes-insists-yakubu-will-need-more-time-to-be-back-at-his-goalscoring-best-everton-fc-latest-100252-24949762/

In short, the Yak may no longer be “injured” as such, but it can take much longer for the tendon to fully regain it’s elasticity - possibly every bit as long as it took to get him back on to the field. In the meantime he’ll be missing his sharpness, balance & reaction time.

Pat Finegan
44 Posted 08/03/2010 at 19:28:30

Yak hasn’t been finishing well at all. Other than his finishing yesterday, though, he looked good. He was involved in the game, he created a goal, he just didn’t look really sharp with his opportunities. It has nothing to do with his injury, it has everything to do with his confidence. He just needs to have a couple good games and finish well and he’ll be the Yak of old. I would give him until at least the end of this season before we even consider getting rid of him.

Steven Barton
45 Posted 09/03/2010 at 03:00:40

Chris regarding your second point 33
the amount of injuries these two get and the amount of games we have to play, i’m sure its not a problem to accommodate both. Rest time and as impact subs could work well. Also playing together could be an option for some games.

Dominic Duerden
46 Posted 09/03/2010 at 03:49:49

I thought the Yak looked awful. He looks slow , has such a poor first touch, does not bother challenging for headers etc. If Anichebe had been up front and Donovan started on the right, we could have won 10-1.

Matthew Tait
47 Posted 09/03/2010 at 04:29:29

Sorry Dominic but if you think that you were watching a different game to almost everyone here. His pace and first touch are fine, he did a very good job holding up the ball and linking play on Sunday. Agree he’s not fantastic in the air - but when you’ve only got one player up front that doesn’t matter, since balls should be to chest or feet or into space - there’s no one for your lone striker to head it to! We did that well, and Yak played well in that role (apart from missing the chances of course)

And I’m sorry but are you serious about Anichebe?? The guy’s got one of the worst first touches I’ve seen on an Everton player for quite some time, and you want him up there instead of the Yak?

Andy Codling
48 Posted 09/03/2010 at 05:16:15

Dominic, where you at the game or watching on the internet, Anichebe has a first touch like a rapist