The Mail Bag
The Passing Philosphy of Moyes
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Bad performance and result yesterday, which all but nails our European ambitions. I'll leave it to others to dissect the performance.
It was interesting watching the game. They must have a mic near the dugouts. During the first half, you could clearly hear Moyes's instructions:
"Give and go"
"Get it inside to Jonny Heitinga"
The commentators also picked up on this, one of them (ex player, can't recall who) making the point that Moyes's Everton used to play long ball not so long ago, but were now more of a passing side.
Also of interest is the fact that, during the first half, it would have been Pip and Bily nearest, and Moyes was trying to get them to get it to Heitinga to switch the play over to our left, suggesting even he sees the Baines-Pienaar axis as more of a threat.
Matt Traynor, Posted 05/04/2010 at 01:28:57
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Went the game yesterday, and had the missus Sky Plus it so I could watch it again this morning. Couldn't believe that the entire theme of the show focused on "wonderful West Ham", and their hardy struggle against mediocrity...
We are the home side, so should garner the lion's share of coverage. We are clearly a better club, targetting our fourth consecutive top 6 finish, and have a more telegenic squad. Barring a tokenistic 30 second montage detailing our best home run in 20 years, why the West Ham love-in, and the repeated shots of their "fantastic fans"?
This discussion has played out a few times on this site, and I've never given it that much credence before, but the lack of media courtship is evident so often to many,and glaring to me watching us being handed a bit-part on yesterday's coverage... Institutional ignorance, perhaps?
"Fish & chip on my shoulder..."
We are the home side, so should garner the lion's share of coverage. We are clearly a better club, targetting our fourth consecutive top 6 finish, and have a more telegenic squad. Barring a tokenistic 30 second montage detailing our best home run in 20 years, why the West Ham love-in, and the repeated shots of their "fantastic fans"?
This discussion has played out a few times on this site, and I've never given it that much credence before, but the lack of media courtship is evident so often to many,and glaring to me watching us being handed a bit-part on yesterday's coverage... Institutional ignorance, perhaps?
"Fish & chip on my shoulder..."
Kevin, It's called, I think you'll find, "London-centric media". Even on the build-up to the kick-off, it was all about West Ham. Truly sickening... and as for the BBC, don't get me started!
Alan Clark, we may not get into Europe this season... the manager may not want Europe... but we will never be ready for Europe if we don't keep qualifying. It takes 5 of 6 goes, as we have seen when we come up against teams that always qualify.
Kevin, if there is a chip on your shoulder, there is a sack of tatties on mine. I was watching the game on Sky and the build up was just unbelievable, I watched it from the start at 3:30pm and they only showed a bit of the blues about 5 minutes before the game. West Ham was the focus, we were even treated to Zola's best goals against Everton!!
I know, I know... cancel the subscription, I hear you all shout. Fuck that, I love my footy/boxing/golf/darts. Just have to put up with the obvious bias. Pisses me off.
End of rant. Shocker yesterday by the way. But COYBB
I know, I know... cancel the subscription, I hear you all shout. Fuck that, I love my footy/boxing/golf/darts. Just have to put up with the obvious bias. Pisses me off.
End of rant. Shocker yesterday by the way. But COYBB
What I don't understand, is why when we come under pressure from teams, do we revert to just twating it forward?
Nothing surprises me about Sky or the BBC involving Everton; we are second rate when it comes to football matters. And when you consider that both channels are fronted by ex Everton players, namely Lineker & Gray...
Jesus, have you any idea how small-minded and bitter some of you sound?
If I ever watch Everton on TV, it's cos I want to see the team play...you could turn the sound off for me. Are you really that simple that you need Andy fucking Gray, the turncoat redshite lover, and his able chimpanzee assistant Richard Keys to make your match experience feel worthwhile?
Move along and worry about what matters....our performances.
If I ever watch Everton on TV, it's cos I want to see the team play...you could turn the sound off for me. Are you really that simple that you need Andy fucking Gray, the turncoat redshite lover, and his able chimpanzee assistant Richard Keys to make your match experience feel worthwhile?
Move along and worry about what matters....our performances.
Matt it doesn't take a genious to realise we are more threatening down the left hand side, so I'm sure the manager of the club for over 7 years must also realise.
As for the the pass and go comments, of course Moyes wants his team to play passing football, doesn't every manager? The fact is you need good footballers who are good in possession, which we now have but didn't have not so long ago when the players played more direct.
When you take Arteta and Fellaini out the side, we lose that extra creative spark and the ability to control the midfield battle, even if we can still have some good passages of play.
As for the the pass and go comments, of course Moyes wants his team to play passing football, doesn't every manager? The fact is you need good footballers who are good in possession, which we now have but didn't have not so long ago when the players played more direct.
When you take Arteta and Fellaini out the side, we lose that extra creative spark and the ability to control the midfield battle, even if we can still have some good passages of play.
The issue raised is the projection of our image to an international audience, Neil. We were presented yesterday as little more than a footnote. In a home fixture! Our recent history, and ever-improving brand of football, pointed out by the author, are worthy of more respect than is being afforded.
Compare this to the visitors, condemned recently by their new owner. Whose manager ran to Sardinia last week in order to escape the flak, while their players, on the back of yet another defeat, went out on the piss!! Taking centre stage!!
And where do you get off calling Gray a "turncoat redshite lover"? Whilst remaining professionally neutral, he speaks highly of us at every turn! At least someone is fighting our corner...
There's a difference between perception and reality, and you don't need to make the obvious point about performance, as that's a given. Yet when a well-run, thriving and consistently improving club are given second-billing to a second-rate car crash, that's pretty galling to me and to others who have noticed this phenomena too...
Compare this to the visitors, condemned recently by their new owner. Whose manager ran to Sardinia last week in order to escape the flak, while their players, on the back of yet another defeat, went out on the piss!! Taking centre stage!!
And where do you get off calling Gray a "turncoat redshite lover"? Whilst remaining professionally neutral, he speaks highly of us at every turn! At least someone is fighting our corner...
There's a difference between perception and reality, and you don't need to make the obvious point about performance, as that's a given. Yet when a well-run, thriving and consistently improving club are given second-billing to a second-rate car crash, that's pretty galling to me and to others who have noticed this phenomena too...
Jesus Neil you don't half see the world through brown/grey tinted glasses do you? Do you come on here just to have a go at your fellow blues? The Sky coverage was biased, we were barely mentinoed. BBC coverage is regularly the same, why shouldn't we mention it to each other? When you watch Everton on the TV you expect some coverage, some insight, some context and maybe some reminiscences. If you don't care, so be it, but why slag off fellow Evertonians about it? There's only one person sounding small minded and bitter on here.
Ian, my point was more in line with recent posts about Moyes' touchline instructions - and when we hoof, is it down to his direction.
Someone (Gavin?) posted a while back that he sits within earshot of Moyes' technical area, and can hear him encouraging players to pass on the deck.
As an exiled Blue, I watch all games via TV, and this is the first time I can recall hearing Moyes' instructions so clearly. Whether due to placement of mics, or subdued atmosphere, or both, I don't know.
Someone (Gavin?) posted a while back that he sits within earshot of Moyes' technical area, and can hear him encouraging players to pass on the deck.
As an exiled Blue, I watch all games via TV, and this is the first time I can recall hearing Moyes' instructions so clearly. Whether due to placement of mics, or subdued atmosphere, or both, I don't know.
Fuck Europa shite Cup qualification, I want us to have a real good run in the League next season. We have a really good group of players to sustain such a run if they all remain fit. Participation in an afterthought of a competition such as the Europa Cup is nothing but a hindrance in my opinion.
West Ham are fighting against Relegation...Everton are trying to finish 7th.
Which one deserves more focus, discussion...for the neutral fan? SKY is angled at getting as many people watching as possible, not just Everton or West Ham fans.
A relegation battle is far more interesting and actually important than a potential top7/6 finish.
From the perspective of the League and general football fans Everton are a good team, and we've began to start playing attractive football, but nothing that warrants hyped up Sky promotion or anything that will get people salivating.
Being 8th in the league does not make me proud, and I dont want to watch a program saying 'WOW, they are doing really well to finish 8th aren't they'...I will be happy to watch coverage of Everton when we are competing at the top, at the moment it doesn't matter.
Which one deserves more focus, discussion...for the neutral fan? SKY is angled at getting as many people watching as possible, not just Everton or West Ham fans.
A relegation battle is far more interesting and actually important than a potential top7/6 finish.
From the perspective of the League and general football fans Everton are a good team, and we've began to start playing attractive football, but nothing that warrants hyped up Sky promotion or anything that will get people salivating.
Being 8th in the league does not make me proud, and I dont want to watch a program saying 'WOW, they are doing really well to finish 8th aren't they'...I will be happy to watch coverage of Everton when we are competing at the top, at the moment it doesn't matter.
On the original post...I think we are starting to play the Football Moyes has always wanted to play.
Having players like Pienaar, Heitinga, Arteta, Fellaini, Osman, Bily etc allows us to play a passing game.
What has restricted us at times is the necessity to win, thus playing attractive football would cost points in the long run (i.e. I would rather watch a game that finishes 3-3 rather than win 1-0 philosophy that many fans quote...this is not possible in the PL) so it wasn't worth it.
Now however we have a team that can dominate games and we are better when playing the passing game.
Cant wait for Fellaini, Arteta and Rodders/Bily being the central midfield. This season has been dissapointing, but I am confident that next season we will have an attractive and successful football team.
Having players like Pienaar, Heitinga, Arteta, Fellaini, Osman, Bily etc allows us to play a passing game.
What has restricted us at times is the necessity to win, thus playing attractive football would cost points in the long run (i.e. I would rather watch a game that finishes 3-3 rather than win 1-0 philosophy that many fans quote...this is not possible in the PL) so it wasn't worth it.
Now however we have a team that can dominate games and we are better when playing the passing game.
Cant wait for Fellaini, Arteta and Rodders/Bily being the central midfield. This season has been dissapointing, but I am confident that next season we will have an attractive and successful football team.
Fran. I thought that last season, the season before that, and the season before that. Same again next year?
Yeah but Fran they could have covered the two teams equally. Or maybe had a slight focus on West Ham as they may be relegated (at which point Sky won't give a fuck about them anyway). What they actually did was 25 mins on West Ham with an 'oh by the way, Everton are here too'.
MOTD was the same, skilfully editing it to look like West Ham dominated the game.
I thought it was just me and the Sky bias towards West Ham - could not believe the number of times they were classed as unlucky - I thought it was accepted by all that the table does not lie (quote Andy Gray and every other pundit) and they are fighting relegation (hope they go down - not fogotten the cheating they did a few years ago when the FA slapped their wrist instead of deducting points) because they are shite not because they are unlucky - maybe Michael Kendrick and Tony March should use this in their Moyes bashing - we weren't shite before Moyeseys arrival we were just unlucky - Moyes is just a lucky manager as witnessed by our avoidance of any serious injuries and our bottomless transfer fund not to mention the consistant refereeing bias we enjoy under his stewardship.
If you think Sky and MOTD2 were bad you should have read the Daily Mail (I know its my fault for buying the rag but my wife likes the femail and other such crap and who am I to deny her such simple pleasures) apart from the scoreline I don't think they mentioned who plucky West Hams opposition were let alone acknowledged that it was West Ham who got lucky this time - as mentioned in another post the amount of 'strong' tackles from behind that West Ham were allowed to get away with and how a coming together in our penalty area is without hesitation a penalty whilst taking Saha out at the waist isn't I feel showed who enjoyed the rub of the green on Sunday. I accept that Bobby Moores West Ham (the only club in the country with a youth system that produces any talent (TM)) and their unlucky predicament of losing 5(?) on the trot which puts them in peril of getting their just desserts - I mean being relegated (what would the EPL do without the cheeky little Italian and all those Hammers fans blowing all their bubbles?) but a little balance by according us with some respect - bad start but have turned it all around and strong finish could yet see them upset some of the teams above etc etc would not have gone amiss.
If you think Sky and MOTD2 were bad you should have read the Daily Mail (I know its my fault for buying the rag but my wife likes the femail and other such crap and who am I to deny her such simple pleasures) apart from the scoreline I don't think they mentioned who plucky West Hams opposition were let alone acknowledged that it was West Ham who got lucky this time - as mentioned in another post the amount of 'strong' tackles from behind that West Ham were allowed to get away with and how a coming together in our penalty area is without hesitation a penalty whilst taking Saha out at the waist isn't I feel showed who enjoyed the rub of the green on Sunday. I accept that Bobby Moores West Ham (the only club in the country with a youth system that produces any talent (TM)) and their unlucky predicament of losing 5(?) on the trot which puts them in peril of getting their just desserts - I mean being relegated (what would the EPL do without the cheeky little Italian and all those Hammers fans blowing all their bubbles?) but a little balance by according us with some respect - bad start but have turned it all around and strong finish could yet see them upset some of the teams above etc etc would not have gone amiss.
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1 Posted 05/04/2010 at 08:12:23
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Moyes needs to give some players a real bollocking for yesterday's performance but I doubt he will, he didn't sound that arsed in his post-match interview. I honestly think Moyes would be happy not to qualify for the Europa league and I'd agree with him.