FAN ARTICLES
Best XI

In goal we have Howard who in my view is in the top 5 keepers in the Premier League. Now that Mucha has signed that gives Howard better competition. And enables him to take a break when injured instead of playing on like he did last season.
Right back we could have Neville ? I think this is the best place for him as we have to have him on the pitch... but maybe substituting him more. We could have Hibbert who is experienced and will give 100% every game. Then we have Seamus Coleman who is going to be our first choice right back in a couple of seasons.
Centre halves we could have Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin or Yobo, Moyes will play Distin because Jags and Johnny will be too small as they are only 6 foot.
Left back: Baines
Central defensive midfielder: Fellaini when fit or Johnny Heitinga. M
Right midfield: Donovan if we can get him , or Osman or Bilyaletdinov.
Left midfield: Pienaar... for me, his creativity and partnership with Baines is something we cannot afford to throw away... although Gueye could do a bit-part job for us.
Centre-midfield: Arteta and Rodwell will both do a very good job as they are both good on the ball and can create things which we can lack without them.
Centre attacking midfield: Cahiil supporting the striker) the best attacking midfielder on his day, he is unplayable.
Strikers: Beckford has looked sharp in pre-season; Saha Is world class, his touch and his football brain is immense... but could he do two games a week? Doubtful; Yakubu, we should try and sell and raise funds for Donovan (if he signs) or another young striker; Vaughan and Anichebe are both hyped up to be the next best thing but have let us down so far... each could have a bench role and come on round the 75th minute; Silva could have a bench role until he is experienced enough for the Premier League.
Best XI:
Howard;
Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines;
Fellaini or Heitinga, Arteta or Rodwell;
Donovan... if not, Bilyaletdinov, Pienaar;
Cahill;
Saha
Reader Comments (41)
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2 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:06:39
Howard;
Coleman, Hetinga, Jagielka, Baines;
Osman, Fellaini, Arteta, Pienaar;
Cahill;
Beckford.
Subs, Mucha, Neville, Rodwell, Osman, Saha.
Wow, not a bad squad and there's the ones like Yakubu, Gueye etc. Donovan, maybe ? if so, then it's a recalculation. Happy Days.
3 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:14:25
So that's the rule: Eleven starters and seven subs! No ifs, buts or maybes!!! Oh, and they should all be current squad members.
4 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:15:47
Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines
Anichebe, Heitinga, Arteta, Pienaar
Bily
Beckford.
5 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:18:26
Mucha
Neville
Yobo
Fellaini
Rodwell
Saha
Yakubu
6 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:13:07
Neville. Baines
Jagielka, Heitinga
Fellaini Rodwell
Arteta
Bilyaletdinov, Pienaar
Saha
7 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:24:29
8 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:50:25
Howard
Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines.
Heitinga, Fellaini.
Anichebe, Arteta, Pienaar.
Saha.
Subs:
Mucha, Cahill, Osman, Coleman, Beckford, Hibbert, Bily
9 Posted 30/07/2010 at 20:18:15
10 Posted 30/07/2010 at 20:21:04
Howard
Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines
Fellaini
Bily, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar
Saha
Subs:
Mucha, Heitinga, Coleman, Rodwell, Ossie, Gueye, Beckford
Those of note who have been omitted......Yobo, Anichebe, Yakubu, Hibbert
11 Posted 30/07/2010 at 20:39:59
Neville Jags Heitinga Baines
Bily Arteta Fellaini Cahill Pienaar
Yakubu
Mucha, Coleman, Yobo, Rodwell, Osman, Beckford, Saha
12 Posted 30/07/2010 at 20:56:14
Football moved from what it used to be and the times when you could win the title with 14 players are long gone, nowadays the top teams do not falter because they have broader quallity squads and adequate replacements, wherever the likes of Everton and Villa are always struggling at some parts of the season due to injuries,suspensions and fatigue. Moreover in these best XI we don't factor opposition, tactics, schedule, form...
13 Posted 30/07/2010 at 21:50:28
Howard
Heitinga Jags Distin Baines
Fellaini
Anichebe Arteta Rodwell Pienaar
Saha
Mucha, Coleman, Neville, Yakubu, Bily, Yobo, Beckford
I believe that Anichebe is going to have a breakout year on the form he began to show the back end of last season.
Funnily enough, you can argue that our home game v CIty was the best we played all year. That was without Arteta and Jags... and with Pienaar playing centrally with Bily on the left. All very interesting!!
14 Posted 30/07/2010 at 22:30:00
Howard
Hibbert Jags Heitinga Baines
Fellaini Rodwell Arteta
Gueye Yakubu Piennar
Subs
Coleman, Osman, Neville, Beckford, Billy, Distin, Mucha
15 Posted 30/07/2010 at 22:25:39
Howard
Coleman Heitiga Jags Baines
Felli
Anichebe Rodwell Arteta
Beckford Gueye
Subs" Distin,Yak, Saha,Billy ,Mucha,Yobo,Hibbert.
I'm guessing Moyesy will go:
Howard
Hibbert Jags Distin Baines
Heitiga Neville
Anichebe Arteta Pienarr
Saha Cahill
Subs:Yak,Anichebe,Yobo,Billy,Beckford,Gueye,Mucha.
I dont really have a problem with either squad makeup as I feel the club as a whole will be up for it this season.
I just hope that we wont let disappointments (and we will have them) get to us too much.
16 Posted 30/07/2010 at 22:46:32
Howard
Neville Jags, Heitinga, Baines
Arteta Fellaini
Anichebe, Cahill, Pienarr
Saha
--------------------
Coleman on for Neville if we are not winning by half time to give him a chance. (Davie you can make subs at half time you know mate) by 60 mins if still chasing or looking for the win bring on Gueye for Anichebe and Beckford for Cahill and push Beckford forward with Saha just off him for flick ons and those thunder strikes.... 80 mins bring on Billy (if he ever pulls his finger out) for Saha.
I know it is highly unlikely Moyes will bring his captain off but this is mine XI so hay ho.
Subs:
Mucha, Coleman, Bily, Yobo, Gueye, Yakubu & Beckford.
17 Posted 30/07/2010 at 23:14:36
18 Posted 30/07/2010 at 23:19:55
19 Posted 30/07/2010 at 23:22:15
Coleman Jagielka Heitenga Baines
Fellaini Rodwell
Arteta Cahill Pienaar
Saha
20 Posted 31/07/2010 at 00:02:40
Neville Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Felliani Arteta
Osman Rodwell Pienaar
Saha
Subs: Mucha Coleman Distin Cahill Billy Gueye Beckford
21 Posted 31/07/2010 at 00:03:56
Just goes to show we have a decent squad when all fully fit, oh wait that's the point of having a squad isn't it? as very rarely all fit...
Am I still writing?? fooks! Am boring myself here. Note to self lay off the vimto.
22 Posted 31/07/2010 at 00:44:02
Pugh
Barney McGrew
Cuthbert
Dibble
Grubb
23 Posted 31/07/2010 at 01:22:39
And im disgusted that Steve Pugh in #14 hasn't even included him in his squad, insted choosing to go with a 19 year old kid with absolutely zero experience of ANY top flight football at all, be it English or French!!!
24 Posted 31/07/2010 at 06:55:33
My starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Howard
Neville Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Fellaini Rodwell
Arteta Cahill Pienaar
Saha
Just the right balance of snarl & skill IMO.
Subs: Mucha, Coleman, Distin, Billy, Yakubu, Anichebe, Beckford
Notable Players Missing: Yobo, Hibbert, Gueye, Vaughan, Osman.
I look at this team and I have only one word ......"WOW".
25 Posted 31/07/2010 at 08:10:32
Good point... I dont know why but I forgot about him!!
We have wonderful midfield with lots of options. Good options up front also... lets hope the Yak can find his feet again. The only question marks are right back - and cover for Bainsey. COYB
26 Posted 31/07/2010 at 08:18:36
27 Posted 31/07/2010 at 08:13:21
Howard
Hibbert Jags Heitinga Baines
Neville
Anichebe Arteta Rodwell Pienaar
Saha
Subs: Mucha, Coleman, Beckford, Gueye, Cahill, Osman, Bily
I was very tempted to stick Neville at right back and add Cahill to the starting line-up. I was also tempted to add Yakubu to the bench. All this could be altered by
1. Pienaar/Yakubu leaving
2. Jags not starting the season
As the season goes on and Felli is fit and Cahill is a bit rested i might start them and opt to rest Vic and Nev. Its a whole new dimension that we have to deal with this year with most of our squad fit and raring to go. Other than Baines' position we have good cover for every other position. I sense this could be a great year for us on many fronts. Lets hope we can stay healthy, keep most of the squad and play creative yet solid football. Cant wait for the seaon to kick off...COYB
28 Posted 31/07/2010 at 08:57:44
Howard
Coleman, Jagielka, Heitinga, Baines
Rodwell, Fellaini
Bilyaletdinov, Arteta, Pienaar
Yakubu
Subs: Mucha, Neville, Distin, Osman, Saha, Gueye & Beckford
(If we?re able to land Donovan, I?d drop Bily to the bench & Gueye to the reserves)
Choosing the front man was the only tough call for me but I went for the Yak because, whilst his goal scoring seems to have deserted him, he?s still supremely good at holding up the ball and bringing others in to play.
Oh... and just so you know: no Cahill; no apologies.
29 Posted 31/07/2010 at 11:41:00
Neville Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Arteta
Rodwell Fellaini
Anichebe Pienaar
Saha
I would play Arteta as a deep lying playmaker and have Big Mo and Rodders pressing high up the pitch. I would look to the fullbacks to provide width and get balls into the box. With Rodwell, Saha, Anichebe and Fellaini all powering into the box we would be a massive aerial threat without sacrificing the ability to move the ball quickly on the floor.
We all know it's a squad game and players like Cahill, Coleman and Bily will all have a part to play but for me that should be the 1st choice 11.
30 Posted 31/07/2010 at 11:48:46
Cahill
Coleman
Bily
Gueye
Distin
Yakubu
Beckford
31 Posted 31/07/2010 at 12:55:23
Howard
Neville-Jagielka-Heitinga-Baines
Fellaini-Rodwell
Pienaar-Arteta-Bilyaletdinov
Saha
Subs:
Mucha
Coleman
Yakubu
Beckford
Distin
Osman
Anichebe
32 Posted 31/07/2010 at 13:02:48
33 Posted 31/07/2010 at 13:39:41
34 Posted 31/07/2010 at 14:44:36
Chris McKenny my starting line up would be the exact same. Though cant agree with your substitutions lol judging by the time on your posts and it being a friday night il assume you had a few beers.
35 Posted 31/07/2010 at 16:42:42
36 Posted 31/07/2010 at 17:04:58
Summing up exactly what I'm talking about. The man is Everton Football Club through and through in a time when contracts and loyalty are absolutely worthless.
37 Posted 31/07/2010 at 22:39:02
Kevy wants me to pick a team so here goes:
11 Tim Cahills.
Kevy, the only reason I don't indulge in this nonsense is that we have on average 3 threads per week doing this.Then people go "Oh I forgot about so and so" after they have posted!
Now, if we have a thread on who we genuinely think DM will pick for the next game, well that's a different matter altogether.
38 Posted 31/07/2010 at 22:52:54
Your having a laugh, leaving out one of our proven best players. Thank god Moyes picks the team and not some of our supporters who clearly have no concept of football.
@Christopher Brown 23.
Why would you say shame for Cahill due to the football being skilful. He is one of the most skilful players to play for Everton in the last ten years and i am sick of these bandwagoners who seem to think he cant play skilful, passing football. Clearly some people must be watching the games with blinkers on.
39 Posted 01/08/2010 at 08:58:44
Howard
Coleman Jagelka Distin Baines
Heitinga
Arteta Fellaini Pienaar
Cahill
Saha
Subs:
Mucha, Neville, Bilyaledinov, Rodwell, Beckford, Yakubu, Osman
Omitted: Hibbert, Anichebe, Gueye, Yobo, Vaughan
40 Posted 01/08/2010 at 12:35:02
41 Posted 01/08/2010 at 14:48:24
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Editorial Team
1 Posted 30/07/2010 at 19:02:13
The real point is we have some great options for a number of positions, in case of injuries... to pick the best player for the opposition or (God forbid), the tactics(!!!)... or just to do squad rotation (what a concept!). We as fans really need to move on from this Best XI mindset ? it's a Squad game, and the 'Best XI' is gonna vary, game to game, week to week.