FAN ARTICLES
Is It Looking Up?

Let?s look at the positives: we played good attacking football. We've seen that we have strength in depth, Coleman wide right and Osman left. I?m not Osman?s biggest fan at all but I will never say he doesn?t deserve to wear an Everton shirt. He is one of the few at the club who would really put their life on the line for this club; the others are Cahill, Hibbert, Howard and Neville.
You will probably be wondering why I said Neville, but look at his actions over the last few years. He is our leader; without him, the team look like strangers... the Cristiano Ronaldo tackle ? he was playing against his boyhood team, the team that made him who is today. Now to do that against them would have taken a lot of bottle. Also the penalty against United he could have backed down and shied from responsibility or he could have let his nerves get the better of him but he never did.
Moyes got his tactics spot on yesterday, but he faces a tough choice now: stick with a winning team or let Pienaar back in. Johny Heitinga will be getting frustrated, he was a rock for us last year, our Mr Dependable ? someone who wouldn?t back down from a fight. Now he?s getting fifteen minutes, he could barge down Moyes?s door and demand a place in the team against Liverpool. But where would Moyes put him? Unless Jags or Distin are injured, he won't play centre half. Neville or Hibbert will play right back. Fellaini will hold, we cannot compromise him when he?s starting to find form. Unless he plays Cahill as the lone striker, he will not replace Arteta or Cahill.
What I would play against Liverpool would be:
Gk: Howard ? Obvious why, superb keeper. Rb: Neville ?He will play and this is his best position. Cbs: Jags and Distin ? Starting to gel together; it would be stupid to break them up now. Lb: Baines ? He is great going forward, will have to keep an eye on Kuyt though. Rm: Coleman ? Superb going forward, needs time to learn defensively. Cdm: Fellaini ? Starting to find form in this position again. Lm: Pienaar ? Him and Baines are too good to throw away. Cm: Arteta ? Links play between flanks well and quality on the ball. Cam: Bilyaletdinov ? I know I?m going to get stick for this but here?s why: very good in the box, he can nick a goal, good with both feet and as we know, has a wicked shot on him. He is not a winger, he played this position for Lokomotiv Moscow, and he rarely plays on the wing for Russia. We can change things round if we do it this way without having to use subs. St: Cahill ? will run until he physically can?t, he will be a pest to the centre halves; he is a threat in the air and put the ball in the box, he will deliver. He will get to Skrtell, Agger, Carragher or whoever plays there.
Whatever team you would play I?m sure you?re going to tell me, but it?s not up to us, its up to the man who has led us from relegation candidates to a well respected side in the Premier League. Let's get behind the team and show them we believe ? In Moyes We Trust?..
Reader Comments (50)
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2 Posted 03/10/2010 at 22:21:23
3 Posted 03/10/2010 at 22:34:17
4 Posted 03/10/2010 at 22:54:00
5 Posted 03/10/2010 at 23:22:56
6 Posted 03/10/2010 at 23:24:45
I really hope Billy gets a chance there before he gets shipped out, but if Moyes will play Fellaini out of position before picking Billy, then what hope has he got when Cahills fit and scoring.
7 Posted 03/10/2010 at 23:29:26
My choice:
Howard
Neville Jags Distin Baines
Fellaini
Coleman Arteta Cahill
Yak Beckford
8 Posted 04/10/2010 at 00:10:19
Play the same team that bossed Birmingham and beat their 18 month record.
BUT...be prepared to change it if it aint working and maybe even play 2 strikers if chasing the game.
The chance to put Liverpool to the bottom of the league after 8 games does not role around that often!!
9 Posted 04/10/2010 at 02:03:01
The performance was decent enough, as most have been this season (Newcastle excepted) but we got the breaks in front of goal.
Turning to the Liverpool game, I have to say I hate derby matches. Too much tension. Too much expectation often not matched on the pitch. I think Moyes's record in derby matches overall is pretty poor, for the reason that his sides play within themselves ? even when given an incentive (red cards to Gerrard, Kyriakos ? albeit which we evened up with Shandy etc). The only defeat I absolve Moyes and the team of any responsibility for is the Clattenburg debacle.
Liverpool are in turmoil on and off the pitch. They've been in a mess off the pitch for a while, but generally held it together on the pitch with a couple of decent players and their usual "luck" seeing them through.
It's time to do to them what they've done to us in the past ? in the bollocks when you're down. But the usual "derby unpredictability" coupled with Moyes's predictability, I think we'll see another tense, nail-biting affair. That game could be the turning point, or the tipping point for our season, and the longer term futures of Moyes, and I'm delighted to say, BK. For all of his faults, I don't think Moyes has let the fans down as much as BK has let him and us down.
10 Posted 04/10/2010 at 04:00:23
11 Posted 04/10/2010 at 08:02:29
12 Posted 04/10/2010 at 10:15:13
13 Posted 04/10/2010 at 10:43:24
Erm, 7 Tony Hibbert's and 4 Tim Cahill's.
Subs: Fellaini, Yak and Jags
14 Posted 04/10/2010 at 10:54:23
Howard
Neville Heitinga (Moyes wont play him!) Jags Baines
Fellaini
Coleman Arteta Cahill Osman
Yak
Subs: Mucha, Saha, Beckford, Hibbert, Bily, Distin.
I just don't get why Heitinga does get a game when he is one of the top defenders?
15 Posted 04/10/2010 at 12:13:27
If you get a chance, check out Jagielka's position and total non reading of the situation that left Jerome unmarked. But everybody loves 'Jags'.
16 Posted 04/10/2010 at 12:29:14
7 Hibbert's and 4 Cahill's would be 5 red cards and the rest yellows.
17 Posted 04/10/2010 at 12:44:13
See how lowly Blackpool went for it and see how it paid off. We have much better players than Blackpool so Moyes should look at that RS result yesterday and pick a team that will attack for a change. We're at home, on the back of a couple of half-decent results, they are in turmoil so I hope to god he doesn't put a defensive formation out and let them start to play.
We need to go at them like in the Dogs of War days when, even with less able players, beating teams by going at 'em paid dividends. Now why can't we put that sort of effort in but with the better class of players we have now? That mix should be unbeatable. All depends on Moyes!!
18 Posted 04/10/2010 at 13:09:30
19 Posted 04/10/2010 at 15:21:46
With Fellaini protecting the defence I don't see it as a problem, more often than not it was Felli who dealt with Zigic.
20 Posted 04/10/2010 at 16:47:09
I would certainly like to see Heitinga given a run. Hopefully he will get his chance soon.
21 Posted 04/10/2010 at 16:50:19
We'll probalby set - up not to get beat, and hope to nick it.
22 Posted 04/10/2010 at 16:48:28
There may be games when a good ball playing centre back is preferable but I don't think last Saturday was one of them!
23 Posted 04/10/2010 at 19:02:24
I do hope we dont play it safe, We know exactly how they will approach this game same as last year and its up to us to finally show we ARE better than them.
24 Posted 04/10/2010 at 19:46:35
I can see this win driving us on now. Giving the shite a good hiding would see us in full flow... 4 wins out the next 5 is certainly possible, and that would see us in the European places. Abysmal start? Yes. End of the world? Certainly not.
25 Posted 04/10/2010 at 19:21:43
I would also go for Billy to start. I would have every guy in the squad who has creativity behind those two up front.
A lot of people will have thought this but not a lot of people will have put it into words. And that is, players like Billy, the young Portugese guy (cant think of his name), Coleman, are all players that Moyes has bought to be part of the next generation. Thewy are really of no consiquence at this point in time.
Back to the Derby.
If fit Hibbet should start with Coleman in front. This will work better i feel than Nev. Two defenders on the right with one being the man who can take, and beat people to make thing happen.
If the shite think of this then they've got even bigger problems that they thought they had on the left.
Livershit aren't that big so go with Heithinger with Jags at the back. Warning to Jags. Screw this one and you're dropped next game. (Moyes take note)
If Pienaar is fit then it's him left but Billy's in the middle with Atreta. WE NEED SHOOTING ABILITY no-one else, so far this season, appears to have this gift. Billy has, ebd of.
This has to be the game which our team has to show on the pitch (not gobbing it in the media) that we mean business, nothing else will do.
Thats it, all thats left to say is
COYB
26 Posted 04/10/2010 at 19:50:15
We kept it tight against big teams with Niell and Jonny at the back last season, Height isnt the be all and end all.
27 Posted 04/10/2010 at 19:53:08
28 Posted 04/10/2010 at 20:18:48
29 Posted 04/10/2010 at 20:42:24
Wish Moyes understood this and used his squad to the optimum.
Villa, Rodwell attack right?????
30 Posted 04/10/2010 at 20:41:20
31 Posted 04/10/2010 at 21:04:17
Hopefully Torres is still out by the time the game comes, as without him I think we have a great chance to finally win the dearby. Even though he has been crap so far.
Knowing Moyes, it will be 451, as usual, even if playing a team at home, who are low on confidence with theiir best player (hopefully) out.
Will see who is still fit after the international break.
Cannot believe we have to wait 2 weeks for the next round of games ! These internationals are getting on my nerves. Most of the qualification games are a waste of time with so many shite teams around - but thats another topic.
32 Posted 04/10/2010 at 21:55:39
I also think that criticism of Distin has been over the top. It's not as though Jags has been on the top of his game.
33 Posted 04/10/2010 at 21:50:34
I can see skin and hair flying in the forthcoming derby, would be very surprised if both teams finish with 11 men.
There is so much at stake this season with both teams badly needing points.
There will be some very interesting duels going on, Felli & Kyriakos, Jags & Torres, Cahill & Gerrard.
Bring it on, this is a great opportunity to get one over on them.
34 Posted 04/10/2010 at 22:19:34
Heitingar, is still a man with a mission and still has a point to prove.
Against the shite Moyes must change things at the back. It's an arm round situ. Believe me if moyes does the arm round thing then Liverpool will have a big problem attacking Everton at home.
Whats the betting that 3/4 of the way through the serason Distan will be on the bench and heit. will be one of the first names on the team sheet.
Ray you're looking at height with distan. Sorry my friend but height is irelevent. (Messi). It's about how good you are as a footballer that counts, not how tall you are.
As a tailspin I will say that Jags as a footballer, in terms of skill is complete and utter rubbish. Once Moyes realises this the we can get a guy from the amature league who makes this guy look like a complete idiot.
Sorry guys but Jags is rubbish, and the sooner we all work that out the better.
Team for the Redshite
Our no.1 goalie.
Next, probably the best defender in the premier league tone hibb, Next, Distan, Heitinger,, Bains
Coleman, because he can take people on AND BEAT THEM, Ateta (once he realises that we all have children) Falla, and Peinaar (he has according to his agent a lot to prove)
And now to our front men.
The Yak has somewhat nothing to prove. Bollox yes he has and he knows this. The game against the shite will invigorate him and make him massive amounts of percentage, in his head the one and only game this season that he will be remembered by.
Now we go to Beckford. This guy really wants to make his name known at Goodison. He will be alert he will be at the most top of his performance and I tell you now that he WILL score against L,pool at the old lady.
I maybe right I maybe wrong, Just my thoughts. I'm not a manager but for his money I'll go for it, as all you lot would. But for me it's always a case of......
COY fuckin Blues, Everton till i die !!!
35 Posted 04/10/2010 at 23:37:05
36 Posted 05/10/2010 at 02:59:12
37 Posted 05/10/2010 at 05:56:37
My point was if Jagielka could read the game he'd have seen Jerome's position and Distin not making the header. What did Jagielka do? run almost into Distin and leave Jerome clear. I just get pissed off on here with the love affair with 'Jags'. It's always "someone else should play alongside Jags" etc. I think he's just crap and glad a few more are starting to state it and not blame the poor guy alongside him
He's simply poor
38 Posted 05/10/2010 at 09:26:14
where Stoke, Blackburn, Birmingham, Bolton ply their trade.
I agree with everyone who states that the team against Liverpool (barring injury) will be the same again - with the possible exception of Pienaar for Osman if he's fit. We've kept clean sheets in the last two matches after all.
I don't want to labour the point but while Jags and Heitinga might be the ideal CB pairing in some people's eyes, against the likes of the teams above, there would always be a place for Distin in my line up. My opinion only - not fact. Heitinga and Jags are just 6', I believe, and good positioning and anticipation cannot always counter huge buggers such as those Birmingham played on Saturday. I seem to remember us having great difficulty coping with Bolton away last year with an emergency CB pairing that lacked height.
Moyes seems to recognise this, going so far as to play 3 CB's at Stoke last year (Yobo too). That was probably going too far as we needed to win that game rather than ensure a clean sheet but that's a separate debate on Davey's tactics.
39 Posted 05/10/2010 at 10:54:27
Howard
Neville
Jagielka
Heitinga
Baines
Coleman
Arteta
Fellaini
Bilyaletdinov
Cahill
Yakubu
Subs
Hibbert
Saha
Mucha
Distin
Silva
Simple no Osman, no Beckford and Hibbert only on the bench.
Simple really Moyes, now you try it!!!!
40 Posted 05/10/2010 at 12:53:17
Makes you wonder
41 Posted 05/10/2010 at 13:11:49
42 Posted 05/10/2010 at 13:22:42
I think we should all watch what Jags does with the ball for England carefully, to see if maybe it is down to instruction, though the pace of the prem may well have something to do with it.
43 Posted 05/10/2010 at 13:59:37
44 Posted 05/10/2010 at 17:38:48
45 Posted 05/10/2010 at 20:06:33
Aslo when is he supposed to get experience? Oh and at least Hibbert can pass to one of ours rather than just hoof to the opposition.
But knowing Moyes it'll be Pip.
46 Posted 05/10/2010 at 21:07:12
Now John Barnes Jagielka is limited yes but surely you are not suggesting Distin is better than him? That is quite frankly absurd.
Distin is the worst player I have seen in a long while at CB for us. How he is an improvement on Yobo I will never know! Simply an Older model if you ask me!
47 Posted 06/10/2010 at 08:34:53
But we should not have the memories of goldfish for what a job Moyes has done to date. It's just frustration where we find ourselves now after so much expectation. I hope Pienaar has an injection before this game and we have one of blind faith to beat them before the devil comes back from holiday to rescue them.
So go for it, Dave, and keep the articles coming Jake, your Dad will help you with our history to the present climate we find ourselves in.
48 Posted 06/10/2010 at 10:18:18
49 Posted 06/10/2010 at 10:20:39
50 Posted 06/10/2010 at 14:08:06
Howard
Hibbert
Jagielka
Distin
Baines
Fellaini
Heitinga
Pienaar
Cahill
Arteta
Yakubu
Bench
Mucha
Neville
Osman
Bilaletdinov
Beckford
Gueye
Saha (if fit)
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1 Posted 03/10/2010 at 22:08:45