FAN ARTICLES
It's like watching the Keystone Cops
Nothing ventured in this massive crunch game, a fixture Everton have won in four out of the last five, Moyes going tried and trusted, 4-5-1, despite its abject failure to provide the goals so far this season. Louis Saha up-front all on his lonesome, the vastly improved Yakubu overlooked for the third match on a row. Everything else pretty much as expected: the dreadful Arteta and the questionable Heitinga picked to start, with Rodwell and Bily on the bench.
No Gyan for Sunderland after their stunning 3-0 win at Champions Chelsea, but Darren Bent is back alongside Welbeck in a two-pronged attack. The visitors kicked off but an early Sunderland corner came to nothing. The game seemed to be going nowhere down the right when Jagielka switched play crossfield and suddenly Pienaar sets Baines free on the left, a fantastic cross, Cahill nails it... GOAL!
A series of Sunderland free-kicks were cleared with good defensive headers, the third driven low, Howard saving low to his left. It din't take long, though for Everton to descend into safety-first football, with passes back instead of forward runs players chosing to play the ball defensively or just hoof it forward aimlessly. Of course, they rare time they didn't, Arteta ruined a promising move with a dreadful pass that set up a Sunderland attack.
Richardson and Coleman tussled boisterously down the right, which got the crowd wound up even more when the ref failed to give the home side a free-kick. But most of the game was being played in the Everton half, the ball up in the air for puerile sessions of head-tennis. 23 mins and Zendon skipped past Pienaar and galloped in, sliding a great ball past Baines and Welbeck couldn't miss at the near post... and he didn't. 1-1.
Baines took Everton's first corner and it looked that Cahill had scored again but it was cleared by three players on the line. The clearance came back and a high ball was won off the keeper by Cahill, played back to Distin but his shot was horribly high
A Neville clip forward was brilliantly anticipated by Cahill and clipped over the advancing Gordon but Turner stopped it on the line, colliding heavily with the post in the process. Arteta than had a shot after a sequence of headers set him up but it was hopelessly high and wide.
The hour-mark came with each side looking to stretch the game after a period of Everton dominance, Sunderland winning a corner that was headed away well by Distin. A period of sustained pressure for Everton followed but in looking for the perfect set-up, it never happened. Jack Rodwell entered the five-minute pre-sub pre-brief from Moyes on the sidelines before he came on to replace Coleman of all people?!?
A nice move? almost a breakaway ? followed but Arteta, well positioned to shoot, chose a clever sideways clip to Pienaar who was pushed too wide and the glorious chance had gone. Malbranque came on for Zendon as Sunderland broke after Arteta went to sleep, Bent' s shot out for the corner, from which a cross eventually came in off Richardson, who had picked the ball up when offside, that Welbeck headed well beyond Howard and into the far top corner.
Everton had paid the price twice-fold for not putting them to the sword after that nice early goal... so, so predictable. Now wait 5 mins and go 4-3-3...???
Rodwell and Bardsley squared off, Jack earning himself a silly yellow card. Everton pushed and probed, but looked as ever to overplay it, with Saha, Pienaar and Rodwell doing the "After you, Claude" walk it into the net routine. Sure enough, 82 mins and Moyes plays his masterstroke, Yakubu for Saha and Beckford for Heitinga. And incredibly, this time it worked! (Although neither of the new subs were involved.)
Arteta looked to have missed his opportunity to shoot, but fired in a weak shot that the keeper had well covered miraculous clipped off Bardsley's foot and into the opposite side of the net!
Both sides could have gone for the win after that, and Malbranque released Bent who fired into the side netting. But as 4 mins went up on the fourth official's board, Everton's ponderous multi-pronged attack only succeeded in getting in each other's way in the Sunderland area. At the other end, Welbeck came so close to securing the win for Sunderland and his hat-trick.
10 seconds left and an incredible piece of Route One/hoofball [delete as appropriate] lands perfectly for Beckford with just the keeper to beat... and he leatheres it over!!! Moyes collapses in despair on the sidelines. He was not alone. Once again, extremely frustrating stuff from the Blues, who should have run away with this one.
Reader Comments (78)
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2 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:06:02
3 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:09:36
4 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:06:54
Michael, you rightly complain for years about 'hoofball' and then now whinge about 'overplaying'. Can't have it both ways.
5 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:16:08
Moyes is so fucking predictable. Just once from the outset I'd like to see him play an attacking formation. Bloody frustrating!!!!!!
6 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:11:06
7 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:09:44
Is Rodwell our future? If so, start him from the beginning. If he's not, don't bother at all because it's unfair on the lad.
At the moment, if I wanted a sub on, I'd be looking at Alan Harper.
8 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:23:08
9 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:17:08
And whats with the Yak and Becks comming on with 8 mins to go. The bloody manager should have brought them on at 1-1 so they could of acclimatised theirselves to the game.
These tactical errors are being repeated game after game. I dont know whats going on in Moyes' head but he needs to sort it out and quick. To many draws when we should be picking up 3 points.
This is not good enough Moyes get your shit together ? PD-effing-Q!!!
10 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:26:10
Again, a real lack of quality in the final third, but I have to mention both our full backs, both excellent...
Arteta got a 2-point bonus in my fantasy league? WTF.... he was awful all game.
Pienaar should be sold in January.
11 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:10:56
Arteta still way off-form and barely worth his place. But the rest played well and would well have won it had Yak and Beckford been given longer ? still don't know why they aren't starting.
Great to see Rodwell back to normal class. Roll on Fella's return. Worryingly I don't think Moyes is learning ? same old poor timing of substitutions.
12 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:29:18
Arteta improved slightly in the second half, and got the equalizer courtesy of a huge deflection, but he was shocking for the majority of the game. He seemed to want way too much time on the ball and was constantly caught in possession or was beaten to the ball by his marker.
Another poor performance by Saha who seemed to make hard work of it for himself and struggled to simply hold the ball up. The guy may as well be a wooden bat, the ball bounces off him so much.
13 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:31:57
Saha looks lost and frustrated. I don't know why he starts rather than Yakubu, who was looking really good in his run of games a few weeks back. 3 wins though ? defo a deserved bottom-half place.
14 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:32:04
Overall we need to freshen things up. Let's give Gueye a chance. Give Arteta a rest (he looks like he needs one)... Even give Bily a game from the start. He's never going to learn or adapt to the Premier League if he doesn't have game time.
And lastly, above all else, we must stop being so bloody predictable.
15 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:27:30
Jagielka/Distin/Neville all hoof it at every opportunity, resulting in giving possesion back constantly, does the manager not see this or does he encourage it?
Saha was dogshit again, too many touches, does not release it early enough. We will be stuffed without Pienaar (if he goes) and Cahill in January.
Mediocrity is what we are and where we will stay unless there is a drastic change of tactics and system by the manager.
16 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:31:51
FUCKING SHOOT, WILL YA!!!
17 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:42:24
18 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:33:24
Heitinga.... words fail me. How Moyes could take Coleman off instead of this gormless bully is beyond me. What the fuck is going on? He contributes NOTHING... and, with Arteta looking even more lost than Bily, our central midfield is a real weak link. Fellaini and Rodwell are the obvious choices when available, but I'll bet my bottom dollar that this won't happen.
God, I really thought we'd make the step up this year. The draw flatters Moyes, and masks the fact that we've got real problems that he doesn't seem to have any clue as how to solve.
19 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:40:07
As for Sunderland's second goal, yes he was slack, but it was an awful pass from Baines that put him in trouble.
20 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:42:17
21 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:49:33
Fickle indeed.
22 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:38:21
Who can say he is not worth at least the same as Arteta? Arteta should be dropped!!! He has been lethargic in comparison. OK there is no-one making the runs for him to pass on to... but, hey, he is supposed to be the best player we have had for 20 years!!! Appears that "The Crab", Ray Wilkins has been coaching him.
It´s time for Arteta to take a look around and follow the example of Pienaar and Cahill and pull his finger out.
23 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:34:48
It's a thin line between where we are now and being a really good team but ultimately we've stood still this season.
Oddly, it's the likes of Bent we need up front. Moyes needs a forward to replace Yak and Saha in January, then use a them with Beckford or Cahill if needed. I'd rather give Beckford a run despite him missing a howler.
Why, when the opposition attack us, is it assumed we have 'sat back'? It's a lazy observation and totally innacurate. The team were right up for it tonight.
24 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:40:26
Conversely, Heitinga was very average and Arteta was woeful, he improved slightly and scored the fluke of course but looked slow, unbothered and didn't even have a decent touch. Saha was poor and Yak must be wondering how he got dropped after his good play a few weeks back.
Rapidly losing interest in this season...
25 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:59:14
Saha was a waste of time, don't think he had a shot on goal. When Beckford came on, at least he wasn't frightened of having a go.
Baines had a good game, never gave up.
26 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:38:54
Saha ? January sale.
Arteta ? spell on the bench.
Jagielka ? stop hoofing and falling over.
Neville ? stop hoofing and passing to opposition.
Pienaar ? give him what he wants.
Moyes ? how the fuck do you get away with it?
27 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:54:32
The plus side: We created some very good chances, including one cleared off the line. Jagielka looked more like his old self, defensively. We salvaged a point and should have won the game.
The down side: Heitinga is possible the least mobile Prem player I have ever seen, and that says something. Baines showed again why he isn't in the England squad, great going forward but can't defend to save his life, how many crosses come in from his side every game? He never cuts them out. As much as I'm a fan, Arteta looks at least a yard short, he even made Cattermole look like a world class sprinter at one point. Saha, utter waste of space! I can only assume something has gone on with the Yak because he hasn't had a sniff of a start lately, just as he was starting to show some form. Bringing Jack on at R Mid, well enough said really. Leaving the introduction of Yak and Becks until the 82nd minute, again, enough said.
One last thing, before I hit the vino to calm me down, just look at our coaching staff, not an attack-minded person amongst them! And where is Andy Holden? Was he in Baz Rathbone's suitcase?
28 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:22:11
Heitinga is not a Premier League quality central midfielder (central defender, yes) and Rodwell, having shown so much promise in the centre of the field, now gets played at right wing. At least Pienaar and Arteta both have played games on the wing! No wonder our team lacks balance.
The most frustrating thing about watching Everton under Moyes is the complete lack of attacking intent once we grab a goal. I've no idea if its Moyes or the players or both, but even if we were 4-0 ahead with 20 minutes left, I'd still be worried about a comeback and a nervy last few minutes defending a 4-3 lead.
29 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:50:46
1) It's spelt Heitinga.
2) Heitinga is not, has never been, and never will be a CM. Moyes is persevering with him and playing Rodwell on the right?! Jesus...
3) Arteta celebrating a lucky goal (one of about 5 he'll get all year, tops) rather than running to get the ball for the re-start as a winner would / should have done. Fair enough, it's nice for the fans who have gone up to the NE on a Monday night to celebrate a goal with the players but it's small time behaviour and maybe insight into why we have won 3 in 14?
30 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:09:57
31 Posted 22/11/2010 at 22:09:52
For months I have criticised his faith in a lone striker when it is quite clear that we do not have anyone capable at that kind of role. It has taken a bit longer for some but more and more people are beginning to recognise that Moyes is in a defensive straight jacket of his own making.
I would love to be proved wrong but while he is manager, or unless he has a road-to-Damascus revelation, we will never again qualify for Europe.
Had it not been for our little Aussie battler, the situation would be more desperate than it already is and Moyes would be enjoying a taxi ride. Lack of funds does not excuse abysmal tactics, nor does it excuse an inability to read the flow of a game or poor team selections or timing and deployment of substitutes.
32 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:16:22
3 wins from 14. THREE!
33 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:19:55
Three wins and world beaters WBA in town next weekend. Moyes will be back to 4-5-1 again.
34 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:20:49
Then there is Saha, it's not happening for him this season; Yak, can't get a look in; Arteta awol...
Moyes, clearly going through his manic depression stage, trying daft things and really poor tactical decision-making.
Leaving fans confused, frustrated.. are we missing something? Is there a great plan?
As I said on a previous post, it's time the team was rebuilt and some let go and Moyes needs to be ruthless rather than toothless...
35 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:33:34
36 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:43:40
37 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:45:47
I have been supporting my loyal Blues since 1989 and we have only won ONE thing since, I can't honestly see where our next cup or league (ha ha ha) is going to come from. Frustrated with them.
38 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:39:14
Furthermore, why wait until it's so late to bring attacking reinforcements on???
We know we can't keep a clean sheet anymore so we need to score more than the opposition to win.
39 Posted 22/11/2010 at 23:48:19
For the love of God, stop playing Heitinga in midfield and Saha as a lone striker. Neither are suited to those roles.
Whenever we broke down an attack in the first half, Louis was never where he should be. It's not his position, he needs a partner (or taken out back and put down).
Heitinga isn't a midfielder. He sits too deep then gets sucked into the ball and ends up too far forward. At no point does he do the fucking job that position requires. He can't do it! It's not his position!!!
Arteta is well out of form but it fucking pisses me off when I see Arteta standing in front of the back four because JH has made one of those mad charges out of position at a ball he could never win.
Change it for fuck's sake!
40 Posted 23/11/2010 at 00:16:49
I for one don't understand the inclusion of Saha? Really, does someone know? He has passed his use-by date. To replace him with 9 mins left is mental.
Why on earth do we give such sloppy feckin goals away? Lack of marking or players not trying to cover properly... 3 games now I have noticed midfield players not caring to cover their man or pick up going back. What is the point of Heitinga as a DM?
Why is it our players try to run it into the net or when in shooting position try pass it back out wide for someone to make a cross? It's baffling.
And why is it, when Everton play, the Sky commentator is an ex-diehard of our oppostion who talks nothing bad about their old team and how they can do no wrong? Alan Smith and Kevin Phillips, annoying as fuck!!
41 Posted 23/11/2010 at 00:27:28
Have to agree with those who've already pointed out the fact that, just as the Yak appeared to be recovering some semblance of his old form, he gets relegated to the subs bench and is replaced by the totally ineffective Saha.
Arteta and Johnny were both atrocious tonight so Moyes decides to sub Coleman? I had real sympathy for Coleman tonight ? he got sod-all support from anyone absolutely zilch from the central pairing and nothing form Neville. When he did manage to slip his marker, Neville couldn't find him with a pass, not even from two or three yards away. Yet when he had the opposition sticking to him like glue Neville would attempt to pass to him.
Then he gets replaced by Rodwell? One thing Rodwell did do was introduce a physical presence with some decent challenges; unfortunately, we needed that kind of presence in the middle of the park. What on earth was Moyes thinking about?
The stand-out performers for me were Pienaar, Baines, Jagielka and Cahill. Given that the latter will be off in January, we really could be in for a very difficult period if we cannot accrue much-needed points between now and his departure.
42 Posted 23/11/2010 at 00:34:50
Try this: Heitinga ? garbage. Arteta ? the worst form in his time at Goodison. Saha & Yak ? cannot buy a goal. Seamus ? needs more time and experience. Fellaini ? missing him badly.
When half the team is performing this badly, it's a wonder we are not adrift at the bottom.
43 Posted 23/11/2010 at 00:27:07
This would then allow Moyes to play Fellaini and Rodwell in the centre, making us less lightweight in that area and hopefully making it more difficult for opposition teams just to steamroller straight through the middle as they seem to be doing at the moment.
I know Coleman has done ok there... but, in the last couple of games, it looks like the surprise element has worn off a little. Phil Bardsley easily got the better of him today.
44 Posted 23/11/2010 at 01:16:18
We played an in-form team on their own pitch, a team that beat Chelsea 3-0 last week. Football is a game of luck and on another day we would have hammered Sunderland despite four players not living up to their reputations... and we desperately miss Fellaini.
We've hardly had one lucky break this season, we haven't even had a penalty awarded yet their second goal should never have been allowed ? A blatant offside...
Moan about Moyes all you like, he's not going anywhere which is about the only decent thing Kenwright has ever done.
45 Posted 23/11/2010 at 01:22:51
Have the balls to kick on and go and score a few. The best form of defence IS attack. I just wish Moyes would set his team up to go and attack from the start, and keep playing attacking football regardless of the scoreline. It's not a formation thing for me (Timmy is essentially playing as a second forward), it's a mentality ? and ours is predominantly defensive.
Why start attacking more when you're 2-1 down? Why not when it's 1-1 and go and win the fricking game? It's getting so frustrating.
46 Posted 23/11/2010 at 01:46:24
Up until recently I've had my tent pitched very firmly in the Moyes camp. He has been great for this football club in many ways, but I fear he's taken us as far as he can unless he can miraculously grow an attacking pair of bollocks.
47 Posted 23/11/2010 at 03:09:03
48 Posted 23/11/2010 at 04:59:41
Yes, he looks uncomfortable playing out of position... but he remains one of the few that can actually pass a ball to a team mate more than 20 metres away. In fact, he does the right thing and plays short passes that will hit the target. He didn't stand out at all but I don't think he was the worst on show.
For me, Arteta should have gone at half-time. In the last 2 games, he has undoubtedly played his worst football. He is a yard off the pace. Everyone has a bad spell so give him a rest.
As for the criticism of Saha, I think all 3 of the strikers have had a run at playing that "lone" striker role and, as you might expect, nobody has succeeded. That's Moyes's fault ? not any of the strikers.
On the subject of Moyes and his mind-blowing decisions to put subs on with 10 mins to go... well, what can you say ? other than Pathetic. His assistant must be terrified to say anything because every football fan worth their salt knows that giving someone 10 mins (max) to get into the game is a nonsense, particularly given the way we were performing.
Neville, well he is a leader but that's about all; I am afraid his constant waste of possession and inability to cross is just infuriating. I would do a Capello and play Jags at right back and play Heitinga where he should be playing. Not sure how we have managed to concede so few goals (up until the last 2 games anyway) because the defence looks anything but comfortable.
Another 3 points for the taking but how many times could we say that? Situation normal, not good enough and Moyes's selection policy has a lot do with that.
49 Posted 23/11/2010 at 04:19:53
Some corrections: Steve (#4)... hoofball, overplaying... JUST FUCKING SHOOT, WILL YA! (Credit to Dave #16).
John Daley (#12)... "wooden bat" ? genius!
Conor (#21) ? we didn't win ? that's the whole point!!! Fickle indeed...
John (#23) ? we "sat back" as in when we had the ball and we had the opportunity to move it forward and create an attack, we chose not to; we passed it back. Count the number of goddamn times we passed it back instead of forwards.
Sam (#24) "Rapidly losing interest" ? me too!
Wayne Smith (#27) "The most frustrating thing about watching Everton under Moyes is the complete lack of attacking intent once we grab a goal." ? 10,000% nailed-on. I really wanna smash something badly.
Dick Fearon (#31) "Lack of funds does not excuse abysmal tactics, nor does it excuse an inability to read the flow of a game or poor team selections or timing and deployment of substitutes." ? 10,000% nailed-on. (Shit... do I ever agree with you?)
Jay (#39): "We know we can't keep a clean sheet anymore so we need to score more than the opposition to win." ? It's obvious to you, it's obvious to me... to thousands of other Blues... but Moyes? I despair, I really despair... He ain't never ever gonna change.
50 Posted 23/11/2010 at 07:02:33
If DM did go or was shoved (highly unlikely), who do you think would be a good replacement? We could end up with Gordon Lee again?
51 Posted 23/11/2010 at 07:20:29
52 Posted 23/11/2010 at 07:44:11
Distin, Jags at the back and Baines going forward were our best with Cahill and Pienaar further forward the only threat...
Arteta does need a rest and Becks should be tried up front with either the Yak or Saha. We put lots of effort and a semblance of guile in against the best Sunderland side I have seen for ages... they broke very quickly and Jags and Distin had to be at their best and protected Howard very well in the main.
I would play:
Howard; Neville, Jags, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Rodwell, Cahill and Pienar; Beckford and either Saha or the Yak, with Arteta on the bench for a game or two... If Fellaini is available then Coleman makes way.
53 Posted 23/11/2010 at 07:54:57
Moyes needs to find some balls and start making some tough decisions, Saha should've been off at halftime. Neville should've been subbed instead of Coleman, at least he can pass to another guy in blue. Neville needs to be dropped, flogged, shot... whatever ? along with Saha.
While giving 100% effort again, Coleman isn't a right winger, he's a full back ? play him there and get Neville off the books, time's up. Our problem is we never get rid of players when we should, quite a few are due for a step down.
54 Posted 23/11/2010 at 08:46:07
Bloody Aussies will be the death of Everton. (Tongue in cheek, by the way.)
55 Posted 23/11/2010 at 08:52:41
Posting comments on this page is okay, but to get the attention where it matters, all the above comments must be sent directly, by snail mail, to Goodison Park. Also let Moyes know how we're feeling at the upcoming home games ? then he will walk... he has said he will do so if the fans don't want him.
56 Posted 23/11/2010 at 10:06:10
I'm a fan of P Neville and respect his important role of captain but when we were looking to score surely you put a winger on and then Coleman back to RB therefore creating the sort of dynamism we have on the left???
For me, our team will be more balanced when Coleman reverts to right-back and someone fast and direct gets on on the right midfield (Anichebe or Donavan?).
57 Posted 23/11/2010 at 10:02:29
Why do we always fall back to our 18-yard line and press the panic button once we get a one-goal lead? It's ridiculous. Sunderland were there for the taking last night, but in the end we were lucky to get a point.
I think David Moyes better be careful because, if he doesn't change his ways soon, then not only are the majority of fans going to turn on him but we will also find ourselves in a totally unnecessary relegation dog fight.
I asked this question last week on another thread and I'll ask it again: Why is Yakubu not starting? He was just coming back to form, working much harder for the team, scored his first goal of the season against Stoke... and then DM relegates him to the bench and chooses Sick Note to lead the line! WTF?!?
If I had my way, I would have stopped Saha and Arteta's wages last night as they were both totally inept. Arteta may have scored a defleted goal but he was still piss-poor for 99% of the game. And as for Neville, why the fuck does he never shoot? A clear shooting chance last night in the second half and he bottled it. AAAAARRGGGGHHH!!!!
ps: A message to DM:- If you want your strikers to take their chances, then give them more game time and they might just do the business. Don't just give then 10 minutes and expext them to get you out of the shit everytime.
58 Posted 23/11/2010 at 10:35:51
59 Posted 23/11/2010 at 11:17:53
Funnily enough, we started to look much better when Saha came off... I'm getting fed up of him doing his best to act like Jo ? can hold the ball, looks nervous and easily gets muscled off the ball.
Good to see Rodwell back ? he looked good.
60 Posted 23/11/2010 at 11:23:19
61 Posted 23/11/2010 at 11:47:15
Frustrating, yes, and certainly room for improvement, but still many good things.
62 Posted 23/11/2010 at 11:39:44
Arteta looks like a man with zero confidence at the minute; people seem a little overly keen to get on the back of someone who has been fantastic for 5 seasons, but I would suggest with Fellaini returning and Rodwell or even Billy fit, taking him out the firing line would be good man management.
Neville is quite simply a dreadful player, he seems to take all the credit when we are on a good run, well he's still in the team now when were dropping points left right and centre. He shows no intention of supporting his winger, gives his man far too much space, and his 'passing' is appalling for someone who has been coached at the highest level, it's embarrassing... but he made that tackle on Ronaldo, which changed our season, cured cancer and gave African children in poverty hope, so it's okay then.
If you asked every away fan at the ground who they would have upfront, only David Moyes would pick Saha at the moment. Not the first time Moyes sees the virtue in a selection or tactic that literally everyone else diagrees with.
Glass ceiling you say?
63 Posted 23/11/2010 at 10:08:32
The performance was ok in parts and dire in others. Arteta seems a yard off the pace, is he carrying an injury? The one time he showed a bit of drive and ambition he got his goal, albeit deflected (Lampard gets plenty) but he showed good awareness and skill to get the shot away.
Heitinga is by far a better CB than CM but all he seems interested in doing is getting booked, his attitude seems off to me at the moment. Saha though for me was a disgrace, Yak has to start versus West Brom.
Thank God for Tim Cahill, can we put to bed the thought that he should be out of the team now ,please.
65 Posted 23/11/2010 at 12:24:55
Heitinga is a complete and utter waste of space. Should not be playing in midfield. Full stop. If he is not picked to play in central defence, he should not be picked at all.
Arteta going through his worst spell of games that he has had since he joined the club five years ago.
Saha is not interested. Was on the third row last night and counted at least 5 times when Cahill went from one side of the box to another chasing and hurrying their defenders whilst Saha just stood there, he did not move. Although Yak and Beckford have not scored much this season, I still think watching them play there is goals in them. With regards to Saha, he could have played all night and he would never even have had a shot on goal.
Baines is great going forward but he is not a good defender. If you look at the percentage of goals that Everton concede and see which side of the pitch that a large amount of the goals come from, I think it will be very telling.
People calling for Coleman to play right back. I would be interested to know how many times these people have seen the lad play right back. I have seen him play right back live and he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights, for example, the first half against Huddersfield and away at Brentford he was caught out defensively on a regular basis.
66 Posted 23/11/2010 at 12:55:12
Still feel that way?
67 Posted 23/11/2010 at 12:40:27
It's quite simple really, Michael wants us to play properly which is somewhere in the middle. You play the ball about to stretch the opposition, whilst your attackers run about to get into space. Then you play the killer pass to the attacker in space who either quickly moves it on to another attacker, also in space, in a better position or he shoots. Simple really.
68 Posted 23/11/2010 at 13:30:37
69 Posted 23/11/2010 at 13:36:56
We are scoring but unfortunately the midfield are not helping the defence at all and the opposition are walking through them. Their second goal was clearly offside and Beckford should have buried his chance.
We are playing shite at the moment but have only lost once in 8 games (to Arsenal). When we start playing well, if we ever do, we will start beating the likes of Sunderland easily.
Tactics were fine, just the usual individual cock-ups costing us again. I was a bit nonplussed when Coleman came off then I realised that he had been in the defenders skyrocket for 99% of his time on the pitch.
70 Posted 23/11/2010 at 13:56:13
Playing against Richardson and Bardsley, Bardsley sat deep, so Seamus's one trick of knocking the ball past the defender into the space didn't work because the full back never pushed up the pitch to leave any space behind him.
Rodwell came on because we didn't have another option for RM but needed to change it as it was basically like playing with 10 men as the right side was so ineffective.
As for the 4-5-1 complaints, I suggest you watch it again, for most of the game Cahill was playing further up the field than Saha, so not exactly in midfield. The only difference is when we didn't have the ball as he dropped back into midfield to make the extra man ? if you noticed, it was exactly the same with Welbeck as he was the guy who kept nicking the ball of Arteta.
71 Posted 23/11/2010 at 14:12:27
72 Posted 23/11/2010 at 14:36:02
73 Posted 23/11/2010 at 14:45:37
Reading the comments, not many is the answer.
Arteta got better as the game went on and actually put in some meaty challenges to win the ball on a few occassions.
Big concern again was Saha. Beckford needs to start and we need to play the ball he needs. He has pace so lets utilise it with Cahill following in behind.
Any praise for hoofball Jags? two long passes, scored the first and Beckford should have buried the second.
Unfair to bollock the lads for last night, i'd back this team to compete with any premier side home or away.
76 Posted 23/11/2010 at 15:52:10
77 Posted 23/11/2010 at 16:49:04
I'm critical by the way but it needs to be constructive; I can only offer an amateur's view about why we are doing far worse than form deserves but again I'm positive because we tend to recover. I just wish Moyes would spare us the bit in between.
78 Posted 23/11/2010 at 18:54:09
He did a sterling job in the early years, removing the deadwood and replacing the squad with lots of young players with potential... but, 8 years on, we still lack genuine pace and creativity on the wings.
None of the players who play on our wings are natural wingers, but we are oversupplied with very good central midfielders such as Pienaar, Arteta, Bily, Rodwell and Fellaini and we have a good set of central defenders in Heitinga, Distin and Jags.
With the exception of Pienaar, non of the players in the squad have the attributes to play as Premier League wingers.
What little money Moyes got from the sale of Lescott, he used to strengthen central defence and centre mid where we were already comparatively strong.
One of the frustrating aspects of watching events unfold is that we are actually not that far off being a very, very good side, but we are effectively playing with 9 or 10 men in every game because of the fact that a few of our players are not playing in their natural positions.
In the last game, our starting 11 contained 1 goalkeeper, 3 central defenders, two right backs 1 left back, three attacking centre midfielders and 1 striker.
Is it any wonder the players we put out on the pitch look devoid of attacking ideas and movement? Is it any wonder we have been so goal shy?
Personally, I'd rather Moyes sell one or two of our players from centre mid and central defence and replace with people who can actually do a job there. Either that or change the formation so at least our players are comfortable with what's being asked of them.
I still find it shocking that during many games, all I seem to hear is Moyes on the touchline constantly yelling instructions at professional players at the top of their game, paid up to £60k / week. It's like we are watching an under-9's game. What the hell do these guys do in the 6 days between matches?
79 Posted 23/11/2010 at 20:45:28
In my penultimate paragraph it should of course state that Moyes should sell some central defenders/right backs/centre midfielders and buy some players who can actually play on the wings.
80 Posted 23/11/2010 at 22:18:47
Howard
Jagielka Distin Heitinga
Coleman Fellaini Arteta Rodwell Baines
Billy & Yakubu
Sorry, Cahill fans, he won't be with us come January (Asian Cup).
This has to be the way forward. Fellaini drops to defensive midfield. Coleman & Baines attacking full backs. Billy (in russia his best position was upfront ? not on the wing). Yakubu (well he's strong, holds up the ball and can bring players around into the game).
Come on, Moyes do this Saturday ? 27 November 2010 ? OUR SEASON STARTS NOW.
COYB
New Manager??? I hear Walter Smith is avaialble come June... (JOKING LADS, JOKING).
In Moyes We Trust? ? Do we trust anyone?
What can we do ? I'm ranting, I'm tired, it's late ? am I making sense
Help, where's the sleeping pills?
81 Posted 24/11/2010 at 08:23:56
It was undoubtedly a 4-4-2 and I do belive Moyes was out to win this one from the start.
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1 Posted 22/11/2010 at 21:58:28
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