FAN ARTICLES

How to take Penalties...

By Michael Kenrick : 30/04/2011 :

Comments (56) :

All change at the front with Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill and Victor Anichebe all starting in the fluorescent pink kit adding to the blazing spring sunshine. Beckford , Bily and Coleman dropped to the bench. For relegation candidates Wigan, Rodallega nearly got a shot in from an early through ball but could only drive wide. Distin gave away the first corner on 6 mins but it was dealt with. With Arteta back in form, the early attacks failed to get near the area unless Baines was played in down the left... but his crosses were not finding any of those delightful pink shirts.

Zonal marking seemed to fill the Wigan half with strategically placed defenders whenever Moyes's boys went forward, but they started to get more into it after 15-mins, building some attacks that showed signs of getting closer to the Wigan goal. Everton got lucky when Rodallega beat Baines but the linesman wrongly gave the ball as out of play.

But a strange pattern of play saw Wigan take the lead, a ball chipped forward to N'Zogbia beat the Everton defence but he looked to have missed the ball and stumbled when Howard challenged him, the crowd screaming for a penalty but N'Zogbia was back up and, as Baines stood off him, he spun around and from a difficult angle he scooped a brilliant shot over Howard into the far side of the goal. Poor defending, principally from Baines.

Up the other end and neat footwork saw Osman lash a shot at the Wigan goal that was palmed over by Al Habsi as Everton tried to respond immediately, but a quick goal did not come. Some sustained attacking led to Osman winning a free-kick on the right that Baines swung in, but the ensuing corner on the half-hour came to nought.

Osman won another corner and then won a penalty from it played short as he turned N'Zogbia on the corner of the penalty area. A glorious gift to equalize but Arteta's spot kick was not hit with sufficient power or height and Al Habsi anticipated it brilliantly to palm it away.

Diame went in the book for his poor tackle on Rodwell, who seemed to land awkwardly but came off better than the Wigan player, who limped heavily and then collapsed in a heap and finally was substituted. Next wounded Wiganer was N'Zogbia. Rodallega then pushed Distin in the face as he ran for a ball in the Everton area.

In stoppage time, N'Zogbia managed to get a shot in that Howard blocked away, but had not been smart emough at the other end to get anything from a first half that looked ominously like spoiling a surprising record: Everton are the only Premier League team not to loss back-to-back this season.

Neville started the second period with a Rory Delap throw from the left that almost surprised Al Habsi. Anichebe looked to get past his marker and set off for goal but was caught too easily and punted it pointlessly. N'Zogbia limped off on 53 mins replaced by Moses. Osman won another free kick but a bit far out, and Baines went square, getting another kick from a wider position that Baines hopelessly overhit. Anichebe, who had been poor looked to be on the end of a neat little through ball

Hibbert was given a poor yellow card when Figurora playacted well, adding to a lengthening list of poor decisions by the officials. Everton the n lived dangerously as Moses looked to score but Howard saved well after Jagielka had denied Rodallega a clear chance. Moses then power another one for Howard to palm over as Wigan threatened to overrun the Pinks and Moyes looked to change things, but not until Baines had taken a corner as the pace quickened . Osman, finally seemd to get a chance but it lacked power and almost bounced back to Cahill who had largley been a passenger.

When the changes finally came, Moyes's underperforming favourites Arteta and Cahill came off with Beckford and Coleman coming on... would that be 4-4-2??? Not exactly; Anichebe pushing out wide left. But it was Wigan who looked more like scoring, three vital blocks by Neville and Jagielka denied Moses then McArthur.

A series of corners and free-kicks finally put some serious pressure on Wigan and Rodelleag finally cracked, needlessly handling a corner from Baines when he mistimed his defensive leap. Beaines showed Arteta exactly how to take an unstoppable spot-kick, and gave a semblance of respectability to the scoreline. Martinez responded by pulling off Cleverly with 12 mins left for someone to claim all three points.

Rodwell picked up a yellow card for a 50-50 challenge and Anichebe was finally dragged off, Magaye Gueye on for the last 10 mins. Everton looked more intent and Coleman had a pop from a corner that was deflected, forcing a nice acrobatic save from Al Habsi.

Everton were finally playing better football but a good move was spoilt by Beckford being offside, and Wigan then attacked, forcing a good punch from Howard, who had to alert to catch a weak shot from Di Santo, the game set to go right to the finish with both sides getting increasingly keen. Rodellaga drove a good shot that Howard blocked. Watson looked to beat Howard from distance and Moses should have scored off the rebound but was offside as Wigan seemed more intent than Everton despoite the raucous Blues support.

So it finished 1-1, and left an all-too-familiar feeling for this disappointing season of two more points squandered with a draw that should surely have been a win.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa Y:87', Diame Y (44' McArthur), Watson, N'Zogbia, McCarthy, Cleverley, Rodallega. Subs: Kirkland, Gohouri, Di Santo, Moses, Gomez, , Sammon.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert Y: , Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Neville, Rodwell Y:81', Arteta, Cahill, Anichebe (82' Gueye). Subs: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Coleman, Vellios, Duffy. Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Reader Comments (56)

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Brian Waring
1 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:04:19

God, we're really shite!!!

James Martin
2 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:03:00

Team selection was a joke today, what has Anichebe done to get in ahead of Beckford? Why is our best player at the moment stuck on the right wing to accomodate a half fit half pace 'talisman'? Why does Rodwell ever get picked at centre mid? Why can't Baines defend? The team's apathy is just so annoying, Wigan showed everyone why they are in the relegation zone yet we couldn't get even into second gear and despite ebing gifted two penalties still didn't win the game, absolute joke.

Brian Waring
3 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:06:42

James, we were lucky to have come away with a point.

Jackie Barry
4 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:07:36

Wigan will be thinking they have dropped 2-points, there is no way we can say Everton have dropped points. We were pathetic and deserved nothing except maybe a thrashing!

Ian McDowell
5 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:12:46

An appalling display. We really have some big decisions to make in the summer.

Andy Morden
6 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:09:16

Poor. Silly team selection; it is clear Arteta and Cahill are both far from fully fit. Should have been impact subs. Back to the early season game pattern. Pretty patterns and over elaboration when we did have the ball. Baines was poor defensively, all at sea against two quick and direct opponents.

Good penalty though. Watch Carefully, Mikel.

Andy Morden
7 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:13:51

Should be "two" not "too2 (post 6). Why did I write that? Duh.

Trevor Lynes
8 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:09:07

We do not have a striker available worthy of the name...Saha is our best by a mile and he was surplus to requirements at UTD....it smacks of charity shop buying !!
Most of the teams below us have better strikers and we have definitely relied on the defenders almost the whole of the season....we have drawn so many games its incredible !!!!!
How is it that nearly all the so called smaller sides can 'FIND' strikers like Odemwingie at WBA....and the likes of Sturridge can be taken by yet another 'smaller side' while we loan OUT all ours and bring in...zilch....
I know that the Yak is a lazy sod and even had to be dropped at Leicester to motivate him and Vaughan is a non starter for the premier...but we have loaned out a full team plus !!
We are literally staggering through until the end of the season without any future so long as we are with the same board in control.
I dont think we would have scored at all without getting a second penalty.....

James Martin
9 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:14:09

Baines has been poor defensively all season! Moyes can solve his left midifeld problem (one of a long list of problems) by shifting Baines to left mid. Distin deserves player of the season for doing two mens jobs. How many goals do we concede from that side? Too many. Add Baines defensive deficiencis to 2 'holding mids' who don't track back or really offer anything and you can see why we get waltzed through so easily.

Jamie Barlow
10 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:07:40

Moyes got it badly wrong today. Cahill and Arteta shouldn't have started. They've done nothing to justify starting a game. Anichebe, fuck me, have you ever seen a player as bad as him. I know it's been said dozens of times but it just amazes me how he can get a game at a club like Everton. Baines was terrible. Rodwell was his normal exciting self. The whole team are a bunch of wasters who are looking forward to the end of the season in my eyes. Same here, I can't wait to see the fuckin back of them.

Will Leaf
11 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:20:30

Nice penalty, shame about everything else

Mike Gaynes
12 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:25:14

Good post, James. Apart from the penalty and one decent cross (just one!), Baines was absolutely putrid in this game. He?s never been a very good defender, but today he lacked effort, which is inexcusable. He was lazy on the touchline against N?Zogbia and gave away a clean breakaway, bailed out only by a bad call from the linesman. Baines was totally at fault for the goal ? left standing by a clearly onside N?Zogbia, and even after Howard charged out and gave Baines time to get back in the play, he flatly refused to close N?Zogbia down. He just stood there and watched as a very good striker took a wide-open shot from 12 yards. Baines also got undressed three times by Moses in the second half, including twice in a minute, and had to be rescued by Howard and Neville. It was the worst single defensive performance I?ve seen from an Everton player in years.

Also, Everton did not create a single clear scoring chance in this game. Not one. The best shot we got was Osman?s, and both penalties were gifts from Wigan. At one point early on, we strung together 24 straight passes and didn?t even get a cross in, let alone a shot. Meanwhile, Wigan spent the last ten minutes peppering away with more conviction than we showed in the entire game.

Finally, I will never understand how Moyes can give 80 minutes to a ?striker? who never strikes, never scores, never even looks like scoring, never even gets a decent shot on goal, never creates opportunities for anyone else. Ridiculous.

This was an undeserved point, a flat-out gift from Handball Hugo.

David Crowe
13 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:23:01

Don't see what the real problem with picking anichebe was, beckford came on and proved he's no better and I can guarantee he'd have done fuck all all game if he'd started. It's clear this squad was never going to live up to the expectations we put on it. Only Baines, Distin (just) Fellaini and arguably the keeper are good enough to be considered as the sort of quality we need to push on (would have said Saha but he's too injury prone). And to think, united would have given 30 mill last year for rodders.... I'd take half of that now

Jackie Barry
14 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:28:57

Seriously David, you really don't see Beckford being better than Anichebe, really? He scores goals, Anichebe doesn't, isn't that what a forward is supposed to do?

Also when you spend the game hoofing long balls to Beckford it ain't going to get you anywhere. He needs it on the floor and played into space, something our team seem incapable of doing.

John Audsley
15 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:30:46

Apathy FC

Utter rubbish and at times Wigan pissed all over us

Apart from Ossie and Howard everyone else was on an early summer holiday

Thank God for that 10 milion rated idiots handball or else we would have deservedly lost.

As i said on the forum Moyes will play the "Should have won with the 2 pens" and it was a "hard shift put in by the players" etc, efuckingtc

Crap from start to finish and very interesting to hear our fans booing players Mid 2nd half (Rodwell and Arteta i think but could be wrong)

Not heard that since Alan Harper's 2nd stint in the early 90's and knowing how loyal and hardcore our away fans are i was i bit shocked

Not as bad as the Bolton game but very close, Jesus this season's been alot of fookin shite

Colin Potter
16 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:30:57

And to think Anichebe will be with us for another 4 seasons, thanks to the red headed clown.

Chris Bannantyne
17 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:41:42

Yep. Maybe beckford would have done nothing, maybe he would have. But surely a 'maybe' is better than Anichebe? He is the worst player. I knew it wa going to be a shocker when I saw the starting lineup.

And yeah, we are short on forwards, but why couldn't Vellios or Gueye be options?? Vellios has played only about fifteen seconds all season but has managed to impress me far more than Anichebe. Gueye can be good and can disappear but he won a corner with his first touch of the ball and did more than Vic managed to do in 80mins.

There was maybe one or two times during the game where I thought "fuck me! Anichebe might actually do something here!" when he had made a decent turn or run and had the ball played onto his feat. But he just managed to fall over every time again.

Yeah, baines was poor but I am reluctant to give him any stick because he has been one of/the most valuable player of the season so far.

I have been a big fan of Arteta and Cahill over the years, but was really confused as to how they managed to get starting places. Neither performed well and are not looking fully fit or anywhere near good form.

Why is it that when we have a long list of injuries we hit the best form of the season, buy as soon as our 'star players' start coming back we look really shit again? It has to be down to the manager.

Was that THE most lackluster performance of the season, or just one of them?

Ray Robinson
18 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:10:52

Victor Anichebe is not quite as bad as Rod Belfitt or Bernie Wright (for those of you old enough to remember the 70') but to even mention him in the same breath as those two is really saying something.

Gareth Hughes
19 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:25:12

Bit random,but talking about strikers; what on earth has happened to Joao Silva? Where is he???

Amit Vithlani
20 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:11:03

I thought it was a good battling point, considering we played so poorly. What we badly miss is a centre forward who can hold the ball up, and someone who can get in the opposition's faces.

Why people want to shit on Rodwell continues to baffle me. He started his career as a centre half. He has been moulded into a midfielder, and given his age, will have time to develop into the role. We used to be known as a club famous for being patient with young lads, so why the fuck the hysterical criticism of the lad? Its not his fault he has been touted as a potential target for Manure, or that his mooted price is £20m.

Jamie Barlow
21 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:20:36

What chance have we really got when your assistant manager, coach or whatever he is says "They went all out to win, it was important to us to stay in the game, try and control it and take our chances when they came.

"We missed some opportunities, including the penalty, and you think is it going to be one of those days. But credit to the lads they showed great resolve and resilience.

"I thought we could go on and win it but credit to Wigan they didn't lie down." Did he watch the same game as me?

Lin Jinli
22 Posted 30/04/2011 at 17:31:04

Baines is a god damn wingback! We can move Phil Neville to LB and let Tony Hibbert on the RB

with Baines as ML and Coleman as MR.

Andy Crooks
23 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:40:12

Ian McDowell, I wish we did have big decisions to make this summer. Unfortunately the decisions that will affect us most will be made by the vultures surrounding the carcass that Kenwright has bequeathed us.

Paul Ferry
24 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:55:06

ray #18 -if memory has not entirely failed me - didn't good old Bernie Wright wear white - Alan Ball - boots in a desperate last ditch attempt to look cool and half decent - shocking today - Rodwell: I'll take 5 million, if we can get it - round of applause for Tim who kept us in it - and for Ossie who played for the (pink) shirt - Arteta a joke - his best man, even worse - I know it's fast becoming a cliche now but how one earth can Moyes think that Anichebe is worth a punt when there are players benched who can offer us so much more - energy at least - I love Leighton (with Distin best player of the season, so far) but he got found out defensively again today - I love Everton but I hated that - worse still, I was embarrassed by it

Trevor Mackie
25 Posted 30/04/2011 at 18:45:11

It's all too comfy by half at Everton, too many do it when they feel like - shocking management to be at that stage after 10 years. What about a bit of inspiration please Mr Moyes? after all these years and taking millions out the club I think it's the least we can ask for, and for god's sake stop walking around looking like a whipped dog - isn't exactly helpful is it?

Gavin Ramejkis
26 Posted 30/04/2011 at 19:26:23

An utterly dreadful game of football and there but for some great saves time after time by Howard the scoreline could easily have joined those other hidings we've had under David Moyes.

Anichebe is fucking useless and as likely to score as Hibbert

Rodwell was anonymous and no-one in their right mind would offer double digits for his signature, he did so little today you wondered at times if he was still on the pitch.

Arteta and Cahill were piss poor, if they are still injured then get them well and fitter before you play them Moyes

Who decided Arteta should take any set pieces anymore and that includes pens, he showed the keeper the way he was going and having watched the replay a few times in my mind wasn't a great save that brummy twat Trevor Francis claimed it was, Arteta can't beat the first man from set pieces, turns out that goes for pens too.

Wigan aren't great shakes as the season has shown but they showed a lot more pace and movement on and off the ball than Everton did all day, N'Zogbia, Rodallega and Moses all had more shots on target than we did for the whole game

David Hallwood
27 Posted 30/04/2011 at 19:42:30

Conspiracy theory time; the reason Moyes picks Anichebe is to send a msg to the board' 'if you want to keep your hands in your pockets, this is the shite that's will be runnin around in a blue shirt' Feasible? Nah I don't think so either

Dan McKie
28 Posted 30/04/2011 at 19:56:49

Baines didnt have the best of games, but there haven't been many like that this season, and dont forget he only gets caught out of position because he has to shoulder the attacking down the left, aswell as defending, aswell as taking corners, so he can be excused a bad day every now and then. One player who was particulally awful, even by his standards, but seems to slip under the criticism radar thanks to Big Vic, Hibbo etc....is Jack Rodwell! What does this lad do for us? Seriously? The goal in my opinion was as much his fault as anyones. He just didnt go to the ball and never looked like doing so. He just let Wigan pass it 3 or 4 times right in front of him, then just dinked it over him no trouble. Lord help us if he ever starts playing for us in his supposed best position of centre back!! Also, once again, it is clear Moyes has rushed players back from injury, despite their duputys putting together a run of 5 wins and 2 draws from 7 games in their absences. When will he learn? And what does it say to those who come in when they (Cahill, Arteta) are injured? Its says that it doesnt matter how well they do, they will be making way as soon as they can walk again!

Roman Sidey
29 Posted 30/04/2011 at 20:52:19

Moyes out.

Graham Duffy
30 Posted 30/04/2011 at 21:30:48

Moyes OUT

Ian McDowell
31 Posted 30/04/2011 at 22:00:04

Moyes stay!

Sean McKenna
32 Posted 30/04/2011 at 22:21:04

To be honest I've lost interest this season: stale players, stale manager, same negative tatics, no summer budget again, another pre-season piss-up in the USA... future looks bright.

David Mathieson
33 Posted 30/04/2011 at 23:18:44

Ian OUT! lol

Chris Bannantyne
34 Posted 01/05/2011 at 01:17:38

Moyes out!

Half the squad out!

(most importantly) kenwright out!

Colin Gee
35 Posted 01/05/2011 at 01:31:36

Pay me £5 grand a week and I can do what Anichebe does... which is occasionally run around doing nothing. He was awful today.

Only Osman and Distin put in a shift, Beckford didn't do anything either when he came on, he wouldn't even jump two inches off the ground to try and win a header.

Martin Faulkner
36 Posted 01/05/2011 at 04:08:27

While Anichebe was utter garbage as usual today, Arteta, Cahill, Neville & Rodwell also played crap too. I don't think Baines was at fault for the goal, look at the replay, it was Jagielka playing N'Zogbia onside, not Baines, had Jagielka stepped up with Distin, Hibbo & Baines, then it was offside.

The fuckin ref was a tosspot today as well, their fullback only getting booked after 86 mins was a joke, he should've been booked early doors first half for challenges on Osman, along with a couple of others, Baines should've been carded first half for his challenge on N'Zogbia as well.

Tell you what though, I would have N'Zogbia on the left wing next season, especially if they go down. Maybe we could give them Big Vic in part-ex...

David Holroyd
37 Posted 01/05/2011 at 06:51:32

Doesn't matter who we play up front, the tatics seem to be lump it up to whoever is up front ? Saha, Beckford, Anichibe. Moyes out some say, for WHO? Coyle? Holloway? Martinez? The club seems to be stale needs to to be freshened up. Yakubu, Yobo, Anichibe Vaughan... AND dare I say Arteta, who IS 29 and on £70 grand a week... and Billy who scores great goals but that's about all.

Andrew Rimmer
38 Posted 01/05/2011 at 09:53:51

Has anyone noticed that we play our worst football when Cahill is playing behind our lone striker? Give Moyes 15 players to pick from and he gets it wrong! Give him the bare 11 and he will galvanise them into a mean machine, not pretty, but effective!

Andrew Rimmer
39 Posted 01/05/2011 at 10:24:58

Ok, before I get shouted down, Stats!

With Cahill: W 5 ? L 6 ? D 13

Without Cahill: W 8 ? L 5 ? D 5.

Luke Dunn
40 Posted 01/05/2011 at 11:12:48

Time to offload Cahill and Arteta, the side cannot accommodate them. We were playing miles better in their absence.

Cahill is too predictable and defenders have got him well sussed. Arteta does not seem to care anymore, especially after signing a new deal.

Tony J Williams
41 Posted 01/05/2011 at 12:16:11

Cahill out.....booooo etc etc

Karl Jones
42 Posted 01/05/2011 at 12:31:20

Arteta's penalty should have definitely been retaken. The keeper was two paces forward of the goalline when the ball was struck... Referees and the whole football media in this country are a joke.

Brian Waring
43 Posted 01/05/2011 at 12:48:17

Karl, the keeper being off his line is no excuse for such a shite pen.

Tony J Williams
44 Posted 01/05/2011 at 12:52:20

True Brian but how many times has a pen been retaken for encroachment or goalie movement? I remember Michael Owen having to take a pen three times against, I think, Arsenal.

The rules are supposed to be the rules and the goalie has gained an unfair advantage whether it was a shit penalty or not.

Roman Sidey
45 Posted 01/05/2011 at 13:46:55

The penalty is the perfect example of what we were talking about during the week. Too nice. I don't care what anyone says to the contrary, the only reason Baines didn't take the first penalty was out of respect for his old club. This nicety has now cost Everton two points.

Ray Robinson
46 Posted 01/05/2011 at 17:00:43

Roman, with respect - absolute bollocks .... Why did he take the second pen then? And why did he celebrate afterwards?

Tony J Williams
47 Posted 01/05/2011 at 17:03:59

The only reason he didn't take the first pen is because Arteta is our penalty taker, always has been.

Gavin Ramejkis
48 Posted 01/05/2011 at 17:30:54

Tony's right on this one and there were even articles about Baines handing pens back to Arteta when he played again, his record is something like 12 out of 14 pens converted for us. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but so is if it ain't broken don't try to fix it, Everton have had two pens this season I think, both slammed home by Baines good and proper.

Martin Handley
49 Posted 01/05/2011 at 19:04:41

1. Let Baines take them.
2. If Baines is unfit, let Jagielka take them.
3. If both are unfit, let Neville take em.
4. If and only if none of the above are fit, then let Arteta take them.

There... problem solved!

Col Noon
50 Posted 01/05/2011 at 19:15:14

Yesterday's peformance was painful. Cahill (40% fit) was ineffective, Arteta (40% fit) apart from missing a pen it would be difficult to recognise he was playing, Anichebe was Anicehbe I am afraid. BUT ? and this is a BIG 'BUT' ? the buck stops at the manager. This is not a Moyes bash before anyone gets all emotional about our great one.

Wigan are a poor side who ship goals at an alarming rate, they were made for Beckford IMO. WHY!!! OH WHY? was Anichebe picked? he's not good enough and thats the long and short of it. But I will no longer aim my frustration at him but instead question the "Moyseiah" -- he picks him, watches him train and gave him a new contract. Do you expect Anichebe to say "Boss dont pick me, I am League 1 maybe Scottish Prem level at best" Sorry, Mr Moyes, but I would love to hear your thinking behind this one.

Leon Osman was Everton's best player by a country mile yesterday. He was put out wide by the genius that is David Moyes after playing so well off the striker in previous games. This was done to accomodate Arteta.....FFS he wasnt even fit, and he walks back into the team and was doing his best impression of the invisible man.

He doesnt seem to get it tho. NINE YEARS AND STILL MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES. His stubborness and downright refusal to change anything esspecially away from home infuriates me and is unnaceptable.

We were poor yesterday as a team but guess what? not as poor as our manager.

Trevor Lynes
51 Posted 01/05/2011 at 19:58:07

The only players who have really pulled their weight all season have been defenders.

Our midfield is very predictable and every team in the league know how we play because we dont have any alternatives!! Our strikers collectively are among the worst in the league with many better strikers playing for teams BELOW us.

Saha is the only striker who deservedly got a MotM for his four goals against Blackpool... unfortunately he is very fragile and ageing (that is why he was allowed to leave Utd)... I suppose we will take Owen next when Utd dump him or even Bellamy is being mooted.

Nugent has been exposed at premier level so I suppose we will go for him!!

Davies, Elmander, Sturridge, Odemwingie, Cole, Bent, Zamora, Kenwyn Jones etc etc etc are all better than any we have and they all play for teams below us.

God only knows how we have managed to remain safe with the squad we have. We have loaned out more than a football team and now with the amount of injuries we have we cannot find decent stand ins for the injured. If Baines was injured I don't know what we would have done??? The only saving grace is its almost seasons end!!!

I reckon that the pre-season JOLLY to the states be cancelled and DM use his time in clearing out the dead wood and bringing in fresh faces to re-invigorate the team and excite the fans.

Andrew Rimmer
52 Posted 02/05/2011 at 10:43:24

Not a squad fault Trev. You cannot call Cole a better striker than Beckford! the fault lies in the team selection and tactics! 1 striker with the ineffective cahill behind, no effective Right Back, no effective left side since pienaar left, Distins ability to fall asleep at least once every game. Someone picks this shite!

Andrew Rimmer
53 Posted 02/05/2011 at 10:48:54

Haven't we "found" strikers before? Johnson, Beattie, Saha, Becks. They all have been given no service. Johnson was bought because he could score goals in the 6 yard box, but spent most of his time running towards the right corner flag chasing long aimless balls to our lone striker!

Mike Berry
54 Posted 02/05/2011 at 11:37:50

Putting Baines at left midfield appears to be a great idea. But who do we play at left back.

How about John Terry's best mate, Wayne Bridge.

We can afford a seasons loan deal.

Sam Hoare
55 Posted 02/05/2011 at 12:34:39

I've defended Moyes alot but dropping Beckford for Anichebe and moving Osman out of his revelatory spot to accomodate the unfit Cahill...dear oh dear Davey, that is pretty indefensible!!

Sadly i think we may have had our last win of the season and now see us finishing 8th or 9th. Not that it makes much difference.

Might as well play the youngsters how about next match?

Howard
Coleman Jags Duffy Baines
Arteta Rodders Neville Gueye
Osman
Velios

Liu Weixian
56 Posted 03/05/2011 at 07:01:47

Pay me S$5 a match and I can do more than what Anichebe can do in 10 matches. I have never seen a worse footballer, and I have seen quite a few overpaid trash!

We should go for Bellamy. Great attitude.

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