The Mail Bag
Pienaar
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I'm very much in the camp of wanting Steven Pienaar to stay, he offers something creatively that the rest of the team lacks and his combination play with Bainsey at times is as good as any left side out there. I was, however, surprised to learn that out of the 4 games we've actually won this season Pienaar has only figured in one, the 1-0 home win v Stoke and, let's be honest, we weren't sparkling and very fortunate that Tuncay's goal was chalked off. He didn't figure against Liverpool, Birmingham or of course last night against City; three performances that in my opinion have shown the togetherness and grit of recent seasons.
Could it be that Pienaar's lack of commitment is having a Lescott-like effect on the team, on the quiet?
Of course I'm not suggesting that we're a better side without him because undoubtedly he is an excellent footballer, more that if he does go that it isn't necessarily the end of the world.
Continuing the same theme for a second, it's also interesting to note that, again, of the 4 games we've won, Yak has started 3 with the only exception being last night - such a pity he's out the door in Jan, or so it would seem...
Ben Hunt, Posted 21/12/2010 at 18:40:29
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The thing that was obvious to me last night was that all City's attacks and pressure came from our left side and Bainesy was suffering a similar fate to Hibbo when he had Ossie in front of him.
Ossie has passion and a nice touch on the ball but cannot cope with the physical demands of the current premiership.
The main difference for me last night was that Moyes looked really up for the 3 points something I havent seen in him in a while so a team effort got us through not a change of one player..
At the same time, he isn't a left winger. He simply does not get to the byline and put crosses into the box. He always, always, always cuts inside and tries to play through balls into marked men. Sure, sometimes it comes off and looks great when it does but the lad doesn't create or score nearly as many chances as someone of his ability should.
Yes, I know Baines tends to get up on the overlap and does the job quite well but the whole thing makes our play very predictable indeed.
For me, Pienaar should be playing through the middle. Would this work with Arteta alongside him, also through the middle? Probably not. What if Fellaini/Rodwell played behind them as an anchor? Fine, but then where does Cahill play? We can't drop Cahill can we?
Either way, Pienaar's a great option to have but if we were to sell and bring in a proper, orthodox left-winger our 'strongest eleven' would be the better for it... although we'll probably sell him and being in an extra centre-back if history is anything to go by.
Really? Are you serious? He didn't play badly at all - it was perfectly a competent performance - but I can't think of single thing of real note that Osman did last night.
A defence-splitting ball? An inch-perfect pass to Baines on the overlap? A breakaway to deftly chip the goalkeeper to rival one of our goals of last season?
As long a servant as Ossie has been, he'll never be a first-team regular worthy of a team with the aspirations with which Everton started the season. Great squad player but he's no Pienaar...
As for Pienaar himself, he generally flatters to deceive. Whilst he can certainly look skilful and industrious, this season you can pretty much guarantee one of three things happening when he?s in possession: he?ll give it to Baines who might create something useful, he?ll invite a foul and win a free kick (which we?ll waste) or he?ll lose possession. I don?t think he?ll be missed as much as he?d like to think when he moves on.
Never shots when he should and is not all that dangerous with the ball in the final third. Neat and tidy yes. Skillful yes. Integral? I have to say no not at all.
Pienaar is hardworking and good with the ball at his feet. However, lots of people seem to have this misconception that he's 'creative'? Does he score many goals? ? only one this season. Does he get many assists ? not one single assist this season... Even Cahill has got 3, Baines has got 6, .Osman who has missed lots of games has got 2!
Fuck him and let him to go to Spurs earning more money but not playing anywhere near as much. At the end of the day he's replaceable.
I'm struggling to think of anything Pienaar has done all season. Remember him costing us a goal against Sunderland and the fact we seem to win with him out of the team. I don't think he'll be missed half as much as you think. A competent replacement will do just as well..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfOzX9h9ddk
It's Pienaar that backheels it for Osman to score.
Pienaar lacks a final product. Look at his stats in his time at Everton. He averages less than 4 goals a season and this season he's scored only 1. His assists tally isn't much higher either. As good a player as he is (and he does make us play more attractive football)...that's not good enough for the top teams who he's presumably eyeing up.
Yes, Everton have been good for him and he for Everton but what he is doing is certainly no crime. He?s simply weighing up his options for his future and if he wants more money, so be it, it?s his choice and if Everton don?t believe they can afford it or they don?t feel he warrants it then fine, it?s best for both parties if he moves on.
Everyone should have a high opinion of themselves. I believe that I do a better job than colleagues of mine on the same wage and even higher salaries, it doesn?t mean I?m right or wrong but unfortunately it?s not my decision so I live with it and for what it?s worth, I?m generally happy with it so I choose to stay where I am. If I wasn?t, my choices are that I look to get a pay rise where I am or I look to earn more money elsewhere. It?s no different for footballers!! It?s an easy get-out to call him a greedy bastard. It may well be the case but I don?t know the bloke so I won?t tag him with that label.
As a player, I like him, not a great player but a better-than-average one. I share the same frustrations as most regarding his final ball and lack of goals but what he brings to the team more than anyone (apart from Baines maybe) is movement . He is one of few that actually makes runs and creates space for others with his movement and that is the one thing we?d miss the most.
I also like his attitude to the game, he always wants the ball, he?s one of few that can run with the ball and turn defence into attack with a quick turn and dribble, he tackles, he tracks back, he doesn?t hide and most importantly he has a great footballing relationship with Baines and their partnership is a joy to watch at times. To say this is all down to Baines is unfair.
For me, the positives far out weigh the negatives so I hope he stays but if he does decides to go, fine with me. Good luck and thanks for all your effort. He?s not irreplaceable but it?ll be of more benefit to Everton if he does decide to stay.
The only way he could be going to Spurs is if Everton sell him, which isn't going to happen. He can't sign a pre-contract agreement with them until June!
He can only talk to European clubs in January but NOT English clubs - that has to wait until the season has finished.
Theoretically he could sign a pre-contract agreement with Bayern or Barca etc but NOT with Spurs or anybody in the Premier league
just like I said back in November 2009 about his contract demands and I was mocked for it. it's in the archives. My source of information just like back them comes from an agent. Dismiss it if you want but 1) he is definitley leaving 2) his agent has been promised a huge signing on fee from Spurs and that is his preferred destination and they have verbally agreed.
if he's happy with that then it says a lot about the lad...
No one's indispensable.
http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/everton-fc/1211885-theres-no-individuals-here---cahill-praises-everton-fc-unit.html
I never ever believed for a second that even Lescott had a Lescott-like effect on the team.
They are grown men, not the f**king Borg collective. You can't play shite and then blame the attitude of another player, its pathetic.
On NSNO there was a guy who was watching his agent on TV on Monday night before the City game (his agent was a pundit type on a SA footy show).
I have no doubt the agent would like a move and a big pay day, but I am not sure Pienaar is that keen and certainly isn't giving the impression so at the moment.
The main comment was
"His response was that all the media speculation is not true, to start with he can only talk to other overseas clubs in January, he can only talk to other Premiership clubs at the end of the season (this was news to me) so he is not about to jeopardize his agent license, further more he said that Steven is in love with Everton and has a really special bond with the manager and the fans which he is crazy about. He then went on to say that he is keeping his options open and him staying at Everton is highly possible, he said the key factor in his decision would be is that he will be 29 soon and he will have to ask himself, ?am I at a club that has the possibility of winning something? that could well be the possibility at Everton come the end of the season if the squad is improved and he feels the team is strong enough to win a cup. He then went on to say that there are only certain teams he can go to, and that he is not the type of player that is going to be wanted by the likes of Barca, Real and the Milan teams, he will be probably be sought by the lesser champions league teams in Europe, that is the reality of stock which he is honest about. He then ended the topic on Steven by saying again that ?come the end of the season, if Steven has seen enough evidence that Everton can present a serious challenge for a cup, he will stay?
I must be honest guys , I got the impression from the sighs in his voice and the tone in which he was speaking that he wishes Steven would have made a bit more waves that he wanted a big move and give a come and get me signal to other clubs. He did not show any enthusiasm in his voice when talking about the possibility of him staying at Everton, if you know what I mean; it?s he like sounded disappointed."
link below to find it
http://www.nsno.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,9142.0.html
Piennaar is off to Spurs. Mark my words.
Just because you believe a friend of a friend who is losely connected doesn't automatically make your source of information any more reliable.
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1 Posted 21/12/2010 at 23:50:37
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For me, the statistic you raise is a coincidence rather than indictment of Pienaar.