Our Football IQ ? How Low Can It Go?

By Mohammed Horoub :: 18/12/2011

9 Comments (�Last) Another frustrating watch yesterday. More negatives than positives but the main issue (for me) that came from yesterday's game was our inability to play the smart pass or the instinctive touch. You hear the phrase that a player has eyes in the back of his head. At the moment our players barely have eyes in the front of their heads.

While Magaye faded as the game went on, the one thing I appreciated was his pass to Baines in the first half which was pure football vision. At his age that was impressive.

Most Moyes supporters in the last 24 hours have pointed out that it's not his fault players keep missing chances or misplacing passes or hoof the ball aimlessly forward but the truth is the situations where the manager's touch appear have been just as bad.

I'm talking about set pieces... I imagine every coaching staff works on these things in training with the players.

Watching our guys yesterday, no one had a clue what to do with a few dead ball situations. That has to fall at Moyes's feet. We'd all like to see some 'intelligently worked' set pieces even if they don't work. At least we know the manager and players are working off the pitch to create.

But Moyes has been exposed with Pienaar and then Arteta leaving. They were the creative source of our team and we have lost it. Norwich's Holt yesterday showed more football instinct than our whole team combined (Drenthe excluded)

I know we're not Brazil but we have always been among the top teams in set piece goals. I think the decline of these goals are another knock against Moyes and his staff. If the players didn't execute yesterday then get them training over and over until we see results but that tenacity has disappeared from Moyes and the results reflect this.

Here's hoping the January recruits provide the lift we need to save this season and get to 40 pts.

Moyes will have to take a long look in the mirror in the summer because he's done so much for Everton - Club and Fans - and the last few months of 'Anti - Football' are quickly erasing all the hard work of the last decade...

We all know we live in a 'What have you done for me lately' culture and the sooner Moyes realizes that, the better.

I?d like to wish all Everton fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here?s hoping 2012 brings some cheer for all? NSNO

Reader Comments (9)

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Peter Barry
1 Posted 19/12/2011 at 04:02:59

Tactics Devoid Dour Davey coaches the players and picks the team. The fact that he continues to pick players far past their best is HIS tactical failure and the game plan is HIS failure too. Tactics Devoid Dour Davey also makes substitutions by the CLOCK or by injury necessity but NEVER as a tactical ploy, unless you consider the substitution of our ONLY striker Saha by Distin good tactics. It's Dour Davey's CHOSEN and coached team that goes out and plays the 'track back defend at all costs even when losing' DROSS that we see every week.

Derek Thomas
2 Posted 19/12/2011 at 04:27:44

Nothing new in this piece, trouble is it's spot on and I agree.

All the usual supects will pop up to defend the (imo) indefensible...

Cue voice over guy....Here at the Toffeeweb and Shunters Social Club the comedians to-night are...

Robert Johnson
3 Posted 19/12/2011 at 10:52:44

Been saying it for two years now, Moyes ain't got a fucking clue, and until our shithouse chairman sacks him, were only heading in one direction.

There will be no new year cheer while that fucking clueless, negative man is in charge.

Bring in anyone you want, because it really can't get any worse.

I've been attending Goodison Park for nearly fifty years, and i'm now having the misfortune to witness some of the worst football Ive ever seen.

Please go Mr Moyes and take Steve round with you, as i have no fucking idea what imput he has.

Fucking Shambles.

John Ford
4 Posted 19/12/2011 at 11:07:43

The 'what have you done for me lately' culture' is the guaranteed route to failure and is a reflection of wider societys need for everything in an instant. If you recognise this then you can do the right thing and resist short termism.

Its unfair to judge our dead ball situations based on one game, actually we're generally pretty decent. Corners have improved since Arteta left and Baines is a threat from anywhere within 30 yards.

We dont have the brains in the team simply because footbal brains come at a premium, which we cant afford. When we have a pot to piss in I assume we'll buy what we're missing. This is the core problem at the club and is the reason we and many teams struggle to entertain or create.

Tony J Williams
5 Posted 19/12/2011 at 16:10:13

Damn you John with you logic.

Don't you know that we can blame Moyes for everything and not give any valid reason...you "comedian"

Also, what was up with Baines on Saturday? He usually takes the corners on both sides.

After Arteta, Baines is our best free kick taker and always looks danagerous.... Are we now to turn against Baines as a way to have a go at Moyes?

If it's so easily taught, how come we don't conceed more each game? I mean other managers/coaches must teach their team how to score against us...right?

Trevor Lynes
6 Posted 19/12/2011 at 17:39:49

Basic ball control and accurate passing is fundamental in every level of football and if so called premiership players cannot do the basics where are we?? Cahill scored quite regularly from set pieces but his goals have dried up...defenders get away with pulling and tugging at every set piece and referees should get their heads together and make plans to punish these offences as teams like Stoke are getting away with murder.

I have said so many times that it looks like we are playing a different game altogether than the likes of Barca, Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal.....they all have far more gifted players in virtually every position and we are scrambling for points by endeavour without skill.

I really yearn for a truly gifted player like we used to have years ago...one that it was worth the admission to see !!

Now we are always battling to get back into games and strikers get no supply from midfield....

John Ford
7 Posted 19/12/2011 at 19:39:26

Tony..curious that, he didnt take some of the attacking free kicks either.

Im depresssed at the moment after reading the killer article about our finances. Ive been in a bit of denial about all this.

Grim.

Dick Fearon
8 Posted 19/12/2011 at 21:35:44

Tony J # 5, I have never understood why only certain players are designated corner takers. I have coached teams of 11 year olds with at least half dozen kids that could consistently lob over decent corners. Presumably only one or two of Everton's highly paid professionals has the ability to do the same.

I genuinely am puzzled why this is so. I hate using the RS as a kind of example but it is not unusual for them to use a half-dozen corner-takers in the same game.

Ian Bennett
9 Posted 19/12/2011 at 21:58:35

One for me is that we are not street wise.

The Norwich right back was booked after 5 minutes. We had 2 supposedly high class left wingers who should have taken him to the cleaners or got him sent off. What happened after 5 minutes, he had an easy ride.

Similar comment about how united and liverpool referee the ref. Everton players hardly say a word. This has gone on for years, and partly explains how we nearly went a whole season without a penalty. Can you imagine that at Liverpool or United?

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