Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
The half-way point of the Season
By Michael Kidd :: 05/01/2012
9 Comments (ğLast)
I?m writing this after the Bolton debacle but this is not a mach report ? you can get one of those from a newspaper or Ken Buckley. This is just some thoughts on our first nineteen games of the season (nineteen to go ? exactly halfway), in the context of several seasons of relative underperformance and the well-catalogued financial woes that seemingly make us unable to compete at the top of the table. These comments are also partially influenced by a lot of what I have seen posted on Toffeeweb, both by columnists and regular readers who respond to columns and match reports.The first aspect that warrants comment is the ?hoofball? aspect of our play, that is sometimes exaggerated but is often evident and was particularly so last night against Bolton. I think everyone will acknowledge that creative football requires the person making the pass to have creative attributes like vision and technique but it is also necessary to have a teammate in place to receive the pass. That requires creative movement off the ball.
It struck me watching Jagielka playing for England a few months ago that he always passed the ball to another white shirt and yet, for Everton, more often than not he is hoofing it down the pitch. That suggests that his Everton teammates are not showing for him and that was evident often in the Bolton game. At one stage both Saha and Straq were standing stationary in the centre circle with one of our players on the ball further back. Many of the dreadful balls out of the back last night (one thinks of Neville and Hibbert in particular, but this was also the case for Howard?s poor clearance that almost let Ngog in) were due to the fact that there was nobody in a good position to pass to.
When Arteta was sold I was one of many who thought that it wasn?t a bad piece of business ? he had been below par for some time and was playing competently but not unlocking the door. Now I?m told by an Arsenal-supporting friend of mine that he is one of their star performers and, in his words, is almost as good as Fabregas. Even allowing for hyperbole, how much of that is due to the fact that Arteta?s new teammates are allowing him to look good? Now is movement off the ball something that is innate to a good footballer or is it coached? Or is it something that is innate that is coached out of players because they are required to station themselves unnecessarily defensively?
The second comment concerns the defence. There seems to be endless debate about the relative merits of Jags, Heitinga and Distin. The majority viewpoint is that Heitinga is not very good and should be shipped off. This is someone who played for a decent, defensively-tight Holland team that got to a World Cup Final. Granted, he might not be as good at last-ditch blocking etc as others, but he is good on the ball and, for the most part, finds his man. (For Holland, he almost invariably found a teammate when I watched him in the World Cup, less so for Everton, but see my comments above!) I think they are all decent defenders and I rate Heitinga.
I think that many of our defensive problems this year (and in recent years) have been down to the defensive shortcomings of the midfield. However good your defence is, if too many people are running at you without being closed down or tackled (this was happening last night), it is going to be difficult containing the opponents. Despite having two ?defenders? in front of the defence last night (one when Heitinga went back), Bolton had far too much space and time in front of the back four which enabled them to get behind us almost at will. Had it not been for some poor finishing and good saves from Howard, we could have lost that one by four or five. There have been numerous other examples of this in other games this season. Fellaini can?t get back from injury soon enough because, in my view, he does a good job of this. Neville, for all his stalwart service in the past, is not the answer.
My third point is about Leon Osman. This guy really gets a hard deal from ToffeeWebbers but I think he has been our best player this season by some way. It was a major blow for him to go off last night and I hope he is not hurt for long. I will be the first to acknowledge that he has his faults ? the main one being how easy it is to muscle him off the ball ? but he would get into most teams in the Premiership on current form and is, at the moment, our main creative force, without doubt (excepting Donovan, who has not done enough yet to warrant comment).
5-4-1 or 4-4-2? Please put this tired debate to bed, people. It?s just a formation and one is not inherently more attacking than the other. What is more important is that square pegs not be put into round holes (Heitinga and Neville are NOT midfielders) and that the mindset is more important than the position that one is playing in. Also, if you have six strikers standing still waiting for service from clumsy midfielders you are going to wait a long time for goals. Limited creativity from the midfield, but also not enough movement off the ball (see above) and (seemingly) an overly-defensive mindset. Whose fault is this?
Strikers. This is stating the obvious but ours are not good enough. I have little to add to what others have said but it still sticks in my throat to see how well the Yak is doing for a poorer team. Talk about his attitude all you want and apparent breakdown between him and Moyes but that is man-management and that is the job of the manager. If the relationship broke down, fingers should not only be pointed at the player.
My final two points are not obviously interrelated but they are to some degree. We are (and have been for some while) short of pace and just so tedious and dull to watch. This season we have someone with pace and the ability to do something special in Drenthe but we hardly see him. Why? Perhaps Donovan will help for a while, but he is not that quick.
Not only is there an absence of pace in respect of players? speed on their feet, but the play is so slow and turgid that I think this is why we have so much difficulty breaking teams down. Against West Brom, even though we won, our build-up play was dire. There were flashes last night of better stuff from Osman and Donovan, but the final touch was not there. If the players are not quick enough there is not too much that one can do, but surely the predictability and slowness of the general play is down to coaching?
That?s enough for now, I think. No doubt there are other things that could be said but this is what springs to mind for now. Hope it is food for thought.
Reader Comments (9)
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Jay Harris
2 Posted 05/01/2012 at 14:55:17
2 Posted 05/01/2012 at 14:55:17
Some good points Michael and Spot on Peter.
I always remember Bob Latchford didnt do much running except to score goals.
I cannot understand the modern obsession with 11 players behind the ball and strikers having to run around like headless chickens until they are too knackered to get on the end of what could be a goal scoring opportunity.
I watched Saha last night and the number oof times he could have run into the six yard box but instead withdrew to outside the box was irritating.
Michael while I accept your point on pace and quality we have to lay that firmly at the door of the board who have not only failed to invest in the squad but are selling our best players off.
Nevertheless a "team" should have spirit and belief and none of that was evident last night.
It was as if the team had got some horrific news before the game like the club were cutting their wages by half or we wouldnt be making any new signings for 2 years.
Kenwright and "friends of Everton" are slowly sucking the life out of the club and supporters.
I always remember Bob Latchford didnt do much running except to score goals.
I cannot understand the modern obsession with 11 players behind the ball and strikers having to run around like headless chickens until they are too knackered to get on the end of what could be a goal scoring opportunity.
I watched Saha last night and the number oof times he could have run into the six yard box but instead withdrew to outside the box was irritating.
Michael while I accept your point on pace and quality we have to lay that firmly at the door of the board who have not only failed to invest in the squad but are selling our best players off.
Nevertheless a "team" should have spirit and belief and none of that was evident last night.
It was as if the team had got some horrific news before the game like the club were cutting their wages by half or we wouldnt be making any new signings for 2 years.
Kenwright and "friends of Everton" are slowly sucking the life out of the club and supporters.
Danny Broderick
3 Posted 05/01/2012 at 15:36:59
3 Posted 05/01/2012 at 15:36:59
You make some good points Michael. I went to West Brom away and I saw Jagielka hit 2 long passes in the first half out to the left wing. The first one was to Saha, who miscontrolled it, and the second went out to Baines, who went down the line and crossed it in. The point is that Jagielka can pass the ball. But how many times do we have 1 man up front surrounded by at least 3 defenders i.e. no outlet ball. Also, Hibbert doesn't show for the ball to his right, so a lot of the time he has little option but to put his foot through the ball.
For me, it is the shape of our midfield that is all wrong. Often we have 3 defenders in midfield, all so deep that the ball keeps coming back at us. We are not high enough up the pitch to pressure teams. This is particularly obvious when we have Neville and Heitinga in midfield.
This lack of shape also affects our ability to attack and create. 4-5-1 doesn't have to be a negative formation. The key is to have 2 wide players that can create and probably score around 10 goals a season each. City play this way with Silva and ,say, Adam Johnson. I have also seen United do it with Rooney and Ronaldo. You also need a midfielder who can break forward and score goals, like the Cahill of old.
Compare this to the team we put out at West Brom. We had Neville, Heitinga and Rodwell in midfield. All static, sitting deep in front of the back 4. We had Osman and Cahill out wide. Both of them kept on coming infield, the result being we had nothing out wide, and the middle was congested.
Regarding our strikers, it is clear that they are all crap. But to be honest, I feel sorry for them. They are fed on scraps. The only service they get is from defenders launching the ball 40 yards for them to compete for headers all game. If they are lucky, they might get one chance. Drogba or Shearer at their best would have failed to score goals playing in a team like this.
It is true we lack pace, but then we also lack creative, attacking players. It is saying something when our most attacking player is our left back.
I personally think Osman is a cracking little player, who has never let us down. I will stick my neck out as well and say that Cahill is still a cracking player if played right. He can not play as a striker with his back to goal. He is also not a winger. Play him in his right position (a centre-mid who niggles away and arrives late into the box) and we will see the real Tim again. He has suffered more than anyone by being played all over the shop in a team that doesn't create any chances.
We are desperately crying out for some creative players. If we get them, it will make it easier for the whole team to concentrate on doing what they are good at. We may even finish in the top half.
If we don't get them (which I suspect) then we will finish anywhere between 11th and 17th. It's a good job there are 4 or 5 poorer teams than us in the Premier League this year...
For me, it is the shape of our midfield that is all wrong. Often we have 3 defenders in midfield, all so deep that the ball keeps coming back at us. We are not high enough up the pitch to pressure teams. This is particularly obvious when we have Neville and Heitinga in midfield.
This lack of shape also affects our ability to attack and create. 4-5-1 doesn't have to be a negative formation. The key is to have 2 wide players that can create and probably score around 10 goals a season each. City play this way with Silva and ,say, Adam Johnson. I have also seen United do it with Rooney and Ronaldo. You also need a midfielder who can break forward and score goals, like the Cahill of old.
Compare this to the team we put out at West Brom. We had Neville, Heitinga and Rodwell in midfield. All static, sitting deep in front of the back 4. We had Osman and Cahill out wide. Both of them kept on coming infield, the result being we had nothing out wide, and the middle was congested.
Regarding our strikers, it is clear that they are all crap. But to be honest, I feel sorry for them. They are fed on scraps. The only service they get is from defenders launching the ball 40 yards for them to compete for headers all game. If they are lucky, they might get one chance. Drogba or Shearer at their best would have failed to score goals playing in a team like this.
It is true we lack pace, but then we also lack creative, attacking players. It is saying something when our most attacking player is our left back.
I personally think Osman is a cracking little player, who has never let us down. I will stick my neck out as well and say that Cahill is still a cracking player if played right. He can not play as a striker with his back to goal. He is also not a winger. Play him in his right position (a centre-mid who niggles away and arrives late into the box) and we will see the real Tim again. He has suffered more than anyone by being played all over the shop in a team that doesn't create any chances.
We are desperately crying out for some creative players. If we get them, it will make it easier for the whole team to concentrate on doing what they are good at. We may even finish in the top half.
If we don't get them (which I suspect) then we will finish anywhere between 11th and 17th. It's a good job there are 4 or 5 poorer teams than us in the Premier League this year...
Stephen Kenny
4 Posted 05/01/2012 at 17:17:25
4 Posted 05/01/2012 at 17:17:25
I agree fully with the OP and also each comment. We no longer do the simple things on the pitch and it's costing us big time.
Graham Darlington
5 Posted 05/01/2012 at 17:58:02
5 Posted 05/01/2012 at 17:58:02
Good post and some spot on comments without any of the usual diatribe about certain players. However, why can't our manager see any of this and train his players in these fundementals? He's reputedly on £65k a week and yet these basic coaching standards seem to be beyond him and his staff.
Chris Matheson
6 Posted 05/01/2012 at 17:54:05
6 Posted 05/01/2012 at 17:54:05
These are all good points, the original article and subsequent comments.
My own bug bear is our one-dimensional attacking style. We almost always play the ball out wide, work it up the wings and then lumop a high ball in for someone to either knock-down to a non existent colleague (Michael's point about lack of movement off the ball?) or to head in.
We rarely cross hard and low, we rarely take shots from outside the box, we almost never play on the ground and through the middle.
It is out - wing - high hopeful aimless lump.
I hear people like Ronnie Goodlass on Radio Merseyside saying how important it is to "get your crosses in". No it's not Ronnie, it's important to vary your attack, and not do the same boring, predictable tactic weeks in and out.
My own bug bear is our one-dimensional attacking style. We almost always play the ball out wide, work it up the wings and then lumop a high ball in for someone to either knock-down to a non existent colleague (Michael's point about lack of movement off the ball?) or to head in.
We rarely cross hard and low, we rarely take shots from outside the box, we almost never play on the ground and through the middle.
It is out - wing - high hopeful aimless lump.
I hear people like Ronnie Goodlass on Radio Merseyside saying how important it is to "get your crosses in". No it's not Ronnie, it's important to vary your attack, and not do the same boring, predictable tactic weeks in and out.
Michael Winstanley
7 Posted 05/01/2012 at 23:57:08
7 Posted 05/01/2012 at 23:57:08
I agree very good OP and subsequent comments.
I think Fellaini is the key to our midfield, in many recent matches we've had four players in the opposition box when we've attacked. He gives other players confidence to get forward, the fact we don't create clear cut chances is simply due to a lack of quality in the final third.
But I have seen us play well in parts. Some decent passing moves and because we have played well albeit briefly at times there is some hope (in my eyes).
I enjoyed the first half against Arsenal because we went toe to toe, we attacked and then they attacked. Yes they opened us up three or four times but they didn't score. Everytime we attacked I felt we were in with a chance. That was a nice feeling as it showed belief.
I think Fellaini is the key to our midfield, in many recent matches we've had four players in the opposition box when we've attacked. He gives other players confidence to get forward, the fact we don't create clear cut chances is simply due to a lack of quality in the final third.
But I have seen us play well in parts. Some decent passing moves and because we have played well albeit briefly at times there is some hope (in my eyes).
I enjoyed the first half against Arsenal because we went toe to toe, we attacked and then they attacked. Yes they opened us up three or four times but they didn't score. Everytime we attacked I felt we were in with a chance. That was a nice feeling as it showed belief.
Ajay Gopal
8 Posted 07/01/2012 at 09:16:49
8 Posted 07/01/2012 at 09:16:49
A very interesting article, Michael, and I don't know if you realise it but your article hits the nail on the head about the exact reason for the poor performances - poor coaching ! Let me explain...
You mentioned 4 players (mainly) in your article:
(1) Jags - hoofs the ball while playing for EFC, but passes the ball around for England.
(2) Heitinga - good defender who played a major role for his country, but performances below par while playing for EFC
(3) Arteta - playing the best football as soon as he leaves EFC
(4) Yakubu - scores goals for fun as soon as he leaves EFC
Isn't it obvious ? The problem is the system we play and what is coached into the players. Round is a useless coach - definitely nowhere near the competence that this great club deserves, and needs to be booted out at the earliest. Moyes will make a good Director of Football - he is not a good football strategist/thinker.
You mentioned 4 players (mainly) in your article:
(1) Jags - hoofs the ball while playing for EFC, but passes the ball around for England.
(2) Heitinga - good defender who played a major role for his country, but performances below par while playing for EFC
(3) Arteta - playing the best football as soon as he leaves EFC
(4) Yakubu - scores goals for fun as soon as he leaves EFC
Isn't it obvious ? The problem is the system we play and what is coached into the players. Round is a useless coach - definitely nowhere near the competence that this great club deserves, and needs to be booted out at the earliest. Moyes will make a good Director of Football - he is not a good football strategist/thinker.
Peter Mills
9 Posted 07/01/2012 at 09:59:06
9 Posted 07/01/2012 at 09:59:06
I agree with much on here. Some further observations are
1. Distin is a strong, quick defender who can muscle a forward off the ball. However, quite a number of goals have been conceded simply by his misjudging a cross or being caught out of position.
2. Howard is a decent goalie, but does not command his 6 yard box.
These traits have been obvious for a number of seasons, surely they too could be eradicated by work on the training ground?
1. Distin is a strong, quick defender who can muscle a forward off the ball. However, quite a number of goals have been conceded simply by his misjudging a cross or being caught out of position.
2. Howard is a decent goalie, but does not command his 6 yard box.
These traits have been obvious for a number of seasons, surely they too could be eradicated by work on the training ground?
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1 Posted 05/01/2012 at 13:53:57
Recent comments by Steve Keane would suggest that he is adopting a more individual man-management approach to Yakubu, i.e the Yak does little in the way of running and is tasked with being in the right place at the right time, i.e. the penalty box with a 12 goal return to date.