Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Having a Go
By Charlie Percival :: 07/01/2012
22 Comments (»Last)
A New Striker is NOT what we need!
I'm fed up of hearing Moyes and some fans spouting about how we need a striker as we lack goals. The strikers are not the source of the problem. For crying out loud, if we only played two defenders a game and were conceding left right and centre, we wouldn't say, "We need a new goalkeeper"! We need to play with an attacking team and a team which provides service. We have the players to do this, that's the most painful thing. WE DO NOT NEED A NEW STRIKER (it would be nice), but you cannot expect a player up front on his own with two players on him to perform miracles every game.
We make other teams defenses look good because they don't need to defend. Why not give these teams something to think about rather than playing for a draw or not to concede? I love watching teams like (extreme examples but still relevant) Brazil, Barca who go out with the philosophy of if you score 1 we will score 2 etc. They entertain; football is not meant to be about watching painfully whilst your hair either falls out or goes grey (or both). I will take abuse from this statement but I really don't care. I'd rather see us get smashed 5-0 away at Old Trafford having a go, rather than getting beat 2-0 playing with 6 or 7 defenders in the team. I'd rather us to get relegated having a go than just surviving playing 6/7 defenders in the team.
The irony is, if we 'had a go' then we wouldn't lose 5-0 at Old Trafford and we wouldn't get relegated, we'd be a bloody good team! So, before you say we need a striker, think about how that striker is actually going to score and where the service is going to come from. I hate doing teams as it causes a seperate argument to the topic, but just look at the team below for the purpose of 'having a go'....
The first player mentioned is preferential over the second, eg, Jagielka/Heitinga and I have my reasons but the main point is any of these players would make a difference!!
One thing to note is everyone moans about Colemans defending, id like some tangible evidence here. Think of it like this, if we are an 'attacking' team, he wont need to do half as much defending as when we set out the stall with 7 defenders in the team! He will be up the wing bothering their left back and making them defend).
4-4-2:
Howard
Coleman
Jagielka/Heitinga
Distin
Baines
Donovan
Fellaini
Rodwell/Barkley
Drenthe/Gueye
Saha/Anichebe
Vellios
OR
4-3-3 - attacking but also very solid
Howard
Coleman
Jagielka/Heitinga
Distin
Baines
Rodwell
Fellaini
Barkley
Drenthe
Saha
Donovan
ps: Any chance of getting YAKUBU on loan? ;)
Reader Comments (22)
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2 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:21:59
3 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:23:53
4 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:26:27
5 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:31:05
"Track the runner... Track the runner... FUCK TRACK THE FUCKING RUNNER!"
6 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:22:12
7 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:20:16
8 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:39:53
9 Posted 07/01/2012 at 17:36:56
10 Posted 07/01/2012 at 18:34:42
11 Posted 07/01/2012 at 19:00:51
We could start by ditching this one-dimensional wing play rubbish. our only attacking strategy being to play the ball slowly out wide then lumping a high, hopeful ball into the box. No decent striker could thrive with that kind of play. Is it any wonder we only score with dead balls now?
12 Posted 07/01/2012 at 20:37:44
13 Posted 08/01/2012 at 03:45:44
14 Posted 08/01/2012 at 05:05:13
But if we only have enough cash for 1 or 2 players the attacking CM's is the way to go, some one to make the bullets. But again what would be the point if the priorities of the mid field were a) 2 defenders..b) a couple of wide-ish men to cover the wings and the space infront of the fullbacks...c) Oh and maybe one to work with Baines...shit thats 5 already...sorry full up, no room for attacking Midfielders.
I watched Jordan Rhodes last night, yes I know Lge 1 and the opposition had a nightmare...but on reflection what did he do?? nothing but a new take on the 50yr old Jimmy Greaves template...aka A Goalhanger.
He didn't seem to make one tackle, never moved out of their half except for all 8 kick offs, didn't come back for one corner or free kick.
As a goal scorer he had a shite ratio, only 14 attempts and only managed to get 8 on target and scored only 5 of those and 2 of those were tap-ins from keeper cock ups.
like I said just a goalhanger, I don't see him as being part of our modern, run like a bastard, keep it tight, try not to lose ethos.
No we don't need another striker, especially one as bad as that.
15 Posted 08/01/2012 at 05:30:52
16 Posted 08/01/2012 at 06:12:14
17 Posted 08/01/2012 at 06:17:58
18 Posted 08/01/2012 at 09:12:09
19 Posted 08/01/2012 at 09:30:04
Only truly world-class strikers would be able to regularly convert the paucity of chances we create into goals.
Yesterdays game took finances and player quality out of the equation. What we're left with is either a group of players who aren't playing for the manager, or a manager who is very poor at his job.
20 Posted 08/01/2012 at 09:38:52
A striker's job is to score goals; however, for a striker to do that, he needs to be in and around the box ? ours aren't, so another reason why our strikers don't score many goals. Can you see Rooney, Suarez or Van Persie tracking back up and down the wing then running into the box and scoring? I think not.
21 Posted 08/01/2012 at 11:41:55
A fact to consider is the high number of chances created by Leighton Baines alone - but those chances are just not being converted - mainly by Saha and Cahill.
Yes we need creative players to provide premier league quality service but we also need quality strikers. We have neither.
What we need most however is new ownership and finance.
Dream on fellow blues its not happening.
22 Posted 08/01/2012 at 12:02:38
Herein lies the fundamental difference between those who rate Moyes highly as a manager, and those who think he's useless. I'm not going to abuse you for saying that, you are welcome to your opinion. I have a mate who is a Man City fan and (until a few years ago) he maintained that the best years he ever had as a fan (he never misses a game, home or away) were when they were in league one winning every week, and playing attacking football.
For me, I want Everton to be in the premier league and I want them to finish as high as possible. I hated April/May in throughout the 90's not knowing if we'd escape the drop or not ... sometimes clinging on by the skin of our teeth on the last day of the season. Give me defensive and 7th over attacking and 17th any day of the week. And I'd rather be narrowly beat by the odd goal than trounced 5-0, too.
For me going to the match is more about the banter and a day out with my mates rather than a critique of tactics, and if we get a win or a draw (regardless of how we played) the craic is great. If we get beat it's pissed off, can't be arsed staying out (again, generally regardless of how we played). If I want to judge aesthetics I'll watch strictly ... with the footy it's all about finishing the season with the most points - no matter how ugly.
As I said, this is the fundamental difference between the two camps, so I'd not abuse you for your opinion. Just wish others could be more accepting.
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1 Posted 07/01/2012 at 14:10:19