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Yak Back! Well No Actually!!

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Friday 15th July 2011 - Gigg Lane, Bury

Yakubu is first choice striker with Beckford - within minutes he scores... "that" grin is back and with no cash in the coffers it seems maybe the Yak is Back!

But no ? see this snippet from the team base in US:

With the recuperating Louis Saha the only notable first-team absentee ? along with Joseph Yobo and Yakubu, both of whom are expected to leave the club before the season?s start ? Moyes was able to run the rule over the shape of his side with the Premier League?s big kick-off a little under four weeks away.
My question is:? Why bother using him in the friendly v Bury if he was never gonna be back in contention??
Si  Harwood, Bolton     Posted 19/07/2011 at 13:19:21

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Anthony Hughes
1   Posted 19/07/2011 at 13:34:12

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Probably because he was the only semi-live body he could put out up front.
Sam Hoare
2   Posted 19/07/2011 at 13:43:16

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To put in the shop window? Rumours of a £4m bid from Leicester ... hard to believe but hope its true.

It's strange that a proven Premier League striker supposedly entering his prime (he's 28 apparently) has so little interest in him.
Alan Feehely
3   Posted 19/07/2011 at 13:47:13

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I'd love it if he rediscovered his form from his first season. If he kept up performances like the one against Liverpool in October and worked hard than he could prove a valuable asset. He's better than Anichebe anyway.
Danny Lizars
4   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:03:03

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I really don't see why Moyes is keen to get rid (according to reports/rumours). Like Alan said, if he can keep up the level of performance he showed against the Shite in October, then he'd be a very good asset to have. And let's face it, we all know there's not a pot to piss in at Goodison just now, so we have no chance of finding another striker.

Oh, and he's better than Anichebe!!
James Marshall
5   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:11:10

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@Sam - Not that strange when you consider the injury he had last year.
Ian Kearney
6   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:12:43

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We can only hope that Moyes knew there was a potential buyer or two at the friendly... well we can hope can't we?!
Tom Bowers
7   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:25:48

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It's obvious that Moyes no longer rates Yak or Yobo but no club has yet offered the right price and so they continue in the shop window. However, one wonders if there will be any movement in or out of the club before the season starts.

The media rumours abound but Moyes is now off to The States with what will be his squad for the start of the season, it seems. Forget the results from pre-season games ? it's the team fitness that counts, and hopefully they will be fighting fit for the first league game.

Many clubs are wheeling and dealing but not Everton. Arguably one of the most impressive performers from last season Charlie Adam had not impressed Moyes but, maybe because our left sided midfielders were so outstanding, he decided not to ask about him.

Could not Moyes have offered Yaks and Yobo or at least Yaks and Osman and some cash? I guess not.

So we enter the new season basically hoping some of the ''fringe'' players can step up and make an impression as we all know the usual suspects won't cut it.

Phil Martin
8   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:39:09

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Sam, he's been 28 for at least 10 years now.
Richard Parker
9   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:25:42

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I still don't see how the Yak went from the player he was to a Championship level striker. I know that he had a really serious injury, but he's played games in the Prem since where he's looked sharp.

There must be something more than he's just turned shit. A fit and firing Yak would be my wish for the start of the new season, financials considered.
Stephen Kenny
10   Posted 19/07/2011 at 14:55:32

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I saw the Yak yesterday in town, limping into the Queens Square Nando's.

Perhaps he is a lazy fatty after all.

Not sure how many athletes consider a Nando's at lunch hour a good way to prepare for a gruelling long season?
James Marshall
11   Posted 19/07/2011 at 15:07:03

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All Nigerian footballers are 28.

Even 'Ammo'
Danny Broderick
12   Posted 19/07/2011 at 15:12:52

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Deary me, do you believe everything that is written in the press?
Tony J Williams
13   Posted 19/07/2011 at 15:24:04

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Probably played to say ta ra to the fans...
James Stewart
14   Posted 19/07/2011 at 16:48:59

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Yakubu used to scare people with his pace and power. No longer has the pace so he's a much more limited player. Still, I would prefer him up top to Vic! His wages are about £50k per week though, so you can see why Moyes wants rid.
Peter Laing
15   Posted 19/07/2011 at 17:02:07

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Advert in the Liverpool Echo reads: For Sale: the Yak, buyer collects, no cheques, bankers draughts or Western money transfers, requires attention to bodywork, high mileage, issues with starter motor and clutch, previous good runner.
Rob Murphy
16   Posted 19/07/2011 at 17:05:27

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Maybe he was havin the sweetcorn in Nandos, Stephen?!?
Al Reddish
17   Posted 19/07/2011 at 17:46:48

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The way I see it, no one has ever said he fell out with Moyes, it is all rumour. Moyes has to sell in order to buy an he has obviously identified the Yak as the one that would have the least impact on the squad if he were to leave. It's business, and although he had a great game against the shite, the Yak has been average to poor since his injury.
Ray Roche
18   Posted 19/07/2011 at 18:19:15

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James Marshall

James, I thought the Yak damaged his achilles in Nov 2008. Even with a twelve month recupperation he should have been fit before that. And yes, I KNOW how serious an injury it was.
Stewart Oakes
19   Posted 19/07/2011 at 18:34:53

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he want's to move on, he has said so himself, he never stays long at a club, look at his history, couple of years at Pompy then wants away, same at the riverside and now at Everton.
Gavin Ramejkis
20   Posted 19/07/2011 at 18:17:28

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He played against Bury as we have a squad thinner than the tissue of lies that bastard Murdoch and Cameron and any Met Police chief pedal
Peter Askins
21   Posted 19/07/2011 at 19:08:03

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Let's get a bit of perspective back on The Yak.

From where I was sitting at Gigg Lane on Friday night, and to paraphrase Brian's Mum, "he's not the Messiah, he's a very lazy boy " !

Moyes sent him out to play "up top" with Beckford, but within 20 minutes, he was blowing out of his whatsit, and as he couldn't keep up, literally.

He only scored as he had parked himself in the six yard box from a corner, and scored with the easiest of flick-ons from a strong Fellaini header.

For the remainder of the game, he either dropped deeper and deeper, or had a five minute breather out on the wing. I know, because he practically sat in the seat next to me ! Several times in the second half, Baines, Gueye, or yes, even Anichebe, flew down the wings, and sent over good crosses, only to discover that Yakubu was 20 yards behind the play. Beckford limping off was the end of our goal threat, as Yakubu looked disinterested and worn out, in equal measure, shuffling around the halfway line.

So, forget what he did 3 years ago, and don't expect big things from Yakubu this season. For me, if any club offered £3M+, I'd snap their hand off.

Peter Laing
22   Posted 19/07/2011 at 21:30:18

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Fact, if you rupture your archilles tendon you are most definetely finished as a top level sportsman. With Yakubu's tendency to gain weight, train poorly and stuggle with fitness you are unfortunately left with a player who sadly resembles Luther Vandross in his weight issue days.
Eric Myles
23   Posted 20/07/2011 at 03:02:44

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James #14 "His wages are about £50k per week though, so you can see why Moyes wants rid."

Spot on, and Yobo must be getting a few bob after having been with us around 10 years.

Remember we shipped players out on loan to get them off the wage bill and nothing has changed since then.

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