Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Good effort, Yakubu!
38 Comments: I just wanted to congratulate Yakubu on the birth of his 2nd child.
What interested me more though was his commitment to his team. Whilst the party was traveling to the Birmingham game he was present for the birth and then he made the trip down making it in time to come off the bench for the last 20 minutes.
I just thought he should be commended for his commitment and maybe if he stays and can get fit it would be a massive positive going into the new campaign.
We all know the financial constraints in which we are operating so I don't want this to descend into another article about the failings of the board. I would just love to see the old Yak beaming after smashing the ball in the net on the opening day of the season at Spurs! Feed the Yak and all that...
Andrew Herbert, Posted 02/08/2011 at 09:45:04
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Nice one Andrew - it's good to see the guy given some praise for a change.
I just hope he gets a fair crack, and doesn't get nagged to death by Moyes instead of just allowed to do what he does, score goals. I think Yakubu gets the arse on some times when he's harrangued about his work rate and whinged at about tracking back and stuff. He's a goalscorer, let him score some.
He'd be a massive boost to us if he's fit. But judging by his treatment last year Moyes doesn't want him anymore.
Shame because he's a top level goalscorer when fit.
Shame because he's a top level goalscorer when fit.
For the younger viewers Yak is about the closest reminder of Big Bad Bob we've had in years, he rarely tracked back and on form was a pleasure to watch smashing goals in for fun. Hopefully he'll get game time alongside another striker, Beckford and Yak or Beckford and Saha isn't a bad thing.
Like some of have alluded to though, Moyes won't leave him be, and would rather see him score less and work harder. Strange logic, but it's all about the work ethic at Goodison.
What we all saw as a positive attribute is starting to grate on some of us now I think.
What we all saw as a positive attribute is starting to grate on some of us now I think.
Good point Andrew,
I have always felt the Yak is the only genuine potentially 20 goals a season striker we have.
I did feel that his injury may have ruined his career but you cant keep natural talent down.
He still troubles defenders and would be more valuable than the 2 to 4 million that we might get for him which would not go back into the squad anyway.
I have always felt the Yak is the only genuine potentially 20 goals a season striker we have.
I did feel that his injury may have ruined his career but you cant keep natural talent down.
He still troubles defenders and would be more valuable than the 2 to 4 million that we might get for him which would not go back into the squad anyway.
Fathering his 2nd child at the ripe ol age of 52 is good going, fair play to the Yak
Haha @ Rob, nice one!
Agree Andrew.
I think if (nb: IF!) Moyes has made Yakubu feel alienated and/or not 'part of the gang' etc, he needs a kick up the hole.
Yakubu can, I have NO doubt, frustrate on many different levels, but with his (proven!) goalscoring ability and with us paying him whatever we're paying him, Moyes should put all that Presbyterian stuff to one side and keep him (in fact ALL of them!) sweet until he's/they're out the door.
I'm sure it's frustrating to Moyes if he picks a player who doesn't follow instructions or gives him a bit of lip etc, but the reality these days is, managers have to swallow their pride to get the best out of players.
These fellers are on thousands a week and on 4/5 year deals.
Being dropped means fuck all to most of them.
They sit on the bench and think 'fuck it, I'll buy a big fat watch later"
Even a 'hard-case' like Sir Alex Red-Grid was made to look soft by young Wayne ("er...another coo...um...can look nice an 'aw that but...there's nae guarantee that coo will be as guid as the coo..").
To have Yakubu there, being paid thousands a week, but him thinking "they don't want me" is, imho, shite management.
As I say...IF!
I think if (nb: IF!) Moyes has made Yakubu feel alienated and/or not 'part of the gang' etc, he needs a kick up the hole.
Yakubu can, I have NO doubt, frustrate on many different levels, but with his (proven!) goalscoring ability and with us paying him whatever we're paying him, Moyes should put all that Presbyterian stuff to one side and keep him (in fact ALL of them!) sweet until he's/they're out the door.
I'm sure it's frustrating to Moyes if he picks a player who doesn't follow instructions or gives him a bit of lip etc, but the reality these days is, managers have to swallow their pride to get the best out of players.
These fellers are on thousands a week and on 4/5 year deals.
Being dropped means fuck all to most of them.
They sit on the bench and think 'fuck it, I'll buy a big fat watch later"
Even a 'hard-case' like Sir Alex Red-Grid was made to look soft by young Wayne ("er...another coo...um...can look nice an 'aw that but...there's nae guarantee that coo will be as guid as the coo..").
To have Yakubu there, being paid thousands a week, but him thinking "they don't want me" is, imho, shite management.
As I say...IF!
Is it just me, or does no-one else genuinely remember that the Yak has never actually performed for more than half a season at any club he's been at? He regularly goes very long spells without scoring, and usually looks like he can't be arsed during these spells. I think it was this side of his game that Moyes has tried to address. As in: "If you're not scoring, don't worry; work hard. If you're not scoring and you're not working hard, you won't be playing in my team". Which, personally, I think is fair enough.
I do accept that Yakubu is probably the best finisher we have though.
I do accept that Yakubu is probably the best finisher we have though.
It could be like a new signing!
How old was the child when it was born?
I will be skiving off work with my iPad to watch the game 7:30pm on Friday. Villarreal live on ITV4.
Will there be any new faces by then? Err...
What is it with strikers and Everton? Most we have signed in recent years Beattie, Johnson, Yakubu, Beckford have all come to us with pretty dam fine scoring records and do well enough in their first season but after that they do the whole chicken wheres my heading running around thing. Im glad the yak is still with, i think if he lays off the donuts and really get onto that threadmill he will first choice ahead of Saha and Beckford.
Tony, you're not suggesting the child may have been born some years ago but the birth is only just being registered, are you?
Was it his 2nd grandchild?
We have plenty of players who can run around but we need to supply him with the right sort of chance. Lumping the ball up to Yak is not going to work and for that matter its not going to work for Saha
Yeah, I think with a good preseason behind him he can have a good season for us.
Yeah well done Yak, but afterall if I was on 50k a week it's the least you could do!
The Yak was begining to show a bit of form before he was, for some strange reason, dropped, and shipped out.
Anthony @ 15
That's Moyes coaching - emphasis on defence, no support for a forward (if we play one), run your blood to water chasing hopeful causes/hoofs/incisive barca passing (delete as bias).
Once trained to pointless exhaustion - and your head drops because of frustration........pray the injuries sustained are not long term.
It may be a graveyard for strikers but it's a winner if you like defensive formations.
viva 7th.
That's Moyes coaching - emphasis on defence, no support for a forward (if we play one), run your blood to water chasing hopeful causes/hoofs/incisive barca passing (delete as bias).
Once trained to pointless exhaustion - and your head drops because of frustration........pray the injuries sustained are not long term.
It may be a graveyard for strikers but it's a winner if you like defensive formations.
viva 7th.
Moyes doesn't instill me with confidence regarding any strikers we've had under his tenure, nor the kind of knowledge or tact to support those strikers.
When we fed the Yak, he scored....that's what he does, we stopped feeding him so he stopped scoring. He's shown he can score at the top level which is the best we've got.
Saha is proven at getting injured and scoring, albeit his best haul was in the division below, Anichebe is obviously being cultivated into the slight, quick footed wing wizard he was meant to be and Beckford will prove without doubt he can score but not enough at this level.
Anyways hope Yak's kid is well and he's happy, my son's 7 months and happy so what more do you need?
When we fed the Yak, he scored....that's what he does, we stopped feeding him so he stopped scoring. He's shown he can score at the top level which is the best we've got.
Saha is proven at getting injured and scoring, albeit his best haul was in the division below, Anichebe is obviously being cultivated into the slight, quick footed wing wizard he was meant to be and Beckford will prove without doubt he can score but not enough at this level.
Anyways hope Yak's kid is well and he's happy, my son's 7 months and happy so what more do you need?
Anthony @ 15
Perhaps it shows our problems are not with the strikers we have but the lack of chances we create. I don't know what the stats say but for the last few seasons, I get the feeling we convert quite a high percentage of the chances we create.
Brian @ 21
I agree about Yak. I thought he absolutely bullied the entire Liverpool defence in the derby and had by far his best game since coming back then he disappeared from the
Perhaps it shows our problems are not with the strikers we have but the lack of chances we create. I don't know what the stats say but for the last few seasons, I get the feeling we convert quite a high percentage of the chances we create.
Brian @ 21
I agree about Yak. I thought he absolutely bullied the entire Liverpool defence in the derby and had by far his best game since coming back then he disappeared from the
Moyes won't play him.....
At least we know he scored once in the last term unlike his other useless countryman.
At least we know he scored once in the last term unlike his other useless countryman.
Some shite gets written on here about the Yak!! "He's the best finisher at the club"; "20 goals a season"; "Feed the Yak... blah blah blah". Each and every time the word "was" seems to be missing! 3 years ago he had a career-ending injury and is still not fit!!
And I'm not talking "match fit" ? just fit!! There simply is no excuse for a professional athlete to be overweight and as slow as he's looked for the past 2 years. Moyes sees this everyday and quite rightly doesn't play him. It's not rocket science!!
It's also no coincidence that we can't get shut of him!! Imagine the post bag on here if he was with another club and we were linked to him!!
It's sad to see him struggle after that injury but it clearly took it's toll and he has never looked even half the player he was before it and never will do either.
Harsh critique maybe. But sadly true...
Tony (13) - Good one.
There's probably not too much reason to think he can be back to his best anytime soon, but at the moment we haven't got much other than blind optimism to hang our hats on.
And maybe now he?ll lose his pregnant belly!
And maybe now he?ll lose his pregnant belly!
Sean (28) I more or less agree with your not fit conclusion and agree there's no REAL excuse.
It could be that he's just happy with his money and just doesn't give a fuck and (consequently) what I offer as a 'defence' isn't particularly strong.
However I have rarely seen a player as happy to score goals as Yakubu, so I'm guessing it's something he'd rather be doing than not.
Plus I feel that although (to a degree) it's up to the player to maintain fitness, there is obviously something wrong with how the club/Moyes are dealing with him (re: his fitness, state of mind etc).
As I say not a defence just stuff to throw into the mix.
It could be that he's just happy with his money and just doesn't give a fuck and (consequently) what I offer as a 'defence' isn't particularly strong.
However I have rarely seen a player as happy to score goals as Yakubu, so I'm guessing it's something he'd rather be doing than not.
Plus I feel that although (to a degree) it's up to the player to maintain fitness, there is obviously something wrong with how the club/Moyes are dealing with him (re: his fitness, state of mind etc).
As I say not a defence just stuff to throw into the mix.
11 goals in 20 games albeit in the division below says he still knows where the net is.
Sean, you say Yak is unfit, then what about Anichebe? When was the last time he was able to complete 90 minutes? And all this for a striker that doesn't even score goals! But yet Moyes has chosen him over Yakubu who can actually score goals! Clueless management!
In fact I think Hibbert would give Anichebe a run for his money in the goalscoring charts if he were to be playing also as a striker, well he equalled his efforts last year anyway of 0.
In fact I think Hibbert would give Anichebe a run for his money in the goalscoring charts if he were to be playing also as a striker, well he equalled his efforts last year anyway of 0.
I really hope he stays! Can anybody honestly say he is shit?? He is a goalscorer, look at his record in the league.
Moyes really does need to start playing him and stop being a stubborn bastard. What the hell does he see in Anichebe that makes him think to play him instead?
Moyes really does need to start playing him and stop being a stubborn bastard. What the hell does he see in Anichebe that makes him think to play him instead?
Anthony, Yak can't be bad because Anichibe is bad too??? All that says is that they are both bad, it doesn't defend Yak.
Can I also remind people that we don't know what goes on at Finch farm. For all we know Yak could stand around doing nothing and telling Moyes to take a hike. If so Moyes would probably turn around and tell him he won't play for the club again until he sorts his attitude out.
Equally Vic might run his arse off every training session and so Moyes decides that he is the better of two dead donkeys.
Criticising people based on guesswork is just petty, the sort of think that the red tops do.
Can I also remind people that we don't know what goes on at Finch farm. For all we know Yak could stand around doing nothing and telling Moyes to take a hike. If so Moyes would probably turn around and tell him he won't play for the club again until he sorts his attitude out.
Equally Vic might run his arse off every training session and so Moyes decides that he is the better of two dead donkeys.
Criticising people based on guesswork is just petty, the sort of think that the red tops do.
I might be missing something here, but where was Yak last night?
I believe he travelled over to Germany but didn't even make the bench. No reports of an injury anywhere. In fact, no mention anywhere of what Yakubu did... can anyone shed any light?
I believe he travelled over to Germany but didn't even make the bench. No reports of an injury anywhere. In fact, no mention anywhere of what Yakubu did... can anyone shed any light?
Steve, I'm not saying Yakubu doesn't have his weaknesses, but he's alot better than Anichebe! I'd rather have a proven striker that is able to complete 90 minutes and capable of scoring a few goals! Anichebe does neither and he would have been sold at any other Premier League club with such an appauling goalscoring record.
I know he's had his injuries, which gives him some excuse and I'd love to be proved wrong about him but I'm not convinced. Anyone who thinks he is currently better than Yakubu needs their head testing!
I know he's had his injuries, which gives him some excuse and I'd love to be proved wrong about him but I'm not convinced. Anyone who thinks he is currently better than Yakubu needs their head testing!
Anthony ANYONE would be better than Anichebe!! Unquestionably pound for pound the worst player at Everton in past 25 years ? if not more!!
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1 Posted 02/08/2011 at 13:53:23
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