Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
The line-up against City
I always like to tell David Moyes what to do. Most times he ignores my advice and fucks up. You know what, though; he can pick the team this weekend by himself.
What does he do? Bring Heitinga or Neville into midfield? Start Drenthe? Play Cahill as a striker? Start Osman? (Well, that didn't need asking...)
Honestly, what should he do? Go for it... or settle for a point? At least we have options. Go without fear. We are as good as them.
Andy Crooks, Posted 22/09/2011 at 22:22:41
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Howard
Hibbert, Jags, Distin, Baines
Coleman, Fellaini, Osman, Drenthe,
Cahill
Vellios
Subs: Neville, Heitinga, Rodwell, Bily, Barkley, Mucha.
Personally I'd like to see us go all out in attack. I'd rather watch us go down swinging than roll over and play dead.
I wouldn't be shocked if Moyes parked the bus hoping for a repeat of our win over Chelsea in the FA Cup last year.
To tell the truth I just want to win this one and will put aside my love of passing football for one game if we have to do it.
Howard
Hibbert, Jags, Distin, Baines
Coleman, Fellaini, Osman, Drenthe,
Cahill
Vellios
Subs: Neville, Heitinga, Rodwell, Bily, Barkley, Mucha.
Personally I'd like to see us go all out in attack. I'd rather watch us go down swinging than roll over and play dead.
I wouldn't be shocked if Moyes parked the bus hoping for a repeat of our win over Chelsea in the FA Cup last year.
To tell the truth I just want to win this one and will put aside my love of passing football for one game if we have to do it.
That's not to say that Everton can't beat Citteh this weekend, just that the odds are against us. To suggest that the way to level those odds is to give a speech along the lines of "Forget about them lads, you're better than them, You're a better team than them. Have no fear" is somewhat disengenuous. Footballers mightn't be the brightest stars in the night sky, but they're not that dim either. You can get away with that kind of speech once or twice in your career, and generally only when you're in charge of a much smaller club and playing in the FA Cup.
A far more sensible team speech would be along the lines of "Lads, you need to be at 100% today. Close them down with all the energy you can find, throw yourself in front of every ball, chase, harry, hassle, upset them. Start quickly, don't let them settle, keep going until the final whistle. And when a chance comes your way, for god's sake take it!".
All very banal, yes, and certainly not Roy of the Rovers stuff. But to suggest that we're as good as Citteh, man for man, and that all the players need to do is prove is, seems to me to be barking up the wrong tree.
Personally, I would definitely start Drenthe as his place could prove extremely valuable on the break (although granted you could just throw him on for the last 20 minutes - assuming you're still in the game at that point). I'd expect Bily to be dropped, given that he really hasn't done much in the last 2 games. Beyond that, who knows.
As an aside, if Moyes changed the habit of a lifetime (and god knows he won't) and set out with something like 4-3-3 (or another very attacking line-up) and we got beaten 5-0 how happy would people actually be? It's a questions I've asked before. It's all well and good pleading for attacking relentlessly, but if it leads to a heavy defeat, will fans stand up and admit they're happier with that than 0-0 or a 1-0 defeat, or will they simply call Moyes clueless, compain about how badly he got it wrong, and call for his head (again)?
That said, playing a defensive line-up with a big-man up front is for once exactly what we should be doing at the Etihad, if we go open and attacking that City side has pace and passing to rip us (or indeed anyone) apart it would be suicide to go there and attack.
Counteracting Silva and Aguero
will likely be at the top of Moyes agenda, although with our pace and purpose on the flanks and if Felliani puts in a good shift in the middle I think we could do a job here.
Neville for Hibbert
Drenthe for Bilyaletdinov
Let's face it, Moyes is hardly a tinkerman.
Hibbert Jagielka Distain Baines
Neville Fellaini
Coleman Drente
Osman
Cahill
None of this namby pamby wishy washy nervous Nelly stuff for me. I go for a clear and decisive victory with Timmy bagging a few.
We are Everton and will not be denied our rightful place at the top table.
Ain't nothin gunna stop us now!
We'll hang the Kopites one by one on the banks of the royal blue Mersey.
Davy will show Mancini who is the Daddy.
By golly am I up for it! Don't forget Judas Lescott who took the 30 pieces.
Yes Nurse I will take my tablets turn of the light.
Gotta feeling that it might not be happy viewing but desperately hope i'm wrong. Think if we beat them this time it would comfortably top all the others.
City are on fire and to think that we could go there with an open attacking 4-4-2 formation and come away with anyting other than a spanking is madness. Look what they did to Spurs at White Hart Lane.
I am desparate for free flowing attacking football but we simply dont have the players to match this City team. So lets do what we do best and play Moyes' favourite system and try and grab something like we did last year
Howard
Hibbert Jags Heitinga Baines
Rodwell Fellaini
Osman Bilyaletdinov Drenthe
Cahill
I think Moyes will play
Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Neville Rodwell
Coleman Fellaini Osman
Cahill
???
I dont remember us trying to do that, i remember us battering them easily the last few games.
However, if we did sell him (if anyone wanted him) we would need a replacement because he is tall and wins alot of headers in the middle of the park. I'd also like to point out that it's no co-incidence that we always seem to go on good runs when he is injured.
Howard
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Fellaini Heitinga
Drenthe Osman Rodwell
Cahill
Subs: Mucha Hibbert Bily Saha Coleman Barkley Vellios
Andy, behave.
We can certainly give anybody a game on any given day - but we're nowhere near as good as they are.
You can hardly bemoan Moyes for team selection when you won't have a go yourself.
We are nowhere near as good as them player for player that's obvious.
What we can try to do is outthink them and outwork them, something Moyes has done regularly over the past few seasons.
One thing we need to do is keep the ball for periods to have a chance. That means playing Heitinga at the expense of the Jag.
We also need to be well organized so I would make Heitinga captain as he is a good communicator.
Our Midfield picks itself and IMO with Royston starting on the left theres no place for Leon for this game. Having pace on both sides means we can counter attack at pace with a goal threat on both wings.
We will also need to put a lot of pressure on the ball and be able to hold it up when we get it so I would play our most mobile 3 in the middle and Vellios up front who is quick and full of energy, he also works hard.
I would go with this
Howard/Mucha
Hibbo Heitinga Distin Baines
Rodwell Fellaini
Coleman Cahill Drenthe
Vellios
For me I'm reminded alot of Gravesen, in that he has a lot of weaknesses, but if they can be compensated for (by an excellent holding midfielder) then he can concentrate on his strengths and fulfill his potential. Problem is, Rodwell, Neville and Heitinga are no Lee Carsley.
Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Neville Fellaini
Rodwell Osman Drenthe
Cahill
I certainly feel he will play a false 9 / 4-6-0 formation and that he will employ some defensive minded midfielder down the right, be it Neville or Rodwell. I can only see him going negative for this game. I hope I'm wrong as I think such a formation would see us slaughtered.
I agree with what is already being said that a mix of being solid at the back and being quick on the counter-attack is the only way we'll have a chance to get something out of this (despite our wonderful run of results against them). I am not ashamed to admit that I shit myself in fear of Aguero and Silva.
I think we are great at being jammy bastards and disrupting play. It's not going to happen, but my line-up would be:
Howard
Hibbert/Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Heitinga
Coleman/Gueye Fellaini Osman Drenthe
Cahill
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Rodwell Heitinga
Osman Fellaini Drenthe
Cahill
SUBS: Mucha, Neville, Vellios, Barkley, Gueye, Bily, Coleman (no Saha/Straq)
2-1 to the Toffees . At the end of the day, it is 11 v/s 11... simple.
That said my choice our team would be as follows:
Howard
Neville - Jagielka - Distin - Heitinga - Baines
Osman - Fellaini - Rodwell
Drenthe
Velios
Now 5-3-1-1 may appear to be a negative choice, but I feel it gives us a compact look, which can help us keep Silva and Nasri at bay.
While picking 5 across the back should reduce space for their front 2.
Going forward, Drenthe can use his pace to scare the opposition and hopefully Osman and Fellaini can produce some probing balls for Velios, who I pick over Cahill due to our lack of width.
I expect to be shot down, but I view this formation as playing to our strengths and more importantly not giving Citeh the space to cause us damage.
Silva and Nasri would run rings around him.
If any one could name me a top european club playing 4-4-2 I would like to know?
4-4-2 is very much a English formation and looks to be out of date.
So, we have recently off-loaded Beckford and Vaughan, and in come Vellios and Stracqualursi. This leaves us with no pace up front, in a side that defends deep.
All hail the Moyesiah!
I would play
Howard
Hibbert Heitinga Distin Baines
Coleman Fellaini Barkley Drenthe
Cahill/Bilyaletdinov
Vellios
If so, would be nice to see Vellios starting up front (doesn't sound like the Straq is fit to start yet) but suspect it'll be Cahill with Osman supporting again.
Hopefully we'll see Drenthe on the left rather than Bily- he's done about as much in 2 games as Bily has in 2 years. Also wouldn't be surprised to see Neville or Heitinga in midfield with the big Fella, as a few have said
Nailed on before a ball is kicked.
This is one fixture that the manager has got right, our record against the oil rich brigade, is superb.
The players who have performed in those games deserve all the credit, because they have worked their bollocks off, in getting the results
Just hope in continues Saturday.
This is one fixture that the manager has got right, our record against the oil rich brigade, is superb.
The players who have performed in those games deserve all the credit, because they have worked their bollocks off, in getting the results
Just hope in continues Saturday.
This is one fixture that the manager has got right, our record against the oil rich brigade, is superb.
The players who have performed in those games deserve all the credit, because they have worked their bollocks off, in getting the results
Just hope in continues Saturday.
Although Id suggest to be on the safe side we start with 13 players. None of them with the surname Rodwell.
I really do fear for us tomorrow. Fuck me I hope im wrong but im wincing just thinking about it. Tevez and Bartobellismelli as your second string? Jeeez!
For all the talk of Carsley, he was at the very least 28 before his positional sense was at its peak, Rodwell is yet to have one real season in this role, if £20 mill came in for him fine, but it wont, we need to back youth now, theres no other way forward without money, playing Neville in midfield is something I never want to see again.
He killed us off against Wigan. His range off passing is limited in my view because he rarely enablee us to operate in the space around the box.
Id love to be proved wrong though.
Hibbert Jagileka Distin Baines
Coleman Fellaini Rodwell Drenthe
Bily
Cahill
The Team. Howard, Hibbert, Jags, Distin, Baines,Coleman,Neville, Fellani,Gueye,Osman, Cahill.
Pathetic even by your standards Andy. You are clearly living in La-La land if you think we are as good as City. However I expect us to give them a game, with TC getting his usual goal.
Howard
Hibbert
Jags
Distin
Baines
Coleman
Neville
Fellaini
Heitinga
Osman
Cahill
Defend, Defend, Defend.
4-1(Heitinga)-4-1
It was always going to be not if, but when they "Gel" as a team. After the Spurs game it brought it home to me that they unfortunately, for us had gelled.
Dave Southon, love your creativity. I like the "Park the bus" and have pace to counter attack. Lets face it City will have this problem in the CL all day long.
I would however replace Gueye for Rodwell, i.e. pace and guile. I like Jonny in the back five because he would with a pass, get the three in front on their way.
For subs, if it didn't work around the 46 min, take Gueye off switch Ozzy to the left to work in a triangle with Fellaini, and go for Coleman on the right.
It's not about 4-4-2 it's not about 4-5-1.
What it's about is the skill and the ability for a manager to evaluate the team in front of him and to set up the tactics needed to at worse, thwart, and at best to win.
So appart from the few changes I've made yeah, I'm going with the side and formation that Dave picked.
COYB
PS. Me and my boys made the trip from Cornwall for the cup game. My only question is, why the fuck did we, and the St. end only get going after ninety mins. Prediction, 2-2 and a well earned point (PAP) !
The link is http://evertontv.evertonfc.com/.
Maybe admin could make this a 'sticky' or something??
I presume that team is what you are expecting him to play and not what you would play?
After all you could not be suggesting that you would start the match without a recognised striker are you?
Hibbert Heitinga Distin Baines
Coleman Fellaini Osman Drenthe
Cahill
Vellios
Subs: Mucha,Neville,Jagielka,Rodwell,Barkley,Saha,Bilyaletdinov.
Hibbert Jags Distin Baines
Neville Rodwell
Coleman Fellaini Osman
Cahill
The above team is an absolute cert
Subs : Mucha, Heitinga,Vellios,Denthe,Barkley,Billy, Saha
Cafu Baresi Distin Maldini
Coleman Zidane Felli Messi
Maradona Vellios
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1 Posted 23/09/2011 at 04:48:57
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