Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Looking forward to City game
28 Comments: At the Fulham game, and that's the first time in a while this season my young son and I have left the game with a smile on our faces. I thought we showed a lot of passion for the first time in a long time and, if we show the same passion on Tuesday, we could well get a result.
On the cup game, a lot of players stepped up to the mantle and delivered, which is what we need. So come on, Blue Boys, let's have a right go on Tuesday night. COYB!
Michael Summers, Posted 28/01/2012 at 13:48:55
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There were still a lot of the old flaws but a win is a win and we will take that anytime.
We do need to show much more improvement for the upcoming game against City but if we can get lucky with late goals and penalties like the Redshite then we can win any game.
We do need to show much more improvement for the upcoming game against City but if we can get lucky with late goals and penalties like the Redshite then we can win any game.
Some of this season's bore score draws and losses could have been improved by more of the same. It isn't going to work every game but why the hell not try and at least give the fans something to sing and shout about? A little bit more passion and a whole lot more application.
One day we will score a goal which isn't a free kick, penalty, header, or scramble in the box.
Have to say I thought we were rubbish and have played much better football this season but been beaten.
But a win is a win and we are thru to the next round. We are not a terrible team, and we have some useful players but we have seen some flair players leave recently which leaves us even more overbalanced towards workmanlike.
I really miss the Pienaar/Baines thing on the left and the vision of Arteta (but we rarely saw it season or two before he left) and also Yakubu's skills around and in the box.
Until we get some funds and are able to have a net spend of £20million a season we will not achieve anything I am afraid, regardless of who is our manager.
But a win is a win and we are thru to the next round. We are not a terrible team, and we have some useful players but we have seen some flair players leave recently which leaves us even more overbalanced towards workmanlike.
I really miss the Pienaar/Baines thing on the left and the vision of Arteta (but we rarely saw it season or two before he left) and also Yakubu's skills around and in the box.
Until we get some funds and are able to have a net spend of £20million a season we will not achieve anything I am afraid, regardless of who is our manager.
Ben Dyke, in which game(s) did we play much better football than against Fulham and lose?
Donovan makes a huge difference to the side. What a failure it was not to get him permanently 2 seasons ago. Soon we'll be able to look forward to Anichebe in that position once Landon returns to the US.
Hopefully a good cup run can give us all a lift. It has been a truly depressing season so far.
Hopefully a good cup run can give us all a lift. It has been a truly depressing season so far.
Brian I think we played better football against Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea (league and cup).
Ben - It wasn't a game for the purists granted, but we played to our strengths given the personnel.
There was a period in the 1st half when we had them penned in their 18 yard box, and we looked like a goal was coming which in turn buoyed the crowd - great atmosphere for 25k by the way.
This, up and at em play has been sadly missing from our game in recent times and certainly was at City when we adopted a very defensive mindset.
Agree totally with you about missing the Baines/Pienaar combo and Arteta, but unfortunately that's history * now and we have to try and find a pattern of play with the current crop, we did last night and hopefully that effort and endeavor will see us pick up enough points this season, starting on Tuesday.
* Maybe Bill is lining up a bid for Pienaar with the proceeds from Bily, Arteta, Yak etc - you can but live in hope.
There was a period in the 1st half when we had them penned in their 18 yard box, and we looked like a goal was coming which in turn buoyed the crowd - great atmosphere for 25k by the way.
This, up and at em play has been sadly missing from our game in recent times and certainly was at City when we adopted a very defensive mindset.
Agree totally with you about missing the Baines/Pienaar combo and Arteta, but unfortunately that's history * now and we have to try and find a pattern of play with the current crop, we did last night and hopefully that effort and endeavor will see us pick up enough points this season, starting on Tuesday.
* Maybe Bill is lining up a bid for Pienaar with the proceeds from Bily, Arteta, Yak etc - you can but live in hope.
I still have huge respect for David Moyes but I do wonder what we can do in the game against City coming up. We have no cutting edge, but we can scare teams with a bit of a physical presence up front. It will never win anyone over playing football the way we have to at the mo but I don't see any other way with the players we have.
I like Drenthe coming on from the bench when the other team tires a bit. I would start with Stracq again to batter them a bit and tire them out and maybe nick a goal.
Donovan gives us a bit of invention - wish we could get someone in for when he goes but ALAS!
Hope Cahill finds some drive/form...
I like Drenthe coming on from the bench when the other team tires a bit. I would start with Stracq again to batter them a bit and tire them out and maybe nick a goal.
Donovan gives us a bit of invention - wish we could get someone in for when he goes but ALAS!
Hope Cahill finds some drive/form...
Ben - What games were your watching?? We played better than we played yesterday against Man city and Chelsea away this season? I certainly don't think so. We had a shot at goal with a minute left against Man City, likewise Chelsea dominated the game at Stamford Bridge.
As for the up and coming game, I hope this gives the players a lift and a bit of confidence. I can see Moyes changing a winning line up with Saha starting. I really hope i'm wrong as Stracq did more in that game that Saha has done all season.
As for the up and coming game, I hope this gives the players a lift and a bit of confidence. I can see Moyes changing a winning line up with Saha starting. I really hope i'm wrong as Stracq did more in that game that Saha has done all season.
I expect Saha to feature for part of the game, hopefully coming on as an 'impact' sub.
The real key for both sides is down the wings where, believe it or not with Drenthe and Donovan I think we have the penetrating edge. Communication between our back line and Howard needs improvement.
In their recent games Joe Hart rescued City with many fantastic saves. He must be due for an off day. I have a feeling that Cahill will be back on form in this one.
The real key for both sides is down the wings where, believe it or not with Drenthe and Donovan I think we have the penetrating edge. Communication between our back line and Howard needs improvement.
In their recent games Joe Hart rescued City with many fantastic saves. He must be due for an off day. I have a feeling that Cahill will be back on form in this one.
Charlie 540
Vic's goal at Villa fits that bill.
Vic's goal at Villa fits that bill.
We looked quite decent when Pip an Landon got free down the right but Pip was awful in defence. His tackling is way off and in my book Hibbert isn't much better.
We really need a class right back.
he biggest plus was the performance of Fellaini and I do hope he carries it over to upcoming games/
We really need a class right back.
he biggest plus was the performance of Fellaini and I do hope he carries it over to upcoming games/
sorry we are 3/4 players off a team that i would go back and watch.
right back
attacking mid
left wing
striker.
could get all 4 for 12 mill less Bily fee ie 7mill
it would also move us up to 7th(ish) and generate an extra 4 mill in revenue!!!
right back
attacking mid
left wing
striker.
could get all 4 for 12 mill less Bily fee ie 7mill
it would also move us up to 7th(ish) and generate an extra 4 mill in revenue!!!
Someone at the top needs to grow some balls!!! £7 mill now will be £25 mill later!!
Will the real David Moyes please stand up (please stand up, please stand up).
Simon Harris 556; Exactly! played to our strengths (or should that be Drenthe's). No more knife fight / gunfight surrender monkey shite.
Do this and more vs City, get in their faces like we have done for the last few years. Mostly, if you put the effort in, you get the odd break.
I really believe that City are a bit of a (financial) bully and don't have the true grit, endeavour and plain ole right stuff of proper potential Champions elect and if pressured to the end by United will bottle it finishing 2nd.
And we, with proper selections and attitudes on and off the field, can carry on the good work done by our jammy, sold their Shankly redshite souls to himself cousins (bitter? me? nah...) by putting another nail in their coffins.
They don't like it up em and there's only one cure for that... More.
Isn't it great what a win does?
We need the real David Moyes to keep standing up; and put one of those fingers on each hand up.
Simon Harris 556; Exactly! played to our strengths (or should that be Drenthe's). No more knife fight / gunfight surrender monkey shite.
Do this and more vs City, get in their faces like we have done for the last few years. Mostly, if you put the effort in, you get the odd break.
I really believe that City are a bit of a (financial) bully and don't have the true grit, endeavour and plain ole right stuff of proper potential Champions elect and if pressured to the end by United will bottle it finishing 2nd.
And we, with proper selections and attitudes on and off the field, can carry on the good work done by our jammy, sold their Shankly redshite souls to himself cousins (bitter? me? nah...) by putting another nail in their coffins.
They don't like it up em and there's only one cure for that... More.
Isn't it great what a win does?
We need the real David Moyes to keep standing up; and put one of those fingers on each hand up.
Steve Cotton:
1. "right back
2. attacking mid
3. left wing
4. striker."
for £12M? What kind of player does £3M buy you these days? A right back no better than Hibbert, an attacking midfielder nowhere near as good as Cahill, a left winger who might be as good as Drenthe but I doubt it, and a striker not as good as Anichebe or Saha. What would be the point?
If we have even £5-7M, that all needs to go on ONE striker.
1. "right back
2. attacking mid
3. left wing
4. striker."
for £12M? What kind of player does £3M buy you these days? A right back no better than Hibbert, an attacking midfielder nowhere near as good as Cahill, a left winger who might be as good as Drenthe but I doubt it, and a striker not as good as Anichebe or Saha. What would be the point?
If we have even £5-7M, that all needs to go on ONE striker.
Brian - spot on!
Ben Dyke - "Yakubu's skills around and in the box" he'd been frozen out by Moyes, months ago. Remember scoring the winner against Stoke then dropped! As for we've played better this season, when??. Fulham game was an improvement. One of many concerns will be Drenthe will be gone in 4 months and Donovan in 4 weeks.
Everton beat Fulham by one goal whilst playing at home. Inspired by a loan player who will shortly be gone.
This is such an amazing result I can barely type for sheer excitement.
This is such an amazing result I can barely type for sheer excitement.
Rob Hollis @ 638 - My sentiments EXACTLY. I will be very surprised if Stracq is not replaced with the completely useless and ineffective Saha and we will then revert back to not just carrying Cahill and Neville each game but Saha too, and when you start a game with effectively 8 players of only whom 1 possibly 2 can influence the game in our favour then we may as well just give them the points now. Moyes may surprise us but I doubt it !
I do hope Stracq gets an extended run in the team and Barkley is introduced gradually back in, that coupled with a new striker to go up top with Stracq before Tuesday's deadline and we may just get a decent ? and I emphasise the word 'decent' ? finish in the Prem along with possibly a decent run in the cup with Blackpool/Sheff Wed up next who knows.
I won't hold my breath on said changes and don't expect to see Moyes add to the front line or Barkley introduced anytime soon, BUT WE CAN HOPE as this is all's I have left to cling to, through what has been a watershed season for the club and our supporters and more tellingly our pathetic excuse for a Board and our once loved Manager.
I do hope Stracq gets an extended run in the team and Barkley is introduced gradually back in, that coupled with a new striker to go up top with Stracq before Tuesday's deadline and we may just get a decent ? and I emphasise the word 'decent' ? finish in the Prem along with possibly a decent run in the cup with Blackpool/Sheff Wed up next who knows.
I won't hold my breath on said changes and don't expect to see Moyes add to the front line or Barkley introduced anytime soon, BUT WE CAN HOPE as this is all's I have left to cling to, through what has been a watershed season for the club and our supporters and more tellingly our pathetic excuse for a Board and our once loved Manager.
Although we played well in patches yesterday and progressed to next round we are really still missing that playmaking midfield player that will open up defences through the middle most of our chances were from crosses or set pieces (donovan) no matter what striker we buy we will need to get him service. And was i the only person to see tim cahills shocking tackle on andy johnson yesterday ? i taught it was wreckless should have got straight red card i cant believe their wasnt more talk on it, i like tims passion and work rate but he lunges in sometimes where its totally unnesserary, could have cost us yesterday .
We attacked Fulham; against City, it will be back to the norm, Saha back, and a negative set-up.
I think Everton are normally at their best when going a goal behind... it's a shame it takes that for them to get their asses into gear.
Derek (584) - "I really believe that City are a bit of a (financial) bully and don't have the true grit".
They haven't proved different, have they? I'm with you. Fuck City.
Off our effort friday, expect Goodison to be rocking tuesday. City might be riding high presently, but have quite a number of players left since the big money took them over while EFC's been treating them like our bitch most times since.
COYB!
They haven't proved different, have they? I'm with you. Fuck City.
Off our effort friday, expect Goodison to be rocking tuesday. City might be riding high presently, but have quite a number of players left since the big money took them over while EFC's been treating them like our bitch most times since.
COYB!
I would like to see Moyes have a total reversal of attitude than the pinch a point rubbish he displayed at their gaff.
Football is one of the few sports that you have to make your own luck. And to this end we didn't do much to make luck go our way last time.
Right now, everyone connected with the coaching staff, Moyes included, should be bolstering Straqs confidence. They should be telling him that he's the new Tevez on the scene or words to that effect. He should at least start against City. If he doesn't then that will be a trevesty of justice.
Moyes will go for a 4-5-1 with Cahill behind Straq. He will do this because he fears their midfield. If that works for the first half and we're not 3/4 nil down then job done.
If Moyes has started with Donovan on the right and gueye on the left then in the second half keep them there. If needs be swap them over from time to time and give City something to think about.
Take Cahill off replace with Drenthe with one caveat. Give Drenthe free licence to roam and attack at will, back 4's, their worst nightmare.
Come on Davey, just remember,
Fortune favours the brave !
COYB
Football is one of the few sports that you have to make your own luck. And to this end we didn't do much to make luck go our way last time.
Right now, everyone connected with the coaching staff, Moyes included, should be bolstering Straqs confidence. They should be telling him that he's the new Tevez on the scene or words to that effect. He should at least start against City. If he doesn't then that will be a trevesty of justice.
Moyes will go for a 4-5-1 with Cahill behind Straq. He will do this because he fears their midfield. If that works for the first half and we're not 3/4 nil down then job done.
If Moyes has started with Donovan on the right and gueye on the left then in the second half keep them there. If needs be swap them over from time to time and give City something to think about.
Take Cahill off replace with Drenthe with one caveat. Give Drenthe free licence to roam and attack at will, back 4's, their worst nightmare.
Come on Davey, just remember,
Fortune favours the brave !
COYB
Jimmy Flynn
Good post son.
Its worth remembering after the uproar that followed our defeat at Eastlands that our record against them in the past few seasons is second to none.
The richest club in the world, Top of the Prem . . but because we have done them season after season they still cant be classed as one of the "big four"
Good post son.
Its worth remembering after the uproar that followed our defeat at Eastlands that our record against them in the past few seasons is second to none.
The richest club in the world, Top of the Prem . . but because we have done them season after season they still cant be classed as one of the "big four"
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534 Posted 28/01/2012 at 16:55:02
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That's it in a nutshell a bit of passion giving it a go not too much to ask for is it?
Can imagine you and your boy floating on air afterwards, great stuff.
More of the same please Mr Moyes and the lads.