This is a wind up, right?

Surely you mean "get Denis back in April" - April 1st

Why get Denis back when we've got the mighty Big VIC?

Denis was quite possibly the worst footballer I have seen in some time...This is not stand up.

What the f**k?

Why don't we get Brett Angel back while we're at it? He was big and ugly and regularly had a single digit goal count too!!!

Sorry Rahman but I cant agree with......well anything you've said here! Fair enough another half decent striker on loan wouldn't go amiss but we have bigger priorities.

Rahman: there are many different ways to employ a "lone" striker. One, as you've described, is essentially to act as a distraction for defenders, work selflessly and run around a lot (in the current game, someone like Kevin Doyle fits this bill, in our recent past, Marcus Bent was, I thought, very good at it). However, my opinion on Stracqualursi was that he was always too slow to work in that kind of role (speed is more important than height in that set-up).

However, I don't think Moyes is asking Jelavic to play that role at all. For one thing, he has Fellaini pushed up alongside him most of the game. For another, it looks to me that Jelavic isn't being asked to work the lines or harry full-backs. Instead Moyes seems happy for him to mostly work within the confines of the 18-yard box and not go wider than this. I can only assume that Moyes is doing this because he recognises the goal threat of Jelavic and doesn't want to waste him the way, say, Andy Johnson was.

As you point out, one of the major reasons for Jelavic's dry spell is probably close attention from defenders. And, again, as you mention, he seems to be scoring late in games recently. But I would contend this has more to do with him finding space easier to come by late in games when defenders are tired, rather than the distraction of Vellios. In many ways, Jelavic is a victim of his success last season, and isn't being given the same space this season. Partly, also, he seems to have lost some confidence in himself. Partly, also, he actually isn't getting the same number, or type, of chances as last season.

The introduction of Mirallas, in particular, has changed the number of chances coming to Jelavic. Mirallas dribbles and / or shoots far more than the likes of Pienaar or Osman (or even Anichebe when he plays on the wing). He also drifts inside a lot. This, combined with the presence of Fellaini up front, compresses the space the Jelavic has to work in. Also, I've noticed that when Mirallas plays on the left, Baines gets far fewer balls whipped in the goal-line, which was a major source of chances for Jelavic last season. I also think Baines actually isn't playing so well of late, and that's affecting things.

Great players find ways to create space and adapt to changing formations and situations. Whether Jelavic can do this, or whether he's a "flat-track bully" remains to be seen. But I think that, if we create chances for him, he'll score more than he misses.

Sorry for such a rambling reply - I only really wanted to say that a one striker is a more subtle role than you paint it, and that I don't think it's the formation affecting Jelavic's goals tally this season!

We're 4th not 4th bottom, there's no need to panic and start considering a move for, never mind pleading for a return of the Straq.

Jelavic isn't scoring as many as last year but that isn't z huge worry. Fellaini has probably taken a few Jela might have had and these things even out. I predict Jelavic banging them in next season.

Let's not ruin our progressive football with talk of the Straq. Please!!!!!!

Next year not next season.

Declan, I agree with most of your points. One thing I have noticed though in a couple of our recent games is that Jelavic has been out at the by line whipping in low crosses when he should have been in the box receiving them.

I think the assertion that he's simply a victim of his own success and therefore getting less space than last season is probably true, but I also think that it couldn't hurt to get a decent striker in (I don't think either vellios or victor come under this category) to play alongside jelavic when things aren't going our way.

One thing that must be said is how significant Jelavic's jubilant celebrations where. He was as pleased as punch when he scored against Spurs and it just shows he has exactly the right attitude to work tirelessly under Moyes until things come could for him.

In an ideal world you would have Jelavic playing ahead of a Beardsley type player, someone who can give him the one touch bullets which he excels at. Not many about other than Argies I guess, certainly no English players of that ilk.

Fellaini would probably be better with a quick player who can read flick-ons and play close, however, with Gibson and Mirallas back it's not massively broken. We can change things but the change is not high calibre which is is why it would be nice to get I'd of Vic and bring someone a little more reliable – Naismith, Vellios, Osman can play with or behind Jelavic, as can Mirallas but I don't think we can afford to move him.

Saturday will be tough, it always is. However, sooner or later we are going to score a boat load. Someone will get a man sent off against us, and we now have the play to punish, with a goal threat from Coleman, Baines, Pienaar, Gibson, Mirallas, Jelavic, Fellaini, Naismith and Osman. It's rare under Moyes but I predict a 6+ goal smashing before the end of the season if we can maintain fitness.

"In my opinion, the perfect lone striker for David Moyes's system of play was Denis Stracqualursi...."

I just fell off my chair..... I do apologise!!!!!

While it might seem Jelavic hasn't been doing the business this season he still has 6 goals in 15 games which is still pretty good. I suspect he might go on a goalscoring run now and if he gets to double fugues by January he will still be on for a good season. A total of 17 goals in 32 games for Everton makes very good reading.

I miss Denis. When Everton are known for there work ethic and commitment, he only came along and showed us an even higher level. Nice that he's back to scoring the goals in Argentina.

Oh, and Jelavic is hardly a lone striker in a 4231.

Rahman

I can't agree with a thing you said.

You particularly lost credibility when you mentioned Stracq in the same breath as Jelavic.

As other posters have pointed out now that his frustrated period seems to be behind him watch him score 20+ this season.

And BTW if you watch Everton you would not say he is a lone striker. We vary between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-1+1 with Fellaini right along side him.

How come Dennis signed on a free - weren't we supposed to have to pay £3m+?

Denis... hee, hee!

Are you Strac's Mum in disguise?

Great wind-up article. I liked big Denis as he tried so hard and improved massively. He was still rubbish though. Jelavic will do well this season, I have no doubts about this.

Denis ranks alongside Rod Belfitt, Bernie Wright and Brett Angell as the worst striker that I have seen at Goodison in 51 years. If you want sheer enthusiasm as opposed to talent, he was in the top 10%. But you can't afford passengers in the PL, no matter how hard they try.

Denis against Man City at home last season. How can you not love the guy?

Really really misguided article. I also love the fact that you try and authenticate that Jelavic would benefit from playing a 4-4-2... by referring to his success in Scotland... ie, one of the easiest European league, more comparable to the Championship in quality.

The Denis stuff is crazy... he was spirited, but he is not good enough for our team. He would be acceptable as maybe a third/fourth choice, but nothing more.

I felt sorry for the Straq, he was short of an 'n'.

There's a guy called Fellaini who could possibly fill that role.

Oh, wait a minute...

I'm confused as to why you are asking us to recall The Stracq when we've got Vellios who is clearly a better more prolific striker at this level.

You mention that Jelavic scores when he has Vellios near him and then go on to vouch for The Stracq?

Mark my words, Vellios will continue to have an impact this season, maybe not through goals but by the chaos he causes when he enters the fray. Victor Anichebe might just become dispensable because of it.

Rahman, does Fellaini not distract defenders? He is like Stracq but with 10 times more skill. Offense is not what we need to be worried about. We've been clean-sheeted once this season and only kept 2 clean sheets ourselves. So how about we worry about the defensive side of the ball.

Rahman...Jelavic is 6'2", what on earth are you talking about? He has the perfect stature to operate as a lone frontman, so that is frankly a nonsense.

His problems of recent are that his touch has been off (badly) and thus he has stopped 'showing himself' in the areas that a lone forward needs to.

He has the same amount of goals as Rooney, and more than Aguero, Podolski and Giroud...

Surely the fact we are getting goals from different players, while still getting goals from Jelavic, is a good thing?

Or am I missing something? This season we are not relying on Jelavic and we are 4th playing some pretty good football!

This is the worst post I have seen this season...

Actually...
Scrap that.

Ever.

Rahman: You were putting forward a good argument before you suggested bringing the Stracq back. Agreed Jelavic is not suited to a sole striker role as he is knocked away from the ball too easily. But let's keep the discussion on a level. Denis was a hard worker but didn't achieve too much.

Jelavic is a skilful player who needs a supplier and a diverter of attention. It's the same thinking as having a right side attack as well as a left side.... otherwise you become so damn predictable that the opposing coaches have a strategy to deal with you before the fixture is even announced.

For my money, I would go with Vellios alongside Jelavic for a few games. Others may have a different view??

The only time when the return of The Stracq is not a backward step is when the only option is Him or Vic. Which says more about Vic than Stracq.

I don't think there's anything complicated about this at all. Jelavic is missing a good few chances he would have put away last year... the one against Arsenal was a good example.

That happens to all strikers from time to time. He's still got 6 goals this season and one thing that impresses me about him is his workrate and his footballing ability. Saha used to just stop contributing when things weren't going too well for him; that's not the case with Jelavic and the work he does makes space for others and maybe that is part of the reason goals are spread around the team a bit now.

I think he's a great player and, as much as I am grateful for the productive little cameos Stracq gave us last season, he is NOT a player who could replace Jelavic!!!

I think the main difference this season is that Fellaini is taking some of Jelavic's space and getting some of his goals.

One thing I have noticed, and there were a number of examples against Spurs, is that when Jelavic does get into good positions in and around the box the ball isn't played to him. By this I mean we tend to work the ball out to the flanks at every opportunity even if it is not the best option. Jelavic makes a lot of good runs into space through the middle, especially on the counter attack, however most of his runs are in vain as the ball is slowly worked out to the flank to be crossed in.

We need to mix it up a bit more from the off, as in quicks balls through the middle to Jelavic. I don't mean lumping it up as we do the near the end as Plan B I mean through balls for Jelavic to run onto as part of a quick incisive attack rather than solely relying on building up to crosses and allowing the opposition to get back in numbers and cover the space Jelavic runs into.We are not playing to Jelavic's strengths.

Osman needs to shoot less too! Seriously though a number of times against Spurs, Osman shot when Jelavic was better placed for the pass and a clearer shot on goal.

Fair Play to you Rahman, your post has highlighted that all us Toffees are all fully enthused again after the Spurs game, sniffing round for any Everton banter we can get and writing lengthy replies...

Funny that this thread gets a tonne of replies, but I've not see a single one asking where Anichebe has gone to – no-one even bothers to ask Moyes in interviews. Speaks volumes that we need another striker.

But. Please. Not. Dennis.

I know some will say I should book myself in at Specsavers but the best thing, for me, about Stracq was his uncanny resemblance to Dixie Dean. Unfortunately, physical appearance was where the relationship ended. Big-hearted workhorse and a real trier but simply not the standard for our club, as much as we willed it for him and I believe he really wanted it too.

I have said it many times, I would take him back for his entertainment value alone. The man tried to header a ball on the floor.....this was such an amazing sight that Cahill tried to copy him a few games after.

Brilliant work ethic and passionate, pity he was quite a poor player.

As Keith said above, some of Jelavic's goals have gone the way of Fellaini, due to his forward positioning. 14 between them so far is not a bad return.

When Stracq finally got a run in the team, he did not look poor compared to what we had had before. Instead of Saha, who's first touch was usually backwards into his own half, Stracq could hold the ball up and bring others into play.

His header against Fulham in the cup was class, his target-man display against Chelsea in the league was also good as well, as he embarked upon a run of 3 goals in as many games I think. When Jelavic came he was mostly limited to sub roles.

Compared to Jelavic or Mirallas, then of course he is a step backwards, but at the time he came we were crying out for anything — and I'd much rather see another sweat-and-blood display from him than the usual moaning disinterested Anichebe chucking himself to the ground at any opportunity.

Talking of alternatives, I am surprised that nobody mentioned David Moyes's comment last week. He said that he thought Tim Howard would benefit from competition for his place, but Howard replied that he didn't need competition as he was self-motivated.

I wonder what Mucha thought of these comments, obviously he has hardly played but it seems both manager and Howard don't rate him.

If we can't afford Stracq, how about Rod Belfitt?

Hang on, so, let me get this straight. You are saying that Moyes should bring back Denis Straqualersi.......IN PLACE OF JELAVIC????!!!!!

Come on mate, stay off the hard stuff.

Dream on, kid!

Bernie the Bolt Wright anyone? Anyone a fan of the great Peter Eastoe? Rod Belfit? The Stracq... yeah right!!!!!

Jelavic is strong and big and creates space and chances for others but lacks that killer instinct.

We need a striker who has that killer instinct and knows were to be and when to be there. Tim Matavz of PSV is the man for the job. I am slovenian and watch his games regularly for club and country.

He has what Jelavic doesn't killer instinct, his positioning is top class, and finishing is outstanding. He may be playing against rubbish defenders in the Eredivise but you cannot deny his instinctive qualities. Here is a sample but watch a game to fully appreciate him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eVc4mz1CY.