Jelavic on target in Croatia romp

Since the Moyes/Round combo have gotten hold of him for 12 months, he looks ruined. Why can't Moyes coach or play strikers properly??

It's no coincidence this has happened to Jelavic. I feel sorry for him as he is being asked to play an unnatural game for Everton now. When he first came here, he was sort of given a free role.

Moyes can not adapt his own ways to fit good players in so he doesn't change the system, he tries to change the player. It's why so many promising youngsters fall by the wayside as well.

The one fact no one can argue with is that strikers all struggle once Moyes gets hold of them so let's not be to quick to judge Jelavic.

Baines on for England... Oh no , what a Cahill cock-up... Get Jags on.

Can't say Fellaini up top doesn't work though, but Prefer to see Ossie reinstated for Utd... that's if Carrick isn't playing.

He has missed some sitters for us, no question. However, a number of times he has pulled into space ready to be played in, and the ball has either been over played, too slow or never come. His movement is good, a little less channel work and a little more head up from the midfielders / quicker ball please.

He is a top class one touch finish striker, lets fucking use it.

Mirallas was signed as a striker, but then shoved on the wing where he had never played before so one up front could be kept. His form also is beginning to suffer through a role he is not really suited to.

Moyes's track record with youngsters is appalling. He's still not made is mind up about Anichebe who is 25 this season and was the same year as James Vaughan in the Everton Academy. Anichebe can't be far off his testimonial!!!

Osman behind Jelavic could solve this, but it might just as likely drain the team of Fellaini's goals without guarantee that it would start Jelavic firing again. The pragmatic Moyes can probably see this, as he has played himself into the corner with this by moving Fellaini forward into the role.

Anichebe looks better than he was because it was impossible to get any worse. Victor himself is little more than a strong lad putting himself about. Sometimes it comes off; other times he looks useless.

Naismith looks like a Scots Prem player and hasn't shown anything I can remember that makes him anything more.

Mind you, if you want his name on the back of a shirt that's gonna be pricey.

Felli is the only one that can score at the moment, with an out of form Jelli and our beaut left back next on the goals list. Then bit part Vic with 5.

Osman and Pienaar are not the answer in Felli's position, we need to score more not shoot, miss, and look completely fucking bamboozled, as to how they missed from 6 yards with the goalie having a fucking cuppa behind the posts.

We weren't 'all' calling Anichebe 'less than useless'...

A quick flick through the TW history will show several posters consistently championing his obvious potential.

That's a trademark Jelavic finish... and they'll start going in again.

That said, I reckon if Vic is up for having a real crack at Utd's centre backs I'd give him the job.

I very much doubt he would play Jelavic out wide given his propensity to put the ball in the net in and around the box.

Don't wanna jinx us — just sayin' like...

Jelavic is not much better. He lacks pace and technical ability but has a strikers' mentality and knows how to peel off the last defender for a one touch finish. Not as easy as it looks but requires the co-operation of gifted team-mates who can plonk the ball into his path when he makes his move. We definitely do have such players but, all too often, they are way behind the action when an attack occurs. This happened only last week when Baines crossed a beautiful ball behind Fellaini and Mirallis as they ran into the six yard area. No-one was following up. No-one was even in sight. When the move started Gibson was level with Baines and Fellaini but decided to stay in the centre circle. Vic was part of the move and got left behind but everyone else went for a tea break.

Finally, an interesting point I've already touched upon elsewhere. Saints ran United ragged by adopting a high line and thrusting 6 or 7 men forward at every opportunity. United hate it. Champions League opponents often do the same and the best ones normally succeed. It's a helluva gamble which, we can be sure ,Everton will not take. It's just not our way of doing things. Personally I don't care what we do so long as we don't drop deep with no outlets.

He did so well last year that we thought he could score with every chance he gets, but even last year he missed a few.

I feel it's the Tim Cahill situation all over again; when we sold Pienaar it stopped the crosses coming in and subsequently stopped Cahill scoring (then he never recovered the touch). I hope Jelavic can score a few from now until end of season and show he is quality at this level

The longer Moyes and this Everton team pander to Fellaini and build every attacking function round him then the longer we will stay outside the top 4. Sell him in the summer and get in someone who cn do what Modric just did there, its not hard.

I hate to see Jelavic picking the ball up on the touchline though, but that is all down to playing with one striker, and central defenders who hoof at every opportunity.

I am under no illusions that he will run himself stupid on Sunday, fighting for long balls, and receiving no service from a packed midfield, drilled to keep their defensive shape.

Moyes will KITAHTNO. Oh Happy days.

His one-touch finish against Newcastle was the perfect example of this. Holding his run, hanging on the defenders shoulder, waiting for his instincts to tell him when to make his run in front of the defender, anticipating the cross and finishing, first time, under the helpless Krul. Perfection. And who supplied the cross? Jelavic.

Jelavic is having to get himself wide to receive the ball. If Vic can understand when to run to score surely when he has the ball wide he can understand where to play the cross. Which would leave Jela in the middle to finish. If we have 2 strikers forming this kind of understanding, why are we not playing them together?

I know it is not as simple in practice as it is in theory. There are many other things to factor in like form, fitness, confidence, etc. But come on let's give them a try. Two strikers... Am I wasting my breath?

Fellaini would boss the midfield with Gibson, protecting the back 4 and with Ossie up top give reason for the Utd's defence to worry. Ferguson will no doubt have a plan to deal with the punts forward to Fellaini and Moyes should counter that with the swap.

This way the play through the middle will be as good as the wings, causing all kinds of problems. Everywhere.

At least that's how I would do things on Football Manager.

As for the Man Utd game, I reckon Ferguson could rest a few with the Real Madrid game in mind... so hopefully Rooney and RvP will be benched and Wellbeck and Hernandez might get the nod. Let's hope he rests a couple of others as well.

I think most of us would settle for a point.

Sure enough second half he comes on and as we know scores with a lovely finish!!! So bring on United!

Watching him in the second half, it is obvious how much quality he has. All we need to do is sign Modric for the through balls and we're away!

To be fair, though, Korea were shit but as we all know Jelavic on his day is a world beater and I for one won't be surprised if he does get the winner on Sunday!

I thought that against WBA Fellaini was committing himself forward relatively late and carrying the ball forward himself a fair amount of time, and this seemed to benefit the likes of Osman, Pienaar and Baines in their attacking duties.

Against Villa he seemed to be playing at least 10 yards further forward, leaving Gibson much more exposed in front of the defence, and really concentrating on joining the attacks early. This may not have been too problematic if Heitinga had been able to deal with Benteke.

The chance in that game you mentioned puzzles me. I have seen it mentioned before and yet it wasn't on any of the highlights I watched (MotD and Football First on Sky); instead there was an incident I remember where Pienaar was set-up on the left by Vic, and took it to the by-line before angling it towards the penalty spot behind Mirallas, Fellaini and their attendant defenders. I actually think that Pienaar chose the right ball (the easiest for a right-footer using his left foot) as it was very tight in the 6 yard box whereas there were acres of space by the penalty area but Fellaini simply didn't check his run, staying with the defender and running to the centre of the 6 yard line while Mirallas went front post. If Jelavic had been making the same run as Fellaini, I think he would have naturally checked to give himself more room between himself and the defender, and Pienaar's ball would have been perfect.

We are very predictable, are we not? — and, for all the nice joined-up stuff, we never hit anyone on the counter; it seems we wait until they have everyone back and then try to unlock the defense this way. Well it ain't working.

Like you, I hope and pray Fellaini is OK. He was visibly limping after taking a heavy bang on his hip from the goalies knee. His best position is a dilemma which has everbody arguing till the cows come home.

Some say he is our main goal scorer so you cannot pull him back. Personally I think a Frank Lampard roll would suit him much better than having to continually dig the ball out from under his feet in the penalty area. He would certainly be happier.

All season long Toffee Webbers have screamed for a big strong mobile holding player, A Vadis, a Leroy Fer or whatever. How right they were. The constant tracking back to help out whoever we have in that position is causing attacking players to expend precious energy in the wrong area of the pitch. Our only hope is to get Gibson really fit and sharp. He'll never have real pace but he reads the game well. Can't say I know much about "Der Hammer" apart from him being a classy mover with a helluva shot. Not sure he has the pace or stamina for the Premiership these days but he is one of the few players who causes me to sit up whenever he has the ball.