Left-flank axis will adapt to extra attention

Lyndon Lloyd , 22 February, 7comments | Jump to most recent

Steven Pienaar says that he and Leighton Baines are aware of the extra focus that opposition teams are putting on nullifying the threat posed by their link-up play down Everton's left flank and will continue to try to find ways around it.

The Pienaar-Baines partnership has become a potent weapon for the Blues since the South African returned to Goodison a year ago and many of the Premier League's managers have wised up.

Swansea City, in particular, did a good job of stifling the attacking threat posed by the duo as they held Everton to a goalless draw on Merseyside in January but Pienaar says he and his England international partner are determined to adapt to the added attention.

“It is hard but we just have to keep going and going, simple as that,” Pienaar told evertonfc.com.

“Sometimes the opposition's plan will work for 80 minutes but then there might be one slip-up and we get through and create something.

“We'll always keep going no matter how many players the opposition put on our side of the field. We try to make sure we keep our composure and don't get frustrated."

With David Moyes's side so reliant on it's left side while Seamus Coleman and Kevin Mirallas were missing through injury, Pienaar rightly points out that the return to fitness of both the Belgian and the Irishman can only help divert focus away from he and Baines.

“Some teams overload the left hand side," he said, "and the manager will look to try to find a way to get out of that and use it to our advantage.

“That's why it's also important that we have the likes of Seamus Coleman and Kevin Mirallas fit who can bring us a lot of attacking threat for the team.”

Coleman has resumed training after a month out with a thigh injury and may not be fit enough to start but Mirallas, Pienaar and Baines will all be confident of starting at Carrow Road tomorrow.

Quotes or other material sourced from evertonfc.com

Reader Comments (7)

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Kevin Freaney
1 Posted 23/02/2013 at 02:37:02

Pienaar & Baines will try to work around this extra attention. Bet you Moyes is giving fuck all thought to it, as that may involve the dirty word "tactics". If it ain't broke!

Ajay Gopal
2 Posted 23/02/2013 at 03:41:08

Kevin, an unfair comment, in my opinion, but there is some truth in what you say. When both Coleman and Mirallas are fully fit, we should have a balanced attack and give teams a headache on both sides of the pitch.

Having said that, Moyes has not covered himself in glory by continuously playing Naismith and Neville on the right. He might have been bolder and tried Kennedy/Stones – at least for a few minutes.

Bob Parrington
3 Posted 23/02/2013 at 05:33:36

Hey guys, what happened against Man Utd? Moyes did try to switch the focus but Sir Alex was a country mile ahead of him and blocked us out anyway.

Moyes and his coaching staff represent a relatively imagination-free zone but we were just too plain obvious. Having said this, love him or hate him, Fergie is a pretty smart cuckoo!

Jim Harrison
4 Posted 23/02/2013 at 09:51:59

Yes, Kevin, thats right, no tactical ability. The left-hand pairing just appeared all by its own.

It's pretty obvious when you watch games recently that Baines in particular is getting extra attention from opponents. Against Man Utd he was pretty much contained by Rafael and Valencia. It will be harder for teams to do that with similar attacking treat on the right. Shame we don't have the squad depth to maintain the sort of form shown early season.

James Stewart
7 Posted 23/02/2013 at 18:46:49

Left flank hasn't been that potent for awhile so not sure what this is all about. Pienaar has been poor.

Andrew Zimmerman
8 Posted 23/02/2013 at 22:35:05

Our lone goal against Norwich today came directly from Pienaar and Baines link up play on the left flank. So what are you on about Stewart?

Paul Gladwell
9 Posted 24/02/2013 at 15:29:31

Pienaar said in his interview with the Echo about how they talk with Moyes about taking the pressure off the left flank by putting something on the right flank for opponents to worry about erm...... A centre half at right back and fuck.ng Naismith, oh those tactical meetings must be fun to hear.

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