Everton Banter Archive September 19 2011

19 Sep 2011 13:03:49
I still think Rodwell and Fellaini look a bit slow in middle of the park - neither are snapping at ankles and nor do they always make themselves available for a pass from a teammate with the ball.

To my mind at least one of the two centre midfielders has got to be available to his teammates 'most' of the time. That means if your rightback (hibbert) is looking for an outlet you've got to be there, in space, between opponents, within a matter of seconds - at least one of you always - felli or rodwell - but also on the opposite side of pitch - if Drenthe has it on left wing - then either Rodwell or Felli has to be 'available' soonish if the guy is looking for an outlet pass. Too many times Rodewell and Fellaini are just moping about in midfield, jogging about slowly or 'hiding' behind opponents so that they can't receive a pass - or not even within 20 or 30 yards of the play.

Watch them in next few games and see if you agree. I think when we underperform it's because our centre midders are taking it a bit easy and not busting a gut.

I've seen our last few games and I disagree. Felli has got no pace anyway so he can't be the player you are asking him to be and I don't think Rodwell has justified the hype so far but I reckon they work hard to win the ball back (Felli usually getting booked in the process) and both are always hungry for the ball, especially Rodwell.

The fellaini and rodwell partnership in midfield will help us have a good season, they are both great players who i would like to see in our midfield for years to come.

Barkley fits your description

Yer there both pretty similar and sort of hover around the centre and dont really ask for the ball of full backs, i think one of them should play with either osman or barkley patrnering them

To be honest I think Fellaini is great at winning headers and can keep the ball reasonably well - fair enough - but the rest of his game is a bit slow for me. I'd like to see him working quick triangles all over centre midfield but he's a bit slow. I wouldn't mind him being sold in Jan - especially if he doesn't renew (ungrateful cheek). I'd rather see replace him with Donovan and put Barkely and Rodwell as centre mids.

Are you mad. Barkley and rodwell are way to vulnerable and inexperienced to play week in week out together. My advice would be to offer felli as much as we can within reason in order to keep him on board and hope for the best. {Ed025's Note - i agree mate...offer him a good deal by all means, but he cant hold the club to ransom, but if he wont sign shortly.... i would get rid, or we may lose him next year for nothing!..

If Fellaini is not going to sign his contract which is looking unlikely, Osman and Rodwell in the middle would see us through untill the end of the season, then the summer would be about getting a creative midfield

19 Sep 2011 11:13:38
Next five games look difficult,we could get 15 points out of them, i mean we do well against city most seasons, Liverpool look s**te so we should do them, Chelsea that game could go either way, knowing what we are like if we do well in the those three games Fulham will do us. United at home. i mean we have done well at home against them as of late and i think we are due to beat them, what do other blues think, am i dreaming or do you agree

I think city at home will beat us, i know we have a great record against them but there a different side this season especially at home.
Liverpool is derby so could go either way and chelsea away i fancy a draw and maybe another draw against united.
To be honest out of these 5 games i'd be fairly happy with 7 points from 15

CIty is a totally different kettle of fish due to the additions to the squad, Liverpool can only get better after that performance and United is always a tough tough game. We will make it difficult for them as we always do but I think we'll be lucky to come away with three points from most of those games. I'm sure the mighty blues will give it a go tho.

Its a terrible run of gmes to have especially as we are sitting 7th above the reds with a game in hand, could of done with a couple of easier games to increase the gap but hey ho! Anyway man city are looking good this season but if we keep aguero quiet then we could get something, city gave away a 2 goal lead to fulham over the weekend so a point is very doable! The derby could go either way i think we could nick it if moyes gets tactics right, united will do us :-( chelsea dont look that great so im not too worried about them, and should beat fulham, i think if we get 7 points out of them games then we hve done well! Coyb!

We seemed to perform very well against the top teams last season, so hopefully that will continue, i think drenthe, barkley and velios can give these teams some problems and we can pick up some decent results

I don't think we can beat Utd, they look so good this season it makes me sick! The rest of the games could see us do well but they could also make for a miserable month.

We need to start off by getting a decent result against city, that should boost our confidence going into the rest of the games

Bez the blue

My prediction. City will beat us. Liverpool we will win. Chelsea i fancy a draw. Fulham will beat us (they always do away) and i think we will beat united at home ! 7 points from 15 will do me !!!!!

19 Sep 2011 09:46:36
lads good omen for this season. dublin won the all ireland yesterday for the first time in 16 years last time we won was 1995 which was the year when we won the fa cup. Up the Dubs and Coyb