Everton Banter Archive January 22 2013

22 Jan 2013 23:31:46
Jelavic problem? Working too hard in the wrong area's. What happens to our strikers under Moyes? Beattie, AJ, Yakubu, Jelavic........ They come full of beans banging in goals then just stop.
It's like Moyes drums into them they have to work there bollox off, which is what Jelavic is doing now, last season he was on the last man and in the box everytime we were in the final 3rd.
He know runs the channels like a loon and drops deep to hold the ball up. He isn't a target man or a "number 10" striker he is a natural born poacher. People give The Yak stick but remember his first season? 23 goals, I know he got injured and was never the same but the same with him when he came back he was playing like a target man.
It's definitely a tactic by Moyes with his strikers, he like's his 5 man midfield or 4 with 1 further forward always has done so therfore he likes his forward's to be target men and bring his midfielders into play. Might sound harsh here, and I'd love peoples opinions but I think Moyes will ruin Jelavic and he will eventually leave like he has done with most of our strikers. For me it's his biggest weakness. Strikers, doesn't no what to do with them, he finds unknown gems in midfield attacking or defensively (Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Gibson, Fellaini, Mirallas etc) and obviously he knows his defenders but strikers? He struggles with them.
Just my opinion, what do the ed's and fellow blue's think, am I looking into it a bit too much, going over the top or do I have a point. Cheers

Steve {Ed025's Note - i think you have a valid point steve..

Good point t Steve. Moyse will always favour the clean sheet. I'm not having a go but there are patterns forming here, but saying that, he does his best work from the back 4 up to midfield.

One thing is for sure, you need a good coach in the areas to offset the balance and in this case maybe Moyse needs a striking Coach.

I trust the man implicitly and have every confidence he will get us silverware. But as our mate Sir Terry Leary says.... Every little helps.

COYB
Toffee ace

Can't be a coincidence can it ? He's asking too much of them. Jela looks baked and his body language looks negative. Not a good sign. He needs to stay in the box and concentrate more

I think what has happened to Jelavic is Fellaini, last season when we first got Jelavic he was still playing the same role but supported by Cahill, he saw a lot more of the ball and got a lot more chances, hence a lot more goals, you watch the games since Fellaini has been pushed up front in Cahills place and you'll see that the whole team look for Fellaini all the time, Jela still gets a couple of chances a game but not enough for him to get him self into a goal scoring rhythm, you'll also notice that Jela has his best chances or the few times he scored was when Fellaini was pulled back into the middle late on in games, not sure what the soloution is other than play fellaini in the middle rather than up top, would probably play Jela & Big Vic or Mirralis up top, Jela would get a lot more goals than Fellaini but like you all said, Moyes would always go with the 5 midfeilders, especailly when we get Gibbo back. just my opinon. the diffrence between winning and drawing so many games are Jelvics goals, we need them if we are to make top 4! Everton till I die! {Ed001's Note - what about moving Naismith in alongside him? Those two linked well for Rangers, and Naismith is not working on the right is he?}

That may work ED & I agree it is not working with Naismith on the right but I have not been conveniced with Naismith at all, I would play Mirralis on the right & big Vic with Jela & you can always swap them around during the game as well as swap them with pienaar at times on the left to bring peanuts in central but rate all of them above Naismith, I know he has been played out of position but just can't see him doing much beeter up front or through the middle, his possion play and passing is not of premiership standard, again just my opinion. A Dog :) {Ed001's Note - I do agree he has not been up to it yet, but he did get the best out of Jelavic when they played together. From what I have seen, Jelavic alongside any of the others is not working for him, so why not try someone he does work well with? I defo agree Mirallas has to be on the right, he adds a different dimension to Everton's play.}

The reason it won't happen is Moyes. He's too stubborn, sticking square pegs in round holes and persisting with players even though they're playing badly. He's afraid to experiment, it seems, and is loathe to try anything different. We've played hoofball for 10 yrs up until this season when we started with some great football. Now we seem to have reverted to hoofball again when the going gets slightly tough. He has no backbone and is too negative. We need a new manager in with some fresh ideas, Moyes has taken us as far as he can.

22 Jan 2013 22:40:48
ino that were a poorer club, but have to say its frustrating seeing a bad newcastle side pick up some decent deals here, yand-mbwia is a young talent, also about to sign yohan gouffran for 1.6 million, surely we have that much? {Ed025's Note - you would think so..

22 Jan 2013 20:33:54
Any chance we are signing the 6ft 6 Chinese/ Japanese striker Ed?

Ben {Ed025's Note - cant see it ben..

22 Jan 2013 21:41:48
Dont shoot me down but I think Nick Powell on loan could be good. He obviously has talent and anything could be better than Neville there. i'm not slating Neville btw I just think he plays better at right back and both Hibbo and Coleman platy better there imo.
MikeEFC

Nick Powell is a good shout. What about that kid from Leeds, Ross I think is his name?!

Nostrawigus

Do you mean that Ross who every time he's played for Everton he hasn't been very good and has rightly been loaned out to further his development because he currently is not good enough to play for Everton on a regular basis. Ross is no Rooney, he hasn't had the same impact and I don't think he will for a while he's not the answer to our problems

22 Jan 2013 20:40:23
cut a long story short each fan could be on board we would have money to spend on quality players instead of having rich people who only just caught the concept of footy +

we spent 10 mill in summer and probably broke bank there so at most 2 loans or the open up and back moyes

If you've got 30 mil you can have a seat on the board - if you've got 30 quid you can have a seat in the ground! - such is life :)

22 Jan 2013 20:28:09
Sold out again sat great support us fans deserve so much more from this board just think some money investment we can really go places can't no money men see this ste45

22 Jan 2013 21:45:53
we have no money..

Could prob have sold 8/10 thousand are away support is up there with best in country

22 Jan 2013 19:43:44
dier against soton but 2 positives

1 mirralles back

2 frankys keeping clean sheet.

22 Jan 2013 19:26:56
I think we really need to shove it up Bolton the weekend, and I think Mirallas should be on the bench for the Bolton match so he is fully fit for the CL push
Dan1

22 Jan 2013 17:38:42
is it just me but the boards lack of investment for transfers is going to cost us a c.l.spot at the beginning of the month we were 8 points clear of Liverpool now we are four they have brought sturridge we have drawn far to many games we have players out injured who we can't replace cause the squad is to small.i feel spurs arsenal will both strenghten leaving us behind look what happened last year when we freshened up the squad we need players in sooner than later before its to late and we don't want to be overtaken by them across the park do we.

22 Jan 2013 14:59:02
gotta get gibbo back and fast

osman and neville in centre midfield - both poor - and sticking felli up front means we just hoof it to him all the time

the trouble is that when distin and jags have the ball coming out from the back there's no dominant centre midfielder coming and dropping back into space and making himself available for the pass - then turning on it and taking it forwards - so jags has no outlet but the hoof - osman is good at his little tricks around the box but he's not a dominant centre mid workhouse - he goes absent when you need him - and neville just plays the safe pass off all the time - never a good/dangerous ball forwards

coleman back to being poor again and defensively goes missing or marks space - come on hibbo where are you?

I reckon if we had gibbo hibbo mirrallas back in the team - with donovan in as well on the we'd look the business and be firing again - but jelly has to be rested and vic/vellios/other played up front as jellys confidence is shot - just use him as sub for last half hour until he gets his confidence back

Sort of agree with all you say, except I think Ossie is doing a sterling job trying hard to play centre mid when its not his best position. Neville plays safe but everyone seems to slag him off when he is a true professional. Did you see the stats on Sky. Since he signed....average points without him per game = 1. Average points when he has played = 2. Enough said!! Yes we are missing the two badly and Hibbo. Although I have been at Goodison and heard everyone slagging him off? Donovan.....wait and see. I have a feeling in my bones. I had it since the last time. I think he wants a change and I think it is us he wants to come to!
Degsypulford

22 Jan 2013 14:38:09
Hi Eds, is it me or are we all a little subdued today?

We are still in the hunt for the battle royale and make no bones about it we are in for a tough one, but so are all the others.
We have done superbly and all good sides have rough patches, the bonus is that we haven't lost.

As I posted last night I do think we need to strengthen and gain a bit more physicality and speed and more importantly balance. Peanuts went wandering in the 2nd half as his space was clamped, but sides know that they now have to be up to face us. This is what being a good side is all about.
Get used to this fellow blues because sides are now going to press and test us. This is where we prove that we deserve to be where we are. If not well it could potentially all go seriously wrong, but lets not think like that.
Trust the players and Moyes. His managerial skills are about to be truly tested in a different way.
Previously finishing strong in the 2nd half of a season counts for nothing.
My advice would be, take a deep breath, look at where we are a take a boost of confidence. Reset and go for it. We have got nothing to lose in me eyes and everything to gain and any player worth their salt would want to be part of this, whether they are current players or ones on the horizon. We are a great club and lets not forget it.
The peoples club and that is how we should remain. Nothing but the best is good enough. Coyb

AW (west wales)

22 Jan 2013 14:07:11
the only positive thing from the swansea and southampton game is were keeping clean sheets again hope we bounce back for our next game

22 Jan 2013 10:59:42
Poor performance last night, first half awful, second half an improvement. Full credit to Southampton though I thought they played really well, particularly in the first half.

I think the main problem last night was Ossie had an off night and Neville was well off the pace. Which kept leaving our defence exposed. Felli dropping back into midfield certainly made the difference and we started to look a lot better. Big Vic came on and made a huge impact, and was great to see Super Kev back. Naismith was again absolutely and totally ineffective, call me a boo boy all you like but the bloke is out of depth in the premier league.

Wouldn't mind seeing for the Bolton game either Big Vic up front on his own, or 442 with Felli dropping back alongside Ossie and Big Vic and Jela up top together. With Mirallas and Peanuts on the wings. Moyes needs to make a decision with Jela either rest him for a couple of games or put Vic alongside him. The latter option would be preference.

A clean sheet and an away point with a bad performance isn't the end of the world.

COYB

Alastair

The clean sheet was a completely fluke though wasn't it - they had about three chances that on on any other day would have gone it - the header that just missed the post with howard stood still - the shot from right in front of howard that went striaght at him - plus a couple of other s we got v lucky on - the clean sheet was not because we were good in defence

Yep I agree, it was a fluke that we kept a clean sheet and as I said full credit to Southampton.

Alastair

Yes it was a bad performance, fluke we kept a clean sheet, but how many times as other clubs, the dark side played crap and got a result. We have had good performances and only got draws, need to get back to winning ways soon.

22 Jan 2013 10:42:07
If we got scored on in the first half yesterday then I could of seen us winning.. seems to be the only time we convert chances is when we are trailing

22 Jan 2013 10:32:20
Well yesterday's first half was as poor as I have saw us since the beginning of last season! Improved 2nd half when surprisingly Anichebe came on we looked far more dangerous.
Think it's time for a tough choice by Moyes, Fellaini in CM while Gibson is out? Anichebe or Mirallas in for Jelavic?
Jelavic no doubt is deadly when he is on form but he has been poor for a few months now, think he has 2 goals in his last 14 games. Maybe benching him will give him a break, problem is he is working really hard which is great but he is doing it in the wrong area's.
We don't want to just carry on and lose our great start and slip down the league, we need to freshen it up slightly, try different things.
Teams know if they cancel out Baines and Pienaar and put 2 players on Fellaini our threat has gone, the other option is making sure Mirallas and Coleman are fit down the right because at the start of the season teams would cancel out Baines and Pienaar but then Coleman and Mirallas would destroy them on the right.
It's a tough one for Moyes, you move Fellaini in CM where we look more comfortable when he is there but then we lose a big threat upfront, you leave him upfront then we are lightweight without Gibson and with Neville and Osman in there, do you put Mirallas upfront with Jelavic? but then lose pace on the right wing? Do you give Anichebe a start upfront but risk him being a liability?
WHO WOULD BE A MANAGER!!? Tough choices ahead haha we can't stand still like we usually do we have to be brave, it starting to look like teams know how to cancel us out

MikeTheBlue

1878 THE CITIES FIRST

22 Jan 2013 09:21:37
My six year old son watching sky transfer countdown clock saying nine days till end retorted dad why don't we just buy messi, I said he is happy at Barcelona and May cost too much, the innocence it children hey Ed. My lad hopefully wear the blue Jersey one day he is a good player keep up the good work Ed. Paul c

22 Jan 2013 08:25:24
we not even getting linked with anyone now in papers going to be a last min deal if we can move one out but not sure if we have the cash. gibbo

22 Jan 2013 05:13:24
Hi fellow blues OK yes it was a bad performance last night its time for Mr moyes to give big Vic a go or even vellios because jelavic just looks to lazy at the minute or when he does have a go he tends to be offside we need Gibson and mirallas in the team asap and start attacking from both wings and not just the left come on moysey get your finger out of your a--e or does Mr kenwright and the board want champions league football because they will have to spend then makes you wonder

Are you actually watching games? Jelavic is far from lazy! Works tirelesly just out of sorts at the moment {Ed007's Note - Jelavic is lazy, he was the same when he played up here in Scotland, he makes Berbatov look like a Red Bull addict on the park. Going by his past record I expect he will be looking for a way out of Goodison in the summer. He has a history of becoming unsettled and spitting the dummy out, he done it at Rapid Vienna and he done it at Rangers.}

So how many times did you watch his lazy displays for Rangers? He looks lazy because he is not the fastest around the pitch when closing players down but then, that's not his game! He is a finisher and that's why we bought him! The way I see it is Moyes buys proven goal scorers and tries to turn them into midfielders....in his heart I really think Moyes wants to play 4-6-0 with an attacking midfielder instead of a striker!

22 Jan 2013 03:17:33
I am well aware that Jelavic means well, and that he tries hard for the team, but for me, Anichebe seems much the brighter forward at the moment. So for the next Premier League game I would like to this line-up: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Mirallas, Osman, Gibson (if unfit: Hitzlesperger), Pienaar; Fellaini; Anichebe.

Murf

I wrote this when I was smashed last night..pretty proud of myself considering how well it's written! Haha

Murf

Totally agree. I said about 3 games ago that Jelly needed a break. Victor is looking awesome. I don't know why Moyes has not tried Vic as target man instead of this right midfield role if that's what it is. Vic deserves a start and as Centre Forward.
Degsypulford

22 Jan 2013 02:16:55
I like what David Moyes said after the draw tonight..we're in for a shout for the 4th spot. However, we are going through the shakes in front of goal at the moment - lets hope it finishes soon - the query I have is why do Everton have these crazy misses all the time??

I agree why are they going through the shakes in front of goal, we should be confident, the position we are in and the players we have. What is going on off the field, Moyes needs to sort out soon.

22 Jan 2013 00:45:01
OK... so we got lucky today and should have been 3-0 down at half-time, but it's a clean sheet and only three defeats in over 30 league games. Anichebe looked good when he came on and Mirallas is back from injury. Move on and win the next game. IMWT. Once a blue, always a blue.
Cowpat Sid

22 Jan 2013 00:41:00
gents I am an avid follower of the forum and have recently read the enthusiasm relating to m'villa. I read that m'villa's a nightmare - full of attitude- surely not what we need.
Jimblue

22 Jan 2013 00:06:38
I have never heard so much rubbish in all my life than on here tonight, yes tonight was are worst performance for a long time probably the season and we took a point away from home against a good side who are holding there own even against the top sides but many everton fans thought this was an easy 3 pts you people are so out of touch with reality just goes to show the standards we have set but have a reality check start of season I guess moyes would of set a target of European football and a go at one of the cups and we find ourselves 3 pts of 4th and looking good in fa cup but we have a real shot at champions league and I mean a real shot just need Jelavic to stay in the box more seems to be drifting out wide too much maybe because since mirralas has been out we have nothing coming Down the right and teams are targeting the left side missing Gibson badly with him and mirralas back soon Jelavic will go on a run this is the side I would go with till Gibson back

Howard
Coleman jags. Distin. Baines


Mirralas. Osman. Felleni. Pienaar

Anichibe

Jelavic