CB Pairing?

[TheDevils2001]

Heitinga & Jags

Distin & Jags (when Heitinga moved to DM if Fellaini gets a game off)

Jags & Yobo (to give Distin a break and Yobo some games)

I feel the same too, Heitinga and Jagielka in the middle is our best pairing!

Hopfully there would be links for tonight match against Wolfsburg, can't believe there is only another week before the league start again, let's hope we could get a good start in our first league game!

 

[stinger]

Not after last season mate. Im not sure Davey even views Johnny as a nailed on centre back - honestly!

It would be rubbish, as Heitinga sees himself as CB and wants to play there, also there's plenty of competition for midfield.

I think Heitinga and Jagielka sooner or later will be our starting CB's duo, Heitinga basically can use either foot when passing from the defence, so lack of pure left footed player won't be as big issue, as it would be with other right footed CBs. And if we will play Fellaini as DM, don't think there will be lack of height either, MoFro does a great job stepping back and helping CBs in aerial battles, when they are struggling (like he did against Sunderland away, when Heitinga and Neill I hink were struggling against Kenwyne Jones).

 

[Neiler]

It would be rubbish, as Heitinga sees himself as CB and wants to play there, also there's plenty of competition for midfield.

I think Heitinga and Jagielka sooner or later will be our starting CB's duo, Heitinga basically can use either foot when passing from the defence, so lack of pure left footed player won't be as big issue, as it would be with other right footed CBs. And if we will play Fellaini as DM, don't think there will be lack of height either, MoFro does a great job stepping back and helping CBs in aerial battles, when they are struggling (like he did against Sunderland away, when Heitinga and Neill I hink were struggling against Kenwyne Jones).

Personaly i dont think its nailed on -could be well wrong as in the past - but there you go time is the geat leveler - just dont think its as certain as people think or this thread suggests.

Not saying he wont play games this season at centre back, i just think he will be used more as a utility and not the definitive without question starter that others do for a few reasons.

I look on Jonny as the opposite to Mofro last year, i think hes as talented speaking in a position specific way at centre back but there are many elements to his defensive play that he needs to improve to be a top centre back for me - he has the potential though.

I backed Mofro last year big time in the face of massive criticism and ridicule of the lad, you could see the talent a mile away and how he would develop espeically in the position he now has, people really underestimated that talent. Heitinga is the opposite end of the hype scale for me for me, people have bigged him up to be a player he isnt yet in my opinion, he has the potential but defo needs to develop his game especially at centreback.

 

[stinger]

I agree that Heitinga is overrated by most of the Evertonians, but I actually prefer him as CB than DM - playing as DM he has a tendency to be not enough disciplined for me and on the other side, surprisengly his toughness and tenacity helps him as CB, despite lack of height, and lack of pace at the same time. I also really appreciate the fact that for once, we can have a quality ball player as CB, as difference between Heitinga and Distin (who IMO is better passer than Jagielka) is HUGE.

 

[Neiler]

I agree that Heitinga is overrated by most of the Evertonians, but I actually prefer him as CB than DM - playing as DM he has a tendency to be not enough disciplined for me and on the other side, surprisengly his toughness and tenacity helps him as CB, despite lack of height, and lack of pace at the same time. I also really appreciate the fact that for once, we can have a quality ball player as CB, as difference between Heitinga and Distin (who IMO is better passer than Jagielka) is HUGE.

Agreed mate, though i actually prefer him in midfeild, i think he actually has the tools to develop into a better midfeilder then he will a defnder. I think his natural tenacity and agression and will to be involved make him to indiciplined at the back, either that or his positioning/awareness isnt great, he sturggles with indecison in terms of chooseing picking up the ball or the man. Something im thinking is that if Jags and Johnny play at centre back and Coleman and Baines play in the fullback roles, i can see the value in having a pacey centre back to cover should our play break down and the other team break, Yobo and Distin are prob the quickest of our current four - another consideration i think Davey will analyse.

I think his natural agression and tenacity and the indicpline holding positionthis can lead to is prob best suited to defensive midfeild in a forgiving sense. I really like him there, though hes a way to go to really fulfill his potential in that position as well - personaly i think he has the tools to be the best defensive midfeilder in the league, as for his distribution its as effective in the centre as it is at the back, maybe even more so as he can hurt teams at the buissness end of the feild. I know many people call Mofro a defensive midfeilder, but like people calling him a striker last season you cant pidgeon hole him he really is box to box.

 

[Namdrater]

He was brilliant for us in midfield last year, an absolute destroyer with a clean pass under his belt as well. He looked a bit shakey in the defense

 

[stinger]

Neiler - fair enough. But for me Heitinga isn't disciplined enough only playing in midfield, I actually rate his positional discipline as CB, without it, he would be terrible as centre back, as he isn't neither pacy or tall.

As DM sometimes he wants to do too much IMO.

 

[Ara]

With a Fully fit squad, Heit and Jags are definatly the CB of choice. Height isn't everything when heading a ball, Look at Cahill, its not his leap that gets goals its his postioning, He never out jumps anyone.
Mofro will play DM and Heits has to be in the team, so for me its got to be CB with Jags. its great that we have choice for a change

 

[OneTrueLegend]

I would go for Jags and Heitinga at CB, Yobo and Distin as the secondary option. I suppose Heitinga can play as holding position in midfield, but I think Fellini will play there when he is fit.

 

[Blue 1]

Could we accomodate Johnny H in this midfield perhaps? Would have thought it would be pretty effective myself. Fellaini will play box to box, Johnny as the holding MF. Both of them can pass a ball. Jags & Disitin at CB.

Fellaini - Johnny
Vic/Billy - Tater - Peanut


????

Edit: didn't mean to put Cahill in so have took him out.

 

[Neiler]

Could we accomodate Johnny H in this midfield perhaps? Would have thought it would be pretty effective myself. Fellaini will play box to box, Johnny as the holding MF. Both of them can pass a ball. Jags & Disitin at CB.

Fellaini - Johnny
Vic/Billy - Tater - Peanut
Cahill

????

Or a 4-1-4-1:


--------------Howard

Seamie-----Yobo---Jags------Baines

----------------Heit

----------Arteta-----Fellaini

----Billy--------------------Pienaar

-----------------Yak

 

[Blue 1]

Yep, or that. Like the look of both to be honest.

We're gonna be absolutely boss this season.

 

[kenada_blue]

Whatever position...Heitinga will be in the starting 11. Making a complete blanket statement...but you dont keep a World Cup finalist on the bench.

He'll be centre half with Jags.

Bit on the small side but that's what will happen.

 

[RFUS]

Yet again, when have you ever seen Jags or Heitinga struggle in the air?

They're not THAT small (5'11 and 6'0 respectively, so a bit small for a CB), and they both have good leaps.

A lack of height doesn't mean you're bad in the air; just ask Tim Cahill.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Very rarely, if ever.

I don't think being left footed is an issue either, Moyes likes the option, but he's used two right footers for the majority of his career at Everton. Jagielka and Heitinga are both perfectly capable of playing there aswell, I'm not even sure what Jagielka's strongest side is to be honest, some of his best form has come as a left sided centre back. Heitinga, on the other hand, can use either foot and we all know about his ability to pass the ball.

No one is going to convince Joseph 'Bambi on Ice' Yobo is a better centre back than Heitinga, he's just not. I think Distin will play ahead of Yobo aswell.