Arshavin.....

[TX Bill]

I always like what Fernando Hierro said about defending.

He said that 3/4 of it was anticipation.

Spot on that.

Good analogy between Arshavin and Tevez regarding roles on the pitch.

 

[sotnas]

Cahill would only be in my team if we play 4-5-1 to be honest. If we switched to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 then he'd be on my bench. Other Evertonians think he's undropable but in my opinion he's not. I think we have the same ideas there.

If you where the Everton manager of this current squad who would you play in the hole? For me it would be Pienaar or Osman before Arteta. Pienaar preferably because he's played it occasionly at Ajax and Dortmund. Pienaar for me is a hole type player. intelligent, Good touch, excellent movement, clever short passing and good on the ball.

See, the problem I feel we have is that we have players to play in the hole or as an attacking midfielder (the difference may only be a few meters or just the type of player you put in). We have too many, actually.

We have Arteta, Pienaar, Osman. 3 Players for one spot if we don't consider Cahill.

And we lack wingers. Although in a 451 we should have players on the wings who know how to play in the channels. From this statement I'd say we have a problem solved, the 2 of the 3 who weren't to play in the middle could play on the wings. But that's not so easy because:

1. It's easier to teach a winger to behave like a channel player, than the other way around.

2. This happens for one simple thing... it is much harder than you think to put in decent crosses. Many wingers spent the first couple of years of professional football with a poor ratio of good crosses. Imagine what will happen if you chose a player that has never been a winger to behave like one (of course there are exceptions).

3. The winger is the only specialist place in the park, apart from the keeper. Even more than a striker. The winger should possess a lot more attributes and you can stand a striker who can't score (he can have other valuable attributes like partner linking, opening spaces...) but you can never have a winger who can't cross.

Cahill could play as Center midf, but he'd lose his main strength, the goal vein.

On the wing...well, forget it.

In the hole... If I had good wingers that could work the channels, I'd say no way. I'd rather have Arteta.

But, we don't have wingers.

But we do have strikers.

I'd play 4 in the midfield in a diamond formation.

DM ... (you'll kill me, I know) Manny Fernandes (here in Portugal he was called Manelele just like Makelele)

Inner midfielders...Pienaar and Arteta.

Attacking Midfielder...Cahill (See, I made concessions to the squad).

But to play like this I would need good full backs. I don't think we have them, actually.

The thing is that with only two full backs, I'd compose a team.

And to play the way I like I'd have to go for 2/3 wingers, who would be much more expensive.

I'd get Zhirkov and Belleti (he shouldn't be expensive)..


..............................................Howard............................................
Belleti.................Jagielka..............................Lescott................Zhirkov
.............................................Fernandes..........................................
...........Pienaar.......................................................Arteta.................
................................................Cahill..............................................
..........................Yakubu.............................AJohnson........................

If we could recycle VDM, I'd still get Zhirkov and make him play winger.

I'd have Zhirkov and VDM on the wings and Arteta in the middle. I'd have to go for a holding midfielder also.

 

[Toffee-nerd]

Do we have full backs to play that way?

Sometimes, during the match, we'll have to bring some width to our game, and the full backs should do that, since we don't play wingers or players that can open it up from the midfield.

I still think Zhirkov is the pick of the bunch.

Thats true but we do not really rely on width that much as it is, as we have no traditional wingers. I actually think signing arshavin woudld provide us with a bit more width down the left as he tends to play down that flank anyway. We would really need to play baines if we wanted to rely more on width down the left hand side as it is not lescotts favoured position, he has done well there but a fit baines would add a lot of pace and width down the left. As for the right, we will just have to rely on Arteta as neville and hibbert are not the best for getting forward they usually tend to lump it when they get it and when they do occassionally get down the flanks the end product usually goes backwards or out of play. Im not knocking them, i appreciate what they do but they are not gonna win any best RB awards any time soon, if there is such an award.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Oh I forgot, over there in the UK you like to have skillful players on the wings and big tall walls in the middle of the park. ( the last skillful center midfield was Hoddle and even him wasn't regarded for the true great player he was).

I wonder if Arteta is a real winger, I'd say he is a much better attacking midfield, but instead we get to see Cahill doing the thing. Sure Cahill can score and he is powerful, but can he open defences with a smart pass?

Arshavin "fell" on the wings against holland, he didn't play on the wings. He roamed in a free role function, falling on the wings to create space. Make him hug the line and he'll be less effective.

He was russian footbaler of the year in 2006. For such an outstanding talent, being only once the footbaler of the year and playing all his life in russia is something to give a thought.

But as I said, apart from this season, he never impressed me.

beardsley ? gazza ? and the great PETER REID he of the bottle of grecian.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

See, the problem I feel we have is that we have players to play in the hole or as an attacking midfielder (the difference may only be a few meters or just the type of player you put in). We have too many, actually.

We have Arteta, Pienaar, Osman. 3 Players for one spot if we don't consider Cahill.

And we lack wingers. Although in a 451 we should have players on the wings who know how to play in the channels. From this statement I'd say we have a problem solved, the 2 of the 3 who weren't to play in the middle could play on the wings. But that's not so easy because:

1. It's easier to teach a winger to behave like a channel player, than the other way around.

2. This happens for one simple thing... it is much harder than you think to put in decent crosses. Many wingers spent the first couple of years of professional football with a poor ratio of good crosses. Imagine what will happen if you chose a player that has never been a winger to behave like one (of course there are exceptions).

3. The winger is the only specialist place in the park, apart from the keeper. Even more than a striker. The winger should possess a lot more attributes and you can stand a striker who can't score (he can have other valuable attributes like partner linking, opening spaces...) but you can never have a winger who can't cross.

Cahill could play as Center midf, but he'd lose his main strength, the goal vein.

On the wing...well, forget it.

In the hole... If I had good wingers that could work the channels, I'd say no way. I'd rather have Arteta.

But, we don't have wingers.

But we do have strikers.

I'd play 4 in the midfield in a diamond formation.

DM ... (you'll kill me, I know) Manny Fernandes (here in Portugal he was called Manelele just like Makelele)

Inner midfielders...Pienaar and Arteta.

Attacking Midfielder...Cahill (See, I made concessions to the squad).

But to play like this I would need good full backs. I don't think we have them, actually.

The thing is that with only two full backs, I'd compose a team.

And to play the way I like I'd have to go for 2/3 wingers, who would be much more expensive.

I'd get Zhirkov and Belleti (he shouldn't be expensive)..


..............................................Howard............................................
Belleti.................Jagielka..............................Lescott................Zhirkov
.............................................Fernandes..........................................
...........Pienaar.......................................................Arteta.................
................................................Cahill..............................................
..........................Yakubu.............................AJohnson........................

If we could recycle VDM, I'd still get Zhirkov and make him play winger.

I'd have Zhirkov and VDM on the wings and Arteta in the middle. I'd have to go for a holding midfielder also.

I like Baines to be honest. He has all the tools to be a good attacking fullback. Pacy, good on the ball and a good crosser. Its just about getting him fit really and settled into the team.

I'm more of a 4-2-3-1 man myself:

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

Miguel----------Yobo----------Lescott----------Baines

-------------Huddlestone-----Fernandes--------------

Arteta-------------------Cahill------------------Pienaar

------------------------Yakubu-----------------------

I think that has a good luck to it. Two pacy full backs, two deep lying play makers and Cahill, Arteta and Pienaar supporting Yakubu.

 

[sotnas]

beardsley ? gazza ? and the great PETER REID he of the bottle of grecian.

Gazza never really made it, that injury and his bad attitude prevented him from being one of the best around. And Beardsley was more of a forward, wasn't he?

Reid didn't have the skill on the ball hoddle had or the flair. Although Reid was an outsanding player, he wasn't the wizzard.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Gazza never really made it, that injury and his bad attitude prevented him from being one of the best around. And Beardsley was more of a forward, wasn't he?

Reid didn't have the skill on the ball hoddle had or the flair. Although Reid was an outsanding player, he wasn't the wizzard.

Paul Scholes?

 

[sotnas]

I like Baines to be honest. He has all the tools to be a good attacking fullback. Pacy, good on the ball and a good crosser. Its just about getting him fit really and settled into the team.

I'm more of a 4-2-3-1 man myself:

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

Miguel----------Yobo----------Lescott----------Baines

-------------Huddlestone-----Fernandes--------------

Arteta-------------------Cahill------------------Pienaar

------------------------Yakubu-----------------------

I think that has a good luck to it. Two pacy full backs, two deep lying play makers and Cahill, Arteta and Pienaar supporting Yakubu.

I'd play 4231 if I felt we had the players to play that way.

Miguel, good choice. I thought of Belleti because of the price he should cost. Muamba is any good? I only watched him once and he did look handy.

And how good is Jagielka as right back? I really don't know Baines, so i didn't consider him.

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

Belleti----------Yobo----------Lescott----------Baines

-------------Huddlestone-----Fernandes--------------

VanDerMeyde------------Arteta----------------Zhirkov

------------------------Yakubu-----------------------


Belleti, huddlestone and Zhirkov... how much would they cost?

Btw, Belleti has a past record as a center midfielder. I'd still go for him, if the price was right, even if getting Miguel.

Huddlestone should be expensive, right?

 

[sotnas]

Paul Scholes?

Didn't have the latin flair hoddle had.

Btw, is there a chance of getting Ashley young from Villa?

Trade him for AJ and a couple of pounds more?

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I'd play 4231 if I felt we had the players to play that way.

Miguel, good choice. I thought of Belleti because of the price he should cost. Muamba is any good? I only watched him once and he did look handy.

And how good is Jagielka as right back? I really don't know Baines, so i didn't consider him.

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

Belleti----------Yobo----------Lescott----------Baines

-------------Huddlestone-----Fernandes--------------

VanDerMeyde------------Arteta----------------Zhirkov

------------------------Yakubu-----------------------


Belleti, huddlestone and Zhirkov... how much would they cost?

Btw, Belleti has a past record as a center midfielder. I'd still go for him, if the price was right, even if getting Miguel.

Huddlestone should be expensive, right?

Van der Meyde is finished here to be honest. Fantastic player on his day but he's not even considered for selection anymore. I wouldn't be putting him in any Everton starting line up as Its never going to happen.

How much would Miguel cost? I know he's had problems at Valencia and is looking to move. Maybe with the likes of Fernandes and Valente here he'd think about joining?

Huddlestone will probably cost around 6-8 million. I'd pay around 6-7 million for him to be honest. He's got alot of talent, superb passer, reads the game well and is intelligent but he's also poor in some areas. Slow and lazy. His height would be useful though. Him and Fernandes spraying passes about would be a joy to watch.

Agreed though we would need a pacy wide player to make the 4-2-3-1 work.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

yeah forget about van der meyde, he isn't interested and now we all despise the lazy [Poor language removed].

 

[sotnas]

Miguel is said to cost 7-8M pounds.

I think 2M would bring Belletti.

Zhirkov, I have no idea...but he's so good, i'd break the bank.

Semak, he's 32 but he should fit in as a center midfield...can't be expensive.

There is another russian, who didn't make it to the euro (according to the media, he asked not to go, because he needed a proper holiday to concentrate on his club)...Marat Izmailov. He could fit in well, pacey, skillfull, great work ethic and is very cool in front of goal. Can play wide, can play in the hole. one of my favourite players from the current Sporting squad.

 

[Cal]

I highly doubt Belleti would join us. He is in it for the money now as he is coming to an age where he will slowly fade away.

VDM is completely finished and i think he has an agreement that he is going to finish the rest of his contract and not play at all. I highly doubt we will see him in pre season but who knows? Anything can happen in Football. Well i hope Moyes isn't too stubborn and gives him a pre season chance. Anyone who's on around 30,000 a week should be made to do some playing time and contribute to the team. Shame if he doesn't as he has alot of talent.

I'd personally like us to bring in Huddlestone, Fernandes, Darren Bent, Lennon, Ryan Taylor and a back up goalkeeper. I'd say that's around 30 million, depending on the sale of AJ.

Something like:

Howard

Neville Yobo Lescott Baines

Huddlestone Fernandes

Arteta Cahill Lennon/Pienaar

Yakubu

Obviously we won't bring in these players but i'd like us to see someone with ALOT of pace, and i'm pretty sure Moyes can make Lennon have some end product at least.

Obviously i'd like Arshavin too. But i've given up all hope.

 

[micknick]

I was thinking about this Arshavin cat and I remembered that it was absolutely agesago that people were mentioning him as a good player on here. It was actually even before last season- I think this proves how knowledgable Everton fans are and all the other fans are like 'eh this Arse Shaving lad aint top a bad player leak'

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I was thinking about this Arshavin cat and I remembered that it was absolutely agesago that people were mentioning him as a good player on here. It was actually even before last season- I think this proves how knowledgable Everton fans are and all the other fans are like 'eh this Arse Shaving lad aint top a bad player leak'

Of course were knowledgable, that's why we were chosen. Perhaps though we should all be on commission for scouting for the club.

I'm serious. Bruce knows what I mean.