4-5-1 - Yakubu/Beckford up front on their own?
I've already moaned about this but I'm convinced it's no longer for us. In the absence of a world class striker and a confident, on song supporting balanced midfield capable of breaking down two banks of four - it's never going to be an accommodating line up.
Too many teams are setting up against us to grind out a result - and far too many poor teams have done that successfully against us the past year. Look at how many points we've dropped against poor opposition at home last season and this season. Newcastles players and fans reaction to their win on Saturday epitomises the point - most teams come to Goodison now thinking a point is a very good one and set up to nullify and frustrate an opposition who are stronger than them - and hope to pinch a goal.
We did the same when we were experts at 4-5-1. Teams would look at Marcus Bent up front on his own and become frustrated and think "We should be beating these". That doesn't happen any more. A point at Goodison is a good point for 16/17 of the 20 teams in the Premiership.
For me, that too many times has it been on Everton to take the initiative and too many times we've failed to step up to the plate. Too many times have the likes of Burnley, Wolves, Blackburn, Newcastle sussed out our one dimensional 'Down the left" approach. Too many times have they sat back and eventually thought "Is this all they have? We could sneak this" and grown in confidence.
The formation isn't the be all and end all, but we're making it hard for ourselves. We've acquired Beckford, a lad accustomed to a lower league and a striker along side him - and we then throw him to the lions on his own. It's no wonder the lad has yet to have an effort in the Premiership and looks miles out of his depth. At the moment he looks like a lazy, poor mans Marcus Bent.
The stabilizers need to come off.
Captaincy - A leader?
Are we lacking real leadership qualities? A can of worms but I think there's an argument to be made. Do we have any gifted players who will bark orders left right and centre? - Mikel?
Balance - Four players out of position on Saturday
Slyvain Distin. Granted, I don't appreciate the lads ability but this isn't going to be a tirade against him. I do think however that he has had a big contribution to our shocking start. Moyes is almost shuffling the pack to accommodate him and it has impacted our balance massively.
Maybe Moyes is thinking he spent a fair whack on Distin and is almost looking to get his moneys worth? but Distin playing seems to mean Heitinga being drafted into defensive midfield and Fellaini thrown all over the place. Both have suffered for it, particularly Heitinga.
Now, I'm no LMA manager of the year. To be fair, I'm not even that good on footy manager - but collective intelligence shouldn't be underestimated and I'm pretty sure a high percentage of Blues would prefer Heitinga and Jagielka centre back, and Fellaini in his natural defensive midfield position - where he won over fans and received his plaudits. Saturday was a regression to his first season when he was chasing back, giving fouls away with a clumsy demeanour and becoming frustrated.
Fellaini sitting deep also means Arteta is more inclined to support the attack in the final third, where his creativity and spark is desperately needed. Time and time again on Saturday we went long for a Fellaini flick on against a side sitting desperately deep - it was never going to work - certainly not to a isolated Beckford or to a not so mobile Yakubu.
While we're on balance, Hibbert/Osman. *groan*. I don't need to go into this but clearly our right side is borderline pathetic. Osman isn't a right winger, never has and never will be. No Blue will claim Osman is best on the right. Hibbert can do a job defensively, but if we're looking to grind down a stern opposition, we lack desperately down that right. I'm starting to think Osman doesn't do Hibbert any favours either - we've lacked so desperately down that right for so long it's only highlighted our full backs inadequacy going forward. If we had a decent right winger, then perhaps Hibbert would receive more recognition for his defensive duties but as it is, our right hand side outlet is too painfully obvious to ignore.
The frustrating thing with our right hand side is it looks like it could be addressed from the resources we have and it's most certainly broken so lets fix it.
There were widespread ironic cheers when Coleman was brought on to replace Hibbert at half time on Saturday - a kick in the teeth to our gaffer make no mistake. Hopefully he isn't stubborn enough to persist with Hibbert. Granted, Coleman will have defensive frailties but he'll learn. At home to Wolves, Newcastle and co is the time he should be on. Maybe even put Coleman right midfield with Neville right back.
We've also got a Russian lad on the bench. A lot of Blues will grimace with that sentence but he's no mug, he just needs managing and game time. YouTube him - or dig out some footage in the memory bank of some of the cracking goals he's belted in for us. Hiddink loves him, a Captain, a player who cost us £9 million. He's scored 7 for us in a limited amount of game time and would be an improvement on Osman.
Gueye. The lad started virtually every pre-season game?.......
Anichebe when he is back?
JUST ANYTHING OTHER THAN A RIGHT SIDED COMBINATION OF HIBBERT AND OSMAN!!!!!
Would anyone disagree that;
Our right side is turd and should be changed with any resource we have.
Fellaini is strongest in defensive midfield and should play there and only there.
If Heitinga plays, it should be centre back.
Coleman should play ahead of Hibbert at right back against weaker sides when we're at home.
Osman shouldn't play right midfield.
If any of Yakubu/Beckford/Saha are available at the same time, two should start together - or at least be on the pitch at the same time - against relegation candidates at Home - especially when we're losing. (Yak on for Beckford against Newcastle?)
I've already moaned about this but I'm convinced it's no longer for us. In the absence of a world class striker and a confident, on song supporting balanced midfield capable of breaking down two banks of four - it's never going to be an accommodating line up.
Too many teams are setting up against us to grind out a result - and far too many poor teams have done that successfully against us the past year. Look at how many points we've dropped against poor opposition at home last season and this season. Newcastles players and fans reaction to their win on Saturday epitomises the point - most teams come to Goodison now thinking a point is a very good one and set up to nullify and frustrate an opposition who are stronger than them - and hope to pinch a goal.
We did the same when we were experts at 4-5-1. Teams would look at Marcus Bent up front on his own and become frustrated and think "We should be beating these". That doesn't happen any more. A point at Goodison is a good point for 16/17 of the 20 teams in the Premiership.
For me, that too many times has it been on Everton to take the initiative and too many times we've failed to step up to the plate. Too many times have the likes of Burnley, Wolves, Blackburn, Newcastle sussed out our one dimensional 'Down the left" approach. Too many times have they sat back and eventually thought "Is this all they have? We could sneak this" and grown in confidence.
The formation isn't the be all and end all, but we're making it hard for ourselves. We've acquired Beckford, a lad accustomed to a lower league and a striker along side him - and we then throw him to the lions on his own. It's no wonder the lad has yet to have an effort in the Premiership and looks miles out of his depth. At the moment he looks like a lazy, poor mans Marcus Bent.
The stabilizers need to come off.
Captaincy - A leader?
Are we lacking real leadership qualities? A can of worms but I think there's an argument to be made. Do we have any gifted players who will bark orders left right and centre? - Mikel?
Balance - Four players out of position on Saturday
Slyvain Distin. Granted, I don't appreciate the lads ability but this isn't going to be a tirade against him. I do think however that he has had a big contribution to our shocking start. Moyes is almost shuffling the pack to accommodate him and it has impacted our balance massively.
Maybe Moyes is thinking he spent a fair whack on Distin and is almost looking to get his moneys worth? but Distin playing seems to mean Heitinga being drafted into defensive midfield and Fellaini thrown all over the place. Both have suffered for it, particularly Heitinga.
Now, I'm no LMA manager of the year. To be fair, I'm not even that good on footy manager - but collective intelligence shouldn't be underestimated and I'm pretty sure a high percentage of Blues would prefer Heitinga and Jagielka centre back, and Fellaini in his natural defensive midfield position - where he won over fans and received his plaudits. Saturday was a regression to his first season when he was chasing back, giving fouls away with a clumsy demeanour and becoming frustrated.
Fellaini sitting deep also means Arteta is more inclined to support the attack in the final third, where his creativity and spark is desperately needed. Time and time again on Saturday we went long for a Fellaini flick on against a side sitting desperately deep - it was never going to work - certainly not to a isolated Beckford or to a not so mobile Yakubu.
While we're on balance, Hibbert/Osman. *groan*. I don't need to go into this but clearly our right side is borderline pathetic. Osman isn't a right winger, never has and never will be. No Blue will claim Osman is best on the right. Hibbert can do a job defensively, but if we're looking to grind down a stern opposition, we lack desperately down that right. I'm starting to think Osman doesn't do Hibbert any favours either - we've lacked so desperately down that right for so long it's only highlighted our full backs inadequacy going forward. If we had a decent right winger, then perhaps Hibbert would receive more recognition for his defensive duties but as it is, our right hand side outlet is too painfully obvious to ignore.
The frustrating thing with our right hand side is it looks like it could be addressed from the resources we have and it's most certainly broken so lets fix it.
There were widespread ironic cheers when Coleman was brought on to replace Hibbert at half time on Saturday - a kick in the teeth to our gaffer make no mistake. Hopefully he isn't stubborn enough to persist with Hibbert. Granted, Coleman will have defensive frailties but he'll learn. At home to Wolves, Newcastle and co is the time he should be on. Maybe even put Coleman right midfield with Neville right back.
We've also got a Russian lad on the bench. A lot of Blues will grimace with that sentence but he's no mug, he just needs managing and game time. YouTube him - or dig out some footage in the memory bank of some of the cracking goals he's belted in for us. Hiddink loves him, a Captain, a player who cost us £9 million. He's scored 7 for us in a limited amount of game time and would be an improvement on Osman.
Gueye. The lad started virtually every pre-season game?.......
Anichebe when he is back?
JUST ANYTHING OTHER THAN A RIGHT SIDED COMBINATION OF HIBBERT AND OSMAN!!!!!
Would anyone disagree that;
Our right side is turd and should be changed with any resource we have.
Fellaini is strongest in defensive midfield and should play there and only there.
If Heitinga plays, it should be centre back.
Coleman should play ahead of Hibbert at right back against weaker sides when we're at home.
Osman shouldn't play right midfield.
If any of Yakubu/Beckford/Saha are available at the same time, two should start together - or at least be on the pitch at the same time - against relegation candidates at Home - especially when we're losing. (Yak on for Beckford against Newcastle?)