Does Cahill hold us back

[billycopper]

As me and Toccy have said having Coleman at RB doesn't mean we're going to be more exposed. Neville and Hibbert both get forward and to say they don't is a lie. They just do feck all when they get forward. Coleman however would be able to do something.

He wouldn't be as assured defensively but then he's 10 years younger than Neville and you've got to start somewhere.

Neville and Hibbert don't very often get to the byeline. Once they get over the half way line they tend to pass it on or try and put a cross in to the box. If it breaks down, they don't have too far to get back to recover the situation. If Coleman did the same, we'd lose the threat he poses around the box. If he carries on as he was, then it's going to leave space behind him to exploit. Remember how Arsenal took advantage of our weaknesses at leftback whenever Baines went forward?

 

[RFUS]

Neville and Hibbert don't very often get to the byeline. Once they get over the half way line they tend to pass it on or try and put a cross in to the box. If it breaks down, they don't have too far to get back to recover the situation. If Coleman did the same, we'd lose the threat he poses around the box. If he carries on as he was, then it's going to leave space behind him to exploit. Remember how Arsenal took advantage of our weaknesses at leftback whenever Baines went forward?

I will accept they didn't used to, but last season on many occasions I saw them get forward. Partially because we dominated possession and they were free to do so. We just did feck all with the possession.

But anyway, this is less opinion and more fact. They did often go past the half way line. They genuinely did. You were obviously too busy watching Bilyaletdinov or something.

 

[billycopper]

I will accept they didn't used to, but last season on many occasions I saw them get forward. Partially because we dominated possession and they were free to do so. We just did feck all with the possession.

But anyway, this is less opinion and more fact. They did often go past the half way line. They genuinely did. You were obviously too busy watching Bilyaletdinov or something.

I just don't think we're tactically aware enough to cover for it. Really, if Coleman is overlapping, the midfielder should sit to protect the space. If it's Vic, Gueye, Bily or Barkley on the right hand side, can you see that happening? It could go the other way too. The season before last Baines was more defence-conscious (I tend to think this came from Round) and was reluctant to get forward. If that happens with Seamus, then he'd be wasted at fullback.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Its one of the main benefits of having Neville playing dm that he will always be covering our fullbacks if they get caught forward.

 

[billycopper]

Its one of the main benefits of having Neville playing dm that he will always be covering our fullbacks if they get caught forward.

That certainly comes into it. Heitinga wants to get forward from there, Arteta jogs back, Fellaini can't cover the ground quickly enough and Rodwell doesn't have the awareness.

 

[RFUS]

Its one of the main benefits of having Neville playing dm that he will always be covering our fullbacks if they get caught forward.

That is a fair point.

It's just that the thought of Neville partnering another defensive-minded player in center midfield makes me cringe.

 

[Goat]

Tim Cahill is an utter Legend, he plays his heart out every single game and hes scored some valueable goals over the years, his is 1 of the first names on the Team sheet and rightly so. If we had 11 players with just HALF of his passion and drive in our squad we would piss the League by Xmas.

Change the thread, retitle it to : Has Tim Cahill wasted his career by staying at Everton, its a yes from me by the way.

 

[billycopper]

Tim Cahill is an utter Legend, he plays his heart out every single game and hes scored some valueable goals over the years, his is 1 of the first names on the Team sheet and rightly so. If we had 11 players with just HALF of his passion and drive in our squad we would piss the League by Xmas.

Change the thread, retitle it to : Has Tim Cahill wasted his career by staying at Everton, its a yes from me by the way.

Very true. He's worth more than two FA Cup losers medals.

 

[RFUS]

I don't ever remember any big clubs coming in with a bid for Tim Cahill. Just saying, like.

I agree though. He is a legend. But just like I said earlier when I compared him to my Everton hero; Big Dunc, being a legend shouldn't make you an automatic pick forever.

 

[zimblue]

The problem with Mikel in central midfield is that he will always come back to take the ball off our centre backs. This means he is deeper than his midfield partner, even when alongside Heitinga.

I'm a big fan of Neville in midfield... I hope Moyes pairs him with Fellaini in there. These guys can create an effective shield in front of the back four in what is a very tough league.

Meanwhile our biggest problem over the last 2 seasons has been keeping hold of the ball in the final third.... Surely we've got to get the likes of Arteta and Osman further up the pitch ?

 

[Brownie]

I think it gets very congested in midfield, especially if the opposition are matching up to us in terms of numbers. It's all well and good Arteta getting out of tight spots in front of his own back four, but where does it get us? Unless he can deliver a key pass from there, a move is always likely to break down. Out wide he had the freedom to get forward, and he revelled in it. We have nobody else who can beat a man like he does. What does he offer us from a deeper position that is more valuable than his contribution from the left? Can anyone else do his job in central midfield?

Have you ever seen Cahill outpace anyone? If we play a ball over the top could he outrun a centreback? If not, then he's only any use to us as a striker when we're doing the pressing.

In a straight foot race obviously he's not going to outpace the majority of defenders. However, receiving the ball on the run I've seen him run away from people using his body and shielding the ball as he goes, similar to how Yak used to. I don't get why you think a lone striker's job is to chase down lost causes or try and get in behind for the ball over the top. Again, Yakubu was probably our best at playing up front on his own and those aren't traits I'd associate with him at all. What about holding the ball up, bringing others into play, winning duels, making intelligent runs? I think Tim could do those things well.

 

[billycopper]

The problem with Mikel in central midfield is that he will always come back to take the ball off our centre backs. This means he is deeper than his midfield partner, even when alongside Heitinga.

I'm a big fan of Neville in midfield... I hope Moyes pairs him with Fellaini in there. These guys can create an effective shield in front of the back four in what is a very tough league.

Meanwhile our biggest problem over the last 2 seasons has been keeping hold of the ball in the final third.... Surely we've got to get the likes of Arteta and Osman further up the pitch ?

That's what I've been saying.

 

[billycopper]

In a straight foot race obviously he's not going to outpace the majority of defenders. However, receiving the ball on the run I've seen him run away from people using his body and shielding the ball as he goes, similar to how Yak used to. I don't get why you think a lone striker's job is to chase down lost causes or try and get in behind for the ball over the top. Again, Yakubu was probably our best at playing up front on his own and those aren't traits I'd associate with him at all. What about holding the ball up, bringing others into play, winning duels, making intelligent runs? I think Tim could do those things well.

That's why he doesn't do it any more. Moyes likes to defend from the front. If Jags, Neville or Distin are going to play hoofball, you want you striker to make atleast some token effort to chase after it.

Ideally Beckford would play more like Darren Bent, on the shoulder of the last man, waiting to be put in by a through ball. We couldn't use that ploy with Cahill though because the defender would catch up with him before he could get in range of the goal. Saha can do it. Plus Saha can do all the other things you mentioned. He's not getting any younger (or fitter) though.

 

[zimblue]

I will do a 5 minute facepalm if Moyes pairs Cahill and Saha up front.

 

[RFUS]

I will do a 5 minute facepalm if Moyes pairs Cahill and Saha up front.

Get the tissues ready because you are going to have one bloody nose on August 13th.