Evertons starting formation?

[steele]

Hibbert as a central defender

Think Moyes is deploying Hibbert as a CD, as a backup for Jag and Yobo. Brings more out of him, being better in defence than going forward

Moyes will always find a place for Captain Phil, so Hibbo's days are numbered, especially with Coleman pushing for a place.
Not sure yet if there is an automatic starting place for Rodwell, and if Bily starts to come good the midfield slots will be really interesting.

To start with I think something like:

Howard
Neville Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Bilyaletdinov Arteta Fellaini Cahill Pienaar
Saha

Maybe Rodwell for Bily (or Pienaar/Arteta if they go).

We'll have some fantastic options from the bench.

 

[steele]

XI 1 against XI2; Could both do it well in PL?

XI 1
GK: Howard
LB: Baines
CD: Jagielka & Heitiger
RB: Coleman
MR: Billy
MC: Arteta, Cahill & Rodwell
MR: Pienaar
FW: Yakubu

XI 2
GK: Moucha
LB: Hibbert
CD: Yobo & Distin
RB: Neville
MR: Big Vic
MC: Osman, Fellaini
ML: Guye
FW: Beckford & Saha

 

[Alio]

XI 1
GK: Howard
LB: Baines
CD: Jagielka & Heitiger
RB: Coleman
MR: Billy
MC: Arteta, Cahill & Rodwell
MR: Pienaar
FW: Yakubu

XI 2
GK: Moucha
LB: Hibbert
CD: Yobo & Distin
RB: Neville
MR: Big Vic
MC: Osman, Fellaini
ML: Guye
FW: Beckford & Saha

Nice line ups right there. It's pretty damn hard to select a team now.

Howard
Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines
Heitinga or Fellaini
Bily, Cahill, Arteta, Piennar
Saha

Is what I think he'll start with.....solid, lid. Bring it on!

 

[Summerskin]

Billy will start on the right.

 

[billycopper]

1. Fair enough, but that's why Fellaini will play against Blackburn, because Heitinga's fitness will be even lower, and in that kind of game we need his physical presence. He will be used more sporadically in games after Blackburn. But we need him against Big Sam's team and (hopefully) Moyes will be determined to start the season with a bang.
2. I have no idea why are you continuing a topic about Gueye starting at Ewood Park, he will be happy to see himself on the bench. And Anichebe didn't miss much of the preseason, he missed last 2 games, after being used frequently in earlier ones, he also barely missed any practice sessions. Also, it's nice to point out that Ossie and Billy have a tendency to be anonymous, too bad we can't say that about Gueye... ooops, it's because he never played a Premiership game. And according to you he will start at Blackburn, good luck with that.
3. Beckford has bigger chance, but Saha when he was playing, he was good enough to win a starting XI spot for the start of the season. Again, Beckford will be happy enough to be a bench player, but difference to Gueye is that, he actually can have a chance to get some minutes in later stages of the game. He got rest last night, but he will play against Wolfsburg and he will start at Ewood Park.
4. Anichebe is no longer a forward, with the way you are explaining it, somebody could think Anichebe was playing all that time as RM despite being a forward during practices. No, he was a centre forward in the past who was converted in to wide midfielder and now it's his no1 position.

1. Fellaini has had half a game back after having spent 6 months recovering from a serious injury. Heitinga has been playing football all summer and has been back in training for a week after a month off. Spot the difference.
2. Anichebe didn't feature against Preston, Norwich or Everton Chile. That would suggest that he is not currently match-fit. Osman has played about an hour in the last few friendlies after returning from injury himself. I can't recall any contribution that he made in those games. Even though Gueye was bought to bolster the reserves, he has scored in Australia and provided an assist for Beckford at Goodison. I would hazard a guess that Moyes will atleast consider him to start against Blackburn.
3. Again, I think that it will more than cross the gaffer's mind whether to start with Beckford at Ewood.
4. Having learned his trade as a striker, the manager would have no qualms in throwing Anichebe on as a striker if he felt that we needed more physical presence up front. That versatility gives him the edge over Vaughan.

 

[stinger]

I am sorry, but if you don't recall any contribution from Osman, after he was running around the pitch like he would be on speed against Chile (looking much better and more lively comparing to Mikel in 2nd half too), saving Rodwell's ass defensively at least a few times, than there's nothing we have to discuss.

 

[Phil Neville Superstar]

XI 1
GK: Howard
LB: Baines
CD: Jagielka & Heitiger
RB: Coleman
MR: Billy
MC: Arteta, Cahill & Rodwell
MR: Pienaar
FW: Yakubu

XI 2
GK: Moucha
LB: Hibbert
CD: Yobo & Distin
RB: Neville
MR: Big Vic
MC: Osman, Fellaini
ML: Guye
FW: Beckford & Saha

Fellaini not good enoguh for the first team? Are you serious?

 

[fblanco]

What a squad!

GK Howard (Mucha a very good alternative)
RB Coleman (based on preseason, hopefully he can carry on what we've seen, still much to improve defensively)
CB Heitinga (if not fit for the start of the season, I still prefer Yobo over Distin)
CB Jagielka
CB Baines
RW Billy (Gueye been good, but these have only been preseason)
CM Arteta (these two mixing it up who lies deeper, Rodwell for Mikky if needed)
CM Fellaini (If not fit, bring Neville on, for more attacking role Osman)
LW Pienaar
AMC Cahill (Whether play Beckford/Yakubu with two strikers, sometimes try Billy here)
ST Saha (Beckford-Yakubu alternatives)

So excited about the coming season, if we don't get massive amount of injuries to key players, we have a good sub for every position, even for Howard (Mucha is a great backup and Turner has also been good this preseason) I haven't even named Hibbert, Anichebe, Vaughan yet, wow!

COYB

 

[pete]

Yobo over Distin? Really?

I love Yobo, he's onw of my heroes at Everton, but right now he looks very poor. The Yobo we saw a few years back would be a lot better than Distin, but right now, he is'nt imo. Hope he gets there, though, and stays with us.

Distin has been quite impressive in the pre-season. He did'nt have his best year with us last season, but then again, Fellaini was'nt great the first season, but turned out to be awsome. Distin will be solid this year!

Anyway, that does'nt even matter cause Heitnga will pair up with Jags

 

[They Think It's All Over]

Taking every player listed in the First Team squad on the OS, this gives a good idea of the strength in depth in each position.
Each player is included only once here in what I would call their strongest positions, but obviously many players can play a variety of positions - thus Fellaini is very obviously NOT our only DM, for example.
I'm also not entirely sure where James Wallace actually plays - playmaker or more a winger?
Those not in brackets constitute what would be my favoured starting XI for Blackburn, but doesn't take into account relative fitness of the likes of Heitinga and Fellaini.

GK - Howard (Mucha) (Turner)
RB - Coleman (Neville) (Hibbert)
CB - Jagielka, Heitinga (Yobo) (Distin) (Duffy)
LB - Baines
DM - Fellaini
CM - Arteta (Osman) (Wallace)
RW - Bilyaletdinov (Anichebe) (Baxter)
AMC - Cahill (Rodwell)
LW - Pienaar (Gueye)
FW - Saha (Yakubu) (Beckford) (Vaughan) (Silva) (Agard)

I have to say, we have every reason to be optimistic.

 

[Summerskin]

Think Distin will be involved heavily this season, and i'm game!

He's looked great in pre-season, remember when we got him he came straight from Pompey so didn't know anything about how we roll before the Prem starts, he sure does now, as he's said Moyesy's pre-season is tough as fcuk.

He'll be sound.

 

[Eskley1]

Hi all, 1st post. I've been a voyeur until now, but I think is what I'd probably go with against Blackburn (4-4-1-1)

GK: Howard
RB: Nev:
CB: Heitinga
CB: Distin
LB: Baines
RM: Gueye / Bily
CM: Arteta
CM: Fellaini
LM: Peanuts
AM: Cahill
FW: Saha

I'd leave Jags on the bench for now as although he is a great natural defender, his distribution is not comparable to Heitingas and Distin provides better balance being left footed. Neville won't be dropped as he provides great leadership still and Coleman is still pretty much untested at PL level (I think time next year he may be the man in posession at RB). I like the idea of either Gueye or Bily cutting in from the right using their technique (a la Pienaar) leaving Nev to go around the outside and utilise his decent crossing ability. Saha is still the main man up front, with Yak proven back up and the big question whether or not Beckford can deliver his pre-season form into the PL.

 

[RFUS]

Well I posted what I think we'll see, here's what I'd like to see (assuming everyone stays; both fit and at the club.):


-----------------Howard-----------------
Coleman - Jagielka - Heitinga - Baines
Anichebe - Arteta - Fellaini - Pienaar
--------------Bilyaletdinov---------------
------------------Saha-------------------


Bench: Mucha, Distin, Neville, Cahill, Rodwell, Beckford, Gueye.



1.) I'm still hoping we get Landon in. We don't have any proper RM/RW players, and he'd add another dimension to the team.
2.) I do prefer Hibbert to Neville as a RB - by quite a bit, but Neville is more versatile so he'd make a good utility sub.
3.) Wow. I was struggling to pick the bench. We've got such a big, and good, squad now.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

GK:Howard
RB:Coleman
LB:Baines
CB:Heitinga
CB:Jags
RWienaar
LW:Bily
CM:Felli
CM Arteta
FW:Cahill
ST:Saha

Subs: Gueye, Rodwell, Mucha,Neville, Hibbert, Beckford.

 

[pete]

Well I posted what I think we'll see, here's what I'd like to see (assuming everyone stays; both fit and at the club.):


-----------------Howard-----------------
Coleman - Jagielka - Heitinga - Baines
Anichebe - Arteta - Fellaini - Pienaar
--------------Bilyaletdinov---------------
------------------Saha-------------------


Bench: Mucha, Distin, Neville, Cahill, Osman, Beckford, Gueye.



1.) I'm still hoping we get Landon in. We don't have any proper RM/RW players, and he'd add another dimension to the team.
2.) I do prefer Hibbert to Neville as a RB - by quite a bit, but Neville is more versatile so he'd make a good utility sub.
3.) Wow. I was struggling to pick the bench. We've got such a big, and good, squad now.

So no Rodwell for you, mate? or just forgott about him?