Gary O'neil

[kenada_blue]

We are a hell of a lot better with him in the middle, that's all that matters to be honest. There's a reason why we did better against the top four last season, Arteta getting on the ball and taking responsibility.

Having him outwide is a massive waste, we may aswell sell him if that's going to be the way forward. We'd just end up having a centre midfield bereft of creativity and two wide players who have to come very deep to see the ball.

A horrible idea, I’m confident Moyes wouldn’t do it unless we where really down to the bare bones. And when I say bare bones I mean Pienaar, Gosling, Osman etc all injured and only central players available.

No ones saying its better, mate. I'd much prefer him in the middle.

But depending on the way the transfer pan out, teams steaming down our right because of the Ossie/Gosling/Hibbo partnership, it would be cleared up by putting Arteta there.

tis a thought.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Dont know mate, i wouldnt be speaking in definites - if it was a choice between being solid or creative im not sure Moyes would plumb for the latter.

Dont think its anyones plan A, but Everton rarely have that luxary.

Whatever mate, I know you'd love to accommodate your man and Cahill in the same team.

And Arteta's offers solidity and creativity - he's our best central midfielder. Or are we going to make up this myth that he's a foreign dandy who can't hack the physical side of the game, is a luxury player and offers nothing defensively.

Lets be honest, he's far better defensively than both Cahill and Fellaini, he's a different class of midfielder all round really.

As a backup wide player when we've got injuries, fair enough, I can accept that. As a first choice wide player with Neville/Rodwell, Cahill and Fellaini in midfield, no chance. It's an awful idea.

 

[Goat]

Whatever mate, I know you'd love to accommodate your man and Cahill in the same team.

And Arteta's offers solidity and creativity - he's our best central midfielder. Or are we going to make up this myth that he's a foreign dandy who can't hack the physical side of the game, is a luxury player and offers nothing defensively.

Lets be honest, he's far better defensively than both Cahill and Fellaini, he's a different class of midfielder all round really.

As a backup wide player when we've got injuries, fair enough, I can accept that. As a first choice wide player with Neville/Rodwell, Cahill and Fellaini in midfield, no chance. It's an awful idea.

I agree with this boy.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

No ones saying its better, mate. I'd much prefer him in the middle.

But depending on the way the transfer pan out, teams steaming down our right because of the Ossie/Gosling/Hibbo partnership, it would be cleared up by putting Arteta there.

tis a thought.

I'd rather have the inconsistent Osman outwide and a quality centre midfield than a centre midfield bereft of passing ability and creativity and a wide player who whilst talented struggles to get into games.

Tis a thought, think about it.

 

[Neiler]

Whatever mate, I know you'd love to accommodate your man and Cahill in the same team.

And Arteta's offers solidity and creativity - he's our best central midfielder. Or are we going to make up this myth that he's a foreign dandy who can't hack the physical side of the game, is a luxury player and offers nothing defensively.

Lets be honest, he's far better defensively than both Cahill and Fellaini, he's a different class of midfielder all round really.

As a backup wide player when we've got injuries, fair enough, I can accept that. As a first choice wide player with Neville/Rodwell, Cahill and Fellaini in midfield, no chance. It's an awful idea.

Ha ha my man? We havn't even signed Barton or Trochowski yet.

Hes different quality mate, your arguing with yourself, its far from anyones plan A like weve said in every post. We're debating possibilities and as the squad stands its an option - the manager may consider.

Just because you dont want something to happen doesnt mean it wont!

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Ha ha my man? We havn't even signed Barton or Trochowski yet.

Hes different quality mate, your arguing with yourself! We're debating possibilities and as the squad stands its an option.

Just because you dont want something to happen doesnt mean it wont!

It won't, I know it won't. I've already talked to Moyesy about it and thankfully he agrees with me on this one.

That's why he did it last season and that's why he even did it when Osman was injured against Boro, he tried an untested kid outwide in Gosling just so he could keep the Mikel beast in the middle.

 

[Neiler]

It won't, I know it won't. I've already talked to Moyesy about it and thankfully he agrees with me on this one.

That's why he did it last season and that's why he even did it when Osman was injured against Boro, he tried an untested kid outwide in Gosling just so he could keep the Mikel beast in the middle.

Lets hope so mate, like i said if its a choice between solidity all round at the expense of creativity im not sure Moyes would go with the latter.

Youd wonder whats on his mind with his central Pienarr comments yesterday, wel see good to have options and all.

 

[Goat]

It won't, I know it won't. I've already talked to Moyesy about it and thankfully he agrees with me on this one.

That's why he did it last season and that's why he even did it when Osman was injured against Boro, he tried an untested kid outwide in Gosling just so he could keep the Mikel beast in the middle.

Erm mate.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Basically, I want Fellaini to play centre mid big time, don't tell anyone though. I just don't think flair and passing ability is the way forward in English football, sorry Mikel.

Fair enough mate.

 

[Neiler]

Fair enough mate.

 

[Neiler]

Fair enough mate.

Hes leaving next summer IMO!

Sad day!

 

[kenada_blue]

I'd rather have the inconsistent Osman outwide and a quality centre midfield than a centre midfield bereft of passing ability and creativity and a wide player who whilst talented struggles to get into games.

Tis a thought, think about it.

So would I.

But would that stop people hitting the right side, just like Chelsea did in the FA Cup final and what you'd assume teams will do from now on? Arteta only played like half a season in that central position, we also played a chunk of games without him, played big teams and did well. He's also played on the right for 2 seasons...and we also did alright...

Its not a horrible idea though. Just one you refuse to acknowledge (heheh). I wouldnt be kicking and screaming for Moyes's head with a midfield like -

Neville
Arteta Cahill Pienaar
Fellaini​

Wouldnt be the end of the world to be fair. I'm not asking for it, it just wouldnt be bad.​

 

[Brownie]

Mikel has to play in the middle for me. He's our best player, we want him involved as much as possible.

Also his middle name is middle.

 

[kenada_blue]

Fair enough. Let's not talk about puttng arteta any where else but the middle

 

[ToxtethBlue]

So would I.

But would that stop people hitting the right side, just like Chelsea did in the FA Cup final and what you'd assume teams will do from now on? Arteta only played like half a season in that central position, we also played a chunk of games without him, played big teams and did well. He's also played on the right for 2 seasons...and we also did alright...

Its not a horrible idea though. Just one you refuse to acknowledge (heheh). I wouldnt be kicking and screaming for Moyes's head with a midfield like -

Neville
Arteta Cahill Pienaar
Fellaini​

Wouldnt be the end of the world to be fair. I'm not asking for it, it just wouldnt be bad.​

Yes, I do think playing your best central midfielder outwide is a horrible idea. Your only ‘creative’ central midfielder gets pushed outwide for Tim Cahill, Phil Neville and Marouane Fellaini just so Tony Hibbert doesn’t get embarrassed by every wide player who has a bit of trickery about them and can cut inside.

If it’s like for like then fair enough, if we sign a Fernandes, a Moutinho or a Defour and move Arteta outwide then I’d accept it. There players who have Arteta’s strengths and can compliment Arteta as a wide player.

But this is Cahill, Neville and Fellaini where talking about? Half decent midfielders at best and none of them can do what Arteta can do. Unless your happy jack of all trades, master of none midfielders, fair enough. I’m not, if we want to get the best out of what we’ve got (limited resources) then having a player who can control a game is a must and that’s always been the case, all the best sides have a dictator, a conductor of the orchestra.

And who’s to say moving Arteta outwide would protect our right hand side? He’s good defensively in the middle but like Osman he suffers from being a central midfielder playing outwide. Naturally, he’s going to come inside and leave the fullback slightly exposed.

Arteta’s impact has continued to diminish outwide, almost to the point where he was unhappy there. He saw little of the ball, he had no one to link with and we didn’t have a central midfield that could get him the ball enough. Our play is very left sided (even when Arteta played on the right) so again we’d be wasting a very talented player.