Junior

[Allezfan]

Of course they could - and would have been.

As others have pointed out we dominated that game. You claim the problem was shielding our defence:

- how would playing a 5' 4" Junior have helped with protecting our defence from the ariel bombardment up to Cisse, Ba and Ameobi?

- are you really suggesting that when we are under pressure in a vital match against one of our big rivals we should turn to an 18 year old (yes EIGHTEEN year old) CAM as the solution to our defensive problems?


Of course there is room for improvement - there is always room for improvement - but that doesn't mean that Junior and Barkley are the solution at this time.

The role of a central midfielder in the formation we're playing, where the full backs bomb on and the two wingers drift inside to create an attacking four is to a) cover the gaps left behind when we push up, b ) slow down their attacks by getting in the way and c) recycle posession and only d) push up to join the attack. Osman and Neville aren't mobile enough to do the running for 90 minutes that requires. Newcastle and Swansea both walked through them like they weren't there at times.

And, more importantly, they both lost posession cheaply, which is the one thing you can't do in that position. The number of times Howard tried to play from the back and then we gave it away when it came to those two was too many. Newcastle's first goal was when osman was caught on the ball and swansea's best spell was when neville kept passing the ball to no-one.

Players in there who can run around for 90 minutes and always find a team mate when under pressure (like Gibson for example) would make a huge difference. That's why I think Junior would help protect our defence. Newcastle can't bombard us if they don't have the ball.

Also the problem is we don't have two Fellaini's. Ideally we'd be able to play him both in the Osman role, cleaning up and passing forward in front of a deep lying midfielder and in the AM role but obviously we can't. So we have to sacrifice him in one of those roles. And the question is will the drop off quality from him to osman in CM or him to Naimsith/Barkely in AM be more drastic and so cost us the most? I'm on the fence on that one. But it's another reason why I think Barkley and Junior should be looking at that gibsonless midfield and going 'I can get a game here'.

 

[blueblue]

AF.
I don't see how anybody can suggest that Barkley or Junior should have been picked in the Everton team ahead of Neville or Osman this season.
If it wasn't for two mistkes by a linesman we would be second in the table behind Chelsea at the moment and both Neville and Osman have played their parts in every game.
Junior ,we simply don't know if he is a premiership footballer at all yet and that is why his appearance tonight in a good competitive tie is so interesting for all of us.Hopefully it will show that we have a player that can genuinely be called a first team player but as yet I don't think any serious supporter would pick him in their team ahead of experienced professionals with no record of performances behind him.

Barkely,we all think will be a star,but not just yet.The games and experience at Sheffield Wednesday are exactly what he needs right now.His performances at Wednesday look to be building momentum and I think we will see his loan deal extended month by month to Christmas at least,injuries and suspensions allowing.However I have not seen anything so far which tells me he should be in the Everton first team at present.

The premiership is not like a Sunday League pub competition when an old man of 38 needs to stand aside and let the eighteen year old youngster get a game.In the premiership if the 38 year old gets you the result...he plays.look at Utd last Sunday with both Giggs and Scholes playing,I didn't hear too many complaining that they should be benched to allow some youngster get a game.

Personally,I prefer to see a home grown youngster in the team even before a big money signing and if they are local lads,even better.But I think it's knowing the right time to play them and David Moyes sees them every day.

 

[Allezfan]

We're a good team but a good team doesn't always mean every single one of the eleven are on top form. It means enough of those eleven are to carry those who aren't.

And as for Utd, frankly Giggs should have been benched, he's been awful this season and was a main reason why Liverpool dominated that midfield to the extent they did.

In terms of squad players, we've seen a decent amount of Vic, Coleman and Gueye while Vellios, Garbutt and Duffy are unfortunate to be in positions where we have plenty of quality ahead of them.

The only two youth players who I would expect to break through this year are Junior and Barkley because that's the area in the team where we're weakest. I don't think that's controversial.

 

[riddick]

AF.
I don't see how anybody can suggest that Barkley or Junior should have been picked in the Everton team ahead of Neville or Osman this season.
If it wasn't for two mistkes by a linesman we would be second in the table behind Chelsea at the moment and both Neville and Osman have played their parts in every game.

the team is where they are in spite of osman and neville(especially neville). Putting those two in midfield is just an abomination.


cant wait to see what junior looks like, hope he does a job.

 

[Coach]

And, more importantly, they both lost posession cheaply, which is the one thing you can't do in that position. The number of times Howard tried to play from the back and then we gave it away when it came to those two was too many.

Just not true.

Passing accuracy in the Newcastle game

1. Osman 90%
2. Peinaar 86%
3. Hibbert 86%
4 Distin 84%
5. Neville 83%

 

[Allezfan]

Just not true.

Passing accuracy in the Newcastle game

1. Osman 90%
2. Peinaar 86%
3. Neville 83%

Did or did not Newcastle score because Osman lost posession cheaply?

 

[Coach]

LOL one mistake on the ball does not deserve the characterisation you are giving him. Anyone can make a mistake. The fact is he keeps possession better than anyone on the team - the exact opposite of what you are trying to say.

Put Junior or Barkley in because he makes one mistake? Do me a favour.

 

[Bainaar]

Everyone knows DAVIDMOYES has been changified

 

[tim cahill]

Did or did not Newcastle score because Osman lost posession cheaply?

They did, and yes he made a mistake, who doesn't?

I bet you Messi gave the ball away at some point in his last game, would that mean he shouldn't get in our side?

 

[Allezfan]

I bet you Messi gave the ball away at some point in his last game, would that mean he shouldn't get in our side?

It would depend on how well he played generally. If Osman or Neville were creative and scored goals than losing the ball ocasasionally is fine. It's when they're not doing any of it. They're not protecting our defence or starting our attacks. It's the one weak area in an other wise excellent team.

 

[Blue 1]

Good to hear this. Hope the lad does well.

 

[tim cahill]

It would depend on how well he played generally. If Osman or Neville were creative and scored goals than losing the ball ocasasionally is fine. It's when they're not doing any of it. They're not protecting our defence or starting our attacks. It's the one weak area in an other wise excellent team.

No it wouldn't!

Osman and Neville are doing a decent job, otherwise we wouldn't be dominating play against everyone we're up against.

 

[bflefc]

It would depend on how well he played generally. If Osman or Neville were creative and scored goals than losing the ball ocasasionally is fine. It's when they're not doing any of it. They're not protecting our defence or starting our attacks. It's the one weak area in an other wise excellent team.

This with bells on.

They are clearly the weak links, and in a crucial area of the field. We've got away with it so far in many respects, although West Brom away we got found out as Neville was hopelessly ineffective to combat their midfield.

Against Swansea, it was only Howard who kept us with a clean sheet - if Swansea had scored just on the stroke of half-time, it might have been a different outcome in the 2nd half.

If we were to play Neville/Osman in the centre of the park against one of the top sides, I fear our potency eslewhere will be countered by the inefficiencies of those two. We've got better options.

 

[Coach]

It would depend on how well he played generally. If Osman or Neville were creative and scored goals than losing the ball ocasasionally is fine. It's when they're not doing any of it. They're not protecting our defence or starting our attacks. It's the one weak area in an other wise excellent team.

Wrong again

Osman made more forward passess (40%) than any other midfielder against Newcastle.

 

[Allezfan]

No it wouldn't!

Yes it bloody would. If Messi didn't score or create any goals than him losing the ball would be problem, he scores and creates hundreds so it's not. The reason why Neville gets picked on for misplacing simple passes is because that's all he gives us. If he misplaced a simple pass and then went onto score a fifty yard thunderbolt with his next touch it wouldn't be a problem but when his sole role is to play the simple pass and he doesn't, that's problematic.