Moving Forward

[micknick]

We need to take a hard look at the team and what is required to take the next step. We have done well this year and Im confident we will finish 5th on the back of a carling cup semi and a decent run in Europe. But....

There is a reason we dont take points off the big boys very often and that is because we dont have the right set up from the midfield. You will very rarely see one of the top four playing 4-5-1 you may say what about Chelsea but in reality they are more like a 4-3-3 because they have the right midfielders in the centre of the park.

For us to compete we need to change the midfield and maybe for the better of the team sacrifice some of our Goodison favourites. I believe we have to be ruthless and cut some of the players that we have held in high regard for so long.

Carsley- The guy has had a good season but at the end of the day we are never going to break into the top four or beyond with someone who hasnt got the fitness or passing ability of a younger player.

Osman- I like ossie I really do but what is his best position?! Behind the front man- in the middle?! For us to go forward I dont think we can have him in our starting 11. He is lightweight and gets found out when we play the top sides.

Neville (in Midfield) It just doesnt work does it?! I think hes a decent enough right back but just not what we need in midfield. I think Hibbert offers good tackling ability but not much else. I would play Neville at Right back but no where else.

Now I might get shot for this and im even suprised Im saying it but what about Cahill?! We build our system around the guy and when hes on form and we play 4-5-1 the team plays well and it flows but when hes injured or off form we suffer. The fact that he is getting more and more injuries is worrying and we need to cover all areas.

I think the answer lies in what alot of us have been saying- we need to invest in the midfield and without a shadow of a doubt should sign a 'complete' central midfielder. I probably dont know enough about World Football to suggest anyone that hasnt already been mentioned.

The criteria is simple but all too rare- Strong on the ball, range of passing, good in the air and strong in the tackle. Someone who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck and drive the team on. Who this is I dont know but we need to look for someone in the summer.

I think the defence and attack is sorted but i believe heavy investment is needed for us to enable the team to play 4-4-2 and take the challenge to the top four without this I seriously believe teams like Villa, Spurs and even Pompey could see us off next year.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Osman- I like ossie I really do but what is his best position?! Behind the front man- in the middle?! For us to go forward I dont think we can have him in our starting 11. He is lightweight and gets found out when we play the top sides.

Like Cahill, hes a much better suited to a 5 man midfield.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

To be pedantic but the formation of choice for Man Utd and Liverpool is 4-2-3-1

United often play with Hargreaves/Scholes/Carrick/Anderson as the holding two, with Rooney up top on his own and the likes of Giggs, Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson in support.

Liverpool played the same formation yesterday and Arsenal often go in with just Adebayor up top on his own.

The one thing that epitmomises the very top teams is their movement. It's rare that you can pin down any player to a particular position as they're always on the move. That's the difference in my opinion. The likes of Carsley and Neville simply aren't comfortable enough on the ball. Osman I'm not sure about against the very best but he's definately worth keeping around.

So, lets say we have a top three of Arteta, Pienaar and Cahill that's not bad at all. The back two however often are Carsley and Neville, which isn't good, especially when we have the ball. If we can embed Fernandes into those two then that will help as he can be the go to player whenever the ball is at the back.

If you look at Milan they have Gattusso and Pirlo in that back two. One the tackler, one the schemer. We're not badly off for tacklers but desperately need a deep schemer that can keep the ball and set off attacks from deep.

 

[bly]

its a poisoned chalice this 'next step' we all want us to take, and it should take a patient look at what needs to be done, and what has happended before for us to take stock and get some perspective.

Necastle and Leeds have been the most successful at qualifying for the CL apart from the normal teams in the distant past, and look at them now.

Spurs were apparently well placed to have a go, and they threw money at it, and ended up losing the manager.

With expectations comes problems, and for us to become successful i believe we cannot put too much pressure on 'taking the next step' as it will cloud our judgement.

I firmly believe we will do well to secure Europe again next year. We are moving in the right direction, we will hopefully secure another couple of 1st teamers rather than squad players over the summer, and it will be an entertaining ride to see what it means for us next season.

I would avoid all feelings of failure if it were not to pan out how we would like it to.

NB. This is a post of positive caution rather than negativity

 

[atrottel]

Certainly "defensive midfielder with some creativity" is an area where DM appears to have identified a need going back over some seasons. There were failed attempts to buy Sean Davis and Scott Parker, we've had or are having the periods with Jagielka, Neville and Fernandes, and Rodwell and Gosling are young players with potential in that spot who have been moved into squad contention.

You could argue that our corps of backline troupers is sorted - although some might take issue with the Hibbert/Neville right back area, and I wouldn't be too sure about our backup GK despite the efforts that we have made over the years in that area. As far as forwards go, we have a (currently admittedly injured) good basis of four differing players suitable for the first team or bench, with maybe some young ones challenging in future seasons. It would be nice to have a Totti or a Toni, but then you are going to have to make hard decisions about the youngsters or AJ because they are not going to be happy long-term when they don't even get on the bench (like Faddy).

So our needs appear to be focused on midfield. I would add attacking midfield to defensive midfield because, although we have a nice unit of Cahill, Pienaar, Arteta and Osman when they are fit and on form, if one or more of them are missing or out of form, it forces us into playing one way or another. Somebody who is currently unhappy at being permanently on the bench at a big club (yes, you, Lukas Podolski) might be an option?

 

[micknick]

To be pedantic but the formation of choice for Man Utd and Liverpool is 4-2-3-1

United often play with Hargreaves/Scholes/Carrick/Anderson as the holding two, with Rooney up top on his own and the likes of Giggs, Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson in support.

Liverpool played the same formation yesterday and Arsenal often go in with just Adebayor up top on his own.

To be pedantic back is 4-2-3-1 the same as our 4-5-1?

Our system of 4-5-1 only cuts the mustard when Cahill is in the side- that is a fact. So what happens when TC is out of the side?! Well what normally happens against the top sides is that we struggle.

I think a 4-4-2 with AJ and Yak being supported in midfield by Arteta-Pienaar a creative midfielder who enjoys a tackle and a more defensively minded midfielder would be a frightening prospect for teams.

Like I say who those two are I dont know- I would love Cahill to be one of them but i think for the good of the team and for us to kick on- it needs to be new faces Im afraid.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think a lot of the time it is 4-2-3-1. Neville and Carsley often play the holding roles with Arteta/Cahill/Pienaar/Osman making up the attacking three.

I think that the key really is to have intelligent footballers that can adopt to various positions and formations. United for instance sometimes go with Saha or Tevez up alongside Rooney, just as we sometimes go with AJ/Vic/Vaughan and it undoubtably works against certain teams.

What the 4-5-1 does offer however is flexibility, especially against the best teams. The really top teams often play very quickly on the counter attack so having two holding midfielders offers protection to the defence, especially if the full backs push on. It also protects things in arguably the most important area, the hole behind the striker/s.

And lets face it, the formation has been our most successful. What we lack I think to really cross that gap is in the full backs and in the holding midfield role. Hibbo is well known in his attacking frailties and Lescott can be hit and miss, generally using his physical abilities more than any technical ability. Baines could solve the left flank, I don't know whether Gosling could feasibly solve the right one or not. If you can have two full backs adept at attacking it does create lots of opportunities for the side.

The holding role is covered pretty much by my earlier post. It does seem however that teams are moving from 4-4-2 to variants of 4-5-1. Man Utd for instance always used to play with two holding midfielders in the middle (Keane/Ince/Robson/Butt...) and two flyers on the wing but I think with the more European approach to the game they've migrated to a five with attacks coming largely down the flanks via the full backs.

Of course the other thing we really lack over the sides above us is strength in depth. We're improving quite a bit over what has been before but if a key player is missing we don't have like for like replacements to enable us to compete against the very best.

 

[micknick]

My point is Bruce there is no plan B. Without Cahill in the side the 4-5-1 really struggles. I agree that it is flexible when TC is in the side but when we play with either ossie or a.n.other behind the lone striker it doesnt have the same effect.

I have loved watching us play this year- at times we have been superb. My question is what is needed for us to get amongst the top four again next year?

I like the idea of the 4-2-3-1 but I dont think we have the players at the moment to do it.

p.s. Fernandes definitely needs to start the next game as does Baines.

 

[zero]

p.s. Fernandes definitely needs to start the next game as does Baines.

I agree, those Orange boots must be [Poor language removed].

 

[TX Bill]

Micknick.

I agree with your post and I think that most Evertonians do (with the possible exception of the Cahill comment).

I think the standard thought process this year is that right back and attacking midfield need strengthening with defensive midfield to be addressed soon (and this is from a big Carsley supporter so no, I'm not having a go at Carsley as he's been invaluable to date.)

Big shocker here but I think Manny could do a job for us but where is the question. AM or DM? I certainly think he's got the skills to be more of an attacking threat from the DM position than Carsley but he hasn't shown me anything to think he'd be any better than Carsley from a defensive standpoint so no upgrade there. Could he play next to Carsley al la Neville?

I thought Glen Johnson had a really good match against us with Portsmouth and a lot of their attacks came through him on the right out of his right back position. It made me wonder if he'd be a good fit for us there.

Again, a good post Micknick and certainly those are things that Moyes is thinking about.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

My point is Bruce there is no plan B. Without Cahill in the side the 4-5-1 really struggles. I agree that it is flexible when TC is in the side but when we play with either ossie or a.n.other behind the lone striker it doesnt have the same effect.

I have loved watching us play this year- at times we have been superb. My question is what is needed for us to get amongst the top four again next year?

I like the idea of the 4-2-3-1 but I dont think we have the players at the moment to do it.

p.s. Fernandes definitely needs to start the next game as does Baines.

Yes, it harks back to our lack of depth again. We seem to be adding a couple of first teamers a season so whether that attacking midfielder will be one of them or not I don't know.

 

[TX Bill]

A quick update on potential target Michael Bradley.

He seems to keep finding the back of the net.

http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2008/mar30

 

[zero]

A quick update on potential target Michael Bradley.

He seems to keep finding the back of the net.

http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2008/mar30

United States midfielder Michael Bradley didn't score and moderately hot Heerenveen played hard, but was brought down to earth in a 4-2 loss to visiting league power Ajax Amsterdam Saturday at Abe Lenstra Stadion.

 

[TX Bill]

United States midfielder Michael Bradley didn't score and moderately hot Heerenveen played hard, but was brought down to earth in a 4-2 loss to visiting league power Ajax Amsterdam Saturday at Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Did you read the entire article?

Bradley is Heerenveen's leading scorer with 15 goals in league action, 19 in all competitions.

 

[zero]

Did you read the entire article?

Bradley is Heerenveen's leading scorer with 15 goals in league action, 19 in all competitions.

yes I thought it was funny though you saying he can't stop scoring and in his latest match he hadn't scored.

15 Goals is some haul for a midfielder though I agree with you there.

Isn't he being touted as a Carsley replacement.? Where does he play if he's deep lying then 15 goals is a very good return indeed.