kenada_blue
Welcome to Barcelonaton FC
Silly season is in full swing and people are livid with lack of in's and out's while Sunderland, the RS etc all plough the transfer highway.
Now, away from that aspect of next season, the big debate over the 2010-2011 season was not over the lack of transfer activity but the tactics and style of play David Moyes utlised throughout that campaign.
90% of games last season was as if every Saturday/Sunday was like groundhog day.
With an average of 55%+ possession for a large number of games, Everton were a team of great ability to keep the ball and make the opposition chase. But while this was a step in the right direction, the ball certainly never went that way.
Arteta began the start of the season with a shiny new contract and the team on his shoulders. Our creative outlet having made the central playmaker his role was coming on the back end of a great 2009-2010 season.
But as the games and draws passed by week in week out, it was noticable that the "keep things tidy and pass to the wings" style of play began to grate so much that a fair number began to nickname him "The crab". The team, for all their possession, only went one way...sideways.
This, unsurprisingly, leads to the talisman upfront for the first half of the season in Tim Cahill. Smashing in goals with his bonce from Baines' beautiful boot on the left, he was picking up the slack from a Louis Saha (who didnt score in open play after 11 months), a out of favour Yakubu, and the new-boy out of his depth in Jermaine Beckford.
But for all his grabbing the team by the scruff of the neck gameplay...as the games ticked by, if he wasnt in the box and sticking it in the net, he wasnt offering the that link up between attack and midfield which led to the great Evertonain pub debate - "Is Cahill a support striker or Attacking Midfidler?".
This had a knock on effect that had players, manager, and fans pointing the blame at each other as to who was at fault. Saha...for not being able to buy a goal. Beckford for being too raw and needing time having been thrown in at the deep end due to injuries. Yakubu, who out of the 3 was probably the one in form and able to cause damage, being the fall guy for Cahill creating that link between midfield and attack, was too lazy.
But alas...for reasons unknown the Yak was dropped having looked back to his best. So then the manager began to blame everyone of the players for not banging the ball into the onion bag when given the chance. In fact, the entire team couldnt score in a whorehouse.
As this was taking place...the biggest surprise for all the possession and bluntness in front of goal, it was what happened when we lost the ball. Everton would dominate teams for 20 minutes, being camped in the opponents half for large spells without ever shooting on target. But then when the team lost the ball, 9 times out of 10 the opposition would run up the other end of the field and score in the simplest of counter attacks, putting us on the back foot.
That, all in all, was the summary of Everton's and David Moyes' tactics for almost half a season. He was probably waiting for it to all click...or at least that's all I could think of at the time because, as mentioned, it was like groundhog day week in week out. Or it could be down to limitations tactically...that debate is for another day.
January comes around...Cahill, Yakubu and Pienaar all leave...Everton begins to change tact.
Arteta is pushed to the left. Leon Osman plays off the striker/central midfield. Saha begins to score. The crab mentality is lifted, Arteta is bombing at fullbacks and bossing teams again.
Leon Osman for 3 months began to look like Inesta and carrying the entire team on his little shoulders, creating and scoring big goals in big games. He was in the form of his life. The link from the two holding players gave Osman freedom to do what he can and it showed fans that the "squad player" from the academy can be a very important player when played in the right position.
Young players like Gueye and Vellios were getting game time when earlier in the season were nowhere to been seen. Did they look good? They didnt look poor put it that way...they looked more than capable.
Then that leads to the strikers. Beckford began to settle and while missing 5 chances a game, was actually slotting home. His movement for a player from the lower leagues looked top. Then there's Saha...who after 11 months of not scoring slotted home against Spurs and opened the flood gates where he notched up 9 in total before being sliced by injury.
But a big missed opportunity was being able to see Beckford and Saha play together. They did...twice I believe out 40+ games over the entire campaign. Whether this was down to injuries/players available/tactics/"favoritism" who knows? But when it happened...it looked good. It looked dangerous.
NOW....Season 2011-2012
What did we learn? It was always said the squad we have is very good and able to compete. I think we learned that it was never used to its full potential.
We played nice football without the cutting edge.
We played too open without the cutting edge and were punished on counters.
Where do Cahill and Arteta fit? Do they fit at all?
The link between midfield and attack lacked any player that opened doors.
Too reliant on wing play?
Did David Moyes take enough risks? Could he have played 4-4-2 with 2 out and out strikers earlier without having to wait till January?
Will the young players bring something to the table?
Just a few questions leading into next season - a big one IMO being the Cahill effect.
So while we all sup the bleach waiting for who's going to pay for that Manny Fernanades/Moutinho-type again, the first thing that needs to be looked at is the team as it is and what happen last season. Big areas need addressing and new blood coming in isnt going to change that overnight.
Discuss.
Now, away from that aspect of next season, the big debate over the 2010-2011 season was not over the lack of transfer activity but the tactics and style of play David Moyes utlised throughout that campaign.
90% of games last season was as if every Saturday/Sunday was like groundhog day.
With an average of 55%+ possession for a large number of games, Everton were a team of great ability to keep the ball and make the opposition chase. But while this was a step in the right direction, the ball certainly never went that way.
Arteta began the start of the season with a shiny new contract and the team on his shoulders. Our creative outlet having made the central playmaker his role was coming on the back end of a great 2009-2010 season.
But as the games and draws passed by week in week out, it was noticable that the "keep things tidy and pass to the wings" style of play began to grate so much that a fair number began to nickname him "The crab". The team, for all their possession, only went one way...sideways.
This, unsurprisingly, leads to the talisman upfront for the first half of the season in Tim Cahill. Smashing in goals with his bonce from Baines' beautiful boot on the left, he was picking up the slack from a Louis Saha (who didnt score in open play after 11 months), a out of favour Yakubu, and the new-boy out of his depth in Jermaine Beckford.
But for all his grabbing the team by the scruff of the neck gameplay...as the games ticked by, if he wasnt in the box and sticking it in the net, he wasnt offering the that link up between attack and midfield which led to the great Evertonain pub debate - "Is Cahill a support striker or Attacking Midfidler?".
This had a knock on effect that had players, manager, and fans pointing the blame at each other as to who was at fault. Saha...for not being able to buy a goal. Beckford for being too raw and needing time having been thrown in at the deep end due to injuries. Yakubu, who out of the 3 was probably the one in form and able to cause damage, being the fall guy for Cahill creating that link between midfield and attack, was too lazy.
But alas...for reasons unknown the Yak was dropped having looked back to his best. So then the manager began to blame everyone of the players for not banging the ball into the onion bag when given the chance. In fact, the entire team couldnt score in a whorehouse.
As this was taking place...the biggest surprise for all the possession and bluntness in front of goal, it was what happened when we lost the ball. Everton would dominate teams for 20 minutes, being camped in the opponents half for large spells without ever shooting on target. But then when the team lost the ball, 9 times out of 10 the opposition would run up the other end of the field and score in the simplest of counter attacks, putting us on the back foot.
That, all in all, was the summary of Everton's and David Moyes' tactics for almost half a season. He was probably waiting for it to all click...or at least that's all I could think of at the time because, as mentioned, it was like groundhog day week in week out. Or it could be down to limitations tactically...that debate is for another day.
January comes around...Cahill, Yakubu and Pienaar all leave...Everton begins to change tact.
Arteta is pushed to the left. Leon Osman plays off the striker/central midfield. Saha begins to score. The crab mentality is lifted, Arteta is bombing at fullbacks and bossing teams again.
Leon Osman for 3 months began to look like Inesta and carrying the entire team on his little shoulders, creating and scoring big goals in big games. He was in the form of his life. The link from the two holding players gave Osman freedom to do what he can and it showed fans that the "squad player" from the academy can be a very important player when played in the right position.
Young players like Gueye and Vellios were getting game time when earlier in the season were nowhere to been seen. Did they look good? They didnt look poor put it that way...they looked more than capable.
Then that leads to the strikers. Beckford began to settle and while missing 5 chances a game, was actually slotting home. His movement for a player from the lower leagues looked top. Then there's Saha...who after 11 months of not scoring slotted home against Spurs and opened the flood gates where he notched up 9 in total before being sliced by injury.
But a big missed opportunity was being able to see Beckford and Saha play together. They did...twice I believe out 40+ games over the entire campaign. Whether this was down to injuries/players available/tactics/"favoritism" who knows? But when it happened...it looked good. It looked dangerous.
NOW....Season 2011-2012
What did we learn? It was always said the squad we have is very good and able to compete. I think we learned that it was never used to its full potential.
We played nice football without the cutting edge.
We played too open without the cutting edge and were punished on counters.
Where do Cahill and Arteta fit? Do they fit at all?
The link between midfield and attack lacked any player that opened doors.
Too reliant on wing play?
Did David Moyes take enough risks? Could he have played 4-4-2 with 2 out and out strikers earlier without having to wait till January?
Will the young players bring something to the table?
Just a few questions leading into next season - a big one IMO being the Cahill effect.
So while we all sup the bleach waiting for who's going to pay for that Manny Fernanades/Moutinho-type again, the first thing that needs to be looked at is the team as it is and what happen last season. Big areas need addressing and new blood coming in isnt going to change that overnight.
Discuss.
