Pienaar in a pinch

[davek]

Moyes was asked about using Pienaar centrally after the West Brom game, he didn't seem keen on the idea. He said he does a good job for us outwide and it suited to that position.

If he's going to play wide left then I think it's a must that we get players who can play off him and link up. Someone who's on his wavelength so to speak. At the moment we have our two most creative players on opposite sides of the pitch and two defensive midfielders seperating them, the balance doesn't really work.

Hopefully we'll see Leon Osman or Tim Cahill moved into a more central position, I'm sure we'll get the best out of Pienaar then aswell as the players mentioned.

Rodwell + Neville is killing us. It only got better for half a game since Arteta's loss with Cahill dropping deep last Sunday. Fellaini I just cant get a handle on. I wouldn't like to hazard a guess what Moyes does long term with him. Short term he needs to be kept out of harms way and out of the centre of midfield and used almost as a second forward playing behind Saha or Jo (hopefully Saha). Moyes needs to have a big think at the season's end about what (or more precisely, who) is needed in an area of the pitch he's found a problem addressing since he took oiver seven years ago.

 

[toffeebhoy]

id be surprised if DM made a change like that so late into the season i think we going to have NEV/ ROD in there for the best part of whats left ....

maybe im wrong but i dont see PIENAAR in there as hes too light weight ( yes so is ossie but you will see him makin gettin stuck in more than pienaar) a move like is better done when we hav solidfied 6th place or during the summer to the team time to adjust playing that way

 

[BigBlueConk]

I think the issue is that there isn't another Arteta in the Premiership, let alone at Everton!

DM has just got to do the best he can with what he has left. It's not often pretty, but I will take winning ugly for now!

The only thing that really gets me annoyed is the dreadful passing game we keep slipping into and balls going 50 feet into the air and one foot forward...

If we move Pienaar, we just leave ourselves another problem as we do not have a player of similar qualities who can play left of that midfield.
Patching up as we go along.

 

[Dutch Toffee]

This season has been all about players slotting into unaccustomed roles. This was mentioned elsewhere on another Everton forum, but I wonder if Pienaar could sit there in the middle in Arteta's likely long absence and pull the strings for us? Just looking on Ajax forums and it seems Pienaar played a season or two with distinction there for the Dutch side (maybe Dutch Toffee could confirm?).

Sorry for my belated reaction to your post, but it's the first time I look at this thread. Was in England for the Newcastle vs Everton match at the time of posting. You're right he has played in central midfield for Ajax for a few seasons. Only at Ajax it was a very different system from the one DM likes to use. Much more attacking and adventrous at that time. He played at his best in a more advanced role though, just behind the striker. Think TB is right in his assesments (as often is the case) and we'd miss him on the left. Would prefer Osman there or maybe Cahill, with Fellaini pushed in the Cahill role.

 

[chicoazul]

Cahill is better suited. He's no Mikkel but is a decent replacement, when he was took off we fell apart a bit in the middle.

Pienaar played really well today and I would loathe to break up his little double act with Baines.

Neville played very well today

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Neville was superb, man of the match for ne.

Pienaar is great on the left anyway, doesn't really matter where he plays as he'll always be creative.

 

[Brownie]

Neville was superb, man of the match for ne.

Pienaar is great on the left anyway, doesn't really matter where he plays as he'll always be creative.

Wish he'd scored his chance, deserves a goal or two that kid. He went nuts after he missed it, started speaking in tongues.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Wish he'd scored his chance, deserves a goal or two that kid. He went nuts after he missed it, started speaking in tongues.

Pienaar never scores, it's not his thing.

 

[Robert Jarvis]

But he has tried and come close, look at the Boro game. For me still a great adition to our squad and for peanuts. Need to tell the Ruskis to get lost though.