Players Not Playing

[JAYTALITY]

Over the last few years Everton relatively had a great first eleven. It's just you always felt an injury or two coupled with Moyes negativity could cost us points and it did. This year is different. Our last three games may define our season. It has been a period for players not playing.

Before the stoke game Baines was injured, perhaps one of our best players, especially for assists. Oviedo steps in scores one and assists Lukaku. Also Deulofeu got a rare start and scored with a man of the match performance. Baines rest that foot lad, we have it covered.

Then move to United on Wednesday; Ironically David Lies tried to take Baines and our replacement left back Oviedo Scores to beat his United that game had so many levels of irony, I wont get into it. Prior to that Deulofeu came on and gave United a big worry with his skillful runs, It's maybe the reason Oviedo was left so unmarked for the goal.

. .And you know where this is going with Oviedo assisting Deulofeu and Barkley who hardly played last year getting the man of the match. Now I know this post is tone heavy on two particular players but look at our bench. Osman, Barkley, Oviedo, Mirallas, Deulofeu have spent good time being swapped around on the bench. Last year if the seemingly best player was fit he started. With this team it's unpredictable. We have options and that is the difference . . . . . . . .AS I WRITE THIS JUST NOW I HEAR GERRARD IS INJURED FOR SIX WEEKS HOW IRONIC IS THAT- 'PLAYERS NOT PLAYING', LETS SEE HOW THEY REPLACE HIM!

So on that note, I believe it's our players that don't play that could define a possible champions league finish.

 

[Timak]

We do have a lot more attacking options than normal this season, however I'd still be worried if we lost Lukaku. We really don't have a decent backup. Without him I think we'd end up going for the "false 9" thing beloved by all footballing hipsters

Must disagree on the idea we struggled badly when missing our best players under Moyes - we came 5th and reached the FA cup final in a season where we had no strikers fit and lost Jagielka and Arteta long term. If there was one things Moyes was really good at it it was coping with adversity and finding a way to pick up points when options were limited.

 

[davidloach]

We do have a lot more attacking options than normal this season, however I'd still be worried if we lost Lukaku. We really don't have a decent backup. Without him I think we'd end up going for the "false 9" thing beloved by all footballing hipsters

Must disagree on the idea we struggled badly when missing our best players under Moyes - we came 5th and reached the FA cup final in a season where we had no strikers fit and lost Jagielka and Arteta long term. If there was one things Moyes was really good at it it was coping with adversity and finding a way to pick up points when options were limited.

If we did that, we'd probably have Deulofeu or Mirallas up top

 

[johnnydawg68]

Yes I would insist Moyes did better when he had no choices. When we had decisions to make about who to start, he got it wrong more than he got it right. Even though I was a Moyes supporter at the time, this is one thing I always criticized him for.

Moyes was a great "backs against the wall, the world is against us" manager. No so great with quality choices.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Over the Christmas and New Year period I think it's crucial that the likes of Osman, Naismith, Jelavic et al step up and do a good job, especially as we have an easier run of games until the end of the year.

It's worth remembering that whilst Lukaku has been banging the goals in, we don't have anyone else really stepping up. Deulofeau is next with 3 goals, and a range on 2.

If we can get another player into double figures by the end of the season that will be a real boost. The likes of Mirallas and Deulofeau have both got good scoring records for other sides.

 

[JAYTALITY]

Yeah I take your point. I may have been harsh but its just it felt a big blow when we lost a first team player under Moyes but now under Martinez, i'm getting the feeling we could handle it and still go out and be a handful instead of grinding out the points.

 

[barneygumble]

It's in the negative mindset Moyes had us in. It's not a pop at the fella, but the difference is, instead of having a manager grind out 1-0 wins and then afterwards have a good old grumble about how he needs funding or were frigged, we now have a manager who oozes positivity, and that rubs off on the fans, for example, how many were gutted to see BAINES go off? Then who was even more surprised to see us go 3-2 up, then see Bainsey's replacement actually be alright!

But slowly, the negative mindset which was started by Moyes (again not a dig, just his style), is wearing off, and the fans as a result certainly come across more passionately at the games, on this board, hope has turned into belief and we now know that a few injuries can cripple us, but we have depth... Deulofeu, Osman, Baines, Gibson, Alcaraz, Kone, Heitinga and Jelavić werent in the starting XI against Arsenal for one reason of another, so we have depth, it's a positive time to be a blue, and what a perfect icing on a good couple of weeks it'd be if we ended up about the shower just before Christmas, by getting a tricky 3pts against Fulham on Saturday!

 

[The Hibbert Agenda]

I love Naismith

 

[Khalekan]

Yes I would insist Moyes did better when he had no choices. When we had decisions to make about who to start, he got it wrong more than he got it right. Even though I was a Moyes supporter at the time, this is one thing I always criticized him for.

Moyes was a great "backs against the wall, the world is against us" manager. No so great with quality choices.

I agree with this.

I think that's why Moyes made so little use of his squad.

And now he has what we are told is a "quality squad" at OT he is making wholesale changes every game with ni discernable improvement or pattern of play.