Steven Pienaar

Status
Not open for further replies.

When we play a team who are sitting deep and trying to make us break them down, he's probably the most important of our attacking midfielders. he's the only one really capable of a little flick or something around the box to open it up

The goal Naismith scored against Villa is a great example

Baines is also more effective when Pienaar is on the pitch

He's useful in certain types of games, but for the most part he should be a squad player now as he does slow the pace of our attacks and he's getting on
 
toffeeblue9 said:
When we play a team who are sitting deep and trying to make us break them down, he's probably the most important of our attacking midfielders. he's the only one really capable of a little flick or something around the box to open it up

The goal Naismith scored against Villa is a great example

Baines is also more effective when Pienaar is on the pitch

He's useful in certain types of games, but for the most part he should be a squad player now as he does slow the pace of our attacks and he's getting on
Click to expand...

Good point, can't remember who it was but someone on here said we seem to lack creativity up front without either Osman or Pienaar in the squad. Many will take our last game as evidence to the contrary, but very few teams will attempt to keep a high line against us the way Arsenal did. Both Pienaar and Osman are able to pull the ball back and change direction (what a lot of you are referring to as "slowing down the attack") in way that doesn't allow the opposing defense to easily slide along with the attack.

Naismith is similarly effective at breaking teams down because he distributes the ball very quickly, but against a well-organized defense (which neither Fulham or Arsenal were) I think we typically need a little bit more. Mirallas and Deulofeu are capable of magic but that's not really something you can rely on.

I think Barkley could develop into that type of player, he's still learning and will improve at getting his head up to find teammates. McGeady also seems to be that type of deliberate unpredictable creative player, but his fitness still isn't quite there yet (presumably once it is, he'll be much better than Pienaar/Osman).
 
I think his best days are behind him, but with some form of Europe extremely likely, experienced veterans are good to have.
 

Call it a day on saying we are better without him, he does a great job for us, an is very underrated, Seems a tad fickle to just dismiss him. If you do dismiss him as a first teamer and praise Martinez then it is a contradiction in terms as Martinez picks him most weeks when fit.

So after the years of service he has given us, including this season, to say 'does it matter, when he returns' is pretty poor to be honest.

Still a great player to have
 
ianefc said:
Call it a day on saying we are better without him, he does a great job for us, an is very underrated, Seems a tad fickle to just dismiss him. If you do dismiss him as a first teamer and praise Martinez then it is a contradiction in terms as Martinez picks him most weeks when fit.

So after the years of service he has given us, including this season, to say 'does it matter, when he returns' is pretty poor to be honest.

Still a great player to have
Click to expand...

Fact is mate we are better without him in the starting 11, we are certainly more dangerous, he's been a good player for us, but as he's started aging and at the same time the team around him has improved, he has gone down the pecking order, in the end he doesn't score enough, doesn't provide enough goalscoring chances for others, any counter attack that goes through him slows instantly due to his pace being gone completely and his tendency to hold onto the ball for an age, what he does do well is recycle possession well and win free kicks as well as the interplay with Baines, overall though we as a team are better with him not starting ahead of Dele, McGeady or Mirrales

As for the years of service he's given us, yeah i remember that loyalty we should show was utterly missing from him when he had the chance to move to Tottenham, he gets paid a massive wedge for that service mate, we should not worry about, as for Martinez picking him, in large part the same can be applied to Osman, whilst we are still adapting to the possession based system their importance is higher than when the squads fully adapted as their arguably two of the best at recycling the ball around - neither with much end product though

For a squad player assuming he doesn't regress though he's fine same with Osman for another year or two of diminishing games and role in the team
 
Walken said:
Christ he's out injured, he's not dead, jags is out for our winning streak should we lash him as well, if osman can still get game time, then there is still a place for pienaar in the squad
Click to expand...

Think it's more about should a injured player just walk back into the squad mate which is always a hard choice to make, especially when the team hits a run of great form when their out. It's all about the players taking their opportunities who are behind the injured players on the depth chart i guess, atm the cb choice is not something I'd have thought we would have seen this year mate though, but how do you slot in Jags when fit ahead of either Stones or Distin if their great form continues, it's far easier for attacking players like as they face being rotated round a lot more
 
Still probably our most naturally creative players, and a joy to watch on his day.

But, this season certainly hasn't been his best. That of course could be down to age, or the comparative emergence of competition. I've no doubt he'll feature plenty in Europe for us next season, though.
 

bluestevon said:
Think it's more about should a injured player just walk back into the squad mate which is always a hard choice to make, especially when the team hits a run of great form when their out. It's all about the players taking their opportunities who are behind the injured players on the depth chart i guess, atm the cb choice is not something I'd have thought we would have seen this year mate though, but how do you slot in Jags when fit ahead of either Stones or Distin if their great form continues, it's far easier for attacking players like as they face being rotated round a lot more
Click to expand...
I wouldnt slot jags right back in either, you get injured its unlucky, someone else takes the chance you just have to wait your turn, as you say pienaar could be rotated back into the fold more easily
 
Walken said:
I wouldnt slot jags right back in either, you get injured its unlucky, someone else takes the chance you just have to wait your turn, as you say pienaar could be rotated back into the fold more easily
Click to expand...

Aye especially given the last time he was out injured he scored with his first touch off the bench, until he's back though it's a moot point, as thankfully Mirrales, McGeady and Dele all look very fresh and fired up atm
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome

Join Grand Old Team to get involved in the Everton discussion. Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.

Register

Shop

Back
Top