The Squad

[Ihaters]

Take out Gibson mirallas pienaar and say jelavic/Fellaini being off form or not quite fit where does that leave us??

Take 4 top players out of any team except City and you get a poor team. We are certainly not alone in that dept.
Take Suarez, Gerrard and any other two out of the RS and you get relegation material,
Bale, Defoe, Adebeyour and again one else and its a poor team
RVP, Rooney, Kagawa and your choice of defender
Hazard, Mata, Torres, Terry and its poor
Let alone the teams that spend like we do.

 

[steken1]

Regarding the striking options, I think part of the issue is the formation we play. I'm NOT suggesting it's bad, or we should change it, but by playing just one out and out striker we have to deal with two consequences:

1) The number of top class centre-forwards who can play as a lone striker is limited;
2) The number of top class centre-forwards who would be willing to sit on the bench waiting for Jelavic to get injured or lose form is pretty much zero. For instance, there is talk of Sturridge wanting to leave Chelsea to get more opportunities to play; he is the type of signing I would love to see but would he get any such opportunity at Everton, as Jelavic's backup? I should imagine he would view it as unlikely, given that we play one up front and Jelavic is the starter. Conversely, IF someone like Sturridge came in, shone in training and won the starting role, that would mean Jelavic consigned to the bench. How long would our Croatian hitman be happy to accept that for? Anichebe has shown signs of progress this year which are encouraging enough to have caused many on here to offer him praise - he's also chipped in with his share of goals, considering his limited playing time.

The bench on Saturday is not a fair indication of the squad's strength because Anichebe and Gibson were injured and Pienaar was unfairly suspended: remember there is a maximum limit on squad size so there is only so much cover any team can have now anyway. Long term I think Mirallas will actually replace Pienaar on the left - he looks more threatening there than on the right IMHO - so I believe we still actually need to sign a right mid/wing type player (Donovan is only a short-term solution due to his age. I'd only loan him.) but I can't think of a suitable candidate. Equally, Naismith is simply Osman's long-term replacement.

We're getting into Champo realm now, but I'd like to see Manny Fernandes back. I haven't seen enough of Holtby or Ofoe to offer an opinion on them, but I'd keep an eye on them, and Southampton's Adam Lallana. Finally, remembering the "home-grown" quota that has to be met, we need to nurtutre our own youth. Nothing would make me happier than seeing Ross Barkley break into the first team over the next 18 months - gives us another option in the CAM role, allows Felli to drop back into centre mid in place of Neville. Obviously we need him to be approaching Felli's standard of play for this to happen though.

Both good points.

For me there's two reasons we will fall a bit short. Injuries and suspensions of one or two have already seen us dropping points against sides we should be beating. We went from a first 11 that you could say was top 4 quality to top 8-9 IMO.

The other is a lack of goals through the side. For me CB's need to be chipping a few more in than they usually do, Wingers in othger sides are capable of 5-10 a season, we don't have that. And the ACM's and CM's don't score enough either. Fellaini is doing well this season though.

 

[Royal Blue Jersey]

Both good points.

For me there's two reasons we will fall a bit short. Injuries and suspensions of one or two have already seen us dropping points against sides we should be beating. We went from a first 11 that you could say was top 4 quality to top 8-9 IMO.

The other is a lack of goals through the side. For me CB's need to be chipping a few more in than they usually do, Wingers in othger sides are capable of 5-10 a season, we don't have that. And the ACM's and CM's don't score enough either. Fellaini is doing well this season though.

You sure Pienaar and Mirallas won't make double figures this year? I can see one or both of them doing it. Think Ossie will get at least 5 or 6, too.

 

[toffeejack]

jags and heitinga don't play well together, our first team can beat anybody on it's day, but i think it's a tad behind top 4 standard

 

[toffeejack]

Both good points.

For me there's two reasons we will fall a bit short. Injuries and suspensions of one or two have already seen us dropping points against sides we should be beating. We went from a first 11 that you could say was top 4 quality to top 8-9 IMO.

The other is a lack of goals through the side. For me CB's need to be chipping a few more in than they usually do, Wingers in othger sides are capable of 5-10 a season, we don't have that. And the ACM's and CM's don't score enough either. Fellaini is doing well this season though.

we have a striker who slots loads though, spurs and arsenal for example don't have that so they rely on goals from midfield, heck even man city get most their goals from the strikers. The way we play is based on getting the ball in the box for the striker to finish, our midfield will contribute plenty of goals between them over the season though

 

[steken1]

You sure Pienaar and Mirallas won't make double figures this year? I can see one or both of them doing it. Think Ossie will get at least 5 or 6, too.

Mirallas might do it. He's shown enough to think he can. Pienaar deffo won't score anywhere near ten.

Ossie won't score 5-10 either unless he moves behind the striker IMO.

 

[steken1]

we have a striker who slots loads though, spurs and arsenal for example don't have that so they rely on goals from midfield, heck even man city get most their goals from the strikers. The way we play is based on getting the ball in the box for the striker to finish, our midfield will contribute plenty of goals between them over the season though

He's not slotting loads at the minute though TBF. Spurs have got two strikers well capable of 20 goals a season. Arsenal have got two lads in who are finding thier feet, but I reckon both will score plenty, they also get a lot of goals from the midfield and Vermaelen scores too.

If we wan't to get in the top four I reckon we will need to score about 75 goals. I can't see that many in our squad although I reckon Victor, Mirallas and Naismith might add a few more than we can normally expect.

 

[evertonian6]

jelavic - 15 goals
anichebe - 7/8 goals
mirallas - 7/8 goals
naismith - 6/7 goals
osman - 5/6 goals
gibson - 3/4 goals
pienaar - 5/6 goals
baines - 5/6 goals, free kicks pens.
jagielka - 2/3 goals
distin - 2/3 goals
coleman - at right back ... 2/3 goals?
hibbert - 35, golden boot winner.

 

[nigelcoyb]

Amusing the idea that there is any reality in us finishing top 4 but heyho people go on x factor believing passionately they have talent when clearly tone deaf so I guess anything goes.

The worry that Jelavic might flounder once fully infected by Finch Farm are rising, ditto Pienaar after his Spurs rejuvenation has worn is a concern. Moyes persisting with only 10 men each game (Neville, god bless his worn out legs) isn't a good idea and then there's a squad that includes Maguye and Mucha.

There's also the real possibility, in fact downright nailed on, that phrases like:

"we fell away so badly after xmas because we made such an unusually good start!"

will echo across the forums as we hang on to 8th.

 

[MartSlinger]

We've got goals all over the pitch, already been proven this season. Good being able not to rely on one player to score all the goals.

 

[steken1]

We've got goals all over the pitch, already been proven this season. Good being able not to rely on one player to score all the goals.

Sign of a very good team IMO. we're better than we've been in the past but I think we might fall a little bit short.

 

[PeterMeter]

I think you're all being serious, but I can't quite get my head around it. Isn't this the strongest squad we've had in some 20-30 years?!

Barring the one real goalkeeper, Tim Howard (both Taudul and Springthorpe could maybe go on, but they're years away).

Defenders we've finally got cover for Baines in Oviedo, and Garbutt still out on loan who's a regular feature for the U21.
Distin, Heitinga and Jags are all strong, and then we have Duffy who proved he can hack it.
At right back Coleman's finally proven he could be a viable option for Hibbo. There's also still Neville.

In midfield we've got a wealth of talent starting from the left with Pienaar, Oviedo, Gueye my pecking order.
In the center we badly need cover for Gibson and Osman. Neville is not good enough, but we have Fellaini as an alternative and Hitz if he stays on, which I don't think will happen if we sign someone else.
On the right side there's both of the new boys Mirallas and Naismith if we keep sticking Coleman at RB. Otherwise he's an alternative with Big Vic an extreme option.
In the supporting striker I think Fellaini is the first name on the sheet, he craves the freedom. All of Pienaar, Osman, Mirallas, Naismith and even Anichebe can do a job here.
Up top Jela is obvious, but when in bad form or tired there's Big Vic and Vellios. Do think McAleny deserves a run-out every once in a while as well.

Comparing to the current top 4 I'm sure we can hold our own against everyone. I can't see the disaster looming if we don't lose Jelavic, Vic, Fellaini and maybe Baines at the same time. I still feel we have decent enough players. You can hype the likes of Dempsey and Dembele at Spurs all you want but if they lose Defoe and Adebayor they're in all kinds of trouble, Defoe being the big one there.
United have had enormous troubles with most of their defense missing, and without a Vidic in top form I don't rate the return of Brown as anything noteworthy. They've got a triangle up top that's probably the best in the league at the moment with Rooney, van Persie and Chicharito.

Chelsea are on a great run currently, but I've got faith in our ability to contain their strikers and injuries to either or both of Mata and Hazard would surely mean a struggle even with Oscar and Sturridge.

Citteh have a wealth of players but come on, if Rodwell is thrown into the thick of it they're no better of then we are in their holding positions. In their attacking positions they won't suffer as much I'm sure.

Can't quite understand the negative vibe here.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

We lack what the top 4 have at their disposal - match winners on the bench. Our first XI can live with anyone, but the squad depth just isn't there, ultimately that's where we'll fall short imo.

We don't really even have match winners in the first 11 either.

And by that i mean players who can turn a stale 0-0 into a 1-0 for us with a bit of invidual magic like most top teams have.

Closest we probably have is Baines. Others can do on occasion but no one at the moment is really good enough to be deemed a "match winner" really i'd say.

We win as a team and lose as a team. Which is great but sometimes you need that little bit of magic from an individual.

Of course half the time that kind of player comes with baggage : see Drenthe, Royston.

 

[PeterMeter]

I'd expect either of Mirallas or Jelavic to be this kind of player. I can also say that in 5th, none of the sides above us can show the same graft and team work rate as our team does. Even with someone who looks a 15-20 goals a season striker willing to pull a shift there's nothing quite like it.
I'm more worried about the lapse in concentration in our back 4, we're really not looking tight. Hope it's just us missing Gibbo.

 

[- Bradders -]

We don't really even have match winners in the first 11 either.

And by that i mean players who can turn a stale 0-0 into a 1-0 for us with a bit of invidual magic like most top teams have.

Closest we probably have is Baines. Others can do on occasion but no one at the moment is really good enough to be deemed a "match winner" really i'd say.

We win as a team and lose as a team. Which is great but sometimes you need that little bit of magic from an individual.

Of course half the time that kind of player comes with baggage : see Drenthe, Royston.

Mirallas looked to me on Sunday like he could have been a match winner... before he was hacked down. He does seem to have some individual brilliance about him.