View from a Kopite

GrandOldTeam · October 3, 2008

When I look at the way Moyes is now he reminds me alot of Houllier in his last season:

Paying well over the odds for talent he's seen probably only over 1 or 2 matches (Diouf/Diao - Fellani), strange substitutions (in need of a goal in the 80th minute so bring Yobo on), a lack of creativity in the side reliant on long balls and somebody being underneath them (which there isn't for Everton).

Everton play 4-5-1, that's their formation.
It means that Arteta and Cahill don't have to worry about defending because there are 3 other players who will fill in for them.
So I have no idea why Moyes has gone out and after playing 4-5-1 for what must be 3 or 4 seasons now he decides that the best time to try a new formation would be in a big European match (by their standards) against a decent team.

It meant Cahill looked ordinary in the middle of the park as his tackling is about as effective as the Pope's viagra and the loose balls that Everton's poor style of play results in were picked up by Liege players and not the extra man in the middle of the park Everton usually have.

AND to top that off he's put Lescott in at centre half, where he hasn't played for a while, put Leighton Baines in, who is average at best, and started Tony Hibbert - who must be up for the award as one of the worst right backs in the league (fighting of course with Phil Neville).

That's 2 players who don't usually start in the back line starting, and one playing out of position. And they wonder why they conceed 2 a match.

And to top it all Phil Neville in the middle of the park - what a [Poor language removed] waste of space he is.

I really hope Moyes carries on his Mr. Magoo impression. There's only so many times he can blame the referee, transfer budgets (incidentally I wonder who has spent more Everton or Liege?), contract negotiations, the grass for being too green, the ball for being too round before the bluenoses eventually wake up and realise he's compiled a team of rejects, has beens, and injury prone crocks.

What it comes down to is that Moyes is trying anything he can at the minute to somehow stumble upon a formation, or a set of players, that can save him from the reality that he let players go without replacing them.
Lee Carsley left at the end of last season and priority number 1 should have been securing a good defensive midfielder - he hasn't done that and it's cost him big time. Combined with Neville not being good enough for the premier league, Tony Hibbert being finished and Jagielka being God awful he's got a group of players that are only going to get worse.

Happy [Poor language removed] days

Opinions?

Blue Ray · October 3, 2008

GrandOldTeam said:
Opinions?

Dont think we can argue with that.

Fletch · October 3, 2008

As much as it hurts its all very accurate. Slightly incorrect about letting two a game in due to Hibbert and Baines not usually playing. We were letting them in before that.

Sim · October 3, 2008

I'd have to disagree with a lot of that.

1. Yobo was brought on to push others up front, not so that Yobo could go up front. Tactical decision, maybe too late, but tactical neverthless.

2. 451 may be our formation to people who dont watch Everton and just listen to pundits but we've played a variety of formations, especially in europe, and when we do play 451 its a version of it and not a strict defensive 451. In fact if we played 451 last night Moyes would have been criticised for being naieve in europe!

3. Hibbert worst right back in the league? Take a look at a few other RB's and you'd have to change your mind. He's not great, but the lad can tackle.

4. Moyes blaming others? Doesnt every manager in the premiership? Especially Wenger, Ferguson and benitez??

5. Moyes trying evertying he can to stumble upon a formation that works? Wouldnt it be worse if we were playing bad and he did nothing??? Thats such a stupid point its unbeleivable.

What a load of crap that is.

Whitebootman · October 3, 2008

When I want a view from a kopite I ask my wife :unsure:

What's know as a mixed marrige.

ToxtethBlue · October 3, 2008

I can't fault Moyes yesterday to be honest, he set us out in a positive way and for once we kept the ball on the deck. Cahill and Neville was virtually the only partnership we could have went for, he obviously doesn't think Castillo is ready.

He went with Saha and Yakubu and brought an attacking left back in Baines, who isn't an average player at all to be honest. He went for it but the players couldn't break down Standard's very good defence.

Also, Jagielka and Lescott looked very comfortable alongside each other. I think that is our best partnership to be honest. For the first time in a long time we had a partnership that actually did well I thought.

Do I think Moyes has taken us as far as he can go? Yes, but no other manager on the funds we are on could take us any further. That's just the way it is to be honest, 5th is the best we can look for.

We need a change at board level, David Moyes despite his faults is still very capable.

bobbyrob · October 3, 2008

He,s right regarding neville i will give him that,but the difference between the red [Poor language removed] and the blues is if you spend millions upon millions for players like torres you expect goals to win games,like during the derby he could not get a foot in for most of the game and 2 loose balls bang there you go thats what he,s paid for and if they didn,t have gerrard they would be [Poor language removed].There the only 2 world class players they have and they were there top scores last season,Dirk kuyt the season before,and gerrard the season before that and [Poor language removed] me beattie matched him. cahill & yakubu matched the them as well over the last couple of seasons.its just a red [Poor language removed] sticking the knife in [Poor language removed] off and stay on your half (y)

Neiler · October 3, 2008

I actually think we played the wrong team at the wrong time last night the team is dreadfully balanced at the moment i hope Pienaar return will aid an improvement. Confidence is at an extreame low. It will be intresting to see the reaction to Moyes and also the team on Sun.

arminisgod · October 3, 2008

ToxtethBlue said:
I can't fault Moyes yesterday to be honest, he set us out in a positive way and for once we kept the ball on the deck. Cahill and Neville was virtually the only partnership we could have went for, he obviously doesn't think Castillo is ready.

He went with Saha and Yakubu and brought an attacking left back in Baines, who isn't an average player at all to be honest. He went for it but the players couldn't break down Standard's very good defence.

Also, Jagielka and Lescott looked very comfortable alongside each other. I think that is our best partnership to be honest. For the first time in a long time we had a partnership that actually did well I thought.

Do I think Moyes has taken us as far as he can go? Yes, but no other manager on the funds we are on could take us any further. That's just the way it is to be honest, 5th is the best we can look for.

We need a change at board level, David Moyes despite his faults is still very capable.

please mate, i know you like Moyes, but he was woeful yesterday. Tactically awful

Sharpys top lip · October 3, 2008

Kopites are gobshites..........simple really.

modfather · October 3, 2008

Have to say our shape does not look very good at all.

Wouldn't mind seeing a winger brought in and Pienaar pushed inside one when we go 4-5-1.

Like so.....................

......................Castillo...................
Arteta.......Cahill.........Pienaar...A.Winger

If Fellaini can improve his all round game, then fine keep Pienaar out wide.

kenada_blue · October 3, 2008

Who gives a [Poor language removed]. Maybe he's a bit miffed we scored 3 passed em and they could only scrape a 1-0 victory added by some dodgy reffing.

Sim · October 3, 2008

arminisgod said:
please mate, i know you like Moyes, but he was woeful yesterday. Tactically awful

Tactically awful? He has a limited squad and he used it to how he saw fit. We played a 442, kept the ball on the floor and played a patient build up play, exactly what was needed, unfortunately Liege only had to soak up our play so put every man behind the ball and counter attacked and they sneaked a goal.

We were beaten by the better team but you cant say it was tactically awful when we tried quite a few approaches, but its very difficult to break down a team that WANTS you to take the ball and attack them.

ToxtethBlue · October 3, 2008

arminisgod said:
please mate, i know you like Moyes, but he was woeful yesterday. Tactically awful

I critisise Moyes when I feel he deserves it. Anyone who's read my posts this week would see I'm not a fan of the football he plays and have had a go at him because of that.

But, yesterday I thought we set out in the right way, in a positive way. There was no hoofing and we kept possession. Sadly Standard had a game plan and our creative players struggled.

arminisgod · October 3, 2008

Sim said:
Tactically awful? He has a limited squad and he used it to how he saw fit. We played a 442, kept the ball on the floor and played a patient build up play, exactly what was needed, unfortunately Liege only had to soak up our play so put every man behind the ball and counter attacked and they sneaked a goal.

We were beaten by the better team but you cant say it was tactically awful when we tried quite a few approaches, but its very difficult to break down a team that WANTS you to take the ball and attack them.

I can say tactically it was awful, Cahill left wing?? What was the point in the possesion? There was zero pace in our attack, no incisive through balls, nothing. Liege gave us so much time and space to play, how we cant create a chance is beyond me.