Where iam at !

[Neiler]

So, for virtually the entire of last season - when we had Arteta and Pienaar in the side - why didn't Saha and Beckford get them goals?

I can give you mitigating circumstances, Saha injuries, Beckford - adjustment/comfidance, Yak - fitness/out of favour. But i think looking at it less as perssonel and more on the position of one up front. In our games last season we got 16 goals from Beckford/Saha/Yak in different games. To be honest in that position of one up front regardless of who it is or if someone played there all season and not the three - i dont think we will get any more goals from that position. Keeping in mind Cahill also got nine from half a season.

Personaly i beleive, Pienaar/Arteta - werent direct enough for our system and style of play - not saying they arent great players, but they were/are very technical players they tend to give passes before an assist rather then directly - that is their style - sqaure pegs in round holes for me. Conversley less technical but direct players proved more successfull in those position Osman and Coleman - we also looked far more likely to score with them in the team. I also feel pace pace was a factor, with Pienaar and Artea we tended to try and play technicaly perfcect in front of a back four - tip tapping it around looking for an opening. This allowed other teams back fours to set up and get in positions, isolate our centre forward and negate Cahill ability to come from deep, in the first half of the season. With more pace and directness added in the second half of the season, we were able to get in behind, catch teams out of position and goal scoring was less of an issue.

That is why i thnk the two key position are out on the flanks, inside forwards - as Moyes tends to play - if we could add 8-10 and similar in assists out there i think we are on for a mega ninja season.

 

[Neiler]

I can't believe your using man Utd as an example , they never signed anyone last season because they didn't need to , and were well and truely proved right by winning the league , clubs like Sunderland have done well selling potential like Henderson for 16& million and signing about 9 players , we have about 8 centre midfield players and not one wide player , why can't we sell jack Rodwell or Heitinga like Sunderland done to sign a player who hugs the touch line with pace who we need rather than going into the season with exactly the same team again , do you honestly think we can improve without signing any new players ????, to me I think it's impossible so for that reason as they say on Dragons Den IAM OUT , until uncle Bill has ago for us

Thats possibly the most contradicatary post i have ever read on here, Utd didnt need to sign any players - wasnt the word of the fans, or the media and the general football world last season - very east to say now after they won the league.

Do i beleive we can improve without signng new players? Absolutley Rodwell/Fellaini/Arteta/Cahill/Saha - were out for almost half the season last year. While the team collectively never got above 70% of performence for me. The emergence and development of Barkley/Gueye looks like it may have an impact. Beckford looks like he may be a PL striker after all. All reasons for optimisim for me. Id be happier with a new keeper though.

As for selling players, im not about to slate the likes of Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle for selling their best players then advocate dismantleing the squad as desperate as people seem to be for new signings. Besides i dont think we go into the new season with out adding to the squad anyway.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Arteta and Pienaar had poor seasons, though.

And as I said, we had no penetration, pace or guile. Opposition teams sat back and defended with ease before countering.

This is one of the reasons we had success against the better teams; they didn't sit back, and so the games were more open.

I can give you mitigating circumstances, Saha injuries, Beckford - adjustment/comfidance, Yak - fitness/out of favour. But i think looking at it less as perssonel and more on the position of one up front. In our games last season we got 16 goals from Beckford/Saha/Yak in different games. To be honest in that position of one up front regardless of who it is or if someone played there all season and not the three - i dont think we will get any more goals from that position. Keeping in mind Cahill also got nine from half a season.

Personaly i beleive, Pienaar/Arteta - werent direct enough for our system and style of play - not saying they arent great players, but they were/are very technical players they tend to give passes before an assist rather then directly - that is their style - sqaure pegs in round holes for me. Conversley less technical but direct players proved more successfull in those position Osman and Coleman - we also looked far more likely to score with them in the team. I also feel pace pace was a factor, with Pienaar and Artea we tended to try and play technicaly perfcect in front of a back four - tip tapping it around looking for an opening. This allowed other teams back fours to set up and get in positions, isolate our centre forward and negate Cahill ability to come from deep, in the first half of the season. With more pace and directness added in the second half of the season, we were able to get in behind, catch teams out of position and goal scoring was less of an issue.

That is why i thnk the two key position are out on the flanks, inside forwards - as Moyes tends to play - if we could add 8-10 and similar in assists out there i think we are on for a mega ninja season.

So you replace Pienaar with N'Zogbia.

That changes everything?....

I don't see it somehow.

Look at our midfielders. Arteta, Fellaini, Cahill, Barkley, Rodwell, Osman, Bily, Gueye... (Coleman?)

Then look at our strikers....

Saha can't be relied on to be fit, never mind score. Yakubu? Well.... Beckford? - Certainly not on his own. Anichebe? He'll be right wing.

 

[RFUS]

So you replace Pienaar with N'Zogbia.

That changes everything?....

I don't see it somehow.

Look at our midfielders. Arteta, Fellaini, Cahill, Barkley, Rodwell, Osman, Bily, Gueye... (Coleman?)

Then look at our strikers....

Saha can't be relied on to be fit, never mind score. Yakubu? Well.... Beckford? - Certainly not on his own. Anichebe? He'll be right wing.

First of all I'm not saying N'Zogbia is the be all and end all. I've always been unsure on him.

But he does offer pace. We have no pace.

I'm not saying everything's ace in the striker department -- I actually said we do need a new striker. I just think the creative/pace problem is a bit bigger. I don't remember us creating too much last season. It's not like we were barraging opposition defences with through balls and the like, only for Saha to keep hitting the post.

 

[chicoazul]

We need a proficient striker more than we need a winger.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Coleman moves to right back, N'Zogbia replaces him on the right, Arteta takes over from Pienaar on the left, someone replaces him in the middle and we give Saha and Beckford more games together. That, and Cahill's an option in his usual second striker role. I think that's the general idea.

Your striker doesn't have to be the one that scores goals, players like Ronaldo and Messi are perfect examples of that, and N'Zogbia is nothing like Pienaar really, he's much more of a wing forward. He scored 10 goals in a side that nearly got relegated.

 

[RFUS]

The truly frustrating thing is that to become the team we want; to achieve what we as fans want, we need both.

And we can't afford either.

*cries*

 

[Brownie]

For me, as I've said before, it depends on the amount of money we have available. I really can't see us getting anyone better than what we've already got up front for 10mil. If we had 25 I'd be all for signing one of the top second tier strikers.

For 10mil I'd rather have someone who can change our style of play when we need it. From that point of view swapping Pienaar with someone like N'Zogbia does change everything.

 

[kenada_blue]

We won't get a top goal scorer though. We don't have the draw or money to do so. Well get a player who'll get a return similar to what we already have.

Additionally, when was the last time you saw an everton player slip a ball through a defence for a striker to slam home, or provided that killer pass to open the door? There's your problem.

I'd be happy with Yak, Saha, Beckford and Vellios getting game time on the back of service from a quality creative midfielder

 

[Brownie]

Unfortunately we have about 1mil.

 

[Xavi]

Thats possibly the most contradicatary post i have ever read on here, Utd didnt need to sign any players - wasnt the word of the fans, or the media and the general football world last season - very east to say now after they won the league.

Do i beleive we can improve without signng new players? Absolutley Rodwell/Fellaini/Arteta/Cahill/Saha - were out for almost half the season last year. While the team collectively never got above 70% of performence for me. The emergence and development of Barkley/Gueye looks like it may have an impact. Beckford looks like he may be a PL striker after all. All reasons for optimisim for me. Id be happier with a new keeper though.

As for selling players, im not about to slate the likes of Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle for selling their best players then advocate dismantleing the squad as desperate as people seem to be for new signings. Besides i dont think we go into the new season with out adding to the squad anyway.

Iam clueless me mate , yeah and your right on the money with everything you say , I reckon you should be coach of a top Chsmpions league side because you have all the answers , the number one person at the club Alex Ferguson said " we don't need to sign players " who gives a **** what the media and fans think , he was right they won the league end off , your examples are crap mate , I have no intrest in discussing Everton related issues with you

 

[BlueOz]

Do not disagree with alot of struff on here.

Fair to say though that we lack pace. Having established that, and not having the money to buy anyone (who would make an impact immediately) I would go for a formation of 4-2-3-1 being:

Nev/Hibbo - Jags - Distin - Baines
Fellaini - Arteta
Coleman - Cahill - Gueye
Saha

Let's be honest, when fit Cahill will always play, if not bring in Bily/Osman (neither of these on the wing, ever!). Arteta can play wide right/left if needed. Heitinga/Rodwell can replace Fellaini or Arteta in a def Mid role. Anichebe right wing if required (Not upfront). Yak/Beckford up front to replace Saha. Heitinga at the back also. Not familiar with Barkley's best position so you tell me.

 

[Neiler]

Iam clueless me mate , yeah and your right on the money with everything you say , I reckon you should be coach of a top Chsmpions league side because you have all the answers , the number one person at the club Alex Ferguson said " we don't need to sign players " who gives a **** what the media and fans think , he was right they won the league end off , your examples are crap mate , I have no intrest in discussing Everton related issues with you

Ill send you a ticket when im Milan coach mate - just to keep you occupied on a Sat.

Again one of most self contradictory posts ive seen on here - hailing Utd/Ferguson for backing his judgement in "dont need to sign players" and lauding him over ignoring the fans and media for having a rant. Then having a fan rant becuase Sky Sports news told you Sunderland were signing Seb Larson.

I agree with you last sentence though!

* If your looking for your thomas the tank engine, its on the floor beside the wheels.