BlueBri

Hopefully he might actually get a game. But then again, he's been too busy playing consistent, solid footbal to hav time to crawl up McLarens butthole. I'm wondering whether his call up is an appeasment to stop the general population criticising not including currently the most consistent and versatile defender in the country. I'm not cynical, honest!!!!

There seems to be a pretty consistent line to this thread. Poor tactics and squad selections in both games. Yakubu??????? ( I still desparately want to be proved wrong, and although I was happy with the signing, I did have concerns, and starting to feel justified!!!) I don't think the panic button needs to be hit just yet, but there are some lessons that need to be quickly learnt. I would like to know why DM didn't go with the side that played last Sunday, he knew that Metallist were strong in midfield and that they overran this area of the pitch in the first game. I could not believe he put our three most lightweight midfielders in there with an inexperienced holding player behind them. Metallist should not have had a look in last night, but I almost couldn't watch a virtual repeat of the first game in the first half. Last major negative - Yakubu, I know he has a lazy style, but for the love of god!!!! I would happily put up with this if he bangs the goals in, but apart from the 2 goals (which I have to say he didn't really have to do much) he has not been a threat to any team we have played. BUFFS (Buck Up For F***s Sake!!) Positives, Faddy's renewed commitment to working and his growing maturity in the game in general. Lescott, WONDER BOY, if e ever let him go I will put a contract on the person responsible. He is by far the hardest working, most commited player at the club at the moment, and no matter where he plays, he delivers. One for the all time hall of fame me thinks, a true Everton legend in the making. Howard, enough said, ooooooozes quality. Pienaar, bargain player, top quality goods. It's like going to a car boot, paying a fiver for a nice watch to discover it is a Rolex, just needs a bit of polish to get it back to it's best. A true diamond in the rough. Anichebe, this lad is putting muli million pound 'professionals' to shame. I would love to say just for his youthful exuberence and passion, but the lad has really grown. He is developing a knavk of being in the right place, he battles hard and works for the team, causes problems for the opposition and has top drawer composure in the box. How cool was that goal last night. (Are you watching Yakubu!!!!!!) Lastly, and I know this is contradictory, DM. His tactical decisions have been woeful, but at least he is not afraid to pull off players and change things about. Whatever he said at half time did the trick, and Anichebe's introduction was vital. I was so glad he didn't wait any longer as he normally does until the last ten. Finally, I would like to thank the Metallist fans and their team. They have been fantastic ambassadors for the game. I think there has been some great banter and both legs have been played honestly and competitively. I wish them all the luck in the world for thr rest of their campaign this season. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of them in the future.

Nice team. Been saying since August about Appiah. That is basically my 1st choice 11 at the mo. Would do well with that team. A lot of creativity and passion (barring maybe Yak, but he should contribute plenty of goals, we hope!!!). Makes up for a lot IMO. Without Appiah, at the moment, would have Neville RB and Jags sitting hwere you have Appiah.

I agree with Adam that the same team as played on Sunday would be the safest bet. If AJ really has been injured, or whether he was out for a confidence thing, he will do well to start on the bench, let the game settle, and bring him on later in the game, winning or not. Surely this competition is too valuable to play favourites, the lads that played on Sunday did well. I would be gutted if I was Faddy and I was dropped to the bench tonight. He could very well become unsettled and want to go if this happens too often and I wouldn't blame him. I know he is generally inconsistent, but he is really turning it on for club and country at the mo and I think he could give us more if he is allowed to grow in the 1st team. He's earnt his place and he looks good with Yakubu. Would be madness to drop him tonight IMO.

I think that the importance of this game will now put the pressure on ensuring a result. I see DM going with the 4-4-2, Pienaar and Arteta to play as they did against 'Boro, switching and splicing balls across and behgind the Metalist defence for FAddy and th Yak to run on to. I also think the Yak is going to cause them real problems. Watch out for a MOM performance form him. I think he now has a point to prove to any doubters in his ability, as well as Europe probably being the main reason for joining us, he will want to stay on the big stage. Metallist to struggle tomorrow, as they wil be playing a completely different and more buoyant Everton. Have a feeling we are heading for a run, with our key players now starting to slowly come back to the 1st team. Lets all hope they come back with form like Arteta. 1-0 HT 3-0 FT to Everton 4-1 on aggregate. Come on you Toffees.

I would agree with that (not knowing how much it cost of course), but it is packed with all the big moments in our history, as well as other news items on the pages. \it's fascinating to read and see what was happening over 100 years ago. The best bit is reading articles about players like Dixie Dean, Alex Young etc. and almost feeling like your reading the news for real ( I wish). It really rams home how much pride there is around Everton. There are not many clubs in the world let alone the UK that can boast such a rich and successful history. It really does bring home just how influential Everton has been in the games history.

Not bitter then???

Would rather the club moves forwards and makes the Appiah speculation a reality either in Jan or end of season. Bringing in Manny now would not be the right move and I think it would unsettle a very sound team spirit. I wish the lad the best, but I really do think he will, if he isn't already, regret his decision.

Problem is, while it seems an awful lot of money to us, do the playeers really care about that!! Lets hope the team spirit is what they say it is and the players want to win it badly enough for pride. Would make a nice change, wouldn't it????

My wife (of 1 year) got me one of the best books I have seen for ages. It is Everton - A History From 1906. It is basically sports pages taken from the Daily Mirror. I've only had a chance to flick through, but is brilliant. I can actually show my boys now how good Everton have been through the years. If you haven't seen it, keep an eye out, it's fab.

The question in the thread was whether we need another midfielder for the right to play in front of Hibbert. I think not. Hibbert is a very defensive player and has never looked too comfortable going forward, although when he is on song he can do a good job. I think that Hibbert is having a 'mare at the moment nad could do with fighting for his place. I would move Neville to right back, as he has the best of both and at least links effectively with the runners, when he doesn't hit and and hope that is. Team for Thursday, I would like to see: Howard Neville Stubbs Lescott Baines Arteta Jagielka Gravesen (If Fit) Pienaar McFadden Yakubu Subs: AJ, Hibbert, Yobo, VDM, Anichebe, Osman, Wessels

Not surprised to see this thread. I posted on Pienaar when we bought him, and I have to say I told you so. There is still a long way to go to see his best, but with Arteta back I think that will help. Another thing, is that he and VDM are bezzy mates and it is in part VDM that convinced him to come. It could be one of the reasons why Pienaar has settled in so well I hope that VDM really has seen the light. If these players are happy, then they can certainly perform. All three are naturally gifted footballers who don't seem to work too hard at the game, but when they do, they have shown immense skill. Lets hope for bright things from all 3. We've had our bad patch, time for a nice run eh??

Haven't been here for a while. A combination of working hard and not having time. Well, hasn't this thread caused a stir??? Firstly, I don't quite understand how anyone could say that Moyes has to go. If your panicking, just be thankful your not a Spurs fan! I do agree that there are some alarming concerns in our general play so far this season. We seemed to start pretty well and it all went wrong against Kharkiv. I would say that the shoddy referee REALLY didn't help, and the debaucle that was the penalty fiasco has probably set AJ back further!! (Is he really injured or on a sabaticle????) HOWEVER, I think that Moyes, for once, decided to be brave and try something new with the 4-3-3 and it blew up in his face big time. It was like watching schoolboys. They were so full of themselves, they all forgot that they need to come back to cover and there was no tracking back. The gaps left at the back were SHOCKING. How on gods earth was a team down to 10 men allowed sooooooo much space behind our defense. This game then seemed to infect the players psyche and the sure footed defending we were expecting simply vanished. We rode our luck against Boro, but ground out the result that we wanted. We just need to go to Kharkiv and play it safe, use a system the players know and show the Ukranians how to play football. We know have Arteta back, and with Pienaar starting to show some consistency, I think they will struggle with us on Thursday. There is no doubt that we have been missing too many key players recently, and that is not the managers fault. I would criticise his managing of the squad for the last few weeks, as well as some rather risky tactical experiments, but if they had paid off, everyone would be telling us how good he IS. I wouldn't shout for his head just yet. See the season out, and if our position hasn't been consolodated, backed with some good cup runs, I might start to question DM's position. But even then, I would ask, who else is there that could do a better job. I would bet not many. Nice to be back. Chin up lads!!

Happy days Great for those of us not able to travel with the Blues. Well in C5

Yeah, it is, tell that to the missus Give it a couple of years and I will be lazier than Jan Molby's footy boots.

I totally agree, but I really hate driving through Snake Pass Autumn Winter. Due to the fruit of my loins,I have a practical family car that handles like s**t and is slow as hell up steep hills. If I had a sporty little number or even better, back on two wheels, I wouldn't mind so much More seriously, I would have preferred a home fixture as I don't get to many games at all nowadays, at home let alone away, because I work for myself so don't have the time usually. I've just started taking my eldest and it ain't too cheap, but the hard work now will hopefully pay off and I can go and watch my beloved Everton regularly and not have to resort to listening to City or watching them on the Goggle Box.

I would recommend the train from London. The reason being that the trains are regular and fast, especially after a long flight you could relax, and then you wouldn't have to worry aout the nightmaare of driving in Liverpool. Not a good place to drive if you are not from there. It' not far from the train station to most of the hotels either, and as an added bonus, drink driving would not be a worry either. Hope you have a good trip when you are over.

I personally wouldn't accept less than 25 million for him, but if the clubs fortunes are down, which is the scenario I am suggesting, I could see us letting him go for less. However, as you said and which I fully believe, he ain't going anywhere.

I'd agree with the notion that this is complete bollocks. Arteta has been courted by the press all summer, obviously trying to sniff out a hint that he may want to move. He as been quizzed repeatedly about the fact he has not yet been selected for Spain and has answered on every occasion that while he is disappointed, he knows he will get the call if he maintains his form and keeps his head up. He has acknowledged also that he is young still, and there is plenty of time for him and despite all this, he is very happy at Everton and is confident he is part of a team that is becoming a major force once again. He has been possibly our most outspoken player this summer about the influx of new blood and has never once even remotely indicated he is unhappy here. If your next door neighbours wifes dogs onwers third cousin twice removed worked at Everton and Arteta say to Stubbsy in passing "I'm pissed of with the Spanish selection, what do I have to do, I bet they would pick if I played for **********" it means f*** all except that he is having a conversation about something that most people who talk about football have been talking about recently. Believe it or not, Everton and Arteta are not the only people in the world who believe he should be playing for Spain and any rumours that he is unhappy here at the moment have absolutely no substance. If he does leave us in the next few years, it will be because the club has regressed, not qualified for Europe, and is need of a cash injection and will accept a stupid bid from someone like Barca or Real, probably 15-20 million.

Patience and time. That's all AJ needs. His confidence maybe low, but he hasn't lost his belief, as everyone has been saying, he has been running his heart out. With the players we now have at the club, it is not a matter of if but when is AJ going hit the net. The quality of the balls being fed through now is getting better by the game. Once Yak has settled in and the partnership is settled, AJ will be poaching from Yaks held up balls and knock downs, while Yak will feed from the swift defense splitting running that AJ provides. Thay both have pace in buckets and there are not too many defenses, if any, that are relishing the prospect of playing them. IMO AJ should get about 15 for us this year with Yak closing on the 20. But with the rest of the squad also chipping in regularly, I think our goal difference is going to be pretty healthy this year.

That is true, but the point, I think, was that it would give the home fans the opportunity to watch their home team in all their kits, while seeing all the other teams in their away kits. It was only ever a conversation piece. Worked, didn't it.

Here's one to bake your noodle. My stepmothers father has always thought it would be a good idea that the visiting team wore their home colours away from home and the home team wore the other kits accordingly so as not to clash. That way you would see all the teams in their proper kits at your home ground. I don't think he ever meant it as a radicle 'lets change it all around', but more of a conversation piece. I personally don't agree with this, but always found in interesting.

Possibly, but IMO the club would not have made a big deal about it if it wasn't for his prior. I also think nothing would have been said if he had used a modern invention called a telephone and rang the club to let them know what was going on. As an employer myself, you only take action when it is warranted. Yes, if that is the reason he has been disciplined, I think everyone would agree that this was harsh. But, and it is a big but, any Premiership club would not put themselves in for that kind of criticism had the action not been justified. Why hasn't VDM come out and vindicated himself in the press if he feels aggrieved. I admit, he probably feels his domestic situation is more important, but he is letting this situation become a critical influence on his future career if he has been villified by not putting everyone right. I think also, that most people are just fed up of players generally, not necessarily just VDM, wasting their talents through drink etc. and then coming back saying they have changed and this year they are going to put it right, It is an old cliche to be honest, and with the profile that Premiership and International players have, this behaviour is now widely regarded as completely unacceptable. I do hope that my opinion is wrong, that this was all a big misunderstanding, and that VDM can resurrect his game and reputation with us here. There is no doubt he has talent. But we have heard it all before, and in this case, I'm afraid that I will remain cynical. But he is still here, and the club seems to be doing thing very quietly at the moment, so who knows. I guess we'll just have to see. This is just my opinion.

Is that definite? If so that is a bloody travesty. Heskey should only be there to make up the numbers. AJ would have him puffing in 2 mins. Heskey has become an overweight, over-rated donkey. Was surprised to see him even included in the squad, but I guess McLaren must be desparate. Won't be long before he is no longer England Manager. I don't think I have felt so uninspired about England since Hoddle!!!!

I'd just like to say that I am a huge Piennar fan and am exoecting great things from him. However I would be tempted to play Osman ahead of him at the moment and use him as a super sub. His fresh legs from 65 mins will trouble ANY midfield and defense in our league and hid clinical passing is fantastic. That said, Ossy has done well for us this season and his energy from the outset helps us to establish a good foothold. I think he is grossly underrated and deserves his place.