Steve_E

Our defenders aren't looking good. And maybe Pienaar and Bily should switch positions. I like the prospect of Baines and Pienaar against Salgado and I believe a role on the right would suit Bily better - coming inside and shooting on goal with his left foot.

Nice start

Defour = Pienaar but better. In Everton, I'd use him on the right in the same way as Pienaar is used on the left. More or less a free role when in possession, keeping position when defending. Eventually as Cahill gets too old I'd bring Defour to the middle.

His work rate is bar none; he can do everything well, most things very well; he's a born leader; Yes, I would really like him at Everton .

 

Oh and he turned 22 today.

I think Witsel is much more suited for a role on the right than Defour. Witsel has played out wide numerous times and he does so really good. He's much more technically gifted than Defour.

If we get Defour it should be for a spot in centre midfield, but there just isn't any room for him with Arteta and Fellaini there and Osman and Rodwell on the bench. Defour would be the ideal successor of Arteta though but I think he'll stay for some while.

i read somewhere before that there have been 2 more dodgy challenges this season (cant find the link anymore), but the article was incredibly biased and poorly written so not sure if i should pay attention to it!

He got another red card against Anderlecht but that wasn't a vicious foul. I don't even think it was red as he played the ball (unlike the Anderlecht-player).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF3m7819V0s

Witsel isn't even a vicious player. In the 110 games he played for Standard before this season he didn't get any red cards and only 12 yellow ones. That's almost like 1 yellow every 10 games. Of course the tackle on Wasilewski was a disgrace but that doesn't represent Witsel's normal behaviour on the pitch.

I'd take Witsel but i fear that one of the only reasons he really wants to get away is because of that horrifc challege, and he probably still gets threats?

 

Belgium boys...whats Witsel been like recently?

Witsel's been playing great after his suspension. There used to be a lot of criticism last year because he let his form dip after he won the Belgian Golden Shoe, an award for the best player in Belgium. And he continued his bad form in the beginning of this season but since the suspension he's been doing really good. People used to say that he couldn't play good without Defour playing next to him but he's showing now that he can take on Defour's role and lead the team. He's a lot more involved in games now.

By the way, in Belgian press it's said that Witsel is more likely to stay another season and might even extend his contract untill 2015, like Defour and Carcela did.

He is as lazy, but he's more grumpy and not as good a goal scorer.

I'm getting a feeling you don't really like him

Of course we don't have to agree, but I'm pretty much convinced he could do a great job here.

Maybe Moyes was there for Carcela as Everton could do with a winger. However I don't think Carcela is ready for the Premier League yet. He's absolutely brilliant on the ball, however he still slows down the play by dribbling too much rather than giving a pass.

Given

Sagna Terry Vermaelen Cole

Nani Fabregas Milner Malouda

Drogba Rooney

If Moyes was at the game for a Standard-player it was for Witsel or Mbokani as Defour is still injured and the rest of the bunch ain't good enough for Everton (although that doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't there to scout them of course). As Everton are more in need of a striker than a midfield player, I presume Moyes was indeed there for Mbokani. Personally I think Mbokani could do fantastic at Everton. He's a very complete striker. He's pretty tall and good in the air (in the defensive compartment as well) has pace, an acceleration, incredible technique, 2 good feet and a good shot at goal. He plays alone up front at Standard and he does so really well. You can always give him the ball, even with 2 or 3 defenders in his back, pulling his shirt as he's extremely strong. According to the official Standard site he weighs 75kilos, which could be right as he doesn't look really muscular, but the man's a force of nature.

Here are 2 of his goals over the years for Standard. There aren't a lot of good quality clips of him on Youtube so these two'll have to do.

His goal on 0:42 -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4li-huxdH1o

His goal on 0:25 -

It's true he's only scored 9 goals this season in all competitions (he scored 21 last year and 19 the season before) which is probably due to his mentality (he's got a knack of returning too late from vacations in Africa) and motivation (he can't motivate himself anymore for anonymous games in the Belgian league. But still, he's pure class. Which he once again showed against Hamburg scoring against them, hitting the bar and having an overall great game in the first match and he was one of the better Standard players in the return which was an overall bad team performance. There's a lot of criticism in Belgium because of his motivational problems but after the Hamburg game Filip Joos, one of the leading sport journalists in Belgium, said Mbokani still is a notch above Lukaku and Kouemaha (the other top strikers in Belgium who contrary to Mbokani have had good seasons).

By the way, Defour just recently signed an extended contract (expiring in august 2015) and he has pretty much confirmed that he'll stay with Standard for another season as he has mist most of this one due to injuries.

Arteta!

Standard without Defour doesn't stand much of a chance.

The only time Standard don't stand a chance is when Dieumerci Mbokani can't play. He's gonna give Mathijssen and Rozehnal (they suck) a torrid time. Who fookin needs Ruud Van Nistelrooy when you've got God himself in the team

I voted Anichebe. Scored a cracking goal and had an overall good game.

Jagielka gave Jerome too much space for his goal.

I'm pretty sure Heitinga has never captained Holland. And I doubt Bilyaletdinov has captained Russia.

Yep, he did. He hit the post on his debut, did pretty well against the Croatian defenders. The kid has got talent. He has an unusually muscular body for a 16-year-old, is incredibly fast and has a natural ability to score goals. His idol is Didier Drogba and they're quiet alike in style. He's currently the top scorer in Belgium scoring 13 goals in 22 games (=1297 minutes). But there's no way in hell Anderlecht are going to sell him for less than 15 million (€) now as he's an enormous hype for the moment. I think he'll stay with Anderlecht for another season and then he'll be sold to one of the top clubs in Europe.

Felli's never been the Belgium captain.

Rodwell!!!!

Distin acting like Cristiano Ronaldo all of a sudden

2-0 Distin

Edin Dzeko is a better option, similar player but has a slight edge is class and workrate. Rumours have gone quiet about him, worth a lookin while Wolfsburg aren't doing too well

He still won't go below 20 million pounds. And I expect Cardozo to be too expensive too. Unless he could come on a Bosman or something, which isn't the case as he just extended his contract untill 2014.

Maybe Peter is Swedish and he's just telling how they look at it in his country?

No way Northern Ireland is going to finish above either Italy or Serbia. I think the Scots have a far bigger chanche of coming in second, the Czech Republic has lost a lot of quality players recent years.

It would be a disgrace if England doesn't win the group, although you shouldn't underestimate Switzerland. They could give you quiet a rough night as they've got some quality players with the likes of Inler, Barnetta, Benaglio and our own Senderos.

And I must admit I like our Belgian chances. Of course Germany will win the group but we can compete with Turkey. We already got a 4/6 against them in our WC qualifications and Hazard, Lukaku, Defour, Dembélé, Vermaelen, Fellaini, Kompany... are only getting better. I expect Hazard to shine in Poland/Ukraine.

Noooooo

Reina

Carra

The Greek

Agger

Insua

Lucas

Mascherano

Maxi

Kuyt

Gerrard

N'gog

 

 

Apparently, that's their starting 11 tomorrow.

Seeing that side gives me even more confidence than I already had. Besides Reina and Gerrard, they haven't got any top players. Is Benitez just taking a precaution with Torres and having him on the bench to come on later in the game when necessary or is he definitely out injured? I remember they said 6 to 8 weeks at first but I haven't heard anything about how the injury has developed.

I think we could do without the two of them next year if we sign Senderos on a bosman. 4 Central defenders should be enough. Plus you can always play Rodwell or Hibbo there when necessary. Though we should get a back up left back when Distin goes.

Judging from his English, I assume he's from the Dutch part .

You assumed correctly

Although I do speak French quite well.