EPL Talk » Everton

The England Outsiders#2 Full-Backs

Paul Bestall — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:24:43 +0000

With less than 3 months to go until England’s first group game against the U.S.A on June 12th in the World Cup and one particular pair of positions are causing more problems than anyone envisaged. At full strength, the English full-backs picked themselves with Ashley Cole easily making a case for being the best left back in world football and Glen Johnson’s continual growth as a player. Now with Cole recovering from a broken ankle and Johnson returning gradually from injury, question marks have been raised.

This has indeed opened the door to one or two players that may have considered the chance to get to the World Cup firmly shut. The additional withdrawl of Wayne Bridge from international duty has left Fabio Capello with a quandary. Can he risk hoping Cole recovers in time or simply go with the two main replacements for the position Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines.

Baines certainly seemed to get a leg up with his starting place in the friendly against Egypt, with Warnock left on the bench. The addition of Gareth Barry as a player who could play there could see that Capello may only take Baines and a half fit Cole, hoping he can recover his fitness toward the tail end of the season. It isn’t unfeasible to see such a situation but that could leave England weak if Barry were to suffer injury or suspension.

Taking Baines and Warnock, for me makes more sense. Warnock, has been impressing ever since he left Liverpool for regular football. His inclusion as an England squad player is long overdue in my opinion. He’s tough but fair, a great ball winner, can ping passes and is flexible in his ability to play not only as a full back, but a left winger and a defensive midfielder.

Baines whilst not as flexible, is certainly no slouch, his bombing runs down Everton’s left flank over the last couple of seasons stands testament to that and he’s a smashing dead ball player. For me, if Capello was looking for a player to fit easier in to the role that Ashley Cole fills for England, Baines is more that type of player Capello likes. Unless Cole stages a miracle recovery, I’d be taking Baines and Warnock. Poor old Nicky Shorey must be thinking what if…..

The opposite flank has seen the worries subside with Johnson’s return but he’s struggled with those annoying niggling injuries recently and with Liverpool having a mixed season in the best possible sense, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed that he doesn’t break down again. Though for all his lovely play going forward, he is still prone to defensive lapses and seemingly switches off still.

That’s not to say the positive doesn’t outweighs the negative, but it’s still a concern. At 25, he really needs to be ironing these errors out of his game but he still can cause more problems than he creates opportunities for the opposition. Fully fit, he’s got the number 2 shirt. My main concern is with the back up for Johnson and the problems an injury could cause.

I’m sorry, but I’ve never rated Wes Brown at all. Yes, I know he plays for Manchester United, Yes I know he’s got 23 caps for England but I just don’t rate him. No pace, consistently caught in possession and dreadful with the ball at his feet, I would be terrified if Brown was our reserve right back. I know he can fill in at centre half, but I don’t rate him there either and he has to be the most average player to have achieved the level of success he has.

Yet, I see salvation on the horizon but I’ll get to that shortly. Micah Richards, who burst on to the scene so memorably for Manchester City as a teenager has had his issues. As with most bright young things, a dip in form is inevitable and for Richards, it unfortunately coincided with Manchester City’s new found wealth. To his credit, he’s dug in and fought his way back in to the Manchester City first team. I have to say I was very impressed with him when he came on the scene, he has masses of potential and is still young.

Ironically, it was his transfer that began the fall out between Mourinho and Abramovich when the chairman refused to meet City’s £20 million valuation. The rest is history but I think this World Cup may be too soon for Richards and I would turn to one of English football’s most consistent and criminally underated players of the last 20 years. Gary Neville.

Now, for me, Neville has never been given the credit he deserves at all for his country. The 10 year relationship that he built with his best friend Beckham playing in front of him for club and country was astounding at it’s best. Both players instinctively knew were the other would be and that type of telepathic understanding of each others game is so rare in the modern game. Recently returning to fitness and at 35 years old, it would certainly be his last hurrah but Cafu played for Brazil until he was 36, so why not. Neville was easily one of the 3 best right-backs in the world alongside Salgado and Cafu.

So maybe a couple of surprises and two differing situations leads me to the following choices then:

If Ashley Cole amazes everyone, and I hope he does I’d take Cole, Baines, Johnson and Neville. If not my four fullbacks would be Baines, Warnock, Johnson and Neville. What do you think? Who would you choose as Fabio’s four full backs?

Hull City Search For A Hero

Paul Bestall — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:36:50 +0000

In a strange yet understandable move, Hull City Chairman Adam Pearson has removed Phil Brown from his position as manager at the struggling side. It strikes me as strange as Brown has been moved on after an impressive, if limited, performance against Arsenal on Saturday. Removal after the dismal showing against Everton the week previously would have made much more sense.

Pearson, on Radio5 this evening, has claimed that the new manager will be in place and revealed to the world on Thursday morning. Though the rumours sweeping Hull tonight would point to a name to strike fear in to the heart of any fan of football but more of that later. Brown leaves after three and quarter years which have seen unqualified success for the Tigers.

Of course, the last year or so has seen them struggle to retain their Premiership status, but by reaching the top tier for the first time in Hull City’s history and then staying up last season, still ranks as Hull’s brightest moment so far. I always liked the fact that Phil Brown always, always referred to it when questioned about Hull’s current form. Today, even when departing the K.C. Stadium, he still found time to mention it. “Although I am extremely sad to be leaving Hull City, I am very proud of my achievements during my time as manager, especially having led the team into the top flight of football for the first time in the club’s 104-year history and ahead of schedule.”

So Brown leaves and the job isn’t too unattractive, regardless of the position that the Tigers find themselves in. 9 games left and with any 2 teams in the bottom 6 capable of joining the doomed Portsmouth in being relegated to the Premiership. Keep them up and the new man becomes an instant hero, as long as he doesn’t attempt a karaoke on the K.C. Stadium pitch at the end of the match. I don’t think I could stomach that again.

Despite the connotations and the misguided opinion that Hull is not a football town, Hull City is an attractive offer. A super little stadium, excellent facilities and the potential to keep growing with the right level of support and investment. So which exciting and dynamic manager are Hull being strongly linked with? Sit down, you may need a strong drink to cope with this news.

By all accounts, chairman Adam Pearson is favoring giving the job to Gary Megson. Yes, Gary Megson. Hated by every set of fans of every club he’s managed, with the exception of West Bromwich Albion, sacked from five of his last 6 jobs. I have to say, I shook my head when I heard the news. Apparently Pearson was going to give the job to Megson back in 2006, but appointed Brown instead. Can someone explain to me how Megson keeps getting work?

At his last 3 jobs, he’s managed Forest, Leicester and Bolton in 166 games and won 47 of them. An earth shattering win percentage of 28%. Quite how he keeps getting work staggers me. I can’t understand it at all. Yet in the time it took me to write this sentence he apparently can’t take the job due to the terms of his severance package from Bolton Wanderers. I could hear the sigh of relief from Hull City fans over here!

So Pearson has made his move and he will attempt to maneuver someone who can attempt to keep Hull City up. I’ll miss Phil Brown though, I always thought he was refreshing honest, though the media used that against him in some quarters. I’ll miss him turning up on Goals on Sunday wearing a pink sweater draped suggestively over his shoulders, his never diminishing tan and his sartorial elegance on the touchline.

Hull City fans will hope that Megson is unable to join them, because they’re dead in the water if he gets them. Mark Hughes would be an inspired choice if they can get him and he can try an infuse the club with the tenacity that he brought to his time as Wales and Blackburn manager. Come the next couple of days, we’ll know exactly who will be the man charged with saving Hull City. Who do you think Hull City should appoint?

What Was Your Highlight of the Premier League Weekend?

The Gaffer — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:43:03 +0000

One of the advantages of Premier League clubs being more desperate for points at this stage of the season is that it means that we get to see more open matches. It also creates more end-to-end action.

This past weekend was a perfect example of this. I had the chance to watch Spurs against Blackburn, Birmingham against Everton, Hull City versus Arsenal and Sunderland against Manchester City. And except for the Tottenham match which was too one-sided in favor of Spurs, each of the other games I watched was brilliant.

There were so many wonderful moments to choose from. Adam Johnson’s moment of brilliance when he curled the ball into the top corner of the net. The way Kenwyne Jones leapt to meet the cross and glanced the ball into the back of the net. Gareth Bale and the way he made Michel Salgado look like a League One defender with his dangerous runs down the left wing and beautiful crosses. The incredible saves that Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon made. Or the way that Nicklas Bendtner, under massive pressure, scored a late winner to keep Arsenal’s title chances alive.

What, for you, was the highlight of this Premier League weekend?

Mine, and this may sound silly to some of you, was Adam Johnson’s run that he made just minutes after coming on as a substitute as he dribbled past two Sunderland players and placed a perfect pass to Roque Santa Cruz. It was a rare flash of brilliance in the Premier League, but he showed in just seconds how much potential he has and why he should be a starter for Manchester City. It was a shame that Santa Cruz butchered that wonderful piece of skill with a cross that summed up the season he’s been having.

Share your favorite moments from this past Premier League weekend in the comments section below.

Moyes Continues Everton Midas Touch

Alistair Hendrie — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:46:13 +0000

On August 15^th 2009, Everton faced Arsenal on a sun drenched, season opener and lost 6-1. Joleon Lescott pulled on a royal blue shirt that afternoon despite reinforcing his desire to leave Goodison Park and angering manager David Moyes. The team were without influential performers such as Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta and looked to be careering dangerously towards a long, hard season. How times change. Five months later, Everton are sitting pretty in eighth place and within touching distance of a second successive Europa League campaign.

Since that opening day shambles, Toffees have beaten Chelsea, drawn at Arsenal and more recently this weekend battled to a 3-1 victory at home to Manchester United. Moyes’s men suffered a shaky start and conceded early as Dimitar Berbatov poked home on the turn from 8 yards out, after a bullet of a low cross from Antonio Valencia. The goal served as a wake up call for the home side as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov thumped home from 20 yards into the bottom right hand corner just three minutes later. The Russian international took advantage of a poor headed clearance from Johnny Evans to score his fifth goal of the season.

As the second half commenced, Everton’s Phil Neville was assured defensively and Bilyaletdinov and Landon Donovan were majestic in their offensive play and passing. United began to struggle to find avenues to explore as their Merseyside opponents snuffed out crosses and denied any entry into their 18 yard box. The introduction of fresh youngsters Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell provided a cutting edge Everton needed. This was a stroke of genius from Moyes as his substitutions changed the game. Stephen Pienaar and Donovan linked up tidily on the left side as if they’d played together all of their career, and Pienaar’s angled cross found Gosling who bundled in from 8 yards out to deservedly give his side a 2-1 advantage. In the dying minutes, 19 year old Rodwell took the ball from the halfway line, cantered past Evans whilst heading away from goal, and calmly fired the ball from his laces low into the bottom left of the goal. Moyes’s side are so often dismantled by injuries and star players Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill were unfit this weekend, ironically leaving places for two youngsters in Rodwell and Gosling to steal the show.

Moyes has crafted a squad beautifully, with academy players such as Leon Osman and more recently Gosling and Rodwell blending into the first team seamlessly. Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov and Fellaini were relative unknowns before joining from the German, Belgian and Russian leagues and transforming into irreplaceable talismen. The Scot, Moyes, also has Neville in the form of his career at the age of 33. The ex England man grafts hard ironing out any errors in defence and is a reliable figure who is good in the air.

Former Preston North End manager Moyes has to be celebrated for the way he was managed his squad with limited money and limited resources. This season and last term, Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini have played as makeshift strikers due to crippling, long term injuries to James Vaughan, Yakubu and Louis Saha. Cahill and Fellaini gave a decent return for midfielders masquerading as forwards and scored 16 goals between them last season. Australian international Cahill is truly deadly from set pieces, with his cunning runs and unbelievable spring and heading power for a man under 6 foot. Fellaini has gained a reputation as a hard tackler and an adroit runner with the ball. He too is a danger from set pieces. The loss of loanee Donovan to his parent club LA Galaxy will be a blow to the Blue half of Merseyside but Mikel Arteta is playing his way back to full fitness at the moment.

You talk about Wenger, Ancelotti, Benitez and Ferguson as esteemed managers, but the flame haired Everton boss deserves his recognition too. A top four finish, European football, an FA Cup Final and exciting youngsters have all been brought to Everton by Moyes. Let us not forget it was Moyes who unleashed Wayne Rooney onto the footballing world, when he shocked Everton’s recent 6-1 conquerors Arsenal with a curling beauty from outside the box. Rooney may have gone onto bigger and better things but had the face of a well beaten man when he shook his former mentor’s hand at the end of 90 minutes last weekend.

BBC Sport Erases Everton’s Victory Against Man United

The Gaffer — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:11:19 +0000

What’s wrong with this picture above? Read the caption to see how BBC Sport accidentally erased Everton’s impressive 3-1 victory against Manchester United on Saturday. Since the BBC is based in The Old Smoke, maybe it’s a London bias against teams from Merseyside?

Thanks to reader Griff for the news tip.

Jack Rodwell Puts Himself In Shop Window Again

The Gaffer — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:55:10 +0000

If you can’t beat them, buy them. That has often been Manchester United’s strategy when the club has lost pivotal league games against smaller English clubs and/or have been embarrassed by Premier League players who display incredible raw skill. United has often gone on to purchase many of those footballers.

Examples include Everton (Wayne Rooney), Fulham (Louis Saha – after he scored against United and later joined them, and Edwin van der Sar), Tottenham (Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick) and Wigan (Antonio Valencia). It’s a smart transfer strategy because you make sure the smaller clubs will never break into the Big Four. But it also prevents those players being bought by rival clubs, and makes sure that those players won’t embarrass United again.

Based on his display during Saturday’s early kick off between Everton and Manchester United, don’t be surprised if Manchester United takes another close look at Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell with the hopes of signing him this summer. Sir Alex Ferguson was reported to be interested in signing Rodwell last year, but based on his confidence and composure on the ball today when he scored the third and final goal for Everton to beat Manchester United, Ferguson will surely be even more interested now. Sure, Rodwell only had a limited amount of playing time Saturday after coming off the bench, but the way he took his goal gives you a clear indication of the skill he has.

It’s not just the way that Manchester United plucks raw talent to make sure they stay near the top of the Premier League. It’s what they do to these players after they join. It’s incredible to consider how Wayne Rooney has taken his raw talent when he was at Everton, as well as his violent temper, and turned it into a controlled and magic ability to beat the best players and teams in the world. The same can be said for many players who have moved from smaller English clubs and moved to United.

But it’s not just Manchester United who will be on alert regarding Rodwell’s talent. Rodwell is a versatile player who has also been touted as a center back in the making, and which top teams in the Premier League would pass up a player like that who possesses the ability to score up front, command midfield and has the potential to do a brilliant job in the back? In fact, Rodwell has been called the new Rio Ferdinand.

Don’t be surprised if Manchester City or Arsenal try to capture the signing of Rodwell from under the noses of Manchester United. Whoever gets him, expect Everton to get a hefty transfer fee as much as 20-30 million pounds for the player who joined the Toffees when he was a child.

This is a player who has already broken many records including being the youngest ever Everton player to play in European competition and the youngest Everton scorer in European competition. Plus he has an encouraging England career ahead of him after an impressive display for the under-21 England team in the 2009 European Championships.

Photo credit: BackpageFootball.

Arteta, Everton Suffer From Tim Duncan Syndrome

Dave Warner — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:57:37 +0000

When Tim Duncan was a senior at Wake Forest University, his teammates often utilized a very basic strategy: 1.) get the ball to Duncan, and 2.) watch him play. A 7-footer can only do so much on a basketball court, however, and the lack of real help from Duncan’s teammates allowed opponents to double- and triple-team Duncan, decreasing his effectiveness. This kept Wake Forest from ever making the Final Four with the best player in that school’s history.

The moment Mikel Arteta stepped onto the Anfield pitch today, the exact same fate befell Everton.

In the 41st minute, Arteta replaced an injured Marouane Fellaini, who had to leave the match after a two-footed challenge from Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who was sent off. Every time Arteta got the ball in midfield, however, the Toffees seemed content to sit back and watch him to try and create something. That creativity, even more so in football than in basketball, requires more than one player. Arteta’s play became severely limited by the lack movement from his teammates. As a result, Everton showed shockingly little scoring threat, despite having a man advantage for more than a half.

Of course, that’s only part of the reason that Liverpool secured a crucial 1-0 victory in this Merseyside Derby.

The Reds’ physical play set the tone for the first half, and Everton’s equally physical response seemed to take them out of their usual game. Steven Pienaar’s yellow card in the 30th minute took the spark out of his game and made him a non-factor.

Defensively, 10-man Liverpool did well to limit Everton’s movement as much as than Everton themselves did. For example, the Reds showed a great deal of respect for Landon Donovan’s pace. Every time the American got the ball on the wing, two defenders stepped up to meet him, leaving him with no option but to kick the ball back to Phil Neville. Donovan looked better against Liverpool today than he did in a Bayer Leverkusen jersey five years ago, but Liverpool’s defense did very well to limit his play.

In addition, the Reds knew going into the 2nd half that their best chance for scoring would be from set plays, and they did well to win them. Sure enough, an inswinging corner kick from Steven Gerrard found Dirk Kuyt, who held Tim Howard off well and headed it in for the game’s only goal. Howard should have done better on that play.

That was true for everyone in blue today, though. Everton played as if they didn’t even realize they had a man advantage, and with so little movement and creativity, they squandered a golden opportunity to win their first game in Anfield in the 21st century. Liverpool, meanwhile, moved back into 4th place for the moment, and once again, we’re left to wonder if this is the game that will inspire Liverpool to separate itself from the pack and reclaim its Champions League status.

Ruminations on Landon Donovan: a Yankee Perspective

Robert Anke — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:46:36 +0000

Donovan. Another solid performance. While all the nay-sayers are stewing, waiting for him to stumble, donning the ill-got rep they bestowed on him after a couple short stints in Germany, I want to see him score goals. I don’t care if Everton go down in a smoking mass of decaying blue matter (occasionally… of course I want the big four disrupted). I just want to see Landon score. If they lose by five, can I at least get a Donovan goal?

I’m a west coast Yank. This guy represents the best of what our country is as a footballing nation at present (alongside Dempsey and our slew of goalies). No, I’m not in the market for blue shirts now, and the only reason I’ve ever rooted for Everton is so they’ll put an end to the big four monopoly that discredits the EPL’s financial system (No salary caps means a big four that is seldom interrupted. But I digress. That’s for another post that’s surely been beaten past death already). But Landon’s short stints in Germany? They didn’t start like this “let’s-plop-you-on-the-pitch-and-see-how-you-do” run at Goodison Park has. Of course the big difference has been that, to the German teams, he was just another pick up, relatively. In England, from the get-go, Donovan has been necessary. Most of us know how that feels. What it does to our psyche and confidence. It allows us to settle quickly into who we are. And in the world’s strongest football league, on a team scratching their way back to reclaim some of the form that has people dreaming of a big five or six, he is necessary. The Toffees need Landon right now and Landon needs the Toffees. And he has risen to the occasion. So far.

Ok. Now to rip on him a little. Just a little. If there’s one thing he does well, it’s running at people top speed. With a good first touch he’s gone, and it’s green lushness and a goalie waiting to get beat with a cool finish in most cases. But what we probably noticed, if we were sitting on the edge of our seats hoping he never gave license to the haters- or if we were watching with a critical eye (or just hating on him from the gate)- is that he failed in every 1v1 opportunity without his requisite head start. Where were the step overs? The shimmies and shakes? How can a 6’4” defensive midfielder (6’8” with afro) do a pirouette past the fastest Welshman in the game, but a nimble-footed, rocket-fueled winger can’t create space for himself unless he’s got ten feet to work with and is already at top speed? Landon did great making the simple pass, the easy play, staying connected and putting the ball on Fellainium’s cranium from the corner all day long. And to be fair, there weren’t that many of said 1v1’s, but when he was faced with one, he served it up to Man City’s defenders on a silver boot. This touch was too heavy here, or he was obviously “in two minds” there. Hmm.

We all have our gifts; our talents. And we all have our areas we could work on. We can choose to work on them or not. But if we’re being paid to be the best we can be, should we not expect improvement in areas with deficiencies? Should we not expect Donovan to have some doozies in his “juke” repertoire by this point in his career? Can we expect some in the future when their lack is made so abundantly clear in the EPL? I hope so. I mean, I know that player differences are what make individuals and teams unique, but is it too much for us to ask Landon to stay late at work until he’s got some moves to get around someone without a head start?

Is it?

Ah whatever. I just want to see him score.

UK Media Reaction to Landon Donovan: Everton 2-0 Man City

The Gaffer — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:21:35 +0000

Landon Donovan made his home debut for Everton Saturday against a strong Manchester City side in a very entertaining and exciting game. How did Donovan do? Here’s what the UK media thought:

“Everton tried to hit back through Landon Donovan – making his home debut – who was only inches away from chipping Shay Given after a clever one-two with Louis Saha. The American showed a good understanding with [Louis Saha] from the start, notionally playing on the right but in practice roaming all across the front line, and demonstrated not only a willingness to take corners and restarts but also to find Fellaini’s head with most of them,” Paul Wilson, The Guardian.

“Magnificent performance from Everton, and a good performance from that man there, Landon Donovan,” Stewart Robson, co-commentator, IMG feed for international audience.

“The Landon Donovan appreciation society were gathering in number, too, chorusing ‘USA’ with gusto when the American broke away from Vincent Kompany, only to direct his chip wide,” Oliver Brown, The Telegraph.

“Moyes’ team began with gusto, Landon Donovan and Louis Saha combining well to leave Javier Garrido static before the American loanee dinked a shot over Given and just wide. A flying block was required to see off Donovan’s next run and shot, before Marouane Fellaini threatened twice. With second choices all across the back four, City’s defence was struggling with Everton’s blend of pace and aerial power,” Duncan Castles, The Times.

What was your opinion of Landon Donovan’s second game for Everton? Share your thoughts below by clicking the comments link.

Arsenal 2-2 Everton: Landon Donovan Shines In EPL Debut

The Gaffer — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:03:49 +0000

It’s only one game, but judging by Landon Donovan’s debut for Everton against Arsenal on Saturday, the American playmaker easily fit in to playing at the highest level in the best soccer league in the world.

Donovan started for Everton and played 68 minutes for the Toffees. During that time, Donovan created several chances for Everton, as well as getting an assist on Everton’s first goal as he floated a perfectly stuck corner into the box for Leon Osman to score with an incisive header.

Donovan, who was recently signed on loan to Everton for ten weeks, played on the right wing and was comfortable on the ball whenever he received it, making several crucial passes and going back into defense when needed. For Arsenal’s only goal, which took a wicked deflection, Donovan could have done better during his second attempted clearance but he seemed to avoid tackling an Arsenal player for fear of a penalty or free kick being awarded on the edge of the area. A few seconds later Denilson scored after the ball struck an Everton player and went past Tim Howard.

Later on in the first half, Donovan served up a beautiful pass to Phil Neville only for the Everton captain to shoot and find the ball hitting the top of the net. Still, it showed Donovan’s skill not only as a goalscorer but also as a creator.

In the second half, Donovan continued down the right wing but was joined by Tim Cahill who switched from the left to the right presumably to pressure Armand Traore who was having an awful game in his left-back position.

Donovan continued to contribute in the second half, often coming back to help in defense. But bizarrely, Everton manager David Moyes decided to take Donovan off in the 68th minute even though he was one of the better players during the game. Presumably Moyes wants to rest Donovan since he may not be 100 percent fit yet.

But what a game it was. Donovan looks like he was born to be a Toffee. Let’s hope he continues this level of performance in Everton’s future games over the next month.

After Donovan was substituted, Everton later went on to score a second goal after an exquisite pass from Cahill to Steven Pienaar who ran on to collect the ball and chip it over the head of Almunia into the goal. And what a cheeky chip it was. Everton continued to battle hard but were undone by a late goal from Tomas Rosicky, which was deflected in by Lucas Neill.

What was your opinion of Landon Donovan’s performance and the game itself? Click the comments link below to share your opinion.