It's Time To Drop The Wobbly Jelly For Anichebe

, 22 January, 37comments  |  Jump to most recent
Jelavic was again misfiring during the St Mary's stalemate and now is a good a time as any to relegate him to the Everton bench to accommodate the more explosive Anichebe.

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Sam Hoare
1 Posted 22/01/2013 at 16:52:59
I was going to write a piece saying the same thing essentially. Hard to believe anyone other than an idiot or wind up merchant saying this 7 months ago but I think alot would now agree.

Jelly will be back but at the moment Big Vic looks sharper, faster, stronger and more likely to both create and score goals. He deserves a shot in the central birth while Jelly has a rest and re-focus. Or perhaps they could play together?

Nick Entwistle
2 Posted 22/01/2013 at 16:57:44
Anichebe's confidence is sky high, the difference is huge. He looks like a footballer. A good one.

Moyes will either think of Jely and his big miss as reason to stick or reason to twist. Me? I'd go with... no, can't even bring my self to say it.

Brent Stephens
3 Posted 22/01/2013 at 17:04:12
I agree, give Anichebe the start, whether or not Jelli starts with him. I think Moyes hauling Jelli off so early means the writing is on the wall for Saturday.
Patrick Murphy
4 Posted 22/01/2013 at 17:05:38
Go on Nick say it, Capt Pip as Centre Forward (LOL)
Lee Browne
5 Posted 22/01/2013 at 17:13:43
Stick with Jelly and put Vic alongside him, he has got to start banging them in soon...
Alex Jones
6 Posted 22/01/2013 at 17:30:22
Too much is being made of this Jelavic barren spell.

Jelavic is struggling with confidence but still has 18 goals from 36 starts in Prem and FA Cup with Everton.

Unlucky against Chelsea hitting the post and bar with a header that would have been a wonder goal against the European Champions.

Very thin line between success and misery for strikers. Had either of them goals gone in, he would be flying now.

Bet he scores more than Michu by end of the season.

Dick Brody
7 Posted 22/01/2013 at 17:58:24
Not enough is being made of this Jelavic barren spell.

The guy has just one single goal in his last 15 Premiership games.

If Jelavic fails to score in the next three games then half a Premiership season will have passed with only one goal to show for it.

Forget what he did during the honeymoon period last season. Judge him on this season and one goal in 15 games is simply not good enough.

Its time to rest him up and give Anichebe or Vellios a chance. Moyes could even be daring and give Conor McAleny a chance. McAleny is 20 now and needs an opportunity.

Hallam Hope is another youngster who seems to be highly regarded and always score regulary at youth level for Everton and England. Hope turns 19 in a few weeks so it wouldn't be that crazy for Moyes to give him a run out.

Young players like Vellios, McAleny and Hope need games to further their development otherwise they stagnate and then one day they are in their mid-20's with very little experience.

Thats what happened to John Ruddy who eventually had to go elsewhere to find first team football and is now one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership. Which is ironic because Moyes now finds himself searching for a decent goalkeeper.

Anyway point is there are young players needing a chance and Jelavic has had more than enough chances over the last 15 games.

Bobby Mallon
8 Posted 22/01/2013 at 18:28:27
To be honest, Moyes is a good manager but a shithouse who won't ever let youth have a chance. The thing is, Jeli is a cut above any of the lads you have all mentioned, especially Vic. He's scored goals for Croatia at Euros and against top European teams.

Moyes is the problem — as he is with all our strikers. He does it, doesn't he — turns great strikers into ordinary players.

Jeli is an instinctive finisher who should be prowling the six-yard box, linking up play and ghosting into the box, scoring goals. Not running the channels playing the winger. He needs Vic to do the donkey work and the goals will come.

Charles Barrow
9 Posted 22/01/2013 at 19:24:28
Dick Brody – I couldn't agree more. Moyes has always been suspicious of youth – even Rooney spent a lot of time on the bench. But if we can't freshen up the side with good January signings now is the time to introduce one or two young promising youngsters. I don't think Vellios has had a fair crack of the whip so I'd like to see him play up front with Anichebe.
Dick Brody
10 Posted 22/01/2013 at 20:57:26
Bobby I disagree with your comment. I think your correct in saying that Moyes has asked Jelavic to run the channels and do a bit more donkey work. And yes all that extra work will undoubtedly cut back on the chances that Jelavic gets in an ordinary game.

But the problem here is not that Jelavic is no longer gettings chances but that he's failing to convert those chances. If Jelavic's goal scoring rate was being diminished because no chances were coming his way then yes I'd agree Moyes is the problem.

But that is not the case. Over the last few televised games Jelavic has had serveral clear cut opportunities to score goals and each and every chance he has fluffed.

Moyes may have asked Jelavic to work the channels more then he's used to but chances are still falling Jelavic's way and he's missing those chances which is costing Everton valuable points.

Rickie Lambert played for Southampton last night and he's the type of player who does loads of donkey work and endless running and yet he's still found the net 10 times this season which is more than Jelavic's six.

No I'm sorry I wont buy the idea that Moyes is asking too much of Jelavic. The simple fact is Jelavic is failing to convert the chances which come his way.

Jon Ferguson
11 Posted 22/01/2013 at 21:13:27
I'm not saying it is the case Dick, but an argument would be that making Jelavic run all around the place knackers him out. Fatigue plays a big part in decision making and your first touch. If Jelavic stuck to staying in the middle and sniff opportunities in the box then maybe he would be less tired and more likely to finish the chances he gets.

I'm not saying that is right, but he does look knackered out there half the time.

Ian Bennett
12 Posted 22/01/2013 at 21:19:15
Dick – Lambert has scored 10, including 3 penalties.

His record is comparable with the misfiring Jelavic and he takes free kicks. You need to factor this in when comparing apples to oranges. The same goes for comparing Andy Johnson's great Palace record against his Everton record. His Palace record had about 8 penalties.

Nick Entwistle
13 Posted 22/01/2013 at 21:29:26
I would think Moyes would have it in mind to drop him, but probably rationalise that the return of Mirallas may change his luck. Same again then.
Dave Lynch
14 Posted 22/01/2013 at 21:30:04
What harm would it do to start Vellos and Vic together for the next game?
Jella is obviously lacking confidence and the goals have dried up, give theGreeklad a run out alongside Vic and freshen it up.
Dick Brody
15 Posted 22/01/2013 at 21:52:56
Sorry but I will not accept Jelavic too tired to finish guilt edged chances that have come his way. He's a professional athlete. Being tired should not come into it and if it is a problem then I suggest Moyes kicks his ass in training a bit.

It bugs me that people maintain Jelavic is a natural goalscorer. What are you basing that on? Sure he scored a lot of goals in the Scotish Premier League but so did Kenny Miller and he was a very average Championship player. And yes Jelavic scored a lot of goals when he first joined Everton but have you people ever heard the term Honeymoon Period.

For me personally this is Jelavic's first full season at Everton and the first chance we have had to truely rate him. And so far he is not a natural goalscorer. Not at all.

Ian Bennett
16 Posted 22/01/2013 at 22:06:35
Dick - probably because of stuff like this. Natural goal scorer:-

Remarkably, Jelavic plunders almost all his goals with first-time strikes. He has taken just 47 touches to net 44 goals for Rangers and Everton since May 2011 – and his last 27 have all been one-touch finishes.

Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2012/04/26/the-revealing-statistics-behind-ice-man-jelavic-s-everton-fc-goal-glut-100252-30842179/#ixzz2IkEJHeK4

Paul David
17 Posted 22/01/2013 at 21:59:50
Dick

I think people (me included) still see Jelavic as a goal scorer despite this seasons form cos if he isn't and last season was a fluke then we're fucked. It was a strange feeling last season, going into games confident our striker would score and we could beat anyone. If it turns out the real Jelavic is a 10- to 12-goals-a-season striker then we're back to what we always have been: a good side who frustrate and struggle to score goals.

Paul Ward
18 Posted 23/01/2013 at 02:16:48
Moyes is afraid to blood our young players. He lost Ruddy and may lose the likes of Duffy, Junior, Kennedy, Vellios and Barkley. He signs them up with long contracts then leaves them to rot. Big Vic is rubbish let's face it but if Vellios is not going to get his chance Anichebe is the only CF to replace Jelavic. Jelavic really does need to be dropped because the longer he keeps missing chances and looking like Vic at his worst he is getting more erratic. Jelavic will come back to form.
Jay Harris
19 Posted 23/01/2013 at 04:12:15
Time to put Vic up frony with Jela and drop Felli back into MF to replace Nev who should only get a game at RB if Coleman and Hibbo are not fit.

Play Mirallas instead of Naismith and just watch the goals come.

The problem right now is teams have sussed out Baines and Pienaar and lumping the ball up to Felli so we need to change things around.

Anto Byrne
20 Posted 23/01/2013 at 05:34:48
Perhaps a radical 4-3-3 approach is required? Yeah, play 3 strikers and let Jags lump 40-yarders to them from the half-way line. It's all a bit predictable at the moment. We ain't gonna get relegated so why not have a more cavalier approach?
Harold Matthews
21 Posted 23/01/2013 at 05:36:53
Ian...Remarkable stats. Would love a review of all the goals.

Obviously he is not isolated for these one-touch goals. Someone must plonk the ball into his path when he makes a run. The missed sitters we all know about. His hit or miss left foot is giving us all nightmares.

Watching the live game I thought he was knackered but another glance at the recorded match suggested that he still had plenty left. Even so, he was not making runs....Peeling off the last defender or whatever. Why I don't know. We certainly didn't have a Scholes or a Wilshire to slip the ball through. Not in this match anyway. The midfield maestros had a night off. In fact, there were times when the middle of the pitch looked like an empty prairie.

As for an extra striker. Vellios deserves a chance but he is a tall lad and Jags would whack long balls for the full 90 minutes. Mirallis it will have to be. He's pretty sharp and is always a threat.

Derek Thomas
22 Posted 23/01/2013 at 08:01:27
The whole team, not just Jelli seem to be suffering from 2nd season syndrome ( over the last 12 months ).

The team now is seriously out of balance. What ever the question is in midfield Phil Neville is not the answer, nor sadly is he the answer at RB.

When Coleman went off he did the ' give thing ' but the ' Go'....forget it.

Jelavic; Moyes finally got the message, not long after his' miss' he was given the hook. As I said the team is out of Balance, Jelli keeps drifting out left, Pienaar keeps going inside, it was only when Anichebe came on ( never in my life did I think I would ever say that ! ) were the triangles working and even then Jelli buggered it up. Cue hook.

What to do with him now is the question, back in the day he would have a run in the reserves, but now the only ( none ) option is the bench.

Miralles looked what he is, not 100% and will be the better for a few more runs.

How do we cope in a post scoring Jelli world. I would go with Vellios or Vic as targetman and Miralles in the ' just behind role ' and Fellaini in the Gibbson role sod his CL aspirations.

The team seems to be TOO Fellaini / lump / it into the box centric out of balance.

Teams don't need to shut down the Baines A.N. Other axis we are doing this our selves.

Gibbson is the key, serial sick note Gibbson, if he can't do it for 3/4's of a season we need some one who can.

Do I have hope for the window?? I remain unconvinced.

Pat Waine
23 Posted 23/01/2013 at 08:58:44
I think with Mirallas back, the man to step aside is Naismith. I don't even see the basics with that lad. Mirallas may create more for jellyfish to finish.
Tony J Williams
24 Posted 23/01/2013 at 11:38:12
Here we go again with the oft trotted out gash comments about striker's graveyard yadda yadda....doesn't give youth a chance...blah blah.

Jelavic is getting his chances and fluffing them, no matter how tired to perceive a person to me, there is no excuse for completely missing a ball crossed into you..... it wasn't fired in but crossed in.

The youth thing.......if they are good enough, they will play....it really is that simple. Name me a youth player that Moyes has apparently held back that has gone on to bite us in the arse?

Ruddy couldn't replace Howard so had to move on for his own good and the lad who states Rooney never played much, have a look at his stats and you will find that he played plenty of games the season before he left.

Jamie Barlow
25 Posted 23/01/2013 at 11:54:15
I'm with Jay Harris. Until Gibson is fit, play Anichebe up top with Jelly, drop Fellaini back in midfield, move Neville to full back and put Mirallas on the right. Goals will come.
Tony J Williams
26 Posted 23/01/2013 at 12:21:49
Certain worth a try for that formation in the cup game Jamie. Only worry I have is about Mirallas being fully fit and perhaps allowing him another weekend off
James Morgan
27 Posted 23/01/2013 at 12:01:17
Tony, the youngsters, how will we know if they're good enough if they're not given a chance to show it? Granted, some will simply not cut the mustard in training or the reserves, but what have Vellios, Barkley and Duffy done wrong when selected? Nothing in my eyes.

We have a small squad and no money, we need the youngsters to freshen things up with their energy and enthusiasm.

Are you saying one of the fringe/young players couldn't do better than that useless dime bar Naismith?

Ken Crowther
28 Posted 23/01/2013 at 13:42:07
James #978.

"We" don't need to know whether these youngsters can "cut the mustard", and the way to discover the reality of the situation is certainly not by experimenting with them in the Premier League; and definately not when we're looking for fourth place.

The Moysiah and his coaching staff will make the judgement on the basis of the fact that they see them every time they train; and our opinion of their merits has no relevance to anything or anybody except ourselves.

Whether we think the staff are properly qualified, or their opinions are valid is a completely different argument.

Steavey Buckley
29 Posted 23/01/2013 at 13:47:49
James Morgan: How can the current crop of young players play in the first team when they have had no experience in any real football team? Ross Barkley came back from a real football team and was immediately over looked. Now gone to Leeds to find that experience. The only way Everton can go forward without gong into further debt is by loaning some experienced players. Those in the top half of the premier won't do that, being so close. Then what's left? Players from abroad who may take months to 'blood in.'
Andy Meighan
30 Posted 23/01/2013 at 14:14:23
Bobby 807 good call mate. But at the minute Jelavic's confidence is shot to bits. You're right in the respect that he should be patrolling the penalty box. But Moyes won't hear of it. How many of our strikers down the years have we seen working the channels? Moyes has ruined a few now with this ploy and it looks like he's ruined another. Having said all that, Jelavic should be benched as soon as possible to give Anichebe a run up top – he couldn't do any worse, could he?
James Morgan
32 Posted 23/01/2013 at 13:58:19
Ken, are you telling me since we are desperately short that it wouldn't be worth gambling a Matthew Kennedy or a dare I even say, gulp, a Magaye Gueye over that useless excuse of a footballer Naismith? It wouldn't be possible to play worse! Maybe your point about whether the staffs judgement is up to scratch could be the case, but as you say, that's worth it's own thread.

Steavey, players don't always have to go on loan first, many do graduate straight to the first team. Ideally, we would have a number of experienced players coming in ready to play, but we don't, which is why I'm advocating more game time for the youngsters.

Brian Harrison
33 Posted 23/01/2013 at 15:26:51
All you get from playing a bunch of kids is trouble, Hansen was right when he said you win nothing with kids. Yes he was proved wrong by the most talented bunch of kids ever produced at one time, if you leave out the Busby babes.

But ask any Villa fans are they happy seeing kids being beaten every week, and what is that doing to the confidence of these kids. Oh I forgot some of the posters on here were telling us some months back that Lambert was the ideal man to replace Moyes. Maybe if you want to see a bunch of kids get beaten every week he is the man to replace Moyes if he leaves

Sam Hoare
34 Posted 23/01/2013 at 15:43:01
OK so this may sound crazy but how about we play Mirallas on the wing, where his touch and pace mean fullbacks can't afford to get too tight and play Naismith in the hole behind either Jelavic or Anichebe. Sounds like lunacy I know but I just have a feeling....
James Morgan
35 Posted 23/01/2013 at 15:59:30
Brian, I don't think anyone is calling for a complete overhaul of the team to bring the average age down to 20/21.
I, like a lot of people just want to see a few youngsters blooded in throughout a season.

Sam, that's a ludicrous suggestion!

Tony J Williams
36 Posted 23/01/2013 at 17:02:51
James 978, All our supposed great youth players all have had games, albeit limited amounts, in the past and they haven't made it.

They have been released and nearly all of them have went to lower league clubs or even packed in footy altogether. Remember that young lad with a massive mop of hair being touted as more skillful as Rooney......where is he now, anyone even remember his name?

If they are good enough, they will get into the team.

Jon Ferguson
37 Posted 23/01/2013 at 17:29:44
JP Kissock, he's at Maccelsfield.
Jimmy Sørheim
38 Posted 23/01/2013 at 18:28:28
Can anyone really say that our best youth players have been given faiir amount of time to impress in the first team?

Besides Vellios and in part Barkley I can not say that I am pleased with how Moyes has handled our best youth players.

The myth that Moyes and Everton give youth a chance is crap, there is simply nothing to look back and point at.

Early on Moyes did blood Rooney, Rodwell, Vaughan, Anichebe.

But my point is that these last years have yielded nothing when it comes to youngsters.

How can any true Everton fan defend the fact that our best youth players are not given a fair chance to make it in the first team?

Though Aston Villa and Paul Lambert are forced into using most of their youngsters, at least their fans can be proud of the fact that their best youngsters are given a fair chance.

Look at Southampton and how they have done good with their young players.
Ultimately playing young talents is a long term commitment that will at some time pay off.
So why are Everton not doing what they should be doing with regards to their best youngsters, Moyes is in charge of Everton and I think it is time this clubs fans start asking why Moyes does not give youth a chance here!

Some of our youth players are not up to it and I get that, but I want players such as Vellios, Barkley, Junior and Mcaleny to be included in the first team for real.

We simply can not afford to let them rot away in the reserves.


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