Team Changes are Urgently Needed
Matthew Barry thinks his skills at team selection hold the key to Everton success

23 September 2003

I am so fed up of reading the match reports already this season, so I thought I'd put my Manger hat on and see if I could give David Moyes some advice.

Firstly, the defence this term has been a mess.  Take Alan Stubbs; he is simply too slow and just not good enough to be in a back four who should be competing for a top six place in the Premiership Table.   Often already this season — much the same as last when he played along side Joseph Yobo — he has caused Yobo to be out of position because Yobo is aware Stubbs's tendency to make critical errors (eg, Spurs away!!).

And as for Pistone at right back?  Please!  Not with Hibbert or Watson fit!!  Sandro is the best left back in the squad and has covered the centre-backs superbly when under pressure (see Stubbs again!!).

With the acquisitions of Kilbane and McFadden I think that we have good potential to hurt opposition from wide areas on the pitch.  I know that people will say that McFadden should be deployed in other areas but I strongly feel he will add skill and trickery, and will cause concern and panic close to the penalty area.  His cameo against Boro was quality!!  It could bring back the goalscoring threat from midfield that we've missed since the halcyon days of Andrei Kanchelskis.

As for Kevin Kilbane, well, it's crystal clear he's not going to be every Evertonians cup of tea, but he's more mobile than Pembridge and provides a better quality of cross than Naysmith.  So let's give him a chance and see how he actually performs, rather than basing it on prejudgement.

Watson and Naysmith are extremely hard working and committed, however they are defensive-minded players.

In centre midfield, Tommy Gravesen and Toby Linderoth are the best combination we have across the middle, but each of these players still leave a lot to be desired.  Carsley, Gemmill and Li Tie are decent enough cover if one of the two get injured.  If we play McFadden and Kilbane out wide, it takes the pressure of having to be creative off these three and they can concentrate on their strengths.  All that is needed then is the ability to pass to a man in a blue shirt...

I can't see past Radzinski and Rooney if we play with genuine wide players.  They are my choice, but with new found strength we have up front Moyes has the chance to play horses for courses.  I'd love to see Ferguson and Rooney hit it off and also see Campbell and Jeffers find the form that made them so potent the first time around.

Preferred XI:

 Wright

Hibbert      Weir      Yobo      Pistone

 McFadden    Gravesen    Linderoth    Kilbane 

   Radzinski     Rooney

Bench: Unsworth, Watson, Campbell, Ferguson, Jeffers.

Matthew Barry

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