The Rob Fox Column
Columnist: Rob Fox

Panic
18 August 2005

Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before

Well, that’s our first six-pointer of the season gone then, just to add to the financial disaster looming if we fail to overturn a 2-1 deficit in Spain next week.  Out of the Champions League and the title race in August would be too much to bear.  Looks like we’ll have to go for 2^nd place and the Uefa Cup instead now.  Is it just me who isn’t as distraught as I should be at this moment? Is it just me who can see positive signs that we are growing as a team and are now genuinely just one or two players short of being a Very Good Team?

I’ve read the mailbags and seen the forums and I can’t understand what the fuss is all about.  I can see that there are certain areas of the team — notably the left hand side and up front — that need addressing.  I would be happier if we had made another four or five signings this summer.  But I can also see that we are improving as a team, competing against the top sides on a more equal footing.

You just haven’t earned it yet, baby

I’ve never been one for hard-luck stories.  We lost to Villarreal because they made the most of their chances.  Similarly against Manchester United, not helped of course by an elementary mistake by Joseph Yobo.  I was encouraged by our performances, particularly against United, but I make no excuses for losing.  Both teams were more clinical than us and that is all that matters in football.  It’s better to have one chance and score than five and not score and nothing will change that.

On the balance of play against United, it is tempting to think that if we played them again the result would be different.  It might well be, but we would need to be more clinical in front of goal to beat them no matter how many times we played them.  The main difference for United on Saturday compared to last season was the sharpness of Ruud van Nistelrooy and the fact they now have Edwin van der Saar in goal.

Cemetery gates

So where does that leave us? Well, speaking as an Evertonian who has arrived like a lamb to the slaughter so many times over the last 10 years or so when facing the top sides, notably United, our performance on Saturday was hugely encouraging.  We didn’t go out with a game plan solely based around stifling United and hoping for a bit of luck.  We didn’t stand around admiringly as they stroked the ball about and waited for the inevitable.

Our performances against United under Moyes have largely been a benchmark of our progress.  From a disciplined defensive display at Old Trafford punctuated by occasional forays forward, but culminating in a late collapse in 2002-03, to a disciplined display at Old Trafford last season with more frequent forays forward this time culminated in a hard earned, but largely deserved, point.

What difference does it make?

The 3-4 game in 2003-04 showed how things were changing.  A traditionally spineless performance in the first half gave way to a powerhouse 2nd. half display which gave us parity before a late, predictable, capitulation.  Still largely outclassed, but showing a stomach for the fight.

In truth, the credit for that fight-back has to go down to Moyes.  At half-time it was “Game over” with the players shell-shocked.  Somehow they came out in the second half, played a much more direct style and clawed their way back in.  In a nutshell there is the hub of the problem Moyes has faced from day one.  With a deficit of quality, we have not been able to go toe to toe with the better teams.  On Day One, we weren’t able to go toe to toe with many teams at all.  We have had to use other methods to bridge the quality gap as we have gradually increased the quality of our own squad.

Oscillate wildly

Last season at Goodison we simply weren’t good enough in the FA Cup, gave everything in a breathless encounter in the league in which we powered our way to a 1-0 win without ever truly dominating the game.  This time around, the game never quite reached the frenetic heights of that night in April, but of course it was never going to.  Instead, overall, it was a game between two well-matched teams.  We played some slick football, caused them a lot of problems and created several clear-cut chances.

As against Villarreal, we had enough possession, and put our opponents under sufficient pressure, to have won comfortably.  In truth we will meet few sides as good as those two this season, but that should not gloss over the fact that more of a cutting edge would have seen us off to an excellent start this season.  Similarly, we have defended well over the two games but our lapses in concentration have been heavily punished.

I started something I couldn’t finish

One incident in the first half against United summed up our main problem at present.  Not having watched a replay, I’m not sure who it was, but a fantastic cross was arrowed over from the left and just eluded Leon Osman’s leap.  Marcus Bent was about 20 yards behind.  If only Big Dunc had been on the pitch….

Of course later on he was and I don’t recall him being on the end of any clear-cut chances.  In fact, as the game went on, we seemed to fade and create less and less in terms of clear chances.  Obviously, with time running out we were going to be more hurried but it is a regular occurrence that we create less with two forwards on the pitch.  The main exception last season was against Crystal Palace, and they were relegated.

This night has opened my eyes

Villarreal and Manchester United are two outstanding football teams.  Villarreal’s performances in La Liga last season highlight this.  Like most Blues, I have seen many Champions League games on the box but last week was my first experience of this standard of football at first hand.  Clearly, their players were technically better than ours, and that is no real surprise.

Like us, they are a well drilled outfit and have a number of players who have made big money moves which have failed.  The difference is they have Barcelona rejects whilst we have Blackburn and Real Sociedad rejects.  And, yes, Mikel Arteta played quite well but was outshone technically by some of the Villarreal players.  Nevertheless, whilst the likes of Forlan and Figueroa failed to adapt to the physical demands of the English game, Arteta is beginning to thrive in the pressure cooker of the Premiership.

Hand in Glove

The game against Villarreal brought many things into sharp focus.  Weir struggled for pace but his experience bailed him out as the game progressed.  Kilbane, Bent, and Pistone looked out of their depth whilst Cahill and Arteta battled manfully but at times looked second-class.  Even Martyn could be called into question on the first goal.

The players who looked comfortable were Yobo, Neville and Davies whilst Hibbert and Beattie both rose to the challenge.  This obviously needs qualifying.  When Everton created chances against United they seemed aware of who they were playing and lacked the crucial composure when it mattered.  Ruud van Nistelrooy didn’t seem to be aware who the opposition were when he swept home the opener.  That mental confidence is often crucial.

Yobo and Neville looked 100% comfortable in that environment.  Davies wasn’t always at the forefront but was another who technically looked up to the challenge.  Arteta showed flashes but at times seemed to have a point to prove, perhaps understandably, and tried to overdo it.  Cahill was Cahill, but his lack of subtlety at times stood out.  Ferguson and Kilbane did what they always do but the game largely passed them by.

The boy with the thorn in his side

Early on, both Pistone and Hibbert had problems and reacted in different ways.  I was sat very close to Pistone in the first half; in my opinion, he chose to go into hiding and leave the responsibility to others.  Whilst Weir was exposed for pace for the first goal, there is little he can do about that.  Pistone, meanwhile, was AWOL.  His performance was summed up for me by one incident when Cahill found himself left midfield in our half with Villarreal on the attack.  He glanced back at Pistone for instructions but clearly none were forthcoming.  Pistone was stood a yard away from Weir marking fresh air.

In contrast, Hibbert — not the most technical player — also had early problems.  As always, he didn’t hide; he simply stuck to his task.  Hibbert’s mindset is interesting.  Defensively, he keeps it simple and gives his all regardless of the opposition, making necessary adjustments quickly and without fuss.  Give him the ball in acres of space and he goes to pieces; but defensively he will always take responsibility and hold his own.

You’ve got everything now

Another interesting comparison is between Bent and Beattie.  There is no doubt that Marcus is more naturally talented, yet it is Beattie who has a far higher reputation and price tag.  Against Villarreal, Beattie looked sharp and reacted well to score a typical poacher’s goal.  He appeared confident and determined and played well.  Bent, perhaps carrying a knock, was poor.

Like many Everton pairings over recent years, combined they would be a great player.  Bent’s intelligence and movement will always give him chances to miss, whereas Beattie is clearly more clinical but has so far found it difficult to make space for himself.  The difference right now is that Beattie seems to believe in his ability to score goals whereas Bent doesn’t.  In truth Bent has never looked right since Beattie arrived.  It seems Everton have overtaken him.

I know it’s over

When Marcus Bent arrived he was quickly top dog, spearheading our 4-5-1.  He arrived at a club tipped for relegation and took the challenge head-on.  Suddenly, the ante has been upped and we are looking at breaking into the upper echelons.  Whereas the likes of Hibbert and Weir will simply give their all and try not to worry about the opposition, Bent doesn’t seem to believe he belongs at the highest level.

The truth is, when you have the ball in front of goal, it is not ability that buries it in the back of net but belief.  Bent, like Radzinksi before him, lacks this crucial quality when it matters.  The likes of Rooney and van Nistelrooy do not.  But then, they cost huge amounts of money… and therein lies another problem for David Moyes.

This charming man

Now, our manager has come in for some major criticism lately and all I can say is that some people need a reality check.  According to some, his main faults are lack of decisiveness in the transfer market and poor tactics.  I don’t want to go over old ground, and I have made my stance clear on Moyes’s transfer dealings many times.  I could go on and on, but I won’t.  All I’ll say is it is not about who you don’t sign, but who you do sign.

Last season, we signed a player who has been widely acknowledged as Bargain of the Season in Tim Cahill.  A year before, we signed Nigel Martyn, surely bargain of that season.  This year it’s Phil Neville.  We have spent all summer looking for a dynamic holding midfielder.  Parker, Sissoko, Davids and Bouba-Diop have all been linked, but instead we go and sign Man United’s reserve left-back.

In my last article, I said I had a good feeling about his signing and that he may well be captain next season.  On the evidence so far, I think that may have been understating it.  He has been outstanding.  Lee Carsley proved to be a very good holding midfielder last season, but Neville adds an extra dimension.  He is much more mobile, provides even better cover for the back four, is more talented and has provided a perfect platform for Arteta and Cahill to push forward and prompt and probe.  Most importantly, he provides genuine leadership qualities, something we have lacked in midfield perhaps since Peter Reid.

That joke isn’t funny anymore

Against Manchester United, we dominated midfield for long spells.  Keane and Scholes were largely anonymous and they relied on Rooney’s brilliance to provide a spark for them.  United’s only real source of joy was by attacking down our left and getting at Pistone.  United were forced to rely on individuals to win them the game.  For many years they have come here and, as a team, dismantled us.  Many’s the time a slick interchange would see Beckham, hugging the touchline, suddenly getting the ball in acres of space and sending over a pinpoint cross.

The key to our ability to match United was Phil Neville.  His desire is plain to see and he has slotted in seamlessly whilst offering us a step up in class.  Simon Davies has also shown flashes of excellence, has fitted into the team ethic well, and should get better and better.  Krøldrup has yet to feature competitively, but looked a good signing pre-season… which brings us to Mikel Arteta.

Accept yourself

A contributor to the ToffeeWeb mailbag recently questioned Moyes’s aversion to ‘flair’ players and his point was a good one.  I would argue that Arteta is the fly in the ointment with that argument, as Gravesen was up to a point before him — there is no doubt Moyes’s tactics got the best out of the Dane’s creative qualities.

When Arteta first arrived, I was highly dubious — based both on his previous record and his early appearances.  His ability was not in question, but he seemed to be the typical foreign ‘fairy’.  Just as Alex Ferguson has always done with his flair players from Giggs to Ronaldo, a work ethic, team spirit, desire and physical and mental strength have been instilled to make Arteta a rounded player.  He is now a competitive Premiership midfielder with above-average ability.  It will be interesting to see if his friend Alonso acquires the same qualities to go with his undoubted talent.  I hear the kopites have actually started playing him away from home this season.

These things take time

So, the midfield is beginning to look strong both in terms of quality and quantity; if we are to make another midfield signing, it would presumably be a left-sided player.  But only if the right one becomes available, which presumably applies to left backs and strikers as well.  We might have to be patient, but I honestly can’t understand the mentality of those who wanted us to sign whoever we could this summer.

Quite simply, Moyes has repeatedly shown that when he does spend the cash the vast majority of his signings make a major impact.  That applies to Kilbane, who made a key contribution in his first season, as much as anybody else.  Quality players on a budget don’t come along very often; I have no doubt that Pistone was brought back purely as a cheap stop gap until we find the right player. I wouldn’t be totally shocked if we signed another central midfielder (perhaps Bakke or Etuhu) to free up Neville to play left-back at times.

Paint a vulgar picture

Against Villarreal, David Moyes had a basic dilemma: try to match Villarreal technically, or play to our strengths.  Our friends across the park found last season that when you play good European sides attempting to match them technically leaves you 3-0 down at half time.  A more direct English approach and you have half a chance.  Let’s be fair; if seasoned Champions League campaigners such as Arsenal and Manchester United are often outplayed technically by good European sides, we were asking a bit much of ourselves to adapt overnight.

The two English sides who have snatched, and I think that’s the right word, the Champions League have done so with high-tempo football.  Our strengths are our tempo and togetherness.  Would a team with Davids (injured), Parker (unfit), Bellamy (up front or not at all), Emre (good, but not that good), Sissoko (raw, although eager), Coco (the clown) and other sundry ‘missed’ targets, have gelled, shown the same spirit and tempo of the no-marks they replaced, and beaten a compact, organised and skilful Villarreal side?

Maybe… but probably not; so we played to our strengths against a team who reached the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup last year — and we held our own.  Like most teams used to at Goodison, they passed the ball around well, but we restricted them to short spells of possession in our half and put them under considerable pressure.  A little more subtlety in key areas, coupled with some clinical finishing, and things might have been different.

Ask

It is no coincidence that our best players were mainly our most recent signings — Neville, Davies and Arteta — who we simply wouldn’t have attracted a year ago.  A better left-back, a quicker centre-half and a quick, clinical finisher would probably have made the crucial difference, but let’s be fair.  Moyes tried to get a better left-back and is yet to be able to secure the one he wants.  We spent £5M on a centre-half and he was injured… would Bellamy, Baros or Vassell have definitely scored or created 2 or 3 goals?

The fact is Moyes’s patience has paid off with the signings he has made; the main question mark is over Beattie.  If Moyes is having second thoughts, all the more reason to be patient before spending big money on a forward again.  If he still has faith in Beattie’s ability so score goals, then finding the right partner is crucial; again, all the more reason to be patient.  Added to the fact you can’t just click your fingers to get the right man — Robbie Keane, for example, reportedly turned us down as he wanted to prove a point at Spurs, and Baros was scared of upsetting the kopites — and people’s impatience just becomes an irritant.

My comments on Keane and Baros may well be wide of the mark, but none of us really know why certain players are linked yet don’t arrive, so the only fair way to judge a manger is by the signings he does make.  Now, personally, anybody who can’t see the vast improvement under Moyes, and even since this time last season, is on a totally different wavelength to me.

Back to the old house

None of us knew what to expect against Villarreal, but most Blues are agreed that we weren’t disgraced and came up against a very good side who, if they do beat us, will do well in the Champions League proper.  Against United, we knew what to expect; the difference was, we all turned up expecting a very hard game but believing we could get something.  Our performance gave credence to that belief.

I have been at Goodison for quite a few 0-2 reverses against United and the general consensus every time has been the same.  Well, we gave it a go but we were never going to hold out for 90 minutes.  We all knew they were light years ahead of us.

Still ill

Now we are coming away feeling frustrated because we all felt there was something there for us, even a goal down at half time.  Yobo’s inexplicable howler gave us a mountain to climb.  But, once upon a time, we would have gone on to concede 4 or 5.  Instead, we kept pressuring them and tried to claw back the deficit.

In many ways, losing to them is now more frustrating than ever; we feel they are finally within touching distance.  True, that’s partly because they are in a transitional phase.  The likes of Keane and Scholes are not as potent as they used to be, and they are less a team and more a collection of individuals than before, but they are still a very strong side.

Money changes everything

The fact is we have improved massively and closed the gap considerably.  That is all down to David Moyes and his staff — who of course he appointed — but ironically many would seek to blame him for us not yet matching them.  Apparently, it’s all down to his stubborn persistence with 4-5-1, which apparently was found out a few months ago.  Don’t tell Rafa Benitez, though, or Jose Mourhino for that matter.

Perhaps, I’m mistaken but isn’t that formation effectively how Manchester United played on Saturday? Or is that 4-3-3? The fact is both Park and Rooney did their fair share of defensive work on Saturday, as did Osman and Davies.  Compare the transfer values of those pairings, or with Robben and Duff and that should put things into perspective.  Good wingers and strikers are generally the most expensive players of all because they are match winners.

Stretch out and wait

Lee Carsley pointed out in an interview recently that the critics who label 4-5-1 negative are ignoring the fact that last season Everton often had 5 or 6 players in the opposition box, a luxury 4-4-2 rarely allows.  His argument follows the lines that the likes of Osman, Kilbane and Cahill have the freedom to go marauding when they have the protection of a holding midfielder such as, well, Lee Carsley, behind them.  Oh, I get it now, Lee, you were just scared of getting dropped.

The point is, it’s all about balance.  Against United, we had better possession and created more chances with just Bent up front; when Ferguson came on, we had more of a focal point in our attack but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.  Bent went deeper and wider to try and forage because we were unable to do one crucial thing — create clear cut chances for the forwards.

Miserable lie Most Blues are united in the opinion that what we lack in our attack is pace.  To my mind this is not strictly true.  What we lack is the ability to create space in the last third.  Pace can help to achieve this, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.  Sometimes a bit if guile can be just as devastating.  The likes of Teddy Sheringham are testament to this.

The United game illustrated this well.  Early on, James Beattie provided the focal point of our attacks.  He has shown a willingness to work hard for the cause, especially against Villarreal, and is increasingly sharp in and around the six-yard box.  Unfortunately, despite good possession and approach play, we lacked the sheer pace to get behind United or the guile to unlock their defence.

When Bent arrived, the play opened up for two reasons. Bent’s pace and willingness to come for the ball and then run with it, as well as link with the midfield opened up space.  The problem then was we lacked a focal point in the area.  With Bent dropping deep, it was the likes of Osman getting into the positions for crosses.  On the two occasions in the game when Tim Cahill found the space to get on the end of crosses, we really should have scored.

Reel around the fountain

Our five in midfield were compact and linked well.  We played some neat football, but our lack of width — our set-up was ideal for two overlapping full-backs who can cross or shoot — was often a problem, although we did cause problems and create chances.  However, when Ferguson came on for Davies, we didn’t have such midfield dominance and United got more of a foothold in the game.

At present, the difference between 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 is a fine one, and to say 4-4-2 will automatically give us more of a cutting edge is too simplistic.  Whilst it can be argued that in both our games when Moyes put on two strikers and sacrificed a midfielder we haven’t conceded, we haven’t scored either.  I would argue that we have actually been more dangerous with the extra midfielder.

I don’t owe you anything

At the risk of sounding condescending, the objective in a game of football is to score more than you concede.  Tactically, a manager has to get the balance right between defence and attack.  Last season we got it spot on overall.  We won too many games by the odd goal for it to be luck.

By opting to open up the game, it often comes down to who has the most potent finishers.  Bent, Ferguson and McFadden are not prolific.  Beattie has been in the past, and still looks the most likely to convert chances.  If you don’t have strikers who are prolific, 4-4-2 is risky as it opens up more space for the opposition to create chances.

Half a person

When David Moyes first took over, most teams could out-pass us and keep the ball better than us.  Unless you are experts at counter-attacking, with a potent sting, that is demoralising and hard to overcome.  With Walter Smith’s stifling tactics, we were punch drunk.

In my trilogy on David Moyes and the Art of Football Management from just one year ago, I looked in detail at Moyes’s tactical approach.  When he arrived to stave off relegation, we opened up and went for it.  We went 4-4-2 — Moyes’s favoured tactical system — and blasted our way to safety.  We played open, attacking football and occasionally came unstuck, notably against Newcastle in a 6-2 defeat.  Mentally, though, the players responded to having a set role and the manager giving them the opportunity to express themselves.

Unloveable

In his first full season, Moyes was faced with a squad of underachievers who were often outplayed, even at home.  He played to our strengths.  Firstly, he got us super fit, and adopted a high tempo, pressing game to unsettle the better passing teams, which at the time included most of the Premier League.  We hassled teams out of their stride and got the ball forward quickly.

The focal points of the whole system were Campbell and Radzinski.  Campbell was the battering ram, who did a fantastic job of holding the ball up and bringing the midfielders into play.  But the key was the use of Radzinski.  Basically, all he did was use his pace to run the channels.  The likes of Unsworth and Hibbert didn’t have to worry too much about distribution.  They could either launch it up to Campbell, or play it down the line for Radzinski to chase.  Unsworth became particularly adept at this.  With Radzinski usually winning the race, we were able to turn defence into attack.

A rush and a push and the land is ours

In midfield, we had central midfielders such as Gravesen and Li Tie who didn’t really tackle, and Linderoth and Carsley who could tackle but not much else.  Wide, we had Tal, McLeod and Alexandersson who all failed to impress.  To counteract this, Moyes set his midfield up in an unorthodox fashion to provide a balance.

Our creativity came in the middle from Tie and Gravesen, whilst the likes of Pembridge, Naysmith, Watson and Carsley covered the wide areas, offering industry and work-rate to help stifle the opposition, whilst providing a platform for the energetic Tie and the creative, if erratic, Gravesen to supply the ammunition for the forwards.  With solid wide men, the full-backs were encouraged forward and we had enough variety to overcome our deficiencies.  The use of Carsley wide right, where we utilised his aerial power coming in to the box, was one simple tactic that helped to give us an edge.

Last night I dreamt somebody loved me

And if all that failed, we had the fat kid to come off the bench.  It wasn’t always pretty, but it worked a treat.  Also, we nearly always used 4-4-2, as we did the following season, when things didn’t quite go to plan.  In truth, there was not much wrong with Moyes’s tactics then either, but a lot of tight games went against us and clearly the problem was a lack of squad harmony.  The team spirit had gone.

All of this is well documented, and it is clear that Moyes’s approach to solving the problems didn’t have the desired effect.  They may have made things worse in some respects.  The crucial factor is that he didn’t buckle.  How much of the mess was his fault is open to debate, but the majority of fans, seeing some spineless performances from the players, backed Moyes.

There is a light that never goes out

Maybe Moyes pushed them too hard, or maybe they needed pushing given the way some of them had performed under the previous regime.  One or two were weeded out; others reached a compromise and buckled down… but Moyes deserves huge credit for instigating the turn-around in team spirit; part of this was in having the humility to listen to the players and respond accordingly.

Whilst other clubs have managers and players gushing all over each other, Moyes doesn’t seem to have that cosiness with his players now.  Some may not particularly like him, or he them, or maybe they are simply more concerned with getting on with the job than having a love-in.

Bigmouth strikes again

More importantly, they clearly respect and respond to his methods and there is a tremendous unity in the team.  In some senses, we could probably cope with the likes of Bellamy better than most.  At Newcastle, he managed to polarise the team.  The idiots became his mates whereas the sensible ones didn’t like him, and the team was divided.  At Everton, any player coming in acting the goat would, I’m sure, be met with a united response to either fit in with the team or go elsewhere.

Mikel Arteta recently hit the nail on the head when he talked about how he has adapted his game to include more tackling through a desire to not let his team-mates down.  This is all down to David Moyes’s decision-making.  Like some supporters, the players may not even realise this… but I suspect they do.  The simple fact is that Moyes is not one for back-slapping until there is something to celebrate.

Please, please, please, let me get what I want

Obviously we need to add a few more faces and, judging by the fact we have been linked with every striker going, this would seem to be a priority.  In my view, if we do spend big on a striker, it will be the most crucial signing of all.  Assuming Moyes still has faith in Beattie, whoever signs will have to able to play alongside him.  It will be interesting to see if we sign a goalscorer to play off him, or a more creative player to create space for the likes of Beattie and Cahill to exploit.

Long-term, I believe we will go back to 4-4-2.  The signing of Neville could prove crucial to this, as he is strong enough to play alongside either Arteta or Cahill and give them the licence to get forward.  In the short term, whilst I think both formations have strengths and weaknesses, against most teams we should have enough about us regardless of which formation we use.

I won’t share you

Our five-man midfield would overrun many teams enough to create sufficient chances to win games.  What Moyes has brought in is flexible players, as highlighted by Osman’s ability to slot into left-midfield against United, and we should have enough to unlock most defences.  What we should get is much more possession, particularly away from home, which could prove crucial.

With 4-4-2, we would obviously concede some ground in midfield, making the pairing up front crucial.  In truth, the only pairing that has linked well was Beattie and McFadden against a poor Sunderland team.  Ferguson and Beattie would only work if Beattie played off Ferguson and hunted for scraps.  Bent would have to play off Beattie and concentrate on linking with midfield and opening up space for Beattie to exploit.

Never had no one ever

The partnership of Ferguson and Bent doesn’t look particularly potent, whilst McFadden doesn’t look up to the job.  Vaughan is the wild card; his eye for goal and movement would enable him to play off any of the main three strikers but obviously we need to be careful how we use him.

From what I can see, any partnership would have to include Beattie with either Bent or Ferguson, with the onus on creating chances for Beattie.  Ferguson and Beattie would be very one-dimensional and narrow, with Bent and Beattie looking the most likely pairing at present.

Heaven knows I’m miserable now

Whatever pairing Moyes chooses, the impact needs to be decisive.  We would undoubtedly have less possession with a four-man midfield and would be relying on the front two compensating for this by creating enough space for the midfielders to use the possession they did get to make chances for the strikers.

With Cahill either sacrificed or shackled, we would lose some of his threat immediately.  The other midfielders would have less options on the ball and would find it harder to get into good positions to play the forwards in, leading to the forwards either having to be patient or drop into midfield (as Bent did against United) to look for the ball.  The upshot is, the forwards would have to be very clinical when the chances did come.

William, it was really nothing Against the poorer sides, we are probably good enough to get away with either system due to having better players.  Against the better sides, I still believe 4-5-1 is valid as a starting formation as it suits our midfielders and allows us to have more of the ball.  To my mind it is no coincidence that the likes of United are getting fewer chances to score against us these days.  It is, of course, possible to switch to 4-4-2 as the game goes on.

If we weren’t creating chances playing 4-5-1 we would have a major problem, but that isn’t the case.  We simply aren’t taking them, whoever they fall to at present.  As far as I am concerned, we are now a strong side with a real platform to do well.  We lack a certain cutting edge, making the next couple of signings in the midfield and attack crucial.  I, for one, am prepared to wait if it means getting the right men, even if that means waiting until next season until we are truly ready to make a real assault on winning some honours.

How soon is now

We are now looking ahead to another tough game at Bolton.  It is quite possible we will lose again.  Rodney Marsh was voicing his concern about us at the weekend, highlighting our tough start and worrying about how a poor start would destroy our confidence and spirit, leaving us in trouble with a small squad.  I hope Rodney isn’t losing too much sleep over us.

The simple fact is, with the likes of Martyn, Weir, Kilbane, Neville, Davies, Carsley and of course Cahill, we have some very strong characters who will always give their all.  Additionally, the likes of Hibbert, Yobo and Arteta are young players who are becoming more resilient, although Yobo’s lapses of concentration are obviously cause for concern.  I would expect age and experience to iron these out naturally.

What we do have is a squad of players who, by and large the manager knows what they will do on the pitch.  Gradually, the quality of those players is improving.  In our recent history, a bad season would be a relegation battle.  To my mind, tenth would now be a bad season.  I don’t believe in miracles, but I do have faith.  As far as I can see we are moving in the right direction, and fairly quickly at that.  It may not be quick enough for some people, but sometimes you have to look behind you to see how far you’ve come.

Rob Fox

Responses:

Kilbane, Osman, Carsley and McFadden are all poor Premiership players.  Cahill was fantastic last year, I do rate him, but he is still only a good player at this level.  Arteta and Davies are the more skilled in the midfield, but I certainly wouldn't call either a true class player at this juncture.  Phil Neville is a good, functional player and I am happy with him as every team need one or two of his type.

All in all though, I wouldn't say our midfield will be scaring many of our Premiership rivals and the notion that our five-man midfield means we should retain more possession doesn't seem to borne out by the facts.  Whoever we play always has more of the ball than we do.  Even when we're at home and dominating a lower-echelon team we rarely seem to have the ball more than 50 percent of the time.  This of course is because Moyes doesn't value technical ability and flair anywhere near as much as he does effort and workrate.

I would also question Rob's interpretation of Moyes's transfer record.  I think its basically crap.  He has spent over £20M since January and all we have are some slightly higher quality journeymen midfielders than we used to have, an untested but very expensive defender {who I do have high hopes for}, and possibly the worst-value striker in Premiership history. Remember he has spent £10M on Richard Wright and James Beattie... that's its own horror show right there.  His judgement of Beattie in particular, is the thing that has made me seriously doubt Moyes and could well be a factor in his eventual downfall.

I do think we have progressed from the dreaded Walter years, but really it would be hard not to improve on that disgraceful period.  I just don't think we will be able to win as often as Rob thinks without a major injection of pace and flair, both things that don't seem high on Moyes's list of priorities.

I truly hope I'm wrong and we do as well as last year, but I have a feeling other teams will be ready for our upbeat tempo and high workrate, and their defenders wont be having too many sleepless nights worrying about Beattie. Mike Price, Songhkla,Thailand  (8/18/05)

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