Strikers... or Lack Thereof

When McFadden left we looked pretty secure up front, Yakubu, Johnson, Anichebe and Vaughan. A formidable group of strikers and when you formulate in Cahill (who could at times can be classed as a striker) then things looked pretty rosy. Of course we should have known Vaughan was going to pick up a long-term injury. It's what he does best. The guy has more long-term injuries then he does goals.

Then there's always the nigly injuries that both Johnson and Cahill seem to pick up. Not many months go by without one of them missing the odd game or two. And just as we get to the business end of the season, wouldn't you know it, long-term injury for Vaughan, nigly injuries for Cahill and Johnson, all at the same time... I think its called Sod's Law.

Against Fulham ,Yakubu was the only fit striker for most of the game and Moyes was forced into the frankly embarrassing situation of playing Lescott up front. That was pretty awful to watch. Against West Ham we had Anichebe back but as the game wore on and the players tired Moyes had no attacking options on the bench to try and win the game. Towards the end, Anichebe was a spent force. He was crying out to be taken off for fresh attacking legs but there simply wasn't an option from a bench, whcih consisted of Gravesen, Hibbert and Valente.

And here's what I dont get: why the fuck hasn't Moyes promoted one of the young strikers to the bench? There's a young striker called Kieran Agard who we picked up from Arsenal. He seems pretty useful and scores in the reserves. Then there's Lukas Jutkiewicz, that striker we paid Swindon a million for. He's actually a squad member. Last I heard he was at Plymouth on loan. And let's not forget others like Scott Spencer, Aidan Downes and Karl Sheppard.

Now if we asked him, Moyes would undoubtedly claim that all of these players were too young and not yet ready for the Premier League. That may well be true but would it really hurt the development of them to sit on the bench and then in a game like the West Ham draw to possibly get a ten minute run out for a tiring Anichebe?

West Ham has a youngster Freddie Sears play for most of the second half and in fairness to the lad he caused us problems and was unlucky not to score a winner. Surely having Agard or Jutkiewicz on the bench isn't going to hurt either the players or Everton's chances of getting a late winner? I understand that they are not ready for the Premier League but we need options on the bench and they are all we have.

The race for 4th is turning in Liverpool's favour no doubt but I can handle losing that. What will really destroy this season is if Everton finish 6th and don't get any European football next season. We are in the drivers seat for at least 5th. Let's not let the lack of striking options throw that away.

If Johnson isn't back by next weekend it's time to promote Agard or recall Jutkiewicz from loan. They have to be a better option then emergency striker Lescott. If they are not good enough to sit on the bench and maybe get a 10-minute runout then its time to ask why we are even bothering to have them on the books?

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