The Striker Problem

Desperate times require desperate measures, therefore why not recall James Vaughan from his loan spell at Crystal Palace? Vaughan is a striker that most fans feel has always had the ability to play at the top level, just too injury prone to play at all.

There is no Saha or Anichebe this weekend, Yakubu is clearly lacking confidence and fitness whilst Beckford's confidence must be rock bottom. On the other hand, Vaughan hit a hat-trick on his Palace debut to confirm his ability. The only other problem with Vaughan is that he doesn't seem a striker capable of playing the lone striker role, but then again is anyone under Moyes? Bent, Beattie, Johnson, Yakubu?

Why not play 4-4-2 and get the best out of Yakubu or Beckford as well?

It also is clear that Saha will never be fully fit, in any case, he is not the kind of fighter we need for the upcoming struggle. Only those players who are up for it and prepared to mix it should be considered. Osman, Bilyaletdinov, Saha and Yakubu need be put out to graze at least until safety is assured or lost. Here I admit to having no idea who from the current squad could replace them but, by the same token, whoever they might be, our points tally could hardly be worse than it is with those half-fit misfits.

Anyone thinking I am over playing the seriousness of the situation should assume a quite possible return of zero points from our upcoming games against Fulham, Birmingham, Liverpool (our situation is too serious for petty name calling) and Spurs. Then calculate what is required to reach a total of 40 points.

Catterick's superb 1970 team basically played 4-5-1 with Royle as the target man and Morrissey and Husband as wide midfielders who surged forward when needed. Husband also had a superb cut-in from the right when he had spread the opposing defence out in that direction. He got twigged, though... as Moyes and his rigid 4-5-1 has.

I also don't believe that we have a striker problem. Gerd Muller at his best wouldn't score at Everton. Our problem is our play up to and into the box. When we have a right sider equal in quality to say Donovan and Moyes brings in new tactics then our strikers will look much better. All of them can be good and have been good in the past. David needs to change to meet new times and so far he is failing.

As I stated, I accept he has dropped a level, and yes maybe he has found the correct level to play at, however, I think Moyes coaches defenders better, having been a centre half himself. As a team we do not get the best out of our strikers by playing such a negative formation.

Maybe we need to employ a former striker to help coach ours. After all we have a goalie coach in Chris Woods, so why not a specialist coach for the most important position.

http://www.footballfancast.com/gallery-top-10-fat-footballers/attachment/david-dunn

He doesn't even make the top 10!!!!

Apologies on a postcard to

Lardarse,
Goodison Park,
Goodison Road,
Liverpool L4 4EL.

Neville is the only midfield player we have with the discipline to cover for our fullbacks pushing forward. This is why Distin has struggled, he's in two minds being asked to slot across for Baines, and then gets caught out trotting back. Fellaini is being asked to drop back and win headers, which is fine but he's not mobile enough to cover out wide. Neville playing in the middle will allow Fellaini to answer his true calling, as a box to box midfield player, and Coleman and Baines can do their stuff overlapping. Arteta will be getting the ball further forward.

I know a lot of people don't like our Phil (I used to think the same) but good players need covering and he does this. We get obsessed with where Arteta plays, but I don't care so long as he gets the ball in areas where he can do damage.

I'm positive about tomorrow, I think, by default we may have stumbled on close to our best team. Hibbert and Osman are out (I'm not slagging either but it forces changes), Heitinga is AWOL or so I hear and Beckford is shall we say 'out of favor' I think the team that starts tomorrow will be:

Howard,
Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines,
Neville, Fellaini,
Arteta, Pienaar,
Cahill
Yakubu.

It would be nice to have Rodwell and Saha from the Bench and Heitinga centre back but, It's close.

Que backlash.

Saha, Beckford, Yak, Gueye, Silva, Anichebe, Agard, Baxter.

It's time to give the youngsters a chance. Some youthful enthusiasm would do us good, and I cannot see that we have anything to lose.

I also propose rotation in the spirit of that wonderful game called Russian Roulette.

If you don't score, you are out, viz, you get only one chance.

In the past, I have questioned the manager's technical ability, tactics and substitutions. I now worry he does not know his best team and will never allow this squad to reach its full potential.

Currently we play one of our best midfielders behind the striker, a centre back in midfield and the same right side setup that was at the club eight years ago which was deemed below the required standard. We have a young player who we can all see in more a winger than a right back and only now does the manager see the light.

I think our manager is out of his depth when given too many options and is best with a threadbare squad. I see substitues getting ready to go on the pitch have to put up with Steve going "Round" the houses with a 5-minute tactics talk when we want the player on the pitch. How many times have we gone another goal down whilst we await a substitution??? Please go Moyes........ in Moyes we rust !!!!!