Given the fact that Everton started the season with five strikers ? Yakubu, Saha, Anichebe, Vaughan and Beckford ? the return to date of two Premier League goals has been pitiful. From recent comments, David Moyes is becoming increasingly frustrated, but it would appear that, due to a lack of money and the fact that Yakubu and Saha primarily are sitting on generous contracts, there appears to be little in the way of salvation.
Obviously without having the inside information concerning the specific details of wages and contracts, one would assume that Everton must be paying well in excess of £100k per week on the forwards' wages. The top earners, and previous proven goal scorers, Yakubu and Saha, are collectively taking the lion's share in this respect; however, their contribution this season (and for most of last) has been neglible at best.
On the evidence to date, it would appear that Yakubu is unlikely to rediscover his form or goalscoring prowess since sustaining his career-threatening Achilles tendon injury and Saha appears to have reverted to pre-contract extension type of being injury-prone.
Without Tim Cahill's contribution this season, we would seriously be listing near the bottom of the Premier League. Given the issue with both Yakubu and Saha, it leaves Everton with very little option other than the unproven Beckford being granted an extended run in the team.
One thing is clear, David Moyes has serious problems on his hands with both Yakubu and Saha. During the upcoming transfer window, he needs to consider his options and the issue of a fire sale approach to both players maybe what's needed given their evident drain upon the salary budget.
We may not have the finances to accquire a top class proven goalscorer but surely, with the potential to offer decent wages, a player can be found for at least a loan period?
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Arteta's lack of form is a big reason for the dearth of goals from our forward line this season. He is our creator in chief but how many quality threaded balls do the likes of Yak and Saha get to feed on?
Saha is moving into good positions and has good ball control but our midfield is not providing much in the way of ammunition.
Beckford does have pace and maybe a run of a few games may bring results... I would try Beckford and Saha or Beckford and Yakubu in home matches to see if this brings results!!
If we play Tim, we can't accommodate Beckford in a balanced line-up. I love the bones of him but I don't think Tim can cut the mustard as an out-and-out central midfielder. The only way to solve the problem is by finding someone who likes playing up front on his own. Someone who will work his bollocks off, hold the ball up when its played up to him, give the midfield time to join in the attack, and be a regular goal scorer. There is nobody that even resembles that type of player currently at the club.
When you consider that Moyes has prefered 4-5-1 for some time now, you would think he would have found someone who fits the bill. You will need to find someone big and strong and not prone to injury. I know there is not many of that type around but if you can't find a player like that then there is no point in playing 4-5-1 ? no matter how good a player Tim Cahill is.
Coleman, Baines and Pienaar are putting in the effort to help Cahill and the striker(s) but we need to up the pace more instead of being too timid and crab-like in moving forward. There surely must be some room at some stage for Gueye, no doubt buoyed by the victory of La Republique last night.
Against Sunderland, let Beckford play from the start, and bench either Saha or Yakubu (but play the other from the start) and let's see what happens, but at least let's involve Beckford and Gueye a little more!
Just another Moyes mystery... not as if there aren't a shitload of them I can't get my head around!!!
It was the Yak that put in the cross for Cahill to score a couple of games ago, as I remember, so it seems he's playing more in midfield??
To me, he has to be the guy in or around the box all the time that the rest of the team are looking to play the ball to so he can have a chance of scoring. More like that ex-United goalhanging Dutchman that I detested so much I can't even bring myself to try to remember his name.
It is truly staggering that some of our own fans cannot or will not acknowledge what Tim brings to the club.
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