Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

Decision, Decisions...

By Adam   Dow  ::  05/04/2012   38 Comments (»Last) With the end of the season fast approaching this season seemingly has the potential to be one of the finest during Moyes? 10 year tenure. With the Blues currently 7th in the league, and an imminent a date at Wembley set, David Moyes now more than ever, has some important decisions to make. The most predominant of which, I believe, regarding his team selection.

After a succession of under-par centre-backs (more recently in the form of player such as Joseph Yobo, Phillippe Senderos, Per Kroldrup to name but a few) Moyes finally has a headache when it comes to who is to start at the back.

John Heitinga, Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are all vying for those starting roles at the heart of Everton?s mean defence. A defensive so mean that leaves them with the 3rd best defensive record in the league, only behind Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.

But who is to play? All three of Everton?s domineering and talented centre-backs have a strong case to put forward

Firstly, John Heitinga. The Dutch international boasts a World Cup ?Runner Up? medal and is arguably having his best season in a blue shirt. His vision and ability to pick a pass has given Everton another avenue of attack this season. Picking out the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Tim Cahill and more recently Nikica Jelavic with his accurate long balls, it is certainly apparent that having him in the team gives us another option. Not to take away from his defensive capabilities though. Yes, it sometimes seems that he lacks a yard of pace needed to keep up with the nippier strikers in the Premier League however his positional sense means that despite this opponents rarely get past him.

Secondly, Phil Jagielka. Jags has proven himself as more than capable at this level since his £4M move from Sheffield United in 2007. At first the future didn?t look too bright for Jagielka at Everton. A succession of poor performances in the centre of midfield left him resigned to the bench, and had the Goodison faithful thinking ?here we go again?. However since his transition into a centre half, he hasn?t looked back, winning both Fan?s Player and Player of the Season in 2008-2009. He has gone from strength to strength. So much so that former England manager Fabio Capello named him in almost all of his England squads, giving him his debut and starting him in the 1-0 win over Spain at Wembley. He is experienced, can pass perfectly well and is an astute tackler. He has however been unlucky with injuries though, and could be lacking match fitness. Having said that, this does not seem apparent and his solid performance as captain versus West Brom does much in the way of putting this idea to bed.

Finally, Sylvain Distin. The athletic and tactically astute Frenchman has been an ever present this season, utilising his pace and strength he has kept some of the finest strikers in the league very quiet, especially at Goodison. There aren?t many players that will beat him to the ball and his physical presence is so overpowering that many pale in comparison. This has led to many Evertonians to consider Distin as one of Moyes? finest coupes in the transfer market. His physical prowess is not the only reason why Distin is such an accomplished defender though. His touch of the ball is likened to that of a midfielder, which enables him to utilise this to get out of sticky situations at the back.

There are times however where this ?flair? causes the team problems. There is a time and a place for trickery in football and that is not when you are the last man. It has sometimes led to the blues conceding unnecessary goals, or Distin getting himself in trouble. Distin was sent off in a Europa League game at Goodison versus Sporting Lisbon, gifting them an all important away goal. This was due to him initially giving the ball away in a bad area and consequently fouling the opposition striker. This cannot happen at Wembley as it will undoubtedly give Liverpool the upper hand.

It?s a tough decision that Moyes is faced with. Who plays? And who is disappointed come April 14th? I?m just glad I don't have to be the one that picks. COYB.

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