neonleon
Player Valuation: £35m
I'm getting more and more worried about this next qualifying fixture. It's the most important game of the season as far as I'm concerned - as lose it and we can forget about europe.
The warning signs: a fairly promising start to the season has tailed off with some bad performances - reading, blackburn, bolton (yes we won, but can play better than that surely, man united.)
each game has highlighted some old everton problems and some new ones. Our inability to keep possession, distribute from the back without resorting to the big hoof, keep the ball on the ground and not indulge in endless head tennis, failing to control the tempo of a match and playing with too much seperation from the midfielders and the strikers.
We've also failed to keep a clean sheet and been a little rusty at basic things like set pieces.
The fernandes betrayl hurt the club seriously as going into this campaign, a large part of the above problems should have been solved by his quality and creativity in midfield, and players like jags and baines at fullback distributing the ball well.
Instead Hibbert has played at RB, with his panic ball style of distribution, and we've had to rely on the solid defensive, non nonsense tackling styles (and creativity lite styles) of Neville and Carsley (or jags) in midfield. Gravesen can help with this problem, but not if he fails to make the team due to injury. So how will we keep possession against a side that will be playing like possessed maniacs in order to get into europe?
Just as worryingly, Arteta has been off colour in the last three or four games (after the first couple when he was on fire), and with such a burden of creativity and service on his shoulders we cannot afford for him to have an off day. even his corners and free kicks seem to have deserted him.
Add to tht and we have a complete unknown in goal - presuming that 'nuclear' starts; whether he steps up or bottles it is anyone's guess.
Celtic went to the ukranian side (the side that finished above Metalist in the league in 2nd place) Shakhtar Donestk and lost 2-0 yesterday. We cannot expect much when we go over there. We need to beat them convincingly now.
I'm worrying that we have alot to get right in time for this match, and I'm concerned, especially in midfield.
Thoughts, gentleman?
The warning signs: a fairly promising start to the season has tailed off with some bad performances - reading, blackburn, bolton (yes we won, but can play better than that surely, man united.)
each game has highlighted some old everton problems and some new ones. Our inability to keep possession, distribute from the back without resorting to the big hoof, keep the ball on the ground and not indulge in endless head tennis, failing to control the tempo of a match and playing with too much seperation from the midfielders and the strikers.
We've also failed to keep a clean sheet and been a little rusty at basic things like set pieces.
The fernandes betrayl hurt the club seriously as going into this campaign, a large part of the above problems should have been solved by his quality and creativity in midfield, and players like jags and baines at fullback distributing the ball well.
Instead Hibbert has played at RB, with his panic ball style of distribution, and we've had to rely on the solid defensive, non nonsense tackling styles (and creativity lite styles) of Neville and Carsley (or jags) in midfield. Gravesen can help with this problem, but not if he fails to make the team due to injury. So how will we keep possession against a side that will be playing like possessed maniacs in order to get into europe?
Just as worryingly, Arteta has been off colour in the last three or four games (after the first couple when he was on fire), and with such a burden of creativity and service on his shoulders we cannot afford for him to have an off day. even his corners and free kicks seem to have deserted him.
Add to tht and we have a complete unknown in goal - presuming that 'nuclear' starts; whether he steps up or bottles it is anyone's guess.
Celtic went to the ukranian side (the side that finished above Metalist in the league in 2nd place) Shakhtar Donestk and lost 2-0 yesterday. We cannot expect much when we go over there. We need to beat them convincingly now.
I'm worrying that we have alot to get right in time for this match, and I'm concerned, especially in midfield.
Thoughts, gentleman?
)" have a tendency to look at players as being unknown if they are not known in the UK.
