Everton v Villa

[SpookyUK]

I know what you are saying about taking the draw beforehand Wembley, but with them having 8 first teamers out, we really should have been taking 3 points today for my money. Also, newly promoted Wolves were unlucky not to clean up there last week, which also put things into perspective.

That Biliyatadinov (sp?) guy looks like a decent creative player, and a goal scorer. Well done Moyes, wish MON could have pulled off suh a coup in the Summer.

I also think the Milner injury (if bad enough for him to be out for a while) could be a big loss, if nothing else for his industry. I appreciate it would be good for Albrighton to get a run out, but it will take him a while to get up to speed.
_________________
"You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything"

[Tonka]

I think most of us groaned when we saw Heskey in the starting line up, he brings next to nothing to the team. Add to that the form of several players are not what they should be and it then becomes difficult to see where the goals are coming from.

For me Milner was off form along with Sidwell and Young which with Petrov (who did okay) is the engine room of the team. NRC must be brought back in (dropping Heskey) and if the form of these players does not improve then Delph, Albrighton and Gardner need to be given a chance as the concern for me is the lack of chances being created each week is evident for all to see.

This is NO criticism of MoN as all players have dips in form, he's the manager and knows more than anyone what is going on.

The team deserved a draw at Everton and I give Everton credit they were far better than I thought they would be given the run they are on so on that it was a good point however no matter what team Bolton bring to VP (yes I know we are away to WHU midweek) if we don't beat them questions will once again be asked.
_________________
SOTC Look at me tan!

[Paul]

[TheOMan]

[wembley57er]

[SpookyUK]

I guess my point was more about MON than it was about Moyes, owed to my frustration that we have blatantly needed a creative midfielder for longer than I care to reveal, without it being addressed. For the record, I for one have always felt Moyles to be overatted. I guess all the people raving about his successes despite the injury problems they had last season kind of answers your question as to why he continually goes on about it.

I havn't seen to much about this player, but what I have seen (and read) he seems to be doing alright (with a team thats missing a number of first teamers to boot) it's also nice for Everton that they have a MF guy that can actually score!. I appreciate what some have said on here regarding them still being a strong prospect at home despite missing 8 first teamers, but conversely, they must have some squad if thats the case, as I would speculate that ANY prem team losing that many starters would be significantly weakened.

I just think that ambitious teams looking to progress from where we finished last year, should be beating teams in this situation. I repeat, Wolves were well worth the point there last week, and surely we rate ourselves as a better side than them....dont we?
_________________
"You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything"

[wembley57er]

I dont think we are actually too far apart on our thoughts. I agree we need a good creative midfield player ,and would hope, by the start of next season, we will find one. It is highly unlikely that such a player or the 20 goals a year striker will be available in January.

This season is a strange one with teams winning matches and conversely losing matches that one would not expect. I read in one of the financial papers a couple of weeks ago that William Hill had had a bad year with too many favourites winning in Horse Racing, whereas they had started the football season well due to unexpected results.

Yes we would in the normal course of events expect to beat a newly promoted team, but in Wolves there was the added problem of it being a local derby. Basically they were really up for it, in the same way Burnley were for their neighbours ManU, and whilst we scored first and looked to have secured victory a penalty gave them the only real shot of worth on goal.

With the dubious penalty given against us at Blackburn losing us a point our league position would be in the top four. With one game in hand, hopefully a win at West Ham, but at home under lights it is nowhere near guaranteed, we could be just a couple of points behind the leaders.

Now actually, I do not think we are playing anywhere near our full potential, but was quite encouraged to hear that Carew put in a very good shift on Saturday. If he hits the form he is capable of we could step up a gear.

Ever the optimist, I believe the strong defencive qualities of our team will keep us in touch with the top six, and if the midfield/attack start to click who knows. Basically Spooky we are on the same wavelength, I believe.

[Chrisupnorth]

We've lacked a truly creative midfielder ever since we lost the great Merse imo. I'd love to see MON spend big (I mean £20m plus) on such a player, but it's that old chestnut of "would a player who carried such a price tag come to VP?" The answer at present is probably not. The bottom line is that if the player is good enough to be valued at £20m, he's going have many more attractive suitors than us at the moment, which means we are left to compete for the over the hill's, the nearly but not quites and the full of potential's. The frustration is always that it's one thing having the money to spend and quite another being able to buy the players you really want.

[wembley57er]

Chris you have finally arrived, I was thinking and saying exactly your thoughts two seasons ago. It is very difficult to bring the real top £20m+ players to Birmingham. Manchester clubs for two differing reasons will attract such players, and London clubs just because it is the Capital City.

Many fans are not able or willing to accept this simple fact, MON has had to build in an altogether different way. He also does not have the luxury of being able to spend vast amounts on failures. Can you imagine the furore on here if he had bought Berbatov and he had performed as he has for ManU, and say Nani, Anderson, Djemba x2 (oh we had him) and many others Fergie has bought. ManU can swallow this with their mountains of cash, we, I am afraid cannot.

Merson, to be frank was great for us but was actually starting the downward slope to his career end when he joined us. This is not to say however such a signing is a bad thing, BFRon made a good career out of it! I would not object to an older playmaker, who is looking for his last contract to be signed, if it meant he gave us such craft for a couple of years in midfield. The players surrounding him would have to be carefully chosen to perhaps cover for lack of "legs" but then Merson was not renowned for his defensive dutied, was he? Such a player can make goals for CF's regardless sometimes of goalscoring abilities, the ball is put in the right place, remember Little.

Up front it is another matter, old strikers rarely resurrect their careers, many on here were screaming for Owen, nothing he has done at Bar Codes and ManU makes me feel we have missed out!

No it is not just money that will talk, unless you have oodles of it, which we dont, it is the ability of the manager to find someone who will do the job, and hit the pitch running; to be fair he achieved this with Collins and Dunne, but it is not always going to be the case and we must accept it.