Cross "the diamond" off the list then....

By Chris Kirwan
August 5 2003

David Moyes has accepted the blame for the first half display in the loss to Roda, citing his tinkering with the formation as the problem.

Moyes used the game to try out a new formation for the forthcoming season, and the result of the change was clearly not to his liking. After the game Moyes told www.evertonfc.com:

"I'll take responsibility. We tried playing slightly different in the first half. We can't be one dimensional, we have to try and look for different things, but it didn't work out."

Nonetheless it's a good approach for a manager to take. At times last season the Blues struggled when Moyes tinkered with the formation during the game. By trying out new systems in the preseason he can establish which of his players can adapt to various roles within the side. If only last year we had discovered that none of them could adapt to 4-3-3.

In the Roda game Moyes attempted to play Linderoth in front of the back four with Osman pushed forward, and it is the Swede's defensive instincts that may awaken Gravesen from his slumber. Gravesen seems incapable of sticking to a gameplan, but remains the Blues' best creative outlet in midfield. He always seems most at home when he has a more responsible midfielder alongside him, and while the Blues have plenty of ordinary midfielders Linderoth is one of them who seems to lack the desire to fling himself into an attacking raid.

Moyes seems to missed out on signing a 'box to box Platt-style midfielder', so perhaps the way forward is for him to hedge his bets and go for one of each. But then again I'm off to watch Barcelona on Friday, so i'll try and tap up Xavi to solve the midfield problem. They can keep Cocu though, the poor man's Pembridge in my book...