Moyes desperate for more goals

13 November 2010 13:17
Everton manager David Moyes admits he would have no qualms resorting to long-ball tactics to get the goals flowing for the Toffees.[LNB] Moyes has bemoaned the Merseysiders' failings in front of goal all season and his frustration continues to grow.[LNB]The Scot felt his team passed up a number of opportunities to test Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in midweek and only a last-gasp Jermaine Beckford strike spared them from defeat.[LNB]Beckford's dramatic late equaliser was only the second goal from an Everton striker in the Premier League this season - Ayegbeni Yakubu's winner against Stoke a fortnight ago the other - and Moyes would happily change approach, if he had the players.[LNB]"I might go and start crashing the ball into the box, do it that way," Moyes said.[LNB]"It doesn't really matter what you do between the boxes - it is what happens in the boxes.[LNB]"Obviously people want to see a brand of football which they think is the right way to do things, and over the years in England there has been a lot of criticism of the long ball.[LNB]"But at the end of the day, if you get the ball in the box and knock it down and score goals, then it wins you games.[LNB]"At the moment our football is great up to the box but we can't seem to alternate our play.[LNB]"In the past we have had people like Duncan Ferguson who we could maybe have brought on and done something.[LNB]"So we are a bit limited in what we have got in that respect.[LNB]"We have to keep crafting and passing and finding a way of scoring."[LNB]Moyes does at least expect his side to be able to approach the game in their own way as they host Arsenal at Goodison Park on Sunday.[LNB]The Toffees boss has no doubt as to the Gunners' quality but expects both sides to set themselves up to win, rather than to stifle the opposition.[LNB]"They are a very good attacking side with lots of options in their squad," said Moyes, whose side were thrashed 6-1 by Arsenal in the corresponding fixture last season.[LNB]"I think they will come and do what Arsenal do.[LNB]"But I think we have played quite well against them in the last few games, although obviously the first one last season wasn't the case.[LNB]"If Arsenal are hot they can cut you open on the counter-attack, but in the games we've had we've probably had as much ball as them.[LNB]"We were very unlucky there last year. We were 2-1 up, could have been 3-1 but they scored in the last minute.[LNB]"And the one before at home, I think (Robin) Van Persie scored with a free-kick late on.[LNB]"It is a game that over the years I think has been quite close."[LNB]Moyes will have to consider his attacking options but looks likely to stick with Louis Saha having relegated Yakubu to the bench for the 1-1 draw against Bolton.[LNB]Yakubu had made seven successive starts but Saha, fit again after a calf injury, was brought in to freshen the forward line after three substitute appearances.[LNB]Beckford, despite scoring his first Premier League goal in stunning fashion against Bolton, will probably begin on the bench once again.[LNB]Moyes said: "Yak played very well against Liverpool and scored a good goal against Stoke, but he has had seven or eight games and scored one goal. I am looking for a bit more than that.[LNB]"We gave Louis a go the other night. We have to find ways to try to get the goals."[LNB]Everton are without midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who marred his return after four games out injured by getting sent off late on against Bolton.[LNB]Jack Rodwell is getting closer to a return to action after three games as an unused substitute following his ankle injury.[LNB]Defender Leighton Baines is also looking forward to the contest.[LNB]Baines said: "Arsenal are a very good side.[LNB]"If you give them too much space they will definitely expose you.[LNB]"They embarrassed us one time at Goodison, the first game of the season, but there have been occasions when we have been very unlucky.[LNB]"They are the type of opponents we like to raise our game for."

Source: Team_Talk