No place for Dane in revamped line-up

Sep 21 2006 Blue Watch by Mark O'Brien, Daily Post

THERE HAVE been few players to divide opinion as much in recent years as Thomas Gravesen.

Several seasons of wildly fluctuating form at Goodison, with half a season of truly world class performances that secured him a move to Real Madrid, means that Evertonians still seem undecided whether he was a genuine superstar or a lucky, gurning player.

When it become clear that his time at the Bernabeu was up, the debate started again, over whether Everton should try and bring him back or not.

And after watching him in the Champions League last week for new club Celtic, it's probably fair to say that those who were vehemently against his return look to have got it right, for the moment at least.

What happened to the dynamic, bustling midfielder who left Everton? The one causing havoc in and around the opponents' box like a Danish Paul Gascoigne?

Fans at Old Trafford must have thought the ghost of Ray Wilkins had returned after watching Gravesen's display of sideways passing.

And on the couple of occasions he did try to go forward he made mistakes that led to the goals for the home side.

Is he suffering once again from the misconception that because he is a bit stout and has a shaven head that he is somehow a midfielder enforcer?

Or is it simply that his time in Madrid, being told, "Oi, just give it to Zidane," and,, "Not so quick, baldy, David takes all the free-kicks around here," has ruined his confidence?

Either way, a player who seemed indispensable when he left looks like he would struggle to make the firstXI at Everton now.

EVERTON always seem to make it hard for themselves in the league cup, in whatever guise it comes, and again it was a nervy second half down at London Road.

Apart from finding themselves in the hat for the next round - where tradition suggests some sort of thankless game like Middlesbrough away - the biggest positive to come from the match was the form of Victor Anichebe.

He continued where he left off in pre-season and will certainly be pushing the other forwards hard for the role of understudy or partner to the undisputed king of the Everton strikers at the moment, Andy Johnson.

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