Everton Banter Archive January 29 2014

 

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29 Jan 2014 22:44:27
It's gone from selling r best players an bringing no one in an the money vanishing to selling players an bringing loans in all well an good but what happens when these loans go back ed

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{Ed025's Note - we buy new players, and loan some new ones gav, it's the way football is at the moment mate..

29 Jan 2014 22:39:36
We really need to try an make some signings by Friday because if we don't r season is over again get the war chest out now not the summer let's move it on kenwright do u honestly think we will bring anyone in ed

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{Ed025's Note - hard call that gav...maybe 1mate..

29 Jan 2014 22:32:18
Happy with the rest of the EPL results tonight, Chelsea drawing and THS thrashed by ManC. After the despair of last evening, the dreadful night of waking up at odd times with the thought at the front of my mind of the RS laughing at us, I feel more settled now. We are still in touch with a CL spot. If Jags is commited to what he said last night, God help AV on Saturday and may EFC play as we now expect. I feel we all deserve that. COYB. Love Ya.

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29 Jan 2014 22:30:24
24 hours on. dust has settled and another result comes in. Spurs 1, Manc City 5.
100 million spent by spuds. in comparison £2.50 by us.

So. moral of story. no excuses on defensive errors last night but let's use it as a serious learning curve for both players, management and board.

We are a work in progress, but me personally there are still enough games to go on a serious winning streak.
Liverpool will be to inconsistent so we will need to captilise.

Hopefully we can get our injured players back and that they will be rejuvinated and in turn (perhaps) with some new blood before end of Jan we can thrust forward toward the end of the season and at least prove a point or to and upset the Applecart.

This season is in our hands now and the players need to relax and enjoy their footie again. It was inevitable that sides would get men behind ball to defend against us. its now down to Robbie and co to find another level to turn all this possession into goals.

Coyb

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Great post

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29 Jan 2014 21:08:10
Here's an idea for next year - Suarez takes a great corner and he hits it hard and lowish towards the near side of the six yard box - it's a very dangerous corner (unlike ours that always loop high in the air, mostly away from that danger area) and if their forward gets to it first its almost certainly in the net - so why not stick a bloke 10 (or 9?) yards away from the corner just blocking that lowish fast corner?

Put it this way - if you asked Suarez if he wanted a man standing there blocking his ball path and vision or not, what would he want? He'd want a clear line of vision and path for his cross - come on everton coaches get on it!

(And leave one of our fast attackers near the centre circle so it means they keep 2 defenders back deep)

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Holtby is that a joke, he is awful, gives the ball away all the time, we dodged a major bullet not getting him, Spurs don't want him that say it all.

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29 Jan 2014 21:44:52
spurs don't want capoue and lamela, are they jokes too?

Mike-Ox Long

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Didn't pienaar fail at spurs? The job of the manager and scouts is to find talented players. The good ones can spot talent even if a player isn't playing at his best, maybe because the system a team plays doesn't suit his style, etc. I'm not saying holtby would be good for us, but enough teams went in for him before to suggest he's a good player.

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29 Jan 2014 21:07:43
I was thinking about players who would fit into our system to replace ageing players in our squad looking ahead at the summer if robbie is saving money to spend then rather than now. I do believe lukaku is a talent, but may feel we could replace him with just as strong centre forward next season on loan and add quality to our squad in other areas. 2 wingers names who I have been fond of for a while are Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko. Both game changing influential wingers, replacing pienaar who seems to be ready to go home to south africa and osman who can only play in 30 minute stints before he's puffing. Would like to see our team transform into a deadly squad of players rather than a great 1st 11 and a few stop gaps on the bench. Imagine if we bought both these players in the summer, the forward line up could be from:
mcgeady, mirallas, barkley, osman, deloufeu (hope barca let him stay another season), Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka, kone, and another striker ( mandzukic, benzema, gomez or jovetic would be a dream)

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So play four wingers then?

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29 Jan 2014 23:28:34
No. A squad of forward players. Playing 3 of the 7 each game with one striker as we do at present. First choices would be konop barkley yarmelenko/ mirallas. With mcgeady, osman and one of yarm/ mirallas available off the bench. Our system needs to allow the 3attacking players behind the lone striker almost free roles to roam where it becomes irrelevant if they naturally ply their trade as wingers or attacking midfielders.

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30 Jan 2014 10:57:41
The reds are talking to konoplyanka

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I don't think we could afford the wages for Konoplyanka or Yarmolenko, but I would be happy with either to inject some extra drive into our attack.

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29 Jan 2014 19:55:06
did everyone see pienaar get booked for telling that corrupt ref to put his red shirt on. the best thing he done all night .we have a good team you don't play like you have all season if you are not good and only been beaten twice before last night. I do think we need more pace in the team though. pienaar should be used the same as osman. my team after the window would be

howard
coleman jags sly baines

mcarthy barkley
kev mcgeady/ince
holtby/canales

lukaku/traroe/rhodes

i have drop barkley back because in games where he dropped deeper he could play with the pitch in front of make driving runs and playing through balls faster without having to turn two midfielders before pass lukakus best strengths are his pace and power which are best affective running on to through balls when he has half the pitch to run into and knowing that I am faster and stronger than the defenders.

thoughts

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{Ed025's Note - i think your back 4 is quality eddy..

I think your wrong about pienar he an Baines are the best left sided pair in the league when they link up

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Haha so will everyone after last night I think :)

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Barry surely

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Baines and peinar would would start on the left in the majority of teams in the world if fully fit.
That's just my view

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I think Pienaar is finished as a starter, I agree with. Living off past reputation, Barkley is better in a free role with no defensive responsibilities.

The rest hard to comment on as it's conjecture/wishful thinking and not going to happen.

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29 Jan 2014 19:41:35
I haven't been on for a while but after last night I though I'd post.
Absolutely shocking performance and Martinez was out thought and the team out fought. I'd have taken this league position at the start of the season but I could never accept what happened last night. I've seen us lose horribly to the RS so many times and that was up there with some terrible performances. Anyone remember the 80's 5-0? Or when Rush dismantled us in the Mickey Mouse super cup?

The Villa game is huge, they will sit back and try to hit us on the break - must win game.
I just hope the debacle of last night hasn't created the blue print for future capitulations!

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I absolutely agree we were out fought. However, a Sunday league manager could have implemented a counter attacking game plan against a defence without pace. Besides that's the way they always play regardless of opposition.

Hardly a master plan.

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29 Jan 2014 18:59:27
A lots been said about injuries and players not fully fit comming back I would add to that to many changes because of injuries, players were not covering for each other like when we had a settled team. Its true we need a bigger squad and need to rotate this will lead to less injuries as they have been picked up by tired players playing to many games. This would take time so players comming in know exactley were they should be. To fit in with this system players need to be bought rather than loaned. But for me the tactic that won the game for the sh*te was attacking Evertons defenders and stopping them playing the ball out of defence. They harrased the Everton defence putting them under constant pressure forcing mistakes like giving the ball away and getting caught in possesion. apart from the first the goals came from losing the ball while trying to play out of defence. Its to predictable teams know Everton will build attacks from the back an alternative tactic is need when teams close down Evertons defenders when they are trying to play the ball through. Players move into positions to take a pass and if you loose possesion you are exposed and a team with pace will punish as the sh*te did last night . Plan B is needed when teams attack Evertons defenders stopping them playing the ball through. thgfest

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I agree thg, our 4-2-3-1 formation is effective to an extent, but we need to be able to play comfortably with other formations. Chelsea, City and Arsenal all have two or three formations that I've seen them play with. Up against a liverpool side that were playing 4-3-3 and ticki tacka type tactics, you need a solid 4 defense 4 straight midfielders infront just to cope with that kind of attack, and not two holding Mids, and wingers and attackers. Barry and Mcarthy looked swamped when trying to help out the defense and provide for the attack.

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Yes the midfield did not get a look in when they have dominted most games this season so something was wrong. Roberto needs to take another look at the tactics and have some scope for change. Moyes was a one trick pony but i, m sure Martines will have more to offer

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29 Jan 2014 18:54:08
want to express my delight that syl has signed a new contract, what a player he is, has everything a defender needs, power and by god he's fast, at 36 that is incredible, I have witnessed him outpace the likes of antonio valencia, shane long, theo walcott and cameron jerome whilst outmuscling the likes of christian benteke, cameron jerome, wayne rooney and our very own romelu lukaku, how does he keep going? he is in the gym every day, he is terrifyed of retiring, made up he's staying with us a little while longer, such a shame about the semi final, unfortunately, outside everton that is all he will be remembered for, for us he will be remembered for his hard work and commitment and as one of the best centre backs we have had in years, thank you for your time here and long may it continue, now get back against villa sylvain lad!

Mike-Ox Long

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Echo your thoughts entirely Swanny

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29 Jan 2014 18:52:23
I don't think a striker is priority . we have options i'm more concerned with central midfield and centre half to be honest, I wonder Ed that kid released by city Ibrahim we have been linked with him in the past free transfer or at least a trial might be worth a shout

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29 Jan 2014 18:56:18
hes went to olympiakos mate, shame, looked a decent player

Mike-Ox Long

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29 Jan 2014 18:50:34
Hi Eds, just to clarify the rumours of this 'big announcement' I tweeted Alan Myers regarding information on it and he informed me there was no big announcement, sorry blues, my twitter is @TomJDisley if anyone is desperate enough to think I'm lying haha.

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29 Jan 2014 18:21:17
Roberto make a note, don't go to Tenerife next year! Stay in England mate cheaper and no problems!

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29 Jan 2014 18:20:58
I have deliberately waited 24 hours before posting my thoughts and comments. I would have said things last night that would have got me in to trouble!
I think these will get up a few peoples noses too.
To start with, for the last 6 months I have heard nothing but praise for super Roberto Martinez. Then all of a sudden we lose our 3rd Premier League game of the season and he doesn't know what he is doing.according to some of you that is.
Having said that, I have some criticisms of his choices last night myself. I thought Tony Hibbert should have started in Stone's place. To pick a 19 year old in such a game in such a volatile atmosphere was a mistake. Added to which, I can't believe how Alcaraz was out-jumped for Gerrard's opener. I would have had Heitinger in. He had a decent game last Saturday then is below Alcaraz in the pecking order last night. Hetinger is not quick, but at least he is quicker than Alacaraz. I know Osman has had criticism lately, but he was my man of the match for us when he came on. He lost possession 2 or 3 times max and certainly created more openings than anyone else had in the first half. He was certainly twice as good as Pienaar had been. We were the better team once the substitutions were made. I thought the high line we held up to the half way line was totally the wrong tactic. as the 4th goal aptly demonstrated when Jags lost possession. Suarez and Sturridge are both very quick. To play a high line defending team with slow defenders like Alcaraz is suicidal. To prove my point on this I offer some statistics. our possession = 61%. Their = 39%. Our shots = 19. Theirs = 20. Our corners = 8. Theirs = 5. Score = 4 nil to them.the only statistic that counts.
Finally, my other criticism goes to our corners. All season we have taken corner after corner, and yet we never seem to score. Other top teams seem to score off every other corner. Yes the sh***e and Utd both seem to always score from corners. Last night nearly every one of our corners was an outswinger. Why? They are so easy to defend against. Look at Utd's and the sh***s's, they usually drive the corners in hard to the 6 yard box for a flick on or direct attempt. as per Gerrard's last night. So overall I am not happy. But I guess Roberto has the excuse that Distin and Coleman were injured. Added to which Lukaku went off and Pienaar and Jags both looked like they were wearing army boots encased in mud.

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Great post despite no name. Like you I was also so gutted that I couldn't respond last night even after reading posts on ours and their sites.
Let's put things into perspective however. The fact is we have an injury situation whereby players were picked last night who normally would have been been allowed more time to recover. But needs must I suppose and I was genuinely heartened upon hearing that Jags, Ross and Steven Pienaar had been passed fit to start. How wrong that was as each of them were clearly unfit to compete against the RS who'd been exposed last week by Villa as being weak in midfield and suspect at the back.
John Stones also didn't deserve the criticisms as he was being played out of position and still looks a genuine prospect for the future. Let's not start slagging off our players like they do over the park. This only affects players' confidences and can lead to loss of form. JS should have started on the bench with Hibbo playing at RB. He did so on Saturday having dusted away a few cobwebs and I would have demanded that Johnny Heitinger cancelled his Italian trip to play at centre back. He is still under contract and could have done much last night to impress the Dutch boos had he played.
The loss of Lukaku was unfortunate given the circumstances of his injury and following Bryan Oviedo' s sickening incident at the weekend. Ozzie looked useful when he came on. Again this should prove his doubters wrong. He still has much to offer us and has attracted unfair criticism IMO.

So what of the RS?
Yes they put 4 past us and it could have been more. But our heads never dropped. Even at 4 nil we were the ones holding possession (61% during the game as a whole) and still passing the ball. But when caught giving the ball away we were clinically punished which was hard to swallow having played so refreshingly well this season.
Atkinson was poor last night. He was too easily taken in by the home side's theatrics and IMO wrongly booked Gareyh Barry amongst others.

So let's try to take a positive.
This was only one game. We're only 4 points behind them and they will mess up again as they did against Hull and Villa. Players should start to return to full fitness. We're still in the FA Cup with a realistic chance to progress to Round 6 after a home draw and avoiding Arsenal, Chelsea, City and the Sh***. Roberto agreed to become our manager. How many other clubs must be looking enviously at what they have in comparison?
There's still a couple of days left in the transfer window. A permanent striker is now essential with Romelu sidelined for a while. Please let's sign Danny Ings before someone else does. He's young, raw but can score goals. Something we need now if our season is to progress. Why undo all the good work achieved so far when we still have a chance to push on?

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{Ed025's Note - great post Davey..

I doubt my post will be popular. But I do come in peace and I am not here to gloat, more discuss the game. I just want to say I thought you lot played well in spells, but couldn't cope with the pace of how we counter attack. Personally, I agree with most of the points made here. I Don't understand why people are slating Martinez, I would much rather watch my team always give it a go rather that play damage limitation, as you did the second half. I admire how bold the guy is, you have a fantastic manager and should be very greatful he is at your club.

It would have been a different story if you had a fully fit squad. Coleman and Distan where MASSIVE players for you to miss, without them I am not sure we would have been so lethal on the break. Keep in mind we missed a few key players in Agger and Lucas, but we have stronger players to replace these, let's be honest, you would rather have Kolo than Alcaraz. Plus, you lost your main goal threat after we scored, so the chances of making a comeback became even harder.

I personally thought Atkinson didn't have a poor game, not great though. I recall Stones rugby tackling Sterling and you winning the freekick. I thought one or two of the bookings you recieved were a little soft too, but no game changing decisions were wrong. He could have done better, but a lot worse.

As I said, in peace. Hoping for some unbias opinions too.

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Fair comment SgtRed, but Atkinson was duped very easily, especially by Sterling.

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29 Jan 2014 18:20:46
Hi ed, watching tv yet still no rumours with regards to Ince? Surely he would be a great introduction right now.

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{Ed025's Note - its if bobby wants him joz, i think he does come with baggage mate..

I hate the way he is being hawked around half a dozen clubs. if he is anything like his arl fella I wouldn't want him.

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Some of my mates are b'pool fans and they don't think he is as good as people are making out. I think it's just the novelty of having a young english player, who is half decent.

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Totally agree. Not good enough and too easily influenced by his gob****e father.

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29 Jan 2014 18:20:45
I hope that yesterday was just a blip in the fantastic season how can people say we are skint by my reckoning we have at least 20 million in the coffers never give up we know like ialways know that everton are the best my first game was everton 0 ipswich in feb 1980 to which I cried my eyes out then 4 weeks later beat the same team 2-1 let's gets behind roberto on sat and show him we all stick together no matter

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29 Jan 2014 17:54:11
Hiya ED, did anything conspire with regards to the "big announcement" that Everton had? Just wondering because it got me all excited for a bit. But then nothing happened. Cheers,

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{Ed025's Note - no QB, like most things, it was pie in the sky mate..

Cheers ED. Was thinking (hoping) it was going to be a big signing or something, but oh well.

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29 Jan 2014 17:28:12
Will Traore be fit for the Villa game? When is the last time he played (how long has he been injured for)?
Think we definitely need a striker, if not two before the end of the window, lukaku out could be good for him he needed a rest and he will come back stronger, good news is that he is only out for weeks rather than months.

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29 Jan 2014 17:11:05
I really hope that we aren't in for Cardozo as he's pushing 31 after all we do have an ageing squad as it is and would much rather we pursued Batsauyi or Lukaku, wouldn't mind Rodrigues for S'hampton either.

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29 Jan 2014 17:09:40
the derby has gone now boys and whether we got beat 1 nil or 10 nil, its just 1 game and 3 points, we will bounce back with a good win against villa and all will be forgotten, our players will be up to full fitness again soon and we will be back to our impressive early season football, coyb!

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29 Jan 2014 16:47:49
I think the game was won by Liverpool because Everton had too many players coming back from injury or injured and the early goal upset the way Everton set up
Another day it could have been completely different.
This is the best Everton side and manager for many, many years
A Liverpool fan (honest)

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29 Jan 2014 16:26:47
I know there is probably work going on behind the scenes to rectify this but my god we badly need some investment. The team have been doing so well this season but we have picked up some injuries but instead of strengthening the squad like the other top teams we may be forced to make do with what we got. It's so frustrating

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29 Jan 2014 16:05:12
Lukaku not as serious as first thought out for 4 weeks, still need a signed striker!

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29 Jan 2014 15:58:42
okay I was very annoyed last night and posted some rubbish I think we need to lay off stones, he is young and barely played for us, svenny you said we should sell him right now for profit as he isn't good enough? what a way to install confidence in a 19 year old, people need to lay off alcaraz too, wasnt fit and we all knew he had no pace, darn good footballer and defender too he just wasnt fit and never played alongside jags before, for me martinez made 2 big errors in his team selection, 1.he should of played hibbert and have stones at centre back as hibbert can defend like hell with his crunching tackles and will never be out of position and 2.he should of started mcgeady, pienaar is too slow and clearly wasnt fit, let mcgeady go on and run at people, these two mistakes were suprising by bobby tbh, having woken up fresh today, all I can now say is, let's move on to the next one, the future is bright, the future is blue

Mike-Ox Long

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Couldn't agree more mate, nice to have you back.

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Good of you to have posted that Mike. I agree with your assessment of John Stones. He was played out of position and was caught out for their 2nd and 3rd goals. But he's still young and has much to learn.
Where I still feel you went OTT was your suggestion that we should cash in on Ross in the summer. This lad is class and will shine at the World Cup this summer when the world will be watching. He's our player who we found and nurtured into the prospect he is for the future. To cash in to the likes of Chelsea or Utd would be madness. We need to build the team around him. Something Moyes never did with Rooney.

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29 Jan 2014 15:46:24
lets not feel too bad about last night, I mean, yeah we could've done better but what can you do, next time we'll let Stevie G take the penalties! =)

that joke was in bad taste, in all fairness I think the 1st goal and Lukaku's injury charged the game a lot, you guys felt the need to attack and we took full advantages on the counter. I think you guys have a good tactician in Martinez and you should get 6th, good luck.
lj

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29 Jan 2014 15:29:03
Player I'd really be excited about Konstantinos Mitroglou, I have family in Greece and having spent some time there I have an obligation as I do to everton to support olympiakos, now the Greek league isn't anything special, but to write off a player because they currently play there is wrong, yaya toure, Kevin mirallas to name a few have all applied their trade in the Hellas liga, this lads a goal machine, his left foot his natural but his right just as capable, strong in the air, fast, and has a real crack on him, realistically think he would be available for 10M although he has just extended his contract with olympiakos, I'd love everton to get this guy because when he leaves olympiakos he is going to do very very well wherever he goes, I just hope for our sake it's us.

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29 Jan 2014 15:02:29
Just read that Lukaku out for 3 to 4 weeks! Anyone know when Traore and Kone are going to be fit? Does Vellios not deserve a chance yet? We can't keep playing Naismith up on his own and lump balls up to him.

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Apparently Vellios Isn't here and is trying force through a move, but after last night and lukaku, he will either be called back or we're getting a new striker,

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29 Jan 2014 14:31:27
Ed, if we wait and try and sign lukaku in the summer will that be our budget gone? I do not think am he is worth blowing our budget on.

I think we need to sign a player who is a game changer, can create and score goals, all the teams around us have these players.

Yes I know mirralas and barkley are quality but there not in the same bracket as cazorla, ozil, Oscar, hazard, suarez, mata. Although I know we don't have the funds to spend this sort of money but if as people are saying we trying to spend 20-25mill on lukaku in the summer then why don't we spend it on a creative attacking player.

as always EDs and posters voice your opinions

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For me Lukaku is an over Hyped Anichebe and I would be shocked if we paid 20 mill for him. I really does my head in I mean traore cost Monaco about 10-12 mill say he scored 10 in 15 games would that mean he was worth 20-25 mill? . Throw Vellios in a Chelsea shirt and people would be saying his valuation was 20 mill, we would be better of buying victor back for 5 mill haha

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{Ed025's Note - he was the best thing since sliced bread 6 weeks ago lew, he may not be on top form at the moment, but i believe he is still a quality striker..

I have had the same opinion of lukaku since about the 5-6 game mark. Start of the season opposition players gave him a lot more time on the ball and he was playing great, but since then it seems players have discovered he isn't all that. We all questioned Chelsea's decision to loan him out again and now it's pretty clear why they did.

Also look who we have had to compare him to, I feel traore and hopefully a new striker in the summer will prove my point.

Thanks

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29 Jan 2014 14:25:13
I have never read such nonsense from anyone as to what this swan fella posts. He loved barkley at that start of the season but he's 'highly overrated' now because of an unfit performance against one of the in form teams in the league, so let's say we sell him for the 25m your so desperate to remove David moyes' hand for, we buy 2 maybe 3 if were lucky decent rated players, who don't support everton, NEVER have done, the club doesn't mean anything
To them, it's just a wage, only ever so often you find a player who really bleeds everton, Tim Cahill was a prime example, Kevin mirallas performance last night was reminiscent of that, but you see it every time Ross plays, he loves everton, and he's 19 you melt, he isn't going to get the ball from a goal kick dribble the length of the pitch and lob the keeper, your an absolute remedial if you believe he would, honestly your opinion of football shows you've never played at a decent level or even have an adequate understanding of it, I've never read such negative crap anywhere, proper kopite behaviour that, you always moan people are having a dig at you. Are you actually suprised? Like really? Support your team instead of pretending you know better than Roberto Martinez, which you clearly clearly don't, as you aren't the manager of bootle, let alone everton, actually listen to what people who have a far greater knowledge of football than yourself, listen to what they say about him, watch his game, he's still a kid and learning his position, get off his back, it's people like you who are putting irrelevant pressure on young players, by basically saying you know he isn't good enough. Not arsed what people think, positive/negative, agree/disagree I love everton, and I'm absolutely heart broken we got beat 4-0 last night, but it's one game and it's gone, sick of reading negative posts, can you at least write 1 positive one?

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Agree with your posts if it was another 4 or 5 players wouldn't have ventured out last night . Ross did well it usually takes a few games as sub to get back into things, excuses yes but relevant ones

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29 Jan 2014 16:15:31
no I said he is overhyped, and I've been saying that for a while not just last night, wayne rooney supports the club, youse all hate him enough, ross seems like a nice lad and as I said in my latest post I was saying nonsense last night and I don't take that back, I was saying absolute garbage, it was all my emotions coming out, if ross bleeds everton he should consider giving a damn if we win or lose, he tried too hard, trying to nutmeg people 20 yards from our goal, gambling the whole result so he can show off isn't 'bleeding everton', wish we had someone like tim still at the club, unfortunately we dont, our players are too quiet and non of them have that drive that tim had, closest we have is mccarthy who I love, even he bottled it last night, we need a leader on the pitch, cannot wait for gibbo to come back, he is a natural leader and will be golden in games like last night, but again I do admit saying some rubbish last night, I was in bits, gutted, so apologies

Mike-Ox Long

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{Ed025's Note - well done mike..

As you, reading back, I didn't mean it to sound like you hate the blues haha it does seem different to how I thought of it, it was in no way meant to sound malicious I'm probably still sulking cause let's face it, we've all had it in the neck today from that horrible lot, just felt a bit sour reading that as I came on here to try look at any positives anyone took from the game (stretch of the imagination I know) I'm nice really mate, I promise haha, full credit to you though for that reply, would have been easier to let me have it.

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29 Jan 2014 14:40:08
A few observations from last nights game, our tactics were certainly naive, as stated by RM post match interview, but the question needs to be asked why?
It is suicidal to play a pressing flat back four with the full backs totally adrift from the CB's against three fast and skillful forwards and equally skillful AM. This resulted in both Barry and McCarthy playing too far forward and exposed to the quick interchange of passing or Gerard's long but accurate long ball over the top.
Only Mirallas, Barkley and to a lesser degree Alcaraz and Osman, when he came, can take any credit from the game.
What was disappointing was the lack of real passion shown and not changing our tactics in the second half, nobody was talking to one another and Kevin was the only one showing any real fire.
Every player, especially fullbacks, should be asking themselves the question that if your team mate loses possession am I positioned to protect the team. Both Stones and Baines were guilty of being out of position and stranded far too often. In Stones case I feel RM should have played a player with vast experience in derby games, who is probably our best tackler and defender, who positional sense allows him to cover CB's and probably prevented two of the goals and who's passion would have lifted his colleagues - The player I'm referring to is Tony Hibbert, you missed a trick there RM.
By the way he set his team out, tactically on the night Brendan Rogers taught RM a lesson which hopefully EFC will learn and benefit from but it with a little more thought and the ability to see the need to change our approach it should not have happened!

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29 Jan 2014 14:30:33
think on performances last night a re shuffle in defense is needed if the same players who missed the derby are still out at the weekend. don't think stones can play at rb at the min, so slot him into cb with jags and bring in hibbo. Naismith struggled up top on his own and the ball never stuck, think playin mirallas up there may serve better for our prospects come saturday. Hope bobby goes with this:

Howard
hibbert jagielka stones baines
barry mccarthy
mcgeady barkley pienaar
mirallas

although ossie looked bright when he came on against the rs, I would still start with pienaar and bring ossie from the bench when teams tire as his lack of pace would not be so apparent, but his quick feet in a tight space would pay off in the 2nd half of games.

The team as mentioned is based on if players who were out against the rs are still out. if coleman or distan are available, they should start.

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I'd go with that team as well Craig

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29 Jan 2014 14:25:32
Think after last nights result and players out injured Martinez needs to restore some belief into the fans and sign few players now.

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Why would he do that? For the sake of it? Waste several million to 'restore some belief'?
What's wrong with kicking on in the next game and showing a positive reaction. You can't be serious, can you? Really?

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29 Jan 2014 14:11:05
Bill needs to get the cheque book out, last night showed that our squad hasn't got enough depth, ideally we need another 2 defenders, 2 more midfielders and for heavens sake at least a striker. We looked tiered out paced and simply just didn't look with it, Liverpool have had injuries like we gave, difference is they have the players to cover it! Bill needs to give bobby the money to buy or sell the club to someone who will

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A chequebook isn't the remedy for naive defending, individually, collectively and tactically. We had the players on the pitch to do the job, they just didn't perform as per usual at Mordor. Spending on players just for the sake of adding numbers to the squad isn't the answer. We need quality and if it's not available I'd rather wait than waste it.

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{Ed025's Note - a lot of our problems were caused by injuries DB, which meant we had to play unfit players, and players out of position, and at this level against quality strikers, it was always going to be a recipe for disaster mate..

I see what you're saying Ed25, and I agree it didn't help, but I guess my point was every time we go over there we seem to freeze and lack any real fight and desire and just bend over for them and a chequebook won't cure that.

Injuries aside, it was a gutless display from all apart from Mirallas, Barkley and maybe Ossie. We could have had 4 Thiago Silva's at the back but playing a high line against pace was THE recipe for disaster. And that's nothing to do with a chequebook or lack of cover but down to naive tactics.

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{Ed025's Note - lets just hope it was a one off DB, and we get back on track against villa..

29 Jan 2014 13:05:35
The performance wasn't good enough I know, but we outplayed them at times okay we have nothing to show for it but we went away from home and played our game and unfortunately our style of play is exactly what they love to play against, They are a counter attacking them with clinical forwards I never saw them have a lot of nice attractive football.
Remember Gerrard saying we play long ball, well that's what two of their goals were. Yes we had a bad performance our players weren't there. But we have to support them and show our worth as supporters.
Also I have read on here a lot Mirallas getting a lot of slack recently undeservedly, most chances created for our team this season, he was outstanding last night, the best player on the pitch, noone else took players on like he did and noone is praising him when he deserves it, he has been in incredible form the last 4 games now and he has a lot of fight and passion for our team he showed us what Everton is all about last night and not to give up when your luck is out.
We will go again, and by the time the next derby comes it will be forgotten, be proud our team only cost 50 odd million unlike theirs that was 250 million with all the players they buy but never make it, spending 5 times as much you should be beating teams by scorelines like that, but they were a poor side list night just clinical, most people won't agree with this but its how I see it

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{Ed025's Note - thats one of the most frustrating things 1994, they are not that good!..

They aren't but unfortunately we didn't perform yes it hurts but if we can't get fourth I'd prefer them to than United as it's time things change and our time will come we have probably one of the best under 21s in the world right now and if only 3 of them reach their potential we are going to be unstoppable! One player people need to realise we have is lundstrum and he plays with Barkley for England and everyone raves about the two together, and at Yeovil he has been in superb form. I would happily wait and have a team we've brought through our academy than pay 28 million for a bench warme.
Onwards and upwards blues

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Ed 25 Should you really be editing when you just spout bitter little comment like that? Should you not be a bit more mature in your opinions? All though what else should football fans expect from an Everton fan? We are not fourth in the league for no reason, seriously son GROW UP!

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{Ed025's Note - for a start...i am not your son!...i gave my honest opinion on your team...i dont think you are that good, and i stick by it, for me you are carrying 3 players..cissokho, toure, henderson, and your bench is very weak, you obviously look through rose tinted glasses... i have my opinion and you have yours..if you dont like mine i dont give a toss, go and troll some other pages and stop wasting my time..

They aren't that good as we proved at Goodison when we could've scored double figures. They just caught us on a bad night and everything went for them. Dodgy bookings, disgraceful penalty decision, diving little cheats.

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Well said lads. The RS were there for taking last night. 31% possession at home?
Their defence is suspect as Villa showed last week and we did not (or could not because of injuries and players being brought back too soon) break them down like we did at Goodison.

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29 Jan 2014 13:03:15
Martinez needs to bring in a prolific goal scorer and quick that is all were missing we have gone too many years now without one were only 4 points away from a champions league spot now is the time to splash that cash that can be the difference between us making the cl or not.I really feel though he will pull something out of the bag.

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Id go out on a limb and try for batshuayi.yes he unproven in prem but he is banging goals in at the moment, confidence is high and like most belgians, will probably be suited to the prem.id also push through a deal for martins indi.big powerful defender and at 21 has already played over 100 first team games in holland

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{Ed025's Note - i wish you had the job of being our buyer dentie, they would do for me mate..

If what's said is true ed, could get both for a combined 15-16 million.has to be worth it for them two players.

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29 Jan 2014 12:58:34
Bbad result lastnite to state the obvious but there's a lot of football to be played yet every team gets a really bad result thru the season we've had rs I am sure there will not be another performance as bad as that the rest of the season and it will happen to liverpool yet that's a cert eventually there injuries and the football they play will be worked out by other teams and the axe will fall if they loose suarez there in trouble it happens look at lukaku and oviedo and I for 1 will be the first to point it out to some of my workmates when it does.Rremember spurs were beat 5-0 and 6-0 and there back better than ever plus the champions league will resume soon we can take advantage of the teams having to play extra games in that and if they loose in that confidence can be shattered, martinez is a fantastic manager and hell have us back better than ever traore will be ready for the villa game. COYB keep the faith

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29 Jan 2014 12:33:43
When their 3rd went in I sank with my head in my hands and felt like blubbering!
I was 13 at the time and after our 0-3 drubbing at home by the RS in 1969 we went on to win the title.
I closed my eyes in disbelieve at our terrible defence as they put 5 past us at home in 1982 Within two/three years we had one of the best teams in the world and would have conquered it only for being banned due to that shower across the park.
So heads up, If you know your history we take a stuffing off them and then go on to greatness!

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29 Jan 2014 10:39:18
what a shambles, but I am a evertonian and I will take it on the chin.i think martinez should of played hibbert instead of stones(stones an excellent prospect but I think we needed that experience).alcaraz not top club material and with distin on the end of his career and heitinga wanting away who have we got?thats the negative done, let's look forward to the rest of the season.

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I think we need to give heitinga another go was brilliant a couple of seasons ago has a wealth of experience would have kept the back 4 better organised lastnite in such a big game also agree hibbert should ave played he never would have been caught that far forward when u look at the stats from game lastnite its amazing we were beat 4 -0 to state the obvious and much as I hate to admit it rodgers got his tactics right with help from some awful defending

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29 Jan 2014 09:44:14
Have been racking my brains, and can't remember a worse defensive performance since Lescott's last game against Arsenal. Was an absolute horror show. Reading through some of the other posts, I really don't think players should be getting singled out, in particular Stones. Going to be a massive player for us in the future. It was a collective mess, not helped by a lack of striker, and to many players looking a bit jaded. As a lot of other posts have said one game doesn't change the season we are having. let's turn it around for the weekend.

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We are all gutted by lastnights result. We need to take stock and get back to winning ways at home v Villa. There are a lot of points still to be won and we still have an outside chance of 4th. If not its not the end of the world, Martinez is building a good team so give him time and he will deliver, I have no doubt about that.

We got sucked in by all the hype and didn't perform at all. We had a lot of players coming back who are not match fit and imo we defended far too high up the pitch. One point that no one made on previous posts was- what the hell was Howard at last night. He made a few good saves early on but for an experienced keeper he was caught in no mans land for sturridge goal, gave away a penalty (he obviously hasn't learned from the Sunderland game, which cost us 3 valuable points)and he had a nightmare of a game aswell. Anyway head up and move on

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29 Jan 2014 09:43:47
Wot a joke even small clubs like fullam are spending over ten million on a single player

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I don't think insulting fulham helps much but what does help is havin a very wealthy owner worth 3.8 billion dollars

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How is me saying. Fulam are a smaller club than Everton insulting them its just stating a fact there smaller than us and that is a fact

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{Ed025's Note - im with you shakey..

Maybe its just me but when pundits etc say that everton r a smaller team than man city arsenal chelsea and spurs I find it insulting.

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Id say the same size myself :-)

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{Ed025's Note - you would chris!..

29 Jan 2014 08:44:19
Im still going smile today when I face the kopites in work cause I believe in Everton i'm very proud and lucky to be an Evertonian that's something they can never take from us come on you blues head up I still believe we can grab that 4th spot imwt.

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29 Jan 2014 07:58:51
lost the game from our useless 1st half last night, m anyway i'm thinking lukaku will be out for most of the season so what do we do about a striker, we can't loan anybody else can we? if no then we have to buy before friday.

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Think we can loan another foreign player badly need another striker or mirallas will have to play up front

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29 Jan 2014 07:05:30
we had too many players coming back from injury or were still injured pienar.barclay. alcaraz.jags.and new signings inc aiden not fit the loss of pace and left foots in ovido and distin and sheer getting back pace of coleman then to lose lukako so early .all this away to Liverpool and yet we still dominated them .and were very unlucky that game could have been 5.5. But we do need a smaller pacy striker asap also going to teneriffe in the winter has not worked for us. well done efc and great supporters let's all keep going we can always knock them out of f a cup .

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29 Jan 2014 11:00:42
ha 5-5 what game were you watching. Your lucky it was only 4 it should have been 6 or 7. Can't wait till next year when most of your squad goes back to their own teams.

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Can't wait till next year until MOST of our squad goes back to their own teams?. very sad. you are what your name suggests. long way to go yet, 4pts is more than catchable

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29 Jan 2014 06:49:15
I just can't get my head around some of you on here moaning about the money we haven't spent in this window, RM has already said that we are trying to pull of a Lukaku buy in the summer which means we are saving our money for the summer, so I wouldn't expect anymore signings this window unless it's loans. Ed thoughts?

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{Ed025's Note - all supporters want to see new players CI, but we don't have the financial clout to just buy when we want, bobby told us there would not be big business this window, and although it may not have looked it last night...he does know what he is doing..

29 Jan 2014 04:48:01
I have read some real crap on here after last nights game. Some of the best ones I can remember.

'McCarthy is not worth the 13mn investment'. So this one game wipes out the last 22 performances where we have been singing his praises?

'Jags is overweight' 'Jags is past it'. Not even worth responding to

'Stones is rubbish' 'get rid of'. 1st big game, handful of PL minutes, played out of position, asked to play in an attacking role not suited to his game. I remember on here about 12 months ago when the same sort of comments were being made about Coleman and how crap he apparently was!

Not to mention, everyone blaming Stones for the 2nd goal, no one has seemed to mention the fact that Barry gave the ball away and Stones was halfway up field expecting to be on the attack.

Bad performance, poor individual defensive errors by some obviously unfit players, and not to mention we were punished in the first 50 minutes almost every time we made a mistake. But let's remember the 23 games played so far as a whole before everyone starts dishing out any more rubbish.

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{Ed025's Note - that's fair comment mate, it's just that on the night it was so disappointing and fans emotions tend to run away with them..

29 Jan 2014 01:24:25
Sold Jelavic and Johny's on his way brought in a loanee and Aiden on the cheap, sounds like Bill's lining his wallet again / paying off banks or are we going to flash some cash in the next day or two?

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29 Jan 2014 01:06:46
I am gutted as anyone and fear we are going to struggle now if Lukaku is out for a while. It was a day that what could go wrong did go wrong, Brenda could not have wished for anymore luck, Barry slips which allows Gerrard the space and to top it off takes out our main striker, Liverpools strikers where clinical and looked dangerous going forward, we had chances but it was one of those games when you need something to happen a deflection anything! and it would of changed. It felt like even when the ball bounced into space it always fell to a liverpool player. Any 50/50 decisions the ref gave to liverpool it was just not our day. Maybe in hindsight it may have been better to play hibbert at RB and play Stones at CB with Jags and I think Stones would have been more comfortable maybe its a lesson learned he is not a RB. I don't think we have reached the levels in recent weeks of early on in the season and maybe its a kick up the backside everyone has needed and with the return of the players from injury we can finish on a high. fingers crossed for Lukaku but saying that he has been off the boil recently so maybe its meant for Traore to step up or Roberto brings in someone else. So let's not get to disheartened blues with our recent injury list most teams in prem would struggle let's finish the season on a high and a trip to wembley would heal the pain of the derby defeat and let's not forget as hurtful as it is its 3pts liverpool have Arsenal coming up and if they get beat we could be back in then. So let's have some of the Roberto optimism.

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Ssn r/m is talking about stepping back into the transfer market for another striker lukkaku injury seems bad.
traore has an hamstring injury plus he has not played a game since october end of the russian season.
westhams medical team predicted he would play and be fit by
march providing he didn't breakdown,,
bad news for the blues was hoping you would take 4th spot over both reds
all the best for the rest of the season

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Spot on post Robbie.i only see it as a point lost though as most of us would have taken a draw before hand. its too early to write us off.

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29 Jan 2014 00:29:10
something that cheered me up was oviedo posting a picture saying 'im proud to be a blue', had to wait a while for his chance, gets a horrible injury and loves the club, he is like an excited kid when he gets a toy, really is a nice image, even doofy loofy put 'come on everton, heads up!', nice positive attitude (like me uh I mean *cough*) from a teenager only on loan from one of the biggest clubs in the world, he could just see us as a stepping stone, but he wants us to do well, nice to see the two of them enjoying it here and certainly shows we are a family club

Mike-Ox Long

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29 Jan 2014 00:22:53
After the initial knee-jerk reaction to an awful result, let's just remind ourselves that we've only lost 3 league games out of 23 played so far this season. The first was away to ManCity - arguably the strongest team/squad in the division - the second was when our goalkeeper was sent off and we battered the opposing for the rest of the match, and the third was against a team who we haven't beaten away for fifteen years. At the beginning of the season, I imagine many of us would have expected us to have lost a lot more league matches, especially away from home.
We're just over halfway through the first season of RM's management and surely we can all see that things have been progressing better than everyone expected. OK, it hurts - really hurts - to lose to them, but in the great scheme of things it's only three points.
Tonight's result is done and dusted - can't change that now - the match reports will be scathing in tomorrow's newspapers, but those rags will become fish and chip wrappers the day after, and RM will now prepare the team for a much better performance and result at the weekend.
COYB!

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29 Jan 2014 00:02:02
A bad result and an uncharacteristic performance tactically and technically, but little wonder considering that our squad is so lacking in depth that we're not able to rest/rotate players and we have to bring our better players back from injury too soon.
We fans will have to grit our teeth, take the opposition fans' gloating and bragging for a while, and just move onto the next match.

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{Ed025's Note - i agree mate..

28 Jan 2014 23:37:59
Shambles yes but 60% possession was wasted through non application of the game plan(?)individual error, poor belief of the team of themselves and their team-mates, abscence of first choice players and the psycholic block of going to Anfield. What gauls me most is the quoted attitude of the RS captain who stated his love of beating Everton. What more did the team need to know other than that and shove it back in the place where the sun don't shine. What the crap were we doing? Nothing by all accounts. So RM does have an issue here. It's not the first time the team has switched off. It's a squad game and ours is too lean to provide 100% cover all the time, particulary as the long term injuries provide a mathematical majority of the unfit. However, the mind game was lost tonight. RM has got to get to grips with this straight away otherwise the next 2 or 3 games might get away from us and the 4 points difference will become 10.

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28 Jan 2014 23:25:21
. well I've seen a performance coming like that for a few weeks now! But, I think Martinez should take the blame tonight, he played too high a defensive line which you just don't do against the likes of Sturridge/Suarez.jagielka wasn't fit (the fact he couldn't keep up with Suarez for their 4th goal proves that), he didn't look comfortable alongside Alcaraz either who also didn't look fit. Pienaar, Barkley, jags & Alcaraz all shouldn't of played as they all looked off the pace, & more concerning for me was the fact that Martinez didn't change the defence line at any time during the match which was shocking. why didn't he take Alcaraz off & move stones into his more natural position of centre half & bring Hibbert on? Why roberto? When Liverpool looked like scoring from every attack they made. us evertonians should be greatful for 4-0, it could of been 7 or 8-0 on another night, I just hope this was a one off game, because when you defend like 'Wigan', that's what happens. I think we can safely forget any ideas of champions league after that shambles & now just concentrate on trying for 5th/6th & the FA cup!! Lukaku again did jack-all (even before he got injured), I think mourinhos comments about him made to the press before christmas have unsettled him mentally & I would rather we spend our money more wisely on another striker up front. I know I'll get slated for saying this on this site but up front liverpool have the exact quality that we need to enable us to progress & move forwards!! Roberto, your team owes us the fans 1 he'll of a response in our next match at home to Villa, so don't let us down. :-(

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{Ed025's Note - heres how i see it zacki, we were piss poor tonight, our undoing tonight was the lack of depth in our squad, we played with 2 injured centre halves, and a green centre half playing at fullback...our best midfielders in barry and mcarthy looked jaded, and besides kev, our attack was non existent, for the first time since bobby took over, i wanted the game to finish at half time. that was not good enough for everton football club im afraid...we need to improve massively on that performance to even be mentioned in the same breath as the other top 4 contenders mate..

. we also need to be more ruthless up front ed. its very well the likes of lukaku, mirallas & co coming out in live interviews saying how disappointed they are in dropped points & the need to be more ruthless in front of goal. but they for me are to blame as they don't put away there chances they continually have in every game we play. every game I've watched this season in which we have drawn we have had so many chances to score & haven't through shoddy finishing. we therefore need a more potent forward line & have needed one now for some time.

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{Ed025's Note - I agree mate..

28 Jan 2014 23:20:02
Never posted on this before and probably won't again but felt I had too! Shocked at some of the criticism aimed at John Stones, he had a bad game yeah but every footballer does! what do you hope to gain from tearing his performance to bits? He's young and still learning, give him a chance! let's put the result behind us and still push for fourth, were more than capable of puttin a good run together. Your lettin yourselves down and the team by turning on players after one poor performance COYB

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Well said Kev. Stones a young and talented boy at CB. Had no help from senior players and will learn from this. It wasn't that long ago people were saying Coleman's rubbish can't defend get rid. Now we can't do without him. Stones will be CB for years to come.

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You cannot just get carried away with the occasion and go completely AWOL when you're meant to be playing right back

Think he fancied being a hero or something so wanted to play right wing instead - come on, their forwards must have loved it when they saw him miles out of position

He actually can't beat his man when he does get forward - we saw that about 3 times last night - so instead of trying to be Coleman he should have just concentrated on his defending

We lost 2 quick goals because he was nowhere to be found

In 40 years That was one of the worst ever experiences of being an everton fan - can't think of any/many worse (?) - so if he's given me those memories to live with, he's going to get told - he plays with an unjustified swagger that he hasn't earned and he got his legs slapped big time tonight - I hope he learns

The rest of the team played ok but jags stones and bird man were poor

I actually thought osman was brilliant whereas he's been below par lately - he never gave up

Those players owe us big time for that and I hope we demolish those reds next time they come to goodison

At least Gerard is on borrowed time now - only a season or two left in that little git

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Totally agree with you Kev, I think it's pathetic all the crap people are saying about Stones.He's still a kid for gods sake.He is nowhere near the finished article and he had a bad game but he wasn't the only one.We lost because half the team were not fit simple!.Sadly for us injuries are going to cost us a CL spot.Our squad is simply not strong enough and when we get a run of injuries like we have now we can't perform to our usual standards.

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{Ed025's Note - fair comment that paul..

 
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