Everton Banter Archive August 24 2014

24 Aug 2014 21:40:52
Evening Blues.

As disappointing as yesterday's result was, it has highlighted a number of things. We definitely need a few more signings. Having said that, it also highlighted that Naismith really does a job for us. I've always liked the lad but I think he's a really smart footballer. He's not a world beater and he'll never be the player of the season but I think he's a great all rounder. He may get us 15-20 goals this season which could really help us push on. When we get our first win, we need to start grinding out the results and start punishing teams. Let's get behind the boys and make sure we win the next one. Chelsea will be tough but let's put it to them.

Everton aren't we!

I agree mate. Naismith has been our best player. People keep on talking about us needing forwards. We have Mirrallas, Naismith, Lukaku and when he is fit Kone. All of these can play up top if necessary. I also suspect that Barkley could do a job there. We have scored 4 in 2. But we have conceded 4 in 2. I would say bring Stones back in at Jags expense and look to sign another young up and coming center back.

24 Aug 2014 19:32:58
Agree with all those concerned about our defending at the moment, but what about Tim Howard?
Yes he's a great shot stopper but in the 6 yard box the only time he leaves his line is to pick the ball out of the net!

Been saying that for years mate. Keepers always get the decision from the refs as well when coming for 50/50 balls, yet Tim always stays rooted to his line

What on earth are you talking about

24 Aug 2014 21:31:53
Tim Howard not coming off his line to catch a ball Boston

He's always been rubbish at that, great shot stopper but garbage at sweeping up

I'm more concerned with the form of Jags. He's not the player he was prior to his injury last year. He hadn't recovered properly for the WC and looks well off the pace. Added to that Distin is another year older and I reckon the weak link is identified.

25 Aug 2014 11:01:24
He certainly has his flaws. He also horrendously overcommits, far too early. In a one on one, if the striker has any composer whatsoever, he's incredibly easy to beat because he'll already have tried the save before they've shot. That's why he dives the wrong way so often (agains Leicester), gets chipped (Nani in the World Cup) and gets beaten in every one-on-one ever. Love him, but his World Cup hype has overshadowed huge flaws. Fortunately, we have Joel, the worst goalkeeper of all time as back up.

24 Aug 2014 13:25:51
gutted to have not taken all 3 points but never mind. we move on. should be an interesting end to the window though.i know we would like to see us spend £50 mill but that won't happen but I would love us to try and get at least Richards & Remy.
what to do reckon Ed025?

{Ed025's Note - for me we still need a couple wilfy, who im not sure, but i hope we do some good business before the deadline mate..

Absolutely agree wilfy. We should now be on on 6 points and top of the table but like last season we've not taken games by the throat and cruised until the final whistle. Yesterday was another classic example of not closing the game down with a few tactical substitutions. With a week or so to go Richards and Remy would be my shouts to bolster the squad for the run up to Christmas. After that we'll have a clearer view on the Europa League, Capita One Cup and the Premiership before the FA Cup starts.

24 Aug 2014 14:15:39
Last season we had our best run when John Stones came in. We went 11 games unbeaten and in fact beat a few of the top sides. I can't remember whether it was Jags or Distin who was injured, but I am sure you will remind me. One thing is for sure, after conceding 4 goals in 2 games, I think it is time to get Stones back in the team. but not at right back where he is quite dreadful.

It was jags degs. But now both jags and Distin are poor.

Jags and distan have both been great servants to our club, but unfortunately age is catching up with them, still good enough to make the bench, but we must now start to look at who comes after them. Stone, duffy, or even becia, who played there in Hungary

Stones for me is defo the future. and the present. I would play him alongside Distin. Stones reads the game very well and brings the ball out with much more ambition to play passes. I have been one of Jag's greatest supporters, but in this footballing philosophy of RM, we need a footballing center back. Distin for the high balls and set pieces and Stones to play the ball out. Yes he makes mistakes, but reminds me of the great Colin Todd when on the ball. As I said, we had our best run with him in the team at center half, so for him to be moved to right back then put on the bench is in my humble opinion not the best move. Look at the table. I know only 2 games, but we are the 3rd highest of conceding and 3rd highest of scoring. Hence only 2 points. We are not likely to increase our average of scoring, so we must concentrate on conceding fewer. We should be good for entertainment, but our nerves will be shot by the end of the season if this carries on.

Totally agree with you Degsy

24 Aug 2014 13:12:58
The most dissapointing thing about yesterday for me was that we looked so tired in the last 15 minutes of the game. Our preperation for this season has been shocking and I know thw world cup has been a major factor in this but its ths same for every team. It was intresting to note that out 2 most energetic and arguabley effective players naismith an mccarthy weren't involved in the world cup. The difference between us and the other top teams is that they have far more options to cover for the players who aren't ready yet. My main concern and our obvious weakness is up front ( although jags and distan suddenly look alarmingly vunlerable ). We are now being heavily linked with eto again now it seems the rs no longer want or need him. This worries me greatly. I just don't see what he offers. I would absoloutley love to det bony but i'm realistic enough to know that is unlikley but there's no reason at all why we coulnt get remy. There must be funds available and we desperatley need another option not just someone to warm the bench. If were ever going to bridge the gap we need to start firing now not in 3 or 4 weeks when everyone is match fit again.

Although I agree with a lot of what you say, I think the problem is as much to do with defense. 2 games, 4 goals conceded. That means we need to score 3 each game to get a win. A return of 4 from 2 should be sufficient to ensure at least 4 points.

Your right degsy the defence looked vunlerable yesterday but that was because they were under constant presure for the last 30 mins. We sat back and tried to soak it up but by that stage we couldn't counter because lukaku and mirrallas were nackered. We needed to introduce pace and power at that point. If we had remy to come off the bench we would have won yesterday. As for defence I can see stones getting his chance sooner rather than later. Long term I believe we'll play with 3 centre backs stones galloway plus one other.

24 Aug 2014 12:17:09
Hello all Ed's.
I like all true Everton fans watched with horror as we dominated Arsenal yet again and were pushing for a glorious win when we self destructed in defence. What happened?
It seems to me like there is little or no cohesion and no communication whatsoever!
Up front there were very positive signs that we can mix it with the big boys but again, the end product seems sometimes to be missing. OK, Lukaku is not 100% and he can be forgiven for that but we shouldn't be asking for everything from 1 striker. Surely there is some cash in the pot to do a deal and bring in another quality striker. Is there?
My main worry and it is a worry is defence. Last season we were solid and unbreakable. Now it seems like panic stations every time the opposition attack. Why wasn't Stones used, he has to be miles better than Distin. I know I shouldn't but I have to also question Jagielka and his performance yesterday. Do you guys think he had an off day too?
Please Bill, give Roberto some cash to make us solid again at the back. Surely you can see the desperation there. Also, let him buy a quality striker or even a quality loan or 2. Please, we need to improve on last season and make the next step up to the Champions league or we would have made all this progress for nothing and start doing a backwards move.
I appreciate it's only 2 games in and no I'm not panicking, yet, but we started last season with 3 draws and finished 5th. This is not good enough for this season if we want Champions league. Do you agree or am I doom mongering?
Best regards to all Ed's and Blue noses.

Marc (Marky Marc)

The thing I would say to that is Distin always has been and always will be a better centre back than Jags. So it's more offensive to question Distin than Jags.

Agree we need a striker maybe 2 with the demands of Europa remy eto and cb we missed out big time on caulker and martins indi but what about winston ried from west ham. big physical guy

24 Aug 2014 15:40:46
Senseros is a big phyisical guy too bretto, means zilch, although I disagree about missing out big time on martins indii (awful) and caulker (qpr and palace were the only teams after him, says a lot) I do like reid, solid defender but would cost 10m upwards, there are younger and better centre backs out there for less

I mean we need enogh powerfull cb to compete with distan as stones simular to jags and reid got 12 months on contract

24 Aug 2014 09:03:04
Anyone else annoyed with a lot of Evertonians on here? Yes we threw away a 2 goal lead, yes we clearly lack fitness but the season is two games old, the transfer window isn't shut and this just reminds me of the bashing Bobby got after 5 games last year before the transfer window shut. Then all those bashers became his biggest fan and he could do no wrong.
2 games in and everyone is questioning his management, substitutions, pre season etc. the guy is class and knows what he is doing, the way we shat on arsenal in the first half gives me nothing but confidence because match fitness will come over the coming weeks, the fact we out played and Bobby out thought the most respected manager in the league is great.
Cheer up jeeeeez we will be better than fine, I'm expecting another great season from the two first half performances this season.
Re the defence, it does look shakey but only when our energy levels have dropped and pressure is being invited on us.

24 Aug 2014 05:36:28
Am I alone in thinking that Bobby made a few mistakes yesterday with his substitutions. Why was Osman brought on when Pienarr went off as am sorry as good a servant as he has been, you don't win games on sentiment. We were severly under the cosh from 65 minutes onwards due to clear firness issues, Mirrallas was labouring on the halfway line and leaving Baines isolated and Lukaku for most of the game was non existent and maybe not fit. Naismith once again put a shift in, McCarthywas everywere so not all negatives. Defence again does not fill me with confidence, Jags looks shaky and Sylvain is showing his age. And Tim Howard as good a shot stopper as he is frustratea me so much by his lack of controlling his 6 yard box, he never leaves his line for crosses! Was clear to see that the lack of striker on the bench meant
we had to leave Lukaku on clearly not fit, would like to see us take a punt on Remy, all in all dissapointed with 4 points dropped in a week but still optimistic for the season ahead. COYB

Typical, dwell on negatives, some of which weren't there. First half time chat we were buzzing. Everyone put in a shift, The Arse didn't have a shot on goal bar 2 long range efforts. Osman had a cracking half, was involved and moving the ball forward and sent in 2 sublime breakaway passes. Second half, weathered anything Arsenal tried to throw at us, we were comfortable bar a couple of breakaways from Arse, that Giroud could have done better, however so could we have scored the winning 3rd goal, close calls. Then 1 lapse at the back with 7 mins to go, always then puts you under the cosh, its a natural reaction to conceding so late. Equaliser was a case of they thought the ball was going out for a goal kich as did the crowd with a yeaaaay! from them but it didn't and to our horror Jags Distin and Howard chose poor decisions and hey presto 2-2. So really bar the last 7 minutes we were winning comfortably. To go on about all them players like they had the plague is nonesence, not to mention it shows where you are lacking in no mention once of Naismith who was absoloutly immense yesterday and worthy more of talking about that 2 minutes of poor defending.

I did pick out both naismith and mccarthy for praise and I am not dwelling on the negatives just airing my opinion of the game. As for osman I have always been a fan of his ability buti think this is maybe a season too far for him, its early in the season but yesterday highlighted our lack of fitness and strength in depth.

24 Aug 2014 03:01:54
Yesterdays game shows we need more options up front, bobby can't possibly be happy with what he's got, if, for example, kone was fit in 2 weeks time then maybe, but there is no signs he will ever play again, long, hope, mcaleny, someone please step up, we need another striker asap, another attacking mid asap, another right back asap, another centre back asap and a win asap, we will win next week, by the way who are we playing again? Chelsea?!? Oh god maybe not, 3 games, 3 draws, same as last season, we are going down at this rate, martinez out! How boss is naismith though?

Swan I've told you before. Stop with the coffee man!

24 Aug 2014 01:23:08
listen everyone saying this proves we need another striker, no it doesn't at all, we have rom being played right wing, due to naisy keeping him out of thew striker role, kone to come back aswell, the boys just ran out of steam today, we drew against title contenders and are gutted, shows how far we have come! COYB

24 Aug 2014 04:52:27
How can you defend that? Kone might not come back at all, could be days, weeks, months or even years before we hear any news on him, rom and naisy by itself is not enough, should one get injured, just one injury and we could be relying on one striker in four competitions, we need more