The Mail Bag
Villa Post-Match
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A decent performance against a decent team. A point is not exactly helpful though. A very disappointing goal to concede though, yet again. Thank god we are coming out of the injury crisis now though.
I think people do not realise the importance of Phil Neville being in the team. He is not a match winner on his own, but his style of play seems to inspire those around him to work harder. We seem to be lacking leadership in midfield. Somebody who can organise the players from the pitch.
I don't think anybody jumps out as being a star man today. Grit a determination might get you a point, but it is not going to get us pushing for 4th. The lack of creativity is really painful to watch.
Dan Brierley, Posted 31/10/2009 at 15:52:51
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I am back to the days when I was close to breaking the furniture at home every time I watched Everton play.
I thought we were awful today, again. Does anyone remember us coming up with a single attack where we moved the ball out of defense, through midfield and came up with a shot on goal? I don’t. Everyone except Neill, Heitinga and Fellaini to some extent were criminally bad.
I was reasonably sure about this but now I am totally convinced: without Pienaar we can’t play football. What we do is chase around another team playing football, regardless of how bad that other team is at it.
I thought we were awful today, again. Does anyone remember us coming up with a single attack where we moved the ball out of defense, through midfield and came up with a shot on goal? I don’t. Everyone except Neill, Heitinga and Fellaini to some extent were criminally bad.
I was reasonably sure about this but now I am totally convinced: without Pienaar we can’t play football. What we do is chase around another team playing football, regardless of how bad that other team is at it.
What is it about referees and EFC? Don’t we pay them enough?
A good demonstration today of how crucial a defence, including midfield defending, is to a team. Shame about the predictable sucker punch at the restart. When Carew came on we should have parked the bus for ten minutes. Or would that be too ’defensive’?
Speaking of refereeing decisions (which I was) - the Fulham game was live on national tv here in Spain. I looked across now and then. Carragher sent off for pulling a player down? Unheard of. Until today. Perhaps some of the other refs will show the same bottle in future.
A good demonstration today of how crucial a defence, including midfield defending, is to a team. Shame about the predictable sucker punch at the restart. When Carew came on we should have parked the bus for ten minutes. Or would that be too ’defensive’?
Speaking of refereeing decisions (which I was) - the Fulham game was live on national tv here in Spain. I looked across now and then. Carragher sent off for pulling a player down? Unheard of. Until today. Perhaps some of the other refs will show the same bottle in future.
Baines criminally bad? You’re having a laugh, Pavel?
Agreed, we miss Pienaar. If it were not for him, we would have missed Arteta a WHOLE lot more.
The question is.. who after Pienaar is there?
In my opinion, Osman is the next best creative midfielder we have!!! After him... urgh
The question is.. who after Pienaar is there?
In my opinion, Osman is the next best creative midfielder we have!!! After him... urgh
Pavel mate, we’re missing about 7 players from last year's starting 11 and our 2 most creative players at that.
To say Fellaini was one of the better performers... stop, man! Liege are pissing themselves laughing at the amount we paid for the lad. Cahill's game has suffered beyond recognition since Felli arrived and Felli isn't half the threat that Tim is/once was.
Are we playing the lad just because he cost so much our what like???
Pavel, go easy on the furniture mate. You are right about Pienaar, who has stepped forward magnificently to take Mikel’s creative role in his absence. I made a little comment last week that the team which lost to Bolton would have been a different prospect with him and Baines back. We had half of that today and were — I would say — unfortunate not to beat Villa.
Another positive - Neill is looking like a better addition and I think Heitinga will settle into the PL very well game after game.
Another positive - Neill is looking like a better addition and I think Heitinga will settle into the PL very well game after game.
I think it just shows it is injuries which is actually costing us big time. With a lot of players back, we played a lot better today. Very positive with Heitinga today, he is a terrific passer and he played very well today, which is always a good sign. I know, not a win which we wanted, but it just proves that once we have all our players back, we are gunnin for the top 4 again baby!!
Fellaini is the new Simon Davies — the invisible man. The only time I noticed him was when he got the hook. For €15M, I would expect more. Overall, a fair result.
Top four is expecting too much, isn't it. Points gap appearing, draws wont help...
Top 4??? Dream on.............
Pavel, I am always going on about the long ball game but today that was not the case and without our most creative players they had a good go at a passing game. The improvement was immense.
Great pity about the sending off because Bily really looked the part today and will be missed in the next few games.
Pavel, you really should watch the game before sending in a post. It is not a good idea to assume what happened.
Great pity about the sending off because Bily really looked the part today and will be missed in the next few games.
Pavel, you really should watch the game before sending in a post. It is not a good idea to assume what happened.
I am glad you mentioned Phil Neville as you did; see my earlier post.
Well well well, supporters slag Moyes bacause we are beaten by Fulham 2-1, but now they have gone and beat Liverpool 3-1. Moyes is given more abuse because we dont play fantastic football like Wigan and it was said by some we should bring Martinez in as replacement because we struggle to beat teams like Portsmouth, but then Matinez's Wigan side go and get a good kicking off Pompy.
It just goes to show any one can beat anyone on their day, especialy when taking injury into acount. I am sure the majority of Wigan fans would love to have Moyes managing their team over Martinez, and our fans need smell the coffee and appreciate the wonders Moyes has worked over the years, and stop writing him off after a few bad performances.
It just goes to show any one can beat anyone on their day, especialy when taking injury into acount. I am sure the majority of Wigan fans would love to have Moyes managing their team over Martinez, and our fans need smell the coffee and appreciate the wonders Moyes has worked over the years, and stop writing him off after a few bad performances.
My fellow Evertonians,
Watched the full game here on Fox Sports downunder. I thought we played quite well, although for me Fellaini was a weak link up top. Hietinga put in his best performance thus far and seems suited to that holding role... aggressive in the tackle, and a couple of good passes; he will be fantastic when we have an Arteta, Pienaar or Osman to play in front. Rodwell is great, but still not incisive enough moving forward, although that will come with time.
Distin is at times still vulnerable, and Neill still isn’t match fit clearly, at times off the pace, but showing enough that when that sharpness does come, he’ll be a great option at full back.
Man of the Match for me was Baines... his value to the team was clearly evident on yesterday’s display. Sure, he lacks a bit of polish, but he definitely gets things going down his wing.
Not a bad result, disappointing goal we conceded, but at least we were solid overall, the crowd were behind us, it’s something to build on my friends....
COYB!!!!
Let’s cut the negativity guys and get behind our side... thought the crowd was great yesterday!!!
Watched the full game here on Fox Sports downunder. I thought we played quite well, although for me Fellaini was a weak link up top. Hietinga put in his best performance thus far and seems suited to that holding role... aggressive in the tackle, and a couple of good passes; he will be fantastic when we have an Arteta, Pienaar or Osman to play in front. Rodwell is great, but still not incisive enough moving forward, although that will come with time.
Distin is at times still vulnerable, and Neill still isn’t match fit clearly, at times off the pace, but showing enough that when that sharpness does come, he’ll be a great option at full back.
Man of the Match for me was Baines... his value to the team was clearly evident on yesterday’s display. Sure, he lacks a bit of polish, but he definitely gets things going down his wing.
Not a bad result, disappointing goal we conceded, but at least we were solid overall, the crowd were behind us, it’s something to build on my friends....
COYB!!!!
Let’s cut the negativity guys and get behind our side... thought the crowd was great yesterday!!!
Ian Tunstead: Could not have put it better myself.
We didn’t play any worse at Spurs on Tuesday than when we won there last season. It’s a thin, thin line between success and failure, but I am still optimistic we’ll turn it around!
We didn’t play any worse at Spurs on Tuesday than when we won there last season. It’s a thin, thin line between success and failure, but I am still optimistic we’ll turn it around!
Ian T - who can you be talking about?
The point about Martinez is that he might have been an admirable replacement if we needed a new manager. We don’t.
And Karl puts it very well, we are treading a thin line. But that line will get a lot fatter, with us on the right side of it, as our squad comes back out of the treatment room.
And Dennis — from my dodgy stream here in Spain, I got the same impression as you. The GP crowd has always been on the quiet side, ready to applaud good football — by either side — rather than mindlessly shout abuse or, perhaps unfortunately, encouragement. But they were behind our lads yesterday. Which they would not have been if we were playing crap. We weren’t, and that very knowledgeable crowd knew it.
Mind you, complain as I do about refereeing, that excuse for an official probably did more to unite crowd and team than anything else.
The point about Martinez is that he might have been an admirable replacement if we needed a new manager. We don’t.
And Karl puts it very well, we are treading a thin line. But that line will get a lot fatter, with us on the right side of it, as our squad comes back out of the treatment room.
And Dennis — from my dodgy stream here in Spain, I got the same impression as you. The GP crowd has always been on the quiet side, ready to applaud good football — by either side — rather than mindlessly shout abuse or, perhaps unfortunately, encouragement. But they were behind our lads yesterday. Which they would not have been if we were playing crap. We weren’t, and that very knowledgeable crowd knew it.
Mind you, complain as I do about refereeing, that excuse for an official probably did more to unite crowd and team than anything else.
So we can only dream about 4th place ? Having watched the dross-ridden performance by the stars of Eastlands against a distinctly third rate Birmingham City yesterday, I see no reason why we can’t achieve the same position - especially when we are able to field a totally first choice team. City were pathetic apart from a couple of runs by SWP & Bellamy and if only McFadden had’nt missed the penalty..............
Top 4?
Moyes said in the Guardian on Saturday this is a year of "transition" and we might finish 10th. So there you have it. The point against Villa will help us achieve that goal, we should just be grateful we haven’t lost.
Moyes said in the Guardian on Saturday this is a year of "transition" and we might finish 10th. So there you have it. The point against Villa will help us achieve that goal, we should just be grateful we haven’t lost.
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1 Posted 31/10/2009 at 18:00:55
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Just an afterthought but the ref was hopeless today, gave every 50/50 to Villa.