Moyes says Blues gave everything

, 30 December, 46comments  |  Jump to most recent
David Moyes says Everton "gave everything" in their defeat to Chelsea, the first home league defeat of the season. Moyes admitted that the squad strength was as "low as we have been all season" due to injuries.

Quotes or other material sourced from BBC Sport



Reader Comments (46)

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James Morgan
1 Posted 30/12/2012 at 17:53:44
When you don't take your chances, you get bitten on the arse. We could have quite easily won today but we faded as the game progressed, it was always going to be tough against a team that can bring on players like Moses and Oscar as back up to Hazard and Mata etc.

Let's hope we can get Gibson, Mirallas, Coleman, Fellaini et al back in the team ASAP and make a right go of it in 2013. We aren't that far away from really pushing the so-called big boys.
Pete Anthony
2 Posted 30/12/2012 at 17:58:53
With Jelly hitting the woodwork twice then missing his kick with a very good late chance, plus being wrongly flagged offside when one on one with keeper, it just seemed the luck was against us today.

If we can regroup and start afresh in the New Year, with the cavalry of Fellaini, Gibson, Mirallas, Coleman, Neville, Hibbo coming back sooner or later, plus Barkley coming through, we are still well capable of pushing very hard for 3rd or 4th. Should Jelly's shooting boots return and the 'luck' even out, we can turn up the form to have a better second half than first half and reach the riches of the CL gravy train. Onwards and upwards. COYB.

Pete Anthony
3 Posted 30/12/2012 at 18:08:08
James, I just typed that and then seen you said the same thing... Great minds hey!!! COYB.
Jeff Beaumont
4 Posted 30/12/2012 at 18:50:59
SSN saying Gibson out for a while with thigh strain.
Too injury prone I fear - need a permanenet replacement.
Mark Tanton
5 Posted 30/12/2012 at 19:16:32
God only knows what kind of January we'll have - but it will be nauseating as usual to see Liverpool throw their money around like confetti, despite being midtable, inconsistent and struggling.
Dennis Shaw
6 Posted 30/12/2012 at 19:25:44
Time to bolster in January — we can't keep treading water with 5 months to go and, sorry to say it, Barkley looked a liability today when he came on.
Phil Sammon
8 Posted 30/12/2012 at 20:22:25
You can say we didn't take our chances, but I really believe today was just a case of bad luck.

Can't fault the lads really. They did all they could.

Christopher Kelly
9 Posted 30/12/2012 at 20:29:22
If jello were half as lethal we'd have probably 7 more points.

Lets make a move for a striker and come back stronger in the second half.

This team has the makings for it to be a magical squad. We can yet nick fourth, even today's heartbreaker. We can beat all of these teams, every single one. I'm convinced we'll turn it around if we add a striker and right back perhaps

Franny Porter
10 Posted 30/12/2012 at 20:54:00
I mentioned in here the other day that Gibson is a crock and got some patronising response from someone, can't remember who. For once, I'm sad to say, I was correct.
Brendan McLaughlin
11 Posted 30/12/2012 at 20:57:15
Franny 045
Peter Reid was a crock...let's just hope!
Trevor Lynes
12 Posted 30/12/2012 at 20:55:00
James and Pete, I thoroughly agree with what you both say.
Im positive about this particular team and when they are all fit then they can be a match for anyone.
They played the european champions with a shadow team and run them very close.
I reckon that a draw would have been the right result as lady luck certainly frowned on us and Jelavic in particular.

Distin was fantastic and for a man of his age he maintains his pace and commitment as well as anyone in the premier.
He is our best acquisition and playing centre back with Jagielka as a regular partner they are for my money a pairing I would not swap for any other.

Unfortunately apart from Vic and the cameo from Vellios the failings of Barkley, Naismith and Heitinga were obvious.
Im particularly disappointed in JH, he is a Dutch International but he does nothing to excite the fans and adds very little to the overall performance of the team.
Our best players were the regulars with a mention for Anichebe who played very well.
I hope he can improve upon this performance as he adds a new dimension to our attack.
Both he and Vellios seem to be able to influence things and are good squad players.
Im not sure about Oviedo just yet but Naismith is another very average player and so is Hitz.
Neither would get into a top premiership squad.

I hope that DM gets some finances to enable this squad to really push for top four.
The fans deserve it and Im sure this team will show up well if allowed to play european opposition.

Brendan McLaughlin
13 Posted 30/12/2012 at 21:17:05
Trevor Lynes #051
Pretty much on the right lines....see what I did there?
Phil Sammon
14 Posted 30/12/2012 at 21:26:47
Trevor

Bit harsh to throw Barkley in the mix there. He gave the ball away once.

The lad gets so few minutes that he wants to take an extra touch and show what he's got. He doesn't deserve an ounce of criticism. He really should start against Cheltenham.

I thought Jags was very good at RB. Unnatural...but did a good job.

Heitinga was our worst player and I don't even think he did that badly. He's just not top quality. His distribution has always been good but I think we're at a stage where that isn't as important for us. His big diagonals were an out ball for us, but now we are much more comfortable bringing it out of defence through the full-backs. Get shut in Jan if he's not happy.

David Barks
15 Posted 30/12/2012 at 21:41:58
Phil,

Barkley gave the ball away more than once, you're only thinking of the one that led to a 3 on 1 against us and really should have resulted in Chelsea's third goal. He gave it away a few times in the middle of the field, looked confused on the ball a few times he touched it, and took a very poor shot from long range that did nothing but kill off a minute of the clock and give possession away when we had men forward.

Dick Fearon
16 Posted 30/12/2012 at 21:21:55
When it was clearly obvious that change was needed, Moyes's hands were tied because Barkley, after ten years of intensive coaching, was not good enough. Should that really be the case, it makes for a woeful indictment of an incompetent set up at Finch Farm.

On the other hand, perhaps Ross is a scapegoat for Moyes's pathetic reading of the game. In that regard, as so often in the past, the Spanish Waiter gave Davey a spanking.
Brendan McLaughlin
17 Posted 30/12/2012 at 21:46:11
@ then David Barkrs......just couldn't make it up!
But DB is right,,,he really did look like a 17 year old
Phil Sammon
18 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:01:39
Jesus Christ!

You throw a teenager on against the European Champions when we're 2-1 down! What do you expect? The lad deserves zero criticism.

What about getting him some minutes when you're 2-0 up at home to Wigan?

Moyes is a good manager and I wouldn't swap him for many...but he really is doing his best to screw up this lad's development. Why not leave him at Wednesday if we're not going to play him.

Andrew Lawrenson
19 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:04:36
I swear to god everytime I read a thread I note that Mr Dick Fearon as not got a single word of positivity in him.

It makes me sick to the pit of my stomach that he will always find a reason to slate Mr Moyes.

David Barks
20 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:03:33
Dick,

Of course, he was playing against a star studded Chelsea side, who we dominated for most of the first half and created plenty of chances against throughout the match. So pathetic reading of the game, really?? A Chelsea side against a weakened Everton and with just a little bit of luck of the ball going an inch this way or that, and we would have spanked them. How exactly did the fat man give Moyes a spanking? Real tough decision to bring Oscar on, right. Such tough decisions to make for him with such a limited squad over there at Chelsea. I mean, do I play Hazard, Ramirez, Lampard, Mata, Oscar, Moses, Torres.

Brendan McLaughlin
21 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:06:54
Phil #065
This is Toffeeweb nothing less than perfection will do..
David Barks
22 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:12:04
I'm not blaming or slating Barkley. I'm just saying that he didn't really do much and made a few bad mistakes in his limited time on the pitch. Why not put him on when up against Wigan? Well, because we lost that 2 goal lead fairly quickly, it only lasted for 4 minutes. People always want the backup because it's all in their head how good they are, it's a sliver of hope with no facts based around it. He obviously didn't leave him at Wednesday because he needs him here as an option due to the limited numbers. Would I play him next match instead of Naismith, yes I would. But I might pick Oviedo ahead of Barkley in that case.
Ian Smitham
23 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:13:32
Andrew #068, Thank you for your comment, that man drives me equally mad, the only thing missing from his script today is his criticism of Leon Osman, someone he has probably never seen actually play, noticed the "Leon, Leon " chants today, and just to be fair, I do not even rate Leon that highly.
Gavin Ramejkis
24 Posted 30/12/2012 at 22:58:54
I thought Osman had another good game today. Chelski were saved by their keeper and the woodwork. If we'd have scored two of the early chances we had, I suspect the onslaught from Chelski might not have come.
Trevor Lynes
25 Posted 30/12/2012 at 23:31:59
As I said earlier, the best players we had were all regular first teamers and the options from the bench are not adequate. Vellios looked like he had ability and Oviedo is still untested but Barkley looked out of his depth and seems to have lost his dribbling skills. Naismith and Heitinga are not good enough and by using Jagielka at fullback it detracts from the solidity of the centre backs.
Distin seemed to be marking everyone and was repeatedly praised by the pundits on TV for his defensive ability. Heitinga is struggling and lacks the pace to cope with fast moving forwards. Distin looks and plays as if he is far younger. This man is well worth a new contract and should be kept.

Unfortunately I have not read of any interest in Heitinga from any quarter. If he is unhappy at not being picked when everyone is fit then he must improve his play or move into a slower paced league. When everyone is fit neither Heitinga nor Naismith would start and the sooner our better players return from suspension and injury the better.

Dick Fearon
26 Posted 30/12/2012 at 23:53:13
The tactical lesson handed out by the Fat Waiter was what when and where to use his subs. By doing that, he was proactive and changed the course of the game.

As is usual for Moyes, he only reacted when we went behind.
David Barks
27 Posted 31/12/2012 at 00:26:46
Dick,

The Fat Waiter's subs didn't swing the game in his favor. Lampard scored both goals before the fat man's subs. Moses came on after their second, and Oscar came on with 5 minutes to play. Unless you think replacing Cech at halftime was some sort of tactical genius move by the fat waiter and that won them the game. Neither of his subs really did anything except ride the game out, while we pushed for an equalizer.

Anthony Jaras
28 Posted 31/12/2012 at 00:18:03
For me, today isn't all doom and gloom.

A strong Chelsea side beat an under strength Eveton side missing four of our main players in captain Phil Neville, top scorer Marouane Fellaini, our top defensive midfielder Gibson and our most dangerous attacker Mirallas.

It was always going to be hard.

Chin up lads. Onwards and upwards. What did you all expect?

Anthony Jaras
29 Posted 31/12/2012 at 00:32:55
As for Dick, David has pretty much said it all.
David Barks
30 Posted 31/12/2012 at 00:40:41
Anthony,
Exactly, we lost a game against a club owned by a billionaire with international stars at every position, which we could have easily won. It happens, not the end of the world.
Gareth Hughes
31 Posted 31/12/2012 at 00:46:53
Unfortunately Anthony Jaras, Gibson and Mirallas are both out with what appear to be long-standing injuries and are extremely injury-prone at the best of times. Hugely frustrating but there you go...
Phil Sammon
32 Posted 31/12/2012 at 07:58:33
Gareth

Yes, true to a degree. What I would say is that pulled/strained muscles are difficult to judge. They can feel fine in training and only reoccur when the player is really giving 100%

Not that it makes things any better...but I do think the injuries have been mismanaged, rather than the players been crocks.

Derek Thomas
33 Posted 31/12/2012 at 08:12:35
Brenden #070; *glances at Club badge to check if motto has changed while I wasn't looking*
Patrick Murphy
34 Posted 31/12/2012 at 09:18:55
Derek has no one told you it now reads 'Sed ne perfecta est ' which reads in English 'It is not perfect but it will do' .
Tony J Williams
36 Posted 31/12/2012 at 12:53:08
Touche David 103.

I notice a few posters are saying we shouldn't criticise Barkley because he had only just come on......where does it state that your decision making gets better due to longevity on the pitch?

He has a lot to learn and hopefully he will do it and remain in a blue shirt but he did lose the ball and needs to learn that not every pass needs to be a defence splitting pass, you can go backwards/sideways instead of trying to force a poor pass...... and release it if you are being jockeyed and there isn't an easy way passed the player. You know! The basics!

Steavey Buckley
37 Posted 31/12/2012 at 14:37:49
Everton need one or two new faces asap if the 4th spot is going to be secured. Mirallas, Coleman and Gibson cannot be counted on to play consistently for the remainder of the season due to ongoing injury problems. Moyes, send a SOS to Landon Donovan.
Anthony Jaras
38 Posted 31/12/2012 at 15:00:23
For me, what I've seen of Barkley, he won't make it at the top level.

Championship player at best.

Sorry to the fans of his, but I can only judge on what I've seen at reserve level and in his fleeting appearances.

He is eager and likes a shot but his all round game doesn't match up to a lot of other young players.

Anthony Jaras
39 Posted 31/12/2012 at 15:02:38
When I look at the likes of Cleverley and Wilshere, Barkley is miles off where they were at his age.
Ian Bennett
40 Posted 31/12/2012 at 15:15:19
David 108 - great post mate.
Steavey Buckley
41 Posted 31/12/2012 at 15:47:33
Barkley needs to be played behind the striker to give him more time and space to have great shot or a defence splitting pass. The players at SW were really impressed with him. Midfield is difficult place to operate in the premier. It has taken Osman quite a few years to operate there effectively.
Si Cooper
42 Posted 31/12/2012 at 18:52:10
Darron Gibson obviously has a chronic problem that may take invasive surgery and rehab to put right, but to say Mirallas is obviously "extremely injury prone at the best of times" on the basis of one longish absence seems overly pessimistic (unless he has a history of such injuries that I am not aware of).

Every midfield player we have (or have ever had for that matter) misplaces passes or loses possession unnecessarily at times. Ossie had the ball nicked while dawdling at least twice in yesterdays game, and one time was about ten yards in our half and they could easily have created something from that. He was by no means the only senior player to do so, so I am not sure why Ross Barkley's errors have attracted such castigation.

Unlike some others I thought he looked confident and composed on the ball and physically able to both win the ball and ride opposition challenges. His main problem is he has to go from being the main man (for the reserves and Sheffield Wednesday) to a bit part player for our first team. He is used to other players playing to his strengths rather than him playing to theirs.

He would definitely find it easier to adjust in a full strength side in control of a game. For half an hour we dominated Chelsea, but by the second-half their midfield were definitely comfortably containing ours.

Chris Owens
43 Posted 31/12/2012 at 19:26:09
Barkley doesn’t get many chances in the first team. He comes on with only a few minutes to go, feels the pressure to do something spectacular, and ends up shooting from outside the box, rather than playing the simple pass. It’s unfair to expect a young lad to salvage the game when the more experienced players have failed. He needs to be in the starting line-up against the weaker teams to build up an understanding with his team-mates and gain some confidence.
Phil Brown
44 Posted 31/12/2012 at 19:51:03
Steavey, Si and Chris - all spot on. He either needs to play the last 30 mins of every game behind the striker to make best use of his creativity and shooting, taking over from Osman, or go back out on loan to SWFC for the rest of the season. His development is on hold at the moment, mainly sat on the bench with a couple of minor cameos which could be done by somebody else.
Andy Crooks
45 Posted 31/12/2012 at 19:52:04
Tony # 162, it seems to me totally obvious that your decision making will improve with longevity on the pitch. Reaching the pace of the game, growing in confidence will most certainly help decision making.

I fear that Barkley will suffer as Vaughan did. Devoid of a start, never mind a run in the side. Coming on with ten minutes to prove himself he risks injury never mind the wrath of some supporters.

I have praised Moyes on another post but I feel that he sometimes focuses on errors of certain players and is very unforgiving whilst others are given all the time they need.

Brendan McLaughlin
46 Posted 01/01/2013 at 01:37:06
Derek #128

Don't know where you bought your replica but if "perfecta" appears on it... I'd suggest you take it back & ask for a refund.

Happy New Year all!
Dick Fearon
47 Posted 01/01/2013 at 21:55:41
For suggesting that vs Chelsea once the flow of the game turned against us Moyes should then have have gone to his bench I was severely castigated.
I was told the bench was not good enough yet I have noticed some of those who decried my suggestion are now calling for Barkley, Velios, Duffy and the Greek chap be given starting roles.
Trevor Lynes
48 Posted 02/01/2013 at 12:16:10
Happy New Year

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