This article may have been recategorised and is therefore no longer available at this URL.

You can try to find the updated link in the article archive.

Share article:

Reader Comments (7)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


James Flynn
1 Posted 21/10/2013 at 13:06:48
You're a good writer. Saw the same game.

Thinking about Jags. He'll never fit in our current style. Wonder if he'll still be here this time next season.

Mike Hughes
7 Posted 21/10/2013 at 14:32:37
Amazingly, Jags just made Garth Crooks' team of the week.
Just goes to show how we all view things differently!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24603253

Mike Gaynes
8 Posted 21/10/2013 at 16:01:38
Great summary, Lyndon. I'm actually more concerned about how Jags and Distin are performing defensively than offensively... their usual tight coordination is often missing this season. Sagbo couldn't have been more open for his goal.

I cannot remember any player, ever, scoring with his very first touch of the season. Extraordinary.

Linda Morrison
9 Posted 22/10/2013 at 16:30:50
You know what I think like all fans we are a little bit overcritical of the team. It's especially hard for the 2 main defenders, Jags and Sylvan to adapt to such a difference approach, but they will, it's up to the midfield to take the pressure off them.

I think they were all jaded after the internationals and still adapting

Trevor Lynes
10 Posted 24/10/2013 at 12:17:34
My opinion for what it is worth is that Jags and Distin in tandem are amongst the best centre-back pairings in the whole Premier League. An added big bonus is that neither ever seem to get booked so suspensions are non existent. Both always give 100% and their stats bear out the fact.

I think the problem with short passing for them has been apparent elsewhere as teams are beginning to close down the defenders. Man Utd got themselves in a twist many times against Southampton and Liverpool had similar problems of late so it's not confined to us.

What is needed is variety. When sides are closing our defenders down quickly, surely a switch to longer balls or throws out from the goalkeeper would put the problems on to the opposing defences who would be short handed. Man City defenders, especially Lescott, give the ball to Toure or Fernandez as soon as possible and let the midfielders do the more incisive passing.

Jagielka and Distin are top class defenders and do their job very well. Midfielders are supposedly the creative players who are the playmakers of the team. I'm really happy that Pienaar is back as he works his socks off covering back as well as working in tandem with Baines. He could be the outlet for Distin who normally covers Baines when he go's on his forays up front. Barry should then be the player to receive from Jagielka to enable Coleman to provide similar support to Mirallas on the right.

Tom Bowers
11 Posted 24/10/2013 at 15:31:18
Without being overly negative, one has to look at the central defence these days which has been somewhat worrying. Distin has been a great buy and a model of consistency but age may be catching up just as it did Sol Campbell who was another great performer.

Sure, Sylvain can still match opponents in the air but that extra yard on the ground cannot be covered up. Jags also has been a great buy and still has it in my book but the partnership itself is not very watertight this season and needs a serious rethink by RM.

Unfortunately the options RM has are not ready yet and may not be for a while unless Alcaraz is fit soon. I would think Everton's first priority in the transfer window will be fixing this problem if it continues to be so.

Trevor Lynes
12 Posted 24/10/2013 at 16:11:17
Tom...last season we conceded less goals than any other team except for the Manchester clubs, surely this is testimony to the excellence of our defence which has absolutely carried us up until very recently when we acquired some strikers.

Coleman, Jagielka, Distin and Baines have been by far our best defenders. It's only when Heitinga played that we suffered defensively as he could not cope against strong, big strikers.

This season we have struggled a bit more than usual as a lot of teams are pressing further up the pitch to counteract sides who play out from the back. I already suggested variety in play to stop us being stereotyped.


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads


, placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' });