ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

We lost it in London

I think that we lost the game at the Bridge ? 11 versus 10 with half an hour to go, we failed to capitalise on it and push for the winner, we gave them to much respect were content playing for a draw and were punished, this was the defining moment from then on it was an uphill task to win the tie.

Instead of taking win or a draw to Goodison Park and defending some kind of advantage and believe me we have the players for that it was Chelsea coming to The Old Lady knowing that a goalless draw would sent them through and their game plan was pinpointing it - 4-5-1 with 2 defensive midfielders, content to soak up the pressure and wait for a killer.

Everton huffed and puffed but were found wanting. Credit to the boys they created 3 good chances but it wasn?t to be, we lacked that arrogance that won us the game at Wigan and for me also missing the lady luck. I can?t blame neither the players for their efforts or the manager for his tactics. Some will blame DM for going with 4-5-1 and not the more attacking 4-4-2 but its simply not sustainable against top team playing for a break ? we struggled with 5 man midfield to keep possession and what about with four with Osman on the left ? unthinkable.

Osman and Cahill were not at the races, not to mention Manny, Johnson was also wasteful on the ball ? these are critical players for our system and sadly they couldn?t deliver the goods when it mattered. I may be the only one but for me Lescott was responsible for the goal and not Valente, who made last ditch attempt to clear the danger.

All in all I am very disappointed with it but as I said we missed our chance at the Bridge and not yesterday, DM and Everton have to learn how to kill when they smell blood in order to bring us something to cheer about.

ps: It's nice that we have a break this week the last one was very absorbing
Stefan Tosev, Vienna Posted 24/01/2008 at 14:27:23

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Jim Hourigan
1 Posted 24/01/2008 at 17:39:35

Spot on !! I’ve been saying since the game at Stamford Bridge that we threw away a golden opportunity. With 15/20 mins to go they take off the centre forward and replace him with a right back - screams of sitting back and hoping for a draw. What do we do? - sit back as well and also seem content to take a draw. Then what happens they realise were sitting back and they go for it. I was screaming myself horse shouting at them to come out and take the game and go for the kill - sadly the defensive, mindset was too strong and we all know what happened. I think a braver manager would have seized the opportunity there and then and gone for it, but as we all know thta’s not in our mindset.

Ed Fitzgerald
2 Posted 24/01/2008 at 18:34:47

James

A rare moment when I find myself in agreement with you. I would not subscribe to the view that Moyes is a coward however, more over cautious?

Ron Leith
3 Posted 24/01/2008 at 19:51:43

I was at the game last night and thought we did very well against a class team. We could have got a nil nill and gone though on away goals after extra time if we had drawn 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. However, I would have hated to see us defend for 90 mins. Up until Chelsea scored we had every chance of going through.

Brian Garside
4 Posted 25/01/2008 at 20:00:57

Carnt blame tactics!!! Then why play long high ball to a lone striker who is not exactly renownd for his heading ability? Please dont suggest they are for Cahill as as explained in another thread this is self-defeating.
Days of Ward, Beardsley, Johnson etc came flooding back!!!
Manny + Osman not 100% fit. Arteta double-marked. Cahill seemed confused on what he was supposed to be doing. Moyes too late with changes. Personally would have brought on Vaughn at HT.