Wes, I would say that most of our boys were atleast a step slower than usual. Baines, Hibbert, Pienar, Jags, Howard, Cahil, Jo, Nevile... heck the whole squad if I?m being harsh.

Hibbert seemed like was carrying a knock, as with Cahill. Baines got robbed twice while on the ball looking to pass it. Neville passed to opposing players. Howard was always late coming out for high balls. Jags miss timed over the top balls which led Young and Carew to run around him.

Mind you, we did string some decent passes from midfield which resulted in Fella and Piennar scoring but it was not enough to pressure Villa to defend. I thought Lars and Fella had a decent run out but Fella needs to be careful on how he swings his arms when jumping. It could?ve been a red card on a couple of occasions. It's 2 points dropped in my view.

Not the best performance from Leon, but he wasn?t too bad. Clearly the game against Wigan was Osman at the peak of his powers rather than the norm. I actually thought our midfield played pretty well for most of the match yesterday ? especially Pienaar.

Howard, on the other hand, looked a real liability. He?s normally a very good keeper, so it was strange to see him flapping about. Also ? has he ever saved a penalty for Everton???

It’s funny how The Independent lauds Osman’s performance as "excellent", but our own fans still knock him...

Tim Howard's performance yesterday was certainly not one of his best, in fact it reminded me of the first half v Middlesboro in the cup match at Goodison.

When he starts flapping at centres, it seems to really affect the rest of the back four, and that was the case yesterday. Story has it that he is carrying a injury, let's hope the problem is cleared by the weekend.

Although United do not have a player of the physique and presence of Carew, they will have the ability to put Howard under pressure.I am sure all the boys will be up for it, and let us enjoy our day.

Being at the game, you see far more than just watching the telly. Positional sense both defensively and offensively, tracking back off the ball, always making himself available, refusing to engage in hoofball ? Osman displayed all of these yesterday. Also when in possession, he used the ball well and certainly didn?t give it up cheaply too often.

Whilst not being beyond criticising Osman for poor performances in the past, yesterday was certainly not one of them. People come on here just to have a pop, nothing else. There is certainly nothing constructive in any of the diatribes against those players that always get it in the neck, whatever the failings of others.

Osman is always accused of a) being too small and b) being too lightweight. But apart from confounding the forces of nature by a) growing 9 inches and b) putting on two stone overnight, what precisely can HE do about it???

Before you all start crying "Gosling" ? apart from a reasonable debut against a really poor Boro side (in which he missed three sitters) and half an hour against a tiring RS down to 10 men, the lad has shown that he needs time, lots of it, before he can be seriously considered for 1st team duty. He may be good enough one day, but today certainly isn?t it. Let him develop first. Otherwise he?ll get a consistent run out, not perform to the highest standards demanded by the wholly unreasonable folk on here, and then start getting it in the neck!

If DM is satisfied then I guess we should all be satisfied ? or should we ignore his views and take notice of a bunch of people who a) have never played the game to any reasonable standard, and b) who have never coached anything beyong FM3!

Do you really think your single-minded hounding of an established first team player is really conducive to getting the results that we all crave? Actually thinking about it ? I suspect you do!

After being at Villa, Karl, what are you going on about? Everton were magnificent yesterday; ok, the result was not the one we deserved but the football we played was brilliant. Pienaar was awesome ? his best game for Everton ? and the midfield were playing some lovely stuff. Very harsh on Jo, he always looked a threat.

Osman was dreadful yesterday and it was his failure to do a job on the pitch that swung the game in Villa?s favour. He left Hibbert totally exposed time and time again as he gravitated toward a central midfield position where he was totally ineffectual. As for his height and weight I?m afraid I don?t buy into that. Pienaar is of similar stature but will at least have a go as he did yesterday.

I?ve always considered the Everton fan base to be quite knowledgeable. Yes it does have its boo boys but by and large they are a pretty informed lot who read the game pretty well. To suggest that out of the overall attendance at yesterday?s game only one man could possibly have had the wit to recognise a player having a bad day beggars belief.

As for comments about Gosling yes he?s only a youngster with lots to learn but he is defensive minded and is capable of making a telling challenge.

We were crying out for someone to do a job in front Hibbert yesterday with Osman going AWOL yet again. Moyes should have hauled him off, but then again the Moyesiah can do no wrong or so it would seem in the eyes of some. However, managers are not infallible and can and do make mistakes.

Gerry is spot on. Every time we attacked through the middle we always switched it out to the left. Why becuase Osman is never there. Neville was always having to help Hibbert yesterday, Why because Osman was never there. Moyes should tell him Right midfield involves being on the right not drifiting into the middle. I fear Evra next week who will be able to charge forward as much as he wants as he wont have to mark anyone as i guarentee Osman wont do his job

What?! Osman playing badly? Did I watch a different game? I thought Osman played pretty well... not as good as against Wigan, but still played well. He was obviously given a free role as he drifted in a lot, but still effective and in most of our moves. It’s unbeliavable that fans still criticise him.. please have something else to moan about for a change!!

Alright guys who else would you START with instead of Leon? I do agree he was not at his best at Villa, but out of all the alternatives (ALL?) Leon is the most experienced surely. Having said that, if he's crap after 30 mins, have the guts to replace him then, but FFS give him a chance. IMHO he is a possible match winner.

All this nonsense about not providing cover to Hibbert, as a justification of slagging Osman is just that ? nonsense.

Gerry, I?d love to agree that our fans are really knowledgable but I?ve been to enough games to know that, whilst we have many who do understand the game, we have loads who are clueless.

You say that Osman left Hibbert exposed and that Osman should have been hauled off. It has clearly escaped you that NONE of the Villa goals came down our right. All came from the LEFT; first from our wide left, second and third from between left back and centre half! Now I?m not going to criticise Pienaar and Baines for not stopping that (sometimes shit happens), but heaven help Osman if he?d actually played on the left! My point is that unless someone displays a complete lack of desire, we should back them. After all they are trying to win the game for us.

But there again, I suppose Osman should have covered left side as well as right and centre! As I said, I think he did ok, so thought Moyes and the papers.

I can't understand why so many people want to analyse and take apart an Everton player?s game.

It?s all about the team and the team did a great job yesterday. Even if we blew a 2-goal lead, a 3-3 draw with a very good Villa side at their place is a good result ? particularly bearing in mind how many are carrying knocks and tiredness right now. What other team in the prem could achive 5th or 6th with such a small squad?

If Hibbo was left so exposed he could have shouted Ossie back into position but he didn't once so you have to figure it was a game plan that Ashley Young (who never tracks back by the way) could be left to Hibbo and Ossie would be the man over when we attacked.

Can we please all give up on the Ossie bashing and get behind the lads for the most difficult game of the season.

I have no problem with Osman being singled up when he?s shit, loses the ball every time he touches it but this wasn?t the case yesterday.

He drifted in and out of the game, showed some nice touches and kept the ball well, it was a decent performance. Nothing special but decent.

It?s about being fair, not singling out a player simply because you don?t like him. A commentator said himself that both Osman and Pienaar had bright games and where causing Villa problems, he?s not going to be biased is he?

I was at Villa yesterday and I thought Osman did reasonably well. I thought Hibbert had a shocker (with or without Osman?s help) and surely laid to rest the argument that a winger never gets the better of him ? yes, even though Young is a diver. In fact the whole defence looked sluggish and nervous ? but for God?s sake, give some credit to Villa who threw everything at us and an in form Carew is virtually unplayable.

Overall, it wasn?t a bad performance.

Cahill drifts in and out of games, but is considered a god. Ossie does the same, and is considered Ineffectual. He isnt world class, but is a definite top-6 squad player. He had injury throughout season; if TC plays through the pain barrier it's nothing but praise.

Ossie played better than TC yesterday. He is currently our most in-form and creative midfield player. Why slag him off? We scored 3 goals away from home, so the attack and creative midfielders did their job.

Unfortunately the defence (Howard injury?) lacked confidence and the referee was poor.

So please, explain, WHY EXACTLY ARE YOU CRITICISING OSMAN? I don't understand. Over the season he has been below par (probably injury, Moyes has admitted this), but in relation to yesterday's game criticise Jagielka, Lescott, Baines and Hibbo, or Neville and TC for not winning the midfield battle when they came at us.

Very ,very harsh, I thought Everton?s first half performance was quality against a very good team; we passed it well in neat movements and Osman was part of that.

Ok, we folded a bit, but that was mainly down to how well Villa played, with a little help from Howard... I thought he should've done better on the freekick too.

Also, when Gosling has played recently he has little to no effect. He can't read the game as well as Ossie so doesn't get into the correct positions. His passing ain't exactly world class and he ain't no Speedy Gonzales. He's a decent young player who given time could be an effective top 6 squad player.

But, in the long run we need another wide player with more pace, not to replace Ossie or Pienaar, but as well as. Ossie's best position is in the middle as well people must remember. He is much better in a 4-4-2 midfield than TC.

Criticism where criticism is due. For once, it was the defence that let us down yesterday, not the attack. When it is usually the reverse.

Don’t think any of the defence looked particularly good yesterday (except Neville covering). It seemed we simply couldn’t handle a nippy diving winger and a big centre forward. Not really good enough. But then, the defence have been outstanding almost all season.

Fran Mitchell, you have completely and absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I am reduced to the level of a blithering idiot, my contact with sanity, tenuous at best, is completely shattered. Am I living in a dimension where fact is fiction and the utterly ridiculous is real.

So you think Osman?s contribution is equal or even better than Cahill's! Are there others who think like that? Am I in a minority? Or, perish the thought, am I on my own to think what you say is balderdash?

Osman and Pienaar where excellent yesterday. Does my fucking head in, they are the only two players brave enough and composed enough to try and hold onto the ball to play a creative forward pass. They are bound to lose possesion now and again, especially when they are both so lightweight.... Anybody criticising them clearly has no idea of football. By the way they get slated, it's no wonder they lose confidence...

Hey, I know, let's have a midfield of Nevilles, 10-yard sideways passes... That'll sure unsettle United defence next week. Think about it!

Ossie has been outstanding for us all season. Total nonsense, Wes.

Osman excellent yesterday? I suppose in his wide-right role, Osman should be one of our most creative players yesterday, so can somebody please list the number of shots, passes that lead to a shot or, especially as he was up against the weakest link of the Villa side ? a left back who has been kept out of the team most of the season by their right back ? how many times did he even attmept to take him on or put in a decent cross?

The answer to all these is none. So what do you judge being excellent on? Because, by the sounds of it, not a very high standard if you think he was excellent yesterday. Osman equal to Cahill ? I have never laughed so much in my life.

Steve, interesting observation about the three goals conceded down the left. However, I think we need to put that firmly in its context. All three goals scored were a direct result of great attacking play down the left; needless to say, if you commit men going forward then there is much higher probability that you will be caught out in those positions. In a game we simply had to win we had to risk it and it made for a very open game.

Frankly I find it hard to criticise either Baines or Pienaar. As for your suggestion we might deploy Osman left side, right side and in the middle I?d have settled for even a mediocre display down the right yesterday before asking him to play anywhere else.

For those seeking to defend Osman?s performance, please explain to me why someone selected to play wide right spends 99% of his time playing in a central midfield position in a role in which he was wholly ineffectual and leaving his full back completely exposed should escape criticism? The result of this of course was we were constantly on the back foot and failed to win a game we should have.

Sorry to say it but a waste of my time reading this.

Ossie was no more "ineffective" than anybody else yesterday yet of course he was the one singled out. He played alright as part of the "team", which on the whole could and should have won.

Pathetic really.

The fact that Osman usually came centrally a lot against Villa probably had a lot to do with that to be honest, he very rarely came up one-on-one against Nicky Shorey. He?s not a winger and trying to outpace or dribble past a fullback wouldn?t do him any favours.

He came centrally, knitted things together and was involved in quite a few of our attacking moves. He didn?t get a direct assist no, that doesn?t mean he didn?t contribute to our attacking play. All our midfielders did, we played very well as a unit offensively.

But it?s Osman isn?t it? He can?t do right in a lot of people's eyes. You even get people saying he doesn?t work hard when the fitness coach (Dave Billows) said quite clearly that Osman and Pienaar cover the most ground in our team per game. That just proves how blinded some people are by hate to be honest.

I?m a fan but I?m the first to admit that he?s had an inconsistent season, I actually gave him a 5 out of 10 which is poor. With his haters you don?t get that, when he plays well, they're nowhere... and when he plays poorly, they're the first posting to criticise him.

Osman has played poorly quite a few times this season; yesterday, not a chance though. He was decent, not great but decent. Certainly not a performance that should be criticised whether you like him or not.

Ossie?s sound. Lay off him, you footballing Philistines. His first touch is immaculate, he scores goals, can pass and retains possession better than anyone bar Arteta. Moyes knows the score and I reckon he?s the first name on the team sheet.

I?m not an Ossie hater, I just don't think he is good enough against top sides and, if we are to progress, he needs to be just a squad player. Good as cover for central midfield and that's it. We need to move on in the summer and he is the first of the midfield that needs improving on or we can stay as we are.

If we do, I hope people don't come on here bitching about why we are not as good as the top 4 because midfield is the reason. I hope Moyes puts whatever amount we have into buying a pacy winger and strong central midfielder ? then we can consider a top 4 spot.

John (Martin), whilst I don?t necessarily agree (nor disagree particularly) with your last post, it is a constructive opinion ? one aimed at looking to improve matters and I can?t criticise you for that. What gets me most is most of the negative comments about Osman et al, are destructive with very little purpose other than to have a go at someone who, no matter how he plays, will always be crap in some (blind) people?s eyes.

Incredible really. Without a shadow of doubt we played some of the finest football seen from an Everton team for many a long year. Some of our passing was stupendous and Osman was in the thick of much of it.

The point about him leaving Hibbert exposed is a fair one. He does gravitate to the centre and should perhaps show more discipline, if that is indeed what he has been told to do. However, when he is fit, he is without question one of Everton?s more creative outlets. I thought him, Pienaar and Neville were quite superb yesterday.

To blame Osman as some idiots are doing is beyond belief. The reason Everton didn?t win this game by 2 or even 3 or 4 goals is down to the defense. Specifically it is down to a non-trivial injury to Tim Howard and Moyes?s decision to risk him. It was clear early doors that Howard (normally a very safe goalie) was having problems with movement & confidence. That in turn affected Lescott & Jagielka.

Then factor in the ref?s decision on the Lescott incident, plainly incorrect as Lescott was technically in control of the ball and had no idea Petrov was behind him, and the idea that Osman caused our defeat is frankly laughable. Howard Webb made an instant decision and, though it was wrong, he doesn?t deserve criticism because he at least had Ashley Young?s card marked early on. This kid goes to ground faster than Jack Bauer in 24. He?s a fully paid up cheat and I am rather surprised he wasn?t booked.

IMHO a fully fit Howard would have saved Milner?s free kick, however well hit it was. In fact, Howard?s difficulty moving for that was all the evidence needed. It may even have helped to avoid the defensive uncertainty that allowed Carew to score. And the 3rd goal should technically not have happened.

I do not view Villa clawing back a draw as proving anything other than a) they had some luck, and b) they are the home team and they are 5th in the league so you expect SOME pressure. I thought we played brilliantly for the most part. Had we started with a fully fit goalkeeper and Arteta then we would have pissed the game.

This showed me what we are capable of. Our game has been transformed since Nov/Dec. We have entered a new phase of positive and offensive football, passing the ball with vision & skill. Regardless of the result yesterday, I think credit to everyone is thoroughly deserved.

Sadly the draws against Villa, Arsenal, Newcastle & Blackburn have cost us 4th place. We should have won all these games, and the loss at home to Villa. But we didn?t and so we?re 9 points off Arsenal instead of 3 ahead of them. An FA Cup victory, with a James Vaughan cameo, would only marginally sweeten the blow.

Isn't that something like 12 penalties (including the shoot out v Fiorentina) ? 12 goals against Howard since he has been an Everton player? WTF is going on there???

I'm not goin to read threw every comment so sorry if this has been repeated a lot but I'm really puzzled in what Tim Howard was actually doing against Villa. Was it me or was it just not the same Tim Howard??

I mean, he has had bad games, yes, but he never ever tries to control the area like he did. He's obviously not the tallest so I think he should stick to what he was doing well, letting the defence deal with crosses and he can save shots.... I just hope he doesnt do it against the Manc shite on Sunday!

It would be the biggest shame to lose a goal like that in a game the whole team including him have worked so hard to get to! I really think we have a chance at this FA Cup!! Come on you Blues!!!! We will be behind you all the way!! Sorry to sound gay here but we fucking love you!!!!

John, I?m in total agreement with you. I don?t hate the guy either but have come to the conclusion that, if we aspire to a top four position, we?re going to have to find a replacement for Osman as he?s simply not good enough to help us progress to that level.

Equally, a good call on the need for a strong central midfielder. I think new personnel in these two key positions is a must. It's reassuring to read your take on yesterday's game as it broadly confirms my own observations.

To be honest I don?t think anyone would disagree with what John has said, I certainly wouldn?t. Osman should be a squad player and hopefully will be in the summer.

Sometimes I can?t believe some of the stuff people post on here. I was at the game Sunday and I have to concur with the opinions of Steve Williams and Fran Mitchell. I?m now convinced that all this anti-Osman feeling is fired by people?s desire to see the boy Gosling get a berth ahead of him.

I would say that his performance was ok on the day certainly not meriting the myopic and ill-informed criticism that I?ve read here at all. Still, I can see that opinion about him is polarised and in the face of that I?m increasing the stake I shall be placing on him Sunday to score either our first or last goal.

The Felli paid for my Wembley ticket with his contribution Sunday (£5 10/1) and I?ve had a feeling about Ossie ever since he got us underway in this cup run that he is going to have a big impact again when it matters. I hope Osman has a monster game Sunday just to shut the blow-hards up! I firmly believe he will. COYB!

Si Kirwin ? Spot on.

I can?t believe Osman is being singled out ahead of either Howard or Lescott.Those two were absolute garbage and let down the other 9 men who did their best to try and win the game.

Lescott looked 2 yards off the pace and could not head the fucking ball. Howard was a joke, he should have had Villa?s first 2 goals. The free-kick was 30 yards out and crossed the line at waist height. Any half decent keeper would have saved that.

I wouldn?t be too bothered about the latest ill-informed Ossie sniper to raise his head. I can?t see someone in Melbourne getting to too many games unless it?s a district of Bootle I?ve never heard of!

Agree with some of the comments re Howard?s performance. As my late old man would have said re the Milner free kick.... ?I could have fanned that out with me cap? ? and he doesn?t do penalties, does he?
If it goes to the penalty shoot-out on Sunday then they should put Jakeilka in goal... serious!

Very nice piece on the BBC website with Neville talking about his daughter who has cerebral palsy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7988219.stm

Leon Osman?

Sure he’s carrying an Injury is he not?

Oh sorry, that excuse expired last week.

What you all on about.

I watched a match with end to end action, everyone gave there all including Villa.

Throughly satisfied with the entertainment. Those that try to find fault with our team are just sad little people with stupid opinions.