ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

David Edwards
1 Posted 02/10/2008 at 10:39:21

While it's been right to dissect our season and recent performances over the last few days, now is the time for all Evertonians to get behind the team for what is probably going to be our biggest game of this season.

The parallels to Kendall's turn around of fortunes well over two decades ago might not be quite so clear-cut, but unless we get a win out of tonight's game, the repercussions to the club as a whole could be severe (the future of the manager and the board, the prospects of investment, team morale, attendances and even a possible relegation scrap come the season's end).

Already a number of 'supporters' are either taking a perverse pleasure in predicting failure, or even hoping for it in the hope it will prompt a managerial and boardroom shake-up - but thankfully the vast majority will be wishing Davey and the boys the best for tonight.

Even on the showing of the first leg, if we play anything like what we are capable of, an away win is a possibility - in fact with the only option being to go all out for a win, it might even work to our advantage.

As we seem to have struggled with a leaky defence and an ineffective midfield for the season so far, we have to play 4-4-2 tonight with the Yak and Saha upfront, and yet make sure the back-line is solid. So, although it goes against the grain, I think we need to go for Hibbo on the right and Pip in middle in the Carsley role. Roger needs to stay on the left as he has something to prove against Liege, and I'm hopeful he'll be up for it to exoricise those ghosts of the first leg.

Arteta needs to get more loft on his crosses, Ossie needs to dominate more and Tim needs to focus his aggression better, but with Saha as an extra outlet, I think a reduced midfield will be more appropriate.

I'd have no issues with a teamsheet that read: Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Arteta, Cahill, Neville, Osman; Yakubu, Saha... and although I'm still undecided on Castillo, I wouldn't necessarily be against his involvement, with Pip back to right back - although I think Moyes will be relying on the 'usual suspects' given what is hanging on this game for him.

It's too early to blood Peanuts, but hopefully he's on the bench, along with the likes of Vic, Vaughany and Baines (should we need a quick Plan B on the left if Roger starts getting found out again). Sad to say, Fellaini's cup-tied absence doesn't affect us (I'm sure his time will come as he adjusts to the demands of the EPL).

So let's have a return to the fighting spirit of last season, and leave all the doom and gloom till tomorrow (hoping there won't be any!).

One thing's for certain - the club's landscape and it's future will definitely be shaped by what happens this evening - whatever the result. COYBs

Kev Prytherch
2 Posted 02/10/2008 at 12:49:55

We can't afford to concede a goal and 4-5-1 has worked for us away from home so I can't see Moyes changing that.

I'd drop Yobo as he seems to be the most inconsistent of the defenders at the moment. Also, judging by the 1st leg Lescott looked a little short of pace when faced with their right winger.

Therefore I'd go with a 4-5-1, which would effectively be a 4-2-3-1 with Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott and Baines at the back. Neville and Castillo in front of the back 4. Arteta, Cahill and Osman in front of them, all with an instruction to get forward at every opportunity and the Yak up front.

I know some peole may disagree with Neville, but at least he's proven he does have the discipline to sit in front of the back 4 and can break up play, even if he can't pass.

Finally, I wouldn't bother with set positions for the 3 attacking midfielders, it would surely be more beneficial if Liege were kept guessing about which of the midfielders would break and support Yakub.

James Newcombe
3 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:38:54

It’s do or die tonight, I say we should go for it with 442. COYB!!!

Paul O'Hanlon
4 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:14:34

One thing that's struck me since the 1st Leige game, is the number of people who thought they were very average. Cards on the table, I thought they were one of the best, if not the best team to visit Goodison in the Uefa Cup (including last year obviously!).

They have a team full of pace, height and more importantly skill on the ball. As for their movement off the ball, the man in possesion seemed to have 2 or 3 options every time, particularly in the first half. I was watching them thinking, 'this lot play the way I want us to play!'. Some say the reason for our dour style of football, lack of height and lack pace is lack of funds, but I don't see any world beaters in the Leige team? I see a well balanced team that's being coached to play good football.

Which is why I'm so worried about tonight. Aside from Leige being anything but standard, we're playing terribly at the moment and I can see it being a similar night to the one in Bucharest a few years ago. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Albert Poissant
5 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:47:56

I say we just go the whole hog and play the 5-0-5 bomber formation.

Richard Harris
6 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:54:09

Bring back the 2-3-5 formation for plenty of goals. If it was good enough for Dixie then it’s good enough for our current boys :0)

Let’s hope that it isn’t 2 of our players who score 3 own goals to give Liege an aggregate score of 5...........

Rob Foy
7 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:50:57

4-4-2, if we are going out, I would rather go out fighting. If we attack them heavily in the first 10-20 minutes they will shit themselves.

The RS went there and sat back, didnt get any chances and Liege were unlucky not to score. I cant see us getting that kind of luck so we need to counter it by pinning them back. Best form of defence is attack!

Yak & Saha, with Cahill mixing it up with forward runs. Midfield of Castillo Arteta & Osman/Pienaar (if fit) either side.

This game is absolutely massive!

Craig Taylor
8 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:50:44

I don’t think we should panic from the off. We only need to win by one goal. While we do not want to be to defensive, we also do not want to be so attacking that we are exposed even more.

I hear Cahill has had virus, unless he is 100% I think we should leave him on the bench. (Obviously I want him to be 100% and so play).

Ideally I would like to see

Howard
Hibbert
Yobo
Jagielka
Lescott
Neville
Rodwell
Osman
Arteta
Cahill
Yakubu

Whilst i do not dislike Castillio and I wouldnt be disappointed if he was selected I think Rodwell could add some suprise to Liege.

Subs:
Vaughen
Anichebe
Saha
Baxter
Castillio

Its surley to early for Peanut.

Stephen Stuart
9 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:55:59

How about 1 - 10 - 0 and hope to nick it at the end (ala Doddy)?

OR

1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 in the hope that we can pass to someone wearing the same shirt?

Alan Khan
10 Posted 02/10/2008 at 13:59:40

Tonight, boys become men and footballers become legends... okay, maybe too dramatic but I agree with most fans, it’s a MASSIVE game for us. I want to see Everton play 4-4-2 with Yak and Saha upfront. The key though is the type of service they receive. A midfield of Arteta, Cahill, Castillo and Pienaar if fit will be good. Otherwise Moyes will rely on the usual and Ossie will play but it would be interesting to see if he will gamble with Baines down the left to mix things up a bit.

DM will surely still retain Neville in the back four if he goes 4-4-2 and despite the leaks and poor defensive displays, would like to see Yobo and Jags in the centre of defence, with Lescott at LB. We may just need Vic off the bench to clinch the deal for us. Can’t wait!!!! Good luck everybody...

Rob Foy
11 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:04:05

I think it might be too early for Pienaar as well but who thought Cahill was ready against Stoke. It was a shock when he appeared out of the tunnel, and he subsiquently got the winner.

Richard Harris
12 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:14:13

Everybody’s talking about this being a massive game and how it could define our season but it’s a qualifying round for the group stages ffs.
A massive game is a final !! (or at least a semi final...) Have our standards and expectations gone down so much ?

Dave Whitwell
13 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:10:50

I don’t really understand the idea of keeping it tight and preventing them from scoring, there are 2 ways of going through tonight, firstly win the game, secondly a score draw with us scoring at least twice, my gut feel tells me we need to get the 2 away goals back, so I would go all out for goals. IMO we should go 442, Yak & Saha up front, Arteta, Cahill, Castillo, Osman in mid, Baines, Yobo, Jags, Nev in defence with Howard in goal. Take the game to them from the 1st minute.

This needs a 2nd leg v Fiorentina energy & result, minus the penalty loss!

Rich Grisdale
14 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:18:26

I beleive we must go there and play 4-4-2. There is no point starting with 1 up front as that will set pattern for the rest of the game. And any how, isnt the best form of defence, attack?
lets get about them, get hold of the ball and put a performance in we know they can produce. Got a feeling saha will grab the important goal. Come on lads, you owe the supporters a performance. NSNO.....

Ciarán McGlone
15 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:27:35

Moyes will probably start with neville and cahill in midfield...and baines on the bench.

god help us all.

Alan Codd
16 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:31:37

I would like to see 4-4-2 tonight , as clearly 4-5-1 is not working.
Unfortunately David Moyes will do his usual trick of packing the midfield and having the back four sit on the 18 yrd line hoofing it up the pitch hoping the Yak can pick it up and score on his own. IF we go one down he will then dither for ten minutes getting saha on to go 442, predictable.
This is also what Walter Smith did in the euefa cup final..go figure

David Moore
17 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:06:22

I have on clue what we are going to do, but i think our problem lyes in our players vision. WE never seem to pass it to the right coloured shirt so surely we must have poor or fuzzy sight. I can also see Cahill being left on the bench if we go 4-4-2. My prediction is 3-2. Not sure if that is total aggregate or just 2days game. COYB. Big one from Arteta!!!

Ian Kearney
18 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:30:18

Suprised to see how many want neville in midfield to ’sit deep’, was I alone in thinking that he was far too deep on saturday, constantly allowing the opposition midfield momentum, which help caused their first goal.

Aide Dews
19 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:29:24

4-4-2 for me tonight, weve got to go for broke and fight for a spot in the group stages!! fuck 4-5-1 the tie is well in there favour at 2 a piece and we need to go there be positive and win!! they’ll probably be expecting us to come and play the 4-5-1 system but lets go over there and suprise ’em a little, go 4-4-2 and take the game to ’em from the start and give a Fiorentina esc performance!!

Howard

Hibbert
Jagielka
Lescott
Baines

Pienaar
Castillo
Cahill
Arteta

Saha
Yakubu

COYB!!!!

Connor Rohrer
20 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:46:12

Ciarán McGlone, I think that will be it. Neville and Cahill in the middle, great news.....not.

My only hope is that Yakubu and Saha can turn it one, that’s how we’ll win. The centre of midfield is going to be fucking awful though.

Cahill and Neville chasing shadows.

Nick Bird
21 Posted 02/10/2008 at 14:08:26

i say lets try the flying V, worked for the Mighty Ducks.

Dave lYNCH
22 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:57:10

Don’t usually post teams on here.
But here goes.
Howard

Valente...left b
Jagielke
Lescott
Neville.....right b

Big Vic.. did well for me in mid.
Castillo
Cahill
Arteta.....on the left.

Yak
Saha.

Valente. Because of his experience at this level of footy.
Think this line up will give us options to change things if it goes tits up in the first half.
If he goes 4. 5. 1. Then the man is a coward and should resign at half time.
Peanuts is not match fit and will not last 90. I would rather bring him on for last 30 or so to freshen up the creativity factor.
Just my opinion boys.

Tony Marsh
23 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:59:35

Dave Edwards writes..Tonight is probably our biggest game of the season.Hows that then Dave?We already have one foot in the grave in this useless competition and we are quite obviously an inferior side than Liege going on thiers and our recent performances.

I think most Evertonians would agree that Saturday was our biggest game of the season[it always is] and we wimped out bigtime.I dont think for one minute that many sane Everton fans would dream of putting any money on us tonight as it is a forgone conclusion in my book.Whenever the real crunch games come along Moyes always shits himself and crawls back in to his shell like a tortoise being attacked by a Jack Russell.WHY will Moyes change it tonight?

All this get behind the team Bullshit is all well and good but as the saying goes... What have you done for me lately.I am afraid David Moyes doesnt deserve the fans backing any more and after tonights certain elimination he should fuck off back to Scotland.

Brian Waring
24 Posted 02/10/2008 at 16:07:10

At the end of the day, we need to score to go through. It’s a cinch Liege will sit back, and try to catch us on the break. You can imagine they had us watched in the derby, and probalby would be happy for us to play 4 - 5 - 1.
I agree with one of the lads above, Liege did look a very good side, and I actually thought they took their foot off the gas in the last 20mins at Goodison. We need to go 4 - 4 - 2, and just play the typical British game, pressure them from the off.

David Edwards
25 Posted 02/10/2008 at 15:42:26

There’s a difference between having a team set up to be strong defensively, and having one that sits too deep. We must have the line pushed up as much as we can get away with, in order to support our midfield (in a 4-4-2 formation) and stop the strikers having to track back for scraps. While this does invite their wingers to try to outpace us on the flanks, it’s a risk we have to take.

Our more ’creative’ midfielders need to stand-up and be counted tonight - especially Arteta. If he can get his delivery into the box right at least half the time, I think the Yak, Tiny and Saha could feast well tonight.

Enjoyed reading the more innovative formations. We may well need 5-0-5 if we still need a goal with 5 minutes to go (it worked for Boro in the UEFA Cup a few seasons ago!). Isn’t 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 Arsenal’s walk the ball into goal formation?

Finally, Richard Harris (nice name - you obviously know ’How to Handle a Woman’), I think we all take onboard your view of massive and know where you’re coming from, but I have to say my expectations have not diminished in any way by calling this a big game. A win gets us into the group stages, from which you’ve really got to be no-hopers not to get through to the final few knoock-out rounds, and a chance for one of those ’massive’ finals we all crave.

However, even without all that, this game is a big one because I can think of no other game other than a final day relegation scrap, where the possible future of our manager, board and the club’s direction might hinge upon the result we get.

Richard O`Dodd
26 Posted 02/10/2008 at 16:12:44

Oooh Tone, you can be arsey!We all know our Davey and Bill will do whatever is best for our great club.

Patty Beesley
27 Posted 02/10/2008 at 16:21:07

Tony Marsh in his posting above says the UEFA is a useless cup! In that case if we do go out of the competition tonight, I don?t expect to see him on here tomorrow, moaning, groaning and generally insulting everyone associated with the performance!!

Nick Entwistle
28 Posted 02/10/2008 at 16:38:47

Don’t fancy the idea of Saha up front on his own, he’s soon become the new AJ chasing balls down in the corners.

David Edwards
29 Posted 02/10/2008 at 16:20:23

Just read your post, Tony. I’m honoured to get a name check from such a TW icon.

No, for you and many others, this game isn’t important at all. You’ve always been consistent in your view that the UEFA Cup is a waste of time (despite most of us seeing automatic qualification to it last season as some sort of albeit modest achievement at least), and in many ways you can’t lose tonight regardless of the result. Lose or draw and it reinforces your views on the state of our club, and it might even lead to Moyes walking or not getting anything like the contract renewal once muted. Win, and you can enjoy the moment as the blue-blooded Evertonian we know you are (even if we don’t always agree with the articles and posts) and it might just be the turning point of the season and start to get us back on track for success for those ’real’ trophies we all need to aspire to.

For those of us who have become disillusioned with our football of late and Davey’s inability to turn it round this season, but who deep down inside still think he’s currently the most appropriate (if not quite the ideal) manager to lead us, then this is a crucial game to win.

I fear a defeat will number DM’s days at the club considerably. Sometimes we don’t always realise what we’ve got till it’s gone. You only need to look at the likes of Newcastle, Spurs, Bolton, Man City (of old) and even Villa (before Lerner) to see that the grass isn’t always greener - especially when you’ve got a board who can’t afford any decent lawn fertiliser (although they have plenty of bulls**t!)

Come on, Tony. Give Davey and the lads all your support tonight - even if a win might not be the most helpful scenario for the club in your view.

Shaun Croker
30 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:10:43

How about 4-3-3.

With the Yak, Saha and Vaughan up front.

Arteta, Osman and Cahill mdifiled.

Hbbert, Yobo, Lescott and Jagielka.

I would like to see this formation. It would terrify their defence!! If this fails, then bring in King Kev!!!!!

John Martin
31 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:29:45

Lately i have been agreeing with Tony Marsh however, not with his above comment. I am not supporting the team for David Moyes or any player, nobody is, Tony we should get behind the team because we support Everton and i want success for Everton dont you ?

Dave Lynch
32 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:37:37

Tony.
With all due respect mate, and i usually find your postings honest and refreshing in the honesty of the content.
But youve stopped a decent thread in it’s tracks.
It’s about the game tonight. Not the poltics or merits of the competition.

Richard Murray
33 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:43:17

So it’s:

Hibbo-Jags-Lescott-Baines
---------------------
---------Nev---------
Osman-----------Arteta
--------Cahill---------
---Saha-------Yak-----
----------------------

Probably the side I would have went for.

Conor Waters
34 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:45:23

Team news in.
Howard
Hibbert
Jags
Lescott
Baines
Osman
Cahill
Neville
Arteta
Saha
Yak

Connor Rohrer
35 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:52:34

The centre of midfield looks awful, Cahill and Neville for fuck sake. I hope they prove me wrong, I’m expecting two headless chickens chasing shadows in the middle.

Baines and Saha will give us good attacking options though, hopefully we can get Osman and Arteta in more central areas aswell.

Stuart Mitchell
36 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:56:19

Would have liked to have seen Castilio rather than Neville in the middle!

NIce to see Baines get a game, Lets hope he can keep their pacey RW in check, Lescott had a mare against him.

Scott Jenner
37 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:00:29

Who are on the bench?? I would like to see Peanuts get a run out, I think he could trouble their tired defence if he comes on later on in the game!!

COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Santosh Benjamin
38 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:00:01

Sad to see Castillo missing out on a starting place once again...not sure about the midfield but i like the back 4. Also like the 2 strikers up front..we need to score early and keep the pressure on em and maybe even sneak a 2nd goal before the break without letting em score...that will make Liege play all out in the 2nd half..opening up spaces for Saha and the Yak to further our lead. Where is Vaughan by the way,,,woulda liked him on the bench.

Mick simo
39 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:03:18

4-4-2 or Moyes goes tonight, but to be honest the midfield are to lightweight, Moyes for me as got it all wrong this season, with the panic buys, etc

Terry Lloyd
40 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:06:18

If we go out tonight I have this feeling Moyes will resign, not signed his contract, team fucking lacking confidence and he still dithers on the contract, a bit like his transfer moves.

Connor Rohrer
41 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:11:47

To be fair to him he has put out a positive team. 4-4-2, Saha, Cahill and Yakubu all in the team and Baines offering the width.

Hopefully it works ok. One thing I will say is Saha and Yakubu are both good at dropping deep, hopefully they can link play.

Stuart Mitchell
42 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:11:19

Bench
Nash, Yobo, Castilio, Valente, Pienaar, Rodwell, Anichibe

Jon j Cox
43 Posted 02/10/2008 at 17:58:21

i enjoyed reading the guys earlier on who said 4-4-2. dont know about yobo is he injured?

anyway baines on the left is good for me. i think DM has learned from the last game. i also think that saha and the yak up front could potentialy be a devastating attack partnership tonight.

i mwas thinking about Everton in terms of either your girlfriend or your wife. the problem is it’s quite easy to part from a disaster with your g/friend or wife but with Everton no matter how much she hurts you, you just can,t let her go.

i’m proud of that.

Come on lads do the business tonight and let us fly to work tomorrow on cloud 9

Keith Glazzard
44 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:12:02

Its possibly the best attack formation available. 35 minutes without conceding and we stand a chance - a very slim one.

Come on you blues ! ! !

Mike Coates
45 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:10:16

Ah man.

I hope it works for once the cards Moysey has planted onto the playing field..

Nev shifting to midfield in place of the goal scorer!

Hibbert (poor guy) will be off the moment either they score or half time comes around to accomodate a Neville move to right back and Castillo inclusion..

Pienaar replacing Osman, if things get worse, or at the 65-70 min mark..

Anichebe will replace a striker around death as depending on whether we are possibly going into a penalty shoot out..

My guesstimates.

Wait.. Where is Vaughan?

Nick Entwistle
46 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:34:26

I’m pleased with this, but would have preffered Castillo to Neville. Though holding mid for Nev in a 442 will be better for him than 451... I hope.

Matthew K.
47 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:32:38

Alright boys,

here we go. I must once again depend on radion and text...so be it if we can win this...

stef chedgzoy
48 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:27:31

oy marshy the team we love always need supporting ya prat .watch emmerdale tonight instead .you hate moyes but slag everyonelse off in order to do it .i for one will be rooting for what you call our inferior side and believe we can get through tonight in this so-called inferior cup, which will give us confidence for the rest of the season rather than lose tonight and just drift aimlessly in mid table coyb yesterday i said without the bile u make a lot of sense . all bile today have a day off

Nick Entwistle
49 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:37:40

Opps, Yak is down again, skills...

Art Greeth
50 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:47:54

If anyone out there cannot get a link to the game, Betfair is showing it. Easy to sign up - no need to deposit betting funds. Click on links to betting on the match. Decent enough stream with English commentary.

gavin harris
51 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:00:23

Try this http://www.ustream.tv/videoplayerpopup/channel/298986. Works for me.

Dan Brierley
52 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:58:47

Try this:

http://www.justin.tv/londonerrr

Password is premier. Not the best stream, but better than nothing!

anto meehan
53 Posted 02/10/2008 at 18:59:30

Hopefully Moyes will learn from this 442 and running the show!! I remember he got the message after our capitulation to spurs a couple seasons back and we went on a great run after Moyes ...... ahhh bollix to that LIEGE JUST SCORED

gavin harris
54 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:01:18

1.0. Another and I am off to bed. Its 7.04am here. :-(

Stuart Mitchell
55 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:03:01

1-0 Leige, Hibbert in no mans land!

ian hams
56 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:01:32

www.rtlsport.be.

found this link on bulitin board , might be worth a try.

fuck liege1-0.

Mike Coates
57 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:02:56

http://wrtvx.blogspot.com/

Art Greeth
58 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:03:32

Very comfortable all game... playing well... then no closing down of a man running through the middle on goal. Howard saved well, Baines slow to clear the rebound, cross comes in, Hibbert ZERO awareness of his man... totally free on the back post. A gift.

Now need two to stay in the tie... Saha looking good.

Alan Codd
59 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:05:58

Oh look a forward unmarked at the back post.............. where have I seen that before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hibbert isfucking woefull and David moyes picks his teams to accomodate Neville, what a cunt

Mike Coates
60 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:06:33

7am? You guys already shifted your hours?

gavin harris
61 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:08:29

Yeah mate, summer time now its 12hrs from UK time. What time is it in melbourne then?

anto meehan
62 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:11:31

Everton 6/1 on boylesports to win the match........... is it worth a 50euro punt????

gavin harris
63 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:11:59

Non existent midfield. Only Arteta going forward and trying to supply saha and yak. Not looking good.

Mike Coates
64 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:13:21

Still just 4.16am.. We’re change this Sunday morning.

Lost my stream, searching around again..

Damn MAC.. (if its at fault)

anto meehan
65 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:14:51

Neville and Hibbert yet again the best players on the pitch!!!!!

Saha looking likely though....

Jason Lam
66 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:15:27

http://www.iraqgoals.com/en/ch1.html

Jason Lam
67 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:16:25

Played off the park by the Belgiums. Hoof after hoof is our answer. Fucking piss poor football. God we’re crap.

Viv Sharma
68 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:16:27

Im a moyes fan, but Davey, you got less than an hour to keep your job. Good luck mate, you’ll need it.

Nick Veitch
69 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:18:22

I don’t understand how professional footballers can be so shite in constructive football in the opposition half. Don’t know how we’re going to score!

anto meehan
70 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:19:30

Get Neville OFF NOW!! He must think he’s still playing for utd , every fucking pass to a red shirt, holy shit!!

Moyes has to bite the bullit and take this muppet off or his head is on the block!!

adam wightman
71 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:20:27

we play with our backs to goal so much!

adam wightman
72 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:20:27

we play with our backs to goal so much!

Art Greeth
73 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:19:35

Jason Lam you are talking absolute thorough CRAP!

The team are playing with enormous patience and the ball has hardly left the floor. How can we have 60% possession if, as you say, we are playing hoofball???!!!

Stop repeating stereotypes and actually judge the team on THIS game.

Jeremy Benson
74 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:20:55

I’ve said it before (about 4 times), and I’ll say it again.

If you need to score twice to get anything from a match because your defence is so bad, you’re in real, real trouble.

I am glad we are going out - because by christ we need to concentrate on the premiership to preserve our status with this side the way they have played this season.

anto meehan
75 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:22:49

Have to agree with Art, we are actually trying to play some football tonight but everything breaks down when Neville gets on the ball

Simon C
76 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:21:38

Not sure how you can say it’s hoofball. It’s sh1te and uninventive yes but they are trying (however badly) to pass the ball...

john smith
77 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:22:33

The problem here is that whilst the possession stuff looks very nice we;ve no idea when it comes to the final third> Clueless in fact. And they look dangerous whenever they get near our box>

gavin harris
78 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:25:33

We need to change the formation so its more attacking, problem is that our defence is so bad that we are almost certainly going out.

Viv Sharma
79 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:26:11

I can’t FUCKING BELIEVE their cheating captain is still on and it was his shot that set up the goal.
His tackle on the Yak alone would have got Cahill sent off, but he’s in red, so it’s fine.
Plus ofcourse only a yellow for trying to punch the ref...
Jesus.
Atleast we will get the "allardyce period" out of the way early in the season... haha

Ralph Wetzels
80 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:26:08

thank God no hoofball so far. But a poor Hibbert and Neville. We’re creating no chances but that’s what you get when you leave the build-up play to Neville. Arteta has to demand the ball more and Hibbert needs to be replaced by Castillo with Neville switching to right-back.

Paul, Leeds
81 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:27:13

I wouldn’t call passing the ball backwards, side ways and then hoofing it 40 yards in the general direction of our strikers playing football.

Cahill should never play in a 442 and may be once Arteta will actually put on a performance in the big games

Brian Waring
82 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:22:48

Liege are letting us play the ball around in midfield, thats why Art , we have had most of the possession,but in the final third we haven’t got a clue what to do with it, whereas Liege attack with pace and look like they could score everytime they go forward.

Tommy Coleman
83 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:29:27

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Moyes gets it wrong again in midfield. I will bet anyone £10 that he doesn’t change anything at half time.

Jason Lam
84 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:25:25

I am watching the game albeit on the live stream. Everton are TRYING to play the ball along the ground but taking hours to get players facing forward and moving the ball forward, due to the lack of any ball skills whatsoever. Yakubu coming back to midfield to school our players the simple ball skills - and goes looking for the foul. The final ball FORWARD is hoof to Saha. No ideas whatsoever.

Alex Kociuba
85 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:30:23

Tony HIbbert is the only player to have a proper shot on goal isn’t he?!

And it does my fucking head in the way Neville can’t pass simple balls!!!

Art Greeth
86 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:27:49

I love the idea that we play our football without any impediment from the opposition. Since the off, SL have sat back and basically challenged us to get through them. The goal has made that even more difficult for us. The task remains a difficult one. It is not yet a forlorn one. We were in exactly the same position away to Metalist last season. I just hope the players wearing the Blue shirt out there tonight are not as defeatist and willing to admit defeat as too many posters in this thread are prepared to do.

COYB!!!

Paul, Leeds
87 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:31:22

Moyes make a change at half time - do me a favour

Must be an unwritten rule that he cannot make a change before 70 mins when we go 2 down!

Alex Kociuba
88 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:31:23

Looking at their goal several times, I think Howard should have comfortably saved that shot. Neville Southall would have caught that with one hand behind his back.

David Marsden
89 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:28:57

its partly the inability to pass to feet. We give it away and put the (shaky) defence under undue pressure.

Mike McLean
90 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:32:50

Art, you are an example to us all. Bless you for setting us straight.

Nick Veitch
91 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:35:05

I agree with the guys on Setanta, we ended up with the wrong Liege midfielder. Defour looks the goods. He’s a creative central midfielder, which we lack to the extreme.

Brian Waring
92 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:32:57

Agree Art, we shouldn’t be admitting defeat until the final whistle has gone, but you can’t blame some of the lads on here for feeling that way. I hope I’m wrong, but you wouldn’t bet against them getting another.

Chris Lawlor
93 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:31:54

Fucking dire. Nothing learnt from the derby. No one looks like they give a shit. Passing the ball across the middle for 5 minutes and then aimlessly punting it forward is not constructive play. Yakubu has been shite, Arteta’s ste plays have gone to pot and Neville is lost in midfield.

Bring on Vaughan for the Yak and Pienarr for Neville.

If this goes south I’m happy to see the back of Moyes.

Aide Dews
94 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:32:31

hope he puts Castillo on for Neville, we need somone in centre of midfield with a bit of vision, time after time Hibbert or Baines have been free outwide and Neville has’nt enough quality about him to find any of ’em, Neville can only play 10 yard passes, when he tries anything longer they go all over the place! i’d give Cahill another 10 mins aswell see if he comes into game abit more and see if he can nick us a goal, if not get pienaar on!!

anto meehan
95 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:38:51

Waiting to see if Neville has been moved or taking off for the 2nd half! If so gonna put 50 euro on everton to win at 13/2 COYB!!!

Paul
96 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:39:16

On a positive note, we got knocked out of Carling Cup, CL and UEFA in September a couple of years ago. At least we made it in October in Europe

Only Newcastle at the weekend home so it cannot get any worse

Brendan Fox
97 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:27:18

Have to agree with you John all the possesion in the world but absolutely no intent not even a long shot to test the goalie, 45 mins and one deflected Hibbert shot on target! Neville & Hibbert woeful, where the fuck Hibbert is for their goal i’ll never know is he a centre back or is he a full back stuck in no mans land? Sums it up really when Rats commentating on Channel 5 is saying Hibbert could be key in getting forward getting past his opposite number! Comedy at its best! Moyes your time is up.

Nick Marsh
98 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:36:34

I have only seen Nev give the ball away twice, infact arsenal placed more bad passes than we have so far, although arsenals were more incisive! we just lack a cutting edge, there is hardly any hoofball, just occasionley but thats called mixing it up!! They have 9 behind the ball I reckon Pienaar could provide us with an opening.

Tommy Coleman
99 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:39:56

No changes from Moyes at HT. Pure managerial genius once again. Everyone owes me £10.

anto meehan
100 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:41:42

NO CHANGES, I’ll keep my 50euro, and Moyes can fuck off!!

Ralph Wetzels
101 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:41:45

Brendan,

Ratcliffe said that? Is he drunk or what?

Anthony Newell
102 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:40:13

Whilst I admire the unbridled optimism of some posters on here, at what point will they draw the line and say, ’ok, Moyes can’t take us any further’? Christ we’ve seen it all before and just need an exit against some FA cup no mark now to complete the set. All bluster and no fucking end result, Fur coat no knickers. FFS Moyes - DO ONE

Tommy Coleman
103 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:44:43

COME ON MOYES CHANGE IT !! Before they get a 2nd !
Get Castillo on for Hibs, put Nev right back. Get Pien on for Osman.

Jesus, I can see it’s not working and I don’t i’m not earning £3.5mil to make this obvious choice !!

Does my head in.

Ralph Wetzels
104 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:47:55

Tommy, spot on.

Viv Sharma
105 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:50:19

Like i said above i have always been pro-moyes.
However, can anyone on here now make a case for him to keep his job?
Cause I can’t.

gavin harris
106 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:46:33

Worst everton performance I have seen in years.

Alex Kociuba
107 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:51:32

Yes, well said Tommy. Every minute that goes by its getting more and more ridiculous.

Stuart Mitchell
108 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:53:57

Hibbert just got nutmeged!!

GET HIM OFF!!

Tommy Coleman
109 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:54:58

He will change it either whe we are 2-0 down or after 65-70 mins.

gavin harris
110 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:55:47

Getting played off the park...our 15m signing must be regretting his decision now.

anto meehan
111 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:54:57

No urgency, no nothing!!

Where are the subs, half an hour left...

Liege are taking the piss now, having a laugh at us!

END GAME FOR THE MOYSIAH ...

Ralph Wetzels
112 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:58:08

We’re going nowhere. We need a fucking miracle.

Tommy Coleman
113 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:59:50

4-3-3. It’s going to be pure hoofall but at least it will give them something to think about. We couldn’t pass through them anyway.

COYB !

Jason Lam
114 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:00:16

Euro hero Anichebe on. We still need a fucking miracle. Why the fuck is Castillo not playing having scored a cracker in the 1st leg?

Nick Veitch
115 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:02:06

We’re looking 10 times better with 3 upfront. Why didn’t we bloody do this at half time!
GOAL!!!!

Tommy Coleman
116 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:03:09

COME ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason Lam
117 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:01:36

GET IN!!!!

Art Greeth
118 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:58:16

Everybody still suicidal...?

gavin harris
119 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:03:20

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Ralph Wetzels
120 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:02:07

Well, there’s our miracle.

David McKittrick
121 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:03:16

Why did he wait so long to change it!!!!!!

matthew
122 Posted 02/10/2008 at 19:57:00

GOAL 1:1!

Raymond Choi
123 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:02:11

Some consolation from Jagielka, considering it’s 3:05am in HK right now.

Jason Lam
124 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:04:00

Art, it’s what being Evertonians is all about heh? ;-) Fucking hell 1 more goal... to kick start our fucking season!

Viv Sharma
125 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:04:44

Art: Us? No.
Moyes? Certainly!

gavin harris
126 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:05:58

The miracle would be qualification not a goal.

Tommy Coleman
127 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:07:16

Eh ? Gone back to 4-4-2. Were we attacking too much ?

Nick Veitch
128 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:11:22

Penalty! FUCK!!!

David McKittrick
129 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:14:33

Bloody Neville!! What type of tackle was that...

Nick Veitch
130 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:15:32

Should have probably saved it considering he went the right way. Disappointing

Anthony Newell
131 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:14:19

Hey, lets be optimistic, one goal for extra time!!!

gavin harris
132 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:16:04

Dave it was Baines not Neville, get your facts right.

Jason Lam
133 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:16:26

Baines it was, leave captain fantastic alone.

Stuart Mitchell
134 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:17:00

He got the ball! another cheating leige bastard falling over!

Tommy Coleman
135 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:15:04

I would have saved that.

I don’t understand why Moyes went back to 4-4-2 ?? We can’t play it through them, 4-3-3 had troubled them.

COYB !! There is still time.

Ralph Wetzels
136 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:16:45

Gavin, don’t be such a fuckin’ wiseguy. I’m sure he meant Neville’s poor tackle BEFORE the ball was played to Jokanovic.

gavin harris
137 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:16:49

The lads look defeated. Why did Moyes go from 433 to 442 when we were on top? After the goal we went defensive, typical everton!

David McKittrick
138 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:17:24

I know it was Baines who gave the pen but it was Neville's non-tackle who let him thru... we still need to score 1.

Viv Sharma
139 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:17:35

i think you’ll find that dave was refering to the fucking pointless tackle neville made to let him in in the first place...

Al Pacino
140 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:18:21

Gavin wod r chu some kinova wiseguy?

Kieran Kinsella
141 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:17:41

While we’re losing this I noticed that Exteberria of Atletico Bilbao has agreed to play for them
this season for free. Last related story about
him on the BBC page ? "Extberria turns down
Everton." Says it all really.

gavin harris
142 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:18:41

How I am trying to be a wise guy, its fact as I said? Baines tackled him and gave away a penalty, Neville had nothing to do with it. Grow up.

Ralph Wetzels
143 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:20:55

Gavin,

Learn to watch the game properly.

Tommy Coleman
144 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:21:35

You talkin to me ?

Well there’s nobody else here ....

Keeper is a spaz, get on him !

Viv Sharma
145 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:22:40

Gavin, lets not get nasty eh...
Lescot up front.
Moyes out

gavin harris
146 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:22:47

Ralph are you some kind of wanker? Can’t understand how you are so pissed off with what I said. I am on here every match and have a laugh and chat with the guys and everyone is sound. You are everything but. Grow up and watch the football.

dave mckitt
147 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:23:24

neville let him ghost thru the middle and just swung a hopeless leg at it.. should have done better to force him away from goal and out to the wing..

David McKittrick
148 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:24:23

Either way, we're still going out... the whole team is to blame.

gavin harris
149 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:24:22

Jobo on, against his old club, whats the chances of a goal from him? Would be great.

Ralph Wetzels
150 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:25:13

Gavin,

I just hate people who don’t understand the game, that’s all.

David McKittrick
151 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:26:25

3 mins...

Nick Veitch
152 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:29:14

What a useless corner to finish the game.

gavin harris
153 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:28:57

I think the newcastle game is massive now. Lose that and I fear the worst for Moyes and co. Win it and you never know. A decent league and FA Cup run...one thing is for sure, we are dire at the minute and the players look terrified.

Tommy Coleman
154 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:30:37

Dogshit.

Got what we deserved.

Offer Moyes 3.5mil kicks in the bollocks per year.

Kieran Kinsella
155 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:31:11

So back to my earlier posting ...what ARE
we going to say on Friday ?

Viv Sharma
156 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:29:07

I truely thought Moyes was going to win us a cup in his reign but come on now. My son could out think him. And my wife isnt even knocked up yet.
David, please spare us the agro of a messy firing and just dont turn up on Saturday.

Thanks for the memories, but you’re no longer welcome.

Nick Veitch
157 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:31:07

Cahill should have done better with his control on the edge of the box.
Will be interesting to see what comes out of the club after that. Will Moyes walk? I doubt he’ll be pushed.

David McKittrick
158 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:31:27

Gutted. I was about to say there's always next year... but there won't be will there?! We look lost... gutless and disorganised.

Art Greeth
159 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:31:00

Big moment at the end... poor control by Cahill in a great position. Shite corner by Arteta to finish the game.

The best team goes through.

Let the burning at the stake begin... but... I’ll be back again Sunday hoping for a clean sheet and a bagful of goals.

Forever Blue.

Anthony Newell
160 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:31:46

When will people stop offering last chances for Moyes? How many fucking games/seasons do you want? It didn’t matter what happened last Saturday, tonight or what happens against Newcastle. The guy’s out of ideas and plateaued way back. Resign for FFS

Richard Harris
161 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:31:23

Well it has to be Europe via the FA Cup or the League position now. Where is Richard Dodd to tell us that the season starts against Newcastle..........
....sign the contract Moyes or let someone else see if they can do better. Whatever happens with this season there are some players who should be moved on as soon as possible.

Tommy Coleman
162 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:32:52

Kieran - Didn’t hang around !

They will say " We’ve got the F.A cup"
" Remember what we were like under Smith "

ETC

Alex Kociuba
163 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:33:52

"Whats the atmosphere like in the dressing room, Phil [Jagielka]"?

"The manager can sort his contract out in his own time".

Art Greeth
164 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:33:52

Couldn’t wait, could you Kieran Kinsella...? Had that one ready to copy and paste did you...? How hard were you praying for an Everton defeat just so you could (mistakenly...) feel wiser and more enlightened than the mere mortals you occupy this planet with...?

Nauseous.

Brian Waring
165 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:33:26

Can’t believe Arteta, when you want him to just get the ball in the middle, he does his typical thing, and can;t get past the first man. The better side went through, quality all over the pitch.

Jeremy Benson
166 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:37:15

Judging by the shot of moyes in the dugout at the final whistle, I think it might be all change by the weekend...

Viv Sharma
167 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:39:28

hope so

al reddish
168 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:36:34

alex, nearly right but a slight bit of spin there, however must admit i am at a loss to see why we are so shit, especially in defence. i know hibbert was missing for the first goal but he had cut inside following his man, in my opinion he should have got a bit of support from the right wing. arteta is well out of form and cant pass wind and i blame him for losing the ball to alonso in the derby as well which cost us the first goal

Mike Coates
169 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:36:47

Well that was great.

Stupid Mac.. Once it loads the whole length of the bar, it stops showing more of the game, refresh failed.

Then couldn’t reload game, 30 mins later after reboot, finally get it working.

Back to game. Oh we’ve scored, oh so have they again.

Cahill chests down to nothing.. end of game.

I really wasted my night. Back to bed 5.43am..

Depressing but not at all unexpected..

Bring on a team that is in as much trouble as we are!

Craig Manderson
170 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:37:12

Too many player let themselves and the shirt down.

Moyes tactics ARE shit but they don’t stop players kicking the ball to one another !!!!!!!!

Thankfully Cahill is out for three games, I only wish Neville and (tonight) Ossie would get themselves sent off.

Brian Waring
171 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:42:29

A 6 pointer on Sunday.

stef chedgzoy
172 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:35:58

moyes has to go based on the fact he sees neville as the main mid but is so shite has never finished the game there and goes back to where he should of been in the 1st place right back though i would prefer him to be right back down the road to old trafford. secondly as everyonelse on tw can see changes wont be made til too late plus no balls whatsoever. i,m mnow bracing myself for the obligatory told yerso tossres rant from tmarsh

Alan Codd
173 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:40:37

So your last corner of the game ,everyones up front including the goalkeeper , one last chance to score..................................and then Arteta hits it straight at the first defender. THATS why you cant get in the spanish team NOt cos your not at a top four club.
Osman, Neville and Hibbert all fucking shocking and should be in the championship at best. So now it will be the usual Neville and jags rallying cry and how the season starts against Newcastle.
5 wins out of 23 games speaks volumes

David Moyes
174 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:36:10

Any of you lads got a pen I could borrow, I need to sign something quick !!!

Oh fuck it, whens the next plane to Glasgow ?

Brian Waring
175 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:43:57

One more thing, I wonder who the first person will be to come on here,
and say we were unlucky, and we were great tonight, the lads did us proud out there. Would it be a banker, if I said Doddy?

Jason Lam
176 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:43:55

how long is Saha going be out? 3 months?

Viv Sharma
177 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:47:52

if he has the stones on him to do, then hats off to him!!!

Adam Bennett
178 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:46:59

Wtf neville in mid shite. Osman weak and slow shite. Moyes has to go negative tactics all the time think that it may be time for stubbs to give it a go.

Anthony Newell
179 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:47:37

Cue the rallying calls before the Newcastle game. ’We need to show guts etc etc’ Pathetic

The manager can no longer get the best out of the players or put out an effective formation or be reactive to events as a game unfolds (christ, you wouldn’t want him putting out a fire on your house would ya?!) The one thing he did have was fire in his belly and that has gone too. Do the decent thing and walk, thanks for the memories (it doesn’t take too many fingers to count those)

Brian Waring
180 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:48:58

The thing is Viv, he will really think that we were great tonight, and were unlucky. He wouldn’t dare though, would he?

John Martin
181 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:47:55

We were shite and got what we deserved. Osman was picked to play on the right of midfield but went missing.Looked to me that he ignored his instructions and just went into the middle, As for Arteta the corner in the last minute summed him up "SHITE" top class players deliver when needed he will deliver against poor opposition. I am sure Neville & Hibbert etc will get the blame because they always do while watsers like the overated spanish non international gets away scott free again

Lee Aitch
182 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:43:30

This game was lost in the first leg. We outplayed in most parts of the park by a superior side. We had the misfortune to get them this early on in the competition. We would have taken any other of the sides the British teams got. But it’s no use crying over that now.
If I can take anything positive from this game, I think our centre backs have improved. Jags and Lescott had solid games. Weaknesses in the full back positions.

Thomas Christensen
183 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:51:03

Brian: We did great. played really well and where unlucky!! or so said David Moyes on Channel 5 just now.

Viv Sharma
184 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:56:14

haha! Brian, i’m almost excited about it now!

Cheers for the much needed laugh

stef chedgzoy
185 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:54:11

the weakest link is leon osman -absolutley out of his depth and the fact my 2yr old girl could brush him off the ball. evrryone goes on about hibbo n nevs passing bein shite (correctly imo) nobody goes on about ossie . one half decent game every 5-6 games and people think hes quality . get shot of him moyes to celtic wiv you

al reddish
186 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:56:09

John Martin, well said. I agree, I think Neville and Hibbert didnt shine at all, but it is players like Arteta that are letting us down. He is a great player but he just aint right at the moment

Tommy Coleman
187 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:57:08

Annyone see the post match interview with Moyes?
"players passed the ball well" " couldn’t have done anymore" etc pure bollocks. I don’t know what game he was watching.

His body language reagarding the contract question stank.

By the look of it Moyes will be off very soon.

Andrew Laird
188 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:58:37

Come on Doddy give us your views, I bet you have the dictionary out looking for superlatives to attribute to that performance!

al reddish
189 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:00:26

i think regarding the contract, it looks like something is amiss at boardroom level. i believe dm wants to stay but he just aint got the support anymore

Brian Waring
190 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:58:11

Thomas, you are taking the piss I hope? I turned off as soon as it finished, so never seen the interview. Is this man for real? They had quality all over the place, and apart from when we went 3 up front, they were comfortable for most of the game, and could have won it by a bigger margin in the end. We weren’t unlucky, we were just crap.

Richard McDodd
191 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:51:53

Our excellent manager backed to the hilt by our fabulous chairman have the situation completely under control.
Our exit is a cunningly planned strategy to ensure we a hieve tenth place in the league, which as I keep saying, is GOOD!

Anthony Newell
192 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:00:55

It’s just the manager that’s delusional, read the official website. Some gems like this: "And so it proved against Standard Liege, with David Moyes’ men falling to a 2-1 defeat that meant a 4-3 aggregate scoreline. What a tortuous outcome to a torridly tough tie!" Dodds - did you write that?

Anthony Newell
193 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:00:55

It’s not just the manager that’s delusional, read the official website. Some gems like this: "And so it proved against Standard Liege, with David Moyes’ men falling to a 2-1 defeat that meant a 4-3 aggregate scoreline. What a tortuous outcome to a torridly tough tie!" Dodds - did you write that?

Paul
194 Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:51:24

Shite.

By the end I could hardly be bothered to watch.

If you tried something once at work and it didn’t work, you might try it again to see if it would. If you played Philip Neville in midfield dozens of times, and he was utter shite on each and every occasion, would you really give him another go, especially if you had a defensive midfielder on the bench who you had just brought to the club? In the past I have been a Moyes advocate on this site, but even I’m just about ready to pull the plug. If Philip Neville ever plays in midfield for our club again I will be calling for Moyes’ head. It would not suprise me in the slightest if he plays there on Sunday.

Viv Sharma
195 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:04:15

Richard, tenth would be a miracle. we’ll get turned over on sat, then the Arse and Manure and finally the rest of the season to hopefully scrapp our way out of the bottom 3.

stef chedgzoy
196 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:04:31

i,ve noticed thers been no comments about cahill and how he went missing,proving he cant play in 442 form

Thomas Christensen
197 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:04:23

Brian, I shit you not. He said them words. We played well and passed the ball well.

He did look shifty when questioned about the contract, no indication of which way he is going. It looked like he wanted to say he’d stay but knows Big Bill will fuck him over.

Viv Sharma
198 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:07:34

good point stef

Paul McCann
199 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:07:32

You’re right Brian, we were utter crap. Moyes would emerge with more credit if he just said that. I am absolutely livid about Neville. Embarassing.

Thomas Christensen
200 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:11:58

One thing really struck me today when watching this game we had no one with pace. Look further, we’ve no one in the squad with pace, ok Castillo is fast but he isn’t going to be breaking forward...where was AJ when we needed him.

Anthony Newell
201 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:10:57

Here we go again, just one more season. I have to defend Kenwright on this occasion - Moyes has spent the money FFS yet we still have no one player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive us forward when we need it. Our quality players are going down the pan too through being demoralised by this constant crap. We went into this season as ill-equipped as I can ever remember. The guy is out of ideas and seemingly out of passion. The best thing Kenwright could do is rip up that contract right now. No more excuses, please

Viv Sharma
202 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:13:48

Noddy, did you watch the game?
Did you see total lack of nouse?
True, we have dont better since he joined, but our quality of players improved.
OK, they look shit right now but all teams look shit when the tactics are constantly wrong.
Constantly.
He has to go now before we get dragged out of the league and into the league he is destined for.
HE MUST GO

And just for the record, I have often been on here defending him in the past. Im not anti Moyes. Or atleast I have tried not to be but tonight was the last straw.

John Patrick McFarlane
203 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:12:18

In DM’s defence , he did say that we had control of the football up to 25 yards out and didn’t ask enough questions of their defence.

I am now under the impression that DM is waiting for the trap-door to open.

I think BK has done what he always does when someone questions his authority / methods he creates a situation whereby that person is either forced to resign or performs with so little heart that he has ’good’ reason to say goodbye.

I would also like to know whether AJ’s sale was Moyes idea or was a financial decision made by Kenwright.

Moyes may well be in charge for the match at Goodison on Sunday , but for which club?

Viv Sharma
204 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:19:34

if there’s any justice, Woking.

Kev Sparke
205 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:21:15

J McF

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head

Mike McLean
206 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:10:46

A team of average players were beaten by a team of just above average players. The Moyes reputation was built on turning sows’ ears into silk purses. He’s lost that ability so the point of his continued tenure is what exactly?

Robbie Muldoon
207 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:16:10

Anyone see ’Scally’ aka Andy Nicholls getting interviewed on C5? Did he sayat the end that David Moyes or Bill Kenwright has a lot to answer for? I didn’t catch it properly!

Anthony Newell
208 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:22:12

I thought the length of Neville’s contract extension was ludricous but surely putting a 5 year contract in front of Moyes now would be unthinkable?

james keane
209 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:27:22

I think its time we the fans turn on the chairman the book stops with him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Viv Sharma
210 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:31:32

guys, i got 72 points in my fantasy league team this week.
I hear there might be a job for me here at everton...

Brian Waring
211 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:29:59

And the first prize goes to, oooooohhhhhhh, Noddy nutcracker!!!For mentioning how thing were before Moyes came. How long do we have to keep putting up with that shit?

Viv Sharma
212 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:33:58

(my secret was that I sold all my everton players...)

Thomas Christensen
213 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:27:35

Watching David Moyes’ interview and his sheepish responses when asked about his contract has got me thinking......

Remember Birmingham last season, they lost Steve Bruce because they didn’t offer him what he wanted. They didn’t do that because they where trying to flog the club to some loaded dodgy half-wit who pulled out.

There is a real chance the Big Bill is not offering Moyes what he wants because he knows he is about to sell (maybe weeks) the club on and this new gezza can sort it all out when he arrvies giving Moyes all the cash he wants so rid the team of all the shit players.

Any thoughts??

peter powell
214 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:30:59

you are dead right it should start at newcastle game this joke off a set up cant keep going on!!!!

Dan Machin
215 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:34:30

Viv, I got Lescott in mine, im screwed!

Mike Oates
216 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:18:02

Well the anti-hoof brigade got their way tonight and we passed the ball and we passed and we passed and we passed and then we passed it back to Howard.
We will not get any improvement at all this season until three things happen -
(i) Felliani and Castillo have settled in - like the majority of imports to the Premiership they take about 4-5 months to settle . Right that means about January
(ii) We need some pace in the team , we need someone who will go at the defences and cause problems .
(iii) Arteta refinds his form big time.

The reasons we have suffering big time is the defence has been crap - but at least signs tonight they could be solving that , and we have not got a grip of centre midfield - hence the above point (i) and finally but not last Arteta and Osman are completely off-form. Osman is a player who shines when we’re on top and are dominating play, but is hopeless when we need to dig in and win the battles.

Moyes has known since Aug 16th that we are buggered this season , he will be on damage limitation - 10th wont do , but I suspect 7th .ish will - to take the step up he wanted it needed pure class imports and we failed miserably to get them.

Whilst I as much as everyone wants total atacking football,played on the deck etc - we must realise that we aint going to get it until I suspect Felliani , Saha , Castillo have bedded in .

Robbie Muldoon
217 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:31:41

This is not about getting knocked out the League Cup, a pathetic derby home performance, and getting knocked out the UEFA cup all within a week.

This is about a sinking ship whick was steadied but is now lurking perilously near the rocks... and people are jumping overboard.

I blame Destination Kirkby, for splitting the fans, for having a knock on effect on transfer funds. I blame a shocking summer which was all Kenwrights fault as a shit head CEO he employed shit on us big style (again). The funds probably wernt there for Moyes until late... and I then blame Moyes for being in my opinion a tactically naive manager (Cahill out left? Why!!!??).

I feel sorry for all the shit that is going to come Moyes’ way... I’d rather aim it at Kenwright but if it means a better manager coming in who can get the team playing decent footbal maybe it won’t be so bad.

chris Halliday
218 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:34:11

writinng was on the wall.
Given up on the team, lets be honest we all knew we would get beat.
Other note: make jags captain and get rid of moyes

stephen stuart
219 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:24:15

Dour
Lifeless
Naieve
Spiritless
Insufferable
Tedious
Boring
Predictable

Passionless

What is the point to this anymore. Moyes even thinks they tried their best!!! AGGGHHHHHHHH
David Moyes, please close the door after you, your resignation has been accepted

Anthony Newell
220 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:34:59

I actually think the standard of players overall has improved no-end, despite some notable fuck ups. Moyes has shown on many occasions that he is very limited though in many aspects and can’t take us further, he’s certainly not the man for the big games. I don’t think it’s a question of moving loads of players on, it’s a case of getting the best out of what we have and utilising players to best effect. Kicking a few back sides. A malaise has spread to the players from the manager and it’s the sort of thing that gets sides relegated. How can our manager be putting out messages like ’were not quite ready to be winning Premiership games’ at the beginning of the season. What kind of message does that send out. I seriously hope your right Thomas that a change in ownership is in the offing and I know which backside I’d have kicked out the door straight away

Viv Sharma
221 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:41:07

Urm, Noddy, hello0?
72 point in fantasy football...!
Plus, I SWEAR I wont play phil Neville...

Brian Waring
222 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:36:49

Mike, you say " Whilst I as much as everyone wants total attacking football played on the deck etc- we must realise that we aint going to get it until I suspect Fellaini, Saha, Castillo have bedded in "
One question Mike, what about the other 6yrs of Moyes’ tenure with us?

Mike McLean
223 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:39:51

Does using capital letters and repeated use of an exclamation marks count as intelligent comment in Toytown, Noddy?

Dan Parker
224 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:40:06

Replace him with a tub of lard

jon mcourty
225 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:17:04

God, just watched the match and then looked on here.
what a lot of football knowledge being shared by a bunch of clueless arseholes! (not all of you)
what are you doing typing away on here when you should be watching the game? it’s a race between you all to be the first to say "this is what we should have done, this is what we should do. moyes is clueless, neville is this, so and so is that...." None of you have a fucking clue from your armchairs.
We weren’t a form team losing to Hull were we? We didn’t manage a home draw with Stoke did we? We’re a team lacking confidence, with sad wasters getting on everyone’s backs.
Why does every other manager or ex-player rate David Moyes?
Anyone hear Pat Nevin tonight saying Moyes was one of best tactical managers in premier. Going toe to toe with Mourinho, making 7 - 8 tactical changes in one half to combat better teams. Shows what you can do over a few years with a bunch of ok to above average players.

Thomas Christensen
226 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:42:13

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/31502/post-match-reaction.html

Paul McCann
227 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:32:52

James,

I’m loathe to do what they did at Newcastle, but if it takes that. If Newcastle can allegedly get eight interested buyers within days of being put on the market, then maybe we should attempt to force ourselves onto the market.

I used to think that no matter how bad things were, at least we had Moyes, but afer the summer, when time [and it now looks like large wads of cash] were wasted, the contract debacle, and the start to the season, I am now completely depressed. I can take losing, but playing one up front at home, playing two holding midfielders, playing a right back in midfield, buying a left back and then playing a centre half at left back, not giving promissing youngsters enough games [except when forced into it by a combination of his chariman and himself at the start of the season]... I could go on, but I’d probably depress myself further.

Anthony Newell
228 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:42:26

At this moment in time I’d let you have a go Noddy

Viv Sharma
229 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:49:17

Jon, pardon us for being computer literate.
And let me get this straight, you’re ok with the way things are going are you?
Redshite

Anthony Newell
230 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:50:03

Yep, but sacking him once he’s signed will cost us a kings ransom in compo. How daft would that be? You’ve mooted the idea of him being sacked and that’s encouraging

Aide Dews
231 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:11:10

People cant really blame Moyesy too much for tonight, he did what everyone wanted and went 4-4-2 and even tried to have a go late on by putting three up front but the players just did’nt put in a performance good enough to win tonight simple has!! Are so called better players did’nt show up tonight, Arteta, Cahill, Yakubu just did’nt influence the game enough for us if at all, Osman was out of sorts for too much of the game and Neville was just Neville, shite!! Confidence throughout the team is shot at the minute and it showed in are play, yeah we kept hold of the ball a lot more than usual tonight but we just did’nt penetrate there defence enough, if at all!! We were’nt brave enough in are play in committing enough players forward to try and create better opportunities for are selves and thats totally down to the lack of confidence in the players at the moment to do those things, winning breads confidence and we just have’nt been doing it so its understandable that confidence is low within the team!!

Tony part
232 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:48:21

How long before the word crisis starts getting mentioned?. If we fail to win on Sunday then I honestly dont know where our next win will come from. The fixture list for October makes chilling reading and the way we are playing we are going to struggle to even beat Newcastle..There is no belief, no pace, no leadership, no ability to pass and move, no ideas full stop.. Moyes says they tried their best tonight but lets face it we were shite, we hardy tested a dodgy keeper all night long and our play was so one paced I almost feel asleep..I really do fear for our season now I really do..

troy bayliss
233 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:52:22

I’ve got a full house on my Toffeweb bingo:

1) Slagging Ossie off - thats bollocks he has great feet and can pick a pass out. His goals have also won us a few of our points this season.
2) Moyes out - OK then who are we to get to take charge? I won’t hold my breath for any sensible suggestions.
3) Seasons over / we’re all doomed. Not sure where I stand on this yet so I will reflect on this and come back to you all on that.

4) At least I haven’t had to read all the "it’s Fellaini’s fault he is £15m of shit"

Brian Waring
234 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:45:56

Jon Mc Courty, if Moyes is one of the best tactical managers in the premier league, why does he continue to play Neville in midfield? Why does he play Cahill in a 4-4-2 set up, when virtually every evertonian know Cahill can’t? Why is it the majority of the time he plays 4-5-1, when other teams have got it sussed out? Why does he continue to play players out of position, even though he can see it’s not working? Also, to be mentioned in the same breath as Mourinho, is just a joke.

Anthony Millington
235 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:39:45

Leon Osman is not good enough! He gets found out against good teams time and time again, Liverpool and Standard Liege he can’t compete-too weak and too slow and his passing was awful. Why does Moyes insist on playing Phil neville centre mid???!! And Yakubu shud f off if he’s not going to try-he’s a disgrace to Everton football club, doesn’t do the work and is half hearted and he shows no passion or commitment to the cause. I’d like to see him get dropped, so he realises he’s not untouchable. He owed us a performance after his pathetic dives at the weekend and he took the piss out of us tonight, what a lazy getb he really is. Arteta’s corners were better tonight and then at the end he showed just how good he is with his usual pathetic (can’t beat the first man) corner! useless! And why can’t Tim Howard save any penalties??!! All he had to do is wait for the player to take it and it’s an easy save and it was more or less straight at him anyway. Atleast Pienaar is back! The thing is every Evertonian saw this coming, before the season started all the intelligant evertonians knew we were in a bit of trouble this season with our absymal managerial preparations and so it’s no great surprise. I bet Moyes must think we love him, in Moyes we trust! haha he couldn’t have let this club take any further steps backwards if he tried. No Uefa Cup for a long time now I think.

Mike Oates
236 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:45:07

Brian - I’d rather have the last 6 years than the 14 before it . Last year we were 5th , we played as good a football as against the 15 below us and gave Liverpool a run for the money . To finish 4th,11th,6th and 6th over the last 4 years show to me that Moyes can do it .
What he tried and failed to do was to expect that the board would back him to get us into the Top 4 with the monies he needed . He knows that he has let us down and we will take a step back this season , but for everyone to jump on his back as soon as our form takes a dive is complete and utter nonsense.

Kenwright absolutely knows he cant compete at the level Moyes wants and the real worry I have this year is not that we finish 6,8,10, whatever but that come June/ July next year we become bankrupt and loose all what we’ve gained ie players .

I suspect the real reason Moyes wont sign is that he knows that Bill cant deliver .

Paul McCann
237 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:53:18

Jon,

I have a question for you:

Would you play Philip Neville in midfield over and over and over again?

People have a right to be frustrated by that sort of shit.

Noddy
238 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:41:12

Viv Sharma - Yes I did see the game but only til half time as Big Ears sent me to bed for swearing.
Miss Pink Cat cme up & gave me a blow job though so I wasn’t bothered.

Noddy

jon mcgourty
239 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:52:49

viv, ok i will pardon you. just don’t see the point in everybody telling each other what’s happening, when you’re all watching on tv.
i didn’t say i was happy, just team is lackin in confidence.

Viv Sharma
240 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:55:52

The really worrying thing is:
Where’s the resurgence going to be sparked from?
Lars Jacobsen?
Doubt it.
Fellaini?
Waste of money..

;)

Mike McLean
241 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:55:08

A simple question, NoddOr should I write, dear NODDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

phil kolvin
242 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:38:12

It is obvious that whatever the formation was supposed to be, the lads had no idea how they were supposed to be lining up. What do they do on the training pitch? The midfield, though under no pressure as SL sat back, seemed completely disjointed. I could not understand why there was never a player in the D to receive the ball with his back to goal. So there was no triangular play and our approach was leaden and square. We did not look like we had the faintest idea how to get past a patient defence. When they attacked we looked terrified, Pip lashing out, Osman not tracking back, Hibs nutmegged. But the most depressing thing for me was the lack of basic skills - balls to feet, first touch, looking up, running off the ball, spotting the runner. There was nothing whatever which said top half and plenty which pointed to the possibilty of a relegation battle. I am struggling to remember how we did what we did a year ago - surely losing AJ and Faddy can’t be the difference? I pray for a miracle from Castillo and Fellaini, but I am not holding my breath. Right now I am nearer giving up than at any time since Walker.

Miss Pink Cat
243 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:03:00

Noddy you gobshite that wasn’t me giving you a dirty blow job....but I have just seen P.C. Plod coming downstairs rubbing his gums and sniffing his dirty looking truncheon....

Brian Waring
244 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:58:44

The thing is Mike, it is not just the start to this season, but is a continuation of last season, after the Fiorintina game. I don’t know how many games it is, but we have been shite since then. I’m sure someone mentioned, that the last clean sheet we had, was against Derby last season. So, as I said mike, I’m going on our form since Fiorintina, and it does not look good.

Troy Bayliss
245 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:01:37

Someone above mentioned Mike Walker. Fucking hell those were the days!!.

Tony Grant, Gary Ablett, 12 match runs without a win, avoiding relegation on the last game of the season, oh its all come flooding back.

Get Moyes out! Uefa cup exits are shit!

Jon McGourty
246 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:58:21

Brian why can?t I mention Moyes and Mourinho in same breath?
Didn?t say Moyes was a better manager (although mourinho didn?t have to manage average players).

Neville had a good game tonight and was very vocal. I?m not his biggest fan, but you?re all jumping on that missed tackle.

Brian, I love my football, and like to think i know a little, but i?d take the judgements of ex pros above you (tactical genius you may be).

Richard Murray
247 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:03:22

Moyes deserves at least until January to sort this out.

He deserves that, and at least until then, he’s got my backing.

Mike Oates
248 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:58:28

Viv - waste of money - like Yakubu was last year after 4 weeks , and at least Yakubu couldspeak English and had played in Premiership for 3 years.

Wait until January until you make statements like that .

Gaz Greenie
249 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:49:17

Well, what another depressing night! Another loss and my Mrs pointing out that its only football!!!
Personally I thought we played ok tonight but just had, yet again, a few decisions go against us but Standard are a very good team and they will do well this season. Heres my team ratings for tonight, marks out of 10 (1 being completely shite and 10 bloodt brilliant);
Howard - 5 - Didn’t have a lot to do but could have done a lot better with both goals.
Hibbert - 6 - Did ok, pretty sound defensively and tried his best to get forward.
Baines - 5 - Caought out a few times and distribution going forward was pretty poor, especially his crossing.
Jagielka - 7 - Played well, pretty solid and limited his aimless punts forward and was far more controlled with his distribution.
Lescott - 6 - Did Ok but needs to be a bit stronger
Arteta - 5 - Poor. Gave the ball away and set pieces weren’t very good. Needs to get more involved in games.
Osman - 7 - I know he has his critics but I thought he was one of our better players and tried his best to create things but passing was a bit poor on occasions.
Neville - 4 - Shocking! Compare our captain to theres - that says it all. Passing was awful and dived in a few times when he should have stayed on his feet. He should be dropped. Good to see Moyes take him off!
Cahill - 6 - Tried his best but no real opportunities.
Yakubu - 5 - Was he playing??? I expect more from him
Saha - 5 - Not really involved but some nice touches.
Subs
Anichebe - 6 - Give us a bit of impetus.
Pienar - 6 - Some nice touches and glad to see him back
Yobo - 5 - Did ok.
Moyes - 6 - Don’t know what he sees in Neville but I think you will see him crack the whip soon. Some good substitutions, Anichebe for Hibbert, good move. If only we had stuck to the 4-3-3 tho, we looked far more dangerous. Yobo on for Neville???? Didn’t get that one, did we have another striker on the bench?

I’m pretty confident we can turn this slump around, we should need our ket players back on form.
COYB

Thomas Christensen
250 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:07:50

Anyone else still watching Channel 5???

Pompey are giving a real life demonstration on what can only be described as a mugging...they look like they are going out.

Now I don’t hate Pompey, but it has put a smile on my face knowing that it isn’t just Everton and Scottish club that are shit in Europe this week.

Viv Sharma
251 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:09:36

Mike, sorry mate but you got the wrong end of the stick. I didnt actually mean that, it was prompted by troys Toffeeweb Bingo comment above. its just a bunch of people got in there before me so my post was miles away from his and out of context.
Interesting that it took so long for someone to query that though!

Mike Oates
252 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:09:36

Brian I accept your point re form since Fiorentina , but to me Moyes deserves a chance . He’s taken the club forward over the last 6 years , we cant chop him after 6 weeks in new season.

Anthony Millington
253 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:10:57

Jon what planet are you on lad? Phil Neville is a shite centre mid and always has been and it has been proved once again tonight and in the derby on Saturday. Did u see some of his long range passing attempts they were absolutely dreadful and Leon Osman gave the ball away far too often. What impact did those two have on the game? And don’t get me started on (don’t give a sh*t) lazy money grabbin Yakubu.

Paul McCann
254 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:08:20

Jon,

I’m not getting hung up on any of Neville’s missed takles. I do not expect a professional footballer to make every takle he goes in for, far from it. I do however expect a professional footaballer, and particulary one who is playing in central midfield, to be able to pass a football to someone wearing the same colour shirt as them over ten yards. I very nearkly turned the TV off afer half an hour when he spooned another pass into the front rows.

Incidently, it is nor Neville’s fault that he is being played in central midfield, it is Moyes’. I actually think he’s a half decent full back.. As for being vocal, what next, Brian Blessed on the left wing? Get a grip, what we need are good players playing in position. Their feet should be doing the talking, and Neville’s are size nine mutes.

Marc Williams
255 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:13:25

Miss Pink Cat - That’s Plod for you, always getting the wrong fella.

I paid him Sixpence to visit Doddy Not Noddy !!!

Tony Part
256 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:12:58

Its all well and good saying Yakubu doesnt put the work in but we wouldnt even have been in the fucking cup this year without his goals.. If Yakubu was injured for a long period Everton FC would in my eyes become one of the favourites for relegation.. Hull, Stoke and West Brom at least look like they have a game plan.. This shit under Moyes has gone on for far too long.. How many transfer windows need to pass before soft arse realises we are crying out for two geuine wide players..

Richard Murray
257 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:16:33

I’m with Jon on this one, Anthony. I thought Nev was alright tonight in mf.

I also thought Osman didn’t have a bad game tonight, either.

I mean, out of the lots of them, those two were okay - not good enough - but okay tonight.

James Newcombe
258 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:45:13

How did Phil Neville ever play at international level, when he can’t pass a football? (i’ve tried to defend him before, but it just got so frustrating tonight!)

Why didn’t Castillo play instead of either Pip, Osman or Cahill? We needed some strength out there, and he looks very comfortable when passing (reminds me of Fernandes in that respect - how we could have done with him tonight!)

In the summer why didn’t we sign a winger, with - god forbid - a bit of pace?? Needn’t have been an expensive signing, a bit-part player from the Championship would’ve done - just someone to give us another dimension in attack!

Questions, questions... One thing is certain, this is going to be a fucking long season. Trust Everton to raise our hopes, start to look good... And then implode with little more than a whimper.

Anthony Millington
259 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:18:15

I agree with what you’re saying Tony, but it’s so frustrating, because if yak put the effort in he could be such a better player. He’s only good if you feed him chances, because he doesn’t create anything himself and doesn’t pressurise the opposition into mistakes. We are entitled to expect more effort from him he gets paid a mint and we pay good money to watch him and he should reflect the passion that us supporters have for the club.

Paul McCann
260 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:23:28

Jon,

You’re right, he alsways looks like he’s doing what he can. Hope he starts doing it at right back.

Paul McCann
261 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:27:06

Hard to believe now that we let Fernandes go. I know his commitment didin’t look the best at times, but at least he could play.

Stephen Parris
262 Posted 02/10/2008 at 21:42:09

Please please please can we never see Neville played in midfield from now until eternity !!

I actually think he was doing quite well at RB, but he was so awful tonight. He gave the ball away far too often, and when he did find a blue shirt it was often the wrong option, and he made some terrible attempts to win the ball by selling himself down the river, instead of standing up and forcing the player to do something, rather than making it oh so simple for them.

Cahill was absent for much of the game, so much so that his touch let him down when he should of had a great chance.

Hibbert gives everything to the cause, but was ball watching for their first goal, and what a shock a player is unmarked to score against us. He just lacks the quality.

Yakubu and Saha were largely starved of service, with us being unable to offer any creativity at all. Yak was especially quiet, while Saha again showed signs that he could be a real bonus.

Osman and Arteta kept the ball well and were tidy, but lacked any penetration or desire to really get at the opposing defence, but they were not helped by the lack of support in midfield by the other two. Ossie and Arteta had to keep coming infield more and more, just to give us something in there.

Jags and Joleon did well for me tonight, and no surprise that Yobo was dropped after his sleepwalking performances.

Baines I thought had quite a decent game, but its so obvious he needs a run of matches to give him any chance of improving.

Pienaar and Vic did ok when they came on, shame they weren’t ready for a start because that would have given us a lot more penetration on the wings.

Why oh why did Castillo not start centre mid ???? He has shown for me so far, that he is a really capable and promising player, and a player we could really do with in there, and lets face it.....Neville or Castillo ????......Its a no brainer for me, I just don’t get it !!

A real shame Jacobsen got injured too. He would offer so much more at RB, especially when we want or need to go at teams, he can get forward with much more confidence than our other options and with more quality.

We tried to play football tonight which was good to see, but the line-up just stifled our own attempts to create anything. We would have been better off playing Neville on the left to help stop the threat of the pacey Dalmat, put Castillo in the middle with the creative ’potential’ of Arteta, and Ossie on the right.

We just didn’t have anything to scare them with, we just played it about and went nowhere really.

Thank god Pienaar is back to offer something different and some class on the ball.

I absolutely pray we can win on Sunday, because we are in dire need for a win and something to cheer about, and the players really need a lift to inject them with some life !!

Colin Malone
263 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:15:18

Cast your minds back, when Lee Carsley got injured and was out for five months, we finished down the bottom. When he played, we finished at the top. even though Moyes dropped him for neville on occasions ie the derby last year.

Why he only offered Carsley a one year contract, god only knows.

Moyes has brought this Castillo in and wont give him a game.

Whats going on? Do we need a midfield coach?

Anthony Millington
264 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:26:07

Don’t blame Neville, it’s Moyes who needs his head examining for playing him in midfield. How much is that contract Moyes is being offered and he still plays an average full back in midfield. Nevermind hey Moyes is our saviour! He’s earned all his praise rightly so, but he also deserves criticism for this season.

Colin Smith
265 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:23:37

Got to agree about the Yak, he was distinctly Beattie-esq tonight. Does anybody know why Vaughan was missing from the bench, Victor was OK when he came on..but I always think Vaughan adds a bit more threat. Somebody above also mentioned Fernandez - I just feel we missed out there on a player who could create some chances...

Mark Ram
266 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:24:48

We are pedestrian. Just got in and was able to watch our attacks at x 6 speed on Sky plus and we still werent moving the ball around very quick even then. We have no width or pace. With these to things missing we are unable to get behind teams. We play the ball until we get near the box and then lose possession. Osman and Arteta - surely they cannot be described as wide men in a 4-4-2? And Cahill in 4-4-2 is ineffective, being unable to do anything skillful or incisive. Leaves Neville in the middle and Im not going to comment on that. The season is over before it begun. The answer - lower expectations as we aint going to be challenging for anything this season and with no money I cant envisage much changing next. Was going to end it there but I wonder - did we get the wrong player from Liege when we signed Felliani ( it is too soon to be critical). We need two wide players left and right with some positive tactics. Over to you Mr Moyes, 3 big games coming up - What if we get 0 points? WIll he go?

Anthony Millington
267 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:30:30

I no Fernandes or Fellaini? Or even pay a couple of million more and Moutinho? I know that sounds so judgemental on Fellaini and he needs more of a chance, but Fernandes fitted into the system and was someone in the middle of the park with class and creativity, which we have lacked in every game this season. It just gets more and more depressing talking about Everton. so much hope after a great last season and we look like a completely different team now.

Richard Murray
268 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:36:19

We need a couple of wingers, DESPERATELY

Even are wingers aren’t wingers. In my opinion that’s why there’s no penetration in our play.

Arteta, Osman, (probably) Pienaar, (definitely) Cahill.. Big Vic.. Aj (when he was here) are not wingers.

I wish we had got that Nigerian boy from Inter.

As far as I’m concerned a couple of quality (actual) wingers would transform us.

Richard Murray
269 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:40:42

That should be ’our wingers’ sorry and

nobody mention VdM.

Brian Waring
270 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:41:35

Problem is Jon, Newcastle Sunday, then Arsenal and Man u to follow. The pressure to win the Newcastle game is going to be huge, and after tonight, well..... ?

Stephen Parris
271 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:40:46

I have to agree that I wish we had got Obinna from Inter too.....he would have been a real assett and someone to cause a threat in wide area’s and stretch teams.

But we haven’t, so we need to get our boys playing back at the level we know they can and then it wouldn’t be so bad........ a confidence boost is in desperate need, and a clean sheet wouldn’t go a miss !!

Jon McGourty
272 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:49:25

Good point Brian, but even though a lot of us can be negative on here, a good win on Sunday would transform us all for a while.

Leigh Sadler
273 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:35:19

I feel sorry for our strikers, they are always forced to play with thir backs to goal, we have no natural width except with the possibility of Pienaar who I am glad to see back.

We also have no pace, nobody that can get in behind defences in wide areas and cross balls into our strikers.

If were able to create half decent chances for our strikers I am sure we would be scoring more goals than we are now, but seem to have nobody that can thread that killer pass.

Arteta possibly is our best hope, but seems to be low on confidence, or just can’t be arsed.

The other annoying thing was how slow and pedestrian we were, when we had a chance to hit on the counter we have nobody with any real pace to take advantage, and end up playing the ball back.

I wish we had spent some of the Fellani money on somebody like Shaun Wright Phillips, somebody that can take players on, and would create space for other players to prosper.

John Pickles
274 Posted 02/10/2008 at 22:59:03

On the plus side:
1. Nobody outside England will now see what a sorry excuse for a team we currently have.
2. The odds improve with every match that someone in our defense will manage a pass to a teammate further up the pitch.
3. We neededn’t worry about top sides coming in to poach our best players as on current form hardly any of them are worthy of Champions League.

James Marshall
275 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:12:22

We need a driving force midfielder and apparently thats what Fellaini was bought for - he was obviously cup-tied but we’ll see.

Onwards and upwards, you cant blame Moyes, the players played well in the second half against a very good Liege side dont forget.

All this stuff about Moyes out is just daft - who would we get in instead? Name me someone better who is currently available? What would that do to the players? Think about it, I dont see any sense in getting rid of the manager.

Stephen Stuart
276 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:17:49

@ James Marshall says
"All this stuff about Moyes out is just daft - who would we get in instead? Name me someone better who is currently available? What would that do to the players? Think about it, I dont see any sense in getting rid of the manager. "

Moyes has had 6 years now to show what he can do - which is precisely nothing in my book: he has no tactical ability, is dour and negative, can?t change games, has too many favourites and has no idea about buying decent players - but good at buying crocks or ManUtd rejects. If you and others want another 5 years of this misery and rubbish fine, I DON?T!

Anthony Jaras
277 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:31:15

SHITE, season over before i’s really begun, what now Moyes Brigade?????

He has taken us as far as he can, it’s over and the look on his face suggested he knows it too.

Connor Rohrer
278 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:43:16

Is it over? I can’t see Kenwright sacking him and he’s said he’s staying.

We’ll just have to see to be honest, see how we get on in the League and the FA cup.

On the game, I thought Pienaar showed some nice touches. It’ll be good to have him back. What happened to Saha?

John Martin
279 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:44:45

I knew somebody would pipe up blaming Neville, He didnt do much wrong tonight, he is a limited player and did what i would expect from him, I would rather point the finger at the totally over rated player we have, guaranteed to go missing in a big game . Waste free kick and corners galore, make no important passes yet retains a reputation of a player of some standing, step forward Mr Arteta M.I.A. in a big game as usual. its your big players you look to in games likes these, the ones were the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Fabergas, etc true great midfielders excell while Arteta looks lost.

Anthony Jaras
280 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:49:35

Arteta must surely be one of the most overrated players ever, he has been fucking shit for almost 2 years now.

Jagielka was class tonight.

Other then that, eveyone else was ridiculously awful.

Howard fucked up on their first goal.

Neville was a joke.

Lescott looked like a little girl getting pushed off the ball.

Yakubu just looked like a fat clumsy mess.

THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR BIG NAME PLAYERS!!!!

Shithouses!

Baines shit out of nearly every tackle the fucking wimp.

DOGS OF WAR....more like PUSSYS OF PEACE!!!!

Connor Rohrer
281 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:52:14

The same Arteta who’s got 5/6 assists in 8 games, how fucking awful.

Arteta didn’t do anything wrong to be fair, he kept us ticking the middle and got on the ball as much as he could.

Sadly he just doesn’t have that killer ball, it’s something he lacks in his game and I think alot of Evertonians all ready know that. He’s a very good players, he’ll never be world class sadly.

It wasn’t easy though, any player would struggle to create when there’s a bad lack of movement in the team and the fact that Liege where defending very deep.

Arteta seems to be an easy target nowadays, I’ve had a go at him in the past but today I can’t. He did okay in my eyes.

He did alot more than the likes of Cahill, Saha and Yakubu.

Russell Buckley
282 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:42:29

Our midfield is a fucking joke. Saha and Yak were very ordinary but they hardly got the ball. Even in the 1st 15 mins when we had plenty of the ball we couldn’t do anything with it. We were clueless and lacked creativity. On top of that we can’t even tough out a game anymore. As the commentators were saying we go down a goal and have played like crap and yet Moyes waits well after halftime before changing anything.

This club needs a big shake up, problem is who would trust Kenwright to carry that out. With the way we are playing if we wait to January before making a change we could end up in the premiership.

Damian Scott
283 Posted 02/10/2008 at 23:53:22

Oh dear... oh dear..

To be honest, before the game started, i couldn?t care if we went through or not.. Actually going out may have saved our season in a way.

At least now, we know we really have problems to deal with!!!!! Don?t get me wrong, I would have loved to have seen Everton playing well and doing well in Europe, but from what I saw on the pitch tonight, it is better we went out..

When I saw the line-up I cringed.... Defence looked ok on paper and played well tonight I thought.

Midfield with Neville and Cahill in the middle does not work... I couldn?t bloody believe it when I saw the line-up! Neville just looked clueless when he had the ball. He was constantly looking for someone to pass to, but just couldn?t produce the goods. You need a creative player in the middle to give the wide players and strikers something to play with and work from. Cahill or Neville cannot play this role. Arteta would have been better off in the middle tonight. That bit of creativity in the middle...

We got very few crosses in. Their keeper looked well dodgy on corners and the 1 or 2 crosses we did get in. He was flapping at everything.. That?s how we got the goal! How did Moyes not capitalise on this obvious hole in their otherwise very solid defence!!!!

I don?t put blame on Yak or Saha tonight. They just weren?t getting the service from midfield. Every attack broke down with Neville giving it away or passing it backwards when he was stuck.

Castillo was an obvious candidate to start this match and stamp his authority in that midfield... He is also quite a creative player. We got him in for this reason. Use him Moyes FFS!!!

Moyes needs to grow a pair and drop Neville. If he is on the pitch. He is playing right back... end of discussion...

I just hope to god that we win on Sunday and it somehow kick starts our season