ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Half-Time at EFC

It can't have escaped everyone's attention how vulnerable Everton seem to be in the first 10 minutes of the second half. How many goals do we concede in this period? In an age of sports nutitionists, isotonic drinks, etc, I have this image of the EFC players running into the half-time dressing room to be offered a choice of starter (prawn cocktail, smoked salmon) to be followed by a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Dessert will be optional but a pint of Guinness rounds things off nicely. An exaggeration maybe but, when they come out for the second half, it often seems like this has been the scenario. Or is it just the team talk?
Mike Hughes, Wirral Posted 19/10/2008 at 08:55:47

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Eddy Grundy
1 Posted 19/10/2008 at 16:42:17

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We tend to lose concentration and, yes, it could be fitness levels but, personally speaking, when I watch games going away from us, if I was the manager, I would try to make changes before we go behind ? tired legs were evident before we conceded. Why can't DM see it as well?

Dave Charles
2 Posted 19/10/2008 at 18:24:06

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Nothing to do with fitness. The opposition realise we are low on pace and up their game and put us under pressure. The outcome is we pass to Hibbert who panics and hoofs upfield conceding possesion. Also, Osman asks for the ball in a central position, realises he’s under pressure and has no pace to get out of trouble. Then as like Hibbert, possesion is lost and more pressure gets put on defence.

Maybe if we took throw-ins a bit quicker to catch the other team unaware or looked to pass quick to a player to RUN ONTO THE BALL instead of having his back to the goal and looking to lay off. He can’t lay off a ball as we are still trying to get forward in support but only after we make sure the danger is clear which by then the other team have got back to defend their own goal.

Football is simple. It’s only us that make it look difficult. I’m sure a look at tactics and not fitness would improve things.

Derek Thomas
3 Posted 20/10/2008 at 06:01:38

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It’s the person giving the talk