The Mail Bag
Good time to play United
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Perhaps I'm being optimistic, but I reckon we've caught Manchester United at exactly the right time. They may be cock-a-hoop and Fat Boy scoring for fun but they will be coming out of a hard game against Celtic (two Manc goals were clearly off-side!) and cocky with it. On the other hand, we could well reap the bonus of having no European distractions and be all revved up to register our first home win. Additionally, we shall be at full-strength (apart from Tim) whereas I suspect Ferguson's arrogance will see him fielding a weakened side.
I have not the slightest doubt that Moyes has learned his lesson about trying 'to contain' these chequebook teams and will go for the jugular. He has pledged to re-build and we may well see that applies to his tactical approach as well.
There has never been a week of such gloom and doom in the Mailbag ? I have this lovely feeling that next week will be entirely different.!
COYB
Neil Pearson, Posted 22/10/2008 at 09:16:01
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Maybe I am be a realist......
But there is never a good time to play Man Utd.
Reason being, I don?t have much faith our team can put up a decent fight against any of the top 4 sides since a certain person has been at the helm.
But there is never a good time to play Man Utd.
Reason being, I don?t have much faith our team can put up a decent fight against any of the top 4 sides since a certain person has been at the helm.
The sad truth is that it’s a very good time to play Everton right now.
Yes Nick, it?s a good time to play Man Utd but I have a feeling about this one. It?s not based on any logic but I think big Vic is going to come on as sub and score a late winner. I know we?re crap but we might just get lucky.
Neil Pearson wrote "Additionally, we shall be at full-strength (apart from Tim) whereas I suspect Ferguson?s arrogance will see him fielding a weakened side."
Sadly a weakened Manchester United (and also Chelsea) would beat our full-strength team. How many times have we beaten Manchester United in the Premiership? Bring back Duncan Ferguson :0)
Sadly a weakened Manchester United (and also Chelsea) would beat our full-strength team. How many times have we beaten Manchester United in the Premiership? Bring back Duncan Ferguson :0)
How can Vic get a late winner? We’ll already be 4-0 down!
Neil,
You are crazy. Crazy, I tells ya.
You are crazy. Crazy, I tells ya.
Maybe you should have stopped your post at the first 4 words after the title. At least we can catch a glimpse of one of our January loan signings on their bench.
Good to see somebody else ?looks on the bright side?! I?m sure we enjoy a much happier life, Neil!
Like you, I suspect we shall see Davey adopt a less cautious approach this week with Saha making a start alongside Yak. Hibbert may have to give way to Captain Phil (his influence was missed last week!) and maybe Castillo will be given another call.
A point, at least, is my forecast.
I don?t know which is more laughable.... your unbridled optimism... or your suggestion that Moyes has actually learnt a lesson.
I would dismiss both as folly.
I would dismiss both as folly.
Dodd, are you admitting Moyes has therefore been too cautious in his approach to games in the past?
Wow, Neil, you are the eternal optimist ? I would like to think you were right. The thought of the fat twat kissing his badge in front of our fans after he has scored against us is too much to bear.
Hey Doddy ask your Ken for his tickling stick and the wonderful spirit of delusion will abound!! Give Captain Phil a stroke and then Davey. And then who knows we can all come to your Planet and dance round the happy tree!! Good things.
Christ, you are an optimist Neil. I must warn you that any show of hope is usually met with a mixture of abuse and some occasional realism. I’m with you re Man U, but I thought we would win the derby too.
This year it’s always winter and never Christmas at Goodison
I really hope you're right... I just don't think you will be. COYB!!!
Captain Edward John Smith, 1912.
"I really think we?ve caught these Icebergs at the right time!"
Probably.
"I really think we?ve caught these Icebergs at the right time!"
Probably.
Think I heard somewhere if that little bastard scores it will be his 100th career goal.
Put your wages on him to score first or last!
Put your wages on him to score first or last!
In all honesty, Manchester Utd would need to have a really bad off day for Everton to win the game on Saturday.
One thing you notice about the really great sides is not just what they do with the ball but also the amount of work they do when they don't have the ball. All United's players worked so hard against Celtic to win back the ball, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Ronaldo, all of them hungry to win the ball and close down the opposition ? unlike at Everton, where we stand off and stroll about the pitch with no confidence or positivity. I cannot see us matching them even in that department let alone with the quality side of things.
I'm sorry but I have been watching us too long to be optomistic about anything other than the inevitable defeat on Saturday, as is usual...
Richard Dodd writes : "A point at least is my forecast"
Whats happened to your "This Saturday Everton will shock the footballing world" prediction of a few days ago ?
You really are a : ------- ---- !
( I?ve censored to save Michael & Lyndon the job )
Whats happened to your "This Saturday Everton will shock the footballing world" prediction of a few days ago ?
You really are a : ------- ---- !
( I?ve censored to save Michael & Lyndon the job )
Neil, Judging by how slow ticket sales are for this ?premium game? I think quite a few need winning round to your way of thinking. In 30 years supporting Everton I?ve never felt as resigned to losing to the so called BIG teams as I do now. At least in previous ?bad days? we used to kick & scrap, now we just roll over. I can?t justify the £100 a game it costs for me & my daughter to attend anymore.
Man Utd may well field a weakened side, Neil, but we do this every game anyway. Once Osman, Neville or Hibbert get the nod, we are automatically weakened. Watch Lazy Leon do a moonlight on Saturday. The kid is just to scared to get involved against the big boys.
My prediction: 3-0 Utd in second gear.
My prediction: 3-0 Utd in second gear.
EJ.
I would’ve thought that if boat allegories were appropriate then "we’re gonna need a bigger boat" would’ve been most reflective of our situation..
I would’ve thought that if boat allegories were appropriate then "we’re gonna need a bigger boat" would’ve been most reflective of our situation..
Neil, you are one sadly deluded individual!!
We will get hammered 1-4 ? watch this space...
I like your optimism mate but if really think ?Moyes has learnt his lesson and will go for the jugular? you?re more naive than optimistic!
One thing's for certain; if we are winning at half-time we will get beat! Unless Fergie has a sore throat that is.
Neil you are right - next week will be different... the clocks go back Sunday night so theres a little more daylight in the mornings and it will be dark when peeps leave the office at night. Other than that, it would be foolish to expect any of difference in proceedings compared with this week, or any of the previous weeks this season.
My prediction is that whoever takes the field in the famous royal blue this weekend are going to need extra cushions to sit down on Sunday........
How have we got to this... ???
I have just returned from the EFC box offfice after purchasing Man Utd tickets. The girl at the counter, after ripping me off for the best part of £80, then said to me, "We still have tickets left for the game. Why don't you recommend it to some of your friends or family."
My immediate reaction was to say, "No thanks, love, I don't want to fall out with either." But all I could do was shake my head and walk away mumbling.
Just go's to show the expectancy level now when we take on a top 4 team. It's the Wednesday before, and we have tickets on general sale for a HOME game against Man U. We are even advertising on Radio City, can't believe it. We really are in the shite when our home supporters stop believing!!!
I really don't know quite how to take this latest from the OS.
Osman says we are not tough enough and demands it be sorted when we play United. From the mouths of babes... If Scholes, Vidic, Evra and Ferdinand had any fears for this Saturday they will surely be wetting themselves after hearing that.
I think we have a real chance of scoring one goal....
Niel, your optimistic comments got me smiling all the way down here in Singapore. Even if it may attract a "what a plonker!" Del-boy style reaction from most, I’d say its been light-hearted jab to cheer us up. I haven’t anything to smile about in ages! Good job!
I?d be dead pleased with a point on Saturday but I'm not confident of it, Man Utd quite comfortably battered Celtic last night and didn't even have to get in top gear to do so! I just hope we give it a go on Saturday and at least show we're trying to get our season back on track from here.
Another thing aswell, that fat cunt is on for his ton of goals and how much ya betting he gets it vs. us at Goodison the wanker!
Neil you are clinically insane.
United have been awesome the last few weeks especially Rooney, Celtic was no tough game it was a stroll.. Anyone know why we are playing at 12 on saturday? It's not on Sky..
Neil
Me too, there were definite signs of improvement in the first half last week, if we can just cut out the individual errors . . .
I?m already listing the names of every white flag waving fucking infidel whose mocked you
If we turn this crew over, they?ll all be getting it on Sunday.
Me too, there were definite signs of improvement in the first half last week, if we can just cut out the individual errors . . .
I?m already listing the names of every white flag waving fucking infidel whose mocked you
If we turn this crew over, they?ll all be getting it on Sunday.
Dave Wilson - "white flag waving infidel"
Who the fuck are you fella ? The Toffee Taliban !!!
You can put my name top of the list & if we " turn over this crew"
nobody will be more pleased than me to "get it" Sunday. Tell you what though
its normally Moyes who runs up the white flag, so I won’t hold my breath.
Who the fuck are you fella ? The Toffee Taliban !!!
You can put my name top of the list & if we " turn over this crew"
nobody will be more pleased than me to "get it" Sunday. Tell you what though
its normally Moyes who runs up the white flag, so I won’t hold my breath.
Dave add my name to the list please too ? though what will you come on here on Sunday and write when we capitulate again on Saturday??
None of us want to us beaten ? we are just mature enough to call it as we see it. We all hope to God we will win ? but some of us opt for reality over fiction.
Look at it this way:
Fact 1 This season in the league we have conceded an average of 2.25 goals a game (goals against in last 6: 3,2,2,2,2,3) and have failed to keep a clean sheet in all competitions.
Fact 2 We have scored an average of 1.5 goals per game (1.36 in all comps).
Fact 3 We are playing against the current league and European Champions, who boast such players as Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov et al.
Fact 4 We are seriously out of form; our manager has the amoeba disease (only reacts after not before) and we have been beaten by Blackburn twice already this season.
Now I'd love us to win, but call it, I don't know, maybe the omens - point to another 3 goals against in the GD colomn come Saturday evening.
None of us want to us beaten ? we are just mature enough to call it as we see it. We all hope to God we will win ? but some of us opt for reality over fiction.
Look at it this way:
Fact 1 This season in the league we have conceded an average of 2.25 goals a game (goals against in last 6: 3,2,2,2,2,3) and have failed to keep a clean sheet in all competitions.
Fact 2 We have scored an average of 1.5 goals per game (1.36 in all comps).
Fact 3 We are playing against the current league and European Champions, who boast such players as Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov et al.
Fact 4 We are seriously out of form; our manager has the amoeba disease (only reacts after not before) and we have been beaten by Blackburn twice already this season.
Now I'd love us to win, but call it, I don't know, maybe the omens - point to another 3 goals against in the GD colomn come Saturday evening.
Marc Williams
"Its normally Moyes who runs up the white flag"
I think you’ll find your a week ahead of him mate, I just believe the team will show more guts than both of you.
Joeynkoo
I dont know what I’ll say if we lose, it would depend on the manner I suppose, but here’s what I do know . .
I know I dont need your stats mate, I’m an obsessive, not only do I go to all the games I get the missus to record them and I study them.
I know all the goals we’ve conceded.
I know we’ve repeatedly been the architects of our own downfall.
I know which players are making the errors, I even know when.
I know Neil is right, Statistically, playing a team after they have played in Europe IS a god time to play them
I know Man U have 20 great players, but guess what ? I also know only 11 will be playing against us at any given time
I know their manager will send his team out to attack and entertain
I know our manager wont
I know that every week in every division, one team will beat a supposedly superior opposition.
I also know that cant happen if they’ve raise the white flag beforehand
I know not even the gobshites have been able to get to me as much as fellow blues have on this thread, ok its going badly this season , thats an understatement, I’m as angry as the next person with our manager and players - mainly the better ones - but to concede defeat a week before the game ?
I also know I’m going home to sleep
"Its normally Moyes who runs up the white flag"
I think you’ll find your a week ahead of him mate, I just believe the team will show more guts than both of you.
Joeynkoo
I dont know what I’ll say if we lose, it would depend on the manner I suppose, but here’s what I do know . .
I know I dont need your stats mate, I’m an obsessive, not only do I go to all the games I get the missus to record them and I study them.
I know all the goals we’ve conceded.
I know we’ve repeatedly been the architects of our own downfall.
I know which players are making the errors, I even know when.
I know Neil is right, Statistically, playing a team after they have played in Europe IS a god time to play them
I know Man U have 20 great players, but guess what ? I also know only 11 will be playing against us at any given time
I know their manager will send his team out to attack and entertain
I know our manager wont
I know that every week in every division, one team will beat a supposedly superior opposition.
I also know that cant happen if they’ve raise the white flag beforehand
I know not even the gobshites have been able to get to me as much as fellow blues have on this thread, ok its going badly this season , thats an understatement, I’m as angry as the next person with our manager and players - mainly the better ones - but to concede defeat a week before the game ?
I also know I’m going home to sleep
Well said Dave Wilson!!
Dave
I didnt ask you what you know. I didnt suggest you are not fully abreast of our stats. I only asked you what you’d consider writing on sunday. You have your opinion, I have mine, so not sure why you seem a little, lets say annoyed.
I would love us to win on Saturday, naturally. But threads like this are about predicting what might happen given all known variables. I, like a lot of toffees think we will be beaten. We are not hoping for it, its just a prediction. Like, Id love to win the lotto, but im predicitng I wont. Im still buying a ticket though. Not sure why are you getting wound up?
Yes of course, football is unpredictable, Littlewoods Pools would be easy otherwise. Yes Hull beat arsenal at the emirates, yes these things can happen. Yes we CAN win on Saturday, we just PROBABLY wont. Thats my opinion. That opinion wont contribute to us losing though.
I didnt ask you what you know. I didnt suggest you are not fully abreast of our stats. I only asked you what you’d consider writing on sunday. You have your opinion, I have mine, so not sure why you seem a little, lets say annoyed.
I would love us to win on Saturday, naturally. But threads like this are about predicting what might happen given all known variables. I, like a lot of toffees think we will be beaten. We are not hoping for it, its just a prediction. Like, Id love to win the lotto, but im predicitng I wont. Im still buying a ticket though. Not sure why are you getting wound up?
Yes of course, football is unpredictable, Littlewoods Pools would be easy otherwise. Yes Hull beat arsenal at the emirates, yes these things can happen. Yes we CAN win on Saturday, we just PROBABLY wont. Thats my opinion. That opinion wont contribute to us losing though.
Joeynkoo
Thanks for the dignified response.
The anger isnt directed at you, its not directed at anyone in particular but its anger all the same.
You’ve taken the trouble to respond, so I’ll try to explain....
We’ve seen worse times than this, remember the desperate last games against Coventry and Wimbledon ? We were fighting for our lives, the stress was almost unbearable. We were a very poor side then. You ’ll remember that, worse than we are now and probably worse than a couple of teams that were actually relegated.
But there was a determination not to accept our fate, Goodison shook, there was a collective defiance, everywhere you looked people we screaming and shaking their fist, we willed the team to stay up
The reason I was so angry is that the defiance is gone, its been replaced by a "realistic" acceptance, people are accepting defeat the week before the game, that cant be right, can it ?
If we dont get clear of trouble soon, this realistic acceptance may well see the end of us
Your right, its a game of opinions, hope I didnt offend you
Ps your still on the name and shame list for Sunday morning . . . .if we win
Thanks for the dignified response.
The anger isnt directed at you, its not directed at anyone in particular but its anger all the same.
You’ve taken the trouble to respond, so I’ll try to explain....
We’ve seen worse times than this, remember the desperate last games against Coventry and Wimbledon ? We were fighting for our lives, the stress was almost unbearable. We were a very poor side then. You ’ll remember that, worse than we are now and probably worse than a couple of teams that were actually relegated.
But there was a determination not to accept our fate, Goodison shook, there was a collective defiance, everywhere you looked people we screaming and shaking their fist, we willed the team to stay up
The reason I was so angry is that the defiance is gone, its been replaced by a "realistic" acceptance, people are accepting defeat the week before the game, that cant be right, can it ?
If we dont get clear of trouble soon, this realistic acceptance may well see the end of us
Your right, its a game of opinions, hope I didnt offend you
Ps your still on the name and shame list for Sunday morning . . . .if we win
Dave no offense taken at all.
I understand your point re GP and everyone being up for it, being the fabled 12th man etc. My opinion is that threads like this are forgotten come match day - they are for me - and we get behind the boys again for 90 minutes. A personal example for me would be Im anti Moyes (lets not debate that one on this thread!) but come match day, I’ll join in the Davvey daveey moyes chant as loud as the next man - because its match day. Of course, I dont know if the same is of other blues, and whether a defeatist attitude is prevalent at the game aswell as on these threads (certainly wasnt one present at the emirates).
More than happy to be shamed on Sunday if it means we’ve won on Saturday!
I understand your point re GP and everyone being up for it, being the fabled 12th man etc. My opinion is that threads like this are forgotten come match day - they are for me - and we get behind the boys again for 90 minutes. A personal example for me would be Im anti Moyes (lets not debate that one on this thread!) but come match day, I’ll join in the Davvey daveey moyes chant as loud as the next man - because its match day. Of course, I dont know if the same is of other blues, and whether a defeatist attitude is prevalent at the game aswell as on these threads (certainly wasnt one present at the emirates).
More than happy to be shamed on Sunday if it means we’ve won on Saturday!
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1 Posted 22/10/2008 at 14:56:59
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