The Mail Bag
Portsmouth v Everton
Comments (160)
It's a bit early for the teamsheets but please post them here, along with links for those who don't have Sky (or ESPN2 in the US, where it should be in HD). COYB
Michael Kenrick, Posted 26/09/2009 at 04:35:33
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I’m really looking forward to the match today. I haven’t been this enthusiastic for a while. Hope we can keep the momentum up and Billy can run rampant down the left. COYB
I think Moyes will put out this team:
Howard, Heitinga, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Billy, Cahill, Saha
SUBS: Nash, Osman, Hibbert, Yakubu, Jo, Gosling
Should be an interesting game. 0-2 with Cahill, Saha scoring !
Howard, Heitinga, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Billy, Cahill, Saha
SUBS: Nash, Osman, Hibbert, Yakubu, Jo, Gosling
Should be an interesting game. 0-2 with Cahill, Saha scoring !
Don’t think we’ll see Billy run rampant just yet, both games he has been on the periphery of things, but I do hope we see some of those awesome whipped deliveries. I can see them being our biggest weapon this season. Hope Pienaar is fit to play. I’ve only just recovered from the near heart attack I received when I saw the ’Another 6 months for the Yak’ headline on the home page.
Ste the amount of assists he’s had against match time says he hasn’t being peripheral
In general, open play I feel he has been on the periphery a little. His taking of dead balls has been exceptional though.
If you want links to any games try:
http://www.livestreams4you.com/
They are a portal site for almost all of the big streaming sites and you can find links to virtually every televised game anywhere in the world.
http://www.livestreams4you.com/
They are a portal site for almost all of the big streaming sites and you can find links to virtually every televised game anywhere in the world.
Lads Anyone else got any reliable streams - ones that dont crash!!
cheers..
cheers..
I don’t have a team, but it always amuses me that there are still folks out there who ignore Moyes’ obvious dedication to Hibbert and Osman and leave them out of their expected lineups. Personally I’d love to see both given their marching orders, but Osman was given the armband against Hull and would probably start even if we had Messi on our books. As for Hibbert, the manager evidently sees Heitenga as a fill-in and Hibbert is first choice.
Ho hum......
Ho hum......
Looks like Bilyaletdinov out, Fukosmanov in
Unchanged from the Blackburn game just heard on SkySports
:-) @ Phil Bellis!
Everton: Howard, Heitinga, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Osman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha.
Subs: Nash, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Jo, Gosling, Yakubu, Neill.
Our bench is starting to look pretty good. A bit of depth now. Especially as we still have Arteta and Jags to come.
Everton: Howard, Heitinga, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Osman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha.
Subs: Nash, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Jo, Gosling, Yakubu, Neill.
Our bench is starting to look pretty good. A bit of depth now. Especially as we still have Arteta and Jags to come.
Away to Spurs in the Carling Cup
They’ll be like two new signings..........
Looking forward to this one, well the second half at least. Stuck in work until then. Will be a moderately good indicator of recent progress. I know you can’t argue that Portsmouth are a good team but at home with the Manager in the shit it will be a good test. Mind you if we don’t come away with three points and another clean sheet I’ll be disappointed.
3-0, Saha, Peanuts and Cahill, worth a quid!
Looking forward to this one, well the second half at least. Stuck in work until then. Will be a moderately good indicator of recent progress. I know you can’t argue that Portsmouth are a good team but at home with the Manager in the shit it will be a good test. Mind you if we don’t come away with three points and another clean sheet I’ll be disappointed.
3-0, Saha, Peanuts and Cahill, worth a quid!
Tough cup draw. But im confident we can pull through.
Strong side, except for Bilya missing...suspected as much.
Any links for today’s game? I can’t get any to work
Danny - http://iraqgoals.net/game2283.html
Seems a good link so far
Seems a good link so far
sopcast channel 77552. Perfect’so far
I spoke too soon as it just froze! Other option is http://iraqgoals.net/ch5.html
is Heitinga fully fit?
he is getting tortured down that right so far.
i’ll admit i was one of the ones crying for him to be included.. but its been a shakey start
lets hope he grows in confidence.
he is getting tortured down that right so far.
i’ll admit i was one of the ones crying for him to be included.. but its been a shakey start
lets hope he grows in confidence.
Live on ESPN2 in the US. Get to watch on the bigger screen today!
Heitinga looking very suspect in the back.
It’s not just Heitinga - it’s the usual problem in Osman. I just don’t see the logic in Osman on the right instead of Pienaar, with Bilyaletinov on the left. Common sense to me, but I guess Moyes is a Premier League manager for a reason.
At the moment we’re getting raped down the right and making Portsmouth look half decent.
At the moment we’re getting raped down the right and making Portsmouth look half decent.
It is very very scarppy at the moment. We started to look like we could boss the middle after about 5 mins, but it has descended into a scrap for the second ball.
look short of ideas up to now, too much hoofball ffs
Fellaini doing a good job
hopefully this’ll be one of those games where a team low on confidence starts well doesn’t get a goal, run out of steam, an we can nick one just before half time against the run of play, get billy on 2nd half job done, 2-0
Bloody hell, that was dreadful from Heitinga on that free kick!!!
Pienaar looking superb as usual on the left - Fellaini doing a job in the middle as well. Just no cutting edge in the final third...
Pienaar looking superb as usual on the left - Fellaini doing a job in the middle as well. Just no cutting edge in the final third...
How many loose silly passes are we going to give away? First Cahill, now Rodwell. We’ll get punished unless they concentrate more.
osman an cahill absolute wastes on space up to now. ooh ek can you call osman a waste a space or will people kick off ha ha
I’m failing to see how Heitinga is an improvement over Hibbert at the moment. It’s all well and good saying Osman is the problem but I fail to see how Osman on the pitch is preventing Heitinga completing a pass.
your right heitinga looks very flat footed and keeps ball watching
Is Heitinga actually a right back? That might not help him.
great save Howard! Come on blues, pick up the pace.
great save Howard! Come on blues, pick up the pace.
Yep Heitinga looking off the pace, to be generous about it. However, when people highlight Osman it’s because we have no "intent" going forward down the right because Osman isn’t viable enough - whereas Pienaar does the business on the left. Because of a lack of movement, things break down on the right all the time.
Baines and Pienaar superb - Heitinga and Osman, not so.
We’re lucky to be level at the moment, Pompey have had one or two decent chances.
Baines and Pienaar superb - Heitinga and Osman, not so.
We’re lucky to be level at the moment, Pompey have had one or two decent chances.
brill save from howard
Ahhhhh... good work from Osman, Fellaini should have scored there.
bastard felli thats gotta be in!!!! the solution to anyone with half a brain to the right is peanuts which gives their left side more to think about defensvilely, and billy in on the left, obvoiusly moyes is trying to ease the ruski in, that’s bound to be the move after half time, i’d stick another striker on and take cahill off.
3 points to wigan
look forward to Billy coming on
look forward to Billy coming on
Really worried about heitinga. so poor... Fellaini playing by his best game for everton although shudda scored. rodders poor for his usual self, cahill into mid and yak on?
Saha!
YES!!! King Louis!!! Kaboul the joker xD
right on h/t, my prediction spot on, yessssssss
KING LOUIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Great cross by Heitinga ... 1-0 !
Saha is on fire at the moment, if we can keep him fit I can see 20 goals this season.
Heitinga seems very, very slow to me. For £5m i would have expected at least a bit of pace. Not sure how he is going to cope with the pacy wingers if he stays in that position
Fantastic take from the dropping ball. Sharp finish too. We want a Blackburn, not a Fulham second half now...
Anyone looking for a good link for the game try this it has been perfect all first half
http://iraqgoals.net/ch5.html
http://iraqgoals.net/ch5.html
Saha........when fit he’s brill
Bring on Billy now and the Yak
Bring on Billy now and the Yak
Shaky half, but a lead. That should shatter the fragile confidence of Portsmouth. Heitinga hasn’t looked great but he’s still adjusting - the pace of the leagues he’s played in are nothing compared to the EPL.
It’s worrying that the goal came from a defensive lapse rather than Everton brilliance, because we’ve looked a bit lacklustre today. It’s consistency we’re lacking this season.
Hopefully Billy on for Osman before the hour mark - I like Osman as a squad player but it’s quite clear that he’s not a winger and, as such, we’re lacking balance.
COYBB - a solid win on offer here if we kick into gear.
It’s worrying that the goal came from a defensive lapse rather than Everton brilliance, because we’ve looked a bit lacklustre today. It’s consistency we’re lacking this season.
Hopefully Billy on for Osman before the hour mark - I like Osman as a squad player but it’s quite clear that he’s not a winger and, as such, we’re lacking balance.
COYBB - a solid win on offer here if we kick into gear.
It’s winning games like this that are crucial to us and gets us 5th or above. The so-called big teams can often draw these.
We should really go for it now..
We should really go for it now..
Yep..... So far so good. I just wonder why that little 10 year old who keeps falling over is playing on the right.
I was going to give Ossie 0 out of 10 for that half, but he did manage to get a cross in after about 30 minutes, so it’s 1 out of 10 so far.....
Pienaar buzzing!!! COYB
I was going to give Ossie 0 out of 10 for that half, but he did manage to get a cross in after about 30 minutes, so it’s 1 out of 10 so far.....
Pienaar buzzing!!! COYB
Agreed. I like Osman, but he’s having a quiet game out there . Think some quality balls in from the right wing will bag us a second.
What has happened to the right side of our midfield? Heitinga is under pressure to keep covering. Bring on Biilly
Contender for luckiest save of the season perhaps? ^^ Howard kept that out by sheer miracle luck!
moyes subs now, lets stop this being another fulham!
This is looking as if it could turn against us. We need to get control of the midfield. I don’t think Cahill or Osman have done themselves justice this afternoon. Perhaps hook at least one of them?
Agree Barry....subs time
please sumone in the crowd start a chant "we want bily, take off osman" knowing that i wrote this ossie is about to score a wonderful goal
Oh shit, Pienaar is down holding his knee.
is Pienaar injured????
Oh great Pienaar is injured now
great, what is it with everton and knees!?!?!? fucking inbred pompey scum give him shit when his knees blatantly fucked.
Is Osman still on the pitch?
i’m still convinced sman needs to come off i’d even be tempted to gamble on gosling, goal in midweek, tail up? but we know the ginger one ain’t a gambler
Osman was picked up by the ground stewards as a lost child. David Moyes asked the ground announcer to ask the crowd to find him and please return him to the pitch
We’d be losing without Fellaini today
That is THE best left foot we’ve had at Everton since Sheedy. Billy is absolutely superb with his delivery.
yeah defo mom contender up to now, think the centre halfs have looked decent too considering we keep losing possession and putting them under pressure. somethings gonna come soon via billy, moyes keep saha on he looks sharp, another forward please
I’d suggest Yak for Cahill, who has been non-existent again — then drop Fellaini into a flat four with Rodwell, with Yak and Saha up front.
We have to offer something going forward here or we’re inviting the equaliser.
We have to offer something going forward here or we’re inviting the equaliser.
Howard had it covered.
Defo, Fellaini’s been good but I think he needs to be a bit more disciplined now and sit.
Hibbert for Osman? Heitinga into midfield?
Good God Moyes, you make some strange calls...
Good God Moyes, you make some strange calls...
FFS moyes you negative twat, your inviting the equaliser!!!!
Oh god... Moyes has bought his lovechild on!
Is it me or did Moyes turn to round then and say "Watch this, the TW forums will go mental" before bringing Hibbert on?
Wooohooo! A postive substituion from the man Moyes! It’s that worldclass attacking threat Tony Hibbert!
Moyes, Moyes, Moyes, Moyes, will you ever learn?
Moyes, Moyes, Moyes, Moyes, will you ever learn?
1-1 all over this kids.
Exactly the right move... 3 pts
We are definitely screwed, I’m hoping for some set piece with Cahill scoring and making it 6 assists to Bily in 3 games...
Fuck me. Moyes settled for 1-0 at half-time. Dour, negative and fucking shite.
Paul Walsh is a terrible commentator. Kopites are Jobsites?
Andy gray is a tit
I never want to see faking like that from us
There’re gonna be about five minutes of added time at this rate, and Everton are hanging on by the skin of their teeth as it is...
To quote Sir Alex Ferguson - squeaky bum time. Yet we bring it upon ourselves...
I fully agree Ged. No place at EFC for that.
think sahas legs have gone for today, yak on now purleease
who dived???
ok well jo’ll do, go on lad!!!!
Heitinga
This is entirely the fault of David Moyes - Portsmouth should have won this game due to the tactical ineptitude of Moyes.
Absolutely disgusting - anyone would have managed these substitutions better than he has.
Negative, negative, negative. Even as a Moyes fan, I think he’ll deserve all the stick he gets for this regardless of the result.
Absolutely disgusting - anyone would have managed these substitutions better than he has.
Negative, negative, negative. Even as a Moyes fan, I think he’ll deserve all the stick he gets for this regardless of the result.
totally agree lee the team is following moyes tactical blueprint, negative.
we are still winning though, only just mind. why do we keep just kicking it back to them?
Fellaini is an absolute disgrace in the last 15 minutes - giving the ball away constantly and not working to close down their man on the ball.
Moyes will come out saying, we were every poor in the second half. Nothing t do with his tactis though???If we played this game on the ground we would be 5 nil winners
The usual Mr Moyes philosophy
Ged, in the end you called it right - 3pts. But it isn’t pleasant viewing.
thank fuck for that
a win, but bloody jammy, oh well can’t moan too much
Should have been 5-1 Portsmouth. It’s a win, yes, and that’s good - but in the long run that was just... urgh.
We made Portsmouth look like Brazil in the second half - Pienaar going off didn’t help, but that Hibbert substitute was nothing short of ridiculous.
We made Portsmouth look like Brazil in the second half - Pienaar going off didn’t help, but that Hibbert substitute was nothing short of ridiculous.
Thanks for the links you guys, another three in the bag.
Shit....how friggin miserable can blues be after winning. Some games are won this way.
Thanks Christ some of us enjoy winnng.....any time
Thanks Christ some of us enjoy winnng.....any time
That was lucky. I feel for Portsmouth, if they play like that they’re going to score and get points soon. As for us, I don’t think soaking up pressure is going to work for long. We have got the players to attack and control games - let other teams worry about us for a change.
ged yes the win is welcome, i think all people are getting at is against a team that poor we could’ve made it easier for ourselves, but yes a wins a win
My feed gave up 90 seconds from the end, so come on here to find notice of a win in an exciting match to watch... yet people are pissed off.
Phhhhh 4 games won in a row, 12 goals without reply... me thinks I’ll avoid ToffeeWeb today as I like this pleased feeling I have right now.
Phhhhh 4 games won in a row, 12 goals without reply... me thinks I’ll avoid ToffeeWeb today as I like this pleased feeling I have right now.
Lee Kidd and Barry Blackmore , I have seen a lot of idiotic comments here but you 2 are up there with the best of them
Ged - against a better side (meaning, any other Premier League side), we’d have dropped at least 2 points there or probably even lost.
The problem I have is that we gave Portsmouth every chance, when it was real easy to simply put on a second striker and make them think about going forward. Leaving a tiring Saha as the only attacking threat meant that for a good half an hour Portsmouth could throw the kitchen sink without a worry of anything coming back.
We won, yes, but the reason I’m concerned is that - in the long run - we’ll lose more than we win on the road with that Moyes philosophy.
The problem I have is that we gave Portsmouth every chance, when it was real easy to simply put on a second striker and make them think about going forward. Leaving a tiring Saha as the only attacking threat meant that for a good half an hour Portsmouth could throw the kitchen sink without a worry of anything coming back.
We won, yes, but the reason I’m concerned is that - in the long run - we’ll lose more than we win on the road with that Moyes philosophy.
If ever a get out of jail card was needed that was it!...The fulham game all over again!
Some of you sounded like nervous nail eating bed wetters at the end then. Christ get a grip. Hibbert was everywhere at the back when he came on. Cahill should of scored twice. Anyhow, thats four back to back wins and twelve goals. Excellent.
stefan i think we were quite balanced, but your entitled to your opinion, or mud slinging
A win is a win.
I just hope Peanuts is ok.
I just hope Peanuts is ok.
Is it just me or Billy SHIT slow. Possibly slower than screech.
Absolutely disgraceful performance from Everton, how Portsmouth havent scored is beyond me. There's playing bad and nicking a win but this is something else... shocking.
And then on the other hand four back-to-back wins and 12 goals, I'm delighted with the win but we need to be playing much better than that.
How can you blame Moyes for a win!? If there was any reasons for squeaky bum time then firstly it was a fucking disgraceful Portsmouth side intent on injuring players and secondly that gobshite referee who failed to do anything about 1/2 the decisions like the foot that nearly decapitated Billy’s head or the "diving header" that has probably left Pienaar out for the rest of the year. Some of you get a fucking grip.
Another win, further up the table - COYBB!
Another win, further up the table - COYBB!
4 wins 4 clean sheets - Moyes is a twat.
Who was he to put on for Osman- Messi or Ronaldo?
Who was he to put on for Osman- Messi or Ronaldo?
What tactical nous involves putting all outfield player behind the ball and looking purely to keep the opposition out? As Lee says you have to offer a threat going forward - how many times do we see good teams get the second goal on the break to kill teams off - that couldn’t have happened as Moyes just doesn’t know how to pick the opposition off tactically. He goes into default mode - negative.
Happy with the win... but feeling a little lucky .. ok a loy lucky.. well the notion we are suddenly playing champagne football is gone.... why we couldn’t find anybody in the last 20 minutes I don’t know... although it would have been nice to try close them down before they reached our penalty box...way too close
oh yes... bullshit reffing the high boot.. and the "header" ended with a shoulder through Pienaar!
God that was a fucking ordeal!!!!
Anyway, 4 wins.... 12 scored and none conceded. Still agree with those having a pop at Moyes’ ’tactics’..... Pompey are shite and we should have gone at them and won easily.....
Someone said at half time that ".... Osman’s having a quiet game". Akin to saying that the 2nd World War was ’... a bit of a scrap’!!! Michael’s assessment on the player profile is spot on..... possibly even a little understated. I am fed up with watching us play with 10 men
Anyway, 4 wins.... 12 scored and none conceded. Still agree with those having a pop at Moyes’ ’tactics’..... Pompey are shite and we should have gone at them and won easily.....
Someone said at half time that ".... Osman’s having a quiet game". Akin to saying that the 2nd World War was ’... a bit of a scrap’!!! Michael’s assessment on the player profile is spot on..... possibly even a little understated. I am fed up with watching us play with 10 men
i can see what the argument is here, in the context of our recent run this is a handy result, fair enough. all the so called moaners are saying is with a little more positivity on our behalf today didn’t need to unfold the way it did. BUT we are ALL made up with the 3 points, bring on stoke and wolves and solidifying a top half spot to get in and around the european spots.
What an awful performance, I’ve never felt so disappointed after a win. I really didn’t know we were that bad. I cannot wait until Arteta is back, then we might be half decent to watch.
We definitely need to sort out these lack-lustre second halves. Granted a few of them have been down to having already had the game in the bag, but we keep letting sides back into the game as we did against Fulham and Wigan and today.
However, a win is a win and by all accounts Pompey gave their all today. Lee Kidd - you lament Moyes’s negativity, take a look in the mirror. 5-1 to Pompey? Are you a complete fool? Yes we hung on, yes they had some really good chances, but you are making the usual mistake of assuming that teams score all there chances, and if your doing that then it would be more like 5-3 or 5-4.
By all means Lee (and the other over the top posters) point out the areas where we are struggling or doing things badly, but please stop short of completely rubbishing the fact we got our first away win. Another clean sheet and 3pts. We’re not going to score 4 every game so I’ll take that thank you very much.
Maybe the subs were negative, maybe if he’d have brought on the Yak we’d have scored again... ifs, buts, maybes... 3pts.
COYB
However, a win is a win and by all accounts Pompey gave their all today. Lee Kidd - you lament Moyes’s negativity, take a look in the mirror. 5-1 to Pompey? Are you a complete fool? Yes we hung on, yes they had some really good chances, but you are making the usual mistake of assuming that teams score all there chances, and if your doing that then it would be more like 5-3 or 5-4.
By all means Lee (and the other over the top posters) point out the areas where we are struggling or doing things badly, but please stop short of completely rubbishing the fact we got our first away win. Another clean sheet and 3pts. We’re not going to score 4 every game so I’ll take that thank you very much.
Maybe the subs were negative, maybe if he’d have brought on the Yak we’d have scored again... ifs, buts, maybes... 3pts.
COYB
Rubbish! Not quite sure how we have 3 points today!
Osman and Heitinga were absolute garbage and once again we get cut apart down our right side!
I notice all the people claiming Osman back to his best are very quiet now! He is absolute rubbish!
Osman and Heitinga were absolute garbage and once again we get cut apart down our right side!
I notice all the people claiming Osman back to his best are very quiet now! He is absolute rubbish!
For me a bifg positive is winning against a side we lost to last year... so comparatively a gain on last years points tally....
btw.. I thought Rodders was especially subdued.... very little running into space.. no authority today.... going to have to keep bringing it to be the next Gerrard or Vieira ... they never took or take a game off.
btw.. I thought Rodders was especially subdued.... very little running into space.. no authority today.... going to have to keep bringing it to be the next Gerrard or Vieira ... they never took or take a game off.
A home team - and a home team referee - facing defeat 7/7. Fought for everything with the good wishes of the ref, who booked Rodwell for nothing. We won.
We lost twice against them last season.
Same result against Portsmouth as Man Utd. this season.
Saha, Fellaini and Pienaat until he was cynically injured in full view of the ref who did nothing, were the classiest players on the park. Heitinga is going to do us a lot of good.
We lost twice against them last season.
Same result against Portsmouth as Man Utd. this season.
Saha, Fellaini and Pienaat until he was cynically injured in full view of the ref who did nothing, were the classiest players on the park. Heitinga is going to do us a lot of good.
Awful performance from almost all our players and - especially - the ref... My God!
Ah well - 3 points and a clean sheet - not too shabby after 95 mins on the edge of our seats...
Ah well - 3 points and a clean sheet - not too shabby after 95 mins on the edge of our seats...
I’m pleased you feel so Keith about Heitinga... I will give him time but he was being passed around like he wasn’t there... felt some relief to see Hibbert back ... Ya the booking for Rodwell was rubbish.... the guy takes it quickly and just as quickly Rodders tackled him.... well that is my bluetinted view
On the Osman debate I didn’t see Billy doing a lot when he came on either to be fair - still looked a bit off the pace in open play, so I think he’s still being eased in
THERE ARE 2 TEAMS ON THE PITCH!
Portsmouth were scrapping for thier lives today, they dont have the quality they had last year but they worked so so hard in stopping us playing.
Despite that, we won again and improved on last seasons result there (as we did against blackburn at home) which should combat the games we gave away earlier in season.
I think the negativity on here is disgusting and I’d like some of you to re-read your own comments throughout the game & after to see how much of a tit you sound
Portsmouth were scrapping for thier lives today, they dont have the quality they had last year but they worked so so hard in stopping us playing.
Despite that, we won again and improved on last seasons result there (as we did against blackburn at home) which should combat the games we gave away earlier in season.
I think the negativity on here is disgusting and I’d like some of you to re-read your own comments throughout the game & after to see how much of a tit you sound
THERE ARE 2 TEAMS ON THE PITCH!
Portsmouth were scrapping for thier lives today, they dont have the quality they had last year but they worked so so hard in stopping us playing.
Despite that, we won again and improved on last seasons result there (as we did against blackburn at home) which should combat the games we gave away earlier in season.
I think the negativity on here is disgusting and I’d like some of you to re-read your own comments throughout the game & after to see how much of a tit you sound
Portsmouth were scrapping for thier lives today, they dont have the quality they had last year but they worked so so hard in stopping us playing.
Despite that, we won again and improved on last seasons result there (as we did against blackburn at home) which should combat the games we gave away earlier in season.
I think the negativity on here is disgusting and I’d like some of you to re-read your own comments throughout the game & after to see how much of a tit you sound
THERE ARE 2 TEAMS ON THE PITCH!
Portsmouth were scrapping for thier lives today, they dont have the quality they had last year but they worked so so hard in stopping us playing.
Despite that, we won again and improved on last seasons result there (as we did against blackburn at home) which should combat the games we gave away earlier in season.
I think the negativity on here is disgusting and I’d like some of you to re-read your own comments throughout the game & after to see how much of a tit you sound
Portsmouth were scrapping for thier lives today, they dont have the quality they had last year but they worked so so hard in stopping us playing.
Despite that, we won again and improved on last seasons result there (as we did against blackburn at home) which should combat the games we gave away earlier in season.
I think the negativity on here is disgusting and I’d like some of you to re-read your own comments throughout the game & after to see how much of a tit you sound
Never thought i’d say this but i was crying out for hibbert today, heitinga was awful, i dont understand how he is held in high regard by the dutch team nor do i understand how he ever got through a trial. what a ripoff! and to think hes on more money than mikel makes me ashamed. stinks of a panic buy.
Dont think ive been so gutted when we get an injury as when pienaar went off today. hes been in top form for months now and if its a bad one then i fear we are screwed till mikky gets back.
Saha was awesome at times today, he looked stronger and qucker than anyone on the pitch today he took his goal very well and its fair to say he looks lethal at the moment.
I think at times we were good today, we were playing a side scrapping for their lives with a manager desperate for some points. We held on very well to snatch the win but both sides could have had 2 or 3 goals if it wernt for the goalkeeping and the goalline clearances so i think we did well considering that the referee was also against us today 4 out of 4 COYB!!!!
Dont think ive been so gutted when we get an injury as when pienaar went off today. hes been in top form for months now and if its a bad one then i fear we are screwed till mikky gets back.
Saha was awesome at times today, he looked stronger and qucker than anyone on the pitch today he took his goal very well and its fair to say he looks lethal at the moment.
I think at times we were good today, we were playing a side scrapping for their lives with a manager desperate for some points. We held on very well to snatch the win but both sides could have had 2 or 3 goals if it wernt for the goalkeeping and the goalline clearances so i think we did well considering that the referee was also against us today 4 out of 4 COYB!!!!
Neil - At my count, Pompet had three chances cleared off the line, hit the bar and came close multiple times only for last gasp scrambles to deny them.
On another day they COULD have had five.
I don’t believe I’m being negative - I’m saying that we weren’t anywhere near as good as a 1-0 scoreline suggests and - unlike Hull, Stoke et al - I’m not happy with scraping a win we barely deserve, especially when we have aspirations towards the top six of this league.
We won’t play worse or more vulnerable than Portsmouth on the road this season - maybe you can look at that fact and understand the disillusionment with Moyes’ tactics today. What happens when we play sides of a better quality away from home?
We’ll have a lot more "Fulhams" rather than todays result.
Instead of saying I’m "negative", perhaps consider that I’m being "long-sighted".
On another day they COULD have had five.
I don’t believe I’m being negative - I’m saying that we weren’t anywhere near as good as a 1-0 scoreline suggests and - unlike Hull, Stoke et al - I’m not happy with scraping a win we barely deserve, especially when we have aspirations towards the top six of this league.
We won’t play worse or more vulnerable than Portsmouth on the road this season - maybe you can look at that fact and understand the disillusionment with Moyes’ tactics today. What happens when we play sides of a better quality away from home?
We’ll have a lot more "Fulhams" rather than todays result.
Instead of saying I’m "negative", perhaps consider that I’m being "long-sighted".
Harsh on Heitinga after a dodgy game, he didnt have a good afternoon but I still think he will be a good signing. Apart from that I think you got it spot on Lee...
John Lloyd,
Thank you for those comments. I figured there would be some over the top negativity on here after that match, so not too surprised. In the first half we were by far the better side. In the second half we started out okay. Then Pompey really got fired up after the Pienaar injury, with the fans getting very vocal and it spurred the team on.
That’s why it’s difficult to play away from home. When the home supporters get it going it gets their team fired up. Everton could have played better, but they did good enough to keep Portsmouth out and get another clean sheet. Portsmouth were trying as hard as they could to get their season going today but we didn’t let them. That’s a job well done.
And I must say I’m a little surprised by the Heitinga criticism. He wasn’t asked to do too much today, but did his job well enough. People are making out as if the Pompey team were flying by him down the everton right. That’s simply not true. He’ll get better as he continues to adjust to the league, but he was not terrible as some are making out. Another 3 points fought hard for and won, job done.
Thank you for those comments. I figured there would be some over the top negativity on here after that match, so not too surprised. In the first half we were by far the better side. In the second half we started out okay. Then Pompey really got fired up after the Pienaar injury, with the fans getting very vocal and it spurred the team on.
That’s why it’s difficult to play away from home. When the home supporters get it going it gets their team fired up. Everton could have played better, but they did good enough to keep Portsmouth out and get another clean sheet. Portsmouth were trying as hard as they could to get their season going today but we didn’t let them. That’s a job well done.
And I must say I’m a little surprised by the Heitinga criticism. He wasn’t asked to do too much today, but did his job well enough. People are making out as if the Pompey team were flying by him down the everton right. That’s simply not true. He’ll get better as he continues to adjust to the league, but he was not terrible as some are making out. Another 3 points fought hard for and won, job done.
And to those pointing out that Pompey had two shots cleared off the line. Did you not notice that we also had two shots cleared off the line? It works both ways. James made a couple of fantastic saves as well, one being when he just barely got a left toe to Fellaini’s header. So both sides had opportunities that depending on your perspective, were either unlucky not to score or lucky not to concede.
It was an absolutely dire game, once again we were relatively comfortable in the first half and sneaked a goal and we once again decided to not show up for the second.
The players are no doubt tired and a very poor Portsmouth team are already fighting for their lives, yet we came away with 3 points and that is the important fact of this game.
Heitinga looked horrible at right back, skinned and ball-watching on so many occasions it was scary, hopefully it is him just adjusting to the speed of the Premier League.
Terrible game but in the end a win is a win, no matter how ugly it was.
The players are no doubt tired and a very poor Portsmouth team are already fighting for their lives, yet we came away with 3 points and that is the important fact of this game.
Heitinga looked horrible at right back, skinned and ball-watching on so many occasions it was scary, hopefully it is him just adjusting to the speed of the Premier League.
Terrible game but in the end a win is a win, no matter how ugly it was.
Lee Kidd - no mate, its not long sighted.....I suppose after we lost against a poor blackburn side twice at the beginning of season last year, Or when we scraped results against West Brom and drew away at Hull etc etc......Your being OTT with the negativity simple as. Just a bit of balance is required.
What part is negative??? I’ll put it in one sentence — if we play like that against Spurs in the cup, will we hang on after a similar 45 minutes like that?
That’s just realism!
Anyway, it’s a results business, we’ve got the result, job done.
That’s just realism!
Anyway, it’s a results business, we’ve got the result, job done.
So far that Heitinga looks completely out of his depth. Not good enough for the Premier League. BRING BACK HIBBERT.
That said, I remember thinking Jagielka was rubbish too after his first few games. He turned out to be quite good.
That said, I remember thinking Jagielka was rubbish too after his first few games. He turned out to be quite good.
Howard 8
Heitinga 5
Distan 6
Yobo 6
Baines 6
Osman 5
Fellaini 4
Cahill 6
Rodwell 6
Pienaar 7
Saha 8
Heitinga 5
Distan 6
Yobo 6
Baines 6
Osman 5
Fellaini 4
Cahill 6
Rodwell 6
Pienaar 7
Saha 8
Subs: Bilyaletdinov 6
Jo - not on long enough
Hibbert 7
Think we have to give any new signings a little more time to settle in rather than judging them after 3 games. The Premier League is a very different place to where some of these boys have been playing in before. Took Fellaini a while to settle in last season but he is now playing well. As Wenger often says — give a player 6 months before you start judging him
When we play so under par, we usually get beat so I’ll thake the 3 points, ta. There were chances, clear chances, for both sides
Being of the old school who used to train after work ’til it was dark, play a Business House game on Wed then a match on Sat followed by a Sunday League run out, I don’t go along with the poor little pansies being tired... but, as this was our 4th game in 10 days, I’ll make allowances — this once, mind!
As an Evertonian of 50 year,s I will never find negative tactics like that acceptable, even if it does result in 3 points. We were playing the bottom team in the PL today and they made us look like a Championship side or worse.
Can our coach be serious bringing Hibbert on leaving Heittinga even more like the headless chicken he’d been impersonating all afternoon. Portsmouth went for us and we just pulled further and further back when we should have brought on an attacker and attacked to stem the flow.
Headers off the line, the opposition hitting the bar and save after save from our goalie is expected if we are playing good sides but this is the bottom of the league and the loser of 6 consecutive matches.
This is what John Moores would have classed as not bloody good enough and we shouldn’t sink so low as fans to ever consider performances like today as OK because we got 3 points. It was dreadful. Hopefully a slip-up on an otherwise upward slope but dreadful by any standards.
Martin,
It was not close to as poor as what you just said. In the first half we were comfortably better. They came at us as the 2nd half developed, and we could have done better. But Championship side? Come on.
It was not close to as poor as what you just said. In the first half we were comfortably better. They came at us as the 2nd half developed, and we could have done better. But Championship side? Come on.
You should have watched some of Pompey’s previous matches, it would have given you the evidence that this is not a Pompey side that has just been getting dominated. When they lost 2-0 at Villa, they had the same type of second half as what occurred today. Villa were holding on for dear life with Friedel forced to make more saves than Howard today. They hit the bar a couple of times and also had shots cleared off the line.
It is a side that has been fighting hard and not getting the breaks. But we were not a Championship side.
Dick please tell me you are not serious with your "BRING BACK HIBBERT"
For one thing people seem to forget Heitinga is not a RB. His natural position is centre back or a deep sitting midfielder. Very much like De Jong or Kompany at City.
Moyes will eventually realise this and I doubt we will see anymore of him at RB. Especially since we signed Neill since then. Very much a Jagielka Mk 2 really!
For one thing people seem to forget Heitinga is not a RB. His natural position is centre back or a deep sitting midfielder. Very much like De Jong or Kompany at City.
Moyes will eventually realise this and I doubt we will see anymore of him at RB. Especially since we signed Neill since then. Very much a Jagielka Mk 2 really!
I can’t believe that some of you think Fellaini had a good game, for me he was poor. These are the games that he should be taking by the scruff of the neck, but he just seems to stroll around with no urgency.
The last few games after he was moved back into the middle, there were signs of a decent player, but when he needed to show his quality, he was a let down. I suppose though he is still getting used to the Prem, can’t speak English, is only young, has a bad barnet, etc etc.
The last few games after he was moved back into the middle, there were signs of a decent player, but when he needed to show his quality, he was a let down. I suppose though he is still getting used to the Prem, can’t speak English, is only young, has a bad barnet, etc etc.
Martin, I think the likes of you and I are competing with the ’we used to be worse before Moyes’ syndrome and the youngsters who think 5th is the new 1st
I still wish for NSNO and "Everton play football of the highest scientific order"
I truly thought we’d get beat today — be honest, with our ’record’ in such things — which team would you want to play if you were on a bad run, hadn’t scored away, had a striker who’d not scored in 30 games, etc, etc?
It’s almost always Everton when bad runs end...
I still wish for NSNO and "Everton play football of the highest scientific order"
I truly thought we’d get beat today — be honest, with our ’record’ in such things — which team would you want to play if you were on a bad run, hadn’t scored away, had a striker who’d not scored in 30 games, etc, etc?
It’s almost always Everton when bad runs end...
I certainly didn’t think Fellaini had a good game, Brian! He strolls around the midfield area like he is a striker coming deep and just waiting for the ball!
Martin, the game has changed beyond measure in the last 10 years so just because you're a fan of 50 years means nothing mate, I apologise if that sounds rude as it's not meant to be.
I didn't really wanna get into it but just for example Moyes brought on the Yak for Pienaar & Billy on for Fellaini (as you said get an attacker & midfiedler on to stem the flow) do you think Portsmouth still wouldn't have went for it????? We would also have more people up the pitch and be more susceptible to a counter attack!!
It's all ifs & buts, which is exactly my point. At least we all agree we are in the results business first & foremost and today we won!! With the start we have had, it's all about the points.
Still trying to decide if its negative tactics or is it the fact that we folded again just like against Fulham only this time we got lucky. If DM wants to put everyone behind the ball then he needs pace in the side. Ferguson has been doing it for years hitting teams on the break after going 1-0 ahead.
James Stewart
From what I have viewed of him so far, Heitinga has not in anyway impressed.
I’m not a massive Hibbert fan but I’d have more faith in him then Heitinga.
If Heitinga’s not a right back where does he fit in? Defensive midfield? Not with Rodwell and Neville playing there.
Center back? Not with Yobo, Distin and soon Jagielka playing there.
Right back is the only place Hietinga can play in the Everton side and I’m sorry but so far Hibbert is miles better.
From what I have viewed of him so far, Heitinga has not in anyway impressed.
I’m not a massive Hibbert fan but I’d have more faith in him then Heitinga.
If Heitinga’s not a right back where does he fit in? Defensive midfield? Not with Rodwell and Neville playing there.
Center back? Not with Yobo, Distin and soon Jagielka playing there.
Right back is the only place Hietinga can play in the Everton side and I’m sorry but so far Hibbert is miles better.
Well that's the problem isn't it Dick :S
Where does he fit in! I’m not sure it was a curious signing to say the least. I would have thought Moyes has earmarked him for midfield as he is a better footballer than Neville but I'm not so sure now!
Who knows!
Where does he fit in! I’m not sure it was a curious signing to say the least. I would have thought Moyes has earmarked him for midfield as he is a better footballer than Neville but I'm not so sure now!
Who knows!
After starting the game well in control, we started to revert to the usual away form, constantly conceding possession and hoofing the ball long. Personally I am sick to fuckin’ death of this 4-5-1 formation, if we could retain the ball and move it through the midfield pushing forward as a unit it might pay dividends, but banging the ball long to an isolated Saha is rubbish.
The second half was a nightmare to watch, we kept banging the ball up, in no-one's direction and it just kept coming back, how we didn't concede a goal is beyond me. As for Fellaini in that midfield role, well he was absolutely useless, he couldn't control the ball or win a tackle or header and when he did get the ball at his feet he didn't know what to do with it and generally passed it back to one of the centre-backs.
Once again Osman was a non-entity, I just cant see what hes got that can keep him in the side ahead of Gosling. First half, he left Heitinga exposed by not bothering to track back and never once provided an outlet or option going forward. Pienaar is our only player capable of anything creative and he looks to be badly injured so god knows where we go from here.
Three welcome points but we can't go on riding our luck in defence like that.
Fellaini was for me our MotM today, he did run out of steam in the final 15 min but that was to be expected. He covered every blade of grass, was back defending when he had to and won his fair share of tackles. However, he could have done with more support. Young Rodwell was disappointing by his standards today but given his age we perhaps expect too much from him.
Osman frankly was a disgrace, we may have well have started with 10 men. Against a strong physical side you simply cannot afford to carry passengers and thats exactly what Osman was today. MK was criticized for using words like "passenger" and "waste of space" to describe him. Well today he was all of that and more.
Once again we became totally reliant on the hard work of Piennar and Baines to pressure the opposition. In the second half Pompey had got wise to that and closed us down much more effectively. With no outlet on the right we simply resorted to hoofing it yet again.
Osman frankly was a disgrace, we may have well have started with 10 men. Against a strong physical side you simply cannot afford to carry passengers and thats exactly what Osman was today. MK was criticized for using words like "passenger" and "waste of space" to describe him. Well today he was all of that and more.
Once again we became totally reliant on the hard work of Piennar and Baines to pressure the opposition. In the second half Pompey had got wise to that and closed us down much more effectively. With no outlet on the right we simply resorted to hoofing it yet again.
If you can be poor and still get the 3 points then I’ll take it all the way. United have done that in patches in every one of their Premier League winning seasons.
We will play better, and possibly not get the points, so don’t knock it. Everyone rides their luck from time to time, so be thankful when we actually get some of it.
We will play better, and possibly not get the points, so don’t knock it. Everyone rides their luck from time to time, so be thankful when we actually get some of it.
John Lloyd, I agree with you. I’m sure that all we disagree on are how acceptable a rigid 4-5-1 is year after year after bad start. I believe that now we have caught up the top 4 then we have to change if we want to break in. We are almost there and 4-5-1 and finishing fifth is for me not where "there" is.
Sorry, just one more thought. Fellaini was very good today for 70 minutes. In a functioning side where he understands his role he is a really effective player. He isn’t good when anarchy sets in like the last 20 min on Saturday.
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1 Posted 26/09/2009 at 07:58:57
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