The Mail Bag
Same Old Blues Feeling
Comments (21)
Oh well.. There we go again.. Another game which we had within our grasp just tossed out the window thanks to our inability to see a game out. How many more times? The reasons being?
Our goalkeeper... Yes, he makes some great saves but he also makes too many game-changing errors. The second goal was weak on his part, also the Anfield derby this season and last season in the cup. Lampard's winning goal in the FA Cup Final was weak on Howard's part too. Mistakes that Nigel Martyn wouldn't have made. We need a better keeper.
Then we have defence. Our full-backs never stop crosses. Baines has improved greatly but is no Gareth Bale as he doesn't have the strong running body strength. Neville is past it. The centre-half position worries me. Distin is like Yobo... Jagielka I fear will not be the same now that the double act with Lescott has gone.
No matter what we think of Lescott, we can't deny that was a good partnership with pace and power — something which I don't even see Jags and Heitinga giving us as neither is the quickest.
Then further up we have the lack of genuine pace up front/down the flanks that this summer must surely seen rectified. I can't subscribe to that theory of not wanting to get into Europe next season only to try and finish there next May. I mean, what's that about?
It would be nice to think Moyes will get a sugar daddy's cash rather than working on a shoe string yet again... but it won't happen. So I'm afraid it will be another season of nearly but not quite —which I'm getting used to.
Jimmy Hughton, Posted 15/04/2010 at 08:02:12
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I thought we were unlucky. Bearing in mind we played away against a team we have a shocking record against. You cant go blaming anyone for it, its just the way it goes.
People should be more encouraging and less disparaging.
People should be more encouraging and less disparaging.
Hopefully with Mucha coming in it will give Howard some decent competition. But your right he is never going to be as good as Martyn, he doesn't seem to be able to concentrate for 90 minutes. As for Jagielka i hope he will be back to his best next season, he is definietly out of sorts at the minute. Moyes needs to sign a pacy wide man this summer, we are to slow on the counter.
It's silly to blame Howard, or for that matter Jagielka. When Jags was out injured the defense had serious problems. We wouldn't even be talking about the two goals conceded if just one of our numerous other goal scoring chances had been taken. Our essential problem is the lack of lethality up front. Yakubu is too inconsistent, unfit and complacent. Saha is a genius but he is too fragile. Anichebe is a Championship player. We have to focus on finding a robust 20-goal striker and that is going to take a serious investment. The World Cup is coming up and that should be our shop window. We have to raise the money or this will happen in some guise season in season out.
What was more frustrating for me last night was just before they scored their equaliser we had a perfect opportunity, in fact two to go 3-1 up. Osman broke and instead of passing to the right, where two men were waiting he decides to pass to Pienaar and hits it out of play and then Rodders breaks and has Saha in the middle on his own and decides to stop and cut back, then Pienaar decides to cut the ball back across the front of the box when all our players are in it. That is the most frustrating part of his game, his passing is terrible, so many loose passes it is unreal.
However as he nearly had his bollocks ripped off I will give him some leaway.
However as he nearly had his bollocks ripped off I will give him some leaway.
If you look at the own goal, carew, who is in an offside position, takes out Jagielka, this causes Jags to mishead the ball, but I have to agree Howard should easily have stopped it, as he also should have with the first goal v Birmingham.
My opinion is he is too nervous when confronted with free kicks and corners into the box and gets himself into the wrong positions.
Compare him with Reina who comes for everything, either gets it, or gets a free kick.
Howard is hopping around his 6 yard box and never moves from it.
I also hope that horrible little diving shit Young gets retrospectively suspended for his assault on Pienaar.
My opinion is he is too nervous when confronted with free kicks and corners into the box and gets himself into the wrong positions.
Compare him with Reina who comes for everything, either gets it, or gets a free kick.
Howard is hopping around his 6 yard box and never moves from it.
I also hope that horrible little diving shit Young gets retrospectively suspended for his assault on Pienaar.
I'm with James Marshall, we looked a very good side and played some decent 'joined up' football. If it wasn't for a fumbled own goal in the last minute I'd like to think more people would be on here recognising that rather than disparaging our back 4. Can you name me a goalkeeper who doesn't have lapses? Many reports today credit Howard with keeping us in front at half time. 'No Gareth Bale'? Fucking hell - Bale has had a poor start to his Spurs career - not winning for months - and off the back of half a dozen solid games, Baines isn't fit to lace his boots! Also, I think Jags is pretty quick. I twatted a pile of ironing across the front room when they equalised but I didn' turn round and slag off a back 4 that has seen us lose twice in the last 20 league games.
What we need is Arteta and Fellaini fit, also Gosling. We need a new striker because Saha is too injury prone (OK he's been better for us more often than not ) but he has'nt exactly set the world on fire since his new contract and The Yak just ain't fit and will he ever be his old self again ? Beckford appears to have gone off the boil so let's hope we don't waste millions in him. We also desperately need pace down the right side. Given our recent record I should'nt be too hard on the defence but Jags is hoofing the ball all over the place........why ? Neville is too indecisive and getting on. On the plus side I thought Osman had a really good game as did Pienaar. Incidentally can anyone explain why Ashley Young was not red carded for his foul on Peanuts ? He nearly assasinated him ! In the final analysis we have thrown away too many points that should have been "in the bag". We could easily have been 12 points better and in the top 4. Oh well I guess that's what you get for being Blue.
Its obviously disappointing dropping more points to a late goal but looking at the bigger picture whats more frustrating is how close we are to being a really good team.
i thought we played particularly well last night and made a good side look quite ordinary for all bar the first 20 minutes of the match. The defending was largely good and our passing and movement of the ball from back to front as good as I've seen. Our problems since Christmas have not been the level of performance but small lapses of concentration by individuals at crucial times.
Examples are 2-1 up against Arsenal and Vaughan clean through - miss and end up drawing. Cahill misses a sitter with his head in derby - we end up losing. Donavan miss at 1-2 against Spurs. Smacking wolves for 90 minutes and somehow not winning. Against West ham 2-1 up with 2 minutes to go, Pienaar gets dragged out of position and the left flank is exposed, great cross and finish and its 2-2. Last night 2-1 up in last minute and we have a 2 against 1, not only do we not score, we give the ball away and they score from the next passage of play - if we had just won a corner we would probably have seen the game out !
I know every team can point to games they should have won but these are moments where with more composure and concentration we would have secured the points. Its not about ability anymore at Everton and thats what is so frustrating. If we can get Donavan back, keep this squad together, get the main players fit and also learn from the errors listed above I really think we could be in for a special season next year.
i thought we played particularly well last night and made a good side look quite ordinary for all bar the first 20 minutes of the match. The defending was largely good and our passing and movement of the ball from back to front as good as I've seen. Our problems since Christmas have not been the level of performance but small lapses of concentration by individuals at crucial times.
Examples are 2-1 up against Arsenal and Vaughan clean through - miss and end up drawing. Cahill misses a sitter with his head in derby - we end up losing. Donavan miss at 1-2 against Spurs. Smacking wolves for 90 minutes and somehow not winning. Against West ham 2-1 up with 2 minutes to go, Pienaar gets dragged out of position and the left flank is exposed, great cross and finish and its 2-2. Last night 2-1 up in last minute and we have a 2 against 1, not only do we not score, we give the ball away and they score from the next passage of play - if we had just won a corner we would probably have seen the game out !
I know every team can point to games they should have won but these are moments where with more composure and concentration we would have secured the points. Its not about ability anymore at Everton and thats what is so frustrating. If we can get Donavan back, keep this squad together, get the main players fit and also learn from the errors listed above I really think we could be in for a special season next year.
Hibberts fault!
Ste Lewis, whoever you are and wherever you are; thanks mate. With that bit in your post ... "I twatted a pile of ironing across the front room when they equalised ... ", I laughed for the first time since last night.
Woke up this morning like we'd been relegated.
Keep the Faith - Our day will come.
Woke up this morning like we'd been relegated.
Keep the Faith - Our day will come.
To put last nights game in perspective if we hadnt NEEDED all 3 points we would have been made up to play like that and to get a point at Villa.
The problem we have is more general than that in that we cant seem to keep clean sheets no matter who is playing in defence.
I put this down to 2 reasons:
1. Howard even though he is a great shot stopper he is a total panic merchant and does not dominate his area in the way that big Nev or Martyn did. This unsettles and confuses the centre halves.
2. Defensive MF is a bit suspect without Heitiga or Neville (in an emergency!!) because we need an experienced pro to read the game from there and though Jack Rodwell has great talent there is no substitute for some experience.
The problem we have is more general than that in that we cant seem to keep clean sheets no matter who is playing in defence.
I put this down to 2 reasons:
1. Howard even though he is a great shot stopper he is a total panic merchant and does not dominate his area in the way that big Nev or Martyn did. This unsettles and confuses the centre halves.
2. Defensive MF is a bit suspect without Heitiga or Neville (in an emergency!!) because we need an experienced pro to read the game from there and though Jack Rodwell has great talent there is no substitute for some experience.
"Baines has improved greatly but is no Gareth Bale as he doesn't have the strong running body strength"
Please tell me the comment above is a joke.
Garet Bale has had a few decent games for spurs over the last couple of months before that he was not even a regular in their team.
Leighton Baines has been brilliant for us this season.
Please tell me the comment above is a joke.
Garet Bale has had a few decent games for spurs over the last couple of months before that he was not even a regular in their team.
Leighton Baines has been brilliant for us this season.
Since Gareth Bale first destroyed Vic and Neville then Donovan and Neville he has been consistantly brilliant.
Spurs fans will tell you he was playing this well long before they played us, he`s a shoe in for their player of the season.
This guy has began to realise all that potential he was showing when every club in the country wanted to sign him, he`s now comfortably the best left back around - including Cashley,
Back to the point, at what stage are we going to admit the emperior isnt wearing any clothes ?
Mention Jagielka`s aimless punts and people leap to his defence and talk about his "world class defending" so how come Carew, Drogba, Crouch and anyone who plays for Stoke have always been able to panic him ?
Spurs fans will tell you he was playing this well long before they played us, he`s a shoe in for their player of the season.
This guy has began to realise all that potential he was showing when every club in the country wanted to sign him, he`s now comfortably the best left back around - including Cashley,
Back to the point, at what stage are we going to admit the emperior isnt wearing any clothes ?
Mention Jagielka`s aimless punts and people leap to his defence and talk about his "world class defending" so how come Carew, Drogba, Crouch and anyone who plays for Stoke have always been able to panic him ?
I only saw the highlights of the Villa game on Football First but from what I saw we bossed it - just need to finish of the chances that we made, most of which fell to Rodwell.
Has anyone made the point on what a bunch of dirty fuckers Villa are? I always forget until we play them and it was obvious O'Neill sent them out to knobble our midfield on Wed night - Warnock on Osman, Petrov on Osman, Young on Pienaar, Dunne on Neville, Agbonlahor on Heitinga - all sly, snidy, painful little fouls most involving putting studs where they shouldnt be.
If I had a cat I would've kicked it when I saw the result (and how...) as had checked text 2 mins before when I was sure final whistle must've blown and we were 2-1 up - but watching the OG for me Jags was pushed off balance (correct Larry Boner) by Carew and hopefully he'll learn from that. Give the guy a break he's been out for a year - it's amazing how fans can turn on a player, last season we were acting like he was the second coming, now he's a liability.....?
Lets get this season out of the way - personally I couldn't care less about the Europa League, waste of time - next season's going to be a belter for us as long as we get a RW and a 25 gls a season CF. We'll also have one of the best back 4's in the Prem.
As for Gareth Bale - he's hit form, full of confidence and playing like the player Sp*rs thought they were buying when they signed him from Southampton. But for c. a year before that he was all at sea, didn't see anyone talking him up / suggest we sign him then? Most PL teams would give their eye teeth for Baines and Jags - and Howard - what's our problem with running down our defence...? And thats not even bringing Hibbo into the argument....
Has anyone made the point on what a bunch of dirty fuckers Villa are? I always forget until we play them and it was obvious O'Neill sent them out to knobble our midfield on Wed night - Warnock on Osman, Petrov on Osman, Young on Pienaar, Dunne on Neville, Agbonlahor on Heitinga - all sly, snidy, painful little fouls most involving putting studs where they shouldnt be.
If I had a cat I would've kicked it when I saw the result (and how...) as had checked text 2 mins before when I was sure final whistle must've blown and we were 2-1 up - but watching the OG for me Jags was pushed off balance (correct Larry Boner) by Carew and hopefully he'll learn from that. Give the guy a break he's been out for a year - it's amazing how fans can turn on a player, last season we were acting like he was the second coming, now he's a liability.....?
Lets get this season out of the way - personally I couldn't care less about the Europa League, waste of time - next season's going to be a belter for us as long as we get a RW and a 25 gls a season CF. We'll also have one of the best back 4's in the Prem.
As for Gareth Bale - he's hit form, full of confidence and playing like the player Sp*rs thought they were buying when they signed him from Southampton. But for c. a year before that he was all at sea, didn't see anyone talking him up / suggest we sign him then? Most PL teams would give their eye teeth for Baines and Jags - and Howard - what's our problem with running down our defence...? And thats not even bringing Hibbo into the argument....
I once saw bale with a hair clip in his hair.
"Give Jags a break he`s been out for a year" what an irritating and silly argument that becomes when your talking about him being slaughtered by big men BEFORE he was injured.
Dave, don't understand your comments, Jags was fantastic before his injury culminating in him benig picked for England and being our player of the year.
Why a silly statement to say to cut the guy some slack when he was consistenly brilliant before he was injured and now just returning from a serious 9 months injury with no reserve outings ?
I don't mind you mentioning his aimless puts and criticising his passing ability which is poor but why on earth do you think he is a panicker ? He's an excellent defender, who goes into every challenge with a determination and will to win the ball that not many others can claim.
Our defence has a great hole in it and we are leaking more goals than ever and can't see games out and clearly miss Lescott. Getting rid of Jags would be crazy which would leave Yobo or Distin as out top centre half , do me a favour.
Why a silly statement to say to cut the guy some slack when he was consistenly brilliant before he was injured and now just returning from a serious 9 months injury with no reserve outings ?
I don't mind you mentioning his aimless puts and criticising his passing ability which is poor but why on earth do you think he is a panicker ? He's an excellent defender, who goes into every challenge with a determination and will to win the ball that not many others can claim.
Our defence has a great hole in it and we are leaking more goals than ever and can't see games out and clearly miss Lescott. Getting rid of Jags would be crazy which would leave Yobo or Distin as out top centre half , do me a favour.
"Since Gareth Bale first destroyed Vic and Neville then Donovan and Neville"
Theres nothing quite like a good exaggeration.
Theres nothing quite like a good exaggeration.
Yeah Dave, Bale is easy the best left back around when oul Harry has been playing him alot in left midfield recently....... funny that. Playing well for 12 games or so doesnt make you the best around, playing well season after season makes you the best around. Big difference.
Peter read the post mate, I said Jags is always mugged by the big men, thats a fact. always has been.
Kevy
Maybe its just that I know a good player when I see one. Just because he plays well in one position (TWICE) doesnt mean he isnt excellent in his own position - if anything it makes him better
David
Your right, theres nothing like a good exageration and my post was nothing like a good exageration, try watching the games lad
Kevy
Maybe its just that I know a good player when I see one. Just because he plays well in one position (TWICE) doesnt mean he isnt excellent in his own position - if anything it makes him better
David
Your right, theres nothing like a good exageration and my post was nothing like a good exageration, try watching the games lad
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1 Posted 15/04/2010 at 13:59:50
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