Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

New Season, Same Old Problems

By Luke   O'Farrell  ::  20/08/2011   24 Comments (»Last) After a week of hysteria and emotional outbursts regarding the Blue Union and Bill Kenwright, it was time to focus on matters on the pitch. Team news came through, showing some very surprising selection choices from the manager. Rodwell was chosen on the right of midfield with Osman, Heitinga in the middle and Barkley on the left on his full debut. Cahill was in his usual secondary striker role with Beckford leading the line. The back comprised of their usual incumbents.

There was no real pattern to the game at the start. The first action of note was a Tommy Smith effort that flew a few yards wide after a left wing cross from Connelly. Osman robbed Taarabt in the QPR half, drove towards goal and whipped in a cross although it evaded everyone and the danger was gone. Around the 10 minute mark, Rodwell was bundled over inside the area and it looked a certain penalty; Robert Friend laughed off the Everton claims.

With almost a quarter of the game gone, QPR started to see more of the ball and we looked disorganised as players didn?t seem to know whether to press forward or sit back. Barkley looked sharp and played some very good cross-field balls to Neville, although the captain failed to make the most of them. Rodwell looked totally lost on the right hand side; a square peg in a very round hole.

Another moment of promise from Barkley almost brought about the opener. Drifting in from the left, he waltzed past a few QPR tackles and was brought down as he tried to get a shot away. Baines stood over the free kick just outside the box. The left back curled the ball over the wall, with Kenny rooted to the spot, only for it to cannon off the crossbar to safety.

Another jinking run inside resulted in Barkley curling a 25-yarder just wide. The youngster was looking more and more accomplished as the half wore on; showing up many of his more experienced team mates.

With a third of the game gone, QPR took a shock lead with only their second shot of the match. A woeful attempted clearance/pass by Jagielka gave the ball straight to Buzsaky who played in Tommy Smith. Smith took a touch and planted a clinical finish past the despairing dive of Howard. One down at home to a newly promoted side; starting to become something of a worrying habit in recent seasons.

Just before half time, Everton sparked into life creating three presentable chances and should have made one of them count. Beckford picked up the ball on the right wing and swung in an inviting cross that evaded everyone except for Cahill, at the back post, who somehow headed wide from all of 3 yards.

That was a big chance missed but the next one came just a couple of minutes later, Neville swung in a cross that Heitinga flicked on but Beckford could only head straight at Kenny from six yards. Cahill then headed over from a Baines cross just on half time. The players were probably saved from boos by their exertions just before the whistle. Barkley was the best player in the opening 45 with Osman, Baines, Distin the only others to contribute.

Changes were needed as the midfield looked disorganised with many seemingly unsure of what was being asked of them. The players re-emerged after half-time with the same eleven on the field and they were almost rewarded with an equaliser. A pass from Heitinga was dummied by Beckford and fell to Rodwell in on goal. Unfortunately his effort was tame and straight at Kenny; chance gone. That was Rodwell?s last meaningful contribution as he made way for Arteta with 53 mins gone.

Just past the hour mark was the introduction of Fellaini although it came in the form of a very strange and bizarre substitution; Beckford the one to make way. This meant Everton had no recognised strikers on the pitch and the crowd voiced their displeasure with a crescendo of boos.

After good work by Fellaini, Cahill got in down the right but his shot lacked conviction and Kenny was able to push it behind for a corner. That was to be the last real chance of note as we struggled to break QPR down, who in all honesty never really seemed troubled by us. Barkley had a few shots from distance with one flying just wide of Kenny?s right hand post. The game petered out after that with Everton being booed off, except for Barkley.

Today was a case of new season, same old story. Too many players were needless out of position at some point or another and the manager?s substitutions/ tactics were strange at best.

Barkley was our best player by some distance showing ability beyond his years. Distin was a close second and often seemed to be doing Jagielka?s job at times today. Osman and Baines worked hard and kept going all game. Neville and Jagielka were way off the pace today and Cahill looked out of sorts.

A more proactive team selection and faster, more attacking substitution may have seen us celebrating an altogether different result tonight. The one glaring factor about today was responsibility or the lack of people taking it. Barkley, a 17-year-old on debut, was at one point the only person looking for the ball and even dropping deep to get it.

Senior players have to shoulder more responsibility during the match and drive us on. An all too common problem for Everton is the lack of movement going forward and the seemingly lack of desire shown in terms of looking for and wanting the ball.

It?s only early days but today, a 17-year-old showed a team of seasoned professionals how the game of football should be played; credit to Barkley but that is just not good enough. Next week demands much, much more of the team and the manager.

Ratings:

Howard 6, Neville 4, Jagielka 4, Distin 7, Baines 6, Rodwell 5, Heitinga 5, Osman 6, Barkley 8, Cahill 5, Beckford 6.

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