Wigan give Blues a real battle

1. We need to finish more of these chances.
2. The officiating crew? My goodness, that was bad.
3. Our boys kept fighting and I kept thinking we would win, right to the
end. Which is a nice change from this time last year.
4. Whatever has happened to Heitinga?

Another case of an assisted mugging, courtesy of far too friendly refereeing – Wigan's performance epitomizing the kind of stuff we would employ in the past to stop the top four from running rings around us.

Just confirms how everyone will go out to beat us by hook or by crook!

Some very complimentary words on the Beeb website, particularly for Bainesy who was excellent as usual today. Has to be worth an England call up following Cashley's latest shameful episode.

Heitinga seems to veer from the brilliant to the erratic, with not much in between. OK, better on the ball, but at a time when we're leaking goals for me we need the defensive solidity that Distin supplies.

If Heitinga cannot play as a holding midfielder then he is not worth his place. Our best defence when all are fit is Hibbert, Jags, Distin and Baines. Neville is now ready for a bench place but is still a decent replacement for Hibbert.

I like Coleman and think he gives his all. Good going forward but suspect defending which will get better the more games he plays. I wouldn't play him against the better teams though.

What has happened to Heitinga? He looks like he couldn't care less and is just going through the motions. No pace. Can't win a header. No positional sense. Dips his big toe in when a proper tackle is needed. From player of the season to shithouse in 5 months. If he's sulking about not starting the season in the first team, I hope he fucks off in January.

Wigan probably set out to wind Felli up and it worked a treat with him kicking out while waiting for a corner and was harshly treated by a nob of a referee when given a yellow for a challenge that happens twenty times in every game I've seen.

Second half was much better after Felli moved back and Distin replaced Heitinga but kept getting punished by the awful referee.

I thought Felli played well second half but we looked a bit light up front. We could do with two of the big man.

A good point for me against 13 men and someones going to get wasted this season if we carry on creating chances like we have been.

One more thing. I don't really know how to put it. We need to be a bit more.... I don't know.... We need to stop helping other teams players off the floor or jumping straight back up after being fouled. Moyes needs to take a fine and call these referees for what they are. They don't worry about giving bad decisions against us because Moyes hardly ever calls them up on it.

STOP BEING SO FUCKIN NICE!!!!

Lacking a bit of steel in midfield. I thought we might have gone for Diame on a freebie this summer and he's just scored a pretty good goal against Arsenal.

Hopefully after the break Gibbo will be back and help solidify us.

Wigan are not relegation fodder and they are so snidely that they will upset a lot of teams, so as much as I was disappointed leaving, on reflection, we did not lose, played OK and I end with Kens favourite, COYB.

Thanks!

We can get away without him at home, but not away. We need someone who can play decent medium passes to unleash Mirallas. 2 points dropped today, and question marks over the centre backs (again).

We had a good few chances but I was disappointed with some performances (I was there today). Coleman frightened me at RB. Jags ok-ish. Jonny looked very vulnerable. Baines again really good.

The area in front of the back four looked exposed and so the defence exposed – so I guess that's down to Pip and Osman. I thought Mirallas was in and out. Peanuts good without being brilliant.

Fella ok in parts. Jelavic worked hard but a good few flicks didn't come off and a few times went down a bit too easily.

That all sounds grumpy. I suppose I'm just disappointed after going there with high hopes.

I'll get really shot down for this but I just wonder what Oviedo would be like at RB. I know, I know, he's left-footed... But in marking a man, it doesn't matter what footed you are – you show him inside or outside and shape your body according to that and according to what footed you are. The only issue then is going forward – and he's shit fast and enthusiastic. OK I'm ready for the flak there!

Fuck it. Pick ourselves up and go again. We need Gibson back though.

As much as I admire the stance from a moral point of view, the FA don't reciprocate by punishing those teams who intimidate the ref or habitually cheat to win decisions.

That aside, I don't think a point away from home is the disaster that many think it is. In hindsight you could always imagine Johnny (or indeed Jags) getting done for pace so Distin was a better choice, but I didn't see too many bad performances like people are saying.

Neville was okay, Mirallas Jelavic Baines and Pienaar played well, as did osman. In fact the only player worthy of any criticism is Heitinga. Coleman does need time to adapt to this new position, and while he is 24, he is still a late developer.

I doubt Coleman will ever be a great defender, but as a backup right back, or playing as a wing-back against weaker teams I think he does a good job. Just needs a bit of experience there and he'll be fine.

The reality is that Piennar and Mirallas will frighten teams and create problems, similarly Fellaini will have far more good games than bad ones. But Neville and Osman in the centre of midfield will frighten no one and apart from occasional goals or good games against weaker teams will offer nothing to frighten the big boys. When we needed to change the point of attack today we had nothing, Nev and Ossie could not get the ball out right quickly and accurately and we went down the left time and again and they doubled and trebled up against Baines and Peanuts. Osmans lack of pace and Nevilles poor technique will always be exposed when the chips are down. Anyone can look good when you're on top but good players come to the fore when they are needed. As the saying goes "the tough get going when the going gets tough" and sadly far too often Neville and Osman have been found wanting when that happens.

A point away is not a disaster but once again when you want the experienced pro's to step up, particularly when the team is misfiring, they disappear. We have some quality but also some dross, until the weaklinks are removed we will always have performances like these.

Until we sort this CB pairing and also the CM defensive position, I'm afraid we will struggle against the aggressive teams (WBA, Wigan, Stoke).

This guy, Sean Condon (funny surname, considering that he is Catholic), said that this was the best Everton team he had seen since the late 80s. I was laughing at him when he uttered these words. Upon reflection I realise that Mr Condon is right. Thank you Mr Condon.

Our boys will have to make adjustments as the season goes on.

They refs could take a lesson too.

I doubt we'll threaten the top 4 because the same issue we had with Cahill is happening with Neville, ie, father time has called, but this team is miles better than any before under Moyes.

That aside, second half it looked like we played with real verve, let's sort the defence out and as for Leighton Baines - LEGEND!

COYB!

At times I am truly flabbergasted by these Evertonians. They will invent all sorts of excuses to defend TIm Howard the Birdman; when will they give Heitinga benefit of the doubt?

Heitinga should be captain!

Which bit?
The bit where he let him run past him with a little girly tap of the ball? Or the bit where he stopped because he thought the ball was going out?

He was terrible today.

What I do agree with was "As the saying goes 'the tough get going when the going gets tough'". Wigan were lucky to get the draw. Small wonder Martinez was happy with the result.

Our boys better understand they get every team's best shot from here on in.

The media is ignoring us. Opposing clubs aren't. And won't.

I am beginning to like Martin Mason.

It's what happened.

Which bit didn't you see?

Credit to Wigan, they played some good stuff... And didn't try and kick us off the pitch (as wrongly alluded to above).

You were the guys who voted him Player of the Sear last time and now you want crucify him? Fickle fools.

This season, Moyes has been careful to give Heitinga playing time. It can't just be because he gets beat here and there. Even the best back-liners get beat.

Haven't seen any reports of him being injured. Yet he can't get in the starting XI, and when he does he plays poorly.

I wonder what's wrong.

We just have to accept that we can't turn everyone over away from home in every match, no team in the league can do this. Evertonians seem to want us to beat off Man City at Goodsion with half a team but then get outraged if anyone ever does it to us. They played well first half, nothing to do with us, they were just playing great, they couldn't keep it up and our class eventually told, there was some bad officiating, they got lucky and it ended up a draw. They didn't thrash us 4-0. Give them some credit, this is the same team that won at Anfield and the Emirates last year.

On another note there are too many cowards hiding in this team. The overreliance on players like Pienaar, Baines, Osman Gibson and Jelavic is staggering, especially the first two. These are the only players in our team who command the ball with any authority and generally play at the same level every single week. Who knows what you're going to get from Fellaini or Mirallas, I'm inclined to be lenient with Mirallas, he's probably never seen anything like Wigan away but Fellaini was just like watching him 4 years ago, ill disciplined, slow and generally crap, he really offered nothing today. Its as though as soon as we go a goal down its his cue to just disappear or lose his head. In the end everything was having to come from Pienaar and Baines. How we miss a player like Arteta who knew he was good enough to get on the ball and dictate the game rather than the players who just stand around waiting for the ball or waiting for someone else to put in the tackle, generally not being bothered to play if we're not 3-0 up.

The question is who should've been covering and where were they.

As some one else stated we are now pushing further up and Johnny is a bit lacking for pace. But otoh as James Flynn states player of the season playing the same position...the old elusive form conundrum.

James Martin, you say Fellaini ' can't ' play defensive mid, but he has done ( around the time of the Bellamy Piruet ) and quite well too...I think it is not can't but won't...He (and his Dad for all I know )now sees himself as the destroyer of Man U playing further up the field... and yesterday once he let himself get wound up by Caldwell and the Reff he drifted out of the came, fell further back and just fannied around. When it cam to actually playing there 'officially' in the 2nd half he played only in flashes, when he is good he is very good but when he is poor he is a bit of a liability sometimes.

So, fuck me, let's rattle it off:

(1) a goalie who needs serious serious competition for his place;

(2) right back – right back – agggghhhh right back;

(3) centre-backs – Achilles heel, our fragile Maginot line - Duffy please attack-minded Davey, it's gotta be worth a punt after that today;

(4) AAAGGGHHHH centre-mid: what's this about the great leader on the pitch Pip(squeak), as soon as we get him ensconced forever in the two stories he bought in the quays the better; Osman, ma laud the prosecution rests its case; thank God for Gibbo.

(5) hang on, hang on a mo, we all for the last six weeks or so have been screaming blue bliss about that fella Felli tucked in behind one of the best #9s (7s) in the land, so why on earth after one game where the pie-eaters homed in on him like flies to shit do we want him to shift back – silly, silly, silliness.

Conclusions? (1) don't panic (2) teams will pressure us to stop us playing it on the carpet (3) 1/2 of the team now has the ability to make us purr with pleasure (4) next window - a seriously shit hot goalie who can give NJ Tim a run for his money (4) next window: a centre-half please (5) next window: a flesh-eating, mean mother, child-catcher, kitten-hater, ball-breaker centre mid in the mode of de Jong but not him who hates losing tackles like he lost his wife and smiles meanly when someone from the other team is foolishly heading in his direction.

Never thought I'd say, even this time last year. Attack? Sorted (but can always do with some extra help and flair). But please please let me get what I want: handy goalie, handy centre-half, a mean mean motherfucker in centre-mid who, however, like Reidy, can pass a ball.

We all know that things would be better if we had the same threat on both flanks, but that isn't quite there yet. Part of what is missing, at the moment, is that central player who orchestrates everything through having a wide range of passes and the vision to spot opportunities early doors which is why we are craving the return of Darron Gibson.

When Baines presses forward (as he must) then a defensive midfielder has to be ready, willing and able to cover behind him. Pip and Ossie lack the pace and strength to do this consistently.

Wigan played a lot of stuff in the gap behind our defence and the midfield. Heitinga's lack of pace means we can't play a particularly high line so it was up to a midfielder to boss that area. Distin on in second half meant we could compress that gap a bit more as they were less likely to play the ball over the top, and Fellaini seemed to drop deeper at times to add a bit more as well. We were much better at containing them in the second half.

Heitinga shouldn't shoulder all the blame for their second. His attempted tackle was weak but he did keep Kone on the outside and prevent him from attacking the goal directly. Pip definitely cocked-up by not looking to cover the run by Di Santo and this was picked out in the analysis on MOTD.

Wigan played us the way WBA did - high pressure, high tempo and a lot of niggle to unsettle us. The Osman/ Neville axis will always get exposed by this style of play. At least we were able to change things around, get on top and salvage a point which was the least we deserved in the end.

On the subject of Coleman, people are forgetting he played at a much lower level until relatively recently and has spent most of his time at Everton trying to develop his abilities as an attacking threat. He may never be the best defender, but he may still improve in that respect.

They could see that Heitinga was poor in terms of pace and strength so they put their fastest strongest attacker on him. And Kone ran him ragged.
They knew that another weak point was the central defensive midfield pairing of Neville and Osman. Neville is poor technically and they pressed him quickly making him panic and lose the ball. Osman is great on the ball, but pressurise him with strength and guile and ultimately he's too weak to stop you.

Similarly, they recognised a weakness in the right side. I actually thought Coleman did okay, but he was seriously exposed by Mirallas' inexperience in the PL. And while some of us might blame Coleman for the first goal, I feel if he never slipped then he would've blocked the cross.I actually blame Mirallas for not covering him in the correct manner. And for those that disagree I invite you to look at the Pienaar Baines combo. They both support each other. And once Mirallas supports defence and attack in equal measure then we'll be a little more 'balanced'.

But simply put we miss Gibson. And I think we might rue missing out on Ouidija or whatever his name is. Let's hope we can fill that void in January.

If teams are going to pull, push, and target Fellaini then give him licence to take himself out of the firing line and play his old midfield role. Give these teams something else to think about with Mirallas or Osman up there.

Against WBA we persisted for most of the game. Against Wigan it was 45 minutes, Why does it need to take 45 mins? Surely Fellaini's role is sufficiently discussed that plan B could just be a hand gesture away from changing temporarily?

Heitinga is shit. For most of his time here he's been half hearted (sure, he does a decent tough guy impression). Against Wigan his hollywood missed passes set the tone for us and defensively he was too poor to rescue them. Every time Kone got the ball he just retreated into the area where he then couldn't challenge him. What school of defending does that come from?

But then fair play to his tactical change at half time cos it changed the game and threw Wigans game plan.

Heitinga? I'm a fan, but something happened - during the summer? - and he's not the force he was. Having said that, and there should be a keyboard short-cut for this, playing behind Pip and Ossie would never be easy for Superman. Last-ditch Jags only does that recovery thing so well because he's had lots of practice. Where is Pip at his best? RB. Where is Ossie at his best? Inside right - for those not shaving yet that means like No.10 (a recently rediscovered position) only No.8. Not No.6 as smoking kills, and in any case that will always be Colin Harvey for me.

Coleman? See "Pip's best position" above. Interesting, though, that DM could have taken Seamus off and dropped Neville back. Something is going on there in Deep Thought, and its too early to tell what it is. But Coleman is being 'brought on'. Taking Heitinga off at HT, however, says only one thing (to me), just as Junior and MG were replaced at Leeds.

Fellaini's best position? With a ref like Kevin Friend (joke?), probably in the stands.

The referee and yet another bloody blind 'assistant' (thatisa joke) gave them a goal and denied us two penalties today. Jelavic was kicked from behind in the box. He was then pushed in the small of his back in the box. I will happily invite anyone who might suggest that he was diving to a duel.

Does anyone know why we were at last awarded one? It has to be for Vic being wrestled to the ground, because if it was for, I think, Figuroa's trip on Mirallas then that was a red card offence as he had only the keeper to beat. A friend indeed. I wonder what Fellaini said to him as he walked by after the spot-kick was awarded? 'One out of three ain't bad'? Sounds a bit Meatloaf. But then again, we're speaking of the FA's finest here.

Never mind though, goal-line technology - ho bloody ho - will improve all that in the future, date to be decided. And as I heard on the radio the intro to the Rugaby League final today, and the 'Video Ref' was named, it set me wondering. If they ever do go ahead with this stuff, who will see the pictures? The 4th Official? Not if he's standing there with the managers it won't be. Someone in the stands? Who? Named? Alan Green or the equally appalling Stuart Hall perhaps, or should I say mayhap? Or will it be the sole time-keeper himself? If so, how? iPad in the pocket? That couldn't work because he might have to put his reading glasses on and they don't work with contact lenses do they?

Speaking of Stuart Hall, I couldn't help but notice that Julian Batti was out in force tonight (Tom Lehrer reference for the very very old). And so to bed.

Which brings me to this: "Tim Howard is the weak link in this team" — yet neither goal today could be put down to him: both were unstoppable.

That said, if we keep scoring goals conceding a few isn't the end of the world.

Jelavic dived for the second penalty claim. Choose your weapon.

1. Heitinga was exposed badly by Kone's pace. Relieved to see him subbed at half time with Distin.

2. Why does Tim Howard never attack the ball at set pieces? i.e punch the ball out,as El Habsi did a number of times at the other end.

3. We do miss Hibbo's crunching tackles,although Seamus deserves credit for his contribution.

4. Moyesy needs to have a serious word with Felli regarding his discipline. He was lucky not to walk for kicking out at one of their players.

5. We did well to come away with a hard earned point after going behind twice. All in spite of the ref - see wanker.

6. I was pleasantly surprised when Moyesy took Pip off to be replaced by big Vic.
In the past he probably would have taken off Jelly or Mirallas.

Andy I think everyone's just having a laugh, relax. I can't remember who it was a couple of weeks ago but someone started referring to Collallas, Distelka, Nevsman and Fellichebe/Fellavic as well.

I'm surprised by the reasonableness of reactions on Toffeeweb, I don't have much to add as I thought I was going to bring a little bit of perspective to some over-reactions but there haven't been much.

It's hard to argue that Neville and Osman worked in midfield yesterday, although the second half saw us dominate and we ended with more possession, chances created and shots on target again, although some of that was with Neville off and Fellaini back in there.

I think Moyes deserves credit for making good substitutions, including a brave one at half time, dragging Heitinga's ego off can't have been easy. Also, I think Baines himself made a good point after the game. After a first half like that we would probably have lost in previous seasons; in the end we were unlucky not to win.

I make it we are now three goals and two penalties down on the 'these things even themselves out' tally. If I've forgotten anything, especially that has gone for us, then maybe someone could point them out, but Kone was offside to add to the Newcastle debacle, and both of Jelavic's claims were penalties yesterday, despite how soft the aerial one look, it's still a clear foul.

He's a bit guilty of making fouls look like dives though, maybe he's got to work on that whilst Fellaini works on not getting upset that everyone tries to foul him and wind him up. He's going to see an awful lot of that this season, along with an awful lot of people trying to make out that they've been elbowed when they haven't.

As a side note: Leighton Baines anyone? Class act, great player, top attitude and application and as always nerves of steel when it mattered. 100 times the player, professional, and person Ashley Cole will ever be.

We have seriously missed Gibson and we need somebody centrally pretty quickly to maintain this start, Neville and Osman were both poor today and the same last week against Southampton. We need a stable back four a central midfield passing/holding player and someone to give Howard a kick up the backside.

Other than that we are fine and will beat QPR and the Shite and be second come the win on the 28th.

COYB.

Hibbert may not be great going forward, but you will rarely see him get skinned. I don't think we will play such a high line against the RS though.

Shame about the International break, as QPR are in a really poor run of form, they may be able to re-group after a two-week break.

All-in-all, I'm happy with a point away from home. I think that's one defeat in our last 16 PL games. If we can keep sort of form up – Champions League here we come!

I agree that Coleman looked vulnerable and his defending must improve if he to stay at RB – and I still have serious doubts about Jags's positional play and passing (though his tackling is exemplary). Heitinga is slow against the faster men, though, I concede.

Osman remains a terrible luxury in the middle of the park – or anywhere – in my view: he wins virtually no ball, distributes poorly and provides 1.5 decenti-ish pieces of skill per 90 minutes. It simply isn't good enough. I'm surprised that so few Evertonians agree.

Baines, Mirallas, Felli (though not yesterday), Jelly and Pienaar are real bright stars, in my view, and none of them must be allowed to leave.

This season, for as good as we've looked going forward, we've looked really dodgy at the back – especially down the middle.

I think if it's possible, the times right to ship him out and scrape what money we can and try to bring in Samba (I read recently he was unhappy); he would be ideal replacement.

Anyone else think of anyone better?

TH back to right back is fundamental, simply on the basis Kevin above highlights. But that position, love or not Hibbert is a long term issue that needs sorting and IMHO Coleman is not and will not be that answer.

Note to Moyes - give Mirallas some shooting practice, his shots are weak as piss at the moment.

We are 4th with 14 points, that's pretty darn good if you ask me and I'm over the moon to see us with such fantastic attacking play with some exciting football. Where we last October? We've gone leaps and bounds since then.
Good thing is Gibson and Hibbert are supposed to be back for QPR, so let's be positive on where we currently lie in the league and what we are currently doing.

I have never taken to him, although I appreciate he was player of the season last time out. He can pass the ball well, but like a true Dutch player he has an elavated opinion about himself. Comments about bayern still stick in my throat I am afraid, and I know Fellaini isn't much better, but...

Paul Dark post 532:
Osman remains a terrible luxury in the middle of the park – or anywhere – in my view: he wins virtually no ball, distributes poorly and provides 1.5 decenti-ish pieces of skill per 90 minutes. It simply isn't good enough. I'm surprised that so few Evertonians agree.

Here is an excerpt from the tactical analysis for the executioner'sbong website of last Saturday's game v Southampton:

The game showcased the majestic talent of Leon Osman. The diminutive midfield schemer glided along the Goodison turf like a white swan, making the most touches (86) most passes (68) with a 94% pass completion, and crucially 100% from his 11 long balls which fed the flanks and allowed us to dominate the channels. It was Osman who was to be instrumental in the Blues' recovery.

But what do you think?

Just curious...

BTW, I think Neville and Osman shouldn't play together again in midfield.

And you can cut and paste me on that.

I wouldn't even put him on the bench.

I think we do need another 2 players to turn it into a top Perm side. An Essien ox for midfield and a Lescott style centre-half who could pinch a couple of goals. Gibson is a great player for us, but injuries are a worry...

Fellaini has been tremendous for most of the season, apart from Wigan and West Brom. Moyes did change the tactic in the 2nd half, and perhaps should utilise pace away from home against the big stoppers (Mirallas), saving Fellaini to play up top when the opportunity arises. Another thought is perhaps Moyes should have gone 3 at the back and matched up against Wigan? That isn't the British way, but away from home I would consider it. We have better players than Wigan, and matching up against them would increased our chances in my opinion.

Gibson will enhance Osman's game which in turn will improve our attacking threat and shore up our defence.

Serious problem for Everton as the left side will soon be worked out and we have no other options, we need to mix it up a bit and at the moment we can't do that.

My point is our squad is far from the finished article and players who aren't good enough will be found out over the course of a season, if we're going to play our best player up front we are going to concede goals, for me Moyes has got to sign a decent centre mid get shut of Johnny who is a liability and got made to look good by Distin who was immense last season mistake against the rs aside.

We as fans need to be realistic in our expectations the squad isn't strong, we have carried Fellaini's strength up the park at the detriment of the protection of the defence. I wouldn't be surprised if Moyes shuffles the pack and drops Fellaini deep against QPR and gives Anichebe a run out we need to stop conceding so easily.

That said, you asked what I think. I already said Neville and Osman shouldn't be in the same side, but I will expand to say that the way the team functions is in itself a function of the players (obvious I know) and any team needs to have a balance of skills, abilities able to cover the deficiencies of their number - there is no such thing as the "perfect footballer".

To that end my contention is that Neville and Osman in the central midfield have between them numerous ailments that those around them cannot be expected to cover - in games like yesterday when we were 2nd best for much of the game, Pienaar was anonymous (his "assist" for Jelavic's goal bears testament), Fellaini got sucked back deeper in the 2nd half (which he had to, although his overall performance was piss poor).

Osman has some good attributes and he excels in a strong midfield. Neville is, simply, on the wane and at best was a limeted but competent player. As to who should come in instead, tough one. Obviously Gibson injured and Barkley on loan. Heitinga in midfield has been tried and he looks like a younger, marginally less hapless Neville in there. But putting sqaure pegs in round holes is Moyes' speciality, so I'm sure he'd find a solution.

Just my opinion.

Clearly Jagielka is a big favourite of Moyes but, personally, I feel he has never been quite the same since Lescott left. We seem to leak goals far too easily when he and Distin play alongside each other and it has been the same ever since they first linked up. Both are very good recovery defenders but seem to lack the nous to pre-empt players movements and snuff out danger early. They never seem truly comfortable alongside each other and both can be prone to the odd gaffe. Similarly, the pairing of Jagielka and Heitinga has never looked likely to be the answer due to a distinct lack of power and pace and the fact neither are paticularly dominant in the air.

In the last few years, the only central defensive pairing we've had that has looked anywhere near a solid partnership has been Heitinga and Distin. It just works, and the alternatives don't

As I recall from my ref's exam all those years ago, the laws allow you charge an opponent, very importantly not using you arms, if the ball is within playing distance. Anyone reading this please correct me if I'm wrong, or the laws have been changed. Use of the arm makes any such action into a foul. The defender, Caldwell I think, had his arm across his own chest which was firmly planted into the small of Jelavic's back - foul.

Where was the ball at the time? It was on Jelavic's chest. It would take a very liberal interpretation to say that this put the ball 'within playing distance' of it as he was approaching Jelavic from behind. How do you legally attempt to win possession of that ball from that position? Caldwell didn't try, he simply committed a foul, and I'll bet he thought he knew he'd get away with it. Out of the box, maybe not.

And finally, "the dive". You may recall that Jelavic was actually up in the air, feet off the ground, when Caldwell made contact with him. Any forward movement of his came from the arm that was planted in his back, the momentum of Caldwell's illegal 'charge'.

The guy was in the box, in the air, controlling the ball on his chest. He was pushed from behind. Foul, penalty. Not a dive.

As for the duel - arquebuses, at dawn, El Rastrillo Beach, Roses, opposite the Si Tapas Lonunge and Grille, dawn tomorrow. No show and I will cry 'cowardy custard' and never invite you to dinner again.

I honestly don't believe that we will finish top 4 , but hey why not get behind the players who are obviously trying their hardest to get there.

We know that many players in the team wouldn't get into the big six teams , but we also know there are a few that would.

I can put up with failing to achieve , if we have a real go for it, like we did in the second half at Wigan, but I think it is also up to the supporters to get right behind the players to ensure that they know that we appreciate what they are trying to do and the way they are trying to do it.

There are fault-lines in the team but they can be fixed, but I would rather watch this team play football , rather than some of the dire stuff we have had to endure over the last 20 or so years.

Remember we are always a bit messy this side of Bonfire Night and that our season doesn't usually kick off until December , we have made a good start , you never know this may be our season....

Keep going for it Blues it might just pay off!

COYB

For the most part, defenders are desperate not to give attackers time and space to operate behind them so they will back-off as a line unless the opposition player is isolated or has lost close control of the ball. What they are attempting to do is usher the attackers to the flanks or other compressed region where they can be more easily dispossessed. They are also especially careful of giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas, though of course the worry over penalties may lead to them eventually lunging in anyway just outside the penalty area.

Defenders may attempt to intercept a pass or tackle the attacker when they are receiving the ball or are still a long way from goal; otherwise they are likely to play the waiting game and make their tackles when they feel it is appropriate (ie, when the attacker loses close control or as a last ditch attempt to stop him from getting into a dangerous area).

Two things that can greatly help out the defence are compressing this region as much as possible (largely depends on the pace of your defenders relative to the attackers) and having midfielders who are capable of patrolling this area effectively (largely depends on the athleticism of your midfielders).

Also, if you lose balance or momentum because you have had to take evasive action to avoid contact then a foul is the appropriate judgement. Running into a stationary player or trailing / sticking-out your leg to ensure contact when it would be easier to avoid it is cheating, IMO.

I actually thought the first incident was the better shout in any case. If the defender didn't play the ball his foot definitely prevented Jelavic from getting a clean shot away. If the ref judged that the defender got to the ball just before Jelavic then why wasn't a corner awarded?

I preferred the rule when it was reserved for the obvious 'professional' foul anyway (and would like to see it changed back to that), but you can't help feeling we will end up paying the full price the next time it is one of our players committing the foul.

I wish Chelsea came in for him as we might get our money back but I cannot see it.

Football clubs want to buy Baines, Fellaini at present and perhaps Jelavic down the line. Not our Mr Heitinga, I'm afraid.

Not true. Have you seen 'Moneyball' by the way? Very interesting.