A good start that could have been better

Lyndon Lloyd , 9 November, 11comments | Jump to most recent

While he describes what his team has done in the first quarter of the League season as "admirable", David Moyes admits that his team needs to be more ruthless if they are to attain their Champions League dream.

Now addressing questions over his side's start to 2012-13 at the 10-game marker, the Everton manager said that the Blues have made a good start to the season but it could have been even better had they turned some of those recent 2-2 draws into 2-1 wins.

The late goals conceded against Newcastle and Fulham in particular have deprived Everton of four more points that would have put them right on the heels of the Premier League's top three.

“We are probably a little bit disappointed that we aren't further up the league," Moyes admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Sunderland this weekend.

“We could easily be in a higher position.

“That might be down to a lack of experience at times and maybe just giving away silly goals at silly times like we did at Fulham which cost us all three points.

“There have been two games where we have dropped points late on. But what the players have done is nothing short of great.

“They are playing well," Moyes continued. "They are training well and all the things I see from them are good.

“As long as they keep in form hopefully we can keep it going. Obviously there will be slip-ups along the line but we want to limit them to very few.

“We need to be a wee bit more ruthless. But what the players are doing just now is admirable."

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Daily Post

Reader Comments (11)

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Eric Myles
1 Posted 10/11/2012 at 01:38:03

No mention of some atrocious reffing like at Newcastle and Wigan? And even against our neighbours?

Phil Skelton
2 Posted 10/11/2012 at 10:32:51

There is no point in coulda, shoulda, woulda. If that idiot Collina would have let Ferguson's goal stand then we could have been Champions League regulars from 2005. If Suarez's goal could have stood and we could be moaning about 1 point lost, well 3 because they are awful.

The point is we are a joy to watch and it's only a matter of time before we become more clinical in front of goal and hammer someone 7 or 8, So what if we let in 5 at the same time?

Kieran Fitzgerald
3 Posted 10/11/2012 at 10:39:08

Pretty much nails it. Refereeing aside, we have had it in our own hands to be better off points wise and goal difference wise. I worry about any dip in form and I do think that we will lose the element of surprise. I don't think anyone was expecting us to be playing as well as we have been. Teams will be starting to set themselves up to counter our new found attacking style. While we get used to that and develop further options on the training ground, I do think that we might drop points and slip further down the table.

Henrik Lyngsie
4 Posted 10/11/2012 at 10:58:06

I think we have been very impressive. Only defeat against WBA who were the better side on the day. Then both against Wigan and QPR we were poor, but got a point and could have had three. Then a few draws where we were the better team.

But in the longer run if we continue playing like this we are up there competing for fourth with Arsenal and Spurs and that is not too bad. But we are thin and over-reliant on few players.

Steavey Buckley
5 Posted 10/11/2012 at 13:26:15

Everton have basically threw points away against teams they should have beaten out of sight. 6 teams in all. Those points would have allowed the blues to solidify the 4th position until the end of the season. Now it is going to be an uphill battle to keep 4th spot. Mind you, if Moyes could have bought adequate replacements to replace Rodwell and Cahill, like for like, the situation could have been much better.

Kieran Fitzgerald
6 Posted 10/11/2012 at 13:35:13

Steavey, I think that Felliani has more than adequately filled Tim's role. He has been ten times the player Tim was over the last two seasons. I think that one of the reasons we were so comfortable with selling Rodwell was that we had Gibson filling the holding role. Considering we got Mirallas with some of the Rodwell cash has been money well spent. Having back up in that midfield role has to be the next spend though. Gibson being out injured has been a loss and I don't think having Pip in midfield is the answer by any stretch.

Steavey Buckley
7 Posted 10/11/2012 at 15:25:06

Kieran. In every game Neville plays, he keeps giving the ball away. Felliani may have replaced Cahill, but Neville did not replace Felliani. In essence, Everton are at least 2 midfield players short, because there is no one coming through from the reserves or academy at present.

Eric Myles
8 Posted 10/11/2012 at 17:33:12

Kieran, I'd say the only game we've had it in our own hands to do better has been Fulham.

Steavey, I don't remember Neville giving the ball away at Fulham for their second goal, wasn't it Coleman?

Andy Meighan
9 Posted 10/11/2012 at 20:53:38

Pienaar and Jelavic have been shit for a month but all everyone goes on about is Neville, who incidentally has been one of our most consistent players this season The fickleness of some Evertonians leaves me baffled, it really does.

Trevor Lynes
10 Posted 11/11/2012 at 07:33:27

I just feel it's going to be difficult for our small squad to maintain the form they have showed so far.

Mirallas has been a revelation and Felli is in top form. The present team when fully fit is a match for any other side in the league but cover is flimsy. We must do something to strengthen the squad in January and perhaps bring in one or two of our better youngsters.

We should be at least four points better off at this stage but I am very happy with the football being played.

Steavey Buckley
11 Posted 11/11/2012 at 13:41:19

Eric. Everton have been conceding nearly 2 goals a game for 4 matches before yesterday's match, because there is no protection for the back four. As the midfield continually gets overrun leaving defenders exposed to swift counter attacks.

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