Last-gasp Oldham earn Goodison Replay

, 16 February, 205comments  |  Jump to most recent
Oldham Athletic 2 - 2 Everton
As expected, David Moyes has named a strong team, both Nikica Jelavic and Sylvain Distin return to the starting line-up — but at the expense of Kevin Mirallas who is on the bench with Oviedo and Naismith. It appears that Fellaini may play a deeper role with Anichebe retaining his place and according to some sources, leading the line up front — unless Big Vic is pushed out to the wing!

Jose Baxter played for Oldham who were unchanged from their previous match against MK Dons. Matt Smith, the destroyer of Liverpool, started on the bench.

Everton kicked off playing in all-white in front of around 10,000 fans crammed into three sides of Boundary Park. Typical FA Cup exchanges and lots of stoppages in the first 5 mins as Phil Dowd excercised his whistle a few times with the ball going out of play and no continuity possible.

Everton won a decent free-kick as Osman was fouled, Gibson playing it wide for Neville to float in an easy cross for Bouzanis. Jelavic wasn't having much luck, playing pretty much as the centre-forward. Meanwhile, Oldham played some long balls forward which were hopeful rather than dangerous.

Osman won another free-kick in a very dangerous position on 12 mins, after good work by the man with the clever feet, but Baines's tremendous kick clipped off a head for a corner by Gibson, followed by another that Oldham cleared and broke like lightening, Osman committing himself to head the ball out but getting fooled by Croft who was off to the races and able to play in a cross low past Neville that beat Gibson rather easily, to Obita at the far post, who tapped in, easy as you like.

A stunning start, but Everton looked unfazed, Jelavic winning a free-kick right out by the corner flag as they continued to get the ball forward. Another free-kick, this time on the left after Baines was chopped down, but nothing came of the play.

A hopeful ball up to Jelavic, headed down well to Anichebe who placed his shot with fearsome power past Bouzanis and into the back of the net: 1 - 1! At the other end, Obita hit the post! Game building nicely into a classic and very competitive FA Cup tie...

Handball was called against Distin challenging for a long ball from the back, giving Oldham a great set-piece chance, and Jose Baxter stepped up, but could not get it through Everton's highly effective wall.

Pienaar came very close to releasing Jelavic through the middle, but called fractionally offside as Pienaar took an extra touch. Oldham were snarling and snapping but the Everton players looked up for it and slowly started to dominate the midfield, controlling the pace of the game, and taking the edge off a little. Fellaini got in a header that was over; Pienaar took a chance to fire from distance that was well wide.

The Blues started to get ball the forward a little more efficiently as the break approached, with a couple of moments where things could have panned differently with a better bounce or touch.

Everton finished the stronger and looked the better side with the ball at their feet but coming to terms with the hard bobbly slopping pitch proved challenging in the first half and they would need to be more dominate and effective in the second half to win this tie.

Anichebe walked off looking at his stomach and shaking his head... Kevin Mirallas replaced him for the second half, with Oldham playing down the slope. Mirallas with an early corner, Jagielka coming backwards, held around the waist, a superb header before being wrestled to the floor, off a brilliant delivery, and a marvellous go-ahead goal.

A great Everton move through the middle was worth a third goal, Pienaar's shot being saved after some excellent quick passing and movement going forward, as the visitors looked to consolidate their lead. But Gibson over-stretched badly and went down. Neville slid in a little hard and was incredulous when Dowd deemed it worthy of the first yellow card.

More good work won another corner as the hour approached, and an absolutely fantastic ball in from Mirallas that Osman missed heading in on the run by about 1½ inches. Time, said the Oldham caretaker-manager, to bring on their not-so-secret weapon, Matt Smith, two-goal hero against Liverpool in the previous round, who was generously applauded by the very sporting visiting Everton fans.

It remained a good contest with both sides continuing to attack, but neither dominating despite the obvious gulf in quality on the ball. Jelavic crossed in well from the left but Fellaini(?) could not get his head to it.

15 mins left and corners at either end, as Simpson replaced Obita, with Everton looking solid but needing to remain professional in protecting their precious lead. Pienaar was then replaced by Oviedo, to a chorus of catcalls from the Oldham fans as the South African hobbled off slowly.

Smith got wide behind the Everton defence as Neville criminally ignored his movement off teh call and he took aim, but Howard was down well to divert the ball around the post for a corner. More pressure from the home side into the last 10 minutes but Moyes's men were determined not to let this slip.

A fantastic run through the middle set up Jelavic with a glorious chance to finish it off but, true to form — or dreadful lack thereof — the Croation leashed his shot inches over the bar when it looked easier to at least hit the target!

A shot from Barnard took a wicked deflection off Jagielka that could have gone anywhere with Howard committed. Simpson got in Howard, one-on-one, a fantastic paried save, and Simpson got a second bite of the cherry, but fired into the side netting, surely three incredible chances gone begging as Everton perhaps lost a little concentration — except thankfully for Tim Howard.

4 minutes of added time and a real sterling effort from the home side, applying strong pressure on the Everton defence. A cunning ploy by Moyes, breaking up the pressure by bringing Shane Duffy on for Jelavic, but the pressure on the Everton rearguard continued unrelenting, balls flying across the Everton area until they won a corner that Howard punched away from Bouzanis, the Oldham keeper, who had come up to join the fray in the goal area!

Fantastic stuff as time ticked off until, in the fifth added minute, a last-gasp corner, and the ball was bundled in at the far post by — guess who — Matt Smith, a towering header... Unbelievable!!

Howard and the defenders will be pig sick, and perhaps some referees would disallow the goal but, for Phil Dowd, it stood. And the dream continues for plucky Oldham with a replay at Goodison Park.

Att: 9,473 (Everton allocation: 2,784)

Oldham Athletic: Bouzanis, Brown, Mvoto, Tarkowski, Grounds, Croft, Wesolowski (66' Furman), Baxter, Obita (77' Simpson), Iwelumo (61' Smith), Barnard.
Subs: Cisak, Byrne, Millar, Winchester.

Everton: Howard; Neville Y:55', Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Osman, Gibson, Fellaini, Pienaar (59' Oviedo); Anichebe (46' Mirallas), Jelavic (90+2' Duffy).
Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Hitzlsperger, Naismith.

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Reports



Reader Comments (205)

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Matt Traynor
1 Posted 16/02/2013 at 17:18:52
Mirallas and Heitinga dropped. Jelavic partners Anichebe. Pip at RB.
Ray Roche
2 Posted 16/02/2013 at 17:34:42
I think Mirallas has been left out because the pitch is gash. You can't play football on it at the best of times and Ronnie Goodlas on Radio Merseyside reckons it's even worse than the shite had to contend with.
Ian Smitham
3 Posted 16/02/2013 at 17:46:44
Went twice in 2009, sadly not there now, just cannot stop singing "We Shall Not Be Moved"!
Ciarán McGlone
4 Posted 16/02/2013 at 18:26:37
What a shambles of a formation... Neville playing right midfield and right full back... and Jags having to cover when he gets caught up field.

Absolutely shocking management decision.

Colin Glassar
5 Posted 16/02/2013 at 19:55:31
Just go Moyes if you are going to go. Your captain gobshite was shown up again against league 1 cloggers. You go deep and negative with 30 mins left you moron. Please go in the name of god, your time is up.
Kris Boner
6 Posted 16/02/2013 at 19:57:39
Poor effort, given that it was obvious they would resort to route 1 in the dying stages. Why would you give up so much ground and play so deep? Right into their hands.
Andy Meighan
7 Posted 16/02/2013 at 19:56:08
Laughable. Controlling a game quite easily against a poor side only to concede like that. You knock me fuckin' sick, Everton, you really do.
Bill Gall
8 Posted 16/02/2013 at 19:57:44
I wonder if I am the only one (but I doubt it) who just has no confidence in Everton at all. A team at the bottom of League One has just showed the desire that Everton no longer seem to have.
Paul English
9 Posted 16/02/2013 at 19:55:54
Were was the midfield when it was needed? Take a look at yourselves, Fellaini, Pienaar and Osman.
Phil Rodgers
10 Posted 16/02/2013 at 19:59:23
Defining moment in the season for me. We are simply not equipped to finish in the top 4. Need to face up to reality now. Moyes has done nothing to lift the gloom that is descending around the place since the latest transfer window debacle. Sometimes I hate Everton.
Ian Edwards
11 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:04:25
Bottler. Bottler . Bottler. Big job in the summer my arse.
Tom Bowers
12 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:01:48
As usual when it came down to fight in the trenches Everton were found wanting.
One could see Oldham showing more fight in the middle than Everton in the last 20 minutes were yet again Osman was poor.
Everton needed to slow the game down at that time but did not have the midfield general needed.
Even if they win the replay it will be tough to see them go through if drawn against Manure or Chelski.
Nick Entwistle
14 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:09:02
Nothing wrong with the performance but think I'll let the reactionists vent for a while before bothering to come back.
Dave Lynch
15 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:00:29
Same predictable shite.
Oldham deserved that result which makes it all the more galling,.
Predictable, pedestrian and pitifull, all we did in the first half was lump the fucking ball long. Jelavic has been turned into a headless chicken channel runner ala most of the strikers he has bought and destroyed. Go now you useless,predictable, negative minded, defensive loser.
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
17 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:11:11
Yea, Nick, I guess I called it wrong but I thought that was all down to some tremendous spirit from Oldham.

Guess I'd better start re-writing my match report to trash everyone, starting with Phil Neville...

Michael Upton
18 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:10:20
It was a solid away performance until the last few minutes but experienced players failed to keep the ball and kill the game.

Jelavic's miss was a big moment, could see at the time that might come back to bite us.

Don't see how either of those things are down to Moyes.

But then some people are blinded by their prejudices.

David Flanagan
19 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:13:04
Dave Lynch,

Jelavic had two great chances and true to form failed to test the keeper; his fault, not Moyes's. Other criticism of Moyes are valid.

Michael Upton
20 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:15:12
Michael K, credit for once on your balanced report. Oldham rallied well at the death while we fell too deep.

Still think we ll win the replay but dread drawing Manure or Chelski.

Dave Lynch
21 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:11:39
Nick.
If your gonna defend that shite against a team doomed to drop out of the lowest professional league in the country then please mate don't bother.
I usually have a lot of time for your opinions but this is plain shocking.
Michael Upton
22 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:18:13
Er Dave Lynch League Two is professional ...
Trevor Lynes
23 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:16:13
In the vast majority of games the equalizer they scored would have been disallowed.
The goalkeeper jumped with both hands in the air and clearly obstructed the defence.

I reckon the ref gave the goal because of the great effort Oldham put in, but I have seen goals disallowed for far less !!

James Martin
24 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:16:17
No one in the Everton team has any game management. All one player had to do there was block Smith's run in a crowded area and no-one would have noticed. instead he was allowed to launch himself at it.

Sick of this team of flappers, they almost have an aversion to winning. Anyone who thinks it will be a stroll in the park at GP will be wrong if we continuously fail to do the basics right like we did today. Everyone was just far too ponderous in possession and just tossed away goal chances like it was no big deal.

Jelavic missed one but to be honest I'm not surprised after having run all the way from the left wing to get on the end of it. Why can't Moyes just play him in the middle like every other striker in football does?

Alan Clarke
25 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:18:11
We're just not as good as people think. Simple as.
Patrick Murphy
26 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:12:15
Nothing wrong with the performance? We knew what to expect and as soon as Pienaar went off there was no midfield, they were lumping the ball into the box and we stood around watching them do it.
Neville and Osman are finished, Ossie has been one of my favourites but he hasn't got the energy required for the full 90 minutes.

That was as strong a team as we have and we never bossed the game. Our 2 goals were like theirs., all strength, although Anichebe hit it well. The team is mentally incapable of holding onto to a single goal lead, you always felt that a third goal was required and Jelavic should have provided it, that was a chance he should have buried.

At least we're still in it, but somehow you know this lot will cock it up good and proper.

Dave Lynch
27 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:18:09
For gods sake Michael Upton.
This was Oldham, not a middle table prem or championship side, they haven't even got a friggin manager !
Brian Waring
28 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:20:22
Just to lighten the mood a tad, how funny was Jag's goal.
Edward Simpson
29 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:19:11
Moyes was not at fault, he brought Duffy on at the last minute who is 6'3 to try and help with the pressure on the defence. A good decision I thought.
It was a foul on Howard, if that would of happened in the league, it would of been but I'm not taking anything away from Oldham who showed character in the last 10 minutes.

We played well, people saying we didn't are blind, what we failed to do was hold up the ball, kill the game. I thought we got into Oldham all game UNTIL the final 10 minutes, I don't understand why that happened.

Amit Vithlani
30 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:17:33
Gutted at the manner we conceded but relieved we are still in the hunt. We are shipping goals from some very basic defensive mistakes, so the replay promises goals atleast. Fortunately, we get our fair share of goals from set pieces and Vic is in a rich vein. We have enough to get through, and remember feeling like this against Sunderland at home last year, but we got through.

Pitch was absolutely gash and had we won it would have been a good result. Moyes must give Ossie and Peanuts a breather, Oviedo deserves a place in the team and I think Mirallas is suffering from having Pip behind him - he does better when Coleman is there to overlap and provide more energy that our ageing skipper

James Martin
32 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:23:36
Edward you think we played well? When was this? Failing to hold the ball and kill the game is not playing well. We didn't defend well all game, every high ball looked a problem for us. We absolutely panicked when a league 1 forward came on and embarrassingly changed our game plan allowing Oldham to hit whatever they wanted into him.

I hope all the Pienaar bashing stops now, he wasn't on top of his game but without him our team just goes to pot. No leaders or character anywhere.

Colin Glassar
33 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:22:52
When Pienaar and Jelavic went off that was like raising a white flag. Well done Moyes. Got your excuses ready? Pitch? Ref? Tiredness? Noisy crowd? Poor toilet facilities? Crap sarnies?
Brian Waring
34 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:23:18
Edward, I'm not one of Moyes's biggest fans (Far from it) but I can understand why he brought Duffy on, we're 2 - 1 up, they are launching balls into the box, so you bring on a big defender to help out with Smith. If Jelavic would have still been on, he would have been back defending, so I don't understand why some are saying the penalty box was too crowded just because we brought Duffy on.
Jay Harris
35 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:20:46
Well we're not as bad as the RS, that's for sure.

I think there's a total overreaction here. Dowd gave a lot of leeway to Oldham which they wouldn't get otherwise especially for the equaliser which was 4 minutes and 17 seconds. God knows where that came from let alone their GK going in with both hands up.

I think we played well overall and if Vic had stayed on instead of Jelavic it might have been more comfortable.

Coleman will be fit for the replay and IMO it will be a totally different game at GP.

Zaid Omar
36 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:23:09
I'm more pissed off that the replay will be on the same night as barca vs Madrid.. But you get the feeling that this Everton team has lost the confidence they had early in the season... Not a chance we will get a win against Norwich this weekend.. Will be another draw ..
Andy Crooks
37 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:23:39
I actually thought we did show spirit, certainly we had to because of our lack of quality.. Phil Neville really is finished as a Premier League player, Osman was invisible and for some reason Fellaini has perfected the hospital pass. Also, it's hard to imagine Jelavic ever scoring again.

Oldham deserved a draw and Jagielka and Distin were excellent. Disappointing though that we resorted to hoofball. How many aimless punts did Howard send up the pitch?

Did anyone else notice Howard's apparent refusal to swop shirts with the Oldham goalkeeper at the end?

Frida Ericsson
38 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:18:08
When teams park the bus, we become devoid of ideas and we struggle to break them down, so we end up aimlessly hoofing the ball in a desperate attempt to get behind them; invariably it never works and all we end up doing is lots of huffing and puffing.

The attitude of some of the players on the pitch today, smacked of they couldn't be bothered. Today we played more like a League Two side instead of a Premier League side...

Frankly speaking, it's time for a change of management., one that likes to mix things up, one that can actually understand tactics and change them on the balance of play, because Moyes is simply inept.

Another 10 years of this? No, thank you! Time for a change at the top, hopefully he will take some of his 'favourites' with him.

Brian Waring
39 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:29:58
Jay, I thought Dowd done well, when Gibson went in, even though it was a great tackle, how meny ref's would have looked at that and said studs up. I thought he let the game flow, and never blew for every challenge, it was a proper cup game.

God, I can't believe I'm being so reasonalble, agreeing with Moyes on the Duffy sub, saying the ref had a good game. I have been on the Jack Daniels though, and my other half does say it has a calming influence on me.

Andrew James
40 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:29:35
I don't think Moyes can be blamed. He lost his most consistent striker to injury. Jelavic had a shocker, unable to hold the ball up, hit the target or stay onside.

Then Howard is fouled and their goalie even looked to have brushed the ball with his gloves before Smith scored?!!

Very poor refereeing but fair play to Oldham, they rode their luck and never gave up.

Kase Chow
41 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:20:12
How wasn't the equaliser disallowed?!?!
Clive Rogers
42 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:26:03
Poor performance. Neville and Osman were embarrasing, but that's no surprise they are every week. Typical of Moyes that when a striker goes off, he brings on another striker but plays him on the wing. His only tactic is one up front, after that he's lost.
Brian Waring
43 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:38:17
Andy, they showed you before the game a sign on the Oldham dressing room, telling the players not to give their shirts away at the final whistle, the reason being, they are skint as fuck, I think it was more the Oldham goalie not swapping shirts with Howard.
Jamie Barlow
44 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:31:41
The goalkeeper did nothing wrong. He didn't touch the ball. It doesn't matter whether your hands are up or not.

It feels like a loss again tonight and I'm so fed up of watching other teams want the ball more than us.

Howard kept us in it again but the game would have been over if we had the Jelavic of last year.

When are either Hibbert or Seamus back? Everything good we do stops as soon as the ball goes to Neville. I like the bloke as a person but he is totally clueless as an attacking footballer.

Colin Potter
45 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:35:59
Report sick in the morning, Brian! — Not like you agreeing with Moyes!!!!
Patrick Murphy
46 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:39:12
Were Hibbo and Ratcliffe - at least I think it was Rats - in the crowd at Oldham to get a straw poll on the mood of the Evertonians?

We might have a new manager come the replay - lol

Brian Waring
47 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:40:46
Frida, I wouldn't say Oldham parked the bus, for long spells of the game they gave just as good as they got.
Sam Hoare
48 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:36:53
Six observations:

1. Oldham gave it everything. Credit to them.

2. Neville really is quite poor. Think Coleman gives us a hell of a lot more offensively and not much less defensively.

3. Lack of movement and pace as demonstrated by Mirallas introduction making more space.

4. Can't really fault Moyes for Duffy sub, surely the sense in it was bleeding obvious, shame it didn't work.

5. Jelavic is at the bottom of the form barrel.

6. We're still in the cup. If we can't beat Oldham at home then we don't deserve to be.

Ian Allaker
51 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:41:51
Matt Smith reminds me of Andy Carroll, I think we could probably sign him for a couple of million and then sell him to Liverpool for £35m the next year.
Brian Waring
52 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:42:58
Jamie, your second paragraph says it for me.
Trevor Lynes
53 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:37:44
If you were watching the game properly Pienaar signalled to come off. So the guy saying it was wrong to take him off was wrong himself. Same with Anichebe who had an injury.

As for bringing on Duffy, how many people have been shouting 'give him a chance'? Duffy was obviously brought on to assist the defence against Smith and Jelavic had shot his bolt.

Unfortunately we had to play Neville as there was no alternative, but his days are definitely numbered. It's a shame that both Hibbert and Coleman are injured. Blame the makeshift team on this fucking board who missed out on the January window.

Incidentally, why have we not loaned anyone IN.... Where's Ofoe? We have loaned out three players since January.

Graham Shaw
54 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:43:40
Why are we all complaining... We need the money from the replay!
Tom Evans
55 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:42:01
Why, oh fucking why, couldn't we have finished the game off before the 95th. minute?

Our best chance at beating the lower division team has gone. When they bring half the town with them to GP, they will shout like fuck and a repeat of a few years ago is on the cards.

No hard luck stories please. We let them back into the game after 70 minutes when we seemed to start taking the piss.

Same old, same old.

Brian Waring
56 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:45:48
Colin, it's a given for me in the morning, I'm always sick after drinking Jack Daniels! I normally spend the whole day in bed, it fucks me up that much.
Paul Ferry
57 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:42:50
Frida (849) absolutely spot on, pitch perfect. Message to thread editor: delete all posts and leave only #849.

Neville, hang your head in shame; hang your boots up forever, you vain twat. Have dignity and decency like your gaffer, retire now.

Michael Upton
58 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:37:25
Dave, do you remember what they did to the RS? Have you ever heard of team spirit, siege mentality or home advantage?

Oldham played well but we were in command til Smith came on and the midfield stopped passing the ball. To say otherwise is to betray Moyes-hating blinkers.

And League Two is still professional.

Andy Crooks
59 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:43:46
I can't disagree with any of your points, Sam. I'd add another to them: Osman was dreadful and surely must be rested. Brian, it looked to me as if the Oldham goalkeeper asked to swap and was snubbed by Howard, who was in a fit of pique at spoiling a great display by dealing with the corner like a big girl.
Brian Waring
60 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:48:10
Trevor, in regards to Ofoe, didn't we piss off Brugge, because we were blaming them for the loan not going through?
Brian Waring
61 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:51:31
I didn't see it Andy, so you may be right mate. I just remember the flyer on the Oldham dressing room.

Got to agree with your 'Big girl' take on Howard, he is is a shot-stopper (now and again) but he doesn't command his penalty area. I wouldn't even put him near the top 10 goalies in the Prem. Starting to criticise now, need another shot of Jack Daniels.

Ray Said
63 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:58:31
When we were under pressure in the last 10 minutes a better manager would have thrown on a defensive midfielder to win the battle there or a great manager would have put on another striker (not sure we had one though) to make Oldham pull back and allow us the stretch the game away from our box.

Moyes reverted to type. Shame.

Paul Johnson
64 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:53:51
Trevor there is a distinct difference between giving Duffy a full game and 3 minutes of injury time. I do blame Moyes for the result. When you take the main striker off for a centre-half so late in the game you invite the centre-halves up the pitch as well as the full backs who would normally provide cover.

Apart from that, I thought we applied ourselves quite well. Neville seriously has to hang up his boots though.

Ian Allaker
65 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:44:43
It makes me laugh, a few weeks ago, most on here were saying Neville is our best right back and so should be playing right back instead of Coleman, now people are moaning because Neville is playing at right back and want Coleman back. People were moaning again saying Oviedo should be given more of a chance, Oviedo was brought on and given a chance, and same goes for Duffy but we have people moaning about it. At least Brian is not being so biased to be fair.
Paul Johnson
66 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:05:12
Hope we get the mancs at home in the next round....
Patrick Murphy
67 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:55:31
We had a full strength team - more or less - this is the team that is supposedly challenging for a top 4 place in the 'best league in the world' -. God help us if we actually qualify for CL, there was nobody on the pitch today with a touch of class.

The Everton team mirrors the managers character, tough to beat, hard-working but when push comes to shove they can't handle the pressure. Howard, Distin and Jags were our outstanding performers and we still managed to concede 2 goals.

Andy Walker
68 Posted 16/02/2013 at 20:57:19
Osman, Neville, Gibson, Baines, Jelavic (how many sitters is that he's missed now?)all extremely poor, the rest very average, only Jags can hold his head high imo.
As usual sat back on a 1 goal lead, can you image any other top prem side playing like that for the last 10 mins, atrocious.
At least they have a second chance.
Think our third choice RB should now be 4th.
Matt Traynor
69 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:05:40
I think we need to bear in mind the lad Pip was up against is 15 years his junior. Age has caught up with him big time, and he was never quick to begin with. Surprised he hasn't been shown up more than he was today to be honest.
Paul Johnson
70 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:07:03
Ian were do you think Neville should play?
Brian Waring
71 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:07:04
Ian, It's early days yet, and I'm running out of Jack Daniels!
Colin Glassar
72 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:06:39
If nev ever retires can we turn him into a hamburger or findus lasagne?
Ray Said
73 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:08:44
Paul 882. I think Neville should play in his backyard and not on our pitch
Paul Johnson
74 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:10:00
Colin thought it was horse meat not donkey.
Michael Kenrick
75 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:07:07
Jay (#845) — 4:17 of added time.

One yellow card, plus five substitutes, 30 s each = 3:00
Pienaar ambling off, and perceived to be time-wasting, increases it to 4:00

Moyes and his bog standard trick of "Ah ha! I'll disrupt these bastards and break their momentum by making a cunning and totally unnecessary substitution in the hearty of my defence in added time!" — gave Phil Dowd the justification to take it past the 4 minutes.

So there you have it: Moyes's Fault!!!!

Steavey Buckley
76 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:06:20
I thought today's match would have been an opportunity to play Barkley in place of Osman. Barkley has already "cut it' at Championship level, so this was a division below him. No; it had to be Osman — who was responsible for their first goal.
Paul Johnson
77 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:11:50
Ray he would probably break next doors window.
Patrick Murphy
78 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:10:48
There's a new product on the market it''s available 24/7 and it called Findus Abuyer. it's not beef but it is 100% bull-shit!
Nick Entwistle
79 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:08:15
David Lynch, I don't feel the need to defend anything. Played well today, as what is expected right now, but succumbed as Michael says to the spirit of Oldham. A draw away is no big deal. Arsenal lost at home to Blackburn.
Brian Waring
80 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:11:42
I can't believe I'm saying this (I think this has happened twice this season) right, here goes, Moyes can't be blamed tonight! He played a strong side, when Mirallas came on, some would say that that was our strongest 11.
Paul Ferry
81 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:10:54
Ian Alleker, I for one do not think that Philip John Neville is our best right back, and I would hazard that most peeps/posters on here feel the same. Therefore, your loyalist diatribe is muck.

Neville was shit 3 weeks ago, 6 weeks ago, 9 weeks ago, and today, was the worst player in white on that shite pitch.

Ray Said
82 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:14:19
Paul

Can he kick it that far? He would only hit the window if he was aiming at the roof.
Paul Johnson
83 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:15:03
Patrick we tried to buy him on a free and Brian lay of the JD.
Brian Waring
84 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:14:47
Forgot to add, maybe the players take the blame tonight!
Paul Johnson
85 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:18:04
Take it you are on the second bottle Brian.
Roman Sidey
86 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:12:11
Brian and Andy, I saw their 'keeper approach Howard and signal to his jersey, and a split second before the camera shot changed I thought it looked like Howard shaking his head and saying something. If they do have that policy because they're skint, some of their players are in the shit because they did swap.

Ian, we were calling for Neville to play RB when he was playing CM and now it has blown up in our face. Fair play to that. To be fair though, we hadn't seen him play RB in a long while, and between this stint and the last stint, he has deteriorated greatly.

In terms of players selected today, I didn't have any gripes aside from Neville, but the whole mentality of the team seemed to be wrong, and that is down to Moyes.

Paul Johnson
87 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:19:13
Ray while we are on the subject of horse meat I think the description he couldn't hit a donkeys arse with a banjo is apt.
Brian Waring
88 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:17:10
It's all gone now Paul, my other half is a wine connoisseur and goes to all them poncey wine tasting nights,she's now got me trying a fruity little number!
Peter Askins
89 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:10:33
To be fair, the pitch looked poor, and so proved a leveller. The players needed to take an extra touch to get the ball under control much of the time, and in any cup-tie, this allows the defender to have an extra nibble, and breaks up the flow of the move.

No such excuses in the replay. The Goodison pitch will be fine - the Cup replay is our next home game. Coleman will hopefully be back to bring pace to the right hand side, and both Mirallas and Gibson will be both that much fitter.

We are still in the hat, and by tea-time tomorrow, when the draw for the quarter finals is made, this evening's result may look a lot better than it does right now !

Nick Entwistle
90 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:20:42
That policy is in place Roman, but I think even League 1 players can afford to go the club shop and pick up a new shirt... even get their name on the back too!
Guy Hastings
91 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:17:19
That's why I like the FA Cup. It's a pity a few others on this site don't see it that way.
Paul Johnson
92 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:21:00
Good on yer Brian. Enjoy the head in the morning mate. Be careful though if you drink all of her stash she will have you making breakfast in the morning.
Andy Crooks
93 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:15:33
Fair point Nick (#891).

The nature of the game, ie, the cup, bad pitch, spirited opposition, good support meant we had to show spirit and to me it was much better than Sunday in that regard. I just wish we'd play it out of defence more often rather than have Howard aimlessly hoof it to no-one.

Dave Lynch
94 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:09:00
Mike @ 870.

Where was our team spirit? Siege mentality my arse, that is insinuating we battered them and the truth is far from it. Home advantage? I was listening to thousands of blues out-singing the Oldham fans and it sounded like a home game for us.

Home advantage? See above and I couldn't care less what they did to the RedShite as I couldn't give two toots on a ragman's trumpet about the RedShite until we play them. Poor, poor, poor performance and tactical ineptitude which has exposed Moyes time after time after time.

Brian Waring
95 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:23:29
Weren't they saying the balls were changing through each round and when Oldham knocked out Forest they asked if the could have their balls, the same with the redshite. Supposedly they are going to use different balls again for the next round.
David Mockford
96 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:20:39
Michael (#887),

A manager makes a substitution late in a game, never been seen before, have we? But don't let that get in the way of your irrational hatred for our manager. You just keep slagging David Moyes off, you may as well take it to the max because you are not going to have the opportunity for much longer.

Andrew McLean
97 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:12:10
Ian 877- My interpretation is that some people want other players to be given the chance, in the sense of starting in the first eleven and not to be brought on when those that they are replacing have waned, grown tired, persistently performed at a mediocre level to which their salary demands claim they can play to.

Duffy was brought on with 2 minutes to go. 2 minutes to add to the 3 minutes he totalled up this season when brought on against West Ham.

Oviedo has started once and used as a sub 11 times, totalling about 220 minutes. He's been on the bench 21 times this season so far from (a minimum )total of 1890 minutes.

You are entitled to your opinion, as are others who choose to moan that some players, including Duffy and Oviedo aren't given the chances.

Dave Lynch
98 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:27:11
And if all you can do is pick me up on a league standing mistake ?
Andy Crooks
99 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:26:21
Ian #877, surely you are not suggesting that Duffy's brief appearance tonight was an answer to those who called for him to be given a chance?
David Mockford
100 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:30:47
In 1984 it took us three attempts to beat Gillingham!!
Paul Johnson
101 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:28:47
Can I have a pint of whatever Brian is on.

Don't see the point of trying to tactically disseminate a game against a team two divisions down as all they are going to do is throw the kitchen sink.

We're in the hat and we will beat them at home.

Peter Cummings
102 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:14:10
Only for Howard we would be out of the cup, three world class stops saved our bacon (for now) as we continued the depressing slide in form by too many players: Jelavic, Osman, Neville, etc, were pathetic... passing poor, possession given away regularly, and we were out-muscled at every turn by a managerless relegation candidated crew of no-hopers who showed more pride and a commitment we couldn't come close to matching, even if they got away with blatant fouling at the death.
Tony Marsh
103 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:27:59
ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES!!!

Yet again, Moyes is found wanting in a pressure game. Starting XI — what a joke. Like I said in a thread during the week, No Way would DM drop Osman when many of you thought he would. Shocking beyond belief and gives away early goal with a powder-puff challenge. Slow, no engine, can't tackle, losses every 50-50 challenge, gives away the ball at every opportunity, and looked out of his depth at Division 2 level.

Neville... FFS, why is Moyes the only man on planet earth who doesn't know Pip is finished? No Mirallas?Hoofball tactics... and bring on another defender with minutes to go, saying come on Oldham attack us at will until the whistle...

I could go on and on but I am too angry. It's Jack Daniels time as even after everything terrible we see under Moyes, there is always something even shitter just around the corner. Today, we turned that corner and Boy, was it Bad!!!

Brian Waring
104 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:29:46
Couldn't drink her stash Paul, it's all that "sip, gargle, spit, what do you think of that one" shite. The club she is in, they have turns going to each others house, volovants and all that crap and being from Page Moss (Now living in Berkshire, make that royal Berkshire, as my other half would correct me) well, it's a load of bullshit.
Richard Tarleton
105 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:38:24
Howard's a good shot-stopper, but on crosses, he's like a rabbit in the headlights. He panics and flaps and teams know it's worth crowding him.
Andrew McLean
106 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:35:14
On a lighter note, Gueye is getting a run out and got an assist today.
Ian Allaker
107 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:36:14
Paul, I don't think Neville should be in the team with a fully fit squad and I don't think he would be, but we don't have a fully fit squad, so with what we had available Neville had to play right back. People have already said on here Stones wasnt great for the under 21's so he was perhaps it isn't his time yet. The only other option was to play Jaggs at right back and Heitinga at CB against Smith, but I think we all know that would have been a non contest.
David Price
108 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:42:10
It's the FA Cup, these games have happened for years. Dodgy pitch, lower league side play out of their skins with nothing to lose, crowd go crazy with support and the officials get caught up in the magic of the FA Cup by missing an offside for the first goal and Howard getting blocked and barged by the portly Croft for the equaliser.

All-in-all, a cracking game, both sides deserve credit, end to end and in great spirit. Save the tactical analysis for the Premier League, it's the FA Cup and anything goes. Good news is, we are still in it and we will get through to Round 6.

Norwich away next, shit another tough one. Draw, anyone?

Paul Ferry
109 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:47:14
Fair enough, Ian (#920); your response makes a lot of sense.
Michael Kenrick
110 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:43:36
Yes, David (#909) of course we've seen it before. It's so obvious, it's almost pathetic in it's obviousness, to be honest. Does that mean it is always the right thing to do? Or am I unjustly interpreting Moyes's last-minute motive? I think not, but feel free to challenge my opinion.

His substitutions in the last couple of games have been praised to the rafters because they demonstrated his tactical brilliance in making game-changing decisions. And he did it again today... only it backfired massively.

If you're a Moyes lover, you're going to ignore it, point up how common it is as an accepted tactic or whatever, instead of accepting that at best it's actually a lottery, and at worst, in this instance, a mistake that arguably cost us a win. Go on, admit it.

Mike Oates
111 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:48:40
As I said on Live Forum after 5 mins , the pitch will be a real leveller, and it was. We couldn't get any speed into our passing, which is the big difference between the top and bottom clubs. Every pass took an eternity to control and by then we were outnumbered once again, aprticularly on our left.

Oldham played well but knew if they were to get back in, it would be through the high lump forward which worked.
I don't see how any team could have stopped their equaliser, it was apeach of a corner, Howard was well and truly snookered in and a giant of 6ft 6ins did his job and rose 12 in above anyone else. Some say it was a foul on Howard but it was debatable and Howard had no chance of getting through 3 bodies to get to the ball.

On another note, Ossie once again is outmuscled continuously and Jelavic whilst improving is still half the player he was a year ago. I don't think Mirallas fancies the rough stuff, both at Man U last week and tonight he was a bit hairy fairy- god help us against Stoke in a few weeks.

Robbie Shields
112 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:40:20
Didn't see the game, was too knackered to get up at 4am in the morning but here's how my morning conversation with my wife went after I'd looked up the score on soccernet....

Me "Everton drew 2-2, Oldham got a 95th minute equalizer"

Wife "Let me guess, Moyes brings on a defender for a striker towards the end of the game by any chance????"

Moyes is so predictable, stubborn, defence minded, dull, boring, slow and tactically inept as to be untrue. We've been crying out for Duffy to be given some game time, but Moyes seems to think he's not ready, so instead he brings him on in a high pressure situation for a couple minutes in place of a striker, thus inviting yet more pressure AGAIN! And as Michael pointed out, gives Oldham an extra 30 seconds game time.

Nick #891, can't believe I'm having to tell you this but...... Michael is being sarcastic. He has been slammed for saying it as it is by some on ToffeeWeb and so wrote the report with Moyes tinted spectacles on, get it? Nothing has changed, Moyes is still a tactically inept, defensive big game bottler.

Brian Waring
113 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:53:09
One thing I wanted to ask (as the ale is talking) Michael, why was your, straight to the point, how the game was was, report of the Man U game dropped for Lyndon's more mellow report.
Ian Allaker
114 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:55:02
My gripe with Moyes was his choice of substitutes. Where was Barkley, where was Vellios, where was Kennedy and where was Mcaleny? If we had gone 2 or 3 up it would have been the perfect chance to give them a run out and see what they have got. I might go to Southport to watch them on Sunday and see if any of them look better than Osman.
David Mockford
115 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:53:39
Michael

You make the point exactly, if they hadn't have equalised then it was a good substitution, the fact they scored means you want to say it was a tactical blunder. In reality it was neither.
A manager plays the percentages, most times slowing down the game when defending a lead is the sensible approach. Just because we ended up conceding doesn't make it a tactical blunder.... Shit just happens sometimes.

I know you love to pigeon-hole people as lovers or haters but to be honest I'm neither, just a realist who is happy to still be in the Cup and massive favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.

Barry Rathbone
116 Posted 16/02/2013 at 21:43:10
Strange one for me this I watched it with the commentary off because I had headphones on arsing round on the computer perhaps that distracted me because I thought we mostly looked pretty slick and determined.

Moyes had his "against the world" angry face back on doubtless fired by the criticism his "neither arthur or martha" declaration brought but there was a terrible predictability about the ending.

Essentially we have become a club as well as a team not good under pressure and Moyes is part and parcel, we'll beat them at GP.

Paul Johnson
117 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:07:34
Fair enough Ian.

Tony think the only thing that will make you feel better is apint of whatever Brian is on.

Paul Johnson
118 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:11:32
Ian forgot to add that I take it we both agree that Neville has had his day, should be shot and sold to Tesco or Findus.
Ady Haggar
119 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:08:22
It's great to give a lower league team a replay — they can use the money... and so can we!!!

I can't wait for the summer when Moyes goes!! I know Victor scored a decent goal but he really is poor... But sadly he does not win the 'poorest' player for us — that honour goes to Neville: he is shite beyond belief!!

So I hate it when Moyes gets his favs and keeps on playing them!! Oviedo should be in ahead of Osman, Hitz should be in instead of Gibson, he is shocking, how do people on here think he is good!!!!!

We need to get through the rest of the season, get in top 6, get in the last 4 of the FA Cup and then get rid of all people who want to leave and players who aren't good enough and a manager who doesn't want to be here and let Man City have him and all his negative tactics!!

I'm excited for next year!!!!

Mike Keating
120 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:01:09
Robbie at 925
When Moyes refuses a new contract can we have your wife as our new manager?
She seems to understand that footy is quite a simple game and you don't have to talk bollocks to be a manager
Not another replay against Oldham?
Been there before

COYB

Steavey Buckley
121 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:18:16
Why Oviedo can't play at right back instead of Neville, is another Roman Catholic mystery?
John Crawley
122 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:11:23
A draw was a fair result in the end. To see games out though surely the best way is to keep hold of the ball and not let the opposition get it? A glaring example of our failure to do this was when we had a free kick right by the Everton bench in about the 91st minute. It was taken by Phil Neville and it was obvious he was going to launch it long. I was screaming at the TV for him to just play it short and keep possession. I may have missed it but I didn't see Moyes telling him to play it short. Instead he launched it and within seconds we had lost possession of the ball. This is basic stuff! You have to practice keeping possession in pressurised situations and then do it in real games. That is how we should be seeing these games out against lower opposition teams in the last 5 minutes.
Andy Walker
123 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:22:55
Spot on John, I felt the same, we just got more panicky as the final whistle approached. It reminded me of Micky Lyons in the 70s.
Tony Marsh
125 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:18:24
Paul (#930)

After that horror show, I swear I am doing a full bottle of JD in tonite and half a case of Becks Vier. My missus has already gone to bed, she cant cope. My lad thinks it's funny watching his arl fella implode.

I can't wait for Moyes to go. Even if we have to rebuild and fight at the the bottom, at least it will be exciting and fresh. Our football now is a bigger turn-off than Dawn French in the nack. It's obvious that the players are now so bored and disinterested in Moyes's tactics that they are downing tools. Apathy is rife and there can be no way back as Moyes cant change.

Brian Page Moss you say? I am from Huyton and just to let you know there's not a boozer left from the old days. Quiet Man, Bluebell, Eagle etc — all gone mate... All the great players that came from these places could do better than some of our lot. That's why I am sitting in the house drowning my frustrations. I can't be doing with the Rose 'n' Crown aka Wetherspoons.

Nick Entwistle
126 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:24:46
Robbie 925 - thanks for feeling the need to point that out... it was a glowing report, but the team spirit of Oldham and the desire in such fixture against the big sides is what often gets the lower division side the draw or even win. That's the biggest leveler of all.

Ragggghhh Moyes out blah blah... only three months before he goes anyway!

Noel Lynam
127 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:35:37
Moyes brought Duffy on, assigned him to mark Smith on corners, which Fellaimi had been doing to good effect up until then. Duffy loses him, letting him get a run and header at goal.

After taking the plaudits for the Heitinga substitution working in the last round at Bolton, Moyes has to take the flak for this one.

Dominic Bobadilla
128 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:44:46
If Howard had stayed on the line, there would have been no equaliser for Oldham.
Roman Sidey
129 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:39:11
What I really don't understand is why he went to the effort of trying to sell us the "tired" card during the week, and then, against a team about 55 places lower than us, he plays pretty much the exact same 11 players as he did against the champions elect six days earlier.

Even the Apologists have to be seeing that he is becoming cancerous to EFC. His whole demeanor just stinks the place out. Whether he likes it or not, he IS the face of Everton, and is rewarded handsomely to represent a club that was around before he was. I have a theory that when the fans seem to be rallying for a certain player to be given time, he goes about choosing the most uncomfortable moment to do that, setting them up for failure to try to shut us up.

Jamie Barlow
131 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:50:59
"I have a theory that when the fans seem to be rallying for a certain player to be given time, he goes about choosing the most uncomfortable moment to do that, setting them up for failure to try to shut us up."

Do you really?

Moyes reads Toffeeweb and thinks "I'll show the MOB why Duffy shouldn't play."

Give us some more examples?

Mark Wilson
132 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:08:53
Quite a few lessons learnt tonight, sadly for me not Moyes.

1. Stop speaking up for Neville. Yes he is a fine skipper, good pro, real family man and cares about our club. But, he just isn't good enough for the first team any more and looked out of his depth against League 1 opposition. He's looked woefully short since returning from injury but I guess he had to play tonight. Stones being cup tied was a pain as I've a sneaking suspicion he may have got a game or at least been on the bench. I didn't expect this but injuries in that RB spot are a key reason we have struggled for weeks.

2. Osman has been far better than his critics guest but recently he too has looked out of place in central midfield. Gibson had to stay deep today to try and cope with the fact that further up the field we just kept losing the ball. Osman cost us their first goal losing a tackle in a crucial position. But he lost possession frequently and just didn't get a grip, thus the defence was under more pressure down the middle than expected. He needs a rest but Moyes just doesn't have faith in any of those on the bench or elsewhere......surely Oviedo can do a job next to Gibson?

3. Fellani has to play behind the striker. Every time he's moved back people say that's his best position. It isn't, it really isn't. He frequently ends up in three positions per game, often four or five ! He's best in a onward role and that's where we should leave him.

4. Mirallas makes a difference on the right but he hasn't returned from that very worrying injury in quite the same marauding form before the hamstring issue and I'm wondering if he's not quite stretching out.....but maybe with games that will come.

5. Yelavic is doing all he can to prove he's a one season...well half a season....wonder. Last Feb he would have buried that chance in the second half but he's not doing it right now and we do not have much in attack despite Victors efforts. Yelavic worked very hard against tough opposition, he ran and ran, but the service was poor. Unless we get back to giving him chances in the box or running across accurate passes to fire in first time shots I fear he's going to have to keep on running and running but to little effect.

And.....I think Moyes has put more pressure on a very thin squad with his delaying tactics over his new contract. It shouldn't make a difference but I think it already is, the media will never give it up now, his interviews will get increasingly grumpy and uncommunicative and somehow it gets to the team and fans. He hasn't helped with his 4th or lose me stuff. I really don't think we will collapse if he goes and there are three or four out there who can do a job even with our finches and an Adkins or Martinez may just see even a Fellani-less squad as very useful. In the meantime I've not given up hope that we can progress in the cup and finish fourth but the next month will decide all that.

Andrew James
133 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:40:07
I wish people would get things in perspective.

First half, they get some massively jammy goal on the break with a mis-hit shot turning into a cross. Big Vic then scores a pearler (most improved player this season?)

Half time we lost Big Vic and have to bring in the ring rusty Mirallas. Second half we're playing up a slope so that the opposition will get the rub of the green. Which they frequently did plus some very generous officialdom.

Yes, Neville was poor as was Jelavic. But I thought Baines, Fellaini and Jags all looked committed and worked very hard. I would have to blame Gibson for us being forced back in the last 5 minutes. While Osman and Fellaini were trying to move the ball forwards and keep possession, Gibson kept going sideways and twice conceded possession by dribbling in our own half?

But some of the criticisms above are ridiculous. Someone blamed Moyes for not bringing on a defensive midfielder? WTF? Who was on the bench that fits that description? We had our defensive midfielders on the pitch (Fellaini, Gibson and Neville) albeit Gibson was the one playing it.

Then we have people saying no other top Premier League sides would have played like we did? Eh hello? Oldham roasted the RS and Blackburn just did Arsenal away from home. Spurs lost to Leeds and Chelski were on the brink against Brentford.

GET A GRIP!

Andy Crooks
135 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:02:18
Noel #944, so Duffy is to blame? I was going to state just how ludicrous that post was but, you know what Moyes is unforgiving enough to his non-favourites to agree with you.
Steve Guy
136 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:04:36
Dominic, Howard kept us in the game.
Dominic Bobadilla
137 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:07:58
Steve: I was talking about the goal. I did not see the game.
Tom Bowers
138 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:55:51
Reading all these comments we all seem to agree on most points and they have ll been raised before but one man keeps on with his dogged stubbornness that is holding the team back. Moyes is past his sell-by date and I for one can't wait for the season end to put him in a taxi so to speak.

The usual suspects were at it again today plus a few new ones including Gibbo who looked a little slow. Granted the pitch was poor but so was Everton's control. The first Oldham goal was just abysmal from Everton's point of view. We were wide open and they could easily have stretched their lead before half-time.

Seemed to me Moyes didn't do anything to solidify and close the gaps. Even after Jagielka's goal we didn't look good and after Osman's pathetic attempt to head the ball in from one yard, I sensed Oldham were going to make us pay and even more so when Jelavic blazed one over later on.

Oldham deserved to equalise – if not when they did, certainly before.

Noel Early
139 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:48:38
Very doom and gloom on here which is understandable, we were almost in the next round and the mood would be vastly different.

For a change, I'll be optimistic: if we can't beat them at Goodison then we don't deserve anything.

But I'm beginning to get frustrated with Moyes; his demeanour resembled that of Jose Mourinho at Madrid... he has a look on him that he doesnt want to be there. Maybe I'm reading into his comments on Friday too much. But this is bound to have an effect on the players.

Name a manger that has had 11 trophyless years at a club and has been well compensated (highest earner at club). I don't think much of Kenwright or the board but they should demand an answer from Moyes Monday morning; if he is still stalling, pull the plug and get someone in that doesn't need to think twice about managing this club.

Also, Phil Neville's legs have gone — we can all see this... surely Moyes can? Jack Butland should have been bought in January instead of Stones because Tim Howard is just not a good enough keeper. Jelavic is turning into Fernando Torres... poor lad can't even control the ball. We need him firing again or we have no hope. Big Vic is a bright spot recently but can we see him being a top marksman in the years and months to come?

nb: This is me being optimistic.

Andrew James
140 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:11:42
Andy - think you're letting your bias for Duffy cloud that comment

We all want the kid to do well and we all hope he's better than Johnny but one area of the field that Moyes knows his stuff in is the centre back position.

You only need to look at Lescott and Jagielka to see that he knows his stuff.

BTW - how quick is Duffy? Our current style of playing higher up might be the reason for Duffy not getting in ahead of Johnny. That system only really suits Jags who is fast and reads the game well.

Paul David
141 Posted 16/02/2013 at 22:59:46
I couldn't believe what I seen today, other than a 10 min spell early in the second half we played right into Oldham's hands. Hoofing the ball at every opportunity, who's fucking idea was that?

Howard pulled off some really good saves but did his usual and fucked up on the corner.

Neville is so crap its not even funny no more, after todays 'display' I really would play the under 18's right back if Coleman or Hibbert are injured.

I've never thought Osman was a bad player but i've always thought he goes missing for large parts of the match and does so every week. Lately though he is very poor, missing for 85 mins of a match and constantly giving the ball away.

Pienaar is another one who has been poor for a long time now.

I've noticed Jelavic only works the flanks when he's the lone striker, which doesn't make sense. I'm sure the goals will come soon though as his movement is still good.

Jags was easy motm for me, he played very well, hoofing aside.

Si Cooper
142 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:10:02
Noel (#944) - just to back up Andy's comment at #955, Duffy was right with Smith and in a good position as the ball came in. Unfortunately, in this case Smith good a good early leap and was able to take a bit of a ride on Duffy, who was not in a position to do the same to anyone else. IMO just one of those things that sometimes happens.

I would class both their goals in the same way - both preventable but not to the level where you can really have a go at the defending, and credit has to go to the attackers as well.

Worrying for us was the inability to sustain pressure and create many more clear-cut chances than we did.

Patrick Murphy
143 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:07:48
I just watched the highlights and I can't believe that their GK got away with his Kung Fu style jump at the first corner. Dowd isn't doing the replay is he? He is another to add to the long list of officials with questionable motives when it comes to officiating Everton games.

Peter Jones
145 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:31:52
Oh well. Annoying but we'll kill them at Goodison honestly. Credit to Moyes for playing Oviedo and Duffy like a lot of us were crying for. Next step, Barkley.
Jay Harris
146 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:26:34
Brian
send me some of that Jack Daniels please.

After reading some posts we're out of the cup and will be lucky to finish 7th.

God help poor Wenger losing at home to Blackburn.

Andrew James
147 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:32:06
Si - what worries me is how shoddy Mirallas and Gibson have looked since coming back.

I hope it's just a case of being ring rusty. Because, if we want to progress this season, we need those two playing well.

Kevin Freaney
148 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:34:33
I'd just like to say, we never played well. Our lack of ball control is laughable. The amount these guys are being paid and we can't keep the ball against Oldham. It's just a joke. Skilled players my arse. Even my girlfriend, who hates football and did her best to find a pub without the game on (no chance) turned to me and said "why the hell can't your guys keep a hold of the ball, Oldham are going to score"...if she can see it and Moyes can't, well then leave that contract alone Dave.
Noel Lynam
149 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:38:22
Andy Crooks @ 955,

Did you actually read my post or just see Duffy's name and decide to absolve him of any perceived blame? Hint: read it again and see who I said needs to take the flak.

Si,

I don't agree that it's just one of those things. Moyes made a conscious decision to change who picks up who at corners and put a raw youngster onto Oldham's biggest threat. It cost us a victory.

Si Cooper
150 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:41:27
Andrew - I think (hope) it is a bit of rustiness, but it is not helped by the fact that some players we have relied on for mos to the season are also struggling (presumably due to the strain of having to carry the team when we were missing the likes of Gibson and Mirallas).

Lack of business in January was appalling and the manager is going to have to get creative when all of his squad are available.

Kevin Freaney
151 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:43:11
Btw, Howard shouldn't be at this club next season. Both goals were preventable. The first he should have cut out. He has no idea if he wants to go out or stay so hangs in the middle and his insistence to punch at corners cost us the last goal. As Neville Southall once said, if you can both fists to the ball then you can catch it. Howard is obsessed with punching and he went for it and flapped.

I would hate to be a defender playing in front of Howard. Jags tore him apart in the 2nd half and I can see why, he never calls the play, leaving the defenders panicking.

Si Cooper
152 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:48:15
Noel - you said Smith lost Duffy but he didn't.

Duffy was in the right position but had no-one in front of him in order to keep him in the air after an early jump. Smith is good in the air and had the advantage - sometimes you just have to accept that.

Roman Sidey
153 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:23:53
Yes, Jamie, that is what I solidly believe. I believe that Moyes trowls Toffeeweb for things to annoy us with, before logging onto Bluekipper to get his nightly compliments and arse kissing.
Si Cooper
154 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:51:51
Kevin - Howard got nowhere near the ball for their second because he was blocked off. The ITV pundits even thought it was a good shout for a foul, though I think that would have been harsh on Oldham.

As for the first, playing a ball to a man arriving at the back post (deliberately or by accident) is 'How to render the keeper impotent 101'.

Howard has faults and deserves flak for some things, but to blame him for the goals today is definitely over the top.

Dominic Bobadilla
155 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:56:56
It would be a good thing if the match reports contained a short and systematic evaluation of the performance of each Everton player. I am curious to know how Oviedo did today.
Paul David
156 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:57:49
Si

Maybe everyone on the pitch should be told to stay out of Howard's way. Of course there were bodies in the way but that doesn't excuse him flapping at the ball.

Sondre Haga
157 Posted 16/02/2013 at 23:33:12

Will Big Vic ever last 90 minutes again?
Will Howard ever again keep a clean sheet?
Will Jelavic ever score again?
How did Jelavic become Brett Angel?
Can Big Vic break a leg while sitting on the toilet?
Will Oldham Athletics outbid us in the transfer market this summer?

Si Cooper
158 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:06:20
Paul, he didn't get close enough to touch the ball and of course he is going to be waving his hands around in the air as he tries to get to it. If he had simply stayed on his line there is no guarantee that he would have saved it and he would have got stick for that as well.

I am not praising Howard, but to heap all the blame on him for either goal is ludicrous. Sometimes you have to accept that attackers will do things that we can't defend against, and save the moans for the more avoidable instances.

I have yet to see a goalkeeper who likes trying to claim a ball in the melee that happens at corners these days. Most don't bother, and just leave it to the defenders to deal with which still doesn't prevent goals from being scored. Howard is by no means the worst offender, it is just that he comes under more scrutiny by Evertonians than any other keeper in the EPL.

Kevin Freaney
159 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:15:14
Si, I can see where you're coming from on the first goal, but watch the replays, he dithers. That is a pass he should of smothered. As I said, he doesn't know whether to stay on the line or move out and he is left in between. He has cost us a lot of goals this season because of it.

As for the second, when I saw the replay I shouted out "For fuck's sake, Howard!" He flapped at it. He went for the punch and completely misjudged it.

He was a superb keeper for us, but this season he has cost us. Why we never went for Butland in the window I'll never know. Howard is now a liability and the defence in front of him know this and now they're shaky.

Darren Alexander
160 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:24:13
Fulham all over again - we stupidly go behind, then get ourselves into the lead by scoring a couple, then start to play a bit but - critically - still don't kill the game off. Jelavic is replaced by a centre-half at the death, and an equaliser follows seconds after. Was all too predictable in the end. We really shouldn't be trying to hang on against sides like Oldham. Let's hope we make a much more straightforward job of the replay...
Paul David
161 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:20:27
Si

If a keeper isn't completely sure he can get to the ball he should stay on his line. The thing that does my head in is in that situation a keeper never gives away a foul, they can barge everyone out the way to get to the ball, miss it and the ref still wont blow up so why does Howard show no aggression? If he is going to come for it he should knock players out of his way to get to it.

Andy Meighan
162 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:03:34
How anyone can blame Howard is beyond me. He kept us in it. And has been our best player for months. We'd be out the cup but for him.
Kevin Freaney
163 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:32:10
I agree Paul. If Howard had stayed on his line he might have saved that header.
Si Cooper
164 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:22:13
Just don't see it that way Kevin.

He is not dithering, he is doing what all goalies do. A keeper will 99 times out of a 100 look to cover his near post. Being beaten there is the cardinal sin in those circumstances. Covering the runs of attackers is the outfield players job.

I think you are misjudging how quickly a man can react and dive from a virtually static position in comparison to how quickly the ball moves. Keepers very rarely get to anything more than five foot or so away from them unless they are already moving in that direction and things on the ground and closer can be just as difficult to get down to.

I think you are applying similarly unrealistic expectations for the second. Sure he looked stupid because he didn't actually get anywhere near the ball but that doesn't mean he could have saved it even if he stayed on the line.

If the delivery of the ball hadn't been so spot on his attempt to get to the ball may have been successful, When the corner is first hit all keepers are guessing a bit and trying to anticipate where it will drop - get it right and you look great, get it wrong and it either doesn't matter because someone else clears it (or the attempt misses) or you look a wally as it nestles in the back of the net.

I think you are wrong because you are applying standards to Howard that most keepers are unable to live up to.

Peter Laing
165 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:22:15
After tonight I've had enough of Moyes's brinksmanship he may think that he can keep Everton waiting on his contract decision, at the end of the day he is a nearly man, regardless of the the stability he has provided over the past 11 years. The safest job in football, would any of the aspirational clubs that Moyes thinks that he could manage at put up with the shite that we have had to endure against lowly opposition over the years – and not one win away against the Sky four.
Noel Lynam
166 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:38:38
Si,

You say "Duffy was in the right position but had no-one in front of him in order to keep him in the air after an early jump."

If he needed someone to keep him in the air, then he jumped too early. Besides, he's not competing at a line out in rugby.

Perhaps I am being too harsh on him or perhaps my expectations of someone marking at a corner are higher than yours. Either way, it was avoidable had Moyes left Fellaini marking the big lad rather than switching with Duffy...which was my original point.

Kevin Freaney
167 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:40:44
Fair enough Si. As a keeper myself I saw alot of faults by Howard, but I see where you're coming from. But at the end of the day, over the season, you have to admit he is looking dodgy. Anew keeper next season could be a massive difference, question is who?
Andrew James
168 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:38:04
Si - I agree. The board has consigned us to the dustbin labelled "Nearly men" just like Johnson did when Royle left in 2007.

We have a good first 11 or 12 but certain positions are too old and we needed more than we got in August and January. Just a striker and a midfielder would have helped but our board got us nothing.

Moyes will go unless we win the Cup or finish 4th. He's basically saying to the board "these are the players you've let me buy, look at where that gets us. I'm off" And I cannot blame him. The only thing I don't get is where he will go?

Si Cooper
169 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:38:10
Paul, are you a goalkeeper or a goalkeeping coach, because I am pretty sure that a large part of the art of goalkeeping is trying to anticipate what will happen rather than simply reacting.

Did you see Jags goal? You know, the one where the keeper stayed on his line an got nowhere near making a save? If that was Howard there would be loads of people on this site criticising him for not even trying to get to it.

The guy can't win. As far as I can see, you think Tim Howard is worse than he actually is and that the vast majority of his contemporaries are better than they actually are.

Phil Sammon
170 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:34:25
How can you blame Howard for either goal?

Jesus! The guy has been poor recently but today he could do nothing about the two we condeded.

The corner was delivered into a good area and once it's there it's really a case of 50/50. Howard has a standing start whereas their lads are charging onto the ball. They won that one.

We weren't good enough today but the pitch was definitely a factor. I'm sure it will be a different game at Goodison.

Just about my only gripe would have to be Neville. In the last 12 months he has gone from a mediocre player to a liability. His legs have completely gone and he seems more determined than ever to avoid a forward pass. I'd sooner have had Jags at RB and bring in Duffy.

One more thing that's annoying me of late - when was the last time we launched a counter attack? Every time we take possession we go back before we go forward. EVERY TIME.

Lee Simpson
171 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:49:50
Well played, Oldham, and well played, Everton. Fantastic cup tie and more of the same at Goodison please. You are so tied up worrying about not winning, you completely disregarded the fact that Oldham gave it their all and made it difficult for the Blues. Just take a breath and enjoy the beauty of the FA Cup. We will win the replay comfortably.
Paul David
172 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:55:30
Si

I haven't said Howard would have saved it if he would have stayed on his line, I said unless he knows he can get to the ball he should stay on his line and there was no way he was going to get to it.

Terry McLavey
173 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:59:25
How the fuck does Jelavic get 90+ minutes!

Where is Vellios?

Was the last 20 minutes a homage to Walter Smith?

Wembley... Champions League... ??? — Do me a favour!!
Dominic Bobadilla
174 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:55:55
"One more thing that's annoying me of late - when was the last time we launched a counter attack? Every time we take possession we go back before we go forward. EVERY TIME."

You will find that the word "counter-attack" does not exist in Moyes's vocabulary; he does not know what it is. I haven't seen Everton launch a counter-attack since 1995. Still, I would say that Moyes's tactical ineptitude was surpassed by Walter Smith. Spurs down to nine men at Goodison, yet Everton fail to break them down. Very embarrassing.

Si Cooper
175 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:47:45
Kevin, you are a keeper! Feel free to tell me if you think anything I have written on the subject is bollocks.

I am basing it on my own very limited experience (five-a-side) and observation. I think I have a pretty good grasp of the basics but will defer to an expert.

I think the ability to anticipate correctly is a huge factor for any footballer (and in sport in general) and simply waiting and trying to react consigns you to the ranks of the ordinary. The flip-side is that you look really stupid when you guess wrong.

Replacing Howard with someone better is certainly possible but it is likely to be expensive and can hardly be guaranteed to be a success. He may not be the best but he is a long way from being the worst and replacing him would not be a top priority for me.

I have stuck to this opinion for a while now, but I was pleased to see that Neville Southall was saying the same sort of thing a couple of months ago. Can't tell you if he has changed his mind since then though! :)

Andrew James
176 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:05:44
Dominic - all of Anichebe's goals in the Europa league were counter attack

A heck of a lot of our goals in 2002/03 or 2004/05 were counter attack because that was how we played back then.

Si Cooper
177 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:05:49
Noel - have you looked closely at what happened for Smith's goal?

Smith was able to get up early and still be up there to head it in because he had Duffy in front of him to get a ride on. This sort of challenge is rarely given as a foul (unlike putting both hands on the opponents shoulders and using arm strength to lever yourself up) so you have to chalk it down to good play on the boundaries of what is legal.

Duffy didn't have the option to go up early (without someone to lean on he would have been down again by the time the ball got there) and so couldn't avoid being the fall-guy for Smith.

There is no reason to believe the same fate wouldn't have befallen Fellaini as the corner was an attacker's dream.

Simon Howett
178 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:32:59
Don't pass the ball to Phi he's f###ing useless
Kevin Freaney
179 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:29:25
Si, I was somewhat agreeing with you, no need for the sarcasm! Yeah, I'm a keeper, I was just saying from my point of view. But you have very valid points.

At the end of the day, yes it'll be expensive, but a new keeper next season may be the difference for us. Distin and Jags are not happy in front of Howard. Watch how many times they give him hell in a match for the rest of the season. As I've said, he was good....he isn't anymore

Dominic Bobadilla
180 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:17:40
Dup
Dominic Bobadilla
181 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:39:39
Andrew: Counter-attack entails the willingness to move the whole team forward at a fast pace. This dimension is wholly non-existent in the repertoire of Moyes, because he is no-risk taker. Moreover, most of our players are too slow to implement such a game plan.
Nick Waters
182 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:26:16
Moyes took a gun to a knife fight and shot himself in the foot.

His tactic of turning the game into attack-and-defence with the 92nd minute substitution was typical, predictable and ultimately the game changer. Depressing!

Michael Kenrick
183 Posted 17/02/2013 at 01:57:55
Post of the Day, Nick!

Or should that be Night!!?!

Si Cooper
185 Posted 17/02/2013 at 02:34:03
Kevin, genuinely no sarcasm so I am sorry if it came across that way.

I thought I had been caught with my pants down, so to speak, taking on someone who may have a superior appreciation than my own. I am relieved that you can see that it is a considered opinion.

Steve Brown
186 Posted 17/02/2013 at 02:38:50
We were pretty crap, but we are still in it. The goal wasn't Howard's fault but was the fault of the player marking the scorer.

Phil Neville is finished as a player and the rest of the team is knackered. FA Cup and/or CL? Yeah right.

That is all I can muster to say about that game after getting up in the middle of the night to watch it.

Peter Barry
187 Posted 17/02/2013 at 03:58:26
It's all becoming clear now – Daft Davey knows his trophyless 11 years at Everton are not going into any history book – except maybe the 'History of Safety First, Defend at all costs,Tactically Inept, Mediocre and Track Back, I'll play my Favourites no Matter What Football'

So he wants to make the history books as being manager of the team with the most pathetic draws in any one season... he must be well on the way to that achievement now too.

Memo to Dour Davey and all his sycophantic apologists – Draws don't win trophies or give you enough points to qualify you for the Champions League.

Harold Matthews
188 Posted 17/02/2013 at 05:05:58
Osman and Pienaar too weak, Neville too old, Gibson too slow and Mirallas over-rated.
Anto Byrne
189 Posted 17/02/2013 at 05:29:04
How many times has Moyes brought on a defender in the last few minutes and, hey presto! – we concede a goal? Why bring the kid on for 4 minutes? What does it achieve? Absolutely insane tactics once more.

He came out and said his players were tired. Solution is pretty simple: give them a three-match rest... it did Fellaini the world of good when he got a three-match ban.

Rotate the squad Mr Moyes, c'mon... give some of the kids a chance. We ain't going to win the league, 4th looks very remote. Keep your big guns for an all-out assault on the FA Cup. Hopefully we meet Man Utd in the final, that way we get into Europe. It can be Moyes's last Hurrah.

Derek Thomas
190 Posted 17/02/2013 at 07:30:23
Howard wasn't too bad - this game - for this season. But his season overall compared to previous is ordinary. Having said that, before they DID equalise he did stop 2 that with a bit better finishing could have made it 3-2.

Oldham, so make that everybody by now, targeted Baines and the left. Pienaar is trying ( or is told ) to both come inside and be with Baines, is doing neither very well and for most of the season has been average. Osman's form has slumped.

I was going to go through the lot but short version we peaked on the 1st game of the season.

Special mentions for Jelly, Heitenga and last but very least Neville, It's not his fault for being crap and getting crapper, it's Moyeses for picking him and by association Kenwright's and the Board for putting not one brass wazoo into the club.

Top 6, we're more like bottom 6 on current form. Thats how the Oldham / all FA Cup giantkillers get results by upping their game, getting the breaks playing stuttering out of form teams.

Moyes can stay for various reason...or leave for various reasons.

We will never know for certain what those reasons are and if the reasons actually stated at the time where the real ones or the diplomatic ones stated for public consumption.

My prediction; He will leave citing proper diplomatic reasons but be thinking...sod this for a game of solders.

To stay would be to accept the status quo sinecure.

Lol McNally
191 Posted 17/02/2013 at 08:42:32
As a manager, Mr Moyes is okay... but as for tactics, he is crap.

He will never be a great manager,

Mike Crawford
192 Posted 17/02/2013 at 09:38:19
So long since I posted,I had to be reminded of my user name. Something to do with being a Blue and crying as it turned out. Deja Vu. Watched game on TV trying to juggle football and work. My youngest son observed Oldham were " just lumping it forward" towards the end. " Ahhh meat and drink to a Premier League side" I said with a knowing smile. Ok the equaliser wouldn't have stood if that had been us in a semi final ( ask C Thomas) but if we defend from corners like that we might as well prepare for the Championship. Still, if we win the replay, draw Millwall at home in the Quarter Finals and go on to beat Chelsea at Wembley I'll see you all again in May. NSNO.
Wayne Smyth
193 Posted 17/02/2013 at 09:27:44
I think Moyes has crafted a team of losers bereft of confidence in their ability. All the talk of knives and gunfights and relegation worries till we have 40pts(despite being in the top 4), has obviously rubbed off onto the players. The team are told to look up to a guy who consistently gifts possession to the opposition at every opportunity or slows our play and he appears to be first name on the team sheet.

Yesterday was more of the same. Ask yourself this, would a team like Man U be hoofing the ball clear at every opportunity 2-1 up against a team two divisions below? Or, would they be passing the ball around, keeping possession, keeping the football away from their goal as much as possible. Can you imagine SAF taking off his only striker against a team 2 divisions below? I can't.

We do the same shit too often when we get a goal up. Take the foot off the gas, hoofing, panicking, gifting possession away easily. Giving the other team belief and momentum.

Credit to Oldham, they worked hard - especially in the last 20-30 minutes when their tails were up. They never played dirty like some teams do, either. However once we were ahead, the result should not have been in doubt.

I don't have any worries that we will qualify; I think a night game at goodison will be too much for them, but my beef is with the general mentality of Moyes and the team he has built.

Its one thing to go to a lower league club and they kick you off the park, stop you playing. Its another thing to bottle it completely and sit back on a 1 goal lead for half an hour allowing them to build pressure. Anyone seen that before?

Over the years Moyes and his team have consistently been shown to have no belief that they are better than the opposition and should be scoring more goals. Our attacks when 1 goal up are ALWAYS half hearted; our main problem being that we fail to commit enough players forward. That must stem from the manager and his tactics.

I think its the mentality that comes from having virtually all defenders on the management and coaching team. Safety first, no-risk mentality. Unfortunately, "no risk" is an anachronism and attempting to to take no risks almost always leads to failure.

I'll be glad when he goes.

Wayne Smyth
194 Posted 17/02/2013 at 09:55:57
On a positive note, Fellaini and Jags played really well yesterday. Thought anichebe did well too. Working hard and being really effective. Now that he's being given consistent time on the pitch in his natural position he looks to be doing really well.

Would've liked to have seen vellios yesterday; I assume Stones was cup-tied otherwise I'd have liked to have seen him given a game. Couldn't have been any worse than neville who was probably the worst player on the pitch.

Andy Meighan
195 Posted 17/02/2013 at 00:03:34
How anyone can blame Howard is beyond me; he kept us in it. And has.been our best player for months. We'd be out the cup but for him.
James Morgan
196 Posted 17/02/2013 at 10:17:27
I thought I would be best placed to comment after a good nights sleep rather than react straight after the game.

What a fucking joke! Hanging on for dear life against a fucking league one side with our near full strength team out?!
There were no particular stellar performances but the sheer lack of basic footballing ability from Phil Neville boils my blood. He consistently slows down every build up of attack, gets done for pace every time, can only deliver 'looping' crosses and is just simply shite!

I've no doubt we will beat them at home but we shouldn't have to be playing another game, it's pathetic.

Wayne McNee
197 Posted 17/02/2013 at 10:53:32
Yesterday's performance was an arse cheek clenching display of little will or wanting. Their last gasp goal ( that wasn't a goal ) was deserved & who could deny them? Not me.
On that raggedy pitch we fielded as good a team as available. A team in the top tier of the Premier League. This isn't the EFC of mid / late 2012, this isn't a squad depleted by injury ( missing Hibbert though I feel ) It's what we've got & it's not a lot.
Moyes has bottled it again. Give him his due, he's fared well until now this season BUT he now resembles a cautious man at the roulette table, unwilling to risk a chip more before going home, maybe venturing a risk on black or red to appease an audience?
The only 'old guard' that should be allowed to pull that shirt on is Hibbert. Osman should be coming on from the bench ( and I say that fully aware that DM likes the 10 min sub appearance, winning or losing ). Neville on the other hand should be as far away from the 1st team as possible. How can we progress with a captain that is the most incompetent in the PL? Don't we want a captain who leads by example or who at least completes a pass on a regular basis. You can see everyone ( including the team ) cringe whenever he gets the ball. Some of his basic decisions on the pitch are awful.
Last January, Jelavic came in & was allowed to carry on as he had up north. Knocking goals in like the natural goal scorer he is. Playing through the middle, there in the box for a crucial tap in. This season it's business as usual for an EFC striker... Midfield defence, on the wings. Every time I see Jelavic scuttling around the corner flag, I see Andy Johnson. I doubt we'll ever see a world class striker at this club ever again whilst David Moyes is at this club. I'm sure DM's reputation as a confidence killer precedes him in the goal scorers circle. Like it or not GOALS & those who score them are a fundamental part of this game.
The manager & to some degree the team have bottled it again. Even the managers approach to contract negotiations is cowardly & ill timed. I'd like to see him given Man UTD, Chelsea etc.. To tinker with & we'll see how far the patience runs there. There's a lot of people having a go at people with opinions like my own on here but we really must be the most patient fans around. 11 years!
Donald Twain
198 Posted 17/02/2013 at 11:34:46
Ian Wright has turned into Malcolm X.
Eugene Ruane
199 Posted 17/02/2013 at 10:52:47
James (080) feel/felt the same.

Thought it would be pointless to wade in last night as it would have been just bile.

I also kind of think discussing Moyes (go/stay/like him/don't like him) is geting pointless as (by now) just about everyone knows what everyone else thinks.

Same with BK.

As a general point, our inability to simply keep possession is imo the number one reason why we aren't getting the results I believe we should.

We basically treat the ball like a drunken sailor in a whore-house does his money, yet I never hear Moyes pinpoint this as a reason for a negative result.

Yesterday, we gave possession away time after time after time after time.

Why?

I mean why is our touch and passing SO bad?

The pitch?

Bollocks, we don't play ALL our games on Oldham's pitch

An exasperated "For fuck's sake" is what I tend to scream when we needlessly give away possession and I must have screamed it a hundred times yesterday.

I would genuinely love not to give Neville and Osman stick as I think they're both decent human beings, but they ARE the two biggest and most persistent culprits.

Osman we know DOES actually possess some skill, but one great game in 20 is NOT enough.

Neville's distribution is simply woeful, an absolute disgrace and that he is so regularly selected an even bigger disgrace.

("who would you have in his place?" - any fucker with two legs).

Unfortunately, what I think we REALLY need in the side is (these days) almost impossible to find.

I have said for a long time what we need is a real hard-case in there, a big mouth, nark who will drag those around with him. Someone who GENUINELY hates to lose a throw-in.

I saw Neville yesterday hit a ball that wasn't anywhere NEAR an Everton player and the response from his team-mates was...nothing, not a peep

Oh how I'd have loved a Peter Reid there to tell him "you do that again and I'll break your fucking legs".

(personally I'd have loved us to have gone for Nolan a couple of years back, he IS one of these types).

By the way, I notice many think we'll win the replay?

Well keep in mind the big dog's-arse pot-herb who scored their equalizer will probably start the game - Jesus, I can see the panic now.

Jeff Beaumont
200 Posted 17/02/2013 at 11:45:52
Gibson - at least two good chances to shoot from just inside the box,but chooses to pass instead.Not like him - has he been told not to shoot because of his dickey hip?
Wayne Smyth
201 Posted 17/02/2013 at 14:49:18
Well said Eugene, I agree completely.

Problem with players criticising Neville is that he's held up there by Moyes as the shining example of a pro. Criticising Neville wouldn't be far off having a go at the boss.

I can get up at 6am each day, do a bit of yoga, spend all day training, be first to arrive, last to leave and have the only thing that comes out of my mouth basically a paraphrase of what the boss says. Doesn't mean I should be playing football for a professional side.

Its a complete joke that he is in the team. I would much rather see whoever plays for our U21 side getting a regular game than see neville there. I'll accept the mistakes from a young player who isn't earning a fortune and has the potential to get better. I wont accept those kind of errors from the team captain who is earning £50k / week.

Unless it was a 5 yard back or side pass, almost every ball neville played was to the opposition. His floaty fucking crosses and "passes" are far too easy to defend against. Its embarrassing and his inadequacies set the tone for the rest of the side.

Mirallas showed what a proper cross was like when he took the corner for jags goal if I remember rightly. Thats what I expect from someone who calls themselves a professional playing in the top league of football.

As for Osman, I've got a bit more time for him. He was partly to blame for their first goal, but then he shouldn't be doing the job protecting against the counter because he's slow and small. Generally speaking though, his passes are ok, and he keeps the ball well and doesn't hoof it. We need more players with his technical ability.

Amit Vithlani
202 Posted 17/02/2013 at 14:40:56
Eugene, I think possession wise we have definitely improved this season versus last season, see attached link http://www.eplindex.com/20996/11-12-comparison-shows-everton-improvements.html.

However, you do make a good point about passing accuracy. We may enjoy more possession than the majority of teams, but our passing accuracy is well behind the top sides. This reflects the awful passing abilities of alot of Premier League teams.

This table


http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/3389/Stages/6531/TeamStatistics/England-Premier-League-2012-2013

shows us rank 8th in possession but well below that in passing accuracy. It definitely has an impact on tiredness and energy levels if we give the ball away.


Peanuts and Ossie and in theory are two of our more creative players, but even with them in the side we are just above mid-table in terms of passing. If they aren't contributing a great deal in terms of goals and assists, it does beg the question whether when both players are struggling for form whether we would be any worse off giving them a breather and freshening up the team with a Barkley or Oviedo in from the start.

Danny Moore
203 Posted 17/02/2013 at 16:24:55
I'm worried now after watching Everton of late. Conceading last-minute can become a habit.

Why, why, why does Moyes play Neville as left back when Ovideio is fresher, better, and looks hungry? Neville is old and finished. He had a shocker reminiscent of Heitinga. Moyes just won't give up on players out of form.

We have Vellios on the bench who I think, given those two chances Jelavic had, he would've at least converted one. Osman has ran out of steam; he needs a rest now — we have to play Barkley. Moyes needs to gamble on the kids the team is crying out for fresh impetus. What's he got to lose but more to gain?

Come on, Moyes, grow a pair of balls. Let's fuckin go for it! I'm begging you now. If not, fuck off and let Brain Laudrup take over. I'm absouloutly bored of watching this shite lately... long balls, misfiring strikers, slow shite defenders... miserable stuff! I'm fed up.

Eugene Ruane
205 Posted 17/02/2013 at 16:48:28
Amit (135) we certainly improved second half of last season and the start of this, although I personally take very little notice of the stats.

The problem imo with stats is they tell you one thing and your eyes tell you another.

Example.

If I stood three yards from you in midfield and under no pressure, we quickly (let's say for our own amusement, immediately after kick-off) passed the ball to each other 20 times (each), the stats would say 'Eugene 20 passes made, 20 passes completed, Amit 20 passes made, 20 passes completed'.

If we did nothing else in the game, we'd both have 100% pass completion success rate - our stats would look great but we'd have contributed nothing.

Those reading the paper would be saying "Eugene and Amit's pass success-rate is fantastic" while those actually watching us would say "All they did was shitty little passes between themselves, then nothing, they're shite".

Martin Mason
206 Posted 17/02/2013 at 17:47:47
Eugene, yes but in the real world?
John Gant
207 Posted 17/02/2013 at 18:01:26
Get in, turnip boy! Good draw if we prevail....
Nick Entwistle
208 Posted 17/02/2013 at 18:04:33
.... bring out the knives. Table knives. You don't want to hurt anyone.
Amit Vithlani
209 Posted 17/02/2013 at 18:06:08
Eugene, I have two left feet (metaphorically speaking, before the PC brigade gets involved), so if I completed 20 passes to you I would do a lap of honour. I do take your point mind.
Brian Abbott
211 Posted 17/02/2013 at 19:24:34
Please proceed immediately to the latest forum following the quarter final draw. With a reasonably favourable following wind and a modicum of good fortune we now have the FA Cup sown up.

What the hell all the preceding comments are about, who cares??

Please digest with a healthy dose of sarcasm. It might even be worth comparing names and comments between the two forums.

Re the game last night, playing with a beach ball on a potato field is bound to be a bit of a leveller. Lets face it, in reasonably normal circumstaces we would beat this team comfortably. However I would sleep easier in my bed if I knew that Neville retired this morning and Heitingha had taken up cheese making professionaly.

Eugene Ruane
212 Posted 17/02/2013 at 20:03:33
Hullo Amit, mah name is David and ah look in on TW occasionally , just tae get an idea o' whit supporters are thinkin'. Anyway ah noticed yoor post, 177, in which ye state that ye have 'two left feet'. This got me interested and wonder if ye could make it along tae Finch Farm wan day next week. Ah'll no go intae details on a public forum but bring yoor boots - DM.

PS: That Mason feller, whit a fuckin' baw-bag!

Tony J Williams
213 Posted 17/02/2013 at 21:11:09
Just can't stop laughing at Jag's goal. I prefer not to think about the rest of the game.
Wayne Smyth
214 Posted 17/02/2013 at 22:13:07
Martin, in the real world Neville does exactly what Eugene has just described. Watch him.

Someone passes to him. Rather than look for a forward ball he'll pass it back to the originator about 60% of the time and about 40% of the time the ball goes backwards.

Nevilles pass completion rate was alledgedly very good, look closer and you actually see it's because he's a waste of space that never takes any risk whatsoever.

Vijay Badhan
215 Posted 18/02/2013 at 02:01:49
Why is everyone talking about bringing Hibbert back in place of Neville? They are both rubbish players and have never been good enough for Everton. Coleman is the only decent option at right back and Oviedo is better than weedy little Ossie but Mr Moyes will keep picking these players because they are "Good hard working professionals and play anywhere on the pitch that they are asked to — but it doesn't change the fact that they are all piss-poor players.
James Fletcher
216 Posted 18/02/2013 at 10:04:41
Was Stones cup tied? If not I'd like to see him in the replay in place of Neville.
Andy Meighan
217 Posted 18/02/2013 at 10:40:33
Tony (#941)

I'm from Two Dogs myself and you're right, apart from my local, The Oak, and The Swan up Kingsway, there's not a boozer to be found. Thought you were a bit harsh on Spoony's though. Friendly staff, cheap enough ale, and the food's alright as well if you're looking for a cheap meal. I might see you in there one time. Mines a lager, pal!
Roman Sidey
218 Posted 19/02/2013 at 19:15:19
Nick Waters
"Moyes took a gun to a knife fight and shot himself in the foot."

Perfect. Michael, you need to somehow get this phrase onto the OS, or somewhere that will be seen by the club.


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