That's tackling – northern style...

Kev Johnson
1 Posted 17/04/2013 at 15:07:48

I loved DM's post match comments in response to Wenger moaning about us being too physical: “Do you mean when we were a little bit rough with the tackling? Up north we do that quite often. That's actually allowed in football.”

Brilliant! I have often complained about DM's communication skills and approach to interviews, but that comment is superb. Nice one, Moyesie!

James Flynn
2 Posted 17/04/2013 at 16:44:09

Wenger always cries. What's new.

Our boys went at them. Poor babies.

Paul Ellam
4 Posted 17/04/2013 at 16:47:34

Moyes says it as it is as he does in most cases!
Nice to hear

Paul Gladwell
5 Posted 17/04/2013 at 16:53:34

Classy by Moyes, makes Wenger look like the tit he is, he also made a great shout about knowing someone who does not see many incidents, with regards to Mirralas on Wiltshire in a swipe at Wenger.

Paul Andrews
6 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:01:22

Well said David,fuck them.
Dope on talk sport Adrian Durham "Everton tried to stop them playing,I would have liked David Moyes to just play football " I bet you would.

Paul David
7 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:05:05

Gibson should have been booked for the block but shouldn't have been booked in the first place. I think he got himself booked, it looked as if the ref was letting the game go on but as soon as Gibson threw his arms up it was like an admission of guilt and that was good enough reason for the ref to change his mind.

Kane Green
8 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:11:47

Funny that. I don't remember Wenger complaining about 'tough tackling' when Adams, Vieira and Petit were in the same team.

Patrick Murphy
9 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:17:43

When you consider the constant fouling against our players at Goodison Wenger has got a cheek, I don't think Everton made any tackles that were cynical or dangerous but it will make it even more difficult in our remaining 3 away games. It's good that Wenger is upset as that means he thinks we remain a threat, but like Ferguson he knows how to manipulate the situation to suit himself.

Moyes is right, but he shouldn't have said anything about how Northern we are as we have to play 3 out of our last 5 games against London opponents, it will only upset the London press and they don't need an excuse to give us stick. As for Jack Wilshere he was the one trying to hurt Barkley but came off worse, I thought he was a decent lad but he showed his true colours last night.

Alan Humphreys
10 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:24:23

The Arsenal lads screamed more than a bunch of teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert. Wilshere especially.

We tackled hard and well and to be fair to the ref (after a shaky start) he allowed it.

Whingeing southern softies !

Kevin Hudson
11 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:27:03

Wenger gets a nosebleed every time his team play anyone north of Watford.

The cynical patrician also ruined Andy Johnson's career, and has "never seen," anything remotely detrimental to his club's reputation.

No trophy in 8 years, so his lying, bleating, manufactured outrage is simply mis-direction..

Barry Rathbone
12 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:11:48

Read any of the london clubs forums they all have us as cloggers it's a "rape and pillage" fear going back to Danelaw times.

"they don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring don't like it up 'em" .... obviously I exclude their women particularly those caravaning near Herne Bay because we had the balance spot on.

It was a real good game between 2 matched sides and Wenger is miffed because he simply refuses to acknowledge what Adams, Bould, Keown, Veira, Petit brought to his sides resulting in his potless trophy cabinet thereafter.

Our boys would beat their boys 6 times outta 10 on last nights showing.

Nick Waters
13 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:44:13

I think a 0-0 against Arsenal Ladies is not too bad a result.

Brent Stephens
14 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:46:35

Arsenal Ladies - love it!

Barry, I assume Herne Bay holds good memories for you! I can see that caravan rocking now.

Barry Rathbone
15 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:50:16

Brent lets just say Kent and the local environs doesn't get mentioned in our house when the missus is around .... the perils of young contractors with a bit of cash, away from home and time on their hands!

Mike Oates
16 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:53:41

Even Arteta was moaning and swiping the imaginary card
He's become a softie, didn't take long

David Greenwood
17 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:53:18

Arsenal seemed to think that any challenge on them was a foul, never managed an actual tackle. Any time we went near them over they went, screaming and rolling around.

I got the impression watching the game that they expected us to stand back and admire them playing football, how dare we have the temerity to actually challenge them.

Typical Wenger, wants it all one the one way, constantly in his favour. Seems to have forgotten about the game at Goodison earlier this season.

As far Barkley/Wilshere challenge, as mentioned above, Wilshere was the one trying to do Barkley, but came off worse. Good on you Ross.

I'm sure Wenger has had over 80 red cards in his years in charge there, double standards from the myopic one.

Brent Stephens
18 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:02:56

You dirty bugger. Rock on, Barry!

Ajay Gopal
19 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:00:58

Nice comment, Moyes. So that rules you out of the Spurs & Chelsea jobs ?? :-)

John Gee
20 Posted 17/04/2013 at 17:51:21

I wonder if Wenger thought Wiltshere went over the edge when he called the ref 'a fucking c**t'? I suppose in light of Wiltshere's taxi driver antics it's small beer. As for him being England's great white hope he's going to get managed by opposing players who will interrupt his game and tiny thought process so easily.

I watched on TV last night. Every time the camera went to the managers Moyes was usually shouting instructions while Arsene Vinegar tits was berating the 4th official. Did that guy think that the points should just be awarded to them? A midfielder tackling one of their players? Well I never!

Message to Arteta: Congratulations, you took a pay cut to play for a prick.

David Greenwood
21 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:18:24

Oh and one other thing Wenger, the worst tackle of the night was Giroud on Coleman.

Want to talk to your mates in the southern press about that one?

Peter Warren
22 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:29:46

Loving watching us at the moment. Frustrating not to get the wins at either spurs or arsenal but liking out style of play and commitment. To say Baines has been our worst of the back 4 shows how good we're playing. The only shame is Jelavic is looking awful - we desparately need a striker

Wayne Smyth
23 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:20:13

David, I didn't think Giroud's tackle was that bad, but I do agree that Arsenal were embarrassing to watch, falling over like they'd been poleaxed at every opportunity, even when there was barely any contact.

To be fair, Pienaar and Jelavic do it for us, but Arsenal seem to do it to a man and then berate the ref if the decision doesn't go their way.

Anyone saying we went there and kicked them off the park or were overly physical is basically wrong. We played good football on the deck for about 70 minutes and we looked almost as dangerous as them. I was chuffed to bits about the performance for most of the game, and the fact that we didn't play with a defeatest mentality.

I thought barkley looked very good. I can't think of any possible justification for leaving him out of the side for so long. If he can play away against a very good Arsenal side and produce such a good performance, then he should've been playing bits of first team football regularly for the last 2 years, but it was nice to see him being given some games at last.

The last 20 minutes we seemed to stop what we'd been doing and started to resort to long balls and not getting forward in numbers, but that aside I was very pleased with yesterdays performance. Doesn't do our CL hopes any good, but perhaps has given the players the belief that we can go away to richer sides and go toe to toe with them rather than sit with 11 men behind the ball for 90 minutes.

Shaun Brennan
24 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:36:29

i live down south london and can fully testify, the lads are like bitches and talk like professor green.

Wayne Smyth
25 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:39:21

Peter, if you wached Jelavic closely, you'll have noticed he did a lot of running, chasing, playing in the channels and spent very little time in the important areas of the pitch.

He's not a anichebe type of player who can shrug off big central defenders or use pace to get behind. He's a one touch finisher who is generally quite lethal in the 18 yard box.

Its not his fault he's being asked to do things which he's incapable of doing.

Richard Dodd
26 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:48:34

A colleague in our Glascow depot said to me when Jelly came here,`He`s a goal poacher don`t expect much else`.If that`s right and he can`t work outside his comfort zone,he`s not the man for David Moyes...or Everton!

Patrick Murphy
27 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:50:59

Apparently its the 125th Anniversary of the formation of the football league and despite our travails in the PL, we remain a top 4 club in the overall standings.

Rank Club Played Won Drawn Lost Goal Difference Points

1 Liverpool 3901 1800 974 1127 1640 5220

2 Arsenal 3900 1753 1009 1138 1500 5159

3 Everton 4284 1746 1070 1468 734 5055

4 ManU 3544 1688 869 987 1569 4975

For more details and any data freaks there is a whole pile of information on the Guardian's website http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/datablog/2013/apr/17/football-league-125-years

Paul Gladwell
28 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:58:52

I thought Jelavic played well when he came on, infact I would start him at the weekend, he looked fresh, he chased and won balls up front and in defence, Anichebe was poor last night and spent his time sulking and instantly losing possession, he's done we'll of late but part of the problem last night that we had was his problem in him not holding the ball up good enough.

Frida Ericsson
29 Posted 17/04/2013 at 18:59:26

I was one for calling time on Moyes, but I have to say what a turn around its been for the blues over the last couple of weeks. Last night, I suppose like a lot of fans thought we'd just roll over and gift them the points, but we stood tall, and played some really good football. Pity we didn't get the 3 points.

The performance last night is what I want from any Everton team, guts, determination and a will not to be beaten. Absolutely fantastic stuff.

Well done Moyes on calling out Wenger... absolutely spot on!!

As for Champions League, I think that is going to depend on Chelsea and Spurs. Chelsea win tonight it's going to be extremely difficult to get into one of those places.

Would we accept Europa League footie? I may be wrong, but isn't 5th place the only open league slot to qualify for it? If so, isn't it going to be just as hard to finish 5th as to finish 4th with current points of the teams above us?

Brendan McLaughlin
30 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:00:59

Interesting Patrick #525
Does our goal difference suggest that we've always had something of the KITAP1 mentality?

Patrick Murphy
31 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:07:04

Probably but we used to score goals for fun in the 20s and 30s Brendan, the other little nugget was when they formed the league they were going to have 1 point for a win and nothing for a draw or a defeat, I wonder where we'd be in the PL this year with that system?

Paul Gladwell
32 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:03:43

I would just like Anichebe to live up to this myth that he is some big hard case tough forward, as I have never witnessed a football get bullied and knocked on his arse so much and cry so much and for someone so big score or win headers so little.

Richard Dodd
33 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:04:32

All very well if you wish to live in the distant past,Patrick, but the truth is that Man Unt and Liverpool dominated `modern `history before the moneybags clubs appeared. Thanks to Moyes,Everton have been the best `pound for pound`club in the recent Premier years and that`s in spite of having a useless Board.

Denis Richardson
34 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:11:25

For once I'll actually take my hat off to Davey for his post match comments here. Brilliant!

We did give out some crunching challenges a couple times but most were fair and the ones that weren't got a free kick or yellow. Wenger likes to moan in public when things don't go Arsenals way, always a good sign for the opposition.

Funny how other fans see games though - a mate of mine who's an arsenal fan reckons we 'parked the bus' last night. I asked him how that was possible when we had more possession in the first half - surprisingly got no response....

If we keep playing with that intensity we'll win a few of the remaining 5 games...

Dan Brierley
35 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:05:38

Wayne 523, just out of interest, what do you think Jelavic should do when a ball goes out wide? Just ignore it and let it go out of play or to a defender? He is the front man. He should try to hold up the ball, and bring others into play. Instead he runs into dead ends and loses the ball. As much as I hate him, look at that twat suarez across the park. He runs all over the fucking pitch for the cause, scores and plays in others. You see Van Persie with 20 goals, AND 8 assists. Top strikers don't just sit around waiting for chances, they also have to support the team when not in possession or the box. In my opinion anyway.

Paul Gladwell
36 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:19:35

Denis, I think we are seeing and different and better side of Moyes of late due to a bit of balls getting shown as we need results, would he of put subs on with a forward thinking like he did last night ? he would normally have thrown Heitinga on instead of Jelavic to go for a draw and no way would he have started Barkley not too long ago.

Patrick Murphy
37 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:20:16

It's not the distant past Richard it's the complete history of the game encompassing all of the games played by all of the clubs who have been in the top flight. it might not mean a great deal in the modern era, but it is still factually accurate, not full of spin or hype, the fact that Man U have had 20 years of unbridled success and we are still above them in terms of points gained is I think significant. The one area that you can criticise the Club for is the number of titles we have won. Liverpool and Man U have both had unprecedented periods of success and I can't see once SAF leaves United any team in the future dominating to that extent again.

But hey we're lucky to have a manager who keeps us in the top flight!

Gary Poole
38 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:45:37

Classic, understated comments from Moyes. Wenger spent the entire game whinging to the 4th official.

Solid tackling from the Blues and, for the first 15 minutes, I thought we were never going to get any decision from the ref. In the end though the ref stayed strong to resist all the screaming for Gibbo to go.

Moyes was right to sub Barkley after he was booked (Apart from the first 15 or so Barkley was excellent - does that make Moyes approach with him wrong or right - another thread, I think!).

Wiltshire, whilst looking a great player, is a snide, moaning git who looks like he thinks nobody is allowed to tackle him - so I'm happy we clogged him!

An excellent performance from the Blues and it keeps our european hopes flickering.

Here's to Fulham tonight and lets get 3 points on Saturday.

Mark Frere
39 Posted 17/04/2013 at 19:36:28

Dan brieley 533
It all depends on the strengths and qualities of a striker. Jelavic doesn't have the same qualities as Suarez and Van persie, they both have world class technical ability and can link up play much better. What Jelavic is good at, is getting on the end of things and scoring. Jella just needs to stick to what he good at and play to his strengths. Just look at Gary Linerker in 1986 as a prime example

Kevin Tully
40 Posted 17/04/2013 at 20:25:06

Fellaini never gave them a minute to settle in midfield, and poor Arsene has seen his arse. I know we are all saying sell him for £20m on here, but don't underestimate how versatile Fellaini is.

A guaranteed 10-12 goals if playing more forward, and not many can live with him in that destroyer role, lying deeper.

He would be difficult to replace, and a big miss if he goes.

Peter Mills
41 Posted 17/04/2013 at 20:38:22

Any player who squeals or screamed when he is tackled should be yellow carded, just for being a tart.

Kevin Tully
42 Posted 17/04/2013 at 20:47:51

Big Nev just been on Sky Sports saying 4th went out of the window when we didn't make any signings in January - he is the only ex-player who will tell it like it is.

He would still be a great goalie, he would fill the goal he's that big!

Ian Bennett
43 Posted 17/04/2013 at 20:48:33

Kev - I thought Fellaini was very good. He will be a miss. I am sure we will get some good players in, just a shame we are sell to buy, rather than build and buy like the rest.

Mark Frere
44 Posted 17/04/2013 at 20:55:03

Kevin Tully,

I've got to agree with Big Nev there. We endured the worst month of the season in February, strait after transfer window fiasco. 4th was in our grasp and BK and the board fucked us over again!

Mark Dunford
45 Posted 17/04/2013 at 20:13:40

Agree with David Greenwood - the tackle on Coleman was dreadful. Ball had left the pitch and he just went through with two legs from behind. Stupidity.

Barkley was great and also gave the ball away in a dangerous position. He doesn't seem to be intuitive in the way of really classy player. This may come with time and confidence - he does look like someone worth keeping in the team. The good outweighs the bad by some distance.

Moyes clearly told them to play on during half time team talk. Lo and behold Arsenal had fewer rollers in the second half. The centre half recovered very quickly at one point.

Howard, Jags and Distin were all fantastic. Really good to see Arteta acknowledge the Everton support after the final whistle.

Kevin Tully
46 Posted 17/04/2013 at 21:43:04

The problem is Mark, the Board see 6th as a major success, where as we only see a missed opportunity for that coveted 4th spot.

I have been critical of Moyes in the past, and still believe he is a safety first manager, but him leaving may the only way these charlatans can be removed from the Boardroom. Moyes has been a human shield for them for too long, and BK will be shitting himself if he leaves.

This League seems to levelling out slightly, and it is certainly not as lopsided in quality as it was when the Sky 4 ruled the roost. 2 or 3 good signings can give a team a chance, as we witnessed with Newcastle last season, and Spurs are now a top 4 side, without spending ridiculously.

Selling Fellaini & Baines without re-investing,and a new manager coming in like Hughes may see us slide alarmingly down this League. We cannot trust the men in charge to make the right decisions unfortunately.

Wayne Smyth
47 Posted 17/04/2013 at 21:53:10

Dan(533) see Mark's post, which is basically what I'd have said too.

Also, I'd wager that both the RS and Man U support their striker(s) far more than we do. Often there can be a huge gap between our frontman and the midfield, whereas those teams will be committing men forward, making the job of the guy holding up the ball much easier.

Finally, strikers rely on confidence more than any other player. They need to be putting the ball in the net to play well. Jelly may be more of a team player than he was last season, but that has screwed up his goalscoring, and I know what I'd rather he be doing.

I will agree that if we want a hard working striker, we probably need someone far more mobile. But Moyes spent £5M on Jelly in the knowledge that he hasn't got much pace and we should be either playing to his strengths, or getting rid.

Mark, I'd not be too harsh on Barkley for one or two mistakes over 70 minutes. I can't think of one of our players who didn't give the ball away in a shit position last night. Arsenal are a good team and I thought Barkley retained possession superbly and created one or two things which few of our players were capable of.

His passes were accurate and well weighted, which is far more than can be said to some of our passing last night from Pienaar in particular who I don't think did very well.

Considering Barkley has had no first team football of note this season, I think it speaks volumes for his ability that he can come into the team and look one of our better players.

Mark Frere
48 Posted 17/04/2013 at 22:02:29

I'd like Moyes to stay and just get that little bit of investment he's never had. I'm not asking for some silly rich arab owner to come in and give Moyes 300 million to spend, because that represents everything I hate in football.

Its a real shame the board can't just back Moyes a little because we are so close to challenging the top teams.

Eugene Ruane
49 Posted 17/04/2013 at 22:32:06

Peter Mills (543) - "Any player who squeals or screamed when he is tackled should be yellow carded, just for being a tart."

There may never be another post I agree more with (and wonderfully put).

Steven Telford
50 Posted 17/04/2013 at 22:25:29

That’s strange, must have went to Specsavers, because usually Wenger "Doesn’t see it" Oh but wait, that only when an Arsenal player does something sketchy.

I think if we had a real (in form) striker, we could have finished 3rd this year. Better refereeing would have helped.

I hope to God David Moyes stays, because even if we don’t make it this year, with a bit of money in the summer (ie, please a fucking striker), bring Barkley through, hang on to Baines (maybe keep MF, if not $$$$)... get KM fully fit, maybe Stones comes through, get the best out of Coleman, Distin hang on....

All that with a couple of new faces and that's a team for which we can feel some optimism. But Moyes is key to all this: 11 years hard work, come on, don’t lose heart, every intelligent fan should look at the results we have got against the top 4 teams and throw their support behind keeping Moyes.

Eric Myles
51 Posted 18/04/2013 at 01:55:34

Richard #531, you seem to forget that, when the 'modern game' was invented by Sky, Everton were still more successful than Man Utd and had just had a brilliant run in the 80s and were considered by many the best team in Europe.

Jason Lam
52 Posted 18/04/2013 at 02:17:52

Credit to Moyes, he set up his players. Now more of the same against the shite please.

Paul Hardcastle
53 Posted 18/04/2013 at 04:19:40

Steven (564) — "every intelligent fan should look at the results we have got against the top 4 teams and throw their support behind keeping Moyes."

Hahaha — a jester in our midst. Isn't there some shocking statistic floating around... perhaps it has evaded your 'intelligent' powers of observation.

The man has unerringly failed to win a single game at the home of any of the original top 4 over the entire duration of his miserable tenure at this club. City in recent years can be added to that stack on the back of his cringeworthy capitulation, shamefully citing "knives to a gunfight" last season.

Let's see if he really wants to stay, or is finally calling time on the Blues, so we can have a fresh start, hopefully under someone who shows a little less respect to our peers and understands that good football isn't centered on defending; it needs to be balanced with some guile and pace in attack.

Jim Harrison
54 Posted 18/04/2013 at 05:03:48

Sorry Paul 593, Everton's record against Man City since the big takeover is probably better than any other teams. The form has also started to change. A few years ago Everton got muled every time they set foot on Arsenal's home ground, now they are competitive.

The record against the top four is lamentable, as is the lack of a cup during that time, but over the past decade Moyes tenure has seen the team become competitive and actually have a chance of finishing in the european places. And now the team has players with value, if Fellaini goes there will at least be money in the pot, 11 years ago there was barely a player of worth in the squad.

Henrik Lyngsie
55 Posted 18/04/2013 at 07:45:28

Completely agree Jim Harrison. This season so far 10 matches against the other top 7 teams. 3 victories, 5 draws and only two losses. A more than decent record. But more importantly some 3-5 years back we were nowhere near to match the top teams. Now we are competitive against all of them. I reckon they are not looking forward to meeting us. In my book, we have made major progress in the way we are playing and in the way we are competitive.

David Donnellan
56 Posted 18/04/2013 at 07:52:49

Was there a really bad challenge in the game? If so, I must have missed it. As already mentioned by many on here, all I really saw was a lot of rolling around & play acting! Yes, there were fouls committed by ourselves, nothing I would call a really bad challenge.

I listened to that idiot Durham on Talksport last night, does he really understand football or has he ever kicked a ball before?? He said he was disappointed with Everton's tactics & wished they had gone to Arsenal & played football. Arsenal must have been wearing blue the first half, as the team in blue were playing the other team off the park in my book!!

He obviously has a preconceived idea of what kind of team we are & his mentality only allows him to see us in that light, rather than observe what is actually happening in front of him.

Paul Norman
57 Posted 18/04/2013 at 09:03:00

Patrick (529) - we'd be in exactly the same place in the table, as would everyone down to 11th place.

Patrick Murphy
58 Posted 18/04/2013 at 09:06:37

Thanks Paul, I assume that means draws are little better than losses in the overall picture.

Paul Norman
59 Posted 18/04/2013 at 09:28:39

Patrick, it would appear so. However, if you went with 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw we'd be one point above Spurs, 1 behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

I appear to have too much time on my hands.

Ben Dyke
60 Posted 18/04/2013 at 09:26:56

It's been interesting that since the Wigan debacle Moyes seems to be a normal person again. No more arsey interviews, no more whining or self pitying nonsense. To me either he's made his mind up that he's going so he can just relax now and enjoy the push for top 5 without worrying about the consequences so much anymore, or he's been in to Billy, had a right go, got the monkey off his back and been told he's got £25m to spend in the summer.

But either way, he seems to have got his schizzle together for once.

Steven Telford
61 Posted 18/04/2013 at 10:34:16

Paul #593

Ah yes, this fresh start that you are taking about. What type of manager will you be requiring? Will it be by any chance be a guy who is proved to be able to take a financially constrained team into the top 4? A guy who is proven to find value for money in the transfer market. If so, there are not than many out there. In fact, do we have the only guy who has actually proven to be able to do that? If so………..

"Change for the sake of change" seems to me to be the slogan of the those who favour replacing Moyes. Sure, it’s not impossible to do better, but the odds are so highly stacked against us, it’s like going to the roulette wheel and betting everything on green.

Andrew Ellams
62 Posted 18/04/2013 at 12:05:48

Wenger's remit is to remove tackling from football which is why he hasn't signed a quality defender or ball winning midfielder in years. He is the reason Arsenal don't win trophies. Wilshere is a nasty little chav cut from the same scumbag cloth as Terry and I suspect that somebody is going to do him properly soon. He looked very much second best against Barkley the other night.

Anybody remember a petulant Fabregas getting sent off at Goodison a few years back becuase he didn't like playing with grown ups?

Also, do we now have to call Big Nev, Big Big Nev?

Derek Turner
63 Posted 18/04/2013 at 12:12:46

Moyes exhibiting a little wit.

Everton giving some competition away from home at the arse.

Wilshere being made to cry.

I may have to rethink my decision to personally drive Davy down to the dole for his period of reflection in the summer.

COYB

Derek Wadeson
64 Posted 18/04/2013 at 12:46:00

So the only way the great media loveables Arsenal can beat Everton is to hope we get a player sent off. As I said to an Arsenal supporter on the phone this, how your standards have fallen.

Paul Andrews
65 Posted 18/04/2013 at 13:15:45

I think the point regarding David`s tactics at times this year is obvious. A lot of fans are saying he has got us competitive against the big sides, let's not get too carried away with that one just yet: still no wins at the usual suspects.

My problem with David is he has underachieved with the players we have. As the pro-Moyes fans argue "He has got us competitive against the big teams" and you are right... Imagine where we would be in the table if we went for the lesser teams this season with the same energy we went for the top sides?

You can all name the games this season where we have dropped points due to sitting in when leading, taking a forward off instead of going for the 2nd killer goal, and a lot of them were against teams in the lower regions of the table. In my opinion, we should be at least 8 points better off.

Ross Edwards
66 Posted 18/04/2013 at 13:32:17

Ignore anything Durham says or anything said on TalkSport, just biased attention seeking idiots who think we should listen to their opinions.

Ross Edwards
67 Posted 18/04/2013 at 13:33:40

I did like the Moyesiah's comments though.

Drew O'Neall
68 Posted 18/04/2013 at 13:39:03

I was at the game on Tuesday and my fear was we'd do what we usually do at Arsenal and just stand back and let them play, well 'no more' I tell ya.

They seem to understand there is actually something worth playing for and they're not going to fit the mould of plucky, punch above their weight, fall in to line for the Sky teams, allowed to challenge for the UEFA places Everton any more.. I hope so anyway.

Paul Dark
69 Posted 18/04/2013 at 22:59:57

I must say, I thought we were quite physical in the first half, uncharacteristically so. Don't think Gibbo should've been sent off, though. The second challenge was innocuous, in my view.

We must win at Sunderland; it will be a very difficult game.

David Donnellan
70 Posted 19/04/2013 at 08:46:25

Ross #655

You are spot on about Durham, unfortunately, I do tend to let it wind me up!

Kev Johnson
71 Posted 19/04/2013 at 10:44:38

What the hell is Wenger on about now? He's come out and said that physicality is one of the strengths of the English game! Silly man.

Check it out... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22212276

Andy Meighan
72 Posted 19/04/2013 at 12:21:58

Great comments from Moyes about whinger's comments. I also loved the line about the Mirallas-Wiltshire incident. "I didn't see it." there's someone else who always says that, isn't there. Quality, Davey!

He was right. What did he expect? For us to sit off and just let them play around us? Nah, don't think so, whinger. And the antics out of that overrated fucker Walcott when he got fouled knocked me sick... rolling around like some La Liga prima donna bellend.

In response to an earlier post about that arsehole Adrian Durham slagging us off, this is the same cretin who just before Redknapp took the QPR job, was shouting all over the radio, "I'll bet anyone now if 'Arry takes the QPR job, I'll guarantee they'll finish above Spurs!" — spot on there, wasn't he?

On a different note, I see the nominations are in for PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards — and, surprise surprise, there's not one Everton player in there. Must be because we've been languishing near the bottom of the league all season hey. Laughable. It really is.

Paul Hughes
73 Posted 19/04/2013 at 16:45:15

More interesting though, is if you award 2 points for a win across all the games - so those with recent success aren't boosted disproportionately - it puts us comfortably ahead of Arsenal, and only 12 points behind the RS.

We should be able to knock those off by Christmas.

Mind you, I wouldn't like to see average points per season, we'd be down with Northampton Town and Carlisle.

Tony J Williams
74 Posted 19/04/2013 at 17:18:20

Andy, the best thing regards the player of the year nominations is that Welbeck in there in the youth section with his massive 1 goal in 25 games. A striker with 1 in 25.....what's not to like?

James Flynn
75 Posted 19/04/2013 at 22:00:41

Regarding points total, how about something radical, like measures put in to minimize games end in draws?

The most backward, "traditional" sport in North America, hockey's NHL enacted changes to minimize draws and that was 12-15 years ago. The fans adjusted quite well.

Win - 3 points, Lose - 0 is fine. It's the: "Wow, what a game"! "Was it? Who won"? "Who won? Well,um, nobody.", part of the game needs to change.

Dennis Stevens
76 Posted 19/04/2013 at 22:18:39

Why does there always have to be a 'winner', James? Sometimes a draw is fully deserved. I have on occasion left a ground in raptures after witnessing a superb nil-nil draw. Having said that, there are also matches such as our visit to St Mary's this season when a point was more than either side deserved!

James Flynn
77 Posted 19/04/2013 at 23:09:55

Dennis - A draw is how the game ends, nothing more. Games do end in draws. I accept that. But I'd like to see rule changes that minimize them. That's all I'm saying.

"What a Game!!!!!!" "Was it?" "Damn, I didn't see it. Who won?" "Well, nobody won the game".

Something wrong there.

Dennis Stevens
78 Posted 19/04/2013 at 23:34:16

No James - there's nothing wrong there at all. What would be wrong would be some artificial contrivance to determine a 'winner' when the match has clearly ended in a draw. It's bad enough we have to suffer this in cup football where the need for an immediate result increasingly rules out the option of replays.

Gary Poole
79 Posted 20/04/2013 at 00:16:54

Anyway, I think we're talking about footie (as opposed to soccer) - so it's 3 points for a win, nothing for a defeat and one point for a draw. It's the way we do things this side of the pond......

James Flynn
80 Posted 20/04/2013 at 01:00:52

Dennis - The draw might be inevitable. Even the NFL acknowledges a draw might happen. But it doesn't have to stay in its current form for no other reason than, "It's always been that way".

And there's been many "artificial contrivances" over the years or should we return to the leather-bound football? Your complaint against the new one is what exactly?

The old off-side rule re-instated perhaps?

Refuse entry to all the foreigners infecting the English game. What do you say?

Shit, let's go for broke and force England to use its ancient name for the game, soccer.

James Flynn
81 Posted 20/04/2013 at 01:14:46

Gary - Footie it is. We Americans hold England's tradition. We still call it soccer.

Tony J Williams
82 Posted 20/04/2013 at 02:01:32

James, nothing wrong with saying no one won at all, it was a draw. Not really an unusual concept is it?

James Flynn
83 Posted 20/04/2013 at 02:16:59

Tony - A draw is a reality. No question. Games can end in draws and have. Would just like to see something done to minimize them.

I'm busy with work 7 days a week right now. As soon as I get a few minutes, I'll write an OP on it and post.

Tim Jones
84 Posted 20/04/2013 at 05:14:16

If only, if only - if we had played with the drive, passion and positivity we showed against Arsenal in all the other draws we would be sitting proudly in second or third place now. For that lack of drive and motivation there is only one person to blame and that is the manager.

Dennis Stevens
85 Posted 20/04/2013 at 18:13:55

James - I haven't & am not saying don't change because "It's always been that way". My view is that at the end of a match the result should be representative of what actually happened during the match. That's why I prefer cup ties going to a fourth replay rather than going to penalties straight after a bit of extra time.

I have no complaint about new footballs & don't consider technological advances in equipment to be an "artificial contrivance".

The laws of the game have always evolved, often to deal with unforseen tactical approaches to playing within the laws as they stand at any particular time - again not what I'd consider an "artificial contrivance".

Football is a world game so there's nothing 'artificial' about foreigners playing it - the earliest professional teams imported loads of talent from north of the border, but 'foreigners' are a bit more exotic nowadays.

You are quite correct that the term 'soccer' is English in derivation, dating back to the 19th century, being a product of the same type of public school / university slang that also produced 'rugger'. The term was in common useage when I was a lad, but seems often now to be sneered at as an Americanism - probably due to it's widespread useage there so as to differentiate from what we would call 'American Football' [I think Americans often mistakenly refer to the latter as 'Football' - similar to thinking 'Hockey' is played on ice, I suppose - 2 countries separated by a common language, eh?]

Why do you want to minimise the number of draws? What method would you use? If we are to see games decided by penalties or 'golden goals' as per recent world cups why not forsake the match altogether & go straight to the exciting & decisive bit instead?