As they did a year ago, Everton took on Chelsea at Goodison Park looking for their first victory of the season, but it rapidly turned into the wrong kind of goalfest. There was added intrigue with Romelu Lukaku facing Chelsea for the first time but new signing Samuel Eto'o, released by Chelsea, was kept on the bench alongside Besic, Gibson and Stones. Steven Pienaar was ruled out, though, along with Ross Barkley, Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo, who were all recovering from injury, while Christian Atsu (on loan from Chelsea) could not play against his parent club.
It took only 34 seconds for Chelsea to take the lead in their first attack, Fabregas playing in Diego Costa who slotted with ease through Howard's legs to give Everton a massive, massive mountain to climb. Jagielka was claiming offside but it was marginal at best.
Inside 3 mins later and Everton were 2-0 down, Chelsea's next attack again ripping the Blues defence apart with a good ball behind the Everton back line. This time it was Ivanovic a little more marginally offside (along with two other Chelsea players!) but still not enough for the linesman's flag, despite a volley of verbal abuse, Howard was again made to look like anything but the US Secretary of Defense.
Everton reacted to the double setback with some determined but ineffective attacking, only to see Chelsea again switching play at speed, a long ground ball forcing Howard to advance clearly out his area to collect the ball in his hands in front of Costa, but this time the linesman (behind the play) gave Everton a huge benefit of any doubt.
Everton won their first corner on 15 mins, taken by McGeady, Lukaku heading onto the bar, coming off Distin and eventually bundled in but Distin was offside at the time of Lukaku's header. Naismith had a low drive from distance, just a yard wide.
A super run into the box from Coleman typified the good Blues response to a shocking start, his cutback well placed for Naismith to shoot but the Scot's strong effort was blocked away as the possession stats built relentlessly in Everton's favour. However, vigilance for the possibility of a quick Chelsea break was essential.
Barry won a good 50-50 ball but got called for it, much to Everton's annoyance, Fabregas firing the ball over everyone to Howard, as the poor call gave Chelsea some rare possession. Everton pushed back, Coleman forcing a second corner, which curled behind before coming back in. Mirallas powered in a good third corner from the other side but it was headed away.
After Jagielka allowed Hazard to run around him far too easily, Fabregas almost scored, Distin deflecting his shot just just past the other post with Howard stranded as Chelsea threatened to punish the Blues with a third goal. At the other end, Chelsea were defending solidly, and keeping Everton at distance, Mirallas trying to curl one around Courtois but from too far out.
The next attack summed up Everton's problem, recycling the ball repeatedly across and back, too many players with their backs to goal and unable to push the ball in, without getting it anywhere near the Chelsea 6-yard box until possession finally broke down. Something special was needed to open up a very disciplined Chelsea defence that seemed to revel in the challenge to "Break us down, why don't you?"
Jagielka was too easily dispossessed and Costa was played in again, this time clearly onside but called offside by the linesman as his shot beat Howard and hit the post. A nice move just before the break finally produced the desired result, a textbook header for Mirallas off a great Coleman cross put Everton right back in the game.
No changes at the break and Everton came forward well, Lukaku playing in Naismith, but just behind him, the ball coming back from Mirallas to the big Belgian striker who wellied it high over the Chelsea bar. Everton were pressing with determination, and Baines won a corner off a lively-looking cross but it was taken short and no-one was close enough to the second ball, as Samuel Eto'o started his warm-up on the sidelines.
Mirallas won a free-kick that was powered in superbly but Distin was rather uncharitably called offside. Everton again allowed Costa in on goal, but this time a massive stretch by Howard saved an embarrassing third goal as the action and tempo of the game increased to fever pitch, Costa again beating the offside trap to fire low as Howard saved.
Diego Costa got into it somewhat with Coleman and saw yellow after upsetting a number of Blue-shirted players, and the two carried on, Coleman needling the Premier League newcomer something rotten. The Everton crowd were really enjoying it despite the scoreline, as many joined in to heckle the visitors long and loud, Everton winning the little tussles on points.
A free-kick powered in again by Baines won another corner in front of the frothing Gwladys Street as Eto'o was readied to come on, and another corner conceded by Chelsea but again not put to good enough use by the Blues. Martinez gave the starting team a few more minutes as they had responded well to his half-time 'inspirational talk', Lukaku almost turning a defender but getting called offside.
Everton kept pounding away at Chelsea but Mirallas wasted a great free-kick opportunity, putting the ball into the Chelsea wall. Once again, Lukaku's first touch let him down horribly when he had a chance to break through the middle. Hazard was then allowed to waltz down the byeline and slot in off Coleman for an own-gaol that bobbled in off the far post. Something again involving Costa (retributive words to Coleman?) got Howard riled enough to earn a card in the aftermath, and a few minutes later, Naismith scored for the third match running, McGeady advancing through the middle and setting it up perfectly for Naismith to put the Blues back within a goal of Murinho's rampant Yellows.>
Chelsea grabbed a fourth as a shot deflected off Jagielka and in off the post. Then Eto'o scored a fantastic header off Baines's excellent free-kick. Astounding stuff! Chelsea calmly played around a bit until Ramiers ran past a static McCarthy to fire home Chelsea's 5th in an incredible spell.
Into the final 10 minutes and Everton were stunned by Chelsea's resilience as they kept coming back. A fantastic move, started by Lukaku, saw Coleman play in Mirallas and a clever flick going inside the far post until Courtois made an incredible save.
An overly zealous tackle on Ramires by Naismith summed up Everton's determination to get back into contention with time running out as Drogba came on. Martinez finally brought on Besic for the final minute (Why?) but his ridiculous first-touch backheel flick gave the ball away straight to Costa who waltzed through to make it 6-3 for Chelsea. Bewildering madness.
School of Science? Or the new Wigan?!? Some criminally horrendous defending by Everton the only consistent theme developing after such good season stats last time.
Scorers: Mirallas (45′), Naismith (69′), Eto'o (76′); Diego Costa (1′, 90'), Ivanovic (3′), Coleman (og:67′), Matic (74′), Ramires (77′).
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Naismith, McGeady (89' Eto'o); Lukaku.
Subs: Robles, Alcaraz, Stones, Gibson, (89' Besic, Osman.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta (89' Drogba), Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic; Fabregas [Y:81'], Matic, Ramires [Y:64']; Willian, Hazard; Costa.
Subs: Cech, ( Luis) Zouma, Mikel, Schurrle, Salah
Referee: Jon Moss
Attendance: 39,402
Reader Comments (185)
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2 Posted 30/08/2014 at 16:42:04
3 Posted 30/08/2014 at 16:55:21
Plenty of options there if Gibson is fit to come off the bench.
Ossie is in his preferred position (for me) these days - potentially coming off the bench to make an impact with 20 mins to go.
Besic and EtoÂo could make debuts if we need them.
Hopefully both come on with us 3-0 up in injury time.
Come on you Mighty Blues.
(Still think we may need a keeper and a CB with the number of games weÂll have to play this season).
4 Posted 30/08/2014 at 17:08:45
5 Posted 30/08/2014 at 17:10:12
6 Posted 30/08/2014 at 17:20:28
If getting new players in was so important, and judging by the concerns of fans expressed on here, it was front and centre, day-in & day-out for the last three months, yet the biggest game of the season so far... and still we are relying on the old guard to get us through the first hour. I just donÂt get it.
I know I shouldnÂt say anything before the game... and I hope itÂs not something we will be talking about at 7:30 this evening, but it just bugs the hell outta me.
7 Posted 30/08/2014 at 17:36:52
8 Posted 30/08/2014 at 17:41:58
And as for the start to this game, my god!! Martinez, tactical genius — my arse, heÂs totally tactically naïve as he so clearly showed against Leicester and so appallingly against Arsenal last week!!
9 Posted 30/08/2014 at 17:45:14
10 Posted 30/08/2014 at 18:10:15
If Arsenal can come back from 2-0 down, we must surely do so at home if we have any top 4 ambitions.
Conceding 6 goals so far in less than 3 games... and we sell a young centre half??????
11 Posted 30/08/2014 at 18:29:29
12 Posted 30/08/2014 at 18:46:11
If you ask me, Phil Jagielka, the so called captain, is by far the defensive weak link so far this season. Yes, Distin is knocking on and has always had a defensive cock up in his make up but JagielkaÂs performances thus far have been nothing short of shocking.
13 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:03:29
14 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:05:16
15 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:12:32
16 Posted 30/08/2014 at 18:06:03
17 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:05:15
WE have become Wigan at that back!
Stones should be on, jag should be benched, and another centre half acquired.
McCarthy- unforgivable for his role in their 3rd goal.
Lukaku...............can you please show up? Lean something from Eto, in the few mins he had he was 10 times the player Lukaku was today.
SERIOUS issues with our central defence need to be addressed
18 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:14:14
19 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:13:14
20 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:20:10
Just over 48 hours of the transfer window left. Any clues which positions we may need to reinforce?
And 2 goals in the first 3 mins is appalling. Sort it out.
(And please donÂt say it was a ÂphenomenalÂ, Âincredible etc. From an EvertonianÂs point-of-view, it was not.)
21 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:20:35
Disgraceful defending..................... 10 goals conceded in 3 games — there is a stat that speaks for itself.
22 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:25:19
23 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:27:45
24 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:28:03
25 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:30:02
26 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:29:52
27 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:31:07
One-season wonder and doesnÂt know how to defend with his teams!!! We look like conceding every time from a corner, free kick or open play — it was just too much!!!
McCarthy was shagged after the 3rd goal but he still kept him on, McGeady... say no more!!!
28 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:34:31
Not so long ago we had a manager who hated attacking, now we have one who hates defending. WhoÂd be an Everton fan?
29 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:33:23
I am sticking my neck on the line and saying this team this season will put a trophy in the cabinet. I have witnessed many Everton defeats at Goodison and some proper hidings; todayÂs game wasnÂt one of those where the team didnÂt perform. I agree with Jags letting the side down but I canÂt say I thought Distin had a poor match. Mirallas and Naismith were outstanding for the Blues.
30 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:33:45
This defensive patheticness needs to be sorted out by Martinez but whether he sees it only time will tell.
31 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:30:11
Sorry to say this but Jags and Distin are both finished as premier league defenders. And so is Howard - the difference in class between Howard and Courtois was night and day.
Just when we think that the attack is sorted out, the defence begins to unravel. You gotta love being an Evertonian!
Stones and Alcaraz to start the next game for me, we got to rebuild from the back.
32 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:26:56
The good that IÂm hoping can come out of this game is the unquestionable fact that we have a real weakness in the centre of our defence. We need to make concentrate all our efforts on finding a solid centre back as Distin and Jagielka, despite being fabulous servants for the club, are looking past it. I was concerned about our forward line, but the signings of EtoÂo and Lukaku have remedied that, now we need to take a long hard look at where it is going wrong at the back!
The late goals were more a product of the game being played at a frenetic pace with passions running high, but the first two were diabolical and showed a real lack of organization and decision making, especially by Jagielka for the first.
IÂm not looking to blame all our woes on Jagielka, he has been superb for us over the years, but for me the World Cup proved that time has caught up with him and he just doesnÂt have the sharpness of hind or aerial ability to be considered to top class defender. Still a useful player, but we need a leader (I hate to say it, but a John Terry character) who will command the defence. We just seem to be all over the shop when teams come at us with pace and we lack organization when defending set pieces.
I think Jagielka and Distin can both still do a good job, but they both need a partner who can control the game. I believe that in the future John Stones will be that player, but we need someone right now and we canÂt expect a twenty year old to fulfil that role, he needs to be learning from an experienced player himself.
Who do we bring in?
33 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:31:40
Attacking we looked good but half a team wonÂt win enough games.
I really do have this nagging worry which has persisted from Day One with Martinez - 10 goals in 3, the worst defence in the League so far, is truly Wiganesque.
Big test for Martinez over the next month or so.
34 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:39:19
Martinez, sort it out!!!
35 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:35:39
If I hear another phenomenal shit.. phenomenal... phenomenal... phenomenal... I will go nuts!!!
Oh yeah, get a new fitness coach — embarassing!
36 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:38:56
IÂm afraid what we have just witnessed will be the REAL Everton team. Jags is shite, Distin is getting on, bless him, IÂd be happy to right this season off if he addresses the shite defenders we have and buy in quality ones. That way itÂll give them a season to adjust to the prem (if we buy outside of the BPL).
IÂm afraid my love for Martinez is diminishing, quickly.
37 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:40:10
ThatÂs how bad things are.
Not an over-reaction.
A blind man in a darkened room with a bucket over his head can see that the defence is crap.
ItÂs not hindsight either.
People have been saying it on here for weeks.
ItÂs not poor squad but expectations have been heightened and weÂre falling way short.
Last seasonÂs defeat at Anfield will seem like a happy memory unless action is taken soon – in the form of a strengthened defence.
38 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:37:03
And you canÂt blame anyone but Besic for the 6th. Confidence is great but you donÂt do that in that position.
39 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:46:20
40 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:49:25
41 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:40:39
Yes, defeat hurts... and yes, we have a problem at the back, but IÂm proud that we went for it and didnÂt just batton down the hatches trying to keep the scoreline respectable. We believed we could get something out of the game, even against a well-organised Chelsea defence and we threw everything at them. Yes, it was naïve but we believed we could do it. I have no doubts that we will sort out the problems and will emerge from this a stronger unit!
As for BesicÂs insane backheel (or whatever that was), it was his first touch and IÂm sure nobody will be more distraught than him. IÂm sure he has the strength of character to put this behind him and show what he can really do next time.
43 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:43:28
44 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:45:45
Sorry to all the TW knockers but this team is on the up.
45 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:50:43
46 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:52:37
47 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:50:57
48 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:43:47
LetÂs just look at what might have been.
Chelski – second goal offside. 2 goals scored via the post, including very unlucky (no bias) own goal.
Everton hit woodwork twice. Offside goal correctly disallowed.
Fantastic performance by The Blues (except for central defence and goalie). CanÂt feel disappointed after the most exciting home defeat since............. Chelsea (as they were known in those days) winning 3-4 (from 4 shots at goal) back in the 80s.
49 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:49:07
Okay, now for some positives:
EtoÂo! A brilliant acquisition... one touch – one goal, fabulous.
Naismith - wonderful footballer, and what every Everton player should aspire to be in attitude.
Barry pulled the strings in Pirlo-esque manner.
Martinez has the whole winter break to sort out the defence. We surely canÂt do worse than Stones and Alcaraz.
50 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:51:03
51 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:39:36
Jagielka and Distin, sorry your time is up. If we have any money left, a central defender to play alongside Stones. McCarthy has looked distracted since the start of the season, he was dreadful today. If Man Utd will take you, James, then please go as you clearly have had your head turned.
Lukaku, garbage, Roberto was clearly joking when he suggested we would have paid a lot more for him, I think the Belgian coach had it right.
As for Howard, please decide you do want to join Cahill in the MLS. With the exception of his one save from Costa, he was shite. Slow off his line and made no effort with any of their goals. No idea who is available out there and our reserve goalkeeper is no better, maybe Ruddy?
As mentioned above, we have turned into Wigan.
52 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:38:25
Lukaku? Well... what do you do? If EtoÂo were fit, IÂd say rest Rom. HeÂs just not at the races.
As for McGeady? Show-pony that needs to cross instead of running into brick walls.
Finally, Kev, I love you, but please, let Baines get back on free-kick duty.
53 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:38:28
We played well. We scored 3 and it could have finished 6 each but they had a better defense than we did and thereÂs our problem.
We need defenders, especially CBÂs. Get a couple of younger quicker CBÂs and weÂll be a match for anyone. DonÂt ask me who we should get because I have no idea. But I do know we have two days to get them.
54 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:28:09
Oh for 10 more Naismiths.
55 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:55:26
Some really good shifts put in by Coleman, Baines, Naismith, Mirallas and EtoÂo was quality when he came on. At least the fitness issues have subsided.
56 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:55:33
Mirallas also had a good game and was unlucky not to beat Courtois, that would have been a real game changer! Naismith also put in a warrior like display to be proud of.
57 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:55:25
58 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:56:42
I have to disagree slightly: I donÂt think they were trying to keep the score respectable until the last 5 or 10 mins. I reckon they believed they could get something. Some teams will be looking at that and be worried about playing us.
59 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:58:05
Even under the defensively sound Moyes, we still got crucified a few times: 6 against Arsenal, 7 away at Arsenal, 5 away at a poor Villa side, 4 at home to bloody Bolton... etc.
We do need to improve but we have also played some good stuff at times this season. Maybe it is Âsecond season syndromeÂ? But I still believe we will do very well under Martinez.
And I thought EtoÂo looked really sharp today, even still had some pace.
Chin up, lads. Long way to go.
60 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:27:57
The thing that worries me now about Jags/DistinÂs apparent decline, is how much is down to age and form, and how much is coaching and tactics.. 3 minutes into the game and conceding 2 goals youÂve got to say its the latter!
I donÂt think we need to panic just yet, there were some positives. It was an entertaining game despite of the scoreline. I just hope that now weÂre into bobbyÂs second season we donÂt totally lose the defensive sensibilities of OFM and become a Wigan, albeit a better one! Who the plaudits will love but weÂll end up in mid-table.
61 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:33:18
What to do then? Give up, sit back and loose 0-2, maybe 0-3? Or give it a real try, join the show, push forward and risk conceding more?
In the Moyes era, we would have continued in the same balanced system and the players would have mentally given up.
Today, we give it a real try, played some awesome attacking football at times. Scored 3 goals against a really good Chelsea.
To concede 6 goals is not good enough of course, but still personally I would rather see an Everton team go for it than limit the loss. This way, we learn more these matches as we can take both positives and negatives from the game.
62 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:54:38
We do not have a creative midfielder and under this management we may not get them but they better smarten up because in the Europa league away goals can count double in some circumstances.
Scoring goals is great but, in the Premier League, good defences win games.
63 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:01:47
Howard didnÂt handle the ball outside the D, he handled it outside the penalty area. The D is not part of the penalty area, Ajay. Very lucky to stay on, Howard. He had a poor game today.
64 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:45:45
After watching the game, I think we do need to get a replacement for Jagielka, he was dreadful. The heart is willing but heÂs lost a yard of speed and his reactions are slowing too. He also looks very uncomfortable with playing a passing game. Lukaku was also atrocious, today. If heÂs injured he needs a rest and rehabilitation to get fit because we canÂt have him only 80% fit all season or we and him are going to suffer.
Another player who just is not good enough is unfortunately, McGeady. He gave the ball away so many times by trying to beat his 1st man and then just couldnÂt be bothered to try and get the ball back immediately. Just put his head down and stopped running, he needs to be replaced.
On the plus side we did score 3 very good goals against, who I believe will win the league this year. But if we want to get champions league football this season, we are going to have to get our defence sorted out because if we donÂt we will beat the poor, average and good teams but struggle against the very good teams.
65 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:04:41
66 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:00:40
67 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:06:50
68 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:50:06
Something is not right with McCarthy hope the contract situation isnÂt affecting him. Really hope they sort him out soon. Naismith is our star so far this season and McGeady/Mirallas had a good game. Howard needed to save that first shot from Costa. They werenÂt all his fault but once again when we needed him to step up he disappeared. I think he used up all his saves in the Belgium game...
And now Bobby: Bringing Besic on in the 88th minute! It makes no sense! The Moyes effect on the defending has worn off IÂm afraid and I agree with those calling for a defensive coach to be brought in.
If you had told me that we would score 7 goals in our first 3 games I would have guaranteed you we would be in 1st place.
The scary part is all this has happened without trips to Russia! IÂm afraid winning the Europa is our only hope of CL football because the league is not going to be pretty for us.
I really hope we get someone like Vlaar in ...
And to everyone that was whining about EtoÂo this week, please give him a chance to settle in — he will bring a lot to the team.
69 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:02:22
A couple of incidents going slightly different wouldÂve changed the look of the game. But I guess thatÂs how football is.....
We need to spend some money, effort and time strengthening our aging defence.
IÂm a new Evertonian and I had an idea of how it was going to be supporting the blues, but the Arsenal game and then this, itÂs been an emotional roller-coaster so far. The drama, the tension, the heartbreak... phew...
The win when it comes (and itÂs coming) will be that much more special... I share your heartbreak lads (and ladies)....but keep your chin up.... WeÂll look back on this & laugh (well, maybe not, but weÂll definitely put this behind us). A whole season (plus Europa) awaits us!
70 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:06:17
On a positive note we didnÂt give up. We showed some fight, but we need to sort out our defence. Drop Jags for Stones. Jags has been poor in all our games so far. They say the second season in charge is the hardest. Well RM has got his work cut out. I know itÂs still early, and no need to hit the panic button just yet, but you canÂt hide the disappointment. IÂm still pissed off about the Arsenal result!!!
71 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:09:21
Honeymoon over for Martinez.
㿈 million should have been spent on Bony, I believe he wouldnÂt have cost that much.
And Shawcross, a man mountain of a defender who barks orders and wind headers.
Read no more than the report on the Man City v Stoke game today,
Jagielka and Distin, and I have said this for done time need putting out to grass now. Too slow, thought process is lagging and they are not commanding.
I donÂt want a Mr Niceguy , I want a dirty physical twat who barks orders and wins battles.
Total shite.
72 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:12:06
73 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:12:48
Got to get our defenders fit.
74 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:13:01
How about we shove Moyes and Martinez into that transporter machine from "The Fly", and see what happens?
75 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:16:27
76 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:13:26
77 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:17:44
79 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:19:32
80 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:18:32
81 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:23:01
83 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:14:32
No matter how disappointing the result, that is total bollocks. Mirallas was the teams hardest working player today. Whenever Pienaar and Osman play , although neither can ever be classed as being top of anyone's favourites list, they continually put the effort in and get up and down the pitch to assist the full back. That's not where today's game was lost.
84 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:06:34
We were up against the possible Premiership winners for 2014/15 and I thought our attackers did ok, particularly Naismith.
I also thought McGeady did well enough, but he tends to give the ball away when we are in promising positions. Mirallas starts well, but seems to fade as the game goes on. Howard was lucky not to be sent off for handling the ball out of his area, but we got away with it.
Quite honestly, I felt we had lost the game in the first 5 minutes (we looked half asleep rather than Chelsea looking sharp), and it was always an uphill struggle from then on.Martinez places too much emphasis on attack, (see our lineup against Palace at home in April).
He doesnt seem to give enough consideration to our defensive deficiencies, neither does he appear to be able to differentiate between a ball winning midfielder and a creative midfielder. Do we have such a thing as a creative midfielder, or is that supposed to be Barclay?
Roberto wants to play attractive, exciting and penetrative football (who doesnt, apart from Sam A ), but the EPL has all sorts of demands.
Chelsea may well win the Premiership this season, but tonight just served to show how far we have to travel in order to reach the level at which they are at.
Money, its a drag, take your hands off my stack, money, its a hit, its a no good bullshit (or something suchlike)---
85 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:22:44
I hope Roberto identifies this quickly as otherwise our season could be over by December. We don't have the luxury to carry a player so make the hard decisions now Roberto and drop him.
P.S. Despite his blunder, I liked the look of Besic.
86 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:18:14
So, we can talk about Macca this, Besic, this, Barry that, but our experienced central pairing (68 years young) are called defenders and need to read the game around them - ok nothing will compensate for BesicÂs 1st touch although the typical sight of Jags chasing is becoming almost pitiful - and react accordingly in terms of covering, positioning, or whatever.
The 3rd goal is a classic case. Yep Macca got laced, Baines who was awful today is nowhere to be be seen, but when the ball comes across neither Jags or Distin are anywhere near the play and IÂm sorry 2 or 3 seconds at this level is all it ought to take.
ItÂs clear to me that Jags ought to be dropped. But if Bobby does drop someone and he probably wonÂt it will not be Jags it will be Distin.
It should be Besic for Barry and Stones for Jags at Andy IrvineÂs gaff on the 13th but I fear that it will; not be.
IÂm still a big Bobby backer but he needs to earn his nice wage and make some big decisions these next 2 weeks and, quite frankly, grow some, and drop those 2 Âseasoned pros.
Two central defenders in the next 48 hours would be nice, wouldnÂt it. Oh, and a creative mid please Bobby
OK, tough start but we should have more than 2 points in the bag and far fewer than 10 goals conceded.
Make no mistake this is a situation we are in right now. IF we lose to IrvineÂs crew we really are in a lot of bother. But hopefully in say 2 months all will be steady, ship back on course, Jags wins defender of the month award for 2 months running, and I finally, finally, get to spend significant time with Pippa Middleton.
87 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:23:10
We have one system and one shape which we play regardless — and this is what happens when it fails.
Time for a Plan B, Bobby... and a Plan D for DEFENCE!!!
88 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:49:18
Our attack clearly works as we have already scored 7 times in three matches. Eto'o looks good. But every time they attack, it's a goal or a very dangerous ball into the area and our players panic easily.
90 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:35:15
The number of times are platers stepped forward trying to play offside (only to fail) makes me think that they are being instructed to play that way otherwise it could easily be stopped?
92 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:38:45
93 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:34:16
I quite enjoyed the first half an hour of the second half until Ramires scored and it was like every one of our players was simultaneously kicked in the nuts.
We need to sort our fitness and concentration out.
94 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:40:47
95 Posted 30/08/2014 at 19:58:06
We were virtually dead after 3 mins, us having to chase the game after that was perfect for Chelsea. We have played a team that will finish Champions or 2nd, Arsenal last game, probable 3rd or 4th.
With the same defenders we had the 3rd best defensive record in the league, so you make of that what you like! We could have sat back in this game, and probably got beat 1-3 or 1-4, I think you need to decide which you would prefer.
This is the difference between us and your Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Spurs etc is they can go out and spend 㿊m-㿨m + for 3 more players.
96 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:33:07
Starting with the negatives, I am starting to think that we need some reinforcements at centre-half. I have tried to ignore the naysayers on here dishing it out to Jags and Distin but they looked vulnerable again today. I hope it is simply a confidence issue and I am certain both players will play big parts this season; however, they are both ageing and inevitably will need replaceing. The irony is that Terry (a prick of note) was outstanding and Besic (who may be in the line for a start at centre-back) made a tit of himself with his first touch!
The team still looks unfit to me and steadfastly refuse to close down, allowing shots and crosses in like nobody’s business.
The positives are again our possession game. We had 62% of the ball against a very strong Chelsea side who, in fairness, finished all their chances and half chances superbly. Eto’o looked a class act. We never gave up.
Any thoughts on who we should get in at centre-back? I quite like the look of James Collins and Ashley Williams. Not young but centre-backs mature like fine wine.
In short, keep the faith.
97 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:40:54
I agree with your other points but Jags is the captain, ffs, and it's his job to organise the defence. Is he doing that? Is he fuck!! He looks scared and that must affect the other players.
98 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:21:44
Chelsea were flattered by the scoreline and have a striker in Costa who will terrorise better defences than ours.
I think he will benefit this season from teams who don't know what he's got .
As for our defence, well Baines must take as much blame as Jags or Distin.
MaCarthy also screwed things up - as Martinez said afterwards, the whole team are responsible.
Unfortunately, it is the manager who is most responsible for the 3 games full of errors.
It is he who is setting them up to defend in a certain way and it is not working.
Dropping the 2 centre backs won't fix it, Alcaraz and Stones would have been ass-fucked as well, and we'd all have been calling for the return of our old dependables.
At most I would bring in Stones alongside Distin (who was the better of the two)and hope that the Frenchman's experience can help young Stones settle in.
McGeady gave the ball away too often, and Eto'o showed us just how raw and unfinished a talent Lukaku is.
We have to be patient with our young players (McCarthy is still a kid too) and I'm sure we will smash plenty of goals in and rack up the points.
Let's take the positives and hope for defensive improvement!
99 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:42:22
It's vitally important the the normal cliche of ' learning lessons' is followed and the defence is now prioritised! Maybe Stones and Alcaraz need a run in the side? They can't do any worse than Jagielka and Distin although I agree I don't think they should be thrown on the scrap heap.
Need some good news soon - come on blues!
100 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:43:25
(1) We have beaten Chelsea four out of five times before today at The Old Lady, we had no need to fear them, we should not have conceded 6 goals at home to anyone never mind the czarÂs side.
(2) IÂm getting a little sick of this 3rd best defenssive record from last season thing because that was then and this is now and it is no justification for what is happening before our eyes and what we must do. (I also think that StonesÂs top-notch performances might have had a hand in that stat along with with JagsÂs injuries.)
Using stats as you do, Ray, we now have the worst defence in the Premier League and we will not change until it is changed.
101 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:44:30
Every time Everton clawed their way back into the game the defensive fragility and nervousness was their to see which resulted in our downfall. As nice as they are, Jags and Distin are culpable for the collapse, Barry and McCarthy are holding midfield players and also have to shoulder the blame but with 10 goals conceded urgent remedial action is required on the back four and I am praying that there is enough money left in the transfer pot to find a left sided centre-back before Monday.
102 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:48:00
Have Jags and Distin suddenly turned to shit? Have they fuck – they are struggling due to the way Martinez is trying to make them play. The seeds of it were beginning to show last season and they have been in full blossom for the last 3 games, not just todayÂs!!
104 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:47:30
105 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:35:23
Our commitment to win after continually getting close was fantastic.
Eto'o is going to be an excellent signing. Naismith was superb today. I actually thought we outplayed Chelsea from about 70 to 75 minutes. Going forward we look excellent.
I agree with some posters above. Jags simply can not continue as our first choice CB. Stones, despite being error prone as a younger player, is far and away a better choice than Jags.
That was the worst CB performance I've seen in my time watching Everton. Phil Jagielka was horrendous today. He's not the same player since his injury and it's time Roberto stop playing the part of David Moyes and do what must be done and bench Jags.
Roberto must shoulder the blame for poor substitutions last week and poor team selection in choosing Jags to start today. If he persists with his "favorites" than Roberto Moyesinez will rightly be blamed for poor results.
106 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:55:01
107 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:52:48
108 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:52:54
109 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:00:15
110 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:44:34
111 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:55:27
Distin is at an age where the ball has to be in front of him...a ball behind and his body just won't do what his braIn wants.
We need to get a central defender in and give Jags a rest. Stones in for Distin.
I don't agree with comments that we are all of a sudden "doing a Wigan". This is the same defence that was the third most miserly last season.
112 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:44:55
Do you want to go back and check that stat before making such declarations?
113 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:33:25
He has to shoulder blame for the appalling fitness levels which manifested themselves with the sort of pre-season preparation that defied belief.
My real concern however is how he sees a game of football. Wiganesque has been coined elsewhere but sums up what is served up precisely. Good to watch going forward but at the expense of a defence that has all the solidity of an unset jelly. We have two defensive midfielders in McCarthy and Barry who run until they drop. In Barry's case this was not long into second half when he just could not close down at all. At this time 50-60 mins he should have been replaced. McCarthy ran his guts out as usual but was caught out later for pace . I would not be too harsh on him as there was no help from anyone in this area. Roberto obviously does not see this as a problem and why bring on Besic after 88 minutes ??? In my opinion the Europa League will serve as a waste of time when trying to keep out of bottom 6 will be a much bigger task if we continue with style of play.
We urgently need players of calibre in goal, central defence and midfield and a manager who knows how to set up a team and manage it correctly for the 90 mins. To see Roberto smiling as he left the pitch for me is unpalatable and I do not believe he is the right man to take our club forward. Nice chap but ability wise massively overrated.
Please prove me wrong.
114 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:58:25
I understand being upset about losing but coming on here and recording your nonsense for posterity isn't the best reaction. We made Chelsea look second rate in comparison to ourselves for most of that match, it just goes to show you shouldn't give one of the best teams in Europe a 2-0 headstart, it's always going to be tricky after that.
Obviously we need to defend better but it's the same set up that was one of the meanest defences in the Premier League last season. We will smash plenty of teams out of sight if we play the way we did tonight throughout the season.
115 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:04:35
116 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:59:51
117 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:02:49
118 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:06:57
119 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:07:55
120 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:05:45
In the first half in particular, they were very happy to let us have the ball – very happy – and we did some nice stuff with it but we/Bobby were comprehensively outplayed/outhought by Chelsea/Jose.
A very very professional Chelsea performance in all respects, and I bet Jose is murdering them on the chara back home about conceding 3. You watch: Costa, Player of the Year awards.
122 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:10:18
Think twice Bobby lad! I do agree with Col though (118) that your (Si) anti-Bobby-ranting-and-raving was well out of order sonny boy! Can you find a way of substituting Jags/Distin for Martinez and amend accordingly!?
123 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:11:27
Every time we scored they went down the other end and scored
124 Posted 30/08/2014 at 20:50:47
Those 'taking positives' from a seemingly 'great' offensive display should have a word with themselves. That 'gung-ho' attack was purely a consequence of being in dire straits after only 3 minutes. We were forced to attack desperately to amend for a dreadful defensive team performance.
Results speak for themselves and conceding 10 in 3 (8 at GP !!!) is not too clever regardless of whether your name is Martinez, Moyes, Kendall or Walker.
According to Mourinho in his after-match comments, he didn't enjoy the game. He didn't like Chelsea's lack of balance or defensive display.
(cough) (splutter) (choke)
125 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:05:45
What a fecking game - THAT is how football should be played. This Everton will be shown first on MOTD every single week. We will be chosen by Sky, BT Sport and every other channel that wants to pay to watch us score many a beauty.
The cocks who love a 1-0 with even the kit-man behind the ball can go and petition for the ginger lower league gobshite to get his job back.
I clapped my beautiful Blue men off that pitch today, it was excellent man. The best game in many a year. If you can't appreciate THIS Everton, I pity you.
126 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:11:26
127 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:14:39
Whatever it is, the buck stops with RM: poor defensive organization, lack of fitness, persisting with fielding out-of-form players... RM needs to deliver some wins — and soon!
128 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:15:11
We played some of the best flowing attacking football I have seen from an EFC side in years. It was always going to be impossible after the 4th minute when we kicked off knowing that they had 2 goals from little or no effort. I was more than happy with the attacking intentions and if we were not chasing the game, we could easily have won today. Lady Luck was not with us. Not depressed but unhappy with that poor defending. Why? Because I know we are far better than that.
129 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:16:33
130 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:10:31
131 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:29:58
132 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:29:56
Absolute bollocks. You really think that's how to play football?
133 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:29:09
Not having a go but, to some, it seems the performance is everything regardless of the result.
I agree that we're a far better team than results suggest.
But it's only the results that count.
There aren't points for artistic interpretation.
A counter argument to the great attacking display was the fact that we had to play that way out of desperation after only 3 minutes.
Where we are aligned is that we hope RM gets things right.
Quickly.
134 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:35:01
I'd prefer being last on MoTD every week but with silverware in hand.
135 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:37:19
I'm sold on Eto'o. He looks hungry and in fantastic shape. Sure its against his old club, but thumbs up for him. And Naismith is fast becoming a favourite.
136 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:22:35
OK Tim wasn't necessarily to blame but he didn't make much of a fist at trying to save them did he?
Besic made a very bad error before he had become accustomed to the game - he's young and will learn. I like Colin thought Jags looked almost scared going on to the pitch. He does not have any air of confidence at the moment and this will seep through to the other players especially with him being skipper.
Distin is shaky but how much of this is because his partner is playing so poorly at crucial times?
Roberto has to drop the mister nice-guy stuff now as he has serious work to do in sorting out the defence and centre midfield. The fitness thing bewilders me and I can only think it is deliberate so that we end the season strongly instead of fading like last season but this only works if we can pick up enough points in the first half of the season. We have a half decent squad now - use it and drop/rest the players who are letting us down! If Gibson is fit he must play!
137 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:35:56
138 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:42:44
139 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:51:18
140 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:26:15
Also, the worrying thing is, that not only can we not defend corners of free kicks, but nor can we defend little tippy-tappy triangles, or fairly slow direct running at the heart of the defence.
Now, I know other players contributed to these situations but the central defence and left back are most responsible for all of these various mistakes.
Finally, Mr Howard only managed one save today, with his left foot. Got done at his near post for Coleman's OG, and failed to touch two goals from Costa. He also should have been sent off for catching the ball outside of the box, and got himself booked in a row late on, and still pushed his head into a Chelsea player's head in front of the ref!
He is in the comfort zone, no pressure from the lanky Robles and not the intensity and concentration displayed for his beloved USA.
141 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:50:47
One word. Wow!
142 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:53:05
For me the major question for Martinez and the coaching staff is why the squad is not ready for the start of the season, totally unprofessional and unacceptable at this level.
143 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:55:57
Jagielka needs to be shipped out: He is hopeless, and has been for a while. Besic debut was a nightmare. My Mrs says I have 㿈 million reasons NOT to be a blue! It might be trendy for me to blame Osman, but he wasnÂt playing.
Rock-bottom tonight, although Tony Pulis is available.
144 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:09:28
Bring in Shawcross and play Stones with him. We need someone to command our defence and bark out the orders. I think having a poor pre-season and Martinez being away on World Cup TV duty didn't help either.
145 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:07:02
As much as I love Distin he creaked horrendously today and Jags still making errors - major area for us to look at this season, and neither Alcararz or Duffy are / were the answer.
You win some, you lose some, a great game today and immensely proud of the way we pretty much dominated a team who will most likely finish top 2 this year.
We will be fine and we will start picking up points by the bagful moving forward. And as for Eto'o - pure class.
147 Posted 30/08/2014 at 21:59:18
We're a diverse bunch at Everton but I just don't get those who 'came out of the pub smiling' or 'clapped my beautiful blue men off the pitch (and further gushing comments)' when we just got stuffed.
Perhaps some people have got used to our mediocrity over the years (albeit with relatively sparse resources) and somehow a 3-6 spanking at home is acceptable.
Chelsea fans and kopites must be pissing themselves laughing at that reaction. Small club mentality or what?
Perhaps the same people will have a go – rightly or wrongly – at BK's seeming lack of financial backing and not see the irony.
I was looking for someone to lamp on the way home. And I certainly won't be watching or listening to MotD and the condescending comments about how 'plucky' Everton contributed to a thrilling game.
I may be a miserable get when we lose but I'd rather be that than someone who accepts (even applauds) losing – especially at home.
148 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:11:53
At least there's an element of truth in the last one as we have shipped quite a few goals in our last dozen or so Premier League games.
I can see an early Xmas present on the horizon when a ginger-haired Scot marches into Goodison to rescue the club from certain relegation. Oh Davy Moyes' Davy Davy Moyes' Davy Moyes. It will be magic to return to the tried and tested methodology of his style of management; it won't take us forward but at least we'll be able to sleep at night.
None of this adventurous toe-to-toe nonsense; keep it tight and nick one well worth spending our hard-earned on.
149 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:20:05
150 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:04:07
Roberto should have sorted this out last season. Every team needs a foundation and that starts in defence. You get nowhere with a shaky defence and jags is clearly not the type of defender we need to lay the ball out if defence. Ive just seen the goals on tv. Today's problems were caused by lack of positional awareness and basic schoolboy errors. Reputations count for nothing in today's game. Would any of the top teams on this division allow this slide to happen. Get Stones in and play him instead of jags. He can't be any worse. We would surely destroy Stones"s confidence if we don't start him in the next game.
To those that suggested that Moyes could be our defensive coach I say get real and get over the fact he's gone. He might tighten the defence but the ball would spend forever in row fucking Z.
151 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:28:25
What's up? Couldn't yer find anyone small enough, hardcase?
Cock.
152 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:37:11
I'm not going to waste much time exchanging insults, Kevin.
('Cock' - I've never heard anyone from Liverpool come out with that.)
I was simply expressing my very different reaction to a defeat rather than glorifying in it as you were.
I may well be a 'cock' as you suggest.
But at least it's better than being a loser.
Night, night.
:)
153 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:39:58
Is he really prem quality?
I say no.
154 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:44:34
BTW - did you manage to find some poor kid to 'lamp?'
155 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:37:53
Jags has perhaps had one injury too many and seems to have lost that bit of pace. He gets turned over when he is up against a top top striker. We saw it last season. His confidence seems shot as well. The World Cup seems not to have helped.
You can have one centre half at the back relying on his anticipation and experience but you cannot have two of them. Time to change one of them, and probably as well, to make judicious use of substitutes at the back so that these two will know that they aren't always expected to play 90 minutes.
I guess we don't have the cash to buy a ready made centre half so we will have to live with Stones and the odd error whilst he is on the learning curve.
156 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:46:08
Kev Tully (#125), IÂm one of your biggest fans on here but when you and Nick Entwhistle make me wince for the same reason, then I know something is wrong.
I would rather we drew that game 0-0 and it was the worst game of footie that I have ever seen than lose 3-6 at home whatever the nature of play, mate. I could never have left a boozer Âsmiling after that pile of shite because my mind would be on the moronic shambles that is our central defence.
Okay, perhaps laughter in that sort of WTF way!
157 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:41:54
We're a cracking team but you have to look to the coaching and the manager for sending them out to play that way defensively against a team with such quality in movement. Suicidal defending as a team.
158 Posted 30/08/2014 at 23:06:46
Brave thing to say when you never saw it!
159 Posted 30/08/2014 at 23:08:06
160 Posted 30/08/2014 at 23:09:22
We need a CB who leads, who shouts, who wins the ball in the air, who occasionally leaves a knee in after winning said ball on his opponent. Not two Mr Nice Guys.
161 Posted 30/08/2014 at 23:12:49
I have sat, freezing my testicles off, watching dour, defensive, anti-football for 20 years now, so to witness Everton go for the win against ANYONE, no matter who they are, makes me proud.
It's the way forward. Watch us go this season. If I'm wrong at Christmas, I'll eat my frozen testes.
162 Posted 30/08/2014 at 22:01:11
I don't mean to boast, but Ironically I went on about how we needed a captain, yes an actual captain, after the Arsenal game. I also went on about how Jags needs to be benched, and I'm glad we can all finally agree to that. Except for Martinez, he seems blindsided by loyalty, we may need someone going to our games with a board saying bench jags, or ink it up on a shirt underneath the jersey and every time we concede, just take off the jersey to see the message. Do it enough times and the camera men should get it on tape.
Back to the massacre I witnessed. Chelski switched up a gear whenever the goal difference dropped under that 2-goal margin. Surprisingly enough, they started at lightning pace. Well no they didn't, I lied. They just passed through our defence like it wasn't there, and let's not kid ourselves, it was never there. It was blatant enough for a blind man to see that they scored every goal with such ease. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but they outplayed us and outclassed us.
Barry was pulling the strings and doing all the dirty work. Mccarthy is suppose to do all the running, yet he got ran over by chelski. Lukaku still looks like a 2.8m striker; cant create for others, cant link up play, cant jump, cant track back. Mirallas scored a beauty and we would have more crosses flying in only if there was some-one to be at the end of it. Eto was a great super sub, he's our most impactful player on the bench. Baines and Pienaar are bonnie and Clyde, they're non existent without each other. Mcgeedy is still better than Atsu or osman on the wing, he has only played 6 months in our league, give him another six and he'll be a changed man. Mirallas was dreadful first season, and I was lashing him out at that time just as some of you are to mcgeedy. Coleman was fierce, and had a vale of resilience in him; similar to the arsenal game. I liked that and I nominate him for captain. If we didn't have naismith in our team, I would question our forwards mobility. He's doing his job, better than any-one else in our team. Only saw a few minutes of Besic, bit he seemed shattered by the 5-3 score and putting him on when he was not really needed. Especially when Mccarthy was outpaced twice after the 65th minute, and Besic probably felt he wouldn't have let that happen. If Howard's playing until 2018, he better take his "attributes" elsewhere. Distin played better than Jags, but that still doesn't say much. He still has more pace than Jags and way better aerially.
Overall, It was a good game of footy to watch for the neutrals and Chelski fans, but for us, our fortress was put up into flames. We put up a fight, yes, but we were throwing punches while they were dealing knock-outs. They conserved their energy every time they were 2 goals up. When that changed, they passed through our defence with such ease and precision, each time. I think they went easy on us, because when they wanted to score, they did so without a glimpse of struggle.
163 Posted 30/08/2014 at 23:36:45
I was thinking of you the other week, KT, and meant to ask; did you lad get the grades to get into Warnock University?
Sorry... sorry – Warwick?
164 Posted 30/08/2014 at 23:30:22
Unfortunately it was lost in the first 5 minutes. Even then I always thought that we would get something out of the game such was our intensity and attacking threat... Unfortunately Chelsea are just a bit too good to lose from two up (last week shows where we are at in comparison).
But fine margins... Mirallas's saved effort was so close to being a Goal of the Season contender and would have completely changed the game.
165 Posted 31/08/2014 at 00:20:30
Problem was Everton were on the losing end...
Ditch Jags and stop the horrific defensive errors and I'd take a game like that all day long.
I said to my son at the end, "I know we're losing, but if a neutral [American] watched this and they still don't like soccer, they never will."
Stones for Jags. Sums it up for me in a nutshell.
166 Posted 31/08/2014 at 00:32:48
Brent, I've seen the goals a few times on TV. Now I know it's not the same as being there live or watching live TV but surely you will have to agree that it was rank defending for some of the goals.
167 Posted 31/08/2014 at 00:55:51
All transfer talk is about forwards and wingers, why nothing on 20 something experienced centre half.
We let go Duffy without a replacement. All successful teams are built from back. McCarthy is papering over the cracks. Why has nobody seen this?
168 Posted 31/08/2014 at 01:16:47
Secondly, it reminded me just how far we are off those top clubs. Yes we played better football, and kept the ball more. However, look at the score: 6-3! They have world class players that take their chances! We have very good players who donÂt always! Sorry to whine on here because I hate it but I am gutted today.
Few positives: Naismith, Coleman, Baines, Mirallas and EtoÂo. Also we showed some fight. For me, it doesnÂt matter how well you play – if you let in 6 goals at home, you deserve to lose.
169 Posted 31/08/2014 at 01:54:31
"ps: Despite his blunder, I liked the look of Besic"
Liked the look of him?? What exactly caught your eye? His tattoos?? Haircut??
Apart from making himself look a bit of a twat, what else did he do that you "liked the look" of??? All those on here who have been talking him up like he's the new messiah may have to show a bit more patience.
170 Posted 31/08/2014 at 02:31:53
We went toe to toe against a big lad, landed some good shots but got caught by a stronger opponent.
There are only two teams in this league of that ability... I still think we'll knock seven shades out of most teams.
172 Posted 31/08/2014 at 03:00:57
To lay the foundations for the one true vision of the post-Moyes Catalan New Jerusalem will take some time at this rate
173 Posted 31/08/2014 at 03:09:06
If he plays like that every time he will win a fair few games for us.
174 Posted 31/08/2014 at 05:20:14
So level headed! Spot on sans Roberto starting his tried and trued...
As I've said, Roberto needs to make the big decision and bench Jags, he's been awful.
As you so aptly pointed out, there's reason – ample reason – to be positive.
176 Posted 31/08/2014 at 05:47:58
You've officially have an "American Scouser" accent.
You've been State-side a bit too long friend. :0)
177 Posted 31/08/2014 at 05:43:59
Roberto has let some key coaches move on, Stubbsy being one who has the experience and nous to sort out a defence. Not sure I would bring in Weir, but prefer an ex-player with knowledge of our club like Big Dunc than taking a punt on a coach who will take time to bed in.
Big decisions looming for Roberto, defensively he has his doubters but get behind him and the players he decides to go with after the international break. Oh, and come on Spurs, do us a favour for once today at The Lane against the RS!
178 Posted 31/08/2014 at 06:19:37
179 Posted 31/08/2014 at 10:36:49
Thank god Howard wasn't sent off, I couldn't bear to watch Robles for the rest of the game against that yellow tide through my fingers...
I'm sure things will sort themselves out soon – we DO have a good manager. I think we're all disappointed as we all were so positive this season was going to be "The One". Still early days and things can change, keep the faith and COYB!
180 Posted 31/08/2014 at 10:49:24
"Eto'o! A brilliant acquisition... one touch – one goal, fabulous.
Naismith - wonderful footballer, and what every Everton player should aspire to be in attitude.
Barry pulled the strings in Pirlo-esque manner."
Yes, yes and... no. Barry was very poor yesterday. He had no answer to the quick passing of Fabregas, Ramires and Matic. They made him look his age.
181 Posted 31/08/2014 at 11:05:40
182 Posted 31/08/2014 at 10:48:27
183 Posted 31/08/2014 at 10:48:27
184 Posted 31/08/2014 at 12:14:29
185 Posted 03/09/2014 at 00:56:50
- Spectacular game, exciting too.
- Typical Martinez.
- Hire Moyes as assistant manager (defence!)
- Referee not able to cope, made quite a few mistakes (Howard?, offsides...)
- Spectacular goals from both sides and bad luck too (Coleman own goal)
- Costa, great player but plenty of gamesmanship, arrogance and provocation (not as bad as Suarez, though).
- LFC, the dark side. lucky AGAIN and above us. Bought another "gifted player" – Balotelli.
- Everton will do much better with their comebacks, both in matches and end of season.
- I hope we don't trip up with lower teams this season.
- I'm praying that we finish higher in the league and have some good cup runs too.
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1 Posted 30/08/2014 at 15:03:54