Queens Park Rangers 1 - 2 Everton
Roberto Martinez goes back to the formula that was so successful against Newcastle last weekend, restoring Arouna Kone, Leon Osman and Darron Gibson to the line-up and deploying Aaron Lennon wide on the right.
At the back, John Stones comes back into the side in place of Antolin Alcaraz who drops to the bench along with Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley.
QPR kicked off with Everton playing in all black, hopefully not too much in mourning for the dreadful Kapitulation in Kyiv, as the bright Springtime sunlight of Loftus Road. No real shape to the play, until a rollout from Howard to McCarthy immediately saw pressure and a poor forced clearance to Barton and QPR were sniffing out a shot on goal. Crazy nonsense play from Everton.
Another was to follow as a severe warning, Barton heading on to Zamora who clipped over with only Howard to beat... but he was offside.
Everton mounted their first real attack, McCarthy blocked firmly as he set to shoot in after Lennon's cutback to Lukaku. From the corner, a brilliant nearpost flick from Osman that deserved a goal, such was it'sf delightful invention. But Zamora was a constant danger at the other end, getting behind the Blues line again, but offside.
All the early impetus was with QPR, encouraging some brilliant defending by Stones who had his work cut out to keep the striker in his pocket. What a tremendous young player he is becoming. Gibson tried to play in a good forward ball to Lukaku but it did not come off, but Everton were otherwise struggling to get out of their half.
But an exceptional move of brilliant forward-playing passing football at pace, involving Kone, Osman, Lennon, and Coleman saw the Irishman fire Everton in front with a great shot in off the far post, a very nicely constructed goal!
QPR were still getting into the danger area all too easily, and Everton were riding their luck somewhat at the back as the ball was generally running in their favour. But a route one clearance flicked on by Lukaku to Kone got the Blues forward at pace again, only for Barton to throw himself at Gibson's drive to deny a goal attempt, perhaps illegally with a raised arm, but at very close range.
Everton, though, were looking lively on the counter, with Kone, Lukaku and Lennon enjoying some space to run at the QPR defence... perhaps too much in Lennon's case, as he ran miles offside.
At the other end, Austin sent in a fantastic cross for Zamora to score... but the glance he got on the ball was nowhere near enough to put the ball on target, thankfully! But the fear and trepidation in the Everton defence was all too palpable and an equalizer seemed to be on the cards.
Everton did finally put together a better sequence of forward play, applying some pressure on their hosts, without constructing a real chance to test Green. When Everton did get the chance to break again, Kone was far too hesitant and the chance for a break evaporated. Hoilett saw yellow for a 50-50 clash with Lennon.
Apart from the goal, it had been a pretty scrappy first half, Everton nervously unable to control the game despite taking the lead. and having to repeatedly pull out the stops at the back to keep Howard's sheet clean.
After the break, QPR get forward quickly, Hoilett beating Howard with a tremendous shot but hitting the bar, Phillips heading the rebound goalwards, Jagileka getting back brilliantly to block off the line but the flag was up for offside as QPR followed up to score, only for the play to be called back. What a let-off for the Blues. Phillips was only very marginally offside...
QPR continued to press for a goal to level the game as the Everton defence lived on its wits, having to react by scrambling the ball away time and again. Kone did get the ball forward to Lukaku and Osman could have done better but Isla did well to get his foot on the ball and prevent any shot from an excellent forward position.
Yun got booked for a late tackle on Lennon. Everton constructed a rare attack from the free-kick but Kone's control was not good enough and the move ended with a rather lame shot from Gibson that dribbled wide.
While Everton continued to look shakey at the back, QPR continued to pump balls forward in an effort to exploit the weaknesses so evident last Thursday night. But it seemed to be a question of pride for Stones especially, who had decided They Shall Not Pass. What help would Martinez provide to give the home side more to think about as another determined attack was blocked away by Gibson? Barkley perhaps...?
Lukaku was clutching his hamstring, but seemed determined to run it off as another QPR attack develop, with a corner, and finally they did score from a scramble as Everton's massed defence seemed static,.. substitute Vargas lashing in the ball home from close range, ripping into the roof of the net, as Lukaku limped off, to be replaced by Barkley. Never, in the history of football, had a home-side goal been so on the cards...
Clinging now to a valuable point, Everton won a rare corner that Baines lunched in too low and then got himself offside on the follow-up.
Substitute Henry infuriated the Everton players with a studs-up challenge on Osman, but it won the ball, forcing the Everton player to jump out of the way, and Zamora was off to the races, firing over. QPR kept pushing forward, Everton kept backing off, unable to change the relentless one-way traffic toward their goal.
But another great passing move, literally out of nothing, Kone, Lennon, Gibson, Coleman, Kone, back for Lennon to fire home. Fantastic stuff, such a contrast to the rest of the match! Kone hobbled off after the challenge that stopped him scoring from close range off Coleman's excellent cross.
From an Everton corner, defended away, Tarrabt ran at the Everton defence and fired inches wide, Gibson went down in the play, and looked to be done, but trotted off as Besic readied himself on the sideline. But Gibson came back on and seemed to be moving quite freely.
QPR still pressed, Stones pulling off another incredible block to deny Austin. They were throwing everything forward but the Everton defence were surviving the test so far, and looking to take home a vital 3 points.
In added time, from where Coleman had scored, Tarrabt struck a superb shot that beat Howard but clipped off the bar near the angle, as Everton continued to live very very dangerously but eventually cling on to win. A game of very very close margins that will perhaps relieve the pressure a little on the loquacious Everton manager.
Scorers: Vargas (65'); Coleman (18'), Lennon (77')
QPR: Green, Caulker, Phillips, Onuoha, Yun, Isla, Sandro (71' Henry), Barton, Hoilett [Y:40'] (60' Vargas), Zamora (81' Taarabt), Austin.
Subs not Used: McCarthy, Ferdinand, Hill, Kranjcar.
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines; McCarthy, Gibson; Osman, Lennon; Kone (82' Naismith [Y:94']), Lukaku (64' Barkley).
Subs not Used: Robles, Browning, Alcaraz, Garbutt, Besic.
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 17,706
Reader Comments (151)
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2 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:28:01
3 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:21:41
4 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:35:24
5 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:36:52
6 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:42:33
7 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:41:33
8 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:47:17
We just need the 3 wins as soon as possible to secure our PL survival, then it’s time for the ’Martinez out!’ banners. This season is a shambles and it ain’t gonna get any better next season with this Spanish cretin!
9 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:39:38
10 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:47:59
"Predictions? I don’t do predictions and I never will."
Come On You Blues!
11 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:50:00
12 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:50:32
13 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:51:23
14 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:49:32
But a Win today will help.
15 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:10:29
16 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:14:18
If they had a decent striker they’d be 2 up by now. What the fuck was Howard doing kicking it out to one of them, I know they’re in blue and white Timmy but.....
17 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:19:23
Maybe go for a piss for the next one? Seems to work!
18 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:42:03
I’ll, er, get me coat.
19 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:44:00
20 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:47:06
Having swapped that magnificent Kiev stadium for Loftus Road, you can smell the season’s anticlimax, survival points are the game.
21 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:54:34
Stones playing well... where was he on Thursday???
22 Posted 22/03/2015 at 16:51:44
24 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:27:51
Everton are fucking shite, this has to be the worst Everton team I can remember from recent year’s.
QPR will win this now.
Get ready for the usual bollocks of from Martinez about small margins and it being "a fascinating game"
I really really hate this Everton side.
25 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:33:31
NOW COME ON EVERTON..
FUCKING DEFEND THIS!!
26 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:52:57
27 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:53:46
28 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:55:50
29 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:56:52
How we won that, I don’t know... but who cares!
30 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:55:16
31 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:55:16
32 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:01:39
Lennon – well deserved goal for all the effort that heÂs been putting in....
Defensive struggles – when will they end?
33 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:01:18
The stream I watched had Ray Houghton as commentator. One of the most biased commentaries I’ve ever heard. He was clearly rooting for QPR all game. Why do we always have to have a former RS player? It’s not as if any of them are actually any good either.
34 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:06:15
35 Posted 22/03/2015 at 17:54:11
36 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:01:56
I just hope Rom’s isn’t a bad hammy, thought it was too much to see him sprint like that!
Great goal by Seamus and good work by Jags and Stones, to keep us in the game.
37 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:05:33
Let’s get to the end of the season, then hopefully we can identify what has gone wrong this season. Whether that’s the manager and his tactics, the established players who don’t like his methods, European distractions, or whatever other excuses come out for this abomination of a season.
Whatever happens, I just hope this is the last season Tim Howard is in the Everton goal. Utterly useless and has cost us big time this season.
38 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:04:48
No prospect of Roberto being replaced in the immediate future so the only excitement the summer will bring will surround who is staying and who is coming in.
I’ve decided today to move to slightly warmer climes for the next few months so no more talk of Wigan and their ex-manager can be expected from me. BK has made his bed now he can LIE in it – even if it’s only to himself!
Have a great summer!
39 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:13:46
40 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:15:52
41 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:24:00
42 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:24:58
43 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:22:54
Don’t buy those season tickets yet it’s the only bargaining tool fans have.
44 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:26:59
45 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:34:32
46 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:24:03
Praise be that Stones was back. Lennon is earning his corn now, and I don’t just mean the goal. Gibson for Barry, let’s hope that’s permanent. But ...
Does Howard inspire anyone with confidence? And Kone got a couple of things right, but how many times did we lose possession when he passed?
Not too far off safety now, and then? Changes have to come surely. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. I don’t see why we can’t have Garbutt and Baines on the same starting line-up for example.
48 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:34:22
49 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:39:07
50 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:36:14
Got to hope that Rom isn’t badly injured as watching the rest of the season without him would be even less fun.
And finally, hope you have a good time in warmer climes Phil. You’ll be missed!
51 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:35:06
My opinion is that Martinez is not the answer but we probably should face facts and realise the cold hard reality, his job is safe for this season and probably at least until the end of the year.
And most of all credit to those Blues who made the trip today, I salute you to a man and woman. To watch Thursday’s omnishambles and make the trip and support the team wholeheartedly is an example a few on here could well heed.
52 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:26:31
Martinez looks doomed in my eyes but even he must know that home defeats against sides we have a good record against will be the end of him. Wins against piss poor Magpies and QPR sides cannot mask the dreadful inadequacies of our defensive set up, which was so cruelly exposed in Kiev.
53 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:47:44
Although driving 150 miles today, so not much time for footie, caught a glimpse of the RS today, and concluded that they are a terrible team, but lucky..
On the other hand, under the tutelage of our mad manager, we have simply been terrible, but without the luck.
Apart from today, that is.
Keep on grinding out wins,lads, and leave the better times to next season..
We can but hope....
54 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:58:53
I’m really not a fan of Lennon at all. Today again, his passing and crossing was poor; he does work hard (which I applaud him for) but he really is just a headless chicken. The thought of him and Cleverly coming here in the summer doesn’t inspire me with any hope. We need much better players than those 2.
I just can’t wait for this nightmare of a season to end. It looks like we are stuck with Martinez for another season (unfortunately) but I just hope he signs some creative players in the summer and has a big clear out of the deadwood.
55 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:54:41
56 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:45:59
Well done EFC.
All the results went well for us this weekend.
And I mean ALL of them (snigger).
38 seconds on the pitch and Stevie Me is sent off.
After his slip last season, I never thought I’d say that I’m starting to warm to him (cackle).
I often abstain from drinking on Sunday night (mainly because of Monday morning) but I’ve got a bottle of Fursty Ferret in and a full bottle of wine.
It hasn’t happened much this season but MOTD2 and Singing The Blues ......
57 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:03:22
Agree completely, but can we trust the delusional half-wit to sign any decent players?
I would not give him my money.
58 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:03:25
59 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:59:14
60 Posted 22/03/2015 at 18:57:48
61 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:10:09
He is a light in a very dark tunnel, despite what some folks say.
62 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:07:09
63 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:12:20
64 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:10:07
He does need to learn from this moving forward and if he does we can still achieve success under his reign.
65 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:05:49
I will probably get slack for this, but a tiny part of me wanted us to lose and Roberto get the sack tomorrow (and of couse I want us to stay up with his replacement).
The thoughts of RM, Howard, Barry and Alcaraz being around for another season is depressing to say the least.
66 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:16:13
I am not holding my breath though.
67 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:07:35
And if he is the problem, at what point does Bill get rid? And who would we attract?
So depressing.
68 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:10:22
More like a Moyes performance than last year’s edition. Long clearances... very little in the way of midfield control or hold up play. The players seem to realise the situation they are in; at least that much has got through.
We are in the crapper, Every high ball into our box is an adventure... is it me or can Tim bail out the defenders once in a while and come for a high ball? Even a low one!
Still, the points were the key; thank the lord we got them, particularly for the traveling support. Who knew this season would be back to worrying about relegation.
69 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:20:52
70 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:12:44
I’ve made the decision to pull down the curtain early on Everton’s season as there’s nothing left to play for. Let’s just hope next season will see our club back where it belongs..........
Fighting to finish sixth!
71 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:18:41
72 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:24:42
73 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:18:48
Haven’t listened to Martinez’s comments but I suppose that will come up with the usual, phenomenal ,showing character and QPR are a strong team plus the rest of his bullshit comments that make supporters who were there wondering what game he watched.
Cannot wait for May to come and hopefully we are safe and maybe the 8ft snow drifts around my house will be gone. (Doubt very much if Martinez will be gone as well.)
74 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:25:36
75 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:31:25
Gibson was my MOM with Stones and Jagielka not far behind. The rest were average but did show some genuine determination, which was evident the way some of them celebrated the final whistle - good to see. Thank god Naismith didn’t play and Ross needs to be used sparingly for the rest of the season and we might be more balanced.However, Osman’s complete lack of pace and strength when played out wide is a nonsense to me and I would rather see someone from the reserves given a chance.
76 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:39:55
77 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:35:38
3 points makes everything feel better though.
78 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:43:14
79 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:43:48
Kenwright and he must be the most sickly-sentimental-delusional combination in world football.
I see the press and RM are giving Kone great praise = staggering.
It’s all staggering.
There is no sanity any more.
80 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:19:24
Kone is not up to much, but despite his poor play, he seemed to give everyone else more space just by being around. A problem, but not a big one.
Osman remains lightweight, but his skill and ability to twist and turn fairly often results in effective forward movement.
Seamus Coleman is one of the saddest sights on a football pitch. From the very beginning I have liked his ’get-your-head-down-and-run-at-them’ attitude and his willingness to attack defenders and get into the penalty area. He has a lovely uninhibited attitude. Which has now been crushed into a "don’t lose the ball at any costs" approach which means he turns and passes backwards most times. I want my Seamus back!
But the worst, by an astonishing degree, is Howard. He looks like the school playground goalie - the last player picked - who hasn’t got a clue. He doesn’t come for the ball, regularly a defender retreats into the penalty area sheltering the ball from an opponent, and when he turns and expects the goalie to pick it up, there’s no one there. His entire goalkeeping tactic appears to do a star jump and fall backwards. He never attacks the ball, he never tries to catch in the goal area, and it appears that Everton’s entire defence tactics consist of Jagielka and Stones diving in with blocks or stopping shots on the line.
His positioning stinks - if I were an opposition manager, I’d be targetting Howard from the first minute: "No matter where you are, have a shot", and "Any crosses more than 6 yards out will not be contested by the goalkeeper", and "If you are 20-25 yards out try lobbing him". Essentially, provided you don’t shoot directly at Howard (who will be trying to get out of the way), you will beat him.
Finally, just how unfit is this team? I’m 62 and I do 90 minutes of taekwondo 2-3 times a week, we warm up, we run, we go up and down the hall kicking stuff, we do axe kicks (high kicks bringing down the foot onto an opponent’s head), side kicks, back kicks, jumping rotating kicks ... and although it’s all explosive movement, injures are rare and I have seen only two hamstring injuries in 6 years. Lukaku, one third of my age and in much better form, runs 20 metres at reasonable speed and does a hamstring. I’d be looking very hard at the training staff.
81 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:42:29
82 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:44:23
83 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:44:12
Big respect to the blue nose who spent the 2nd half in just his pants!
84 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:45:25
85 Posted 22/03/2015 at 19:34:37
I agree that Kone is now at best a championship player but he basically hurt himself trying to get the win for us. Lennon doesn’t get the goal if Kone doesn’t bravely go in and sacrifice himself. Hope he’s OK and recovers to play on with another team.
The reason I bring Kone up is because I’m sick of 2 cowards that we have on our team. Howard and Barkley are not fit to play for Everton and the sooner the 2 of them are gone the better this team will be.
I figured Rom would pick up the dreaded ’Belgian end of season hammy’ but I’m not surprised as these injuries usually appear with nothing to play for.
Really want to stuff Southampton in 2 weeks to get back at them for the loss last year which basically ended our CL hopes. I think now with 1 game per week the pressure is off but June and July will be the most important few months for the club in a long time.
87 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:00:00
I know it would be brave of BK to sack him at the end of the season but I hope he does, that would give the new man a pre season and a transfer kitty and time to assess the squad rather than wait till Xmas and if we have to wait till then for BK to sack him then that will mean we are in the bottom 3.
88 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:07:08
89 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:12:25
90 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:12:28
Unless Bill gets an answer that satisfies him (especially on the shoes)...
92 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:01:18
Great post, especially about the training staff. There. Is something greatly amiss about their methods. Who are they?
Did they come with the manager? I do recollect some kind of exodus from Finch Farm a while back.
Generally though, the team’s fitness levels may not be up to scratch.
93 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:29:49
Sorry guys! HeÂs wearing the Baines shirt for the rest of his life now!!!
94 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:01:48
Howard has become very much a line keeper with no interest in travelling out for a ball. I believe this to be the biggest contribution to his terrible record this season. Martinez needs to either buy a keeper in the summer or put his faith in Robles, a player he bought! De Gea had an early torrid time at Man Utd but has matured into a fine keeper. Can Robles also do that?
Stones and Jags together with McCarthy’s help did a job. Besides his goal, Lennon’s workrate was excellent and does so until drops. I agree that Kone was poor but along with Lukaku, early in the game they did show you can defend from the front.
Where does this leave Martinez with Gareth Barry? Nowhere really. QPR home and away and last Sunday’s game show his name should no longer be on the team sheet apart from injuries. I see no point in playing him for the remainder of the season. The same goes for Mirallas who doesn’t make a 90-min contribution. If Martinez can isolate Distin (unreasonably in my eyes) then he can do the same to Barry and Mirallas.
Let’s just try and look forward to the final games of the season.
95 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:32:19
There were a number of Yanks at the game today who couldn’t believe they were actually seeing the great man in the flesh.
97 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:37:31
You are correct about entrusting the quarter-wit the transfer dosh. He will buy shite.
98 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:39:25
99 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:49:52
100 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:50:24
101 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:53:53
102 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:56:10
103 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:47:59
104 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:01:01
105 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:57:03
106 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:55:51
Problem is you want a keeper like Lloris who roams and Howard doesnÂt play that style. I admit there are different styles and be honest for once about the style you want in the box. BTW, Robles the Savior is not that style either. Go watch his Wigan appearances and his U-23 Spanish appearances and tell me what you see please.
I donÂt mind people not liking a player when they are honest about it. Please donÂt try to disguise it by manufactured "fact".
107 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:04:19
108 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:12:15
Bobby Bunny
109 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:10:34
110 Posted 22/03/2015 at 20:16:56
Easy to gauge too - I watched in the pub and every 20 seconds there was a pained cry of (take your pick) of "Jesus wept!!" "For fuckÂs SAKE Everton" "Get fucking RID!!" etc
(Oh, and one "Come and collect it you Taliban headed twat!")
As for Kone, the only acceptable explanation for that performance would be if someone had covered him all over in those flippers you get on pinball tables.
111 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:02:07
You are wrong about Coleman, Osman and Howard. But it was nice to hear about your tae kwon do, especially as a sixties exercise class is so relevant to Premier League football.
113 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:10:13
In the summer we need a clear out - Howard, Osman, Hibbert, Barry, Distin, Pienaar (too old and/or slow), Mirallas, Barkley, (too lazy), Alcaraz, McGeady, Atsu, Kone (not Premier League quality).
But is Martinez the one to trust with a transfer kitty? Of his signings, Lukaku and McCarthy are PL quality but way over-priced, Besic and Kone are squad/bench players, again over-priced, and Atsu, Alcaraz and McGeady should never have worn our shirt and Robles is one for the future. As for Barry – a three-year contract for a 33-year-old? The rest of the football world must have been pissing themselves!
But we are stuck with him for another season at least. I am disappointed as I imagined that with his European contacts we would have a stream of cheapish high-quality Latin imports.
114 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:22:55
115 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:32:02
The bunny looks like it’s doing some kind of fitness regime. Won’t be our kind of thing. We’re above that.
116 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:34:40
117 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:47:26
Relieved with the points and hopfully that lifts a bit of pressure from the lads. Hope we can go out and get as many points as possible now and forget this season ever happened!
118 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:58:34
119 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:03:18
We may already have enough points in the bag to survive this season but it is very scary to see how it may have panned out with only a few more bad results. It’s a good job the fans got angry at Goodison, as it seems to have given just enough motivation for the team to gain those most valuable six points in the last two games.
120 Posted 22/03/2015 at 21:49:29
By the way, your assessment on Howard was spot on. Howard is ruining his legacy as being our best GK in the last 30 years behind, Southall and Martyn. I’d take Richard Wright back as a safer pair of hands than him right now. The thought of him remaining in goal for another season will give me an ulcer.
123 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:25:14
124 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:22:01
I hate watching us play and I hate listening to Bobby bullshit. With this squad we should be smashing teams in the bottom half.
I give up.
125 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:37:03
126 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:40:07
129 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:44:29
130 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:47:43
131 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:43:46
What we have seen this season has not been good enough and that includes Ross Barkley. Everton are not that bad when in possession but when not they are all over the place chasing shadows forcing too much pressure on the back four. This was so evident yet again today against a side like QPR.
As someone posted earlier, Everton somehow contrived to make QPR look like world beaters. If they play like that in the next game against the Saints, they wonÂt be so lucky.
132 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:52:51
133 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:45:10
We all know Barry will be brought back in next game, I would love to get over the Polaroids Barry has of Roberto, pass them on to Bobby on condition he sticks with Gibson.
I am just waiting for a player to get injured in training, or bobby catching a midfielders foot in the door, to allow Barry to come straight back in.
134 Posted 22/03/2015 at 22:58:41
More importantly, in what way am I wrong about Howard (an flappy, cowardly liability saved from serial ignominy by Jagielka and Stones), Coleman (a proven excellent, intuitive player crippled, it would seem, by managerial instructions) or Osman (does get knocked off the ball, so lightweight, but does work well in tight situations).
135 Posted 22/03/2015 at 23:36:45
The past two weeks have unequivocally confirmed for me that Gareth Barry should not be the ’go-to guy’ for Martinez. He is too slow and does not contribute in the final third. Gibson was excellent and deserves to stay in the team for the long term. His partnership with McCarthy continues to flourish with the pair being able to play off each other really well. At Newcastle, McCarthy ventured forward and today that was true for Gibson.
I now hope that Lukaku’s hamstring was not so badly injured. For all of the comments about the training staff and how ’unfit’ the team is we have to agree that these players are playing at a level that very few (if any) of us understand. Lukaku started that run in his own half and was going full out past the eighteen yard line (not 20 metres).
Let’s get behind our boys and push them on up the table. COYB’s
136 Posted 23/03/2015 at 00:06:06
Another step closer to safety, more down to QPR’s ineptness. But that is the luck we need.
This clown can’t be in charge for much longer surely.
137 Posted 23/03/2015 at 00:16:13
I remember watching a show on the BBC about Swansea last year and there was segment where Martinez was interviewed. He said many Swansea fans would say they needed to go back to 4-4-2 once they got promoted to the Championship. His reaction was that 4-4-2 didn’t fit with how he thought the game should be played.
So I’ll give him credit for the last 2 league games, although I bet that part of him is secretly seething that this formation that he probably deems as archaic is grinding out results. Long may it continue.
138 Posted 23/03/2015 at 00:23:30
I just want us to scrape past the post and get rid of Martinez. I suspect, though, that this piss poor show today is enough for our formless chairman to start next season with our fool.
139 Posted 23/03/2015 at 00:42:34
I hope Martinez is given at least one more season because either this season or last season was an aberration and non of you know really which one it is so I’d be very careful your not to quick to throw the baby out with the bath water. He is either the total clown that some of you think he is or he’s solid gold genius like he was last season. All I know is that there were times last season when we were a total joy to watch, easily the match of teams that have resources that are massive compared to ours. I think you would all do well to remember that.
140 Posted 23/03/2015 at 01:28:18
There were as you say a few memorable games last season, Arsenal home and away; doing the double against United, the Goodison derby, the display at Villa Park and perhaps the crucial first win of the season against Chelsea, now I’m struggling to remember any more outstanding performances from the last campaign.
We also saw a surrender in the FA Cup at the Emirates and abject performances at Southampton, Cardiff and Palace. Notice how well we did against most of the top teams last season and how relatively poor the results and performances against most of those teams have been this season.
Given that most of our victories this term have come against teams from the lower half of the table, I can’t see how we can take any view other than we have fallen down the pecking order in the Premier League.
If Martinez does remain in charge, I hope he does manage to get us back to where we think we should be, but seeing how most of the decent sides have sussed our style out this season - last season we caught most of them on the hop - I think our days of top eight or better being almost guaranteed are possibly over unless of course we happen to bring in better and hungrier players in the next window and the manager picks the right combination to maximise Everton’s chances of beating our opponents.
141 Posted 23/03/2015 at 01:23:35
142 Posted 23/03/2015 at 07:59:04
Stones and Jags were great, so why, oh why didn’t the boss start with them in Kiev? And as for his comments regarding adapting to Europe! I wonder what planet he is living on.
143 Posted 23/03/2015 at 08:41:09
You are wrong because the root of the problem is not the players you like to vilify but the system deployed and the management of the club.
All the players you single out have proven their abilities over a number of years, and in the case of Ossie and Tim, two players who are amongst the highest number of appearances for this club ever.
My natural reaction to such players is to support them and challenge some of the ridiculous over the top criticism that is spouted on here. A goal hasn’t gone in in the last couple of months where Tim is not getting the blame. Thursday he gets beaten by two worldies and he’s badly positioned. I would freely admit he’s not been at his best at times but I also think he has not been helped by the players in front of him.
As for you suggestion I should support Liverpool
(which I may point out is a big no no on here and has seen people banned) let me quote Malcom Tucker.
"When I want your advice, I will give you a special signal, that will be when I am sectioned under the Mental Health Act"
144 Posted 23/03/2015 at 11:52:52
145 Posted 23/03/2015 at 13:19:25
We showed some character & spirit considering this was on the back of a shambolic performance on Thursday & a 3,000-mile roundtrip from Kiev. Well done.
Thank fuck Alcaraz wasnÂt playing. Hope he never wears the Blue again.
146 Posted 23/03/2015 at 15:43:21
Of course, we were never in danger of the drop, our lads defend magnificently and the manager is adaptable enough to get a result when it counts.
147 Posted 23/03/2015 at 15:22:23
Everton under Moyes had settled into a level where it was accepted that we would never be good enough to break into the elite little bunch at the top but we would always just good enough to finish somewhere in the top 10. How many times did Moyes say that his first goal was to secure 40 pts?
Unless you catch lightening in a bottle, it takes several transfer markets before you can really say that the team on the field is any given manager's team but I think it's pretty obvious that the group of players that we have today is a massive improvement on the team that Positive Bob inherited.
The jury I agree is still out on the preparation and coaching but I think that just given time and the overhauling of the center of the defense, this same group of players and manager would produce a vastly improved style of play and consistently better results.
148 Posted 23/03/2015 at 15:39:34
Each player is evaluated as a defender, an attacker, and in possession. The only one of any consequence for a goalkeeper is in defence. Mingolet scores 392, Fabianski 494, Foster 110. Tim Howard scores –100, yes, minus 100.
For some opaque reason he scores 67 for "possession" (a bit of a mystery given his almost invariable ’punch to the opposition’ style of goalkeeping). As such, he is the lowest scoring keeper in the Premier League. His positioning is terrible, his commitment is absent, his goalkeeping style ’star jump and lie down’ is shocking, and exactly why he was crawling around on the ground when QPR scored yesterday is a total mystery.
What exactly poor Robles has done wrong is beyond my understanding. He started nervously but was clearly improving and gaining confidence with every game he played. He may not be another Neville Southall, but he’s almost certainly the best mature goalkeeper on Everton’s books at present.
As for Osman, I think he’s an excellent player, but there isn’t much of him and he usually comes off second best in any kind of physical competition and he’s getting on a bit so playing him for 90 minutes is probably not the best tactic.
It’s not criticism, it’s like saying that since Messi is 5-ft 7-in, he can’t be expected to win many Duncan Ferguson style contested headers from corners in the penalty area.
149 Posted 23/03/2015 at 16:28:55
"I have to say from the outset that I think Martinez has the potential to be a great manager."
Mate, you either have the driest humour ever or need some caffeine in the mornings.
I canÂt slag RM off anymore because itÂs beginning to feel like I am bullying him. So I will just echo the comments of Roger (#146): Tally-Ho chaps, pip-pip, hurrah and 3 cheers for good old Bobby heÂs a smashing fellow
150 Posted 23/03/2015 at 16:57:17
Center of the defense:
Jags suffered from a World Cup hangover at the beginning of season
Distin just got too old all of a sudden
Howard goes kind of mental... is it age?
Barry, never fast, became glacial this year,
Creative Midfielders:
Pienaar hasn't played
Osman hardly played
McCarthy missed a lot of the season
Gibson hardly played
Barkley missed a lot of the season
Barry too slow
And we wonder why we are not in the top four?CWhich manager would have done better do you think?
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1 Posted 22/03/2015 at 15:20:30