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Everton claw back a point to deny last-placed Foxes
Everton 2 - 2 Leicester City

Two blunders by Howard left Everton chasing the game after Naismith looked to have set them on course for three points
Roberto Martinez made three changes from the team that started against Young Boys, with Leighton Baines, Aaron Lennon and Muhamed Besic coming in for Bryan Oviedo, Kevin Mirallas and the suspended Gareth Barry.
Hopes that the momentum established in Europe on Thursday would carry through to the Premier League were not realised in a dull first half but Romelu Lukaku had a great chance to add to his goals in Bern but side-footed over the bar.
Ross Barkley also skied a good opportunity into the Park End while Jeff Schlupp fired over at the other end before being denied on the stroke of half time by a terrific block by John Stones.
Everton were struggling to break Leicester down until an early double change by Martinez introduced Darron Gibson and Christian Atsu in place of Besic and Barkley.
Determined work by Lukaku on the edge of the box ended with him laying the ball off to Steven Naismith who tucked a shot inside the near post through a defender's legs to give Everton the lead.
It was short-lived, however. Two of Foxes manager Nigel Pearson's changes combined just four minutes later ti level the game when Howard pushed Jamie Vardy's low cross into Stones and the ball fell to David Nugent who couldn't miss from the close range.
The game sprang to life then as Everton pushed to regain the lead which they almost did when Lukaku picked up James McCarthy's deft flick but the Belgian curled his shot inches over the bar with just Mark Schwarzer to beat.
And when Howard mis-judged another deep cross from the Leicester right and flapped the ball to Vardy, he laid it back to Esteban Cambiasso to fire home and turn the game on its head.
The Blues should have been level immediately. With Gibson orchestrating some incisive football from midfield, they had thrown off their cautious demeanour from the first half and Naismith's first-time pass put Lukaku in for a great chance but his finish with his weaker foot was again poor.
With Everton becoming increasingly desperate in the closing stages, Atsu almost found way through but the ball wouldn't come down in time for him and Lukaku poked Baines's shot inches wide.
The pressure told three minutes from time, though, when Atsu delivered an excellent cross from the left wing that glanced off Lukaku's head, off Upson and into the Leicester net.
An injury-time charge that saw Atsu's shot pushed behind by Schwarzer set up a last chance from a corner but Lukaku's header was blocked on its way to goal and the Blues' chance of a much-needed Premier League win was snuffed out.
With just three home wins in the League all season, just six points separating Everton from the bottom three and testing trips to Arsenal and Stoke next on the schedule, the pressure remains on Martinez and his team heading into the last three months of the campaign.
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Reader Comments (104)
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2 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:12:45
Robles has three clean sheets and gets dropped, Howard comes in and concedes in every game he has played, and all to his fault, yet RM will still stick with him – that is why he will never be a top manager and we will never be a top team.......
3 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:16:09
4 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:11:02
From Baines looking like heÂd aged 20 years to Barkley and Lukaku taking three touches to control the ball... Simply awful ponderous football.
5 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:23:09
That was embarrassing.
6 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:25:04
7 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:22:12
I really don't understand this man's thinking or what exactly he trying to achieve at this club, but what ever it is clearly not working. We will limp over the line to securing Premier League football next season. My worry is the summer and beyond. I want to see three areas of improvement.
1 - Identify now the replacements for players who will be departing in the summer and aim to complete the majority of the transfer activity for other key areas before the start of pre season.
2 - A solid pre season work out is needed, by that I don't mean botching together a shitty list of three friendlies. Ensure the calender is filled with atleast 5-6 games with some competitive sides included.
3. First 6-10 games of next season is crucial.
Start well. If there is a repeat of the performances of this season. the board must then let Martinez go. I don't/can't accept another abject season like the one so far.
8 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:16:46
Last season saw him achieve 21 victories ( an outstanding 55% win ratio ) which means that his overall 5.7 seasons at top level gives him a success rate of exactly 30 %.
BK is said to have been seduced by the Catalan's FA Cup triumph to which must be added last season's success and the results in the Europa this term.
He will, I believe, stand by his man.
9 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:49:56
Roberto - Just how many times does the old dog have to piss on the carpet before getting dumped?
10 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:51:00
Its going to go down to the wire this year.
We don't look any better than Leicester, we haven't done all season.
The penny still has not dropped with Martinez or the players that you CANNOT PLAY AT SUCH A SLOW TEMPO IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE..
6 league wins all season... One word I'm afraid.
DISGRACEFUL
11 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:43:20
He does not believe in playing through MF or crossing the ball and his team selections do nothing to inspire confidence.
Robles starts to play well and is immediately dropped. Besic starts to get into top form after a run of games and is immediately dropped.
Garbutt is obviously being encouraged to seek his fortune elsewhere.
As regards the game I thought Jags was the only player to emerge with some credit.
12 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:55:47
I'm beginning to think Martinez needs one of them Delta Taxi's calling, which are aptly promoted in the Old Lady. On that point, is that the best we can do when looking at selling advertising space ? Little signs of lack of ambition all add up.
13 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:55:17
14 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:06:13
The man is pitiful and should do the honourable thing.
15 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:05:45
16 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:54:56
Everton are in need of another goal keeper ASAP.
Next game Arsenal away (Jesus)... Everton are going to be in need of him.
17 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:09:50
18 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:06:04
To drop Robles with 3 consecutive clean sheets is INSANE for a RELEGATION manager.
19 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:09:54
Even more useless board
While BK lauds over everything EFC nothing will happen to move us on.
We need a strong board appointing a Slavan Belic type of manager.
I'm just tired of this shite
20 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:14:52
21 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:47:57
Lets hope and pray that Everton FC are still in the Premier League for next season. And that someone on the board has the good sense to see that Martinez is just not up to the job. This is our club, and Martinez is turning us into a laughing stock. Him and his ex Wigan cronies are floundering and taking Everton down the same path as they took Wigan. Lets get real here, before it is too late.
Just a little observation. I have in the not to distant past listened to talk of certain players causing unrest. IE S.Eto'o and Distin. They were nowhere near today. Injured and booted out. So what is the excuse now. And also , maybe we could have done with the likes of Sammy today.
Think most people on here have got it spot on about T.Howard. He is now a liability. And we need more midfielders. Playmakers. Barkley, Naismith and Mirallas are not doing it. They all run into the same spot. Every bloody game. Can Martinez not see that. And also , what has happened to our fullbacks this season. They need new fresh direction. New incentive. And we need proper competition and support for Lukaku. He will score goals, but his goals need to be meaningful and win football matches. Hard work here trying to look for positives from this season. There are none. No good winning on a Thursday night, and then playing rubbish on a Sunday.
For me, this season is surreal. And I cannot wait to see it over , and Everton in a safe position. And I blame Mr. Martinez. The buck stop with him. Expect much of the same next season, should he still be our manager.
22 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:05:56
We just have no one that can thread balls and the way it is right now even if we did then our 㿈M man would no likely spoon it out for a throw in.
Paul, post #12 – at least the taxi ads. are not in red at Goodison these days, took the hierarchy some years but finally the penny dropped.
Nais donates a fair wedge to locals and it would be nice to see Tim and Lukaku do similar after a series of very poor returns to EFC.
23 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:16:51
How much longer do we have to put up with poor selection, players out of form and bad tactical play that is all up to the manager.
There are not a lot /// I will rephrase that to, there is no one I know who can do such a poor job and still keep it.
24 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:13:07
However, apportioning blame to individuals when they have made basic mistakes is fair.
Howard.............dear oh dear oh dear, very very poor. Both Leicesters goals were attributable to Tim's sloppy handling and bad positioning.
Sadly, I also think that Stones was a contributor in both goals conceded, but they weren't alone.
Sadly, Lukaku squandered prize opportunities.
On another day we stroll away from that as 5-0 winners.
Naismith can hold up his head for his display. Midfield, defence and in attack, he put in a proper shift..........not all quality, but all heart.
25 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:27:13
Now he has lost 3 very important points because of Howard.
26 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:28:30
27 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:31:03
28 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:27:15
29 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:32:10
The subs were very good and I liked he put Atsu in instead of Mirallas.
But yet again we looked to have turned a corner and we plummet.
Baines and Howard were awful.
30 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:35:30
31 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:28:41
32 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:39:24
33 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:33:03
Tim Howard got it badly wrong today, and Robles had kept 3? clean sheets when he was replaced. Robles now commands his area, takes high balls/crosses and is a good shot stopper. Tim often gets it wrong in some of these departments. Yes, we should have buried them with the chances we created, but to give those goals away was unforgivable.
34 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:36:50
We can argue black and blue about this season and lets be honest it's been the ENTIRE season following on from a disastrous pre-season..
The manager is clueless and does not know how to win matches in the English Premier League.
He thinks you can just pass the ball about leisurely like your on a Thai beach in July.
Have we seen a single game at Goodison since the first half against Arsenal way way back in August where you genuinely felt you were watching an Everton team playing at Goodison Park?
The vast majority of this season has been like watch paint drying.
The sooner this season is over the better and we can then look for a new manager who knows what it takes to win matches in this league, fuck next season watching this shower of bollox again with the same manager and personnel.
35 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:41:55
36 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:40:00
They where nervous and tentative today afraid to make a mistake, which obviously leads to mistakes, taking too many touches and taking the safest option , but in Europe we zipped the ball about with pace.
38 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:51:52
This should be a major wake up call to the board more than anyone else. This idiot RM could take us down.
I'd like to say on Thursday RM will start Robles in goal, Garbutt at left back, both Atsu & Miralles on the wings & Kone up front, but lets be honest he won't!
39 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:57:21
40 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:58:22
I thought McCarthy was poor today also, particularly first half his passing was terrible.
Lennon showed exactly why Spurs got rid, no end product.
Only real bright spot was Gibson, he looked like the player he was two seasons ago, constantly wanted the ball and every pass was a forward one. Trouble is I fully expect Martinez NOT to pick him next game.
Atsu I thought did enough to merit a start next time in place of Lennon.
41 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:50:13
The difference between us playing well and badly all starts from the tempo we set and this is key to getting us, the crowd, behind them. I’m fed up of all the away fans taking the mick out of us because the place is like a morgue. Again this is down to the tempo. Give us something to roar about and we will.
In terms of the second half... I really was scratching my head when he brought Gibson and Atsu on but, to be fair, I thought both players made a difference and thought Gibson offered more than we showed in the whole of the first half. In terms of Roberto, I still want to see him influence a game with his subs more often... and I think his stance on Howard coming straight back in was a disgrace.
Big questions still left to be answered and I’ve not seen enough this year so far to be confident he’s got what it takes. Think we’ll stay up... just but he needs to have a massive summer and we need to start like rocket next year or the alarm bells will be ringing even louder.
Two more things, Roberto: stop talking shite in post-match interviews... and start practicing set-pieces — you never know, we might actually score from them.
Gutted.
42 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:51:53
43 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:03:17
44 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:06:10
That is embarrassing for a club like Everton.
The record at Goodison has long been one of the few things we have had to be proud of in recent years but this season has totally quashed that proud record.
I'd suggest the only thing keeping Martinez alive at present is the fact we are still in Europe.
Out of both domestic cup competitions at the first time of asking and perilously close to the bottom three... Surely something has to give soon.
45 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:08:53
46 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:13:50
Lennon was one of few positives and it was his pace and ball across in the first half to Lukaku, and then for Barkley to do what he usually does at Goodison and hit row ZZ in the Park End.
Atsu still doesn't look like the player he is for Ghana, you get more time and space on the ball in international matches especially in the African games.
He looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights playing for us.
Its not about individual players anymore though.
You can try out them all from Barkley to Besic, to Gibson to Atsu to McGeady.
The fact is the manager will not stray away from his fucking principles even though it's become so apparent that it just does NOT work in the Premier League.
We have this same discussion after every single league match and have done since August.
While Martinez is here I'm afraid nothing will change.
48 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:15:22
How on earth can he allow an already piss poor Howard to walk straight back in to this squad after Robles showed really good signs of progress.
This is the worse football I've seen at Everton and the manager is responsible for every result and team selection. Get rid before it's too late.
50 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:11:31
You can see why Garbutt wonÂt commit. ItÂs a dog fight now and BobÂs lost the plot.When you drop a keeper who didnÂt concede in 3 league games that says it all. Will he have the balls to drop Tim ? No.
51 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:26:49
Lukaku was clearly drained from Thursday night but no sight of Kone and Howard in goal even though Robles had previously kept three clean sheets.
High price to pay in order for them to sign on the dotted line. Let's hope that Howard doesn't cost us too much until the end of the season.
I like Roberto and think that he will flourish next season if he has the requisite clear out.
54 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:41:35
55 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:44:45
Roberto won't be here next season to oversee a clearout.
This is the man who dished out new contracts to players clearly not good enough for the next level or past their best, this is also the man who spends all season hyping up Kone telling the world what we have and how good he's going to be yet now he is fit, where is he?
Then there is the soul destroying management of Robles, how is a lad meant to get any kind of confidence when he gets taken out of the team just as he's hitting form and the back five start gaining a level of trust and understanding.
I would hate to be a defender with Tim Howard behind me.
You can't trust the man, he is erratic, you never know what he's going to do next and frankly he is a circus act.
I would trust Martinez to coach a Nursery team these days let alone oversee the major overhaul this club needs.
56 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:34:43
The only positive today was Darren Gibson, at last a midfield player who looks to start attacks with his first touch. Unlike Barry,McCarthy and Besic who are happier passing across or backwards. Gibson gave a masterclass in passing with precision, and I am sure the forwards at last felt they could make runs and we had someone with the class to find them.
The amount of forward 20 yard passes that found there target was a treat, lets hope he can stay fit till the end of the season. Howard needs replacing age is finally catching up with him, also Barkley looks like a lot of promising young players that never train on to become the player that we hoped he would be.
I would think if you asked any Premiership manager which squad he would choose between Everton and the other bottom 12 clubs and I think without exception they would all pick Everton. As I believe with this squad we should easily be in the top 7 just shows what happens when you appoint a very limited manager.
57 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:51:03
59 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:45:47
Second half the game lost all shape and he got as ragged as anyone. Their goals came from crosses down his flank but I don't think you can blame him.
The system is that both Baines and Coleman get high up the pitch. Blame the system.
In addition, for the first goal Jags had it with no pressure. He panicked and played a pointless ball to Stones who was under pressure. Stones did fine and gave it back to Jags, who again panicked and sliced a ball to a Leicester player. Then Tim took over.
No doubt you can blame Tim. He was at fault.
For the others, how long can we assume that every single player has turned to shit at the same time?
How long before we acknowledge that it is far more likely that the system is making good players look shit? Playing against their strengths.
After the discussion on Baines on the ToffeeWeb match preview, I watched him closely. He's still the same player. Still smart in possession, still chasing, still trying to create. The team is just so dysfunctional that there's a limit to what he can do. I'm sure that's the case for many of the players who are underperforming.
Case in point, Barry's performance in midweek. Teams flooding at us will always suit him. Good positioning, breaking up the play, getting us moving again. Yet we play him in games where teams are sitting back (so he's wasted offensively) and counter attacking (he's wasted defensively - hasn't got the pace for it).
Some kind of fucking clue please RM. There aren't many around who could be doing a worse job right now.
60 Posted 22/02/2015 at 18:13:15
Martinez clearly has one of the most serious failings to beset a PL manager, he's stubborn beyond belief. The more he is criticised the more he refuses to bend. He's brought back from injury his No1 keeper who has had a genuinely poor, poor season and displaced a keeper who, to be fair, few blues had any time for at all, but who has done what matters in football, he's taken his chance and done well, conceding nothing and shoeing capable hands and dominating the area. Howard's return really is a soap opera. He was aweful against the leagues bottom team. No matter what our failure to convert a couple of decent chances, he cost us three points. Id drop him now but there's more chance of me growing legs and being the oldest no9 to play for Everton than Martinez putting Robles back in.
It's stubborness that prevents Martinez giving Garbutt a chance at left back when signs are the usually impeccable Baines is struggling and in truth has been since a poor World Cup. I accept its a risk but one worth taking in my view. Besic alongside McCarthy has to be left in place but you just know Barry's back against Arsenal.
But regardless of all this I'm not sure much else matters other than manager and team seem to find it impossible to add real tempo and urgency to our play and even the leagues bottom team made us look pedestrian.
I still can't believe we will go down but it's going to be mighty close....where are the 14 or 15 points we need coming from? Europa League ? If there's anyone who thinks winning that is worth going down you must be utterley mad. Relegation will finish this club for a decade or more. How in gods name have we ended up here ?
61 Posted 22/02/2015 at 19:55:28
62 Posted 22/02/2015 at 20:14:46
65 Posted 22/02/2015 at 20:25:25
So as long as we can keep our points tally ahead of games played we should be safe. Just averaging a point a game will do it ..... in spite of Martinez !
66 Posted 22/02/2015 at 20:27:55
67 Posted 22/02/2015 at 20:26:34
The pace of the passing today was atrocious, Leicester could sit there and watch it going across the pitch from side to side. They are manifestly the worst team in this league and they were unlucky today to lose!
Gibson showed a little ability, but can we rely on him playing six matches on the run? Coleman ran into blind alleys and Lennon is so one footed that any defender worth his salt knows he can only go one way. Lukaku had a stinker, but at least he kept trying.
It was a shambles and Martinez states it’s just a hangover from the Europa League. His self-delusion is astounding. Liverpool had a harder game and went away to one of the better teams and did the job.
Sorry we need a new manager and some new players.
68 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:00:07
69 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:03:29
Have a squiz through the record books for us and try and find out the last time Everton went into March with just three home wins.
I'm struggling to think back to a worst run in terms of Goodison victories than this season, could be Walter Smith's first season of 98/99 but I'm unsure, it certainly isn't more recent than that.
70 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:12:32
71 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:16:15
Phil, only five? How many do you want?
72 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:23:28
Lucky to still be in a job really.
73 Posted 22/02/2015 at 20:54:05
Warning signs were there toward the end of last season when this scribe and others pointed to the amount of time and passes plus the involvement of so many players to move the ball forwards just a few yards.
This season that worsened when opponents identified and took advantage of Robertos tactics that saw most of our players out of position while trying to maintain possession. All that was required was for opponents to pack their back line and play long balls to a couple of live wire strikers.
Martinez's incompetence as a manager is continuously exposed by his inability to to identify and make desperately needed changes to his system.
Or could it be that he is too arrogant and pig headed to admit his mistakes.
There can be no doubt that we are on the edge of a precipice and staring into the abyss of relegation.
I was amused and confused when Twebbers ridiculed the idea of Pulis or his ilk coming in to sort things out.
I hope our slide does not become irreversible before BK or his puppet masters say enough is enough.
75 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:13:32
Both Lukaku and Barkley looked like novices when opportunities came their way, failing to keep their composure and do the basics of keeping their head over the ball and at least hitting the target, but Lukaku kept on working and had a positive involvement in both our goals.
Howard definitely messed up for the second goal, but the cross for the first is a nightmare ball for any defence. For it to ricochet off Stones and fall perfectly for Nugent to finish is just bad luck. It is a prime example of why it is important to try to prevent unpressured crosses from being made.
Apart from that I thought everyone at least did okay with Coleman and Gibson looking a class apart at times.
Leicester may be bottom of the league but they also have a deserved reputation for having given it a go against all-comers this season, and yet for the majority of this match we looked the far more likely to score and go on to win.
It is all about sticking the ball in the back of the net though, and because we could only match the opposition in that regard we are left bemoaning the squandering of precious points and the confidence that an accomplished win would have brought.
76 Posted 22/02/2015 at 20:58:48
78 Posted 22/02/2015 at 21:36:35
Had a feeling from memory it was that season of 98/99.
The oddest thing of all that term was as bad as we were all of a sudden we a 5-0 win over Middlesbrough and a 6-0 over West Ham.
79 Posted 22/02/2015 at 22:02:56
81 Posted 22/02/2015 at 22:18:11
82 Posted 22/02/2015 at 22:21:32
This is exactly the reason why I couldn't be like all the other posters on here and start patting us on the back despite playing ok at Chelsea because the fact is we lost the match and I knew it would be back to normal today and I was sadly proved right again.
I will pat us on the back after the Arsenal game if we actually take something from the match, a point or a win not just another hard luck tale.
83 Posted 22/02/2015 at 22:15:36
85 Posted 22/02/2015 at 22:44:25
87 Posted 22/02/2015 at 23:07:55
Against the likes of Leicester, WBA, Hull etc...we just don't have the guile to break these teams down and then the panic (players and fans) set in.
The second half today was frenetic at times and the team completely lost its shape. It could easily have ended up 4-4 or more. Major work is needed in the summer.
88 Posted 22/02/2015 at 23:15:53
89 Posted 22/02/2015 at 22:57:49
90 Posted 23/02/2015 at 00:00:39
91 Posted 23/02/2015 at 00:20:21
If he stuck to doing the simple stuff for a while it may be better for him, but I don't think that is his mentality.
He overplays stuff at times, attempts the nigh on impossible too often, and appears too laid back in his efforts to complete his defensive duties, but I am still betting on him blossoming into a star player in the relatively near future.
I think power is a big part of his game and at the moment he is still coming into his full adult strength. However, that probably means he is not naturally blessed with stamina and so he is going to have to work very hard on his fitness all his career if he is too provide more than intermittent 'surges' during a full 90 minutes.
92 Posted 23/02/2015 at 00:30:46
93 Posted 23/02/2015 at 00:35:47
The universal reaction, was to shake their heads, roll their eyes, and look up at the heavens. Not one of them supported it.
It was a shatteringly awful, illogical, almost cretinous decision. The worst thing is... that RM STILL thinks it's a good idea!!
95 Posted 23/02/2015 at 03:24:50
96 Posted 23/02/2015 at 03:32:02
97 Posted 23/02/2015 at 02:48:34
I would also go along with Peter's midfield of Besic, McCarthy and Gibson in midfield at Arsenal. Barkley has had so many chances to show us he has what it takes but it looks like he hasn't. He should be left on the bench for the rest of the season then reassessed. In the case of Howard, I am just dumbfounded how long it has taken fans and management to see what a rubbish goalkeeper he has always been.
100 Posted 23/02/2015 at 06:05:17
101 Posted 23/02/2015 at 06:34:00
Naisy, bless his heart, was running all over the place, trying to make something happen, but most of the time all he did was narrow the field. Baines has been getting a bit flack over his performance, but there were numerous times that he would look upfield only to find no one home. More often than not, Lukaku would slide over to collect the pass. The Baines/Pienarr magic can't happen if no one is willing to take on the Peinaar " role ". Naismith's a natural #10, and will never be a pure winger.
102 Posted 23/02/2015 at 07:03:09
"Amazed that we were scrambling for a draw, in a match we should have won 5-0".
Yep, dead right.
104 Posted 23/02/2015 at 07:37:39
All our team needs is someone who can set them up properly and motivate them. Pulis would have done just that. I'm not saying he would be the future, but he'd have steered us back in the right direction.
If West Brom finish above us in the league, can anyone really argue that Pulis wouldn't have, at the very least, comfortably taken us into the top half?
105 Posted 23/02/2015 at 08:10:56
107 Posted 23/02/2015 at 08:57:51
I was saying to my twin brother "why does Howard insist on palming the ball out?" 5 minutes later and it was in our net. How many goals/games does he cost us per season?
Atsu is one of the worst players I have ever seen in a blue shirt. He was responsible for losing the ball cheaply on the first goal. It was similar to McGeady against Newcastle away. When I saw Nugent coming on I said "he's bound to score".
The crowd is becoming a factor in these games where we are expecting to win. The restlessness is getting to the players. Against better teams like the RS and Man City, the players looked more up for it.
There is too much hindsight being used on TW. People saying Besic should start instead of Barry and we're now hearing it's too defensive with Besic and McCarthy.
108 Posted 23/02/2015 at 11:14:07
The players still feel like they need to hold the lead, even against clubs like Leicester.
They need to be told to improve on a lead,get more goals.
It's time to get the Moyes Syndrome out of their system. Roberto can do that but it means a wholesale change of players.
109 Posted 23/02/2015 at 11:37:43
111 Posted 23/02/2015 at 12:42:59
Reality Is if he didn't blow £28m on a cart horse who gets excused for everything bad about his game because of his age then we may have someone up front who allows the midfield to join in the attack rather than miscontrolling it all over the show.
So for that reason he has to address his error and sell the lad an get a striker and a left winger in. For some reason there may be a club out there willing to part with £20m for the most over rated player I have ever seen.
RM is on thin ice and that is for sure, but the players need to look at themselves.
113 Posted 23/02/2015 at 15:06:13
I have heard it all now.
So its Moyes fault we have only won 6 of the last 26 games and have conceded a record number of goals against.
Moyes is still picking the team 2 years after he left.!!!
114 Posted 23/02/2015 at 15:41:15
Jags, Baines, Stones, Coleman, Howard,Mirallas, Pienaar, and before him, Arteta etc., all Moyes buys.
Shite, aren't they?
115 Posted 23/02/2015 at 16:07:18
116 Posted 23/02/2015 at 16:11:02
118 Posted 23/02/2015 at 16:22:43
The idea that all the football was turgid doesn't make sense, our style evolved with our personnel. I found most of it pretty good. I have the DVDs and I still watch and enjoy them. Will anyone be watching the DVD of this season?
119 Posted 23/02/2015 at 16:39:29
120 Posted 23/02/2015 at 16:39:45
121 Posted 23/02/2015 at 17:20:11
122 Posted 23/02/2015 at 17:45:48
Moyes was a decent manager for us, I'm afraid Bobby is on very thin ice, I hope he can turn things round and take us forward but if we start next season like this I wouldn't hesitate to get rid!
123 Posted 23/02/2015 at 17:58:17
125 Posted 23/02/2015 at 23:19:40
126 Posted 23/02/2015 at 23:10:10
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1 Posted 22/02/2015 at 17:08:14
Surely he's got to go at the end of the season as he clearly cannot solve the problems we have. Like Wigan, we have impressive displays followed by incredibly poor displays and it will catch you out eventually.