Everton hammer another nail into Villa's coffin

It's hard to be optimistic with RM in charge as we never know what team is going to turn up. Let's just hope the players give their all for every game.

On the contrary, and if you need further persuading, by the way, I wrote this: "Blue Diamond".

3 points from a routine day in office I would say. Yeah, the sub decisions could have been better. We needed more game time for 3 subs/more rest for 3 from playing XI, keeping the West Ham game in mind.

Apart from the 3 points, the other postive from this game was Kev Mirallas getting a decent performance against his name.

COYB!

All things considered, I suppose we should be grateful for the 3 points (deservedly so?), even though I was disappointed with our overall display! It seems if Ross is not pulling the strings in midfield, they don't get pulled unfortunately, as there isn't anyone (Bar Mo B?) to step into his shoes, only Ossie & Peanuts 'were' capable, alas for us, they are in their twilight of their careers, so the timing of Farhad Moshiri buying almost 50% of stake into EFC is critical, as the promise of funds for players this summer appears to be there from him, if reports are to be believed!

We need at the very least, a top class Goalkeeper, a right sided full back, another CB if Stones decides to leave (50mill?) & a box to box midfielder, or one with skill & goals preferably, as we cannot afford the luxury of 2 attacking midfielders being caught out up field at the same time!

I'm normally very happy with any win, but for some reason, I seem to have this nagging feeling gnawing away at me last night! Was it our overall display, or a seemingly lack of urgency with a lot of the players, or perhaps something else? Had Joel & Funes Mori, not produced good displays, I dread to think what could of have happened, as we probably would have lost & no doubt I/we would have been distraught (again)!

A lot of Toffees seem to be on the same page with most games, as to what the problem/solution is, either at halftime, or midway thru the 2nd half, so it was again last night, most of us were crying out for a couple of subs to change the game, as Villa were looking kinda dangerous! Sadly, not only does RM not sub early, but the consensus was (yet again) the wrong subs, it seems like he is losing more & more fans, as the weeks go by! Will Moshiri have any influence on whom will be taking Everton FC into the promised land that lies ahead for us & if so, does he give RM more time?

Time will tell my fellow Bluenoses, it's been a long, long time coming/waiting for this to happen (The Moshiri/Messiah coming), I just hope it happens fast, what say you?

Onto the point rather than the language, Ross looks like that a lot. In many ways he's similar to Lukaku.

He'll have barnstormers on occasion. Other times he'll appear quiet but produce some of the big moments in a game. Generally he's done that this season but if he doesn't add a goal or assist it's easy for him to look ineffectual. Needs to be judged over more than one game basically... and learn to influence games more (though he did contribute to the second goal).

Harping back to youth, I would highlight 2 examples: Sheedy for Everton and John Barnes for Liverpool. Neither renowned for their work ethic over 90 minutes and willingness to, let's say, "get stuck in", but game changers within a 5 minute spell.

How they affect / contribute to the season is what they should judged on.

Everton oozed quality at times although we're maybe 3 very good players short of being up there with the best.

Barkley is one of those exciting prospects who we all wish well, and this season he has repaid some of our faith in him. The problem is, if you watch all this season's games for the whole 90 minutes, his mistakes far out-number his hero moments.

With the match more or less won, it made sense to give Stones some playing time rather than bring on another attacker.

Agreeing with the comments, regarding not only the lateness of Martinez's substitutions, but the personnel selection too!

Funes Mori is proving to be a very good acquisition indeed. It would not surprise me, if he is our Player of the Season, and well merited too, I hope we hang on to him, as some of the big Foreign Guns are watching this space.

While an Everton victory is always welcome, I couldn't but feel a bit sorry for the Villa fans and the club in general, and what has happened to them the past few seasons. A club of long standing, like Bolton, Preston, Notts County, Bury, have all too, almost disappeared from the top table.

Still, I suppose that is a sign of the times, and I just hope we continue with the good work at Goodison, with another victory against the Hammers!

COYB

Mirallas, last night had a quiet game but still had 2 assists. As regards substitutions, I'm not a 100% convinced you always have to make them, last night being a case in point and I'm not counting last season's away match at Southampton in that point.

Great to get the 3 points, but well below average performance, and like many couldn't get the Stones for Coleman substitution, when winning 3-0. Surely give Niasse more game-time to see what he can or can't do.

Villa brought on Gestede on 66 minutes and went two up top.

On 73 minutes Stones was brought on for Coleman – Given that we have no recognised back up right back, Villa had gone two upfront and the game was won, the decision to bring Stones on for Coleman was the correct choice.

On 79 minutes Oviedo picked up a knock and subbed for Baines on 81 minutes – again the correct choice as there was no point risking further injury to Oviedo.

On 88 minutes Niasse replaced Mirallas – Mirallas was having a good game, but towards the end he was tiring, not tracking back and giving the ball away. Again a reasonable decision for him to be substituted when he was.

To those who thought the substitutions were poor and ill thought out, please enlighten me as to why and what alternative ingenious substitutions you would have made with Kone, Deulofeu and Osman also on the bench.

I firmly believe Ross Barkley is a better player in a more advanced role. Last night due to Cleverley's absence he had to play in a deeper position.

I didn't think he had a poor game, he just had less opportunity to find space when he is part of a midfield three.

I suspect when Cleverley or Besic returns he will move back to the role in which he has been very effective in the last few months.

Coleman wasn't injured, we were 3-0 up did you think Gestede coming on and Villa going two up top was going to get them something out of the game, and bringing Stones on would eradicate this? Baines for Oviedo I've no problem with.

I look forward to your article on the new shareholder with regards to his influence on the playing staff and particularly the position of our manager, once the details have been released and his acceptance by the authorities confirmed.

It's a well written article but as a match report... mmmm?

We are a mid table club with a mid table manager and a mid table Board. Finally we get a couple of top 4 board members/investors. Next, top 4 manager, top 4 ground, 3 top 4 players added to our squad, all this for our Number 1 FANS.

Last night was a "must win" game. I thought Villa would be up for it, no not in the slightest. We could see from the start their heart has gone. What do we do? We play pussy foot football, once again 15 passes where 5-6 would be more effective. If this is the order of Martinez, he has got to go. If it's the choice of the players then they have got to go, simple. A lot of our goals this season have been breathtaking, when we add pace and first time passing. When some of our players have time to think, they are fucked.

Coleman not thinking tears down the wing gets the ball, has a second or third touch, his light go out, stops turns around and passes back 20-30 yards.

Barkley, gets a kicking and is hassled hits a telling pass or shoots or is up ended. Ball at his feet runs for 20 yards 3 players to pick, either loses the ball, plays the hardest pass or picks the wrong player. Oh, by the way he stops and sulks therefore leaving a gaps that he is supposed to cover.

It was an easy game last night and had loads of possession mostly in the wrong areas, hence the fist half Lukaku was coming deeper and deeper for a pass.

Substitutions? No right back cover, against this side, could have gone to a back 3 or Lennon back bring on Deulofeu. No not Martinez, centre half to full back. One simple job for Stones to do was win a header against an average player, nope, result goal conceded. Earlier Stones set off down the right over the half way line only one player in front of him, duly turns back run 20 yards and passes backwards.

I know we won but 5,000 fans traveled down the motorway to see us put Villa to the sword, what do we do? Stick pins in them. After 10 mins we should have bombarded them from every angle.

If the likes of Barkley, Stones, Deulofeu, Lukaku, McCarthy and other young player are to improve, a new manager is required. A kick up the arse is what they need now – no more cotton wool.

He has been out of the team for a few games now, and rightly so after his recent performances, but deserves a second chance. The game was won at that stage so it was a good chance to give him some game time.

He would not be in my starting 11, but well worth giving him a run at a time the game was safe.

Coming away from the match, it did not feel like a good 3-1 away win. Then again, the sign of a good team is winning games while not playing at their best.

As far as I'm concerned, league wise, our season is well over. Why are we not putting a couple of our much vaunted youngsters on the bench rather than the likes of Kone and Osman?

If we have a chance to put them on even for 15 minutes give them a run out. They'll not only enjoy it, I have no doubt they'll learn more in that 15 minutes than half-a-dozen U21 games.

Given the choice of a potentially good defender or £40 million, I would take the money every time.

Why for heavens sake do some of you spend a fortune on tickets and travel then waste your time mostly piddling around with your mobiles, wander into the ground late focussed on the seriously unhealthy food that you are cramming into your gob, barely look at the match, other than to make inane and inaccurate comments about our players, and then ask me who scored the goals? You could at least sing.

As for the game itself, the team did enough to win. We have harder games to play this month so I am not too worried that our players failed to exert themselves in chasing more goals once the game was won.

It really gets on my nerves seeing fans fuck off down to the concourses at around 35 minutes to queue up for the overpriced food or that catpiss they call Chang because flling their faces or getting the ale in is more important than the actual match, then come back up when the second half is well underway, before you hear 'excuse me' because they need to go back down for a piss.

You wonder why these types even bother coming.

I didn't like the effect it had on the performance (and the fact that Stones was the closest player to Gestede won't help his cause in the face of those who feel he is weak in the air) but I can understand the rationale.

He has a player for whom Chelsea were prepared to pay £38m last summer and who went as far as to submit a transfer request sitting on the bench. It made sense to give him some minutes and also try that back three formation again.

Not that it was all that convincing, but if you can't give it a whirl at 3-0 up, when can you?

It said what great supporters we had; I'd love to post it up for all to see but sadly I'm not computer savvy enough.

I really don't see how the subs are justified other than trying to cope with Villa (and not that the game is won). Surely we should prioritize getting Niasse fit more than giving the already fit Stones time to catch up.

(By the way, is Galloway back from injury? I see that he is not marked injured on TW squad list.)

Post number 1611710