From My Seat: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Everton 0 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur
After that international break which seemed to take forever we were at last back at the old lady and in the room of nonsense the atmosphere was akin to the start of a new season. Transfer window closed and most thought that after a good start we dropped off alarmingly. Club manager and fans knew what was required but the only action to take place was the signing of a lad who played against us for Hadjuk Split who our manager had taken a liking to. What happened to the priorities of Striker, Left sided centre back and cover at left back? Not a clue except to say that they were nowhere in sight today and we will have the same vacancies come January. If the way we performed today is any yardstick then more vacancies will appear.
It all started so well with firstly the Rooney debate and to a person it was agreed we wanted him on the pitch and physically and mentally ready as well as making a difference on the pitch. His off the pitch problems will be resolved elsewhere.
The Barkley problem was agreed to be unfathomable as we were eating into time and with no one having the slightest idea what is going on even a few city centre clubbers had no knowledge. So leaving that behind we concentrated on choosing our preferred line up and waited for 2:00pm to find that most of us were very close but non blob on. It looked quite unbalanced to some of us.
Time for the walk up and we were delighted the rain had gone, sun was out and once around the ground we met many first timers taking pics and vids as well as some overseas Blues revelling in re-living memories of when they were younger. Those sights, smells of all that is going on in that strip between fan-zone and Gwladys street never fails to get the goose bumps started. In in plenty of time for Z-Cars and all the players got a great reception as their names were called (yep Rooney too).
Now this is where the trouble started. We were sloppy with passes if we approached the final third and if we did get it right they seemed all over us driving us back. Yes we kept the ball but they kept us from their danger area. Still for 15mins we did control the ball well but when push came to shove they started not only to repel us but built up moves that had us showing the first signs of doubt. It started with the back four as their attempts to clear were not as controlled as they should be but rather a tad hurried thus giving away the ball only for it to come back at us.
We did have some attacks, one in particular when Martina showed good pace down the line and put in an excellent cross that somehow Sandro failed to turn in. Then the same player made inroads toward goal only to be dumped to the deck by Vertonghen who got a yellow. The resultant free-kick was over hit by Baines and the danger passed and so it was a case of we strived to make inroads only to find a well drilled Spurs defence plus some shoddy passing ending promising moves which was starting to unsettle sections of the full house.
Spurs now came into it more and started to look a bigger, stronger together team than us as we witnessed more attacking and evermore scrambled defending. Apart from a few breakaways it was Spurs now calling the tune forcing a couple of corners that were cleared with difficulty and when we did get to put a move together it always seemed to end with a wayward pass or a wrong decision. The half hour mark came and we paid a price for not closing down players as the ball went to Kane on the right who from my seat put a cross in but the ball ended up going past our keeper who seemed a bit shell shocked when a ball he thought was a cross found the net over his despairing dive. Bit unlucky there I thought, I will look forward to seeing that again.
The Blues seemed to respond to going behind but poor approach play and passing kept gifting the ball back to Spurs who twice had gilt edged chances but luckily for us they were caught just offside each time. I am now thinking get in to half time and get sorted plus changes need making and most were calling for Davies and DCL to replace Klaassen and Sandro but they were not the only two not playing to expectation.
On 45 mins Williams took a poor free kick and Spurs attacked down the left with Welshman Davies who hit one on goal which Pickford parried out with a good block but Eriksen pounced and fairly hammered the ball home. Recriminations and shaking of heads greeted that. Many left for an early cuppa; those left booed on the whistle.
Half-time: 0-2... Not much complimentary chat was about.
Second half and we wondered could it get any worse. Well we didn’t have to wait long to find out and the answer was yes it could as Spurs attacked and within just one minute Pickford and Keane got in a mess resulting in Spurs being gifted the ball back and Kane strolling through unmarked and he slotted with aplomb and that was to all intents and purposes game over. A full half to go and three down and playing poorly enough to let another three in. Many had rejoiced at the score from City; now it looked like they from yonder would get the last laugh.
Luckily Spurs started to coast safe in the knowledge they had the better of us. I wasn’t that we didn’t try in some cases to hard as we gave away free kicks, over hit passes and looked sorry for ourselves. Spurs just knocked it about and got in some good positions for Ericson to fire just wide, Sissoko to miss an open goal from a superb cross from the Spurs right back. Rooney got booked for fouling whilst showing frustration.
Sigurdsson was barely noticeable as was Schneiderlin plus the two lads introduced at the break had altered nothing. It really was a hard watch now but for the last 10mins we got to welcome our new Croatian player Vlasic who looked fit and strong and ran about a lot but nowhere near long enough to make any judgement. Goodison was emptying like water through a sieve, comments were yelled as fans left. I awaited the whistle and rejoiced in the fact it was only a 3 goal beating when in truth it could have been double figures.
MotM: Eriksen of Spurs for me.
Overall a very frustrating day. We came full of hope and left quite deflated. The worrying thing for me was that we played like a bunch of strangers playing a system they did not really understand which in turn made the players look less than confident on the ball thus causing many unforced errors like over hitting passes, ball running to far from them when controlling it plus on too many occasions players not moving to create options for the man on the ball.
Time for manager and players to stand up and get themselves welded into a coherent team. It may take a little time and patience from players and fans but that is far preferable to what we saw served up today. Still things can only get better. See you next game.
Iwill leave the last word on the game to the words I heard again and again on the walk back. ‘Top Six? Ha – more like Bottom Six.’
UP THE BLUES
Reader Comments (53)
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2 Posted 10/09/2017 at 01:46:10
Ashley Williams is becoming more of a liability every time I see him; he cannot deal with the sort of high pressing teams are now putting us under. In contrast, we seem unable to press the ball at all with the consequence Tottenham had all the time in the world to build from the back just like Chelsea did last week.
The conclusion of all this is we end up surrendering possession with a back pass to Pickford who then clears it upfield for us to lose possession in the first or second challenge.
I hope that after the Man Utd game we can put a run together against some of the weaker teams in order to generate some self confidence but right now it looks like we are nowhere near being able to challenge at the very top.
3 Posted 10/09/2017 at 01:58:04
4 Posted 10/09/2017 at 04:40:06
The new keeper and centre half seemed to trust each other less and less as the game wore on. Martina looked adequate going forward but has little idea how to defend and Williams spent a lot of the second half covering for him. If Jonjoe Kenny can't do better then we really are in trouble. Baines is not the player of old and I'd be surprised if he was first choice next year.
The midfield? What midfield! Schneiderlin is a complete and utter waste of space and no more money should be wasted laundering his almost unused shirt. Gana tried hard but had little effect. Klaassen tried hard but looks out of his depth hopefully, he will adapt with few more games under his belt. Sigurdsson, it seems we've spent £45Mill on someone to take the corners as he was anonymous otherwise.
Rooney is past it and shows all the signs, diving and committing sly, niggling elbows and ankle taps which marked the decline of the likes of Dave Mackay and Alan Shearer. Sandro, well what and where is he supposed to be playing? He isn't leading the line (who is?) and like Calvert-Lewin, seems to spend an inordinate amount of time wide right when we had nobody to cross it to.
Let us pause for a moment to consider the positives. No, can't think of any, maybe Davies's effort. Maybe that when we are in the bottom six come Christmas, Unsworth will be appointed caretaker until he proves his worth or we find a first class man of the highest order.
5 Posted 10/09/2017 at 05:10:30
Lookman played really poor last time out, which I put down to tactics that he is not used to, as his main coach has been Unsworth who seems to bring out the best in him. My opinion right now is that whatever Koeman is doing is making the players worse, just like Martinez did. It could be a long season,
6 Posted 10/09/2017 at 05:10:42
Koeman is guaranteeing it with his non-existent tactics. Get used to it, Blues, it's there for all to see
Sorry for being so negative but that's how it's finally got to me. Koeman Out Now!
7 Posted 10/09/2017 at 05:24:16
Remember Manchester City after Sheik wotsit bought the club, a procession of managers and players, and a number of years before success came. Hope we won't be as long as they were, but you get the point.
The thing that is exercising my mind is that these players we brought in were supposed to be targetted by the Walsh - Koeman team. But targetted for what? I wouldn't criticise Klaassen or Ramirez as yet, but it doesn't strike me as obvious what their roles are or would be.
Tottenham are a very powerful side, physique, power and speed all being vital components. I believe Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool are the same this season. We clearly are some way off those power standards. Spurs had 3 or 4 players who could run at defenders with the ball, creating panic among our defence. Which of our new guys can run at people with power and speed? I'm struggling to think of one. Our style is to pass the ball through defences. If that's our only plan, we soon get sussed.
Sure I'm frustrated watching our jumpy erratic performances... but me? I'll give it a year.
10 Posted 10/09/2017 at 05:35:28
11 Posted 10/09/2017 at 06:36:49
He's trying to play off a target man with no target. He's trying to play counter-attacking with no pace. He's trying to play 4 Number 10s into the same team. Baffling. And that's not even looking at all the other problems we have playing his "style".
And then on to his after-match comments. He's well and truly talking shite in not seeing the obvious. It's his tactics, selections and instructions that are the problem. What the fuck do they do in training? Stand around looking at each other like they do on match days?
Even if we score first,we know we'll concede, unless we get lucky. And if we concede first, we know we won't come back into it. It's pretty depressing.
The only positive I can draw from this debacle is when he was at Southampton, we slapped them silly 3-0 at their place. They then went on a nice run, going from strength to strength, finishing 6th I think it was. No, I don't expect that to happen for us but it's the only (blind) hope I have right now.
I called we'd be in bottom 5 after playing Man Utd, and the pressure will be on. I can't see us getting out of Old Trafford with anything other than a 3-0 (at best) defeat. Mr Koeman, time and patience are starting to run out.
12 Posted 10/09/2017 at 07:27:25
I find it so hard to understand Koeman's lineups and so-called strategy that turn to shit on matchday. Surely his plans for the next game are planned and discussed on the training ground? If so, is it the players who can't comprehend to put it into practice in a real game?
As dour as his defensive mentality is to quell good opposition, it does not seem to change at home or against lesser teams.
As much as Koeman is to blame, there are some poor-performing players in this team. Williams and Martina should be replaced by Jagielka and Kenny, but the man I think is responsible for the whole imbalance of the team is Schneiderlin. His selection every week makes it impossible for Gueye and Klaassen to be successful. I can see now why Morgan could not get a game at Man Utd because he is such an overrated lazy player.
13 Posted 10/09/2017 at 07:30:48
Playing 7 players who are new is going to cause problems, and how. Koeman talked about confidence, which is fine, but we all know there is precious little time to acquire that vital component.
Where do we get belief from? Winning.
Europe beckons and the shell-shocked are going to have to recover fast, but at least they are about to get plenty of practice.
14 Posted 10/09/2017 at 08:14:31
Let's start with the players who are completely out of form or not up to the job. Take a bow Williams, Baines, Schneiderlin and Martina. Then add in Klaassen and Sandro who need longer to adapt and should be blended in slowly.
His team selections and tactical set-up for Chelsea and Spurs have been dismal and Koeman has been easily out-thought by his counterparts. The complete lack of subtlety in firing diagonal balls to Holgate at Chelsea and goal kicks toward the head of Rooney, Sandro and Klaassen yesterday was embarrassing. We have no width down the flanks or speed up front.
But above all else, I am really worried at the attitude of the players. Their inability to deal with the one-to-one duels on the pitch, track runners from midfield, and make themselves available for the pass meant we found ball retention very hard.
Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Lookman and Vlasic should all play next week.
15 Posted 10/09/2017 at 08:43:52
We don't have a Sheikh wotsit at Everton, mate we have a Kenwright Cronie masquerading as a Billionaire saviour. We have not and will not compete financially with any of the big boys. As for the manager and the squad he has assembled... well, I despair.
Notice to Koeman and any future Everton managers: When Man Utd are off-loading players, it usually means one thing... they are finished.
We have let the best striker in Europe go to Old Trafford for peanuts and allowed that waster pisshead Rooney to come this way. We also took Schneiderlin last season who is also crap. So basically whoever is in charge of transfer policy at Everton is saying Jose Mourinhio doesn't know what he is doing as a football coach!!! The mind boggles.
Honestly, guys, I know Kenwright won't do it but we need to sack Koeman now because it is already a lost cause. There is no improvement coming it's obvious. The squad Koeman has built doesn't have enough about it to improve. Not with him at the helm anyway.
I've never been so ashamed to be an Evertonian as I do now. I was one of the idiots ducked in to the hype and opened my gob to soon around the Kopites. I should've known better. Sorry, Ken you always seem to keep believing, mate. I'm all worn out with it.
16 Posted 10/09/2017 at 08:45:33
At least when Martinez was here, you could actually see what he was trying to do; he just failed it dismally though neglected defensive duties.
But Koeman!???
I yet again turned up at Goodison Park yesterday and after 25 minutes I still couldn't figure out who plays where the man has no Plan A let alone a Plan B.
He has reduced the team to one of the slowest I've ever seen; his reluctance to play wingers grates on me, there's no balance at all, no pace anywhere. We were hitting high balls yesterday to Sandro a man who was a foot smaller than Tottenham's centre-halves.
And I feel I need to say this because certain players are immune to criticism... But when do Gana and Schneiderlin ever turn up for games against the better sides? It was the same at the end of last season; they look good pitted against poor opposition but they completely go missing against the better sides, never do they give the defence sufficient protection.
Schneiderlin was criminally bad yesterday the amount of times he fell asleep and lost his man, he did it for the third killer goal Kane got.
To be honest, I just don't see what Schneiderlin does; he went on about being a leader and taking responsibility this season but where is it???
He doesn't do anything, he isn't box-to-box, he just stands there in a certain zone all game.
Very very disappointed with what I'm seeing and what I have seen under Koeman for at least six months now. The football is dour; let's be honest, we look totally clueless. I can't see where the shots on goal are coming from in most games let alone scoring them...
Going back to last season, we have won 3 from the last 13 league games... not good enough nowhere near good enough!!
Koeman will get time but how patient can he expect Moshiri to be in today's cut-throat world where football does not give you time??
17 Posted 10/09/2017 at 08:47:50
I agree with Steve #14. Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Lookman and Vlasic must start next week. And Kenny too, surely he can't do worse than Martina.
19 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:13:40
Seeing how so much money has been thrown away in the last two windows will lessen his appetite to back his man to any meaningful degree but support for the Dutchman will continue until we are out of the Europa League and the domestic cups.
A long hard winter awaits us and I'm coming home to suffer it!
20 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:26:17
21 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:28:43
On reflection, I'm not sure that was such a blessing. While I could never wish for us to get a hiding, 6-0 would have been a fairer reflection of the gulf in class, speed, strength and organisation between the two sides, and would have hammered home how shambolic our team selection and performance was.
22 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:32:21
The "Double figures" and MotM selection also tell a story.
Jim Bennings also has it right, particularly, and sadly around Rooney, when the weak Ref got around to the inevitable booking, he could easily've gone one further for the load of grief he was treated to by a player who clearly had his mind elsewhere. As for his legs, well they have long gone.
23 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:47:19
We have played more games than most with the early start to the season, so fair enough they had to get up to speed, but with the number of games played it looks like they cannot get out of second gear which, if it continues, will put Everton into the Football League,
It's going to be a long poor season unless the manager gets his act together and plays the right players in their right positions.
24 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:49:43
A 6-0 might just make Moshiri act.
3-0? Not embarrassing enough, I think.
25 Posted 10/09/2017 at 09:56:52
We are poorest side in the Premier League, even the new boys play with a purpose, a plan and endeavour in their game.
I was so optimistic before the season started, but that has evaporated as quickly as the manager's plans. You really have to question Koeman's selections and strategy... oops. Looks like another hellish season ahead. I feel for Mr Moshiri I think he's backed a loser this time.
27 Posted 10/09/2017 at 10:41:45
Some of our young match-going gang frequent the city centre clubs and, from time to time, get bits of gossip of a blue footy nature. Nothing on Barkley though.
28 Posted 10/09/2017 at 12:53:23
This Evertonian wants Koeman out, now! To be replaced by a personality that knows how to win in modern-day football and understands & respects what this club is all about.
29 Posted 10/09/2017 at 13:17:10
Our players looked inept in attack and incompetent in defence. Having spent so much money strengthening midfield and defence, it was alarming that Spurs were able to play through our lines so easily, creating chances at will.
Some have said Koeman has given priority to building from the back with the signings of Pickford and Keane and a whole host of midfield players. There was no evidence yesterday of that working but new players need to be given the benefit of the doubt and time to settle.
That does not apply to Schneiderlin who has been here since January. Instead of being one of our key players, he is a passenger, nowhere near up to the task of the holding midfield player, lacking pace, mental alertness and most disappointingly, sheer strength of character. We are already regretting the sale of Barry.
As for the attack, it is hard to see any of our players reaching double figures at present. The only sensible option is to play Calvert-Lewin from the start and hope he can forage a few openings with support from our plethora of Number 10s.
30 Posted 10/09/2017 at 13:45:20
Apart from the 'window', which we can now see has been a disastrous failure, he seems to lack any enthusiasm or desire to motivate or instill confidence in either his players or, more importantly, us fans...
Okay, we don't expect him to emulate the histrionics of Klopps and Conte but his demeanor suggests an attitude that stamps of boredom and indifference which, does come through, in spades.
31 Posted 10/09/2017 at 14:39:02
Do the players actually know what he wants to do and how they are meant to play?
Is any gameplan put into place at all?
Who is tasked with being team leader?
How do we get about looking like we can be even remotely a threat in front of goal?
There's just too many unanswered questions and no real sign of any answers on the horizon.
He signed three Number 10s when all we needed was Sigurdsson and then pursue a top striker and some pace to the flanks.
He says we didn't want to just sign any old striker for the sake of it but he's left with Sandro who's nowhere near up to the Premier League, at least not yet, and an unproven kid who sweats blood for you... but scores goals regularly???
Rooney will be knackered by November at this rate, playing every week, his legs aren't there anymore.
Clueless!
32 Posted 10/09/2017 at 15:19:45
We all remember Martinez making the same mistakes over and over again, and finally getting the sack for being too stubborn and not willing to change.
33 Posted 10/09/2017 at 16:28:44
34 Posted 10/09/2017 at 16:35:09
35 Posted 10/09/2017 at 16:47:07
I hope Pickford doesn't get demoralised with the shambolic shite he sees in front of him as he doesn't deserve that.
36 Posted 10/09/2017 at 17:07:32
It's when we play the likes of Burnley, Bournemouth etc. If we get tonked by this level of club then all I can see is Bye-bye, Koeman.
Totally unbalanced squad, blame Walsh, Koeman and Kenwright, they had all July and August to get the 3 players we all knew we needed, and they failed miserably. Blame Koeman for ending up with 3 No 10s; we didn't need Klaassen, Rooney and Sigurdsson.
37 Posted 10/09/2017 at 17:14:36
38 Posted 10/09/2017 at 17:47:59
39 Posted 10/09/2017 at 17:51:40
40 Posted 10/09/2017 at 18:01:14
41 Posted 10/09/2017 at 18:04:00
Looking on the bright side, (is there one?), he is getting so much exercise here that his reflexes are as fine tuned as any goalkeeper around.
42 Posted 10/09/2017 at 19:05:45
I thought we couldn't cope with our own formation personally, and this can't happen when you are playing someone as good as Spurs, who were very good, but also really helped by Everton's formation yesterday.
If you are looking for how to set up a team to play from the back, then Pochettino's team gave the perfect example yesterday. Rule number 1, is sign defenders who are comfortable with the ball, and Rule number 2, is get the midfielders to create little angles further up the pitch!
Still can't believe how unorganised Everton were yesterday, and it genuinely looked like we were a team at least a couple of divisions below Spurs
43 Posted 10/09/2017 at 20:09:15
If I remember rightly, towards the back end of last season, Koeman mentioned six or seven times if Rooney becomes available, we'd have to be interested in him it'd mad not to. So to put this down to some Kenwright nostalgia trip Is silly.
I can't stand him as much as the next man. But I doubt he's ever interfered in team affairs. No, to me, this is Koeman and Koeman only.
Oh, and by the way, my spell check on Koeman keeps coming up 'Kidman" Not a bad alternative... at least she'd bring a bit of glamour to the side!
44 Posted 11/09/2017 at 01:07:07
45 Posted 11/09/2017 at 12:38:31
I'm afraid the shine is starting to come off this season already for me and it's more disappointing following all the money being thrown around.
I don't expect us to beat Chelsea and Tottenham 4-0, my expectations are grounded but I do expect us to compete better than that.
46 Posted 11/09/2017 at 16:50:25
I can't see Koeman lasting to be honest especially with the embarrassment of "What a manager" which with Kenwright's ego will be hard for him to stomach and what way to prove your point than not support his successor.
I sincerely hope this rumor is wrong and the team is just finding its feet but I have to say they looked soulless and rudderless on Saturday and something is definitely not right.
47 Posted 11/09/2017 at 16:57:45
48 Posted 11/09/2017 at 17:05:21
49 Posted 11/09/2017 at 17:11:12
50 Posted 11/09/2017 at 17:15:44
51 Posted 11/09/2017 at 17:28:20
All frauds.
52 Posted 11/09/2017 at 18:32:19
This defensive midfield pairing fail to do the very job we are set up for. Clever attackers pass through us with ease. Our right flank is unprotected as the club hope for Coleman's early return and play a journeyman in Martina, or force Holgate into a square hole.
The team cries out for another tall centre half. I would put Holgate in alongside Keane. The boy can play a bit and would be the ideal outlet.
I would drop Schneiderlin and play Gueye with Davies, and I would start with Sigurdsson and have Rooney on the bench for a cameo in the last half hour. It would be nice to see Calvert-Lewin start with Sandro playing off him.
So many things we could try, but Koeman seems such an obdurate individual that he is willfully ignoring the obvious.
My patience is being tried and I am only holding off calling for a change of manager because we have played such good teams and the man may have been let down by elements of our board, but we need to see some signs of improvement from him and his formations/tactics, as well as a huge increase in effort and aggression from our team.
54 Posted 11/09/2017 at 22:50:49
55 Posted 12/09/2017 at 09:08:55
As coaches, they work 9 to 5, hence the rumours that Koeman doesn't watch the Junior sides. He could learn so much from watching the U23s.
56 Posted 13/09/2017 at 03:02:53
Sorry but we have just played Man City, Chelsea, Spurs and next Man Utd. Bit of realism here please, all of those teams will finish above us.
We have not replaced Lukaku, that's the issue, although I don't think you can really replace a player like that. Costa would of been a good replacement but was a bit pointless until January.
We will go on a run after the Man Utd game which I expect us to lose. Keep the faith, and shoot me down by Xmas!
57 Posted 13/09/2017 at 22:03:51
Today Koeman has come out and there will be a different approach to the Europa League game in Italy tomorrow; it is a bit late but at least he is acknowledging that things will have to change from Saturday's game. Let's hope it's not just words, action speaks louder.
58 Posted 13/09/2017 at 23:13:13
Ooh Koeman in!
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1 Posted 10/09/2017 at 01:42:16
One defeat doesn't make you Mike Walker... seemingly not having a clue, now that's another matter.