Everton - Post match thread.

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

On the basis of the first two matches I've rescheduled the moment when Kun becomes the club's all-time top scorer - mid-April 2019! Just in time for my birthday!

 

[sir baconface]

Not going to bother repeating the negatives, which were obvious.

Two highlights:
1) Ederson's beautiful long pass to Aguero, and
2) Good contributions from the substitutes, particularly Sterling.

Class players coming off the bench could be a vital factor for us this season.

 

[Marvin]

My observations

1. As others have stated, Sane is not a left wing back, he doesn't have the defensive concentration to play there. He also offered next to nothing going forward and didn't look to be enjoying the role. The amount of times he wasn't switched on to what was going on around him was shocking

2. John Stones still has a way to go, again he is not always switched on to what is going on around him. He shows flashes of being a good defender but lets himself down with not being pro-active enough. It looks like he is being coached to step off his defender rather than trying to win the ball back, this can lead to him giving people too much space to run at him. Calvert Lewin did this a couple of times

3. Otamendi and Kompany were pretty decent

4. Whats with the ploy of leaving Jesus 40 yards from goal on corners ? Surely he'd be more dangerous in the box sniffing out chances / knockdowns etc?

5. KDB and Silva put the effort in but couldn't unlock a parked bus

6. Aguero isn't the same player as four years ago, he's hesitant and needs it on a plate before he will take a shot on. Could it be a mistake in keeping him this season as our main striker, especially if we dont get Sanchez. If we do get Sanchez I can see him playing a lot from the bench this season.

7. Bernard looked great when he came on, box of tricks with a eye for a pass

8. Sterling was the difference when he came on, always a threat but not always clinical. His finish was world class though.

Excellent summary. I agree with everything you have said. I was hoping Aguero would be good for one more season. He might be still. Jesus should be the man in penalty area. Would Sanchez be a solution? He is getting old and I think his pace is going.

The 352 was terrible 1st half. Why not change it after 20 mins? I think it might work if Sane and Walker pushed further on. They were too deep. A bit concerning that once again we totally dominate a game but don't take our chances.

Time for Pep to put some pressure on match officials.

Some outstanding 2nd half performances eg Sterling, Otamendi, KDB and briefly B Silva

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

So much hinges on catching teams at the right time.
Everton are currently the fittest team in the Premier League, after playing three competitive Europa League games, whilst City were playing half-baked friendlies against half-arsed opponents in Iceland and the USA.
This will balance out when Everton run out of energy around Christmas, and Danillo, Mendy, Bernardo, (and hopefully Gundogan), have grasped the pace of the English game.
In the meantime, I expect lots of moaning when Aguero and Silva are gradually marginalised by sharper players.

I thought on the basis of his early games that Jesus would be picked ahead of Kun, but for all the spending we haven't got anyone currently resident or in the throes of arriving who would be an 'anywhere-near' replacement for David Silva.

 

[Marvin]

On the basis of the first two matches I've rescheduled the moment when Kun becomes the club's all-time top scorer - mid-April 2019! Just in time for my birthday!

I see quite a few people coming round to my point of view about Aguero - less of a player as pace has gone. We need to use Jesus upfront.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Excellent summary. I agree with everything you have said. I was hoping Aguero would be good for one more season. He might be still. Jesus should be the man in penalty area. Would Sanchez be a solution? He is getting old and I think his pace is going.

The 352 was terrible 1st half. Why not change it after 20 mins? I think it might work if Sane and Walker pushed further on. They were too deep. A bit concerning that once again we totally dominate a game but don't take our chances.

Time for Pep to put some pressure on match officials.

Some outstanding 2nd half performances eg Sterling, Otamendi, KDB and briefly B Silva

I can see the full weight of the Wankers at FArceHQ coming down on Guardiola were he to offer the faintest criticism of an official. Just who does Pep think he is? Ferguson?

 

[JWBlueman]

The worrying thing for me was Kun. Had the goal open up in front of him at 0-0 and for some reason wanted an extra touch. A couple of seasons ago, he would not have hesitated.Shortly after, they scored.

For me it is obvious why Pep wants additional firepower brought in

I think Kun looks like a footballer who is being over-coached, who is having his head filled with "in this position do this, in that position do that" instructions.

We bought the most natural goal scorer in the world and he won us two titles. Let him be a goal scorer.

It would help if we had four strikers though instead of two. If we end the window with just two strikers (one of whom is guaranteed to be out with injury for at least 6-8 games) and playing a formation that requires them to both be on the pitch then that goes down as a failure of management.

You have to be flexible in your approach to win the English league. Last year we weren't and finished fourth. A repeat of that this year , after the obscene levels of spending since last summer and questions would need to be asked of the manager and Txiki.

Long long way to go though and I think people are starting to panic because utd have won two games convincingly but remember they have had two very easy games and the season is long.

No need to worry until we see how it's shaping up come December.

 

[goalmole]

Coffee, and for 10 v 11 against imo a very decent side and we bossed it yes excellent. Really ffs? I can only judge the last 30 mins thats all i saw maybe if you drank coffee you wouldn't be so grumpy in the morning

We were absolutely brilliant. In the previous 2/3 seasons there were lots of games where we went a goal behind early on and you just knew that that was it and you could just feel in your bones that we weren't going to score. Last night was different. Even at 1-0 down and a man down the team rolled up their sleeves, got stuck in, never gave up, we battered them. In the end they were hanging on for dear life and we were rampant. I just wish we could do this on a more regular basis, we'd be unstoppable.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I see quite a few people coming round to my point of view about Aguero - less of a player as pace has gone. We need to use Jesus upfront.

I was left open-mouthed when Jags outran him down below us at one point!

 

[mosssideblue]

I think Kun looks like a footballer who is being over-coached, who is having his head filled with "in this position do this, in that position do that" instructions.

We bought the most natural goal scorer in the world and he won us two titles. Let him be a goal scorer.

It would help if we had four strikers though instead of two. If we end the window with just two strikers (one of whom is guaranteed to be out with injury for at least 6-8 games) and playing a formation that requires them to both be on the pitch then that goes down as a failure of management.

You have to be flexible in your approach to win the English league. Last year we weren't and finished fourth. A repeat of that this year , after the obscene levels of spending since last summer and questions would need to be asked of the manager and Txiki.

Long long way to go though and I think people are starting to panic because utd have won two games convincingly but remember they have had two very easy games and the season is long.

No need to worry until we see how it's shaping up come December.

I agree, no need to worry this early in the season, but I dont agree about his head being filled with instructions either. He had a golden opportunity last night to pull the trigger and he didn't. Any natural goalscorer would not hesitate the way he did.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I thought on the basis of his early games that Jesus would be picked ahead of Kun, but for all the spending we haven't got anyone currently resident or in the throes of arriving who would be an 'anywhere-near' replacement for David Silva.

When you think about it, back in 2012 we had Hart > Kompany > Yaya / Silva > Aguero all at their peak. Hart aside (and possibly even including Hart) the best players in their respective positions in the league. What a team that was, and no wonder we won things. We've seen the best of all of these players, 5 years on, and need the new blood to take up the reigns.

 

[KS55]

I think Kun looks like a footballer who is being over-coached, who is having his head filled with "in this position do this, in that position do that" instructions.

We bought the most natural goal scorer in the world and he won us two titles. Let him be a goal scorer.

It would help if we had four strikers though instead of two. If we end the window with just two strikers (one of whom is guaranteed to be out with injury for at least 6-8 games) and playing a formation that requires them to both be on the pitch then that goes down as a failure of management.

You have to be flexible in your approach to win the English league. Last year we weren't and finished fourth. A repeat of that this year , after the obscene levels of spending since last summer and questions would need to be asked of the manager and Txiki.

Long long way to go though and I think people are starting to panic because utd have won two games convincingly but remember they have had two very easy games and the season is long.

No need to worry until we see how it's shaping up come December.

Yes, good post. Kun shouldn't think about it too much...just smash it, ffs.

 

[robbieh]

In my view the refs are not deliberately bent. But due to the constant narrative that we are out spending everyone I feel refs don't want to help us in anyway. It is a subliminal thing and not going away.

So given we have this handicap it is essential that we don't piss points up against the wall.

Yes we missed a few chances but that happens to all teams.

What worries me is Sane at LB when Danilo is available. 3 CBs slowing the game down.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Not going to bother repeating the negatives, which were obvious.

Two highlights:
1) Ederson's beautiful long pass to Aguero, and
2) Good contributions from the substitutes, particularly Sterling.

Class players coming off the bench could be a vital factor for us this season.

But the nagging thought - WTF didn't those subs start? I think Pep's dilemma is that he doesn't have too much of an idea who his best starting eleven would include.

 

[Magicpole]

After all the pros and cons settle like dust on the telly, the cold hard fact remains.

Two dropped points at home.

Everton won't be anywhere near challenging for the title.

Neither will City if they drop points at home to also ran teams.

 

[mosssideblue]

We shouldn't berate Sane for his performance last night as he was playing in an unfamiliar position and is probably as equally pissed off playing there as we are watching him there

 

[Marvin]

I was left open-mouthed when Jags outran him down below us at one point!

Why not play Jesus up front. Jesus was coming deep in 1st half and carrying the ball. He was not really playing as a centre forward. The 352 did not work, and I thought Jesus should have stayed up front and Aguero should have been subbed. He is too easily marked and struggled to get his shots away

 

[Dr.Faustus]

I think Kun looks like a footballer who is being over-coached, who is having his head filled with "in this position do this, in that position do that" instructions.

We bought the most natural goal scorer in the world and he won us two titles. Let him be a goal scorer.

It would help if we had four strikers though instead of two. If we end the window with just two strikers (one of whom is guaranteed to be out with injury for at least 6-8 games) and playing a formation that requires them to both be on the pitch then that goes down as a failure of management.

You have to be flexible in your approach to win the English league. Last year we weren't and finished fourth. A repeat of that this year , after the obscene levels of spending since last summer and questions would need to be asked of the manager and Txiki.

Long long way to go though and I think people are starting to panic because utd have won two games convincingly but remember they have had two very easy games and the season is long.

No need to worry until we see how it's shaping up come December.

It seems fundamentally he's being asked to play a different role in the team, as much provider/playmaker as scorer.

The hesitancy he has shown in front of goal I would agree comes from too many instructions. I don't think he is the only player or that shooting is the only area either, the whole team seems afraid to lose the ball, so the passing is risk averse and, as a consequence, slow.

 

[Chippy_boy]

In my view the refs are not deliberately bent. But due to the constant narrative that we are out spending everyone I feel refs don't want to help us in anyway. It is a subliminal thing and not going away.

So given we have this handicap it is essential that we don't piss points up against the wall.

Yes we missed a few chances but that happens to all teams.

What worries me is Sane at LB when Danilo is available. 3 CBs slowing the game down.

And whereas I am all for defenders who are good on the ball, why is it that in the first half especially, Otamendi is the guy carrying the ball up the pitch, only to try some Silva-esque pass that just gives the ball away? We saw exactly the same at Brighton incidentally.

I thought Otamendi was great yesterday, but he is not Yaya.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

When you think about it, back in 2012 we had Hart > Kompany > Yaya / Silva > Aguero all at their peak. Hart aside (and possibly even including Hart) the best players in their respective positions in the league. What a team that was, and no wonder we won things. We've seen the best of all of these players, 5 years on, and need the new blood to take up the reigns.

I think the best thing about that team was the pace at which we operated. The last couple of seasons has seen the development of a methodical, painstaking passing and overpassing game where, when a chance is created it is too often squandered, and so the process begins again, a process against which ordinary teams seem to have fashioned an effective defence, often with very ordinary journeymen pros!