Everton (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[coolcity]

We did have to drag half the first team off the bench at wobbly! show's we have a lot of weaker players really from say 13 - 25 in the squad really..i'll include our Phil in that group this season...we need to address that lack of quality next season.. also what is it about academy football, for all our wins, trophies etc.. we rarely have players that can genuinely step up.... i know it's tough but so many are international youth players, prem youth league & cup winners etc... yet really struggle even when in their 20's.. only have to look at the lack of impact they have when they leave..Rogers aside,, although a Middlesbrough prodigy

That second team at Wembley kept us in the match. I'll never understand why everybody expects a club to play their second XI yet expects them to play as well as the first XI, especially when many of those players haven't played a first team game for weeks or months, often because they've been injured.

You can't just buy 22 world class players, if you try then the 11 that are not first choice will more often than not get frustrated and want to move on, as we have seen happen on many occasions. That's why Pep prefers to work with a small squad.

We've done extremely well this season, STILL in a race for the title, one trophy in the bank and another final to play. This is still a young, developing team and you're expecting far to much of them especially given that we've had a fair few long term injuries again.

Our youth set up had been very successful, producing a string of players that have moved on for very decent money. It doesn't necessarily mean they'll make it at the very top level, which is where City are, but it also doesn't mean they haven't gone on to have successful careers.

 

[coolcity]

Their defence is is though and that’s where titles are won. They aren’t very entertaining but they are solid. I thought we had to play really well to beat them the other week and on the back of that performance I can’t see any of the final 3 games giving them
Any trouble. I can see ours giving us trouble though.

More bottlers on here than at the Emirates.

 

[shevtheblue]

Big chances missed is always a funny stat. Erling is top for the Premier League, but Igor Thiago is second, and of course they're the two top scorers as well. Top for missed big chances in Germany is Harry Kane, and in Spain it's Mbappe - not coincidentally, they're the top scorers too.

I guess it would be interesting to see what the percentages are for big chances created and taken across the whole team..

 

[simundo]

If Guehi hadn’t intercepted the pass and then attempted the backpass, the goal would have been ruled out. As a FOC, my interpretation was Guehi “played him on..”

Thats exactly it, the rules were applied correctly but they’re daft. Does Guehi make the mistake if he isnt being closed down? Does Barry Benefit by being better placed to capitalise on the mistake by by coming from the offside position? A movement towards impacts the defenders thoughts and decision making, touching the ball or the man shouldnt be needed.

 

[Tolmie scores]

Their defence is is though and that’s where titles are won. They aren’t very entertaining but they are solid. I thought we had to play really well to beat them the other week and on the back of that performance I can’t see any of the final 3 games giving them
Any trouble. I can see ours giving us trouble though.

absolutely, we are way behind, work in progress..but i think we have made some big errors in the market, i can't see Reijnders taking the games by the scruff of the neck, bit of a passenger, Savinho ..just not good enough technically or physically up for it.. possibly same with Marmoush..seems strange that we haven't brought Echeverri into the fold, he doesn't play much when on loan..at Girona now = played 16.. Foden...off the cliff etc.. The prem has moved to big and powerful players again, we have been buying 'fancy dans' you def need both, a combination of both pace, power and skill is now the ultimate. You only have to look at kick off's lately - literally a rugby up and under! Players smashing the ball near oppos's corner flag etc.. game looks to be evolving....backwards (in terms of a spectacle) If we won't to win going forward we definitely need to get players like Anderson in, technical but workhorses and physical players primarily

 

[Tolmie scores]

That second team at Wembley kept us in the match. I'll never understand why everybody expects a club to play their second XI yet expects them to play as well as the first XI, especially when many of those players haven't played a first team game for weeks or months, often because they've been injured.

You can't just buy 22 world class players, if you try then the 11 that are not first choice will more often than not get frustrated and want to move on, as we have seen happen on many occasions. That's why Pep prefers to work with a small squad.

We've done extremely well this season, STILL in a race for the title, one trophy in the bank and another final to play. This is still a young, developing team and you're expecting far to much of them especially given that we've had a fair few long term injuries again.

Our youth set up had been very successful, producing a string of players that have moved on for very decent money. It doesn't necessarily mean they'll make it at the very top level, which is where City are, but it also doesn't mean they haven't gone on to have successful careers.

I am in two minds re quality of 'sell-ons' tbf.. and agree re playing a second 11 is really tough as they do not play together regularly bring back the Central League! The other teams across the top two div's have improved so we cannot put in 5 - 6 players from 'un official 'reserves) and get a win against bottom half teams - which tbf we could in Pep's first 6 -7 years. Arsenal et al struggle with this too.. So i agree 1 x cup + 1 x final..and top 2 finish = amazing but I think we have made a few big errors strategically in the make up of the squad...although we have best 1 and 2 GK' pairing in the league...