Everton post-match thread

[Itsaar]

Our main problem is a total lack of challenges, how many times do you see a midfielder or attacker bring the ball down or head on to a team member with a blue 5-10 yds away watching, last night it was all too frequent. It has to stop.

 

[PragueBlue]

Because Yaya is playing in central midfield, it's the nature of the position that he's supposed to cover more ground and make more tackles.

He wasn't last night. He was playing in a central role (certainly for the first half anyway) in an advanced position alongside Silva and KDB with Delph and Fernandinho playing the central midfield roles.

 

[Dodge]

Yes, several did, but it took them a while to come over.

Sorry mate, 3 or 4 making a token 10 yard stroll towards us is not several, its much less than half the team, and it's getting more regular. Maybe its related to our away form and the general away match malaise we're witnessing. I used to brush it aside, I don't particularly need the players blowing smoke up my arse on away trips, but its starting to get to me now. Usually Joe coming over punching his chest and giving his shirt away kinda hides the fact that very few others bother, so it was a bit more obvious last night without him. Our away support was outstanding last night, especially in the corner ripping the piss out the mute Neverton fans. Didn't hear a peep out of 'em until they won a corner and celebrated it like a goal. Hilarious. And what was the black cat all about? Great celebration when Navas scored, albiet for 2 minutes..

But, for me, there's a worrying disconnect starting to appear between the players and the fans. Yaya (THE fucking CAPTAIN) couldn't wait to get off the pitch, even Kun was off without even a cursory glance at our supporters. Now, we don't want a Klopp style line dance in front of us, but a bit of acknowledgement wouldn't be too much to ask surely. Win or lose, face the fans and thank them for their support, minimum requirement.

It really pissed me off last night, but I'll be at Norwich Saturday putting in my usual shift for the club, lets see if the players do..

 

[Keith Moon]

It doesn't matter. Decisions go for and against every team. It’s just another excuse.
We need to look at the effort, the tactics, the performance’s individually and as a collective. This is what matters. The shit decisions that go against us wouldn’t even be an issue if we sorted ourselves out first.

Well that is true, but it almost feels like our opponents using the fact that the flag will likely will stay down on our side of the pitch.

 

[Neville Kneville]

If anyone recalls after the first time Bayern rocked up against a Pellegrini team at the Etihad, when he selected 4-4-2 and had Aguero alongside Negredo?

I think it was Muller who said afterwards that they knew the City forward line were lazy and did not work or press hard enough.

I think you'll find it was our Bosnian friend with Serge, for an hour or so ;)

DeBoer said the same when Aguero was played in a wide position v Ajax. They targeted him.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I think you'll find it was our Bosnian friend with Serge, for an hour or so ;)

DeBoer said the same when Aguero was played in a wide position v Ajax. They targeted him.

Dzeko started in that Bayern game and was replaced by Negredo.

 

[Claytop]

If teams have done their homework then and press us and work hard do you think we have the ability to cope and we're just not working hard enough currently? Because I'm pretty sure teams will set up like this against us and we haven't coped with it well once this season.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

He wasn't last night. He was playing in a central role (certainly for the first half anyway) in an advanced position alongside Silva and KDB with Delph and Fernandinho playing the central midfield roles.

I thought Yaya played in the middle with Delph on the left. Same as against Arsenal which funnily enough produced the exact same result.

 

[PragueBlue]

I thought Yaya played in the middle with Delph on the left. Same as against Arsenal which funnily enough produced the exact same result.

Not in my opinion. Delph and Fernandinho played behind a 3 of Silva, Toure and KDB.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Below is my post from the Pre match thread. I don’t claim to be some expert pundit but It illustrates that it doesn't take a genius to work out that Everton would only have a chance by out battling us in midfield and beating us with effort and muscle over skill. Playing Yaya was daft, his legs are shot but I think Pellers got the rest of it mostly right. Clichy was rusty but our left side looks better every time he plays as he takes up proper defensive positions and stops things coming down the wing. Good to see him back! I think everything else that went wrong you could put down to not having the energy, legs and desire in midfield to close them down. Yaya is a big part of that but you also have to factor in that Silva and KDB are not suited to winning battles and replacing Delph for Navas was a further watering down of our midfield (although a good sub). F’do at the end was odd but not as crazy as some are suggesting.

My pre match post:-

We have gone full strength to get to this point so I predict the same tonight i.e. no changes from the starting line up in the last two games.

I would personally look to freshen it up and I’d take Yaya out and put Delph in to give more energy in midfield. I don’t know how fit Clichy is but I’d be tempted to start him as I think Coleman could give us problems. From there I’d go for early subs with Nacho for Aguero and Navas for one of (KDB, DS, RS) subject to how it’s going, both planned for 65mins. I’d try and get Zab on toward the end and plan to start him and Yaya at the weekend.