how to stop us - sussed

[Rammy Blue]

What I will say, is Mancini dropped a tactical error bringing SWP on.

agreed, it also led to Bob having to take AJ off when he brought Rocky on which was criminal as it meant SWP stayed on who can't cross the ball.

 

[Freestyler]

This is becoming more and more apparent against the better teams.

Any opposition defending properly from the front, forces our centre backs to go wide, generally to the right, and unfortunately, out to Richards.

He in turn, is unable to do anything more than jam in Johnson out on the touchline, with his back to the play.

Resulting in either a thrown in, or a hurried pass back to Richards, who because of a lack of control, is forced to pass across the backline, or back to Given, who launches upfield...


And repeat....basically an inability with ball retention, not enough players comfortable enough to take the responsibility.

It is also mirrored when the ball comes into midfield, as De Jong and Barry lack the ability to come short and turn....again, the ball goes backwards.

Last night was the first real eye opener for me in what we could actually be achieved if we put two or three fundamental positions right.

Would a new midfield, and full-backs, solve this?

as soon as ireland went off, all we did was just play to the wings and down them, everton picked that up straight away and we never once tried anything through the centre, were really crying out for a creative midfielder.

 

[paul_blue]

I don't think that Barry and De Jong can play together as they are too similar types of player.

Last night Everton took their only striker off and brought another midfielder on.

Also both their goals were scored by midfielders last night... How many goals have our midfielders scored all season???

We cannot rely on Tevez all the time, the others have to chip in with their fair share.

But Tolmie regarding your original post - you are spot on!!

Keep the faith!!

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

How about doing something like playing a 4-4-2 with SWP and AJ wide on each flank if a team starts doing that you move Richards across to the middle and you swing AJ across, Bellamy wide left and SWP playing RB, Kompany into the midfield in like a 4-5-1

 

[Alex Harley]

I agree with most of the sentiments here but last night the biggest setback was conceding just before half time thereby making Everton able to sit back and stifle all over the pitch which is their forte We became increasingly frantic launching long balls which their defence won with ease Their work ethic is exemplary and they weren't afraid to be very physical Ireland was clattered early on and never recovered culminating in his substitution
We are not that far away The full back positions need addressing and a creative midfielder would go a long way to solving obvious problems I am sure Roberto can see this as we all can and expect some recruitment in those areas in the summer We could have done with a fit and firing Adebeyor last night alongside Carlos That may have made a difference On the negative side Nigel De Jong had his most ineffective game which showed his limitations
All in all last night although a disappointment the season is not a total disaster.Expectations have maybe been raised too high and fourth place is by no means out of our reach despite last night and the knee jerk reaction of most of the media.
About time we really laid the Wigan bogey on Monday night and things might look a little better

 

[ono]

I said it a few months ago, even when we were winning, i felt like we was getting away with it.

Our ball retention is appalling because Zabaleta, Richards, Barry, De Jong and SWP, and probably even Bellamy, aren't comfortable enough with the ball. Now that's half of our team.

Everton knew this, put men behind the ball and picked their moments. Their ball retention was superb because Arteta, Cahill and Pienaar can play football.

Hopefully we can produce enough to push on and nick 4th but it's going to be tough.

Summer can't come soon enough.