Everton post match 0-2

[sycokilla]

I was surprised that both Albrighton and Slimani were in the team yesterday as the were not on form in the previous match and were both under par yesterday. Ulloa has been the only forward apart from Vardy that has been in form during the last few games. 

It seems to me that our defence has been distinctly average since the pre season and needs some serious investment for the future.

I agree the midfield seems to struggle most matches. I would like to see a different formation soon so that we can get our most talented players on the pitch together, a midfield containing Mahrez,Gray and Drinkwater seems to me creative enough for a mid table finish. I think Amarty will improve and has the energy to be useful in there too. King Mendy albrighton and James would then make up a good squad for the midfield.

I hope Ranieri will have the courage now to change the system despite the players being reluctant to do this.

 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

14 hours ago, MattCan said:

 

.. Mahrez is magic and a joy to watch play but I doubt you would understand that.

You erred and erred but still did not tell me why we lost with this starting XI? I hope it is not all Albrighton's fault ?!

Umm. 

 

i note you have been selective in not answering particular questions! 

 

Before answering your question, I feel you are confused about things. You have turned the topic of the Everton game into one about Mahrez. Most of the posters on here are fans of this football club first and players second. Which is the way it should be.

 

I now state that I know that on 'his day' Mahrez has been, and hopefully will be a great player. However, I hardly think that it can be argued this season that he has reached those heights in the PL. In fact in the last two or three months in the league, his only decent performance - at the level he is capable of - was the win against Man City.  What I noticed was the difference in that game compared to many others was that he actually passed the ball to his team mates. That is something that has been sadly lacking previously and why he should have been dropped weeks ago.

 

Im not saying Mahrez was to blame for this loss (I never did by the way) - those reasons are many and below are the reason why we lost this game in particular.

 

- Players out of form, too many poor players within the 11 who are not good enough technically, players injured, team selection, 3/10 of our starting 11 banned etc.

 

To finish, I have to say I do object to your juvenile and condescending tone, as soon as it's suggested that Mahrez at the moment, is an average player that is generally not helping a poor, and out of form side.

 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

4 hours ago, MC Prussian said:

It's not that simple - maybe in your theory.

 

Wasilewski has barely played (even less than Hernandez, I think). And yesterday, his lack of pace showed. Physique is one thing, but Lukaku is also pretty fast if need be. It's also worth remembering that with the rules against clamping, physique has become even less important when defending or works against you as a defender because it leaves you with a lot less options. The FA has obviously an interest in a more spectacular, less physical but fast brand of football, augmenting the speed of play and increasing the amount of goals scored per game.

 

Oh, and don't tell me neither Hernandez nor Benalouane wouldn't have the physique to handle Lukaku.

Hernandez is very slow.

 

Benalouane. There are clearly fitness issues.

 

So don't think he would have fared any better than Was did.

 

Also Morgan was solely at fault for the second - not Wasa. 

 

To sum up, the problem is in the summers recruitment, as none of the named should be starting.

[ZeGuy]

37 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

Hernandez is very slow.

 

Benalouane. There are clearly fitness issues.

 

So don't think he would have fared any better than Was did.

 

Also Morgan was solely at fault for the second - not Wasa. 

 

To sum up, the problem is in the summers recruitment, as none of the named should be starting.

Certainly not as slow as Wasil or Huth. Lack of speed can be compensated by better positioning. No point in bringing a CB in if he can't even make it past a 36 old one. I found Ranieri's decisions yesterday mind boggling.

 

Benny's and Kapi's cases are worth an X-File.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

2 hours ago, ZeGuy said:

Certainly not as slow as Wasil or Huth. Lack of speed can be compensated by better positioning. No point in bringing a CB in if he can't even make it past a 36 old one. I found Ranieri's decisions yesterday mind boggling.

 

Benny's and Kapi's cases are worth an X-File.

Yes it's all mystery at present. 

[Dan]

8 hours ago, MC Prussian said:

It's not that simple - maybe in your theory.

 

Wasilewski has barely played (even less than Hernandez, I think). And yesterday, his lack of pace showed. Physique is one thing, but Lukaku is also pretty fast if need be. It's also worth remembering that with the rules against clamping, physique has become even less important when defending or works against you as a defender because it leaves you with a lot less options. The FA has obviously an interest in a more spectacular, less physical but fast brand of football, augmenting the speed of play and increasing the amount of goals scored per game.

 

Oh, and don't tell me neither Hernandez nor Benalouane wouldn't have the physique to handle Lukaku.

So why were Everton's defenders allowed to climb over Ulloa and Slimani every single time without any kind of punishment? I couldn't believe how much he let them get away with yesterday.

[Alf Bentley]

23 hours ago, Corky said:

No clean sheet since 2nd October, two goals conceded in 7 of the last 8 games. Two goals conceded in each of our last four home matches.

 

That's terrible - and it's not 2 goals per game against top opposition either: 2 apiece against WBA, Watford, Boro, Sunderland, Stoke & Everton....and the 1 game in which we didn't concede 2, we lost (v. Bournemouth).

 

That needs to change ASAP or it really is relegation form. The only good news is that we still have more than half a season to turn it round, and already have some good players.

A couple of new players in January and a change in formation/tactics/attitude could be enough. We might be able to look back on this as just a bad run....but things need to change for that.

 

A lot of the problems seem to come from our weakness in central midfield & lack of pressing further forward, but our defence also seems to be set up differently this season: playing a higher line, with the full backs a bit wider.

I wonder why? To compress midfield more, because our central midfield is weaker without Kante? Whatever, it isn't working. Last season, our back line sat very deep and very narrow, and that worked, even under pressure.

I couldn't go yesterday, so am commenting generally, not on yesterday's performance. 

[dynamark]

First half yesterday we were well  organised two banks of four moving as a unit no problems but they played essentially a back five hence no chances at either end.

One long ball over the top  of a square back line sort of thing vardy would thrive on and a  deflection of the leg of Was and game has gone.

[Dan]

Our home form is actually quite bad as well if you look at it.

 

0-0 v Southampton

3-1 v Palace

1-2 v WBA

2-2 v Middlesbrough

4-2 v Man City

0-2 v Everton

 

2 of each. It's mediocre form, but not when you combine it with away form that is offering is nearly nothing.

 

8 points from those 6 teams at home isn't good enough at all. That's quite a favourable run of home games if you consider our next six are West Ham, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Hull & Stoke.

 

We really are in trouble if you ask me. I think 10/1 on us to drop is a very generous price, even if it doesn't pay out I bet if you made it today you would be able to cash out for a profit somewhere alone the line.

[reynard]

Yesterday summed up everything that is wrong at the moment and the list would be so long it would be too much to post. First for those saying on the radio or elsewhere we're too good to go down, one word, rubbish. That performance yesterday was truly pathetic. One shot on target in the first half and a poor headed effort form Ulloa in the second half was the total sum of our so-called attack. No endeavor, no creativity, no leadership, no managerial nous, no apparent motivation. Poor team selection, dreadful summer recruitment that didn't address the needs of the squad. Awful substitutions. What the f... was up with Mahrez? Players who bleat about not being selected on twitter showing just why they don't start. Wingers who can't cross the ball past the first defender or from corners hit behind all our players. Senior pros in midfield who should be showing leadership on the pitch but who you barely notice are playing, a centre forward who is not only isolated for much of the game but can't control the ball and can't pass it to a team mate. Two centre halves who looked like they had never played together. Players left on the bench or not even in the squad in whom we invested a considerable amount of cash. Pretty much every 50/50 ball lost all over the pitch.

 

I suffered some sh1t supporting this team over the last 40 or so years but never did I think I would see the day were we have invested over 60 million in a squad that won the league title only 6 months ago resort to putting on two lumbering target men up front and attempt to apply the tactics of a league two side and fail to even be able to do that properly. Sorry but the buck stops at the manager. At the moment he doesn't seem to have a clue. I understand those saying he deserves time etc etc but sadly football doesn't give people time any more. At the moment we look a very decent bet for relegation. We exhibit all the hallmarks both on the pitch and in the management team.

[Guest Col city fan]

31 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

Our home form is actually quite bad as well if you look at it.

 

0-0 v Southampton

3-1 v Palace

1-2 v WBA

2-2 v Middlesbrough

4-2 v Man City

0-2 v Everton

 

2 of each. It's mediocre form, but not when you combine it with away form that is offering is nearly nothing.

 

8 points from those 6 teams at home isn't good enough at all. That's quite a favourable run of home games if you consider our next six are West Ham, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Hull & Stoke.

 

We really are in trouble if you ask me. I think 10/1 on us to drop is a very generous price, even if it doesn't pay out I bet if you made it today you would be able to cash out for a profit somewhere alone the line.

There can be no room for sentiment in betting, Dan. Supporting is supporting and betting is betting.

Already this season, hand on heart, I can say I've made a decent sum of money by betting against City away from home.

I think, because we are Champs, the opposition odds to win have been consistently longer than they should have been. And if you've been smart, you could have exploited it.

Ive generally waited till I've seen the team sheet, and as soon as I've seen we were going 442 again, with Amartey starting (especially alongside King) I've lumped on the opposition. 

With regard to us being relegated, I think the smart money will wait until we see who we recruit in Jan. The first odds will probably drop but by then, we'll know more.

[MattCan]

6 hours ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

Umm. 

 

i note you have been selective in not answering particular questions! 

 

Before answering your question, I feel you are confused about things. You have turned the topic of the Everton game into one about Mahrez. Most of the posters on here are fans of this football club first and players second. Which is the way it should be.

 

I now state that I know that on 'his day' Mahrez has been, and hopefully will be a great player. However, I hardly think that it can be argued this season that he has reached those heights in the PL. In fact in the last two or three months in the league, his only decent performance - at the level he is capable of - was the win against Man City.  What I noticed was the difference in that game compared to many others was that he actually passed the ball to his team mates. That is something that has been sadly lacking previously and why he should have been dropped weeks ago.

 

Im not saying Mahrez was to blame for this loss (I never did by the way) - those reasons are many and below are the reason why we lost this game in particular.

 

- Players out of form, too many poor players within the 11 who are not good enough technically, players injured, team selection, 3/10 of our starting 11 banned etc.

 

To finish, I have to say I do object to your juvenile and condescending tone, as soon as it's suggested that Mahrez at the moment, is an average player that is generally not helping a poor, and out of form side.

 

 

Is that your idea of an answer?  I would've expected something more analytical and elaborate than this 'players are out of form' answer.

[Babylon]

9 hours ago, Col city fan said:

Again..if you really look at both goals we conceded yesterday, why we're our two slow and ageing centre backs left completely isolated for both goals?

Yes, it was schoolboy defending for both, there is no getting away from that. But their first goal was scored by one of the quickest players on the park and their second goal was scored by Lukaku who you just KNOW, will muscle defenders (even bigger defenders) out of it when one on one.

Why did our centre mids or the fullbacks not drop off a little, especially from the goal kick? 

The Lukaku goal was a weird one. In fact, he took quite some time to get the ball past Morgan, work it into the box, jog past bloody Wasa, then finish it. If you watch, you'll see one of our centre mids jogging back towards our own area (no names mentioned), having had time to get much nearer the play than he did, but lack of anticipation meant that he actually was nowhere near being able to cover and make a challenge.

 

i don't get it Claudio. We knew that we had old and slow CB's, yet we left them isolated both occasions and that was actually what lost us the game.

You see here's your problem in a nut shell, you're so desperate to be right about him you constantly look to shift the blame on to him. 

 

To blame Amartey for either goal is ridiculous, you seemingly expect him to be virtually playing as a third centre back to cover the first goal.

 

And the second one he's about 35 yards inside their half, two defenders back to cover one striker and the ball ends up in the net in about 5 seconds after Lukaku gets the ball. So you're asking him to go at 10 second 100 metre pace in the 91st minute to get back. And before you blame his positioning we were attacking and trying to get back into the game. 2 v 1 left back should have been more than good enough anyway.

[Eskay]

We were so bad yesterday it's actually an achievement - Champs to relegation fodder in 6 months.

 

There is a real confidence issue. Amartey looked fine until the first goal went in....then he looked like Bamby again. King and Slimani lost all ability to pass 4 yards! 

 

Simpson and Albrighton are a waste of a shirt....one gets a nosebleed when within 60 yards of goal, the other hasn't found his own team mate from a cross this year! 

 

The most baffling part to me is the fact that Mahrez didn't start. The guy has had Ashley Williams on toast in the past. But claudio gave him the afternoon off! 

[Guest Col city fan]

7 minutes ago, Babylon said:

You see here's your problem in a nut shell, you're so desperate to be right about him you constantly look to shift the blame on to him. 

 

To blame Amartey for either goal is ridiculous, you seemingly expect him to be virtually playing as a third centre back to cover the first goal.

 

And the second one he's about 35 yards inside their half, two defenders back to cover one striker and the ball ends up in the net in about 5 seconds after Lukaku gets the ball. So you're asking him to go at 10 second 100 metre pace in the 91st minute to get back. And before you blame his positioning we were attacking and trying to get back into the game. 2 v 1 left back should have been more than good enough anyway.

It's not my problem Babs.

Its definately Ranieri's problem.

[lgfualol]

Worst thing about their first goal is that it will inspire us to keep trying the hoofs, against defenders who are actually not awful.

[maddog]

If we drop into the relegation zone then I'd understand debating whether to sack the manager but we haven't and we can still turn this around and not even drop into the bottom three.

 

We were bottom and abysmal 2 years ago under Pearson, and most fans wanted him to stay then. We're no where near as adrift as we were then. A couple of wins and we'll be almost top half again.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

1 hour ago, MattCan said:

 

Is that your idea of an answer?  I would've expected something more analytical and elaborate than this 'players are out of form' answer.

I'll finish our tete a tete with this post. Nobody will interested in it I wouldn't have thought. 

 

Im certainly not.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

1 hour ago, Eskay said:

We were so bad yesterday it's actually an achievement - Champs to relegation fodder in 6 months.

 

There is a real confidence issue. Amartey looked fine until the first goal went in....then he looked like Bamby again. King and Slimani lost all ability to pass 4 yards! 

 

Simpson and Albrighton are a waste of a shirt....one gets a nosebleed when within 60 yards of goal, the other hasn't found his own team mate from a cross this year! 

 

The most baffling part to me is the fact that Mahrez didn't start. The guy has had Ashley Williams on toast in the past. But claudio gave him the afternoon off! 

He has been shit in the PL all season and his dropping is long overdue. 

 

He against Man City and played well, but that's been the exception rather than the rule. He should have been dropped weeks ago tbf. 

 

Yes, last season he was a star - this season he's done nothing in the league and others deserve a chance. 

 

 

[The Doctor]

44 minutes ago, maddog said:

If we drop into the relegation zone then I'd understand debating whether to sack the manager but we haven't and we can still turn this around and not even drop into the bottom three.

 

We were bottom and abysmal 2 years ago under Pearson, and most fans wanted him to stay then. We're no where near as adrift as we were then. A couple of wins and we'll be almost top half again.

Did they? The atmosphere on here and RL was toxic, with a lot of people abusing Pearson for his character. You had reasonable posters like tffn and MTWG giving sensible assessments about how disappointing it was but he'd just lost his way and couldn't keep going, but either way the mood was fairly overwhelmingly time to sack.

[volpeazzurro]

2 hours ago, Col city fan said:

There can be no room for sentiment in betting, Dan. Supporting is supporting and betting is betting.

Already this season, hand on heart, I can say I've made a decent sum of money by betting against City away from home.

I think, because we are Champs, the opposition odds to win have been consistently longer than they should have been. And if you've been smart, you could have exploited it.

Ive generally waited till I've seen the team sheet, and as soon as I've seen we were going 442 again, with Amartey starting (especially alongside King) I've lumped on the opposition. 

With regard to us being relegated, I think the smart money will wait until we see who we recruit in Jan. The first odds will probably drop but by then, we'll know more.

I think you're absolutely right. I also think it will be interesting and enlightening when we lose Marhez, Slimani and Armarty to Afcon. Oddly enough I think we may do better without them around. A solid centre midfielder like Sneiderlin next to Drinky would be a start, not a 20yrs old kid from a poor league who has to adapt hastily. Would like to see James back immediately for a couple of games or sent out on loan for fitness. That decision needs to be taken now one way or another. He can't be worse than King and Armarty. Also Mendy, he also must now be fit enough. He's either crap or can cope, we need to know now. Musa appears a lightweight damp squib, time to find out or get rid. Both him, Mendy, James and Kaputska could do with a cup outing against Everton. Any lack of effort or promise,  get rid on loan for fitness and English league experience even if Championship. Time for them to put up or shut up.

[erlee]

On 12/26/2016 at 08:55, Tuna said:

Beginning to wonder whether CR is done. He's out of ideas.