Everton Post Match

[foxfanazer]

1 hour ago, Nicolo Barella said:

You know, it's not the end of the world every time we lose... It's pretty normal. We're still fourth, still struggling with injuries. We're not going to be a team that can smash a bunch of wins in a row, especially not when we're playing against good teams like Everton, and we're suffering from injuries and suspensions. The only trying I'm really bothered about is Rodgers being so anal about never resting Tielemans. 

Yeah you're right. It's starting to feel completely normal

[WigstonWanderer]

Disappointing, but can’t blame Rodgers for this one, just too many players having a bit of an off day.

[Metal Lover]

We're great and shit and never that boring, up the City.

Edited 17 December 2020 by Metal Lover

[Guest Danny Clender]

At times though, nobody can deny, there was some sparkling football played by Leicester, some really quick one touch, fast, field splitting moments, it was just the final key contributions or execution which failed.

That happens, and I'm glad I don't interpret it in such calamitous terms, god help many on here when their electric meter runs out of credit. 

 

Wilf was good, and papered well, but what we gained from his defence position was negated in the midfield, that to me is why we lost.

We struggle to beat teams like that with such organisation and determination with our current situation. 

 

I also think Under should have stayed on, I felt he was going to make something happen. 

 

Mendy stood out to me for criticism, we needed him to drive forward and create play, but he didn't and there wasn't any real reason for many of his decisions other than his overall level and instruction perhaps, I do hope not.

His default safe and reliable last night wasn't required, we needed him to be bold and brash. 

 

 

[WigstonWanderer]

4 minutes ago, Danny Clender said:

 

Mendy stood out to me for criticism, we needed him to drive forward and create play, but he didn't and there wasn't any real reason for many of his decisions other than his overall level and instruction perhaps, I do hope not.

His default safe and reliable last night wasn't required, we needed him to be bold and brash. 

 

 

Yes, I like Mendy and think he’s done a good job with Wilf out, but sometimes he seems so negative.

Edited 17 December 2020 by WigstonWanderer

[Deeg67]

Play Praet, you prat.

[fuchsntf]

6 hours ago, Bablemikey said:

Lots of moaning here but let’s just reflect on the fact that despite having played all of the season with a large number of key players missing we have won our Europa League group, are 4th in the league occupying a champions league place, and are above all but 2 of last season’s top 6 teams. Life really ain’t so bad folks.

Some fans are underrating the Effect of those Chronic injuries are having in team,selection,rotation und trying to find some consistent rythm..

Rodgers has no fallback..Our cover been empfiehlt postivitely adequate,but even there,there has been unfortunately timed major knocks.

From the Top 8 teams, our long period injuries to our expected Top Performer has been more defining..

plus it presents Any manager, to Build up & develope a Team character...

But it is Bloody irritating,just when One Thinks were are Building up a top competitive Quality small squad...

 

Then the season as an whole..All Teams /players will have various mitigating worries & care with Covid issues...

Cant mix,or exchange Views/ info/ life  outside stricter Social regulation bubbles...

It will be Harder for many of the younger Foreign players, home Comforts give That needed Quiet support

Even friends/mate/managers s from other teams who one bounces Off or has confidents..Telephoning Dont get it done..

Thats the Main reason IMHO, plus no crowd I believe the whole PL League is experiencing this irregular turn of results & inconsistent performances.

 

[fuchsntf]

3 hours ago, Nicolo Barella said:

You know, it's not the end of the world every time we lose... It's pretty normal. We're still fourth, still struggling with injuries. We're not going to be a team that can smash a bunch of wins in a row, especially not when we're playing against good teams like Everton, and we're suffering from injuries and suspensions. The only trying I'm really bothered about is Rodgers being so anal about never resting Tielemans. 

Yes the Tieleman situation is worrying...especially when One loses,and in hindsight Think jesus, we might as well rested him today...

Too many minutes in mind & body..I Dont like it, but I would at least rest him from 1-2 festive period games,no matter who we are playing...

A blown out Tielemans, will Not what we will Need moving into febuary March..!!

[Dahnsouff]

Sometimes it’s not about what you do, it’s about what the opposition does. 
Everton came with a plan, executed it extremely well.

Yes, we were mildly limp, but not terrible (seen us worse)

We need the dynamism of Timmy, Ricky, the quality of Cags, back with consistency.

Nearly there 

[Poco]

I think the worrying thing, from my point of view, is the fact that, in every game we've lost this season, the opposition have not had to work hard for it. I don't think you can say that we were unlucky in any of our losses or that the opposition were amazing. Seems to me that, in the games we've lost (particularly last night), the other team hasn't even broken into a sweat.

 

Such a frustrating season...

[st albans fox]

In retrospect we may have managed with the Wesley twins last night leaving wilf to screen them - as commented above, we missed him driving forward having turned over possession ...... that makes spaces for others 

[NasPb]

This was the game to go 5 at the back imo 

[Spudulike]

I thought that Everton were very Burnley like last night. Tough, organised, focused and wasted time (or game managed) superbly aided and abetted by a poor official. 

 

Very dull but very effective. 

[Jazzy_Jeff]

Surprised by team selection. We were playing 3 at the back because we didn’t have a strong enough 4 to play together. Odd game to go back to a 4 when Evans is out as well. 
 

any time Everton attacked it look like they could get at us.

 

going forward Barnes and was poor - needs to learn how to find space as gets crowded out too easily. Under looked a threat and was surprised when he was hooked. Vardy did ok but missed a sitter - different game if that header goes in.

 

one to forget and a few things to work on. Hopefully once our defence comes back we’ll start defending corners better and having Ndidi in the centre can mean Tielemans pushes on a bit more. 

 

 

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

I admire and appreciate the cup half full attitude and posts of many on here, and there's no denying we we've got to this stage of the season with a debilitating set of injuries, in 4th (although there is very little between many sides) and through in the EL. 

 

But the worrying thing as I see it is once we encounter a team that has a well disciplined and executed plan, usually low block in nature, we flounder badly. Moreover, we are flat track bullies to an extent. We struggle against sides that are physical and intimidate us. Most of our wins have come against teams that have been naive in their approach, e.g. Leeds, Brighton, even Man City.

 

In essence, we are easy to negate as and the big question is whether the return of players like Ricardo and Castagne will change that.

 

I am not fully convinced though I obviously hope I'm wrong. Many are placing their faith in Wilf in returning fully to midfield. He's an influential excellent player but he's more defensive in play and we are lacking creativity hugely. Sides that nullify Youri and isolate Barnes for example usually get the better of us and I think we are too susceptible to that. 

 

 

Edited 17 December 2020 by Cadno'r Cymoedd

[PaulW]

3 hours ago, WigstonWanderer said:

3 hours ago, WigstonWanderer said:

Disappointing, but can’t blame Rodgers for this one, just too many players having a bit of an off day.

Too many of them are having too many of them!

 

[roblcfc84]

I think the issue BR needs to solve is how, mainly at home, we get past teams that are are organised and limit the space. It feels like sacrilege to say it given how much he’s given the club, but in those types of games you really are playing with 10 men for long periods as Vardy is not someone who contributes to approach play as much, that’s just not his game so we need a viable alternative. 
 

Technically we are clearly a very good side. Well coached in the technical aspects of the game but I do wonder whether that desire to win (I’m not saying that they don’t want to win or don’t care) is there. Do we have enough leaders on the pitch?

[UHDrive]

9 hours ago, honeybradger said:

Where did i attack him, i didnt say he played poorly or say he was at fault for us losing or critisice his play in general, i just said he doesnt cut it at fullback anymore which was reflected in your reply to me, his best simply isnt good enough anymore in that position because of his age. It's not a slight on fuchs who's a lovely man and was a great player for us, but he cant be starting when we need to break a defence down as he doesnt have the legs to get up and down the pitch anymore.

Have you noticed that we hardly have a back 4 let alone a back 5. Without his seniority and organisational skills then we would be worse off than if he werent there. That's where Thomas's experience and lack of certain qualities come into play. If its Fuchs VS Thomas then its Fuchs all day for me.

[Sunbury Fox]

1 hour ago, Spudulike said:

I thought that Everton were very Burnley like last night. Tough, organised, focused and wasted time (or game managed) superbly aided and abetted by a poor official. 

 

Very dull but very effective. 

Agree. Thought Everton were deeply unimpressive for a team who have invested so much. Yes, they did a job but it was anti football on the whole. They didn't create a single good chance in open play and rarely put any good passing moves together. If we'd scored first this would have been a very comfortable win for us, I think.

 

But the error from Kasper gave them a crucial advantage and you always knew their height advantage would eventually bear fruit off a corner. I'm pretty certain their second goal came from their very first foray into our penalty area nearly 30 minutes into the second half, which just summed up a very frustrating evening.

[jmono84]

3 hours ago, Danny Clender said:

At times though, nobody can deny, there was some sparkling football played by Leicester, some really quick one touch, fast, field splitting moments, it was just the final key contributions or execution which failed.

That happens, and I'm glad I don't interpret it in such calamitous terms, god help many on here when their electric meter runs out of credit. 

 

Wilf was good, and papered well, but what we gained from his defence position was negated in the midfield, that to me is why we lost.

We struggle to beat teams like that with such organisation and determination with our current situation. 

 

I also think Under should have stayed on, I felt he was going to make something happen. 

 

Mendy stood out to me for criticism, we needed him to drive forward and create play, but he didn't and there wasn't any real reason for many of his decisions other than his overall level and instruction perhaps, I do hope not.

His default safe and reliable last night wasn't required, we needed him to be bold and brash. 

 

 

That’s what’s frustrating... we played better football than Everton often in that game but all it took from them to beat us was a cut inside and shot from distance and a corner aimed around the 6 yard box so it hurts.

 

We need to do much better against teams like this and not having Wilf in DM was massive for us.

 

Another BR team selection at home was the main problem again for me. Mendy is a tidy player but he might as well not played that game last night. Games like this our midfield get completely bossed, Tielemans and Wilf need to start in the middle against teams as physical as Everton.

[SkidsFox]

1 hour ago, NasPb said:

This was the game to go 5 at the back imo 

When I saw all the FT posters getting all excited by the attacking line out, I knew we would struggle. Suspect BR may resist trying this again, at least until we get some crocks fit and back in the team.

[Guest Col city fan]

Woke up this morning thinking we need to stick with Rodgers. He’s a class manager.

It’s all about expectations I guess. I think we’ll go through the season playing some lovely football followed by performances where you scratch your head and think ‘wtf’!

He’s taken us as far as anyone could I think 

[LVFox]

Weird one last night, I don't think we played particularly badly but just didn't do enough to effect the game enough. Too slow in our passing and not moving it through the lines enough. When we moved it quickly and forward we looked more threatening. One of those nights where everyone was a 6 out of 10 (Apart from Fuchs who had one of his ever more common stinkers).

 

They were really solid defensively, Doucoure was everywhere. Mistake by Kasper and a soft set piece goal and its 2-0, but wasn't the performance of a 2-0 loss. That said, we could still be playing now and we still wouldn't have scored.

[Buce]

12 hours ago, LestaAl said:

Some players are not as good as we think....

 

Neither is the manager.

[Gazza M]

9 hours ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Definitely that sort of player. I think we can do better than Wood though. Batshuayi...??

That is a fair shout to be honest.