Forum contributor ´Tubey´ gives his view on Everton´s disappointing 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea walked their way to an easy 3-1 win against Everton at Stamford Bridge, prompting fresh supporter concerns about the Toffees inability to either attack or defend.
Everton now stand on seven points after seven games after undertaking a nightmare run of games which have resulted in three straightforward defeats.
Worryingly, Everton are no longer looking hard to beat. In the past, even when the results were not going our way, the lads put up a wall and tried their hearts out.
Not so tonight. All too often Everton looked as dull and lifeless as the boring third kit they wore, with Baines and Coleman switching off completely to allow Ashley Cole to provide an easy headed goal for Sturridge to open things up.
Marouane Fellaini showed no determination to win the ball to prevent the Chelsea second, as John Terry nodded home the easiest header he´ll score this season from a free-kick on the stroke of half time.
Malouda made it three after Osman hit the outside of the post – a chance created from an aimless 50 yard hoof up field rather than incisive attacking play – but arguably the game was over before a ball was kicked.
David Moyes played down Evertons chances from the outset in pre-match interviews, and his side went out with the look of a bunch of boys knowing they were about to get beaten up by a bunch of men.
Don´t get me wrong; I´m realistic to know that we were never favourites for this game. But the worst thing is that Chelsea didn´t even have to play well. In fact, in the first half they were positively poor, yet scored two goals.
Basically, at no point during this game did we compete to win. It tells you all you need to know about the David Moyes mindset when, at 3-0 down, he brings on a right back in Phil Neville for an attacking midfielder in Tim Cahill. Apparently, he was protecting a 3-0 loss, which is depressing in more ways than any words of mine can adequately express.
Most Everton fans watching this game on ESPN would have switched the game off at half time, or at the most after 65 minutes. Yes, they would have missed Vellios´ goal – who turned in a Drenthe cross (yes, two very late attacking substitutes!) but, in all honesty, no sane person could blame them.
But hey, at least we finally scored!
Chelsea 3 – 1 Everton