Hold Your Horses People...

[Tubey]

Dont agree. Gueye and Baines played well together against a better footballing side in Swansea. Gueye faded by the 60th but mainly due to lack of game time.

I'm not saying it isn't an option, but I'm just saying I can understand the decision to play Osman there and on the balance of things, even though it still isn't ideal, I'd have played Osman ahead of Gueye.

Ideally of course, the combo is Baines/Drenthe, as although Baines plays deeper when those two are on that side, Drenthe makes up for it with his pace and Baines still follows up for the Drenthe lay off when he gets the ball in deeper positions.

I actually think Gueye needs to be eased into first team football rather than given consistent full starts at the moment. The lad has talent, but I do see him as positionally suspect at times and fairly inconsistent too. In fact, his better games have been when he's been on the right hand side cutting in, and I'd have him and Coleman rotating on that side of the pitch.

 

[Kay20]

Look, I criticise Moyes as much as anyone, and he deserves a lot of it.

But you can't blame him for tonight. He was completely undermined by three injuries, played a fairly positive line-up considering what he usually plays.

At the end of the day, there were three players on the pitch at the end that wouldn't have been under normal circumstances. Donovan would have played 60 minutes, Stracqualursi not much more and Saha would probably have been withdrawn at some point too.

Mindless calling Moyes for all sorts when it's clear he wasn't to blame for what happened tonight is just stupid. It undermines the times you can have valid criticism of him.

You can't have your cake and eat it. He played 4-4-2, he started Donovan. That's what most fans wanted, and yes, the centre of midfield was still not ideal, but other than that, let's be realistic.

So, in short, stop having a melt and think about what happened.

Great points Tubey. I wish the midfield had been better, but it was positive for Moyes.

 

[kenada_blue]

We could talk about grade 1 - 4 hamstring injuries, scans and such but I guess that would be pointless.

But of course that all depends what information the coaches and physios give him. Doesn't it?

LOLOLOL WAS WAITING FOR THAT!!!!!!!!

Im guessing you'd say a grade 1 tear means a player can play? Right? Right?

 

[ijjysmith]

I'm still worried.

I'm holding my horses on the Moyes Out stuff, but worried that we are so utterly crap.

That's the players.

We need fresh blood everywhere. Literally everywhere.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

We could talk about grade 1 - 4 hamstring injuries, scans and such but I guess that would be pointless.

But of course that all depends what information the coaches and physios give him. Doesn't it?

Any hamstring injury that prevents a player playing at a professional level doesn't ease within a couple of days.

I appreciate the game involves some calculated risks.

But that wasn't calculated.

It was moronic.

 

[Philw]

We could talk about grade 1 - 4 hamstring injuries, scans and such but I guess that would be pointless.

But of course that all depends what information the coaches and physios give him. Doesn't it?

It's not Moyes' fault FFS!!

 

[Abraders]

WHERE IS VELLIOS? That is what i want to know

 

[Del]

I wish Barkley would hurry the **** up and be ready

 

[kenada_blue]

I'm not saying it isn't an option, but I'm just saying I can understand the decision to play Osman there and on the balance of things, even though it still isn't ideal, I'd have played Osman ahead of Gueye.

Ideally of course, the combo is Baines/Drenthe, as although Baines plays deeper when those two are on that side, Drenthe makes up for it with his pace and Baines still follows up for the Drenthe lay off when he gets the ball in deeper positions.

I actually think Gueye needs to be eased into first team football rather than given consistent full starts at the moment. The lad has talent, but I do see him as positionally suspect at times and fairly inconsistent too. In fact, his better games have been when he's been on the right hand side cutting in, and I'd have him and Coleman rotating on that side of the pitch.

But Drenthe and Baines are poor on the left also as Drenthe doesnt/hardly covers. Drenthe just needs letting off a leash, and does so more on the right as Hibbert hardly gets forward compared to Baines.

You're/Moyes is asking Osman to do Pienaar's job...and that hasnt really worked either as Osman drifts inside a lot wanting to be more central. He doesnt draw opposition players away with him as they know the trick is to give Baines space...hence why it hasnt worked all season.

But the few games I've seen of Gueye, he tracks back and defends a lot. His first start last season saw him spend most of the 1st half covering Baines and defending before getting into the game more the 2nd (cant remember the team). He's not the finished article, but offers more movement forward, a better crossing threat, and the ability to cover Baines which is has shown in the past, mainly against Swansea.

I can see your point as Osman is more disciplined but then that adds to Moyes' over cautious nature against every team. He's gone in half arsed expected Donovan, Saha and Straq to add something when he should've gone and changed it fully and left the shackles off.

 

[paulbefc]

Boom, have some more rep.

Oh ffs, can't do it.

 

[Roztitute]

WHERE IS VELLIOS? That is what i want to know

Apparently falled out with Moyes, that's what people on here are saying. You know what that means.

I wish Barkley would hurry the **** up and be ready

He's been ready for a while mate, annoying isn't it?

 

[BigBlueBalls]

Apparently falled out with Moyes, that's what people on here are saying. You know what that means.

Gutted for the ladies, Vellios will turn up in 18 months covered in muscle and attitude and pop in the winner late vs West Brom.

 

[Idioteque]

Injuries and bad weather, just wasn't our day really, we won't be in a relegation battle top half would be nice - I'm not going on the Moyes out bandwagon because we could be a heck of a lot worse.

 

[ToffeeDan]

I wanted to just be angry about this result - of course I am - I wanted to blame Moyes selections too. Then I thought about it. For an hour we largely controlled this game 100% - Bolton were more or less nowhere in this game. Then Moyes was forced to play his final card with the injury to Rodwell. He'd already lost Osman which was a major loss - it was at this point that Bolton got into it. The problem was Strac was running around doing the next-to-nothing but bothering their centre-halves but he tired. Then Saha disappeared (expected), then Neville was doing nothing (expected)....plus Gueye was going nowhere, doing nothing. I'm pretty sure the ideal choices on another night with that starting XI would have been to take the front two off & bring on Victor, Cahill & Rodwell (probably for Neville as well) & not to lose Jags in the process. So, I'm totally with the OP on that.

 

[Roztitute]

Injuries and bad weather, just wasn't our day really, we won't be in a relegation battle top half would be nice - I'm not going on the Moyes out bandwagon because we could be a heck of a lot worse.

I was never alive in the 80s mate, but I want Everton to strive for greatness just like that. It could be worse but it's not good enough.