Everton v Sunderland. Boxing Day @ 15.00.

[chicoazul]

Today was our chrimbo present for Sunderland coz we don't want Newcastle fans getting all smug if they go down.

Really hope they stay up.

As for us, you often learn more from a defeat so I hope manager and players can take today's lesson on board and kick on from here. Roll on Sunday, I'm looking forward to the Southampton game and watching Ross back in action.

Come on Chico, get that preview up. Photos of Alan Ball, Gary Speed and Inchy's goal are compulsory.

Manana padre, manana.

 

[kenada_blue]

Or actually take on a man and try to beat him? You might succeed, you might draw a foul, even a penalty. But all we did was pass it side to side twenty-five yards out until someone had space to shoot.

We are lacking imagination, creativity and penetration.... the only players who provide this are Deulofeu (injured), Barkley (sometimes) and our bloody fullbacks. McCarthy, Pienaar and Mirallas all need benching IMHO but we don't have any depth. I hope we see Donovan come back on loan again, we could certainly use him right now.

Fair play to Sunderland. They were lucky with the goal, but after that they played very tactically-aware football and got the points.

Or lose the ball and let them go on the counter with 10 men. Delufofeu is great to watch when he does it. Pulls it off about 3 times from a wide position where's there's plenty of space before spooning a shot when there's an easy pass on.

There's been plenty of occasions where Oviedo, Coleman, Barkley, Lukaku, Pienaar, Mirallas, McCarthy have taken the ball and drove forward. The idea is to do it to gain yards and move into space. Running into a wall of red and white shirts just didnt happen.

The problem with 10 men is how hard it is when you don't have the ball. The minute Sunderland had it, we had to work twice as hard to get it back and it was a massive problem so we had to keep the ball.

If you're talking about the past few games....we've done alright havent we?

 

[chicoazul]

If you can post a screen shot of this bet.. I will donate £10 to Alder Hey.

Come on milko lid. He's slapped you with a glove here. ITS ON.

 

[Goat]

Oh hello!

We have an official GOT challenge.

Link that bet photo man!

He couldnt post links, he sent it to me via email.

 

[neo2020]

The bottom line is we're going to lose games. We often win games we're not expected to win too. Overall, we're doing just great and that's the thing to focus on.

 

[evertony]

I backed 1-0 sunderland after the red card and pen. Admittedly we deserved a draw but at the time I thought 6/1 was a good shout as Sunderland were unlikely to do much more than defend.

So, you backed them at 7/1 before the game and 6/1 in play...and your £100 stake returned £600.....I'd get down to your bookies and get them to check the calculator.

Or pay the £10 to Alder Hey.

 

[chicoazul]

He couldnt post links, he sent it to me via email.

Hahahaha. ITS SO ON.

Milko has until sunrise to link the proof of the bet. If he does then he champions NHD. If he doesn't then NHD has called him out as a charlatan and liar, and as we know in the past this has been a fatal blow to posters.

I for one am intrigued.

 

[Clint Planet]

Can't believe you're not using Paddy Power, Goat.

 

[Goat]

Can't believe you're not using Paddy Power, Goat.

I use both Clint, clearly Paddy Power are the leading bookmakers for all your gambling needs, it just so happened that I was logged into another, lesser site, wait, I mean, its not my picture mate, its the other lads.

I personally only use Paddy Power.

 

[billycopper]

Two close-range shots saved, and yet some are saying we were only denied an equaliser by their keeper having "the game of his life".... At least one of the blocked shots was off target if that link is accurate, as were all but six of the long range efforts.

I think you're right about the lack of movement and not enough players in the box. It's not enough to say "you get results like these sometimes" if we want a top three/four finish - a home game against the bottom team in the division simply HAS to be three points, but we didn't do enough to earn them today.

As far as I'm concerned the difference between us and the teams above us are:

*They can replace quality with quality. Giroud has stopped scoring for Arsenal but Walcott (and possibly Podolski) can take up the slack. We could do with someone like Jelavic or Mirallas hitting some goalscoring form while Lukaku is having a lull.
*They get the benefit of the doubt more often from officials. Very often we're actually hard done to by the men in black.
*They'll do pretty much anything to get an advantage. You don't see Everton players diving or surrounding the ref.
*They 'manage the game' better eg. time-wasting.
*They'll take more risks chasing the 3 points. Even though we had 10 men we persevered with two defensive midfielders and we didn't bring another striker on until 76 minutes.

All of that puts us at a disadvantage before you even look at the quality of each side.

 

[kenada_blue]

As far as I'm concerned the difference between us and the teams above us are:

*They can replace quality with quality. Giroud has stopped scoring for Arsenal but Walcott (and possibly Podolski) can take up the slack. We could do with someone like Jelavic or Mirallas hitting some goalscoring form while Lukaku is having a lull.
*They get the benefit of the doubt more often from officials. Very often we're actually hard done to by the men in black.
*They'll do pretty much anything to get an advantage. You don't see Everton players diving or surrounding the ref.
*They 'manage the game' better eg. time-wasting.
*They'll take more risks chasing the 3 points. Even though we had 10 men we persevered with two defensive midfielders and we didn't bring another striker on until 76 minutes.

All of that puts us at a disadvantage before you even look at the quality of each side.

Chelsea and Arsenal don't particularly take risks.

As for us, we were 10 men down. We made an offensive sub with Barkley coming on. There's been plenty of times this season when we've just gone for it. The Derby springs to mind with the utterly bonkers tactic of putting Barry at left back and Barca lad on so we could win the game.

Our main areas to me are the obvious striker situation which wont change without investment, and an out and out creative central player.

But the big concern is Pienaar and Mirallas. They've just been pretty average to be honest, having the odd good game here or there. They should really be chipping in with the goals, especially with how central they tend to move into each game to give the fullbacks space.

 

[Sona]

I posted this in the immediate aftermath of the game, so may have got lost among the knee jerking...

OBSERVATIONS

1. We would never have lost that game playing with 11 men.

2. You cannot legislate for the red card/ penalty incident.

3. Osman was to blame for receiving the ball "blind"; should've been more aware and received it side on. An argument could be made for Howard to call for it to be passed straight back to him if he sees Ki closing down his team mate.

4. Howard barely touched Ki, if at all.

5. Referee was poor all round.

6. Unfortunate not to get a point (or even all three) based on the second half.

7. Mannone played the game of his life.

8. We were slightly overly-reliant on Barkley's long shots, albeit the majority of these being very good.

9. We showed great character and spirit in our second half performance.

10. We really went for it, but just couldn't break them down.

11. We'll miss Barry and Howard for Southampton.

Now looking at the stats and getting over the horrible feeling of disappointment, I remain positive and upbeat. I know it was Sunderland at home, but to have the following stats having played with 10 men for 65 minutes is incredible:

Possession: EVE 55% SUN 45%

Shots: EVE 26 SUN 13

On Target: EVE 9 SUN 6

Corners: EVE 11 SUN 2


Quite frankly, it was just one of those days.

 

[billycopper]

Chelsea and Arsenal don't particularly take risks.

As for us, we were 10 men down. We made an offensive sub with Barkley coming on. There's been plenty of times this season when we've just gone for it. The Derby springs to mind with the utterly bonkers tactic of putting Barry at left back and Barca lad on so we could win the game.

Our main areas to me are the obvious striker situation which wont change without investment, and an out and out creative central player.

But the big concern is Pienaar and Mirallas. They've just been pretty average to be honest, having the odd good game here or there. They should really be chipping in with the goals, especially with how central they tend to move into each game to give the fullbacks space.

If Chelsea or Arsenal are chasing a game they'll throw Terry or Mertesacker up front. At the least they will put on more forwards. Martinez seems very reluctant to play Lukaku with a partner or to put high balls into the box, which might actually suit Romelu.

If I was managing the team I'd try a few things.

*I'd definitely look at 4-4-2 because I think that Jelavic could benefit from the space created by defenders being drawn to Lukaku. I'd probably also look at mixing things up and putting crosses into the box for Romelu and Vellios to attack.
*I'd experiment with Mirallas in the hole too. I think he'd score a lot more goals than Barkley and that Ross is a better crosser of the ball than Super Kev. I wouldn't switch them permanently but our young protege could benefit from having space out on the wing from time to time.
*I'd also look at using Naismith in his natural position (behind the striker) because I think he's got goals in him too.

I think we're too selfish at the moment and midfielders are looking to shoot rather than finding Lukaku. Deulofeu is as guilty as Mirallas and Barkley. Maybe Romelu is a bit too static and they don't see the point of passing to him with his back to goal? But there have been plenty of occasions where he has been in the right place to roll the ball home and his teammates have taken the wrong option.

I'm not talking about today in particular. We've had the same issue against West Brom, Cardiff and Palace. We still haven't figured out how to trouble stubborn defences.

 

[deipnosophist]

Okay, that sucked. S**t happens.

I'm sure the miscreants have been duly eviscerated in here by now, but this is all part of the deal of following a team. Some days you lose games to crap teams. It happens. Everton could have been better and had tons of chances to draw even or better, but it didn't go in. Their keeper played a blinder.

It got better when Barkley got in, but not better enough.

We have a fine team and visionary manager, yet we are still entitled to nothing. We need to remember this when we're handed a s**t sandwich like this for Christmas. No one is entitled to victory - you win it on the scoreboard or you don't. Quality will usually do it, but even quality fails now and then.

Get your chins up. Southampton is next.

I wouldn't want to be Southampton. Just saying. This will be a cracker.

...I wouldn't predict anything...Sunderland have just taught us that lesson.

 

[Tony Mendez]

Generally thought we played well, harsh that one mistake made the game.

Sunderland came for the draw and we gave them the win. Disappointing that two of our most experience players gave them the win.

Martinez made very positive subs and I was sure the pure will power of our fans would bring us a goal. Never mind lids.