Everton v Arsenal. 23rd Aug at 17.30.

[ultimateblue]

Our weak links are the two centre backs, been very suspect in both games.

 

[BlueToff]

We played very well today for the first 70 minutes. But, we aren't fit enough for whatever reason. I think Martinez really was hoping we'd have being up to speed right now but I think injuries have derailed his plans slightly. And if Pienaar is going to missing for a few weeks we really do need to be dipping back into the market again. The fitness will come through matches. It's the tactics that have done us today as much as anything else - sitting back in the last quarter and inviting pressure.

 

[BlueToff]

We played very well today for the first 70 minutes. But, we aren't fit enough for whatever reason. I think Martinez really was hoping we'd have being up to speed right now but I think injuries have derailed his plans slightly. And if Pienaar is going to missing for a few weeks we really do need to be dipping back into the market again. The fitness will come through matches. It's the tactics that have done us today as much as anything else - sitting back in the last quarter and inviting pressure.

 

[Del]

Has anyone mentioned the fitness

 

[Bluerover]

This is true to be fair, it's just more the manner in which we've lost today. I'd be annoyed if we blew a 2-0 goal with 6 or so minutes left against Real Madrid never mind Arsenal.

But yeah, we need to be aiming above Liverpool, Utd and Spurs rather than Arsenal, as they're almost certain to get top 4.

WTF was McGeady substitution illegal??? Oh no!!! 0-3 result so.

lol

 

[Robertor]

Just spoke to Greg O'Keeffe and Dave Prentice. Said the club are 'incredibly displeased' with pre season and the general thought is that they don't expect the players to be fully fit until after the international break. I'm good mates with Greg so will try and get some info on transfers even though he's notoriously difficult to get hold of so will try my best.

 

[ijjysmith]

Just spoke to Greg O'Keeffe and Dave Prentice. Said the club are 'incredibly displeased' with pre season and the general thought is that they don't expect the players to be fully fit until after the international break. I'm good mates with Greg so will try and get some info on transfers even though he's notoriously difficult to get hold of so will try my best.

Hahahhahahahaha

 

[Bobby P]

Not being funny mate but you created nothing for about 70mins

We passed the ball around with ease and soaked up any pressure you brought on which was you passing the ball around in front of the back 4

The difference between the two sides was our lack of fitness and your obvious talent through out the squad, We gave you a sniff and you punished us

I'd argue you were only in control of the game in the space between the middle of the first half until half time. We're not exactly at full fitness either mate.

 

[TheFinnFan]

Dissapointing but encouraging.

No need to panic or go crazy. Long season ahead.
COYB

 

[marty mcfly]

We played very well today for the first 70 minutes. But, we aren't fit enough for whatever reason. I think Martinez really was hoping we'd have being up to speed right now but I think injuries have derailed his plans slightly. And if Pienaar is going to missing for a few weeks we really do need to be dipping back into the market again. The fitness will come through matches. It's the tactics that have done us today as much as anything else - sitting back in the last quarter and inviting pressure.

I think he planned on leaving Lukaku out and playing Naismith and Barkley up front so yea with Lukaku coming on as an impact sub.

Which if Barkley was fit wouldn't actually have been a bad plan because we all know how effective he can be from the bench.

 

[Smodger]

Fitness these players should have been fit ready to go we're does the blame lie owe ye its World cup year.

 

[L4Everton]

Further thinking on it has me reaching for a couple of WC hangovers, Lukaku gets massive respect for playing through injury, if Kev was fully fit he may have bagged a couple but definitely at least one. When it went end to end and we were 2 up we either should have played keep ball or been more efficient. They knew Naismith was the danger today, and with Lukaku going off all their fouling focus fell even more on him. It is the way all sides play, we throw a few heavy challenges in ourselves from time to time. Realising our depth some sides might look to kick us out of games or for sets of fixtures. Its going to be some burden for Lukaku and Naismith to take without Barkley taking his share - no idea if Kone can absorb some punishment.
Sides will look to 'even things up' when we play them off the park or we get a favourable decision for once (Nais offside), part of what made Deolofeu so dangerous was his carrying the ball so quickly and going for a defender, suddenly last man red card options became a scare factor.

2 games down, unbeaten. Chelsea next, and I'm guessing that'll be a real battle at the somme.

 

[paulbefc]

He's contributing now yes. Let's hope he continues with that.

I'm not accepting he's something more than what I se with my own eyes though.

I have a lot of faith in him as he's been doing it for the best part of a year now as consistently as anyone in the squad and came through a long period of serious abuse and confidence knocking performances.

I do wonder how many goals he'd get if he played a season at 10 with Lukaku though. His goal ratio suggests an extremely impressive number.

He isn't Barkley though. He's limited. He pretty much maxes out on what he can physically bring to the team to be fair to him. Which is more than he's given credit for, imo.

their back 5 and midfield two of arteta and wilshere (with flamini as backup for some reason) is just too suspectable. thought mertesacker and koscielney were good last season and debuchy is decent, but he's not as good as sagna. gibbs is okay at LB, but nothing special.

a team like city will run havoc in the middle like we did today and then have the strikers to score with ease like they did last season. chambers is good, but for the future, possibly could have done with buying an experienced CB for that money - but there's nothing wrong with looking towards the future.

can't base it all on just 3 games mind you. - they looked the real deal in charity shield.

Yep. I think they played us, a top 5 side away from home, at pretty much the perfect time and the (early) signs suggest more of the same from them: beating the weaker sides and dropping points away against decent teams.

 

[Bobby P]

Leicester only scored because of Everton errors.
Arsenal only scored because of Everton errors.

That is just stupid, you could literally chalk up any goal to errors (by looking at Isolated incidents) or poor officiating.

Everton scored today because of an Arsenal error and poor officiating, there.

 

[davek]

I think all of the fuming you've done on here has clouded your memory mate.

It hasn't. If you believe Naismith stuck diligently to some 'chalk on the boots' game under Moyes you're the one who cant remember.

He's doing ok, 'the comeback kid'. But there's some selective memory processing going on here.