not good enough

[Latch]

My only criticism was that we lacked a bit of a cutting edge in the final third, but apart from that i thought our performance was heroic.
We have won the group with a game left to play, scoring six and conceeding only one.
We will now be drawn against a third place team from one of these groups with the first leg away from home, that is our reward for winning three european games, we deserve it.
Moyes said we played really well, i agree, we did.

COYB

 

[chicoazul]

*prepares to be flamed for this*
jags was bad, obviously, but he seems to just be off by a beat, and i still have some faith in him. he's been here long enough to be settled by now, but i'm not ready to give up on him just yet.

i think moyes might have used this game more for some experimentation than anything else, which is why he consigned yak to the bench and anichebe to a sub appearance (to see how we'd fair in february, although that doesn't explain starting pienaar). we tried the 4-4-2, it didn't work, but i'm glad we tested it out here in a cup competition when we had all but clinched progress, than in the league where we would be made to pay for mistakes like this.

the fact that we got the win anyways despite our less than perfect performance is just icing on the cake

Spot on.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Apart from the 442 did work because we won the game. We can all hide behind the missed pen, the lack of cutting edge etc....

But the fact still remains, we won the game. We won the group. We defended well, and in the last 30 minutes we controlled the game. Trouble is when you bang in 7, the expectations just increase to an unfair level. Tactically we were spot on, we created chances, we defended well.

Cahill took a knock and was a little off the pace because of that.

The only thing that is spot on is that we got the job done. Win ugly, lose pretty. What do we prefer?

Christ, we got to 4th spot on the back of ugly one nil wins.

 

[chicoazul]

Im just made up that we're ace. We are able to make four changes to our team and still have a good starting 11. We havent been able to do that for ages.

remembers bringing on Gemmill & Max Moore to spuce things up*

 

[Latch]

Im just made up that we're ace. We are able to make four changes to our team and still have a good starting 11. We havent been able to do that for ages.

remembers bringing on Gemmill & Max Moore to spuce things up*

just goes to show how far we have come in five years under Moyes.

Arguing about how well or bad we played in europe, [Poor language removed] brilliant, long may it continue.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Exactly Chico, so no real concern to be moaning. Ok granted, Suits is striving for perfection, we all are I suppose. But the title is very negative, to a situation that is not negative at all.

A team that wins games without playing that well, is not a bad side. If we had cut out the silly defensive mistakes early in the season, we may not be 9th, but 7 wins in 9 is no cause for concern for me.

 

[chicoazul]

Thats it Latch.

Think back to how we were when Moyes came, we played [Poor language removed] uninspiring football, hardly won away and was just generally gash.

Even when we qualified for the Champions League you sort of knew that our squad just wasnt good enough to do any damage. Its a bit different now and Im made up.

 

[chicoazul]

I agree but Suits did call it correct early on this season, he pointed out we werent playing well even when we beat Spurs - we were all made up with the result naturally but he had a point - and the start to the season showed it.

The game was uninspiring on Wednesday and we were at times ineffective but we won, and in turn beat the Russian champions.

Read the above and realise that were getting boss again, ok its not 84/85 but its a start.

 

[Dejan79]

Anyone who expected anythin like the Sunderland performance needs their head checking. The team we where playing have just won a league that involves 3 champions league regulars !!!!! Not to mention moysey changed his team completely. We had aj who still isnt match sharp, same with baines. Jags hasnt had regular first team football all season along with mcfadden.

I personally think moysey got his tactics wrong slightly last. wouldnt have gone with 442 last night, we knew they where a good passing side and good on the ball, so pack the midfield. We still look a goal threat with 451 possibly more so than 442.

But isnt it great not playin well an winning, first time as far as i can remember an Everton side doin this, its normally drawn or we lose !

We've Qualified by winning the group as far as i'm concerned that glosses over the fact it wasnt the best perfomance we've seen this season. Taking into account the change of system to accomidate the change in personel then i'm more than happy

 

[chicoazul]

So what are we all arguing for then?

This board is mad. Its getting all Toffeewebish.

 

[Robert Jarvis]

Too true.

 

[daz4matty]

I actually thought we did ok against zenit and don,t forget they had people behind the ball when down to 10 men which made it harder for us.
I agree faddy was poor but to be fair he needs a run in the team with a regular partner to show us what he can do.
I,m delighted to top the group and it is a learning curve for everyone.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Russian champions nothing to sneeze at. We have keep our cool and seem to be stronger in the latter stages of most games. Moyes fitness kick is still working dividends for us.

 

[chicoazul]

Russian champions nothing to sneeze at. We have keep our cool and seem to be stronger in the latter stages of most games. Moyes fitness kick is still working dividends for us.

Thats lame Mike, but better than Gaz's jibes.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

What can I say. This unbeaten run has been refreshing. We still are not the most exciting team to watch at times but who cares if we get results. If I get bored I replay the Sunderland game and keep the faith.