Match Thread Everton V Aston Villa. Sat Sep 13th. 3pm

[Glasshalffull]

Isn't it 12 months ago that Swashbuckling Sean saw his side take a 2-0 lead against Villa only to succumb, Ossie Ardiles style, 3-2 to evoke memories of kamikaze football's Roberto Martinez?

Well, I imagine that's the first and only buckle that he ever swashed.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Thought Tim played well especially first half

He didn’t do too much wrong but he looked much more hesitant in possession than he did against Brighton. He had opportunities to drive forward with the ball or play a more progressive pass and he played safe too much. Needs to stop getting himself booked too.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Managers get paid to make them choices though mate. If you freeze because you’re terrified to do the wrong thing, you’re probably in the wrong game.

It’s just speculation mate. Changing it may have seen us lose. We had them under pressure for the last 15 mins.

 

[Kantareller]

Thought it was a good performance. Sound at the back but quality lacking at the front, quite the contrary to Wolves

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Thought it was a lot of huffing and puffing without really creating anything, an earlyish goal would have made Villa change their tactics/set up, for the 20 odd shots I can only recall the save from Keanes header

Save from Grealish in the first half, last gasp tackle from Mings stopping Barry shooting, Beto missing two absolute sitters. We created enough chances to win that game.

 

[Drico]

Well, I imagine that's the first and only buckle that he ever swashed.

Actually, it was the second. Just the week earlier he pulled off the same trick against Bournemouth. Memories of McGeady...

 

[D. Amokachi]

We battered Villa. They were terrible - constant fouls and time wasting. In the end, a world class keeper stopped us getting the three points. I thought we were a bit slow and predictable in attack and could have been a bit more direct. But it’s difficult when the other team sit back and there’s no scope for counter attacks.

 

[the sniderman]

I make a point never to be upset by the words of virgins.

geez @Zatara i would not be happy with some1 coming at me this hard buddy

 

[Seathestars]

agree but mate past gone by we would of lost that.

i’m seething but there is a bigger picture here and we’re in transition

and look far better

Yeah, good points you make there

 

[jaycee]

Save from Grealish in the first half, last gasp tackle from Mings stopping Barry shooting, Beto missing two absolute sitters. We created enough chances to win that game.

So two saves then

 

[mikel_88]

Better there today just wished maybe moyes used the bench more dibbling alcaraz. And well still not really sold on both cf as barry still a work in progress, beto just hit and miss really. But is an inprovement from last season and is a good sign but going forward need that extra quality to bring the 3 points

 

[Gibbo1976]

Did enough to win the game all in all. The biggest gripe for me today is that clown Hooper the ref, absolutely every season he destroys games by not letting them flow, always seems miles behind the play. He sucked the life out of the game

 

[dublinbluenose]

It's difficult to pick a MOTM today but Mick Keggers was really good today in everything he did, very confident performance.

Nobody else shone but several had good games, KOB had a good 2nd half, Ndiaye and Grealish were good as wel.

 

[knowing your history]

Overall a good performance today against a very mediocre Villa team. Should've won but probably shows some of the limitations that will need a few more transfer windows to correct.

Garner was solid but you could tell in last 20 minutes that Jack was desperate for a LB to overlap him so that needs to be corrected at some point in next 12 months. Instead moves fizzled out. Ndiaye was only on the fringes, not 100% clearly so surprised Dibling didn't get last 15 minutes.

Merlin looked neat and tidy but personally I'd have put Alcaraz on. He's someone who can get into the box and run with the ball. I think for that cross Martinez fumbled in the six yards box he's one who might've been around to tap it in.

Let's look at the bigger picture though. Even with an expected defeat next week it would still be 7 points from 5 games. Last two years it has been 1 point from 5 games so clear progress but today showed a couple more transfer windows needed to have a real go at finishing in top 8 as still feels other clubs are just a bit ahead in their development e.g. Bournemouth and probably Fulham aswell.

 

[mikel_88]

Did enough to win the game all in all. The biggest gripe for me today is that clown Hooper the ref, absolutely every season he destroys games by not letting them flow, always seems miles behind the play. He sucked the life out of the game

He was awful the ref the amount of times today villa timewasted, then the amount of times was pulling players shirts back and he gave nothing. Terrible ref