Arsenal 1-1 Everton. 8th Dec @ 16.00.

[BrumBlue1878]

Good post and I'd say that bit in bold is vital today. It's pretty much standard but against top sides you have to take your chances and against a very confident side chances will be at a premium. I think it's what we've just missed out on this season, that final quality delivery on the counter, we should have created more goal scoring chances at old trafford from the positions we got into. But that will come with time, especially with the likes of Barkley. Which makes the future even more exciting. The art of the counter attack can be truly devestating

Completely agree. I think that, should Barkley stay after the summer, that aspect of our game will drastically improve. I think that the issue I have with Barkley is his decision making and the way he persists in keeping his head down. But that was the issue we had with Coleman when he first came into the team; he made those jinking drives at the heart of defences and sometimes held onto the ball more than he should have done, a bit like the barca lad does today. Barkley's game I think under Bobby's stewardship will vastly improve than what it would have done under Moyes; martinez' principle is on keeping possession and the more time you have on the ball, it's not rocket science, you're going to improve as a footballer. It's exciting times to be an Evertonian without doubt, I just think today's a bridge too far for us. Hope I'm wrong (cheers for the feedback btw)

 

[ilikecheese]

Mornin' Toffees...did we win yet?

 

[hullefc]

This says it all for me, 'The Republic of Ireland international explained how Martinez worked over-time to convince his players they could win for the first time in 21 years at the home of Manchester United, as former boss David Moyes faced them in the opposing dug-out for the first time.

Coleman, 25, said Everton's fearless possession-based passing approach this season has slowly built their confidence to the point they feel ready to mix it with the best on their terms.

“It's been too long really and the manager has been working hard to get us to believe we could come here and get a result,” he said.

“It came on the way we've been playing, the way we've been keeping the ball and the confidence that has built. He just wanted us to play with no fear'.

Martinez's gets into the minds of his players and sets his teams up to not be intimidated by the opposition or be overawed by the occasion. At United on Wednesday, it was not just the result but the performance. At times we bossed the game with our possession pass and move football and were a delight to watch. Really looking forward to this game, it will be a test for us. I'm not fully convinced Arsenal are as good as some are saying, today's game will go someway to answering that.

 

[Del]

Hardest away game of any season- you know possession wise the Gunners will dominate and distribute the ball around which makes your midfield look dazzled and like headless chickens. I think that Lukaku will have to be as dominant as he was against Vidic today against Mertesacker and our final pass has to be clinical. I've watched the United game several times back and our incisive counter attack should have finished with a goal but we couldn't find the final pass and when we did, it was far too heavy for the likes of Lukaku and Mirallas to benefit from. The thing I fear the most about Arsenal are their off the cuff footballers; you can restrict and tighten the midfield all you want against Ramsey, Cazorla and Ozil but they have the ability to disguise a pass and create something out of the blue which Giroud, whose been in excellent form so far this season, will poke home. As others have said the midfield has to be able to strangle the energy out of Arsenal and lay a good platform for Mirallas and Pienaar and Barkley to benefit from. We have to remember on Wednesday United's 'midfield' was non existent hence why we created so many overlaps and openings. Arsenal are far more structured both defensively and offensively so I highly doubt the number of breaks and openings we made will be of a similar quantity today. We have to be clinical and take our chances but also play with a little more discipline and awareness; there were moments on Wednesday night where Arsenal would have taken the lead but a lacklustre United, low on confidence, couldn't. I think we're in for an excellent game and the second half will be critical because it will all be about who still possesses the legs to go on and pick up the three points because I'm sure both teams will be flying around the pitch early on, getting a feel for one another and trying to disrupt both team's patient passing rhythm and style. I think Bobby will keep things the same and alternate should the going get tough or we are in the ascendency and require the pace of Gerard or stewardship of Osman to see us home. I'm both optimistic and extremely pessimistic at the same time. I think the first goal is essential; if Arsenal take the lead then I feel we haven't got it in us to retaliate and respond but if Lukaku slides home from close range early on, the sea of Blue on the terraces will certainly be thinking six points will be coming our way from the supposed Big 4 in a matter of days. Heart says blue win, head says draw. Should be a cracker like but we have to keep focused and order should we want to get out of London alive.
Allez allez oh! Enjoy the game and COYB!!!!

WALL OF TEXT

 

[steken1]

This says it all for me, 'The Republic of Ireland international explained how Martinez worked over-time to convince his players they could win for the first time in 21 years at the home of Manchester United, as former boss David Moyes faced them in the opposing dug-out for the first time.

Coleman, 25, said Everton's fearless possession-based passing approach this season has slowly built their confidence to the point they feel ready to mix it with the best on their terms.

“It's been too long really and the manager has been working hard to get us to believe we could come here and get a result,” he said.

“It came on the way we've been playing, the way we've been keeping the ball and the confidence that has built. He just wanted us to play with no fear'.

Martinez's gets into the minds of his players and sets his teams up to not be intimidated by the opposition or be overawed by the occasion. At United on Wednesday, it was not just the result but the performance. At times we bossed the game with our possession pass and move football and were a delight to watch. Really looking forward to this game, it will be a test for us. I'm not fully convinced Arsenal are as good as some are saying, today's game will go someway to answering that.

Arsenal didn't do what we done to them. We're in with a chance.

 

[Guest89]

The way I see it, if Arsenal are on their game today, we'll lose. We've come on leaps and bounds under Roberto in these sort of contests, but at the end of the day, Arsenal are a stronger team than us, their midfield is the best in the prem hands down. The difference to years gone by however, is if Arsenal aren't at their best, we can hope for more than just coming away with a point, we could actually win.

In the past, I'd have gone into this feeling there's a good chance we won't lose today. Now, I feel like there's more of a chance we might come away with nothing, but we also have a realistic chance of winning. Over the course of the season, I'd take that all day long. We shouldn't, but even if we do get completely turned over today, I'd much rather be in this position knowing we still have chances of going to Stamford Bridge and Anfield and coming away with a win.

All in all, it's better to go to the old sky 4 and come away with 2 wins and 2 losses than it is coming away with 3/4 draws and a loss.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

I hope the tedious soft gets don't moan every single time we make contact with one of their players. The last few times we've played them they've wanted it to be a non contact sport ffs.

 

[toffeejack]

need to keep ozil quiet here, really do. If we do, we have a glimar of a chance of nicking the win. a nice early goal would do wonders i think.

 

[Topblue]

Great post brumblue.

"Believe"
Tom hanks polar express.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Be thrilled with a draw in all honesty. Boss writeup as ever though 'azul

 

[Del]

The way I see it, if Arsenal are on their game today, we'll lose. We've come on leaps and bounds under Roberto in these sort of contests, but at the end of the day, Arsenal are a stronger team than us, their midfield is the best in the prem hands down. The difference to years gone by however, is if Arsenal aren't at their best, we can hope for more than just coming away with a point, we could actually win.

In the past, I'd have gone into this feeling there's a good chance we won't lose today. Now, I feel like there's more of a chance we might come away with nothing, but we also have a realistic chance of winning. Over the course of the season, I'd take that all day long. We shouldn't, but even if we do get completely turned over today, I'd much rather be in this position knowing we still have chances of going to Stamford Bridge and Anfield and coming away with a win.

All in all, it's better to go to the old sky 4 and come away with 2 wins and 2 losses than it is coming away with 3/4 draws and a loss.

Funny because I am sure I watched a very very average Utd side beat them 1-0 the other week

 

[Brownie]

Everyone is ****e.

 

[mawders]

We were good at The Emirates last year, so im not sure what game you watched.

we were good in the sense we parked the bus. I only remember us having 2 shots that game.

 

[Khalekan]

we were good in the sense we parked the bus. I only remember us having 2 shots that game.

Correct.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Still can't believe we didn't get the three points in the game we scored that fantastic Pienaar chip on the break following Cahill's pass. In all honesty we conceded two deflected goals and that should have at least been a 1 on Moyes' away against the big four record.