Aston Villa v Everton. Sunday 29th August @ 16.00.

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Brownie said:
Going to do a proper post in a bit, but re: Rodwell on the right. Yes, he didn't have the best of games and wasn't particularly sure of how to play the position.

However, it's harsh to say he was a spare part or didn't get involved. Throughout the whole game, particularly during the first half, all the space was down the left hand side because Albrighton is about 14 years old and didn't cover anyone ever. Added to that, Leighton is probably our best player at making angles for passes. Compare that to Hibbert at right back, being put under pressure by Downing, trying to find Rodwell.

I honestly think if he played a few more games out there he'd get good in that position. And I think the selection was based on, "Jack's made a lot of goals when he's played, we're struggling for goals, he should be in the team".
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mate i thinck you will find if you read back that no one blamed rodders and yes hes wasnt a spare part! its the BUTS........... with the choice is the prob!
 

kenada_blue said:
Their chances were more clear cut IMO.

All ours were shown to be honest...right at the end.

One thing they did pull up was Albrighton and how much hard work he put in.....And we put Coleman on in the last 20 who did the same, but it was a bit late.

Wouldve been nice to have that for the full game like Villa did.
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Yeah. We had [Poor language removed] loads more possession but they actually created better chances than us, thats the sad thing :(
 
Brownie said:
Going to do a proper post in a bit, but re: Rodwell on the right. Yes, he didn't have the best of games and wasn't particularly sure of how to play the position.

However, it's harsh to say he was a spare part or didn't get involved. Throughout the whole game, particularly during the first half, all the space was down the left hand side because Albrighton is about 14 years old and didn't cover anyone ever. Added to that, Leighton is probably our best player at making angles for passes. Compare that to Hibbert at right back, being put under pressure by Downing, trying to find Rodwell.

I honestly think if he played a few more games out there he'd get good in that position. And I think the selection was based on, "Jack's made a lot of goals when he's played, we're struggling for goals, he should be in the team".
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But a right back scored against us, and their main attack threat was from the right - so it worked either way space wise. And Albrighton tracked back well and gave Baines a bit of a game IMO.

I mentioned before...we all know Rodwell's strengths etc but the lads effectiveness came from central positions. So playing him out wide doesnt work out for me.

He probably played him due to the points made by Toccy. I can see his point but I disagree.
 
kenada_blue said:
But a right back scored against us, and their main attack threat was from the right - so it worked either way space wise. And Albrighton tracked back well and gave Baines a bit of a game IMO.

I mentioned before...we all know Rodwell's strengths etc but the lads effectiveness came from central positions. So playing him out wide doesnt work out for me.

He probably played him due to the points made by Toccy. I can see his point but I disagree.
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Their main attacking threat was Ashley Young, didn't really matter where he was. Albrighton worked hard but was terrible defensively in terms of positioning.

I don't know where I'm going with this to be honest mate, I'm probably just still annoyed. They were so [Poor language removed], honestly, one of the worst performances I've seen from a team at home. And we lost to them.
 

Possession doesn't mean much

if you are as bad as we were positionally today.

I like both Fellaini and Arteta as players. But if Mikel is going to sit that far back in midfield, he either has to run like crazy all game to make us more dangerous going forward, or he's going to defend as well. Fellaini was still sitting deep as well. If that's what we are going to do, there's no point in having 4 in the back. Fellaini also isn't the player to have in the back like that - Rodwell should've been back there and Maro should be more involved in the attack.

Either that, or you play with legit wingbacks in Coleman and Baines. If you are that concerned about playing D, put Jags, Distin AND Heitinga on the pitch in the back middle. Sit Arteta deeper like he was most of today and push Fellaini up as RCM with Pienaar as LCM, and Cahil behind what has to be Saha next match. Beckford off the bench if Saha is not playing well and Rodwell in to play Heitinga's position if Johnny or Jags looks like crap.
 
Well at least we know where we stand, realistically we wont finish in the top 4, its just going to be another one of those seasons, i feel we are fast becoming a spurs of old, got all the players but just dont ever seem to do anything!!! Oh how frustrating it is to be an Evertonion!!!!:(
 

CRIMHEAD said:
if you are as bad as we were positionally today.

I like both Fellaini and Arteta as players. But if Mikel is going to sit that far back in midfield, he either has to run like crazy all game to make us more dangerous going forward, or he's going to defend as well. Fellaini was still sitting deep as well. If that's what we are going to do, there's no point in having 4 in the back. Fellaini also isn't the player to have in the back like that - Rodwell should've been back there and Maro should be more involved in the attack.

Either that, or you play with legit wingbacks in Coleman and Baines. If you are that concerned about playing D, put Jags, Distin AND Heitinga on the pitch in the back middle. Sit Arteta deeper like he was most of today and push Fellaini up as RCM with Pienaar as LCM, and Cahil behind what has to be Saha next match. Beckford off the bench if Saha is not playing well and Rodwell in to play Heitinga's position if Johnny or Jags looks like crap.
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Well i was disappointed with Arteta's desire to constantly give the ball the the centre halves to make the running. Thought it was diminishing his responsibility somewhat.
 
I really liked what I saw of Pienaar today. Contract be damned, he really again put in an effort. He constantly tracked back which I always like to see. Him + Baines = great stuff, and unlucky not to score, they really did a number on the Villa defense on their side.

I enjoyed the game - and thought it was a huge improvement over previous weeks as other's have said. TxBill, your assessment is spot on as usual.

Arteta seemed to vanish at times, not quite sure why as I haven't seen enough. But he needs to practice his set pieces. Awful today (well, really just the corners). You cannot expect to score if you can't clear the first man, or get no height on your corners. He had several that were straight lasers into the box - not great for height.

And minimal attack on the right side. Yikes. We need an outlet there fast. I can't add anything new to what anyone else has said, but it will be easy to defeat Everton if we continually just go down the left like today. Not hard for top 4 teams to figure that out.

Nothing really new to add, just echoing thoughts and letting off some steam. But hey, it was at least an exciting game!

EDIT: So, so happy for Tim Howard with the fantastic save. I love his fire.
EDIT x2: Couldn't find anything on Rodwell's ankle. Hope that was just a niggle.
 
I'd have liked to see a slow attack building up with more of the ball in the first half. We quite often just knocked it long where beckford was never gona reach it.
 
As said in the other thread, I couldn't fault much of our performance. We just need that bit of luck, that little spark up front where we really LOOK like we'll score. Even when Saha got through in the last minute, I just thought "this just isn't going in is it?"
 
Yes good performance but still a defeat! why start with Beckford and not Saha and i think we should have started with Coleman.
Beat man u next i can see us going on a run.
 

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