Match Thread Barnsley vs. Everton - Wednesday 26th August - Capital One Cup Second Round - 19:45 KO

[billycopper]

Stones was wretched mate. His mind was totally elsewhere. Jumping over the ball for the first, ball watching for the second, and lax (by his standards) with his distribution. I'm not saying that the rest of the back line were not to blame (especially Oviedo who had a stinker) but to say Stones was his normal self is untrue.

I think it was Jags who let the header come back across goal for the second.

Given that Lescott had to be persuaded to play against Arsenal because City's interest had messed with his head and we conceded a hatful, Stones seemed (comparatively) to be his usual self. We're not that well drilled at the best of times, but John had a 'keeper behind him who's decision-making isn't that great even when he is playing regularly, a debutant to his right and he didn't have the protection of Barry and McCarthy in front of him. Plus Jags was having a shocker too.

 

[BlueToff]

Hmmm.... as there is no match thread for the game vs the mighty Lilywhites, i will stick this in here. Eriksen is out but Townsend might be back.

Did the report on Poch's presser today. He was asked about Stones as much as he was about your lads haha! He was very good about not tsalking about other teams' players though.

 

[marsh]

A reasonable opinion. But consider this: in the first half Mirallas was on one side and McGeady was on the other - McGeady is no threat at all so Barnsley could concentrate more on defending Mirallas. When Deulofeu came on they HAD to start defending his side of the field too, but couldn't leave Mirallas in the same way they could leave McGeady - ergo Deulofeu had more space and time to operate in the second half than Mirallas did in the first, and Mirallas found space to score from in the second half which wasn't there in the first.

I think that having them both on the pitch creates more space for each of them - they benefit each other.

Just blame Mcgeady for everything?

 

[DualityNSNO]

Hmmm.... as there is no match thread for the game vs the mighty Lilywhites, i will stick this in here. Eriksen is out but Townsend might be back.

Was talking to a friend who's a Spurs fan last week, he mentioned Townsend and I genuinely had forgotten he even exists.

 

[hetion]

I don't see it from him. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a great player and could be a leader by virtue of the way he plays but I don't think he is vocal enough to do the job. He just doesn't have that assertive personality, both him and Ross seem to be quieter and shy. I don't think McCarthy would have it in him to scream at players to marshal them into position.

He does this literally all the time. He's fantastic at spotting runners and telling players to go with them.

 

[Joey66]

Watching the highlights to double check, that first goal, Stones jumps over the ball on it's way to the net?

It look suspicious.

I noticed that, he could have kicked it away scared of an own goal maybe?

 

[marsh]

Any pics or videos of away end last night??

 

[djsunyc]

watched the 20 mins highlights. brilliant 2nd half. delly, kev, ross and rom should be our front four, no questions asked.

 

[Tree13]

Just blame Mcgeady for everything?

Just blaming him for being a non-factor on the wing, which in turn makes life slightly more difficult for everyone else. He's a passenger, and a fat passenger at that.