Chelsea vs Everton - Match Report and MotM Poll...

[Khalekan]

It might seem a trivial matter, but Everton (and Arsenal for that matter) should refuse to play any Sunday away game after an away trip in the EL at 1.30.
We had to do it at OT after coming back from Krasnodar and it's just not fair.
It might seem trivial, but those extra couple of hours to recover from the previous game/travelling could make a difference.

If I'm honest with you Andy, I don't think kicking off two and a half hours later would make any difference.

But I do think it is absolutely preposterous that we were obliged to play on Monday night when we had the EL game on Thursday.

Ourselves and Arsenal should not be playing the Monday before a Thursday night fixture IMO.

Especially when it is so easily avoided.

One would think this fact would be taken into consideration when Sky were picking their games.

I know they picked that round of games before we had got over the first qualifier but it was always a distinct possibility we would be playing seventy two hours later.

Have the clubs no say at all in this matter?

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Another bad day at Stamford Bridge.I still think it's too early to be writing off and questioning the new signings.This team will take time to gel.But yeah yet another bad day for Everton at a ground we haven't won at in ages.Of course it didn't help that we had a game in europe a few day's before.Of course Chelsea are also the reigning champions.So going to the champions on the back of a game in europe, was always going to be tough.There will be a few bumps on the road back to glory and we encountered such a bump earlier.

 

[Ducans elbow]

A I missing something about Sandro watched him a few times and he does not impress me.....maybe because he is new to the prem I do hope he can change things around because I was expecting more .....hopefully he needs time to adjust and if he was injured wtf is he doing starting.

 

[Eggs]

...feel sorry for the travelling Blues whose coach broke down on the way home and were stuck at Milton Keynes Services for over 6 hours waiting for a replacement. They deserved better and it would be good if the Club did something for them.

 

[AndyC]

If I'm honest with you Andy, I don't think kicking off two and a half hours later would make any difference.

But I do think it is absolutely preposterous that we were obliged to play on Monday night when we had the EL game on Thursday.

Ourselves and Arsenal should not be playing the Monday before a Thursday night fixture IMO.

Especially when it is so easily avoided.

One would think this fact would be taken into consideration when Sky were picking their games.

I know they picked that round of games before we had got over the first qualifier but it was always a distinct possibility we would be playing seventy two hours later.

Have the clubs no say at all in this matter?

Evidently not Khal, the TVs moguls shout pooh and the clubs jump on the shovel.

 

[Seathestars]

Shocking display, I'm not sure I've seen a team look so tired. I think its the mental side that tires more than physical, no enthusiasm.
I'd like to think it was a one off, I think every team has one a season, sometimes 2 or 3.

 

[AndyC]

...feel sorry for the travelling Blues whose coach broke down on the way home and were stuck at Milton Keynes Services for over 6 hours waiting for a replacement. They deserved better and it would be good if the Club did something for them.

More the responsibility of the coach company that Eggs, they're the ones who should be compensating those fans.

 

[Alan D]

The reality of how poor we were is still sinking in. And I'm not buying fatigue as a factor when it's still August. Positives, grasping at straws a little, were DCL, Siggy's outstanding dead ball delivery and Besic looking like he finally contribute as a squad player. Too many negatives to list but to me at least, the most serious issues to be addressed are Jags and Baines. Jags, in particular, looks finished at this level. He shouldn't start at all from now on and should only be considered in the event of an injury crisis. His concentration, ability to find a man with a pass and his increasing tendency to get caught out of position are clear. This last point will be exploited by each of Spurs and Man U should he play, would expect Lukaku is acutely aware of this and will play "off his shoulder". Baines, great servant that he was, offers little to the team now either. His pace and reaction times, while not as diminished as Jags are also a glass chin to this side. In summary and assuming the remaining transfer budget is limited, our defence needs most attention IMO. Two new signings please. Some of the names mentioned recently in this thread would fit nicely in that respect. I believe this needs to be prioritised over a striker at this point in time, we are hopeless at the back with the current starters.

 

[degsy]

The reality of how poor we were is still sinking in. And I'm not buying fatigue as a factor when it's still August. Positives, grasping at straws a little, were DCL, Siggy's outstanding dead ball delivery and Besic looking like he finally contribute as a squad player. Too many negatives to list but to me at least, the most serious issues to be addressed are Jags and Baines. Jags, in particular, looks finished at this level. He shouldn't start at all from now on and should only be considered in the event of an injury crisis. His concentration, ability to find a man with a pass and his increasing tendency to get caught out of position are clear. This last point will be exploited by each of Spurs and Man U should he play, would expect Lukaku is acutely aware of this and will play "off his shoulder". Baines, great servant that he was, offers little to the team now either. His pace and reaction times, while not as diminished as Jags are also a glass chin to this side. In summary and assuming the remaining transfer budget is limited, our defence needs most attention IMO. Two new signings please. Some of the names mentioned recently in this thread would fit nicely in that respect. I believe this needs to be prioritised over a striker at this point in time, we are hopeless at the back with the current starters.

Many good points;

Koeman knew Lukaku was going...I mean we all did, He said so a number of times. Baines being over 30 and becoming injury prone, Jagielka's being even older, were, as far as I know, Not covered under The Official Secrets Act.

Had he also forgotten that Coleman, Funes Mori and Bolasie were med / long term-ish absentees...and may never hit their peaks (or what passes for peaks in some cases) again.

3 urgent 'Signature' / 'Big Name' / replacement signings required.
3 'could be a problem soon rather than later' signings required...this is where a couple El Cheapo / Loaners could actually come in...or even one or two kids, now and again.

So why fill up, In the first instance with Midfielders of various stripes...I don't count Rooney in this either, that signing had elements of Sentimental Kenwrightism / PR / Marketing / Lukaku sweetener in it

turned into a bit of a mini Koeman whinge rant I know but just sayin like.

 

[AndyC]

Guys 'n gals, the MotM Poll for the Chelsea game closes (or should that be SLAMS SHUT given it's Deadline Day ?) at midnight tonight.

So if you haven't voted, the clock is ticking