Everton 0-0 Swansea. 12th Jan @ 15.00.

[bflefc]

I'm convinced it's because of our reliance on Fellaini. When Jelavic first arrived he was playing off Cahill and Fellaini was deeper.

We've forgotten how to work a ball in behind a defence. Instead, we're playing the hopeful diagonals to Fellaini.

Fellaini is a square peg in a round hole.

Bang. On.

 

[icburns]

Agreed

Lad looks like hes lost his mojo

Been saying it will come good all season but we are now in Jan and he still doesnt look like hitting the form of last season

You need a 15 goal + striker to get top 4 imo

As I recall, you could say that about our whole team for the last few years.

 

[Stend]

If Laudrup had drilled it into his players to clear it off the line twice & force us into scuffing great chanes then props to him but no, both teams were great and it's just easier to praise a tactically great defence to a tactically great attack.

You could say we tactically kept Swansea at bay all game.

Dont agree fella. Didnt have anywhere near the amount of clear cut chances we usually create. They bossed us defensively. Had no answer

 

[kenada_blue]

Exactly. When we have tough games tho the others will take advantage and win there easy games that particular weekend. We never take advantage when we need to. We won't get 4th because of this.

Yup.

Spurs, minus a draw at QPR today, have beaten all the teams below them over the last few months.

They came unstuck against us but they look like the opposite to us. We will do well against the top sides, struggle to kill off the lesser sides. Spurs will do the opposite and will be in a better position

 

[eagleowl]

I'm convinced it's because of our reliance on Fellaini. When Jelavic first arrived he was playing off Cahill and Fellaini was deeper.

We've forgotten how to work a ball in behind a defence. Instead, we're playing the hopeful diagonals to Fellaini.

Fellaini is a square peg in a round hole.

I just feel that when Fellaini plays in there he brings to much attention and all the space that Jelavic was able to find last season is not there because of that.

 

[WuTangToffee]

No mate, our midfield was non existant for pretty much the whole game. There was one point when Neville left his position to chase down the ball when Vorm had it comfortably, leaving a massive gap in our midfield that Swansea played through.

He offers nothing going forward and does the most basic thing every time in the centre.

Did we concede when he pressured Vorm? We need someone to do the basic things, we can't always have Fellaini chest it down and run sideways, or Osman run directly at them, you're nit picking really, every player makes a mistake a game, Neville has never and will never in his footballing career offer anything going forward.

 

[kenada_blue]

Could Davek be right about Jelavic? *pop.. . *

 

[BigDunc'sFod]

They closed off our left hadn side and Coleman (who had a great game) didn't have a complement on the right.

We need someone like Bily back again to smash in a 35 yarder when teams park the bus.

 

[wandyr79]

Another game where the debate simply is are we ****? or are we good?

As always the answer lies in between but it certainly does show up the manic depressives and the overly excited personalities in the forum.

Jelavic was unlucky with the first chance but somebody with his quality should be getting the late chance on target. Coleman was man of the match and Pienaar is defo showing signs that he is close to getting back to where we know he can be (maybe as his hair grows out he will continue to get better).

All in all it was frustraitng but it wasn't overly **** as some may argue

 

[bflefc]

Could Davek be right about Jelavic? *pop.. . *

 

[gonetomorrow]

I reckon Gibson's absence is being sorely missed. The midfield were not doing the business today.

 

[WuTangToffee]

Dont agree fella. Didnt have anywhere near the amount of clear cut chances we usually create. They bossed us defensively. Had no answer

Neither did Chelsea, atleast we didn't concede 2.

Just remember that team right now is at its peak, all about to make it to Wembley & more than half of them were playing today for a chance to train with Xavi & Iniesta in that Spain squad.

 

[Coach]

Although he didn't score today, glad to see Jelavic getting chances today.

 

[Muggins]

wasting your time lad..lots of butthurt queers on this site.

Who are you talking about mate??

 

[balggy]

It's one of those matches that shows you can't play the league on paper. Lot's of Evertonians looking at our fixtures and predicting 4 winds on the bounce. It's never that easy, Swansea's current form suggests its not the best time to play them and it will be difficult playing teams in relegation trouble who will be scrapping for everything.

Thought Fellaini was really poor today, I would say his worst performance since early September. I don't know if he or his representatives have had a rollocking this week, for releasing the buy out clause to the press. But I don't think it's coincidence that after being on the back pages all week he under-performs. In his defense, he seemed to play a lot deeper today. Think today showed he offers more further up the pitch.

Think maybe the injury Moyes said Baines is carrying probably screwed are left side today. With hindsight, playing on a heavy pitch at Cheltenham might not have been the bets idea. So with the left hand side weaker and Fellaini a bit absent our attacking outlets were massively weakened.

Finally, whilst I thought the team started the match at a pedestrian pace, nowhere near hitting the high tempo against Chelsea 2 weeks ago, Moyes options to change the match were massively limited. Looking to his bench I don't think he had anyone that could remedy the faults listed above. Ultimately I fear it may be this inability to change a match that will cost us 4th place.