Match Thread Everton 2-4 Brentford. Sun Jan 4th. 3pm

[Rollo Tomassi]

I thought we started okay, but that first goal sucked all belief out of us. The last five times we've gone behind, we've lost, and you could see it today.

I ain't sure what Tarkowski was thinking with that ball, and then Thiago just wandered away from Keane for the easiest of finishes.

After that, I think the final score of 4-2 flatters us, because they bossed the game. Our passing was awful, movement non-existent, and the defending...

Yeah the first half was fairly even the difference being they took advantage of our mistake at the back but we didn't take advantage of theirs when Iroegbunam screwed his shot wide when in on goal.

The second half was poor and they waltzed through the centre at will including one time by the centre half, and that goal from the corner when he was 4 yards out has happened too often for it to be a one off.

There are always crazy scorelines over the Christmas period as there are so many games sandwiched in but this was concerning as it was too similar to the Newcastle and Tottenham capitulations.

 

[PhilM]

Yeah the first half was fairly even the difference being they took advantage of our mistake at the back but we didn't take advantage of theirs when Iroegbunam screwed his shot wide when in on goal.

The second half was poor and they waltzed through the centre at will including one time by the centre half, and that goal from the corner when he was 4 yards out has happened too often for it to be a one off.

There are always crazy scorelines over the Christmas period as there are so many games sandwiched in but this was concerning as it was too similar to the Newcastle and Tottenham capitulations.

For me, personally, this was worse than either of those games. With Tottenham, we were ultimately undone by two set pieces.

Newcastle, I think the performance wasn't that bad, with us being undone by an early set play again and Pickford having an absolute stinker.

Today, we were just rubbish for large parts once they had scored, and it wasn't individual errors, yet rather a pathetic team performance.

 

[roy vernon]

They have been solid all season

They haven't been though, have they? I'm not having a pop at them as individual players, but, as a pair they just don't work. Tarkowski has looked off the pace this season, until he was partnered with O'brien, they have ridden their luck, and muddled through, or been bailed out by Pickford. They are OK as a partner for O'brien or Branthwaite, but, as a partnership, they just don't have the pace to survive against the better teams.

Just think back to the soft goals we conceded against Spurs and Newcastle and if that doesn't convince you, have a look at Brentford's 4th today. Running from inside his own half, neither Keane nor Tarkowski managed to get within 10 yards of Thiago.

 

[brian labone]

Can anybody explain to me why we wasted so much money buying Dibling, Barry, King, the young LB (cant remember his name)and I think we still have to pay for ROHL at the end of the season. Time to move on Moyes..

 

[everton1953]

At least it was entertaining!

Hardly entertaining freezing to death watching that shambles.

 

[CielosGrises]

Weird going for the O'Brien RB after winning with him in the centre.

A lot of us had that feeling this was going to be a let down.

 

[Ivo]

Their number 24 was very good today.
We were poop, they were first to everything, had more fight and wanted it so much more than us.

Some of that's on Moyes, we didn't really have a game plan whereas they were very well drilled.

Less said about McNeil the better...

 

[marsh]

Typical Everton. Done it for years, when there's a chance to go 5th, go 4th, whatever it may be when we have a chance to do something,we always seem to bottle it. And no matter how many times it happens, I still get my hopes up and still get so annoyed when we ultimately cock it up like today.

 

[Mr PEN86]

And why are we so vulnerable from corner kicks???

 

[Mr PEN86]

We're setup to play away. Always look more comfortable playing away

 

[davek]

And why are we so vulnerable from corner kicks???

We were ok until the Spurs game then Pickford turned into a turd being bullied all over the place. We have a very passive back 4 offering no protection to the GK though as well.

They should be forcefully shifting opponents away from Pickford and screaming blue murder at the referee to make him see fouls from corners and set pieces.

Just typical of this Moyes team: not street-smart enough.

 

[Vedder]

one of them games where we were crap from start to finish, Brentford had a game plan and executed it perfectly.

But let’s take a moment to applaud Thiago’s performance, he’s a proper number 9, his hold up play, his running in behind & his sh*t housery was gold, pure snide player, reminds me of Diego Costa, type of character we need leading the line.

Within 5 mins he had pulled onto Keane and was just bullying him from then on in

 

[Vedder]

They haven't been though, have they? I'm not having a pop at them as individual players, but, as a pair they just don't work. Tarkowski has looked off the pace this season, until he was partnered with O'brien, they have ridden their luck, and muddled through, or been bailed out by Pickford. They are OK as a partner for O'brien or Branthwaite, but, as a partnership, they just don't have the pace to survive against the better teams.

Just think back to the soft goals we conceded against Spurs and Newcastle and if that doesn't convince you, have a look at Brentford's 4th today. Running from inside his own half, neither Keane nor Tarkowski managed to get within 10 yards of Thiago.

Completely right. Tend to sit deeper with the pair of them

 

[BackRow PE6]

Typical Everton. Done it for years, when there's a chance to go 5th, go 4th, whatever it may be when we have a chance to do something,we always seem to bottle it. And no matter how many times it happens, I still get my hopes up and still get so annoyed when we ultimately cock it up like today.

It’s a by-product of the players we have. All talented but all inconsistent so we get these ups and downs. We lack a proper leader on the pitch who will drive us forward and set the tone, week in week out. I’d make that a priority in the summer window (alongside RB)

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Big opportunity missed there. The squad is too thin and frankly a bit poop. Should be sat in 6th right now. All other games going our way