Everton v Liverpool. 7th Feb at 17.30.

[mawders]

Postives
----------
Robles isn't half bad
McCarthy looked good and strong
Lennon is fast
Besic is Besic
Good defending

Negatives
-----------
We could have played for 7 hours and not scored.
Enough of Barry now. He's awful these days.
One shot on target? Ok mate.
Oviedo is not Baines/Garbutt.
What's the point in Everton at the minute.

I thought in the last 30 minutes we were the most likely.

We're clearly getting better defensively and that's no bad thing. It's a bit Moyesish for my liking but sometimes that's what is needed when you keep getting beat. I've thought, oddly, that this bad second season might actually be more beneficial in the long run. Cracks get papered over when you keep winning.

 

[Tubey]

I was referring to lukaku's attidutde and work rate, not barkleys ability

Ah. Still doesn't make sense to be honest, Lukaku worked his arse off - he just doesn't have a first touch is all.

 

[meagher94]

Why was it? Play players in their actual positions and I think we could have done them. Rom in the centre, Lennon instead of Naismith, possibly even Barkley instead of Barry who was (again) a leaden-footed liability.

A lot of people on here were wanting us to play 3 in the middle with Besic, McCarthy, Barry and that's exactly what happened. I agree with you Naismith shouldn't have started.

At the end of the day we set up to contain them and break on the counter, but our front three didn't really play well at all and so our counters weren't very effective. I don't think Martinez was planning on Rom to be caught offside about 15 times either. I'm not disappointed in his work rate like some, he worked his arse off, but ffs it was like Jelavic with the offsides.

The point is, that result/performance is in no way a step back to the Moyes era. We're in a very delicate moment in terms of confidence. If we see the same performance next season I'll agree.

 

[BlueLlama]

Plus points:

-Stones
-Besic
-McCarthy back

MInus points

-Dearth of creativity
-Appalling passing in the final third
-Hoiking Besic again when McCarthy hadnt played 90 mins and Barry had been largely poo
- Back to just 1 winger at a time

 

[Kieno]

the way we've fallen this season, in terms of ambition, quality, belief etc.

This!!! ^^

Starting with a setup like that....and then bringing on a 3rd centre half...at home....against the team in 7th.....with the score at 0-0.

Moyes used o do some negative 5hit....but usually (not always) coz our hands were forced and/or because we were playing against a vastly superior team and at least he didnt fill the squad with gash (allowing for the occasional poor signing). Martinez is destroying us!!

 

[Tubey]

You've just described Gary Lineker.

Yeah, it's now 2015 though.

 

[canuckblue]

Hey, we won the season series on away goals. Wouldn't mind a repeat if we meet in the Europa.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Redknapp calling Lukaku a 'big friendly giant'

 

[Fansince1988]

I've read comments about us today,but this is a game I dread and usually if we go for it we get spanked,so how would we all be feeling if we lost 3-0 today.We would be back to square one with a visit to Chelsea to come,if we nullify them the same way,me for one will be happy.Its the WBA,Hulls,Leicester etc no disrespect we should be beating,that's been the biggest disappointment for me this season.

 

[Shagster]

We have to be pleased not to lose within the context of this season so far.

If you play 4-3-3- with mac/Barry/Mo in the middle you're more often than not, gonna secure a shut out - but don't expect any excitement in the final third.
Its that link between the front 3 and those 3 above that is key - Naisy for all his effort and tactical intelligence just does not possess the touch to play between the lines.

 

[dannyboy]

He had a good start to the season but Naismith needs dropping .... He is going backwards ...

What did you really want him to do? It's the reason why Barkley looks awful. Our midfielders have no intention of going past the half way line. It's a horrible position to play.

 

[Zatara]

Hes like besic and mccarthy for energy...but thats about it.

I saw 4 passes in a row to red shirts just before he came off.

He had a good start to the season but Naismith needs dropping .... He is going backwards ...

 

[royvernon39]

On the plus side a point is a point. No need for Bill to buy a keeper. And Stones is the biz.

But RM really needs to look at the structure of the team. Besic simply is not an attacking midfielder and neither are Barry and McCarthy. And Naismith is a stop gap.

And Rom really needs a bloke he can work off. Today he never stopped running.

 

[Tramps_mate]

Bitter Rodgers next? Bet he says they were all over us!

 

[Zatara]

A good start would be him not losing the ball.

What did you really want him to do? It's the reason why Barkley looks awful. Our midfielders have no intention of going past the half way line. It's a horrible position to play.