Match Thread Everton v Man City. 23rd August at 16.00.

[Groucho]

Decent performance, no luck, difference between the two clubs is the chronic lack of investment at Everton. City playing in a different league.

From today (and the two earlier games), I feel we at least look different from last season in that we attack more. I was worried pre-season that we'd be pedestrian again, which we have not been in the first three games.

The sideways and backwards stuff is much less so while I'm disappointed we lost (I thought we could have them today) it's not all doom and gloom for me in that respect.

 

[Axlswhk]

City haven't even had to play that well here. We don't even put a tackle in. Walk in the park

this.

We didn't lose because we let in soft goals, we lost because we didn't press enough that resulted in opportunity for the soft goals.

 

[Barkley1878]

People saying city played us off the park were watching a different game to me. What I watched was a team with no width sitting back and inviting pressure.

I'm happy to lose a game providing we give it a good go but we didn't, 1-0 down and he puts Naismith on when we were crying out for width and pace to push them back, absolute schoolboy stuff from martinez again which all but confirms their is a clique at the club- Naismith simply has to play in his eyes and sadly so will cleverly.

 

[ijjysmith]

There should be no fumes after this. We got beaten by a considerably better team.

A few questions, yes. Weird subs, yes. Stupid defending a couple of times, yes.

Fumes. Nah.

Funes. Yes apparently.

 

[LocalNative]

Decent performance, no luck, difference between the two clubs is the chronic lack of investment at Everton. City playing in a different league.

Mirallas sitting on the bench all game, despite us chasing a goal? Del brought on with 5 mins to go? Poor decision making from the manager today helped contribute. Two players of that calibre sat on the bench, when Kone plays 60 mins and Naismith 30. Disgrace.

 

[matty1878]

I doubt you go the games.

Row u seat 167 park end kiss my ass you goon

 

[riddick]

Didnt really have a problem with Martinez' tactics in the beginning, they were playing like i thought they should. But to take off Kone and replace him with Naismith? I dont understand his fascination with playing central midfielders out wide when he has wide players who could..you know..play wide.

 

[Joey66]

....I think they'll know they've been in a game. Top side in top form, they deserve the win but have had to work for it.

City top side today played with width only one of our players Disappointed me MaCarthy he had a poor game imo!

 

[DualityNSNO]

We've gone from thinking Kone is crap to actually needing him in the side to look remotely decent.

Jesus wept.

 

[chrissyjack]

I'll leave this place for all the moaners who only post when Everton lose to whine away . I'm off for me tea.

" oh Saurez has just WON a pen for Barca

 

[Eggs]

Mirallas should've started. Failing that he should've at least been on with half an hour left to change the game. Instead he doesn't come on at all. Really laughable decision making from Martinez.

....I did think the Naismith substitution was a bit negative given we were down 1-0. Indeed, whilst Kone worked at Soton it left us very exposed against better players. Hindsight is a great thing, but Mirallas or Deulofeu out wide would've give us more balance. Bottom line is it's not a level playing field and we did ok against a better team.

 

[Khalekan]

From today (and the two earlier games), I feel we at least look different from last season in that we attack more. I was worried pre-season that we'd be pedestrian again, which we have not been in the first three games.

The sideways and backwards stuff is much less so while I'm disappointed we lost (I thought we could have them today) it's not all doom and gloom for me in that respect.

Corners look a lot more potent as well.

The Clev is a good little corner taker.

 

[BigDunc'sFod]

People saying city played us off the park were watching a different game to me. What I watched was a team with no width sitting back and inviting pressure.

I'm happy to lose a game providing we give it a good go but we didn't, 1-0 down and he puts Naismith on when we were crying out for width and pace to push them back, absolute schoolboy stuff from martinez again which all but confirms their is a clique at the club- Naismith simply has to play in his eyes and sadly so will cleverly.

Not a Cleverly fan but thought he did okay today tbh

 

[USABlue]

Just not good enough all over the park - Howard, Barry, Kone - not going to challenge the top teams with play like that. McCarthy very poor as well - can't pass, can't control, and switching off on defense, needs to up his game.

ah back on to the popular boo boys I see. barry played pretty well considering how strong City's midfield is

 

[mlyons]

I hope we cut Howard a break for that goal. He made three fantastic saves, claimed everything in the area for 89 minutes, and just gambled wrong when Kolarov scored. Yeah, you never like to see a keeper beaten at the near post, especially from a tight angle, but we'd be crucifying him if Kolarov had rolled the ball past him for an easy tap-in from Agüero.

City's a really good team and just played us off the pitch today. No one had a great game in dark blue (except maybe Seamus Coleman), but we sure as hell looked better than Chelsea did last week. Just like beating Southampton didn't make us favorites for the title, losing to City doesn't mean we're now relegation fodder.