Match Thread Everton v Manchester United : Sun 4 Dec : KO 1600

[Blue Cheese]

Gana, what a player this lad is, proper DM, which is why we don't need 2 of them.

 

[onlyme]

The analysis of Everton was right, no optionsgoing forward and couldn't string 2 passes together. It was quite worrying seeing it from a far on how far apart they were.

We lack movement and someone like pienaar

This has been my biggest complaint of the season. Barkley has been criticised by many for dwelling on the ball but if you view the larger picture it's mainly due to how static we are when in possession, at times we resemble a bar football table.

 

[BlueToff]

What I said a long time ago (might've not even been here? Not sure) - Bolasie's crosses all go to two areas - near or far post, penalty box. It's his default, and when teams are decent - it doesn't work.

He put in three crosses yesterday.

His first was at the end of that 40 yard run he did, and was into a great area - the edge of the six-yard box. Jones made a very good clearance.

His second was that low one that Mirallas was a yard away from at the back post.

His third was completely over-hit.

What Bolasie does is put in percentage crosses, aiming for the areas where players should be arriving to score from. Football is very simple.

One at the near post, one at the back post, and a combination of the opposite winger and/or central midfielder arriving late to pick up any scraps.

When Bolasie puts in a crap cross, then he hasn't done his job correctly.

But some of the crosses he puts in are superb.

Now, when Deulofeu is in the same position (and he got into some great places down the right yesterday) he seems to take an age to be trying to pick out the 'perfect' pinpoint cross. Why?

He's an excellent crosser of the ball - much more naturally gifted than Bolasie. The action he can get on it is top notch, but he wastes so much time fannying around that all of these chances came to nothing.

No winger hits their mark with a cross every time. Good ones deliver the ball quickly and with pace, and rely on strikers and other attackers to be making runs into the area. It's why we look so much more threatening when Valencia is on - he knows how to get into the box and find space, and that in turn opens up room for others.

Conversely, while we're on the subject, I think the best cross yesterday was from Holgate.

First time, from the edge of the area, and into a great position. Unfortunately it was just slightly over Valencia and he couldn't make proper contact - De Gea made a simple save.

 

[BlueToff]

Looking at that distant view on MOTD Joe, the lot of them were. Barry is not there to be moving around but I'd want people coming short for the pass, instead they stood still 30 yArds away. Options non-existent

Cleverly is just useless and should never have the honour of wearing our shirt again

Oh it's been an issue for ages.

Hence we have to bypass the midfield.

No movement, at all, from anybody apart from Gueye.

Barks is one of the worst for it as well. He should be the player picking up those little pockets, but never does.

One player who finally did yesterday (well, in the second half) was Kev.

I'm not his biggest fan but I've said before on here he's so much better centrally, and he showed in the second half what Barkley (who is a natural for the central role) should be doing - getting back and picking up the ball on the turn, and then driving us forward.

The counter where Bolasie ended up crossing out of play came from that, and was actually a really good move.

We do lack that Pienaar type though, and have done for the past 3 years.

They aren't easy to find, but that's why that playmaker is so important. Somebody who will take up on the left (or right) but drift inside and link the play. You need a player like that in a 4-2-3-1, or it simply doesn't work.

 

[JLW]

Gana, what a player this lad is, proper DM, which is why we don't need 2 of them.

Hes a little belter in he, absolutely love his desire and commitment, out battled and outshined the worlds most expensive player.

 

[GerryandthePaceMerchants]

Is Ibrahimovic the snidest player in the league?

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

Is Ibrahimovic the snidest player in the league?

Should be banned retrospectivally for that studs-down stamp on Coleman's head. Could have blinded him, and that's not even going OTT. Obviously nothing whatsoever will happen.

Rojo, again, also should have seen red.

Abysmal performance by the officials.

 

[d34noj]

What Bolasie does is put in percentage crosses

Or what I like to call 'hit & hope'.

Now, when Deulofeu is in the same position (and he got into some great places down the right yesterday) he seems to take an age to be trying to pick out the 'perfect' pinpoint cross. Why?

Because as opposed to lumping it into a general area, he picks his head up and looks for a man. Which is why he hardly crossed it yesterday as there was nobody there. Most of his play was short passes back into the middle or back to Holgate, he even took it all the way straight across the front of the 18 yard box himself and gave it to Baines looking for an attacking outlet.

Rather than lump it and lose possession he chose for us to keep it and to play football with it. That's called footballing intelligence, something Bolasie doesn't have.

 

[granter79]

Oh it's been an issue for ages.

Hence we have to bypass the midfield.

No movement, at all, from anybody apart from Gueye.

Barks is one of the worst for it as well. He should be the player picking up those little pockets, but never does.

One player who finally did yesterday (well, in the second half) was Kev.

I'm not his biggest fan but I've said before on here he's so much better centrally, and he showed in the second half what Barkley (who is a natural for the central role) should be doing - getting back and picking up the ball on the turn, and then driving us forward.

The counter where Bolasie ended up crossing out of play came from that, and was actually a really good move.

We do lack that Pienaar type though, and have done for the past 3 years.

They aren't easy to find, but that's why that playmaker is so important. Somebody who will take up on the left (or right) but drift inside and link the play. You need a player like that in a 4-2-3-1, or it simply doesn't work.

Ideal opp for Barkley yest to watch the game and see the spaces he should be picking up.

 

[d34noj]

Should be banned retrospectivally for that studs-down stamp on Coleman's head. Could have blinded him, and that's not even going OTT. Obviously nothing whatsoever will happen.

Rojo, again, also should have seen red.

Abysmal performance by the officials.

It was the back of his heel mate, but I see your point - should have gone, or at least retrospectively as you said.

Should have ended that game playing against 9 men in my opinion.

 

[BlueToff]

Or what I like to call 'hit & hope'.



Because as opposed to lumping it into a general area, he picks his head up and looks for a man. Which is why he hardly crossed it yesterday as there was nobody there. Most of his play was short passes back into the middle or back to Holgate, he even took it all the way straight across the front of the 18 yard box himself and gave it to Baines looking for an attacking outlet.

Rather than lump it and lose possession he chose for us to keep it and to play football with it. That's called footballing intelligence, something Bolasie doesn't have.

Bolasie puts in some great crosses. They are dangerous.

He's hit and miss. But i'd rather the ball go in there and put the defence under pressure than Del (or Bolasie) just dawdle on it and fall over.

But that wasn't really my main frustration with him.

My main issue is his mistakes seemed to constantly put us on the back foot.

 

[macdog]

Should be banned retrospectivally for that studs-down stamp on Coleman's head. Could have blinded him, and that's not even going OTT. Obviously nothing whatsoever will happen.

Rojo, again, also should have seen red.

Abysmal performance by the officials.

His post-match sneering turned my stomach. Scum.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

His post-match sneering turned my stomach. Scum.

Didn't see it, but yes he is possibly the most arrogance footballer in the league and one of the least likeable in football altogether. Great player mind you.

 

[d34noj]

Bolasie puts in some great crosses. They are dangerous.

He's hit and miss. But i'd rather the ball go in there and put the defence under pressure than Del (or Bolasie) just dawdle on it and fall over.

But that wasn't really my main frustration with him.

My main issue is his mistakes seemed to constantly put us on the back foot.

When he's on song mate he's 10 times the player Bolasie is, he needs a run of games to get him back up to speed. If he has a target in the area to hit, he more times than not hits it (Del that is), if nobody is running in or already there what's the point in crossing it?

That was my main gripe from pretty much the whole team yesterday, giving away possession for no reason. Bolasie is useless and Lukaku has never been a target man, so the long ball just didn't work.

 

[BlueToff]

When he's on song mate he's 10 times the player Bolasie is, he needs a run of games to get him back up to speed. If he has a target in the area to hit, he more times than not hits it (Del that is), if nobody is running in or already there what's the point in crossing it?

That was my main gripe from pretty much the whole team yesterday, giving away possession for no reason. Bolasie is useless and Lukaku has never been a target man, so the long ball just didn't work.

I agree on that - he has all the ability to be much better.

However, I don't think it is down to a lack of gametime. He's had plenty of it since the start of 2016 but he's been consistently underwhelming.

How you can say Del is brilliant yet then slate Bolasie as useless in the same breath confuses me though :/