Everton v Stoke. 30th Mar @ 17.30.

[KUEFC09U2]

Jesus I am suicidal reading this thread you wouldn't think we actually won!!, people where moaning we couldn't win ugly, we win ugly people are moaning we didnt play constant free flowing attacking football!! Even though everyone knows what stoke are like

 

[Petit]

Spurs have the squad to get those extra points...and they've been bogged down playing Thursday/Sunday for the entire season almost.

We're running on fumes here though. This is as good as it gets under the usual core of 16 or so players Moyes will trust to bring into the first team. Realistically, we need to be spending £15M-£20M net this summer to bridge the gap to the real scrap for the last CL place.

I don´t disagree that investing 20 mil extra into our squad would probably be to our benefit, no.

However, we don´t have that money.

 

[The Hibbert Agenda]

I'm very happy with the result.
I am happy with the performance because it led to the result.
No complaints.
Onwards and upwards.

 

[FTY]

Fair play to Moyes for experimenting, same vs Spurs? I'm not sure, we only just beat Stoke.

 

[Dell Boy]

Chico - you superstar. Like ham on toast. You rock. As internet folk go. You're top notch.

 

[chicoazul]

Chico - you superstar. Like ham on toast. You rock. As internet folk go. You're top notch.

Thanks Dell lid but honestly, I'm really not all that. As average as average gets unfortunately.

 

[Bluenose1995]

Thanks Dell lid but honestly, I'm really not all that. As average as average gets unfortunately.

my hero

 

[andy4efc]

Still can't believe Moyes played a 3-4-3

And we won

It's becuase we played 5-3-2, 3 CB's to counter attack the long ball. Cant see us starting like that at Spurs.

 

[Brownie]

Possibly the least fun game to watch we've won this season. Stoke tho, what are they doing.

 

[Allezfan]

It's becuase we played 5-3-2, 3 CB's to counter attack the long ball. Cant see us starting like that at Spurs.

More like 5-2-3 wasn't it. Mirallas was right up top most of the time.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Bale is going to be given a free role behind likely Defoe (I'd say - Adebayor was awful today), which means masses and masses of pace up front for them, and that's not even taking Lennon into account.

Fellaini will be a massive miss here, but I think we need to go to a defensive 4-5-1 and hope to keep it tight for an hour. If it doesn't work and we fall behind, go more attacking.

I'd start with this:

Howard
Coleman - Jagielka - Distin - Baines
Gibson
Victor - Osman - Naismith - Mirallas
Jelavic
​

If we go down I'd put Victor alongside Jelavic and shift Naismith further up the field, to a more 4-1-3-2 formation (or even a 4-1-2-1-2 with Naismith behind the strikers), it's basically all or nothing for the season if we go a goal down v Spurs. If they beat us we're completely done in the race for 4th, so it's throw everything at them if they go one up.

Howard
Coleman - Jagielka - Distin - Baines
Gibson
Osman - Naismith - Mirallas
Victor - Jelavic
​

OR even bring on Heitinga for Naismith and in desperate measures go 5-3-2 (or a 3-5-2 whichever way you look at it) with Coleman and Baines pushing on:

Howard
Jagielka Heitinga Distin
Coleman--------------------Baines
Osman Gibson Mirallas
Victor Jelavic
​

The choice of Naismith is a controversial one, but for me it's between him, Neville and Heitinga to get the nod, and out of the three, in his preferred position, I think he's the least ****. Heitinga can't go in midfield, we don't need 3 centre backs from the start, and Neville is finished.

I do expect Neville to play, like.

 

[electricblue]

3-5-2 when we had the ball. 5-3-2 when we hadn't. It's fairly simple really.

And giving Mirallas the free role was audacious but it worked.

 

[davmaher]

Up until a few weeks ago Spurs had conceded more last 5 minute goals than anyone else. Including in our game against them at Goodison. The result today was a good one - up to today we had beaten Stoke once in seven games and scored four goals. Spurs play again on Thursday while we have a full week off. It's a tough ask for us, but we definitely have a shot of 3rd/4th/5th. COYB!!!!

I´m sure Moyes wouldn´t mind a sizeable squad, if there was money to buy one.

Most teams in this league limp over line in most matches they win. Spurs have won loads of matches this season by a one goal margin hanging on for bitter life before the end. Difference between them and us is they´ve managed to avoid shipping goals in stoppage time.

 

[DanEFC92]

Woeful game, goal aside. Barkley made a decent cameo though! Ref was sh*te.

 

[Bluenose1995]

what did people make of Moyes's comments end of the match?

sounds to me like he wants assurances of money to spend before signing and Im terrified that Ken****es gonna try call his bluff and he'll leave.