Match Thread Everton v Stoke City . Saturday 12/08/2017. 15.00

[Eggs]

....a bizarre team selection but an even more bizarre formation. Our best header of a ball on the right side of a back 3 against a side of Stoke's aerial ability. Real fear that they were getting in behind DCL. No focal point up front, more of the pedestrian sideways and backwards passing. Very fortunate to go in at half-time in the lead.

If there's one glimmer of hope it's that RK made the obvious changes at half-time, a focal point up front and a flat back four. When we needed more energy on comes Davies.

Then there's Rooney. Still love watching him play.

 

[Librarian]

into the toP 4

 

[B17BLG]

That's already 2 points Pickford has got us.

Couldn't agree more. Robles or Stek wouldn't have got near it

 

[Toast]

Getting sick of these 1-0 wins.

 

[hktoffee]

He's good at a lot of things. Running with a ball is not one of them. Has no clue what to do. Still though, he played well second half.

He needs to play in the middle not on the wing.

 

[aazak]

 

[Jamiednm]

Much better when Davies came on.

Klassen will come good, I think he and Morgan should compete to start alongside Davies.

Lookman should get the nod ahead of Mirallas.

Sandro worked his socks off with little end product, but like with Klassen, he should be given time to adapt.

Rooney was very good after his goal.

 

[PeregrineT]

the past 15 minutes he's been giving the back line fits

I know, hes been great getting himself open, bringing the ball down, and getting himself into dangerous places. Its just his last decisions that are holding him back. I still think he will get it, but as a young guy he just needs to learn when you have a 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 and you have a bad angle, pass the ball.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

Darren Griffiths on Cuco's foul throw:

"It was like he was trying to throw a shopping bag over a wall".

lol

 

[Joey66]

@Joey66 will probably still rather we played Joel.

No fair dos the keeper was brilliant for us today, as for a playmaker Rooney was really good in the 2nd half
Better balance in the 2nd half DCL had a very good game too

 

[yakublue]

had 50 quid on everton to win and rooney to score. v happy right now

 

[carolinablue232]

Three points. Pickford, Gana, Keane, Rooney. Don't have a clue what RonKo sees in Cuco.

Cuco has a decent cross on him. But that's it. Loses posession and can't defend. Reckon Holgate plays next week.

 

[riddick]

Needed win, need some massive improvements before next Monday..

 

[paulbefc]

3 points and a clean sheet. Can't complain.

Rooney and Gueye were both excellent. The former more so in the second half, the latter for the entire 90 and both for completely different reasons. I was a bit disappointed in Klaassen but perhaps we need to find a role that suits him in the side yet.

Well done to Jordan Pickford too. He had very little to do, but won us the game as much as Rooney did with that save.

Promising to see that we can still grind out wins under Koeman despite the starting XI not being nearly completed yet.

 

[PeregrineT]

His decision making will improve. Has been very good today up front.. Done everything we need as a CF other than finish. He IS one for thr future, no doubt

Thats what Im hoping. If he gets his decision making down he will be great. Its the one area of his game that will hold him back from kicking on if he doesnt master it.