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

[Joey66]

....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.

Begs the point Rooney looks atop playmaker!

 

[johnnydawg68]

Will anyone be able to catch Huddersfield is the question

 

[Merseyzig]

Stoke can have no complaints about that. They left it until added time to have their first and only shot at goal, they deserved nil.
Martina looks poor, but I thought most of our players could he satisfied with their performances today against the grockiest team they will face for a while.

 

[Huyton Layne]

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

Odds?

 

[carolinablue232]

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

That's obvious to everyone except RonKo at this point. He'll figure it out though.

 

[hktoffee]

Be laughing when Koeman says he's happy with that performance

When he said he is happy then moan about he is lying. When he said he is not happy then moan about he does not give credit to player aka Barkley.

We won. Just enjoy the 3 points.

 

[johnnydawg68]

That's obvious to everyone except RonKo at this point. He'll figure it out though.

I hope so

 

[MikeBlue]

We were much better in the 2nd half.

Rooney is still class but he needs others around him to offer pace. Not sure Giroud and Sigurdsson are the answer.

 

[Joey66]

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

Timmy probably coaching him on how to come off his linelol
He and Keen look great buys- need a better no 2 keeper when Joel leaves though!

 

[Old Blue 2]

Pickford - do we have the coming of a second Southall...

 

[banno]

Absolutely buzzing, that's an excellent win. We'll play better going forward, but defensively that was great.

Rooney MOTM, was sensational. Pickford though. Dispels the whole "yeah but what about his concentration if he has nothing to do all day" myth.

I agree. Rooney was dictating our play and you could see his class and vision in the second half. Keane was excellent also and Pickford just gave me confidence. Sandro and Klaassen didn't have bad games but looked a little slow in mind for this level and speed of the game. They have the 1st PL under there belts so now know whats needed and how fast the game is played. Martina is a different matter.....looks out of his depth. Tough game as usual against any Stoke team but a win is a win.

 

[yakublue]

Odds?

4/1

 

[Rook]

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.

it would help if he didn't have to learn every single position on the pitch.

 

[Joey66]

Stoke can have no complaints about that. They left it until added time to have their first and only shot at goal, they deserved nil.
Martina looks poor, but I thought most of our players could he satisfied with their performances today against the grockiest team they will face for a while.

Yes we replaced one clown with another one John Joe Kenny is far better than CuCu!

 

[Bungle]

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

We'll need evidence of this claim please mate