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

[ilikecheese]

How was 2nd half compared to 1st?

We were crap in the 1st half...but managed a brilliant goal.

Much better in the 2nd half but didn't score.

 

[blue4eva77]

Nothing wrong with what you said, they are your opinions and so you should have them.

It was a very solid display and until Stoke brought on Crouch, I can't think of a single time Pickford made a save. Yet he gets a 9 and the others get less than 6s?

Just don't agree mate.

Very solid display ? 'Kin ell mate.

That was as bad a first half since 1997 under Kendall.

Pickford got a 9 because he commanded his area. Made the right decisions to catch or punch. Was decent with his distribution. And the save was the difference between 2 dropped points at home. World class save.

But Christ almighty I just howled when you wrote it was a very solid display.

 

[Jamiednm]

It was mediocre particularly in the first half, but I don't remember us having any blistering performances against Stoke - they are spoilers, the wrecking crew of the Premier League. You can always expect them to notch an ugly goal, but we looked strong and composed defensively for the most part. That is a great platform to build on.

Sandro did a lot of running for Rooney today, which isn't a bad tactic. If he starts scoring, his threat combined with a playmaking Rooney, we could have an effective attack against the lesser teams in the league (though it won't be enough against the better teams - we need investment for that).

 

[ToffeeTim]

Very solid display ? 'Kin ell mate.

That was as bad a first half since 1997 under Kendall.

Pickford got a 9 because he commanded his area. Made the right decisions to catch or punch. Was decent with his distribution. And the save was the difference between 2 dropped points at home. World class save.

But Christ almighty I just howled when you wrote it was a very solid display.

We've played much better and lost. We won on opening day for first time in ages. 3 points in the bag. Performance is irrelevant.

Now over to the board.

 

[Aar_the_Toffees]

How was 2nd half compared to 1st?

Defensively much more solid. Composed on the ball. Taking more risks. Just a level above. We should have scored more actually- DCL missed two one on ones I think. Klaassen too did something with a shot from in the box which I'm not quite sure he could wrap his head around. Oh, and Stoke somehow survived this one part of the game where we had a few successive corners, won every first header, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Oh, and Pickford made a world class save on what would've been a world class strike by Shari.

 

[Mikeonlythebestwilldo]

It was mediocre particularly in the first half, but I don't remember us having any blistering performances against Stoke - they are spoilers, the wrecking crew of the Premier League. You can always expect them to notch an ugly goal, but we looked strong and composed defensively for the most part. That is a great platform to build on.

Sandro did a lot of running for Rooney today, which isn't a bad tactic. If he starts scoring, his threat combined with a playmaking Rooney, we could have an effective attack against the lesser teams in the league (though it won't be enough against the better teams - we need investment for that).

spot on there lad

 

[mkrudden]

Very solid display ? 'Kin ell mate.

That was as bad a first half since 1997 under Kendall.

Pickford got a 9 because he commanded his area. Made the right decisions to catch or punch. Was decent with his distribution. And the save was the difference between 2 dropped points at home. World class save.

But Christ almighty I just howled when you wrote it was a very solid display.

Just what I think matey.
I didn't think we were under pressure and defended well.
I thought in an attacking sense we were really poor first half. No balance whatsoever with DCL has a wing back, two holding midfielders and Rooney trying to find space that wasn't there because Stoke was really compact.
And to say that was as bad as a first half as 1997 is just not correct. But again, good on you for having your opinion and sticking to it.

 

[cromofo]

vid of Picko save?

 

[Tin-Tin]

Thankfully we were not punished for that 1st half experiment, hopefully it will never be used again.

Rooney started off poorly, but seemed to relax a lot after the goal and was excellent.

DCL tried from that right, but looked so much better through the middle. I actually think he has something about him but just needs experience and games.

Pickford/Gana - superb!

All in all a good 3 points.

 

[Jamiednm]

Very solid display ? 'Kin ell mate.

That was as bad a first half since 1997 under Kendall.

Pickford got a 9 because he commanded his area. Made the right decisions to catch or punch. Was decent with his distribution. And the save was the difference between 2 dropped points at home. World class save.

But Christ almighty I just howled when you wrote it was a very solid display.

I think we looked very solid defensively for the vast majority of the game, despite being generally disjointed and lop-sided.

 

[banno]

I said very early in the thread to the whingers on Rooney's back
That I hope he gets the winner
He did well done Wayne great goal takes some pressure off you
Thank you Wayne please carry on as you are

To be honest he scored and put in a MOTM performance so that should keep some quiet for a week or 2 at least.

 

[Florin]

Need someone in that box

 

[johnnydawg68]

How was 2nd half compared to 1st?

Much better after we changed shape and brought on Davies and binned Klaassen

 

[blue4eva77]

We've played much better and lost. We won on opening day for first time in ages. 3 points in the bag. Performance is irrelevant.

Now over to the board.

It is relevant though. It showed how very predictable we are.

 

[flibbyflob]

Remember when Hughes went to Stoke and everyone said they played nice football now

Got to be said having a player like Shaqiri and playing like that is pointless. Thought they missed Walters too.