Everton v Sunderland. Boxing Day @ 15.00.

[stevo27]

could you imagine rodgers dropping suarez for lucas or something and then lucas scoring an own goal.

what was martinez thinking

FFS its not even the same, Suarez is a top drawer striker who's been playing for years whereas Barkley is a 20 year kid having his first long term run in the side

 

[Abraders]

Howard wasn't to blame for that. A slow start and then Osman's cock-up has done us in. We need to come out strong against Sotton on Sunday. Baines should start if fit and push Oviedo up, with Barkley playing deeper and Pienaar in the hole (or vice-versa). Gonna be a tough few games but if we can get the six points we're still right in the mix.

Either Newcastle or Arsenal will both drop points whatever, same with Chelsea and the ****e. Title talk was always pushing it, but we could still be up there after xmas and we've got as much chance of top 4 as anybody else.

We played well 2nd half but big players like Pienaar, Mirallas and Barry have let us down today.

Mirallas went off ill at half time nothing was his fault. Barry got a yellow but otherwise was solid. Pienaar was sloppy.

I blame osman and their keeper for having the game of his life

 

[Zorse]

I really hope city smash the rs, but that isn't going to happen is it?

 

[Sona]

OBSERVATIONS

1. Would never have lost that game with 11 men.

2. You cannot legislate for the red card/ penalty incident.

3. Osman was to blame for receiving the ball "blind"; should've been more aware and received it side on.

4. Howard barely touched Ki, if at all.

5. Referee was poor all round.

6. Unfortunate not to get a point (or even all three) based on the second half.

7. Mannone played the game of his life.

8. We were slightly overly-reliant on Barkley's long shots, albeit the majority of these being very good.

9. We showed great character and spirit in our second half performance.

10. We really went for it, but just couldn't break them down.

11. We'll miss Barry for Southampton (and Howard for the next 3).

 

[bluelife]

There would have been absolute scenes if Jela would have even made contact with any of those overheads.

 

[davek]

I just cant handle that defeat there, atm. I know we've done brilliantly all season and Martinez is the cat's pyjamas...I know all that. But **** me that was a massive kick in the bollocks on a day that should have been all about consolidating our place in the top five. Now we have United and Newcastle on our shirt tails and it was down to Martinez's faith in a player who isn't starting line up material...never in a million years...and especially when you have the best player in the country there to keep the feller out of the line up.

Copy book blotted Senor.

 

[Jimmy Flangemoth]

Freak result, but it happens.

Pienaar, Lukaku and Mirallas are really letting us down though. Before the sending off we had so much of the ball but so few chances. The blame has to lie with them.

Strange game from him today.

 

[RED]

Howard will only miss 1, not 3

 

[Norwegian Cow]

I don't understand the point of resting one player in Barkley who is our most direct player on the pitch. Hope Everton smash Soton out of today's result.

we dominated them with 10 men, and we would probably have dominated and won even if barkley didnt win today. It was just very very bad luck with everything today. We even had to play with 9 for some minutes cause mirallas had to poop.... that says it all really.

 

[billycopper]

Three points lost
Unbeaten home record for the year lost
Howard and Barry banned
Osman gets his place next game as a starter


....you couldn't make that up. A **** sandwich of a day. Entirely self-inflicted.

We've been coasting for a little while. Today will hopefully stir us up and we'll kick on again.

It would have been nice to have the unbeaten home record but it doesn't count for anything. Chelsea will eventually lose at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho and people will soon forget about it.

It's nice to know that Joel can come in and he isn't overwhelmed. Barry has been a virtual ever-present this year and it might be no bad thing that he gets a game off over christmas with so many matches coming up so quickly.

Ossie has won us points in other games. He's going to have to play deeper against Southampton at least to cover for Barry, so Barkley is guaranteed to start further up the pitch.

The game swung on fine margins. Lukaku seems to be going through a dry spell though and I think he needs to be well-managed. Maybe we start with Jelavic for a couple of matches and bring him on as an impact sub?

 

[roydo]

Just one of those days. One slip cost us. Their goalie played brilliant. Nothing went in. But the 2nd half display was actually pretty decent.

 

[kenada_blue]

Don't begrudge Sunderland the win, they're bottom and scrapping for their lives. The rules are sh*te with the red card for the keeper ruining a game of football but that's how it is.

Really pleased to see Everton not wilt with ten men and really take the game to them, you wouldn't have thought they had the man advantage for long periods of that second half. Did you see the subs too? An extra striker on to chase it. Keeper up for the last corner of the game.

I can forgive a lot of things as long as Everton really go after teams and that's what were doing at the moment. Results may not go our way this week but were gonna be sound.

Turn and face blues.

Abar right.

The only problem is that is was our own doing. None of this "Sunderland desereved the win". The didn't, they were **** and got lucky because an Everton player wanted to end his career early.

 

[Blue Cheese]

Some of you are basically suggesting Barkley(20) is carrying us at the moment, With so many games in a short period of time, he(RM) probably thought resting him at home against a struggling side was a safe rotational option.

He couldn't account for Osmans stupidity.

 

[nigelcoyb]

Dont care what anyone says that was a cracking performance showing that can deal with tough situations. Strong character and some of the lads really playing for the shirt out there. On another day we would have equalised and then who knows.

MOTM Oviedo. Worse performer: Half of the fans on here

This.

 

[sageyefc]

Im starting to despise osman like i did neville in his final 18 monthes, just dreadful.

Oviedo was boss again, and i liked the look of joel in possesion.

Would just like to see macca drive forward a bit more, hes a little to safe at times and we've seen he can charge forward.
Lukaku looked better drifting wider, got on the ball more and went at them