Match Thread Everton v West Brom. 13th Feb at 1500.

[Simon baker]

...I think the 34 shots might be a bit misleading as they don't reflect real chances. Their keeper was rarely troubled in the 2nd half. As for tactics we needed to get around the back of their defence and we needed to draw central defenders out. To enable that you go past full backs. Our most creative player and the best at going past players was sat on the bench. I appreciate how difficult it can be but I genuinely feel RM could have done more.

Also, I don't know Niasse's level of fitness but from what Lukaku says he's 'raw power'. It was always likely that the Baggies would park the bus so it wasn't rocket science to think it useful to have somebody unorthodox and direct to bring on for 15mins. He would've also given the atmosphere a real lift.

There are things RM could have done but didn't, that's the difference in having a top coach. By the way, I'm not advocating a new manager but I would like to see RM learning lessons.

18'of the 34 shots were from inside there box. The real problem as has been stated a number of times was the substitutions

 

[Toffee-nerd]

Frustrating game. I don't agree with Martinez taking Lennon off who I thought was our best player. Lot of fans around were I was sat have completely lost patience with Martinez. His subs were bizarre, 1-0 down at home and he took off our most threatening player for del (agree with Del coming on) but also brought on Kone to play out of position again. I don't get why we can't just have two of mirallas Del and Lennon on at the same time. 1-0 down at home with 30 minutes left is crying out for it.

Lennon was getting beyond their fullback every time he got the ball, if we'd had the same threat on the left we'd have made more chances to score. Simple.

 

[Eggs]

18'of the 34 shots were from inside there box. The real problem as has been stated a number of times was the substitutions

.....and when, why and who you bring on is all part of game tactics.

 

[ToffeeTim]

People are getting carried away with the 34 efforts stat from yesterday. Yes we had chances, yes there was bad luck but we just did not play anywhere near as well in the second half (a time they were likely to tire), than we did in the first. We only created one good clear opportunity second half and much of our impetus was lost by awful substitutions.

Looking objectively at our whole home form this season, I find it hard to just put it down as one of those days... again. We don't defend well enough, and when we should be absolutely pummelling sides late on for the equaliser, or winning goal, we seem to completely run out of steam. I thought we finished the game very poorly yesterday. Roberto's home form last two seasons has been damning.

 

[BlueToff]

...I think the 34 shots might be a bit misleading as they don't reflect real chances. Their keeper was rarely troubled in the 2nd half. As for tactics we needed to get around the back of their defence and we needed to draw central defenders out. To enable that you go past full backs. Our most creative player and the best at going past players was sat on the bench. I appreciate how difficult it can be but I genuinely feel RM could have done more.

Also, I don't know Niasse's level of fitness but from what Lukaku says he's 'raw power'. It was always likely that the Baggies would park the bus so it wasn't rocket science to think it useful to have somebody unorthodox and direct to bring on for 15mins. He would've also given the atmosphere a real lift.

There are things RM could have done but didn't, that's the difference in having a top coach. By the way, I'm not advocating a new manager but I would like to see RM learning lessons.

I think RM may have done more in the second half but when you look at the highlights etc there was literally no space at all for us to operate in, yet we still did create chances. If we'd have created nothing at all then i'd agree with you.

Agree on Niasse, would have liked to have seen him in the squad and hopefully to come on as a bit on an unknown quantity and, like you said, a real lift.

I would like to see him learn lessons as well, but there won't be many teams that do what WBA did yesterday and pull it off. Had that Barkley or Cleverley strike gone in, for example, we'd have gone on to win at a canter.

 

[SPOTTER]

Story of much of our season.opposition get a lucky goal and the ball just wont go in for us.could easily have been 3up half time.2nd half we weren't as good cos our final ball and shooting was poor but christ how did we end up with no points?incredible.substitutions were strange and lukaku was awful didn't help.

 

[deipnosophist]

You've had enough for some time now haven't you mate?

yes mate...I know Martinez is out of his depth. The straw that broke my camel's back was the Leicester game...post that, I put fifth columnists like that d-avek person ( and his ilk) on ignore.

 

[deipnosophist]

We're about twenty goals ahead of them in goal difference mate.

...yes, we're much better than them... (from a neutral's point of view)

 

[kithnou]

yes mate...I know Martinez is out of his depth. The straw that broke my camel's back was the Leicester game...post that, I put fifth columnists like that d-avek person ( and his ilk) on ignore.

I've been struggling and agonising all season mate. My post from the Martinez thread...

Good post mate.

You know, I have been thinking about it as to why I am still in the "keep Roberto camp" and I have a confession to make.

I honestly believe that the only reason right now is that I am scared if we sack him tomorrow, Lukaku, Deulofeu and Barkley will leave too. Stones I think is gone in the Summer anyways.

I really have come to this conclusion and I hate to feel this way. Torn.

Constructive opinions please?

 

[The Mighty Quint]

West Brom's heat map on MOTD last night, I've never seen anything like it, it was basically a load of blocks that formed a pyramid in their own 18 yard box, it was the benchmark of parking the bus.

 

[Simon baker]

.....and when, why and who you bring on is all part of game tactics.

I completely agree the starting tactics were fine however the in game management made us worse & not for the first time this season. I applauded Barkley for getting tackled near the end as to break them down we either needed to move the ball like lighting or commit & beat men & he was the one of the only ones trying this. We must play 11 v 10'in training & say break them down. Far too many crosses from non dangerous areas

 

[deipnosophist]

I've been struggling and agonising all season mate. My post from the Martinez thread...

I understand your cognitive dissonance. We ALL wanted to believe. But enough is enough. Roberto Martinez is a sham.

 

[anton66]

West Brom's heat map on MOTD last night, I've never seen anything like it, it was basically a load of blocks that formed a pyramid in their own 18 yard box, it was the benchmark of parking the bus.

Wheres the goal?

 

[bignev23]

The thing that puzzled me most about yesterdays game was that they have Foster in goal and we had 30 odd shots on goal and never scored one, not one goal, I mean that is some kind of a miracle there right, he's about as useless as a 2nd hand. chocolate fire guard FFS.

Pullis well and truly popcorned Martinez when he said Everton have ''a top 5 squad'' as well.

 

[BernieWright13]

West Brom's heat map on MOTD last night, I've never seen anything like it, it was basically a load of blocks that formed a pyramid in their own 18 yard box, it was the benchmark of parking the bus.

Yeah and absolutely no way soft lad or any other manager could have expected Pullis to adopt such tactics.