Everton vs Chelsea... Match Report and MotM Poll...

[nsno-chris]

Easy one yet again, cuco. Head and shoulders above the rest

 

[Barnfred 55]

I was about 10ft behind him, the lad is carrying some timber


And he’s just excellent

Nev was chubby.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Schneiderlein

 

[uknightbreed]

pickford and jags both kept us in the game , but gave motm to pickford out of the 2.
martina has had 3 good games in row , good for him.

ps could the fa please take a look at the ref for this match. he is either crap, corrupt, a Chelsea fan or just has something against everton.

 

[degsy]

Sam's School of Defending is in session.​

Everton 0-0 Chelsea​

The art of solid, stout and resolute defending was plain to see as the pragmatism of Sam Allardyce took centre stage. He probably figured that despite the upturn in Everton's fortunes, to go toe-to-toe with Chelsea would probably be a mistake.

Everton went out with a point and came in with a point and whilst it wasn't great Christmas entertainment, it sees the Blues remain unbeaten and defensive confidence continues to grow.

The last game before Christmas and a huge test for the resurgent Blues under Sam Allardyce, a visit of the reigning champions Chelsea. With four wins a draw under his belt, Big Sam was looking for his third successive victory over Chelsea and in aiming to achieve this, he selected a starting line-up with four changes: Pickford, Martina, Keane, Jagielka (c), Kenny, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Davies, Lennon, Sigurdsson and Calvert-Lewin.

Without the services of the suspended Morata and themselves on a good run of form with just ones loss in their last ten games, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was still able to field a strong eleven of: Courtois, Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Willian, Hazard and Pedro.

For this Christmas cracker, Bobby Madley was awarded the refereeing responsibility.

The first half was anything but a Christmas cracker as Chelsea dominated the possession with Everton defending stoutly and relying on rare breaks and long balls to try and gain an advantage.

A Keane header found Lennon wide right and his quick cross found Sigurdsson but his shot was blocked.

Everton survived a tenth minute hiatus when a cross from Hazard saw two attempts with Phil Jagielka clearing twice off the line from Bakayoko and Willian.

Chelsea were dominating the play and DCL was looking somewhat isolated up front, but working hard as ever. Martina was harshly booked for his first tackle on Moses, Willian putting the free kick well over the bar.

Yannick Bolasie came out to warm up on 30 minutes, raising arguable the loudest cheer of the half. A good ball from Schneiderlin set Davies free through the middle but he snatched at his shot and pulled it wide of the target.

A pass from Keane was picked off by Bakayoko to release Pedro down the left channel, but Pickford narrowed the angle and turned the powerful shot over for a corner.

Gana Gueye won a strong tackle in midfield to set DCL away on the right wing against Christensen with the forward bullying the defender into a mistake. DCL worked his way into the box to see a shot blocked with Sigurdsson on the left screaming for the pass.

Half Time: 0-0

Sam Allardyce made two changes for the second half with Ashley Williams replacing Tom Davies and switching to a back three, and Sandro Ramirez replacing Aaron Lennon.

Pickford was early into action with a save from Pedro as he picked up a Williams block on Alonso.

With just four minutes of the half played, Everton had to use their third substitute as Gana Gueye went down, Beni Baningime his replacement.

Michael Keane was booked for a foul on Hazard on 56 minutes but shortly after the England man made a superb tackle on the Belgian as he tried to get free on the right flank.

Fabregas replaced Pedro on 62 minutes and Pickford had to be alert to foil Hazard as the visitors looked to turn the screw. Batshuayi replaced Willian with twenty minutes to play.

Everton survived a scare as a cross from Moses saw the header from Williams hit the crossbar.

A Fabregas corner found Hazard who found Rudiger in the box, but Pickford was again in the right place.

Zapacosta replaced Moses in Conte's final throw of the dice, but Everton were in no mood to give anything away and the terrific defensive display with Jagielka outstanding saw the Blues home.

And they could have snatched it right at the death when a Sigurdsson corner found Keane only for his header to clear the bar.

Full Time: 0-0

Re. Your 2nd para. Entertainment

In the last 30mins The Crowd got loudly right behind the lads and cheered them to the echo and I'll wager not many went home with a frown on their grids.
Yes we only drew, but we drew with a good attitude
So for entertainment I'd take it for now

This sort of attitude needs keeping up for a year or more until it becomes 2nd nature. Then - like making Mayo, you slowly drizzle in your flair.

Everton; being 3 players away from being a top team for years...or so it seems

Merry Chtistmas to you and everybody

 

[BigBlueConk]

Re. Your 2nd para. Entertainment

In the last 30mins The Crowd got loudly right behind the lads and cheered them to the echo and I'll wager not many went home with a frown on their grids.
Yes we only drew, but we drew with a good attitude
So for entertainment I'd take it for now

This sort of attitude needs keeping up for a year or more until it becomes 2nd nature. Then - like making Mayo, you slowly drizzle in your flair.

Everton; being 3 players away from being a top team for years...or so it seems

Merry Chtistmas to you and everybody

Not sure 3 is enough.
A left footed centre half, a left back, a left footed attacking wide player for starters. (and a striker?)
Then is the rest good enough? I think DCL and the like could become quailty enough, but time will tell

 

[Igrok]

You dont need celebrate negativity as there are so many depressing threads/posts around already...

 

[toffeejack]

Courtois got Motm for me

 

[Stanley Parker]

From BBC Sport

• Chelsea had 25 shots in this match, their most in a Premier League game without scoring since January 2014 (39 vs West Ham).
• Meanwhile, Everton failed to have a single shot on target in a home Premier League game for the first time since 4 December 2011 v Stoke; 2,211 days ago.
• Possession; Everton (at home) 32% Chelsea 68%

Compare Liverpool 1 Everton 1

Possession Liverpool (at home) 79% Everton 21%
Shots; Liverpool 23 Everton 3

Predictions for possession against Manchester United; Higher or lower?

 

[Abraders]

Scouted the Chelsea forum, surprisingly they seem a sound bunch. Fuming with Pedro/Willian and themselves, knowing they can't knock us because they won things playing how we did.

 

[Sarnia Kevin]

From BBC Sport

• Chelsea had 25 shots in this match, their most in a Premier League game without scoring since January 2014 (39 vs West Ham).
• Meanwhile, Everton failed to have a single shot on target in a home Premier League game for the first time since 4 December 2011 v Stoke; 2,211 days ago.
• Possession; Everton (at home) 32% Chelsea 68%

Compare Liverpool 1 Everton 1

Possession Liverpool (at home) 79% Everton 21%
Shots; Liverpool 23 Everton 3

Predictions for possession against Manchester United; Higher or lower?

Meaningless stats. You get the points by scoring more goals than your opponent, not by holding on to the ball for longer, making more passes, shooting at goal but missing, or even hitting the woodwork (a LFC speciality ).

 

[Blackwell Livermore]

Evening toffee, the best player on the park was 35 years old.

Didn't know Pickford was that old.

 

[Stanley Parker]

Meaningless stats. You get the points by scoring more goals than your opponent, not by holding on to the ball for longer, making more passes, shooting at goal but missing, or even hitting the woodwork (a LFC speciality ).

And I thought you attempted to score by shooting at goal. Silly me.

Hope Lake Huron is calm this morning. Happy Christmas to Ontario.

 

[Blackwell Livermore]

..chuffed for my son. With me on Monday in the Park End and now in New York for a few days. Sent me a picture at 07.30am in Mr Denneheys Bar with a load of fellow Blues and a Guinness. Not sure where he gets that from but it’s great that we have so many supporters in the US supporting us.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all our fans on the other side of the pond.

If you meant his drinking habit, he got it from you.

 

[St James the Less]

Jags gave everything yesterday, he was out on his feet at the end. Had to give it to Pickford though!