Match Thread Everton vs Chelsea - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[ToffeeTim]

A competent ref doesn’t even give the free kick before the pen incident

Yes, and they give a yellow for the obvious dive as well.

But Craig Pawson is not competent.

 

[Joey66]

Franks happy with the performance - just one panic moment of madness gave them a pen ?
He used Frederick words to that effect - he admitted we need another striker .....

 

[banno]

My personal rating
Pickford 6
Godfrey N/a
Holgate7
Mina 7
Tarkowski 8
Patterson 7
Mykolenko 7
McNeil 5
Gray 4
Gordon 4
Iwobi 7
Dele 6
Vinegar 6

I might have been a bit generous with McNeil

 

[Tree13]

Iwobi not the problem today but I understand.

Having him stay at home with those defensive responsibilities is a waste of his best qualities. He wants to be getting forward and having some freedom to use his size and pace to go past people. Keeping a shape in a double pivot isn’t his best use.

This is 100% spot on.

Add to this that Doucoure isn't at his best in a double pivot either (cue all the usual suspects screaming for Doucoure to be shot at dawn), the fact that they are currently our two best midfielders and it starts looking as if we should consider a formation that doesn't rely on a 2-CM midfield.

We have Gana and Onana due to arrive shortly, and we've just seen two centre backs go down hurt. Hopefully these factors all combined will persuade Frank to set up in a 433 in future. Personally I'd hope to see the following start against Villa next weekend:

Pickford
Patterson - Holgate - Tarkowski - Mykolenko
Iwobi - Onana - Gana
McNeil - New Face - Gordon
​

 

[banno]

Just wondering how the no striker approach worked out today..did we look like scoring?

We had half chances and with a competent forward we would have had a result. So the answer to your question is ......not really

 

[peteblue]

Ok, we are one point behind the RS, plenty of time to overtake them……

 

[banno]

We had a half decent performance and tried to counter Chelsea but I believe with Onana and Gana we would be better equipped
reply to @Blue_in_london

 

[Jebus_lives]

Franks happy with the performance - just one panic moment of madness gave them a pen ?
He used Frederick words to that effect - he admitted we need another striker .....

Pretty much sums it up. We played ok (much better than big parts of last season), didn't really deserve to lose. We badly need a striker though.

 

[Amw79]

Highlight of the day?

On the train from Central to Kirkdale, and looking out the window around Sandhills to see Bramley Moore rising up, and starting to dominate the skyline.

Game was pretty garbage.

 

[johnjoeefc]

My personal rating
Pickford 5
Godfrey N/a
Holgate7
Mina 7
Tarkowski 7
Patterson 7
Mykolenko 7
McNeil 5
Gray 5
Gordon 6
Iwobi 8
Dele 5
Vinegar 6

 

[Parker]

I honestly feel like it's pointless rocking up to any game against the top 6.

The Premier League have a product to sell and the bloke from Cameroon who's watching it on the tele does not want Everton to win.

The Super League can't happen soon enough.

 

[johnjoeefc]

We had something like 13 points from our first 5 games last season and ended in a relegation scrap. I'm not too worried losing to Chelsea first day and I believe if the right signings are made then we can have a pretty decent mid table season with an eye to the future.

 

[everton1953]

Better than I expected. We deserved a draw. I thought Chelsea for all their talent were poor and created little. Serious problems up front as expected. Gordon is truly awful and Gray not a lot better. Not Gordon's fault in a way as he is no target man and all the balls he got in the air from Pickford made him look even worse. Signings please - urgent.

 

[gonetomorrow]

It's early days. Looks like injuries are going to be a big problem again though.

 

[Walham Green Blue]

We were absolutely crap but we’ll get better and so will Everton. That was a nailed on yawn bore draw without the penalty (and it was a pen imho)…