Match Thread Everton Vs Man Utd - FA Cup Semi Final - Wembley - Sat 23rd April - KO 17:15

[Stutheblue]

I felt this, got out as quick as I could and tonnes of United fans outside already... we would have had to have been kicked out!!! I did want to ask them why they didn't stay behind and cheer on their team.

Loads on my tube train back to Harrow. Ridiculous really as I was straight out and in block 504 by Wembley way so I was on one first of the few trains out. As you say, if we'd won it (especially like that) we'd still be there now!

 

[Caolam]

The best that can be said about yesterday's match was that in the second half we didn't look like a Martinez' side.

 

[Stutheblue]

I have been watching us for over 30 years now and believe I have a good understanding of the game. However it wasn't until the last three or four years I've realised the importance of a good manager. Look at United SAF went and DM lost the dressing room. Brenda with the RS was por, even Villa with the French no mark. Then you look at Leicester and what a good manager can coach and how a team can perform, also currently the barcodes. This is why Martinez has to be replaced PDQ as a quick swift statement of intent by Moshiri otherwise we too could capitulate a la Villa.

Never felt as wounded at the end of a footballing week as I do right now.

Same here mate. Never used to fully understand how one manager gets more out of players than another one does. Nicer bloke, better motivator blah blah blah. But,like you, when Moyes 'failed'after Ferguson I took an interest. I look at Klopp now and think there's definitley something in it. Even Hiddink (to an extent) after players got Mourinho sacked. I agree, its got to change now because I think the right man can get something more out of most of these players. Question is, who will it be?

 

[Darrenc34]

The best that can be said about yesterday's match was that in the second half we didn't look like a Martinez' side.

We looked like a new team, especially when Deulofeu came in, he was fantastic.

 

[rochdaleblue]

I hate to say this but over the last fortnight or a month I have developed a grudging, unprecedented and totally bizarre respect for the RS.

Taking United out in Europe...the Dortmund extravaganza.....the way they smelled blood and ripped into us relentlessly at The Pit....the fact they are announcing pre-season dpfriendky against Barcelona while we are playing Dynamo Dresden (according to some on here).

I wish EFC would generate the same levels of excitement for the fans.

I just don't know how they (the RS) do it time after time. There is no doubt in my mind if they had equalised yesterday against Utd, they would have gone on to win the game. Nothing to do with support, our supporters had given everything in the second half to get the team over the line, but once again we lacked the belief, killer instinct to get the job done. That is why it is imperative we appoint a proven winner in our next manager to try and instill this mentality into the players.

 

[RomanReigns]

We looked like a new team, especially when Deulofeu came in, he was fantastic.

ive heard rumours that he has fitness concerns hence why he only comes on for 30 mins or plays for an hour and gets taken off but i think thats rubbish.

he regularly gets called up for spain under 21's and plays full 90 minute games and plays them twice a week.

with the likes of lennon, mirallas and deulofeu we should be ripping teams apart with pace and skill

 

[Stutheblue]

I just don't know how they (the RS) do it time after time. There is no doubt in my mind if they had equalised yesterday against Utd, they would have gone on to win the game. Nothing to do with support, our supporters had given everything in the second half to get the team over the line, but once again we lacked the belief, killer instinct to get the job done. That is why it is imperative we appoint a proven winner in our next manager to try and instill this mentality into the players.

Precisely this

 

[Groucho]

I hate to say this but over the last fortnight or a month I have developed a grudging, unprecedented and totally bizarre respect for the RS.

I'm not sure I'd go that far.

I does make me wonder if the methods currently used to run Everton are the best though.

If the club was run the way EITC is run we'd be a slick operation.

 

[Groucho]

with the likes of lennon, mirallas and deulofeu we should be ripping teams apart with pace and skill

Yeah I've been saying this for ages now.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

The best that can be said about yesterday's match was that in the second half we didn't look like a Martinez' side.

Nailed it...Second half we played with pace, purpose and direct aggression. That's something we haven't done in a long time. The frustrating thing for me and I guess for most supporters is that we know that they are capable of doing that week in week out however we have to play the Martinez game of slow, slow and stand off the opposition.

It's driving me insane!

 

[Jeff Jones]

We couldn't have asked for more in the second half in terms of effort and some good football, but I wasn't feeling confident about the prospect of extra time. I suppose with the see-saw season we've had you just expect the worse. We'll never know what would've happened.

I hadn't thought of Peregrine as a replacement but I quite like the idea. I just hope RM doesn't get any credit for the second half
improvement. I'd like to think the team might have made a conscious decision to do things their way.

 

[Garymc2412]

Just got back from London.
Was anyone in the Preston pub when they let the smoke bomb off they closed the bar at half two and the day never got any better

 

[ShandyVanDerMeyde]

Standing in a queue for 45 minutes outside gate A because of a broken turnstile and [Poor language removed] organisation wasn't the best start to the match, so we ended up getting in 10-15 minutes late. They had one queue snaking round on itself and everyone walking past it and joining the back of everyone else trying to get into the gate, then they just seemed to give up and it was a free for all.

 

[froggyted]

I have to say that i was proud of every Blue on the pitch yesterday, for the second half performance at least. John Stones went right up in my estimation - perhaps he is willing to learn after all. I won't blame Lukaku for the misses, sometimes that happens, he has been a breath of fresh air for our Club. Every Blue on the pitch played for the shirt yesterday, so there is some hope for the future. But too little too late. We were beaten, to be honest, by the better team on the day, and i can't have any grumbles because all you can give is 100%, and in that second half at least that's what the lads did. I respect any team that does that, regardless of the end result. With a full strength team we might have beaten them, but unfortunately we met the Mancs when they were on a roll, with a great attacking lineup compared with our lone striker. Selling Naismith has come back to haunt Roberto, and i'm assuming that Kone was unfit rather than this being another managerial gaff?

Looking forward, i guess it's the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. I would have liked Bobby's time with us to have ended with a trophy, because i like what he tried to do for our Club; but in the end, due to a failure to learn from mistakes in his defensive strategy - going right back to his Wigan days - i don't believe he has earned the opportunity to have another crack at it come August.

 

[f.t.r.s]

first half shocking, caused by roberto's tactics and set-up.
Second half the lads came out with a point to prove despite martinez, not because of him.

Yesterday was more proof that rom is not the player he thinks he is, a player as good as he thinks he is would have had us out of sight with the chances he failed to take. I love the lad and think he has got the tools to be the very best but right now he's nowhere near.