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

[Peter The Dog]

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.

Spot on, mate.

 

[froggyted]

Jags handballing away a clear united goal in such a way that not even fellaini realised he did it let alone the ref was my favourite moment of the game, bar none.

Jags rules, a real 100%er, but yes, for this and other reasons United deserved their win, which makes defeat a little easier to take.

 

[Darrenc34]

Great atmosphere by the fans and the second half was epic, thought will would pull it off in the end, but a last minute goal killed it off. If only, oh well onto next season!

 

[froggyted]

Martinez didn't even have the decency to give Ossie a run out at Wembley for what was surely his last chance to play there. To say I'm more than dissapointed by that is an understatement.


:/

That's a bit unfair. Ossie would have been a poor choice to start, and when it looked like going to extra time it's quite possible that he might have been given a bit of time if not for that winning goal. You could easily say the same thing about Hibbert.

 

[Zezti]

I hate the days following a cup defeat. Everytime I go on facebook I see posts from Sky Sports, BT sport, FA Cup, BBC Sports, MotD, etc with something about our loss.
As if being punched in the gut by that Martial goal wasn't enough, it's like death by a thousand papercuts...

Obviously the answer is not to go on facebook, but I have to keep refreshing to see if there's an update that a certain someone has got the sack.

 

[froggyted]

This match just reinforced to me once again that Mr Martinez and all his Wigan players are not good enough for Everton and will not be taking us forward as a football club. Add Cleverley to that list. Add Lennon to that list who was abysmal.

We had them on the ropes after we scored. Then slowly just backed off. Perfect time to bring on Mirallas and go for the kill when they were down.

I posted this during the week re team selection, and I believe I was 100% accurate in hindsight.

https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/...3rd-april-ko-17-15.87334/page-38#post-4411791

I wanted Deulofeu from the start but, as the game unfolded should have been on earlier for the pathetic Lennon.

Their defence was there for the taking. Yet for 45 minutes we played deep in our half, passing from side to side, passing backwards, as if instructed not to attack and just do a damage control after the derby massacre.

Mr Martinez. Clueless. That the players pulled out that magnificent 2nd half display from nowhere after months of watching that 1st half rubbish style is the ultimate indictment. It gives me some hope that they have not been scarred as footballers long term, and that a quality Manager has something to work with immediately with 3 or 4 quality additions.

Very harsh on McCarthy and Robles imo. Also on Cleverly. Lennon had a poor game, agreed, but you are being very unfair imo given previous performances.

 

[ToffeeDan]

Serious point..

Is the bloke running in across screen left to right on 5 seconds - in the trouble at Cannock a Manc? He's the one wearing Grey tops/Black jeans/sneakers who throws a few punches.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brutal-brawl-erupts-motorway-service-7816001

Cos if he is I know how to identify him.

A manc was heading for Wembley Park stadium after the game singing the Martial song - clearly spoiling for a fight with the crowd being easily 80-90% Blues at this point. Definitely was wearing the same Manc clobber and looked like him. Should be no trouble finding him on video.

 

[technojoe]

Did anyone else get overwhelmed with emotion when we equalised?? I'll tell you right now being in the ground it hit me like a ton of bricks after the week we've had. So gutted Rom wasn't firing on all cylinders!!

 

[DanEFC92]

Can't believe they didn't organise staggered service stations; fights were inevitable.

And then funnel both support down one way, closing all of the gates in the car park.

 

[Blues Harp]

Tend to agree with Kalekhan that the team took things into their own hands after 55 mins (why only 55 mins FFS ???) and went at utd. This just immediately lifted the fans, and for 20 mins or so there was only team who looked like winning us !! Blows up the argument some on here have used about our fans being a reason why we are doing badly - give us something to cheer and we'll shout louder than anyone as we did yesterday.
nothing to do with toxic bob's "tactics" was it though ??

 

[Toast]

@Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian

 

[froggyted]

But how do you develop that killer instinct? 2 of the games you mentioned (85 and 86 cup final) was arguably our strongest team ever. The RS no matter what team or era always pull a rabbit out of the hat when they need one. Maybe a manager with a win at all costs mentality is needed.

Maybe you have a point. Maybe it's time to abandon the 'school of science' mentality. But i'm not sure i'd be as proud of following the Club in such an instance. RS seem to have a pact with the Devil and get the breaks, often out of nowhere, often out of highly questionable refereeing decisions that sometimes smack of foul play off the pitch. But for all their trophies i'm still proud to be a Blue.

 

[Toast]

Did anyone else get overwhelmed with emotion when we equalised?? I'll tell you right now being in the ground it hit me like a ton of bricks after the week we've had. So gutted Rom wasn't firing on all cylinders!!

When we scored one.. I was convinced we would go on and win..
We all were.

I've a boss vid of "we shall not be moved" just after the goal and it's absolutely belted out.

 

[froggyted]

It's called finding another Nugget from the Infinite Mine of Hurt - a mine that is owned and run by RS

I love this. Yes, that mine is surely situated somewhere deep in Mordor.

 

[Toffeelover]

If that Pen had gone we would now be on our way to a second Wembley visit!