Everton vs Middlesbrough

[Dom1878]

Obviously well pleased at the win, but really concerned about our play at times.

Neville really doesn't appear to realise that there is another team on the pitch waiting to take the ball off him - does he actually think he has time to stop with the ball in the middle of the park and no one will attempt to tackle him? - so many times he gets caught in possession. He also keeps making blind passes, straight to the opposition.

The other worrying thing is at the back - someone needs to tell the players that it's a good idea to defend in the middle of our 6 yard box. I counted at least 3 times in the 1st half that a player had oodles of space, bang in the centre of our area.

Also still think our attacking play looks odd too. We play a ball down the middle to the Yak or Mcfadden, who will be standing still, facing away from goal, ball bounces off either of them to empty space - attack breaks down. Or, defender reads it like a book and either clears or clatters player in the back. Why do we never look to play balls in behind the defence, running on to goal?

Maybe Moyes felt we need to grind out some results to get back on track, and this is the way to do just that. Today it worked but could have easily gone Boro's way had they stuck one of their chances away.

Hope there is a huge, team improvement over the next few games.

To be fair neville made the pass of the year, although it was to a middlesbrough player... ...he chested it down and passed back to a middlesbrough player, woudve been a great assist if he played for them...its just lucky that lescott was there to clear his mistake up.


Also one of the highlights of the game, hearing the most annoying voice ever (no not the ladies day one, the annoying smoking one, or the match has been delayed one) say people have been removed because of smoking, only to have the entire gwlayds and most of goodison cheer, because its all bollocks...

 

[Durden]

Arteta is a [Poor language removed] hot player, he must be due a Spain cap! He was Spain Under-21 captain when he was with Rangers

 

[monty]

Going forward today was not a problem and at times our interpassing was a delight, everything was orchestrated by Mikel of course. Baines is a smashing lad going forward but he did cause problems at the back leaving the remaining three very stretched. Equally Jags was poor with some of his passing choices and he failed to cover at the back when he should have done. It seems clear to me that these new faces have yet to settle in properly, time will tell but can we afford to experiment for any length of time, I don't think so. Unless young Rodwell is going to bloom within the next two years we will need to sign a centre half of experience.

Some times peoiple say the table doesn't lie, based on what I've seen today it does because our clear weakness underline quite harshly the fact that we are not at present a top five side and a substantial number of teams will go higher with their games in hand.

As for Mike (Old Mother) Riley, he is an embarrassment in the same fashion as the idiot Poll. The man has no coherent knowledge of the laws of the game, he is a total and complete ass:angry:

 

[FADDY]

Arteta is a [Poor language removed] hot player, he must be due a Spain cap! He was Spain Under-21 captain when he was with Rangers

Arteta was on top form tonite and I thought Faddy was steady and put in a reasonable shift. Was concerned with that header that Yak missed though. Thats not what we paid for. He needs to be putting those away.

 

[coyney]

Well what a nice way to make my 4,000th post, a clean sheet (but I don't know how), three points and up to fifth place.

My view of each player is as follows

Howard, did what he had to to, handled well and made catches rather than the big fist 7/10

Hibbert, did nothing wrong, cleared when he had to, still relies too much on the big hoof 7/10

Stubbs, this lad can't go on forever, he is slow but makes up for spead with his trusty ability to read a game and the fact he has a blue heart of lion is another vital asset 7/10

Lescott, he seems to be covering the full back too much, possibly the trainers are relying too much on the lads strengths to the extent that it may effect his game. It was a good scrambled defenders goal. 7/10

Baines, not sure about his ability to cover at the back. The lad is superb going forward but he must remember he is a full back. Many Boro chances came down his flank. 5/10

Pienaar, possibly his best game for us to date, he scored a first class goal for the first time in two years so that could be a load off his mind. Is it any co-incidence that he played so much better when Mikel is on the park 7/10


Jags, being a blue he seems to get very nervous playing in front of his own fans. He was indecisive on more than one occasion and early on tried a cross field pass that nearly let them in. 5/10

Arteta, this lad is becoming a Goodison legend in the truiest sense, he is simply magnificent 8/10

Faddy, although he didn't score this was in my opinion one of his most effective games for the club. Some of the attacking interplay with Mikel, Pienaar and the Yak was a pleasure to watch 8/10

Yakubu, he surprised me, possibly because he was playing against his old team but he was lively, creative and worked for the team. He joined in goal celebrations as though he'd been here years 7/10

Nevile, was simply Phil Nevile 6/10

We would almost certainly have scored more had the substitutions not been made, the curse of Euro football.

Lets no kid ourselves either, early especially, our defence was opened up like a tin of sardines, Boro's attack was just inept. We are still better with last seasons back four and they should be reassembled for the remainder of this season. Big Vic was at times struggling to stay in the game, young Skywalker should be given his chance.

To be honest mate I concerned about the space we were leaving at the back thought Hibbo improved on his last game as did Neville but dont think Hibbo should be playing and I hate Neville in mid field thought his shots were poor surprised the carried to the keeper Arteta different class makes all the difference if he plays thursday sure we can win any one tell me what Yak and Jags did today.

 

[TX Bill]

Ugly first half, better 2nd half.

3 points. Could care less how we played to be frank.

 

[monty]

To be honest mate I concerned about the space we were leaving at the back thought Hibbo improved on his last game as did Neville but dont think Hibbo should be playing and I hate Neville in mid field thought his shots were poor surprised the carried to the keeper Arteta different class makes all the difference if he plays thursday sure we can win any one tell me what Yak and Jags did today.

Yak did pull their defence about a bit and played in some nice following movement showing far more awareness than he has done. Jags, I remain concerned, he is a blue who is overawed by GP! Neil Warnock, not my favourite pundit, made a rather nice remark about us tonight, he said 'EFC epitomise all that is good about English football' he also said that Jags would come good in the end so take your pick

 

[a2b chris]

Howard, did what he had to to 6/10

Hibbert, relies too much on the big hoof, but better than previously 5/10

Stubbs, organises others well (my m.o.m) 7/10

Lescott, good goal, not yet up to last years standards 7/10

Baines, not his best game, needs to improve defensively 5/10

Pienaar, improving, goal will boost him 7/10

Jags, looked out of sorts. 4/10

Arteta, welcome back 7/10

Faddy, done well, deserves to start next game 7/10

Yakubu, worked harder, missed sitter, needs to keep on going 6/10

Nevile, when in centre mid, thinks hes paul scholes- passing not good enough, shooting poor, needs to play right back 5/10

Big Vic, lots of hustle and bustle, should be kept as late sub 6/10

performance, we were poor defensively in 1st half, boro should of scored , but were pretty toothless. we improved as game went on
moyes must demand we learn how to play keep ball and ONLY pass to blue shirts if we are to progress further as a team

i was not impressed

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Tell you what lads, was sat Row A family enclosure (never again might I add) and the language from McFadden was beyond belief.

I quote a few

@ Young "Ay, [Poor language removed] off you f*****g prick"
@ Yakubu "FFS, what the [Poor language removed], your up my ass every time i go up for a header"
He also hurled some abuse at Woodgate.

Hibbert is one moaning git as well. Christ, I recall Beattie on soccer am saying "Hibberts the biggest moaner at the club, if he isnt moaning about it, its not worth moaning about". All he done all game is winge to other players

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Bet he loved Yak up his ass didn't he, really.

 

[little curly alan ball]

Bet he loved Yak up his ass didn't he, really.

now , now , let's not start all that again . for the love of god !! lcab

 

[little curly alan ball]

Arteta was on top form tonite and I thought Faddy was steady and put in a reasonable shift. Was concerned with that header that Yak missed though. Thats not what we paid for. He needs to be putting those away.

i wont ask then . snazzy tho nevertheless .as an avatar ( thanks again dylan ) but surely not a reg plate ? what if he gets off ?? ebay , an his nxt club i suppose . lcab

 

[SuitsBlue]

hibbert was better than 5 out of 10

!

 

[marekb]

is it me, or does the yak have trouble jumping, he was struggling to get more than 2 inches off the deck. Dour performance, jags was caught in posession more than once and nearly each time lead to an effort on our goal. 3 points nevertheless and a confidence booster for the BIG game midweek.

 

[chicoazul]

is it me, or does the yak have trouble jumping, he was struggling to get more than 2 inches off the deck.

Its called gravity. He needs to lose some of flab.