Player Ratings

[RFUS]

Tough, hard fought game, against stubborn opposition and a ref who must have been flipping a double sided coin with Abdoulaye Faye's face on, for every potential infringement. But most importantly...

THE YAK IS BACK, MOFOS.



Howard - 7. Not much to do, really.

Neville - 7.5. Ace defensively, but slow and ineffective when pushing up. Boss stepovers though.

Jags - 8. Another solid performance from Phil "Yag-yelka".

Distin - 8.5. Note to the Dustbin brigade: HIYA XX

Baines - 7. Tried to do too much in their half, and it usually didn't come off. Very good defensively though.

Coleman - 6.5. Never really got into the game. I think he's a much better overlapping fullback, so the sooner we get Vic/Landycakes back, the better.

Arteta - 7.5. Not everything came off, but he dominated the ball and gave us that focal point we were missing last match.

Heitinga - 7. Decent game for Johnny. A couple of ace long balls, a few stinkers mind, and a bit hesistant further forward, but a good performance.

Pienaar - 7.5. Expected the free kick too often, (even though he should have had some) but otherwise he was solid and really positive all game.

Cahill - 6.5. Didn't really get into the game, but as always still put a shift in.

Yakubu - 8.5. MOTM. Great holdup play, some great passes/vision and wow. ACE goal. I just want sit on his lap and feel his biceps whilst I tell him what I want for Christmas.


Subs

Saha - 6.5. Didn't get into the game.

Bilyaletdinov - 6.5. Decent, and nearly scored a corker.



Moyes - 7. We were poor first half, and he should have really made changes to the system sooner as it wasn't working. But clearly playing 4-4-2 must have done something, because 6 minutes after the switch we got a goal.



Ref - 0/10. My score: as consistent and all over the place as him.





Enjoy your weekend, Evertonians.

 

[chicoazul]

Fair play on Distin like, him and Jagielka have grown a nice understanding there. As have the whole back four, they're looking really solid indeed. Thought Cahill had a quiet game, Arteta was much better always looking for the ball and a bit more offensive minded, kudos to Heitinga too as he used the ball very well.

Yakubu was excellent though, he's superb.

 

[Neiler]

Howard 6. - Cause i dont rate him

Neville 9 - My MOM

Jags 7 - Brilliant and so consistent, almost got his pants pulled down playing the offside.

Distin 8 - Good performence, looking a good match with Jags, expierence was vital today.

Bainsey 7 - He has been better, but all energy performence, has he fallen out with Pienaar.

Coleman 6 - tired his heart out, gave us some great penetration linked well with Neville, found the physical challennge a little difficult.

Super Mikel Arteta 7 - Not at his brilliant best, but his second best is better then almost everyones best, looked like he was just about fit wouldnt be surprised if hes still feeeling his knock.

Heitnga 8 - Really excellent perforemnce hugely impressed today, his strength and commitment was vital in terms of winning the midfeild battle, i thought that was his best game of the season so far.

Pienaar 7 - again not at his best, found the physicality of the game trying, but kept going.

Super Tim Cahill - 7. Quiet by his own standards and took a pasting physicaly at times, kept going and protected Seamus once or twice which is why hes ace!

Yak - 8.5 Superb performence rolling back the years, he really does have everything in his locker how we have missed him, as i always say no1. Everytime!


Subs

Saha did well when he came on some clever and incissive play - made a difference.

Billy looked sharp coming on unlucky not to score.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Fair play on Distin like, him and Jagielka have grown a nice understanding there. As have the whole back four, they're looking really solid indeed. Thought Cahill had a quiet game, Arteta was much better always looking for the ball and a bit more offensive minded, kudos to Heitinga too as he used the ball very well.

Yakubu was excellent though, he's superb.

Why does Danny hate Distin so much? I think he is world class. should be in the French team.

 

[RFUS]

Why does Danny hate Distin so much? I think he is world class. should be in the French team.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, about the world class bit.

But I am a big fan of his. He's better than any CB the french have now, for sure. Gallas can't touch him.

 

[chicoazul]

Sorry, good point, Neville was excellent again today.

 

[chicoazul]

Why does Danny hate Distin so much? I think he is world class. should be in the French team.

Shhh. Were keeping a low profile for the time being mate, Danny and I tag teamed up on him not so long ago.

He'll [Poor language removed] up soon enough like, so we'll do a told you so thing.

steps back into the shadows*

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Arteta was the best player on the pitch for me, followed by Yakubu and Heitinga.

Decent display overall, it was a boring game, but Stoke had a plan and where organised. We kept plugging away and did what we had to do. The end product still needs improving, but the defence is looking as good as it's been since Jagielka and Distin where paired together.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Arteta was the best player on the pitch for me, followed by Yakubu and Heitinga.

Decent display overall, it was a boring game, but Stoke had a plan and where organised. We kept plugging away and did what we had to do. The end product still needs improving, but the defence is looking as good as it's been since Jagielka and Distin where paired together.

Did you not think we sat back too much? Or how about Neville allowing Etherington to get a shot away? What about Jones and Tuncay getting chances in the box? Or how about the effort by Shawcross? More than half chances, and better quality may have punished us there.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Did you not think we sat back too much? Or how about Neville allowing Etherington to get a shot away? What about Jones and Tuncay getting chances in the box? Or how about the effort by Shawcross? More than half chances, and better quality may have punished us there.

Fair points, I think Moyes should have packed the midfield during that period, I don't believe we purposely sat back, we where unbalanced a bit with what seemed to be three centre mids, no left winger and Pienaar on the right from where I was sitting. It seemed to take us a whilst to get a grip of the game after dominating for long periods.

All in all though, these are games that we struggled with last season and to be fair, it is difficult to break down teams who play like Stoke do, and thankfully Yak came up with the goods today.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Fair points, I think Moyes should have packed the midfield during that period, I don't believe we purposely sat back, we where unbalanced a bit with what seemed to be three centre mids, no left winger and Pienaar on the right from where I was sitting. It seemed to take us a whilst to get a grip of the game after dominating for long periods.

All in all though, these are games that we struggled with last season and to be fair, it is difficult to break down teams who play like Stoke do, and thankfully Yak came up with the goods today.

I agree, but why? Why do we struggle to break these teams down? I know they put 8 behind the ball more often than not, but we have individual talented players who are capable to taking players out of the equation. Instead we seem to adopt the Arsenal way of over passing.

 

[davek]

Coleman - I dont know why he's started to look to come inside when he gets his success hitting the line. I realise defenders are going to show him inside and try and force his decision making that way, but he has that burst of pace to get himself around the outsdie and force the issue. He made his own problems today, but he deserves his spot against Blackpool and I'll be disappointed in Moyes if he doesn't start him.

Heitinga - just picked up where he left off against Liverpool and Spurs for me: very solid, and the first out the traps tp spot and meet danger. People need to get over their wishes of seeing him at CB - barring injuries it isn't going to happen. He's doing a very good job where he is for now.

 

[Lien]

Can't agree with how high some of the ratings are, personally.

Howard: 7 - had pretty much nowt to do, looked solid when called upon.
Neville: 7.5 - a very good game from our captain.
Distin: 8 - MOTM.
Jags: 7.5 - a couple of edgy moments but otherwise, as solid as ever.
Baines: 6.5 - didn't quite happen for him 1st half, but improved. Full of running.
Coleman: 5.5 - sorry Seamus, just wasn't your day today. Chin up.
Arteta: 7 - decent by his standards, good by the rest of the team's.
Heitinga: 6.5 - didn't fill me with confidence but improved as the game went on.
Pienaar: 7 - same as Mikel.
Cahill: 6.5 - didn't contribute much offensively but did his shift helping out when we were under pressure.
Yak: 7.5 - chuffed to see him having an increasingly big impact on games this season. Great goal, just as much for the fact it was he who won the ball for Cahill's shot initially.

Subs:

Saha: 6.5 - gave it a good go but didn't impact that much - a lot to do with how preposterously deep we ended up.
Bily: N/A - little time on the pitch but looked sharp, and almost scored. Give him a proper chance David. Please?

 

[Neiler]

I agree, but why? Why do we struggle to break these teams down? I know they put 8 behind the ball more often than not, but we have individual talented players who are capable to taking players out of the equation. Instead we seem to adopt the Arsenal way of over passing.

I would say, because they got pasted, its no surprise Coleman, Pienaar, Arteta and Cahill werent at their best today, the physical battle was one they were never going to win and that was Stokes game plan, it was the likes of Distin, Jonny and the Yak who one the game for us today, its no surprise they are big lads.

It was just that type of game.

 

[RFUS]

Can't agree with how high some of the ratings are, personally.

Howard: 7 - had pretty much nowt to do, looked solid when called upon.
Neville: 7.5 - a very good game from our captain.
Distin: 8 - MOTM.
Jags: 7.5 - a couple of edgy moments but otherwise, as solid as ever.
Baines: 6.5 - didn't quite happen for him 1st half, but improved. Full of running.
Coleman: 5.5 - sorry Seamus, just wasn't your day today. Chin up.
Arteta: 7 - decent by his standards, good by the rest of the team's.
Heitinga: 6.5 - didn't fill me with confidence but improved as the game went on.
Pienaar: 7 - same as Mikel.
Cahill: 6.5 - didn't contribute much offensively but did his shift helping out when we were under pressure.
Yak: 7.5 - chuffed to see him having an increasingly big impact on games this season. Great goal, just as much for the fact it was he who won the ball for Cahill's shot initially.

Subs:

Saha: 6.5 - gave it a good go but didn't impact that much - a lot to do with how preposterously deep we ended up.
Bily: N/A - little time on the pitch but looked sharp, and almost scored. Give him a proper chance David. Please?

We all have different interpretations of the value of numbers, mate.

It's more about the comparisons between the players. Who got higher than whom, etc.