Second Half Performance

[mahermi1]

Awful performance second half. We badly missed McCarthy our legs and drive vanished with him . Gutted but standard for years now.

 

[Abertonian]

Highlights the need for midfield energy in the January sales

 

[Armaghtoffee]

McCarthy's injury left a huge void.

 

[Tin-Tin]

The 2 forced substitutions didnt help but was still a poor showing. Professional footballers should be able to pass and move to keep possession - we kept hoofing it away.

 

[MACCA75]

I thought the effort was there, but the quality is beyond shocking.

Calvert Lewin was the wrong sub too btw.

 

[davies1878]

There was actually nothing midfield onwards attacking wise, what an absolute disgrace.

I just oh never mind

 

[hallamblue]

People criticise Lukaku but take out him and Gana and we're not far off relegation fodder. We're no better than Palace and look where they are.

 

[ijjysmith]

The second half was bad. Very bad.

But the injuries messed us up. Barry was awful. And obviously using a sub with the keeper is a necessary waste of one.

We had no other choices. Bringing DCL on was a bit odd like.

 

[maccavennie]

1 win in 20 against Liverpool is the most embarrassing statistic in the history of this football club.

Major overhaul needed.

I think no trophies in 21 years is worse mate but I know what you mean regarding a major overhaul required. Up top is where we need see major surgery

 

[Cork Evertonian]

I think the players at his disposal are hindering him and massive changes are required to the playing squad.I thought the Arsenal game was the turning point but more often than not those players always bottle it on the big occassions.Koeman is not without blame either.The way we played in that second half was pathetic.Are you Moyesy in disguise is what im thinking of Koeman after that.

 

[gianthogweed]

Half way through a season and a team can't put a full 90 mins in ? these lads are in pro footballers what the [Poor language removed] is going on with this team ive seen pub teams full of smokers and boozers show more commitment and effort

 

[Stuartisitc1878]

It's a concern we haven't played well for 90minutes once this season yet. If there is a positive it's that back in April this lot totally tore us a new one. This time the game plan was working the first half but enforced changes killed us. They upped the tempo and Barry's legs just couldn't do the running that McCarthy did. January needs to be a very VERY busy month

 

[DanEFC92]

Like we were down to 10 men.

 

[Tony Hibbert's 3rd leg]

Yes actually competing in the two derby games a season would be refreshing. But it's not really significant to the wider picture, our league position. Was extremely unpleasant seeing your rivals score a scuffed injury time winner. But what's more worrying for me, is the one win in 12. Three more games without a win and that is absolutely appalling, and either the manager and/or the players have to be under huge scrutiny. That just isn't good enough for our club.

 

[Carl77]

Played well once this season against Arsenal. Played well first half today. For me it highlights that we need more energy in midfield than Barry can give. People walk passed him too often and Sturridge did it tonight and we lose.
He might pass it around nicely but we never have anyone up front to do anything with it. With Gana and McCarthy I feel that we attack more as a pack and a consistent run with those two would eventually transform our play.

That said, I don't think we deserved to lose today and Liverpool didn't deserve to win.

One thing that makes me want to pull my hair out is this idea that we play counter attacking football. It's not counter attacking if there is only one player forward, it's just releasing the pressure for 4 seconds.