Sunderland v Everton. 9th Nov at 13.30.

[Steve Wigan]

I'd suggest the reason for all the negativity on here is precisely because everyone else again dropped points. You point out that we are currently 'making do with players who are either past their best days' which begs the question as to why some of them weren't sold on and replaced.

I don't agree that the time to judge the manager is only when the project time, in 18 months, is complete. It is also valid to criticise the transition if you feel certain aspects of it could be handled better, and clearly many think it could. In any event how many football 'projects' ever go the distance?

We have been replacing players with better players or players with more potential. Jelavic and Anichebe have gone, Lukaku has come in...our midfield is better with Barry(short term ish) and Mccarthy (long term)...Peinnar is hardly even a squad player these days, McGeady is improving, Naismith is established, Stones is here, and there is potential in Besic and others. You cannot change everyone at once...teams evolve all the time. If you want instant success, you won't get it, because we, even now, can't afford to buy it all in one go.

 

[mrb85]

Everton in failure to beat mid table opposition shocker

And, Howard in beaten from 25 yards shocker.

 

[LAToffee]

You can't lie on it. The same way as you can't put it between your legs when you are on the ground.

Howard is occasionally just ridiculous. Stupid nonsense when there was no need and so late in the game.

 

[Caolam]

I think everyone can agree that we are not playing well enough. I think we all know the other teams who normally compete at the upper end of the league are much like ourselves. However we are one win away from a top six place, we top our Europa League section. I don't think we should be thinking about a complete change of style. We are 75 to 80% along the road to being were we need to be. I still believe in the passing game, but we do need to press more and to speed up our play. It will come if we keep our nerve and bring in players who suit the system. We need to look at the players we have and the jobs they can do within the system. It is no good being a good player but not suit the system.
I say keep doing what we are doing and change the personnel to suit. It will take a year or two to get it sorted but it is progress.

 

[Sunderland afc]

Hi mate.

You must be worried as a Sunderland fan. I would be if I was. You only look like scoring from set pieces on a whole. I thought we were at anfield for most of that 2nd half with the amount of booing from ' correct ' decisions from the ref. Screaming every 2 minutes, embarrassing.

That verghini fella is a bit pants isnt he ? Very poor I thought. Did he win goal of the month for October or what ?

I've suffered 15 points and 19 points. I'm never worried these days.

 

[blulouie]

'Leggy after Thursday'......behave. A team could play at that pace and agaist the level of opposition provided by Lille every day of the week and not get 'leggy'.

Whether we should or shouldnt be "leggy" Isnt the question...fact is we evidently were.
Playing in midweek at the moment with the squad being stretched isnt doing us any favours.
Thank christ we've got an international break now.

 

[marty mcfly]

He's being played in a position which is not familiar to him and doesn't really suit his qualities, which does not help.

Nevertheless, I think he is simply not yet at the races for one reason or another.

His passing is not to the usual standard; he seems unable to control the ball as per what we expect; decision making has been poor.

He'll improve over the season, but I think people need to be realistic to what he can currently offer.

There where times today with some of his runs he looked really good but he needs to work on his short passing through traffic.

Both him and Lukaku keep taking the easy option and play backwards. Fair play to McGeady, not everything works but at least he has a go.

 

[blulouie]

I think everyone can agree that we are not playing well enough. I think we all know the other teams who normally compete at the upper end of the league are much like ourselves. However we are one win away from a top six place, we top our Europa League section. I don't think we should be thinking about a complete change of style. We are 75 to 80% along the road to being were we need to be. I still believe in the passing game, but we do need to press more and to speed up our play. It will come if we keep our nerve and bring in players who suit the system. We need to look at the players we have and the jobs they can do within the system. It is no good being a good player but not suit the system.
I say keep doing what we are doing and change the personnel to suit. It will take a year or two to get it sorted but it is progress.

In a nutshell ,well said .

 

[mrb85]

Since when have we had a run in the League Cup? Six extra games that we didnt have last year and three of them with travel much further than we would in any domestic up.

Not that I think its much of an excuse like, but you said about doing you a favour. For what?

We've only played 4 EL games this far, and played just one LC game instead of the 3 we would have played by that date, so not much difference. I'll give you the Krasnodar travel factor.

 

[chicoazul]

We've only played 4 EL games this far, and played just one LC game instead of the 3 we would have played by that date, so not much difference. I'll give you the Krasnodar travel factor.

So that's four extra games compared to the previous season on an awkward Thursday night. It does make a difference like but we should have won today.

There's just a lot of angry finger pointing going on which is a bit tittish really.

 

[toffee matt]

Still only 6 points off fourth.

By no means is all lost yet this season

 

[streeky]

I think the upset felt on here today is maybe because today's game is the mirror image of the Swansea game. Martinez has been quick to point out our defence has got tighter , but our attacking play has become pedestrian. You can almost see the players terrified to turn the ball over in case the opposition break on us. Martinez has stemmed the flow of goals we have conceded but he has made us slow and predictable going forward.

 

[RFUS]

I think the upset felt on here today is maybe because today's game is the mirror image of the Swansea game. Martinez has been quick to point out our defence has got tighter , but our attacking play has become pedestrian. You can almost see the players terrified to turn the ball over in case the opposition break on us. Martinez has stemmed the flow of goals we have conceded but he has made us slow and predictable going forward.

It is amazing how we've gone from scoring and conceding freely, to defending brilliantly and not scoring.

 

[chicoazul]

It is amazing how we've gone from scoring and conceding freely, to defending brilliantly and not scoring.

Everton that.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Not even fuming anymore. Think we played decent tbf, I'm getting bored of watching teams park the bus against us from kick off though.