Swansea City Vs. Everton - CO Cup 3rd Round - Tuesday 23rd Sept - 19:45 KO

[Tree13]

I imagine I'll be in the minority here but did anyone else think Alcaraz was fairly decent last night?

Compared to his previous outings for us, he was vastly improved. He's still 4th choice by some margin though. That's genuinely the first time I've ever seen him NOT be the worst player on the pitch.

 

[Smudge1985]

Never mind what comps the club was in, I do not recall Howie going out and playing a second string. Howie always put out the strongest he could manage after all his philosophy was about winning.

This business of resting players to me is pure rubbish, they are young men in their prime supposed to be super fit and need a rest?????? Cobblers, going back to Howie come Xmas, Easter we would be playing games damn near back to back.

I agree. Momentum is everything, and there is only such a thing as playing too many games when you're playing badly. We had 2 wins in a row before the Palace game, all that momentum has now firmly swung the other way, and now it feels like we have too many games because we're playing garbage.

Liverpool havent been playing well themselves, and had extra time and pens last night, but Ill bet their players feel much fitter than ours do this morning, even the ones on both sides who didnt play.

 

[Robertor]

Compared to his previous outings for us, he was vastly improved. He's still 4th choice by some margin though. That's genuinely the first time I've ever seen him NOT be the worst player on the pitch.

I was actually really impressed with him in his first two games against Stoke and Southampton but it's been downhill since

 

[No8Bally]

To my way of thinking, EVERY competition we are in is worth at least trying to win it. Last night showed that it was so low on the priority list, and most of the team and the manager just did not want to be there. That really pisses me off. Bring back the 1970's when players really wanted to play week in, week out in every competition.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I was actually really impressed with him in his first two games against Stoke and Southampton but it's been downhill since

I actually like Alcaraz - think he is very calm in possesion and good in the air which isn't a strong point of our other CBs. I'd take him over Kolo Toure any day of the week and for that matter most 4th choice CBs.

Think he has been unfairly judged given how little time he has played ~ 10 games including subs. He also has never really had a run of games or a consistent partner which is important for a defender. Given his style of play he's probably best paired with Distin/Jags.

He is not very fast though - no way would play him against a fast, counterattacking team ie Liverpool.

 

[EvertonRhys]

Coincidentally, I'm listening to Stranglers- "Something Better Change" as I type this! Anyway, here's my take on last night:

Living in Newport, it was only a short trip for me to the game last night and I'm truly grateful for that, as it mirrored many unacceptable away performances over the years. For the vast majority of the two thousand Blues that traveled down from Liverpool, I felt for you, but also can totally empathise with you given the amount of horrible journeys to and from games in Liverpool where the players just haven't looked up for it.

Honestly, I can understand Martinez giving players a rest and I was probably naive in thinking it may be otherwise. It's frightening to think if we had a spate of injuries, that would be an alternative starting 11. But why could Martinez not warn the fans he would be playing a team like that? I seem to remember Mick McCarthy giving Wolves fans a warning that he would play a weak team away to United in the cup. Thank god the tickets were £12-£15 as any more would have been daylight robbery!

Hibbert and Alcaraz- I honestly hope I never see you in a blue shirt ever again. Truly past it- in Hibbert's case and probably Alcaraz, I'm not sure he was ever 'it' but that's another point. Atsu to me looked completely out of his depth and doesn't measure up to Deulofeu last year. Aside from Garbutt, Oviedo and possibly Besic, I don't think any of the players actually gave a damn about that game. Whether that was the thoughts of each of them or filtered down from Martinez is irrelevant really- it was an insult on the Evertonians in the ground. We haven't won a trophy for twenty years and to not even perform in that second half was a disgrace.

The subs were also a mystery and have been worrying in most of the games so far this season for me. Why bring on Lukaku like-for-like for Eto'o at half time? For me, apart from the defensive disaster, we looked totally light weight in midfield. Why not drop Eto'o back into an attacking midfield position and let him play his quality through balls? It's worked before this season. We missed Naismith/ Barkley in that area big style. Martinez obviously noticed that at some point as he brought on McCarthy. But at that point we were 2-0 down and any attacks were going to be countered and exploited given Hibbert and Alacaraz at the back alongside Distin's crazy form so far this season. Then, he brings on Osman. ARGH! We had Mirallas on the bench, with Atsu clearly not going to have an impact on the game. Okay, so he's resting Mirallas, but he didn't start against Palace, and why put him on the bench if he's not going to bring him on!?

If it was a chance to give players a run out, why was Browning not playing ahead of Hibbert? Is Hibbert really going to be used this season? If so we're really in trouble. For me, his strength has only ever been his ability to recover, and now with his age his limited speed has gone, he can't even manager that.

I hate long posts, so I'm sorry I've just written one myself. Still fuming here and never thought I would be so much after a League Cup but I literally could not find one positive about that match whatsoever. We better get a result at the weekend because this season could quickly go down hill with negativity breeding negativity.

 

[COYB]

took me a while too even think this one out, evertonians laughing at
the result should be ashamed, fans travelled a long distance too watch that last night,
and i really do think we need to re-think the ' we have depth' all them players apart from Garbutt
im including Hibbert as we dont have another Rb backup and wouldnt class Browning there yet too
its shamefull, i dont care wether we can now focus elsewere the fact is even if we used the so called 'depth
i would off liked us to go as far as we could off , whats the point in playing in it too be hammerd?
and martinez's comments done it for me i love him but he's making it out they were lucky we were good
did we not also conceed 3 at CP too? theres no excuse now i just hope 'a derby win' will give us the momentum
we need too push on and actually playing too our standards, gutted really

 

[Robertor]

I actually like Alcaraz - think he is very calm in possesion and good in the air which isn't a strong point of our other CBs. I'd take him over Kolo Toure any day of the week and for that matter most 4th choice CBs.

Think he has been unfairly judged given how little time he has played ~ 10 games including subs. He also has never really had a run of games or a consistent partner which is important for a defender. Given his style of play he's probably best paired with Distin/Jags.

He is not very fast though - no way would play him against a fast, counterattacking team ie Liverpool.

Agree completely mate. Very harshly judged after what in fairness were a couple of awful performances against Southampton away and City at home. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt for the Liverpool game because of the circumstances. Too many people judge him due to their inability of being able to understand that players can have poor games and actually be very good. Seems as if everyone's forgotten that Alcaraz pretty much kept Wigan up the season before he left and he would have been good for them again if he didn't get injured in Martinez's last season.

 

[bluemoz]

Having just returned from an overnight stay in the delightful sh1thole that is Swansea, on reflection last night I was reasonably satisfied and expected the line-up. The performance of some of the players is my concern. Distin? please. Eto'o through 20 yards out with nobody near him, a 15 year old kid from the park would have done better, Besic, just wandering around and worst of all, Lakuku. When he was signed many people questioned the price - to which I would always respond - give him time. I am however, massively concerned that he is going to end up in the 'he actually is sh1te category'. He is way too easy to mark and defenders have him sussed out. Williams didn't need to break sweat second half. I expect much much better on Saturday, last night was nowhere near good enough.

 

[BBleck]

I imagine I'll be in the minority here but did anyone else think Alcaraz was fairly decent last night?

I'd like to watch the match again...that's the only way I can ever get a handle on defensive positioning and off-ball movement. My gut reaction was that his passing left something to be desired.

@bluemoz I'm not worried about Lukaku. He's still working on his game with his back to goal and was dispossessed too much trying to go around his marker. But going forward he's as we have and he does a good job holding play up when he needs to give the midfielders a chance to come forward. His shots are the ones that trouble enemy keepers the most. Money well spent for me.

 

[Simo]

Right here goes, advise me otherwise, but im about to watch last nights highlights on EFC website, do i need a cushion to hide behind

 

[bluemoz]

I'd like to watch the match again...that's the only way I can ever get a handle on defensive positioning and off-ball movement. My gut reaction was that his passing left something to be desired.

@bluemoz I'm not worried about Lukaku. He's still working on his game with his back to goal and was dispossessed too much trying to go around his marker. But going forward he's as we have and he does a good job holding play up when he needs to give the midfielders a chance to come forward. His shots are the ones that trouble enemy keepers the most. Money well spent for me.

He comes way too deep to be a threat for me and if he's deep, we have nobody in the box. Its way too early to define if its money well spent.

 

[BlueToff]

He comes way too deep to be a threat for me and if he's deep, we have nobody in the box. Its way too early to define if its money well spent.

of course it's money well spent. He's 21 and when he's firing is one of the best forwards in the league. We're guaranteed to make a profit on him (transfer figure wise)

 

[Smudge1985]

Agree completely mate. Very harshly judged after what in fairness were a couple of awful performances against Southampton away and City at home. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt for the Liverpool game because of the circumstances. Too many people judge him due to their inability of being able to understand that players can have poor games and actually be very good. Seems as if everyone's forgotten that Alcaraz pretty much kept Wigan up the season before he left and he would have been good for them again if he didn't get injured in Martinez's last season.

He missed most of Wigan's relegation season injured, big factor in them going down. Him being fit for the Cup Final was crucial in them winning it. He's barely played for us, and Id say the only game he looked truly out of his depth was Liverpool away...but then who in our defence didnt in that game?

In terms of depth, lets take it that our first 11 is:

Howard
Coleman-Stones-Jagielka-Baines
Barry-McCarthy
Mirallas-Naismith-Pienaar
Lukaku

How many of our other players would we be happy to deputise or shuffle the lineup around? Not many for me. Barkley obviously when he's fit, McGeady, Gibson, Eto'o, Oviedo. Id just about include Alcaraz in this category as well, but I know plenty wouldnt. Besic, Kone and Atsu the jury's out or they havent played enough. Joel is probably in this camp too, but most have probably made their minds up already. Thats not a lot at all.

Hibbert, Distin and Osman look past it now. Id be unhappy to see any of them in our starting lineup, short of a massive injury crisis. The likes of Garbutt, Browning etc cant really be judged yet.

 

[Robertor]

Having just returned from an overnight stay in the delightful sh1thole that is Swansea, on reflection last night I was reasonably satisfied and expected the line-up. The performance of some of the players is my concern. Distin? please. Eto'o through 20 yards out with nobody near him, a 15 year old kid from the park would have done better, Besic, just wandering around and worst of all, Lakuku. When he was signed many people questioned the price - to which I would always respond - give him time. I am however, massively concerned that he is going to end up in the 'he actually is sh1te category'. He is way too easy to mark and defenders have him sussed out. Williams didn't need to break sweat second half. I expect much much better on Saturday, last night was nowhere near good enough.

Besic was very composed I thought. Didn't do anything second half but what do you expect, you're being far too quick to jump on a few players backs there. It's a competition we don't care about and they did.