Tempo

Scottish Toffee · February 23, 2013

Watching everton recently, I have found myself wondering where the urgency is. We play the game at a walking pace, nobody moves, nobody is desperate to win the ball back or to make a tackle. Our passing is so slow, it means that we either have exceptionally slow build up play or that we lump it up to felli/jela/chebes. I don't know whether it is tiredness or Moyes' tactics, but it is infuriating to watch us pass from side to side without any invention. Where is the passion? Thoughts?

Stend · February 23, 2013

Have nobody who has a lethal final ball.(Bar Baines) and also nobody who can split defences open... Its all rather stale.

bluelife · February 23, 2013

Agree completely. Everytime there is an opportunity for a break, they seem to slow down and settle for a slow attack. I don't suppose we have anyone with any real pace though.

ToffeeMike · February 23, 2013

Your spot on mate, our tempo is way too slow whereas start of the season it was fast.

slimspek · February 23, 2013

Our best football earlier in the season came because we move the ball around so quickly in the final third. We've lost the tempo and urgency we had at the start of the season.

TX Bill · February 23, 2013

Fellaini just seemed asleep at the switch several times today.

I agree though, there is a distinct lack of urgency with this squad.

slimspek · February 23, 2013

Also no cutting edge. Our most 'decisive' players at moment seem to be Coleman and Baines. It's not a good sign if you need your fullbacks to get into the final third to create a chance.

nigelcoyb · February 23, 2013

Great observation it's something we've suffered with virtually all Moyes reign even now only Mirallas and Pienaar offer a bit of buzz, Gibson and Felli are never going to be pacey box to box players and throw in Naismith, Neville or Osman and we're lacking stamina as well.

The other thing is when teams play "park football" ie lose all shape and throw numbers at us - we soil our kex - modern football isn't supposed to have 4 or 5 attacking your penno box and we just cave; see Oldham now Norwich and just watch when the RS get at us.

We are fundamentally flawed.

electricblue · February 23, 2013

Pienaar off form is the reason for the huge difference to our approach now compared to this time last season and the first part of this one.

You can moan as much as you want about managers and coaching staff but at the end of the day it's always the form of the players that is the telling factor.