Today's set-up

[Hangleton]

I actually thought Kone was the key to the game, Lukaku just looked a different player with Kone taking some of the weight of his shoulders, even last week when Kone came on him and Lukaku linked up really well before he was taken off.

Totally agree. He was able to hold the ball and move it around as he pleased.

 

[Aar_the_Toffees]

Would prefer to see us play wingers and Besic, City are weak on the wings, if we go through the middle that Mangala and Kompany will eat everything.

Stick Besic on Yaya and we would win at a canter.

Howard
Mustard - Yags - JFS - Brendo
Mume
Jamo - Barks
Gezzo - Big Rom - SuperKev​

I'd get Besic on just to injure someone. Then once he's booked put Barry on.

 

[steele]

Interesting tactics, but a bit risky. Giving Soton spaces on the flanks resulted in more crosses into the box where they had Pelle chasing.

 

[4737carlin]

Totally agree. He was able to hold the ball and move it around as he pleased.

True this, the outlet was there. I also think one of the reasons why Lukakau was staying on side as well as he did today was because he had someone to work with, his movement on and off the ball was way better.

 

[Alec clelands forehead]

Cleverley had a great game. Barkley even better. Martinez's tactics were spot on

When was the last time that was said

 

[Alec clelands forehead]

There's been a common misconception that today we lined up in our usual 4-2-3-1 with Cleverly and Kone as the widemen:

Howard
Coleman Stones Jagielka Galloway
McCarthy Barry
Kone Barkley Cleverly
Lukaku​

However, we actually set up with a 4-4-2 diamond (it's even shown on the teamsheet posted on Everton's twitter). Which looked like:

Howard
Coleman Stones Jagielka Galloway
Barry
McCarthy Cleverly
Barkley
Kone Lukaku
​

The confusion arose because a lot of the time when we weren't on possession, Kone was taking a wide-right position and Cleverly was doing similar on the left. However, when on the attack Kone always took up a central role with McCarthy and Cleverly playing as wide-midfielders as the formation above suggests. This shows that we set up to switch to a sort of 4-1-4-1 out of possession:

Howard
Coleman Stones Jagielka Galloway
Barry
Kone McCarthy Barkley Cleverly
Lukaku
​

Sometimes it even looked like 4-2-3-1 as McCarthy sometimes took up position alongside Barry, rather than covering the wide positions and getting further forward like he was when we had the ball.

​

Kone and Cleverly were switched onto their opposite flanks in the 2nd half.

It was encouraging to see set-up to make up for Mirallas and Deulofeu still not being ready to start, having 2 strikers linking up and Barkley been given free reign to run at the opposition.

Hopefully we can see more of this sort of flexibility to get the best out of whoever is available on the day and to keep our opponents guessing.

At least there was a shape to the team today instead of being sent out with no idea and no clue to whose doing what

 

[Alec clelands forehead]

The Catalan Clown is too stubborn to change anything though.

I wish the clown wud run away with the circus

 

[Alec clelands forehead]

Winning set up, i am of the opinion that starting eleven has to start next weekend against City.

You don't change a winning side but Bobby will

 

[Alec clelands forehead]

Spot on. We never saw the Everton of today in the league once last season. Just got to carry this on. Win against City and Spurs with new signings could give us so much momentum, fingers crossed ay.

Cross more than ur fingers mate this was a must win game this just like last week with the run of games we've got now God Allah Jehovah help us delete as applicable

 

[ilikecheese]

You don't change a winning side but Bobby will

Bollocks...you play the team that gives you the best chance at victory.

 

[Groucho]

I actually thought Kone was the key to the game, Lukaku just looked a different player with Kone taking some of the weight of his shoulders, even last week when Kone came on him and Lukaku linked up really well before he was taken off.

Perhaps we've found Kone's forte.

 

[USABlue]

jurgen klinsmann likes this

 

[Kiwi]

We had complete control of the midfield and so much time and space.
Would have been even better with Baines on the left to give us a bit more attacking impetus.

 

[Groucho]

Well well well, look what happens when you run towards the oppositions goal at speed and with intent and urgency with a rough 4-4-2.....

 

[Christiffa25]

The big thing for me was the almost total removal of having your defenders knock it around the back with Barry. Our defense was left with the job of defending and they did it excently!

The midfield worked fantastically with almost no sideways passing. It was all quick forward thinking football. Was brilliant to watch.