Will the real Everton please stand up

[Bruce Wayne]

Yesterdays match typified the football idiom of being a game of two halves. Which do you think represents the real Everton?

The first half was arguably as good as we've ever played under Moyes as the team gave Arsenal the run around and dominated the half. All that was missing was an extra goal or two to kill the game off.

The second half wasn't really all that much different. Arsenal still didn't create many Arsenal type chances and relied on three long balls coupled with horror show defending to score.

We've played all of the top four teams now and have by and large matched them all, yet don't have many points to show from these encounters. Is it enough to feel that we've simply been unlucky thus far or should we be looking to make our own luck?

 

[SuitsBlue]

this season has been quite an improvement.

the clattenburg derby is a given.

manure at goodison was a draw nailed on until a moment of lapse defending
manure away was a draw until a moment of madness cost a penalty

a point at chelsea was well won and a testament to desire

arsenal at goodison goes hand in hand with the clattenburg derby, clear and blatant robbery.

have to play chelsea at home, and twice in the league waste of time cup.
the away derby and arsenal away.

games against the so called top four would be easier to accept getting screwed over in by refs if we could keep our composure in games against the newcastles, blackburns and readings.

the two city games, villa and spurs at goodison - these games are the ones that will indicate how far we have come and will shape our league finishing position.

we havnt had a penalty in the league for how long?

 

[Bainsey]

We did so well blocking our their fast passing that we simply forgot the basics when they lumped it up field, everyone looked clueless as it wasnt expected.

 

[Cal]

[Poor language removed] this.

We lose and everyone goes [Poor language removed] crazy.

We are immense and we're finish in the top 6.

Tbh am not arsed about anything other then the Prem.

As soon as we have established ourself as a consistent top 6 team then we can push on.

It's no good being an up and down team who cant compete to be in the top 7 every season.

 

[Bainsey]

without just stating what others say i think others have to look at us missing osman but then his replacement in gravesen, neville is a good right back, just not a midfielder, i think we might have been better pushing them back in a 4-4-2 without playing a midfield which lacked creativity.

 

[Cal]

without just stating what others say i think others have to look at us missing osman but then his replacement in gravesen, neville is a good right back, just not a midfielder, i think we might have been better pushing them back in a 4-4-2 without playing a midfield which lacked creativity.

Personally thought Neville did ok yesterday but i agree he is not a midfielder.

We need Manny

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I wasn't having a go. We started the season slowly but the past few months the quality of our play has been exceptional I think, but we haven't had the results against the bigger side that we perhaps deserved. If Phil Neville had scored with his shot from the edge of the box yesterday I think we would have outdone the Osman goal against Larissa, which takes some doing.

I guess that this is the next stage that we need to get to, to be able to go to the leading clubs, not play well but still come away with something. At the moment we're playing really well but letting things slip through sloppy mistakes. I know the ref's havn't helped but Hibbo made an error of judgement that led to his red card against Liverpool, we've conceded late against United twice through slack defending and we all know about yesterday.

If Moyes can get that vital boost in concentration and add a few bodies in midfield in the January window then I'm really optimistic about this season as some of our play at times is sublime.

 

[Cal]

I wasn't having a go. We started the season slowly but the past few months the quality of our play has been exceptional I think, but we haven't had the results against the bigger side that we perhaps deserved. If Phil Neville had scored with his shot from the edge of the box yesterday I think we would have outdone the Osman goal against Larissa, which takes some doing.

I guess that this is the next stage that we need to get to, to be able to go to the leading clubs, not play well but still come away with something. At the moment we're playing really well but letting things slip through sloppy mistakes. I know the ref's havn't helped but Hibbo made an error of judgement that led to his red card against Liverpool, we've conceded late against United twice through slack defending and we all know about yesterday.

If Moyes can get that vital boost in concentration and add a few bodies in midfield in the January window then I'm really optimistic about this season as some of our play at times is sublime.

Am know your not having ago, but looking at some of the threads on bluekipper, people are going negative again.

Losing to the top 4 is no embarrasment, we just need to beat everyone else.

 

[TX Bill]

I believe that the first half was more indicative of how Everton have progressed over the last few years.

In the old days (i.e. 5 years ago), you'd really never know which Everton would show up.

Now, we're seeing a bit more consistency at a higher level of play and expect to see the "Arsenal first halves" more than the "Arsenal second halves."

Progress? I believe so.

 

[chicoazul]

Somewhere in the middle is the answer.

In all honesty it was a freak result and we outplayed Arsenal for 45 minutes. I believe if we can keep this side together and add one or two realy quality players then we can make a go at the top four. Not Champions or anything daft like that but challenging for a Champions League spot year in, year out.

And cups, [Poor language removed] loads of them.

 

[atrottel]

I watched the highlights this morning and, just as it was disappointing to see the defensive lapses, it was a joy to watch some of the attacking moves we put together.

We are better than we have been for a long, long, long, long time.