Match Thread Aston Villa v Everton - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[andy4efc]

Add to that, a solid win against Norwich and tonight will soon be forgotten. There'll always be bumps in the road, but hopefully this is one of a small amount.

If it's one of many, well that's when things will get interesting.

Yes mate

We aren't good enough with DCL, richy, coleman and pickford to go and obliterate teams all the time. So nevermind without. We were alright in the game until conceding, it happens. Just like Burnley were the better team on Monday and then conceded one and fell apart.

If we keep falling apart then questions need to be asked of the big picture.

but 12, from 18...

 

[Drico]

Benitez has got a tune out of a poor squad so far, but tonight shows up two things: first, the lack of real depth in this squad and, second, his own pig-headedness.

First, the squad. We lost four players (Coleman, Pickford, Richarlison, and DCL) and have capitulated to another ordinary side. That'd be concerning if it was not predictable. The start to the season was not a new dawn - just the latest false one for those who insist on believing when the evidence once more points to this run being us in one of our better, ephemeral moments.

As for Benitez, he is entitled to live and die by his decisions. That's why he is the manager. However, if you cannot fill your bench in the absence of four first-teamers, surely you place James Rodriguez on it if only to complete the numbers. Is he also injured or unavailable? Or is this simply a choice of the manager. As mentioned, he is entitled to make his choice, but he will be judged for it if the results are not good - and tonight the result is most definitely not good. Rodriguez is a circus - I have no doubt about that - but the manager should still attempt to get the best out of his resources, even if that means filling his bench. Tonight, his choice/spite has left him exposed to criticism. Perhaps he's comfortable with that, but this is a J. Rod that some will now use to beat him with.

 

[brieverton]

Not as if we will go on long unbeaten stretches with this squad.

It's a tough game in its own merits, made much more difficult with the players out.

Very poor defending though. No excuses there.

Just need to dust ourselves down.

 

[Jacob]

why do all other fans hate everton fans?

Dont judge all fans by this one. They dont all hate us.

 

[dead_soft]

Harsh scoreline though imo

I really don’t think it is. They got confidence after the first goal but they’ve been quite a bit better all the way through

 

[Marius57]

Again, those who have perspective and see the big picture saw that we were awful for 60mins and not to go thinking we were class, like you seem to think we are if you think we should be sweeeping away teams with no challenge.
I repeat, perspective is everything

12 points from 18.

Many posters on here who talk about the "great football" we have been playing. I mean there's a thread title that states it. I know there are mitigating circumstances, and I know we have had a few results, but have you been happy with the standard of football, other than for like 10 mins a game? (Apart from Brighton where we actually played well)

You’re acting like a try hard Ancelotti fan boy, it’s turned into a bad night over a course of a what if moment, we were doing alright up till then.

Couldn't care less about ancelotti. Want people to recognise the hypocrisy of not putting any blame on benitez.

 

[gazzaa2]

One of those days. Put it behind you and on to the next one.

Nothing to be worried about. Just a few injuries.

 

[Dougie]

Bad day with vital players missing, we miss Coleman he Is still very important to us, the Richarlison & DCL out it makes us weak.

Would be the same for Chelsea, rs etc.

 

[Zezti]

Recruiting a successor to club captain Seamus Coleman has been on the club's agenda for a number of years but new manager Rafael Benitez was not prepared to sign a player this summer that did not meet his exacting standards.

Money was too precious and Benitez, who has only just inherited the right-back issue, was unwilling to risk squandering the club's cash.

The manager, club sources have confirmed, was not fully convinced on the merits of meeting the asking price for Denzel Dumfries, for example.

Inside Everton's search for a right-back and why one wasn't signed in the window

Everton have been searching for a successor to Seamus Coleman for a number of seasons but have yet to find the right player

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Solid plan tbh. Rely on a 32 year old and have a crap backup in Kenny. Kenny is so crap in fact he'd rather play a CB there, who gets minced.
Heads* should roll for this RB problem that has persisted for years.


* obviously not Benitez, but by that article he certainly didn't help the issue.

 

[arch stanton]

aghhahha mate im sooooooo proud to be called sensible ive spent the last half hour raging like a mad man N1!

No problem you utter weapon. Is that any better? choose which reply suits your my. No need to thank me xx

 

[Rooney_Tunes]

As long as we bounce back next week im not too fussed

Bad result but it's early days

Agree.

 

[andy4efc]

I like is to play like half a one

Mayeb lower your expectations when four starters aren't available.

You're going to cry all season if you think we're gonna win every game. We arent.

 

[ForeverEverton]

I've got some news about the derby

Teams we are competing with..... Obv I dont need to explain about the Derby.....

 

[gazzaa2]

3-0 is a joke, Rafaas honeymoon period is over

Ha ha we're 5th with Norwich up next.

 

[MrGrumpy]

WHY HAVE VILLA HAD 5 subs?