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

[maccavennie]

This.

Another mad thing.

And also, we had actually looked half-decent v Spurs set up in that 3-5-2. Granted, James a big blow, but slot Gylfi in that spot then.
Have Davies and Allan as that platform in midfield.

That's the pragmatic approach. Because when he sets us out to actually 'attack', we can't do it.

I honestly can't see how he thinks dropping Davies for Gomes is a good idea. In fact I'd go as far tonsay as its absolute comical management. I'm making out like Davies is prime Viera but compared to Gomes he offers so much more as a pairing with Allan.

Dreadful management imo and I'm shocked from a manager of his calibre that he's been dreadful in team selections at home

 

[mrb85]

I still think we will finish top 8, this league is utter guff apart from a couple of teams.

Wow. crack the champagne. Get the video out.

 

[hallamblue]

And anyone saying no manager around wouldn't have done better wants putting in a straitjacket and carted off.

Other than Moyes, who else has overachieved this season?

 

[Frenk]

And anyone saying no manager around wouldn't have done better wants putting in a straitjacket and carted off.

Just like those saying Ancelotti isn’t a good manager when he has won what he has. That’s even stranger.

 

[mrb85]

Just makes no sense when you consider what this guy has won. Sorry.

Of course it does. He's has previously had the playing resources to hand.

 

[Duncansback]

Just another thing why did we loan out 3 strikers this season in kean tosun and young Simms. And not bring it at least a good back up striker. Don't say king as we have seen he ain't up to it .and was getting it hard to get game time at Bournemouth in the championship.

 

[mrb85]

Just like those saying Ancelotti isn’t a good manager when he has won what he has. That’s even stranger.

Has he ever won anything starting from a pool of players as average as ours?

 

[wainy]

Wow. crack the champagne. Get the video out.

Wouldn’t put that past Everton

 

[hallamblue]

Just makes no sense when you consider what this guy has won. Sorry.

Ancelotti's strength is bringing in good players and managing them well as people. He's a very different manager to someone like Moyes or Dean Smith.

 

[Jebus_lives]

He finished 12th last year mate, our worst since 2004.

Yes. And in the summer you thought we would be relegated. We're on course for a 8th placed finish, within touching distance of European football (regardless of how much you're in denial about it). We're on more points that any season since 16/17. Progress.

 

[wainy]

We definitely don't have a style, but as i've banged on about (I know, sorry everyone) - Carlo Ancelotti does not have a style of play.

This is where the issue stems from for me. When it's been certain matches, mostly away, he's got the tactics spot on. Ironically, it's also been the home games where we've been able to play like an away side that we got results (Chelsea, Arsenal) since our good form from the start of the year dropped off.

We have no default setting though. Nothing to fall back on. No patterns of play. And I'm sorry, but they absolutely, 100 per cent, are things that should be getting worked on day in, day out. And if they are getting worked on, then whatever they're doing isn't good enough, as it doesn't work.

Agree with every word of that, mate.

 

[Matthew mcdonnell]

Do people here actually think we play better at the moment than when Dunc came in and battered Chels? In that time we have signed a gem in Godfrey, signed 3 top draw midfielders, yet Carlo has just come in and survived game by game with no focus on developing a style or the individual quality of the players.
And you all keep saying that once we get more good players it will all suddenly happen?? Carlo has never had to manage a team like this, he is used to European giants where he gets to pick world class players each year, he's doomed to fail here and we know it. Dunc gave us so much more energy and passion from the lads in his games I'm afraid, Carlo Out.

 

[BlueToff]

I honestly can't see how he thinks dropping Davies for Gomes is a good idea. In fact I'd go as far tonsay as its absolute comical management. I'm making out like Davies is prime Viera but compared to Gomes he offers so much more as a pairing with Allan.

Dreadful management imo and I'm shocked from a manager of his calibre that he's been dreadful in team selections at home

It's because he's the easy drop - which is mad. It's Koeman-esque in that sense.

A team is about balance and when our team at least has balance then on paper we have enough to beat most teams in this league.

In the home games we have lost since the turn of the year, i'd argue that in only one match have we played a team with balance, and that was West Ham at home. Ultimately in that game the players were knackered after a slog of a December.

Every other game, the selection and tactics have been, categorically, off.

Newcastle - awful, and then not helped by having no attacking options on the bench
Fulham - even worse, set up in an Xmas tree formation with five slow central players against an athletic Fulham midfield
Burnley - some mad diamond system to try and get Iwobi in at 10, which let them rip through us once they pressed us
Villa - again, far too open, and yes, individual mistake from Holgate but still, no impetus to change it, no proactive alterations

 

[Blunatic]

I'm saying tonight specifically, to my eyes, was down to a handful of players. I think using tonight's result to beat the "Ancelloti out" drum with is unfair. In a way I hope we don't get Europe now cuz then it can't paper over the cracks of this mid table squad. There's about 4 or 5 first teamers required if we have any ambition of top 6.

Couldn't agree more. Qualifying for Europe would paper over the cracks, the extra games would stretch the squad, an then we'd just end up playing the players we have now an we already know they aren't good enough. Personally think its amazing Carlo has done this well given the teams limitations.

 

[wainy]

Do people here actually think we play better at the moment than when Dunc came in and battered Chels? In that time we have signed a gem in Godfrey, signed 3 top draw midfielders, yet Carlo has just come in and survived game by game with no focus on developing a style or the individual quality of the players.
And you all keep saying that once we get more good players it will all suddenly happen?? Carlo has never had to manage a team like this, he is used to European giants where he gets to pick world class players each year, he's doomed to fail here and we know it. Dunc gave us so much more energy and passion from the lads in his games I'm afraid, Carlo Out.

Ferguson managed two games. Carlo has won league and multiple European cups. Ferguson’s claim to fame is chinning someone, I think I’ll pass on the big man.