Everton v Crystal Palace. 7th Dec at 20:00.

[Fearthainn]

On the plus side, this is a +1 in the alternative league table considering we lost to them last season.

Have that you filthy kopites.

 

[Jxg]

Understand your frustrations, mate. But we had them on the ropes in the second half, just a shame we yet again conceded from a corner.

Exactly. That's what I'm saying.

We have them pinned against a wall for 75 minutes and then all of a sudden, they score. We need to be taking these games by the throat. As I said, if it's 'not our day', we make it our day. That's what winning sides do and for whatever reason, we do not do that. It's always this, that or the other that means we miss out on three points.

 

[Jxg]

They are better than that this season. But I hear what you are saying. Arsenal at the Emirates seems to win the lucky games...but I reckon we're turning a corner.

Oh don't mention corners lol

 

[Gwladys Nights]

As are Leicester, but come on.

Regardless of how impressive they might be, Palace are mid table. They'll always be mid table. They've got a few good players, but really, who (goalkeeper aside because I'd have anyone but Howard) are you going to take in place of one of ours? Our side should be beating theirs and that's just that.

Bolasie could be an option down the left for us, much as I like Kone. You're right though there isn't really anyone else who could challenge strong for our first eleven.

 

[deipnosophist]

This was a must win.

We had a chance to close the gap and we fluffed it. Pathetic.

I think the immediacy of the result has affected your judgement. What I saw tonight was an Everton team that would not accept defeat. This team is getting stronger mentally. By season's end, when the wheat has been well minnowed, results like Bournemouth and tonight will see us , (by way of mental conditioning/experience) competing at the sharp end of the league. I reckon we are being honed like a knife (disclaimer: sort out our set piece defending)

 

[Jxg]

Bolasie could be an option down the left for us, much as I like Kone. You're right though there isn't really anyone else who could challenge strong for our first eleven.

Was gonna add 'aside from Kone too because he isn't a winger'. I'd definitely take Bolaise. Apart from that, nobody.

 

[paulbefc]

If we'd bottled that and been lucky to get a point or had gone in front, crapped ourselves and lost the two points, I'd see criticism as justified.

We did enough to win the game twice though, soft goal conceded or not and were denied by a mixture of superb defending and rotten luck.

Performance-wise it's what everyone wanted.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

That was the best game I've seen at goodison in a long while,I thought we played some very decent stuff and they were a real threat on the counter,yep hit the woodwork three times and the keeper has somehow kept cleverley out but they forced Howard into a couple of decent stops too,lets take the point and get a win at Norwich

 

[deipnosophist]

Palce will defo be taking points off all the top teams

 

[Jxg]

I think the immediacy of the result has affected your judgement. What I saw tonight was an Everton team that would not accept defeat. This team is getting stronger mentally. By season's end, when the wheat has been well minnowed, results like Bournemouth and tonight will see us competing at the sharp end of the league. I reckon we are being honed like a knife (disclaimer: sort out our set piece defending)

I admire your positivity.

However, you saw an Everton that would not accept defeat. We insisted on not losing.

A winning side insists on winning.

Results like tonight and Bournemouth will have us looking at 4th/5th place and going "If we had those four points...", just like with Martinez's first season in charge when we finished below Arsenal.

 

[Jxg]

We did enough to win the game twice though, soft goal conceded or not and were denied by a mixture of superb defending and rotten luck.

Performance-wise it's what everyone wanted.

Yes, but did we win the game?

Doesn't matter how we perform. I love the way that we're playing but I would not care if we went Hyper-Stoke (under Pulis) and the ball spent more time in the air than on the ground if it meant that we won.

Performances come second, results come first.

 

[chicoazul]

As are Leicester, but come on.

Regardless of how impressive they might be, Palace are mid table. They'll always be mid table. They've got a few good players, but really, who (goalkeeper aside because I'd have anyone but Howard) are you going to take in place of one of ours? Our side should be beating theirs and that's just that.

Disagree mate. Quite a few players I'd take out of that team including the keeper, Scott Dann, Cabaye and Bolasie who is excellent.

Suppose the end of the season will show. Their bench wasn't too hot so you may have a point if they get an injury or two.

 

[MikeH72]

Had enough chances to win 5 games there. Our defence makes me have genuine palpitations every time the opposition attack though

 

[Blueblooded]

As are Leicester, but come on.

Regardless of how impressive they might be, Palace are mid table. They'll always be mid table. They've got a few good players, but really, who (goalkeeper aside because I'd have anyone but Howard) are you going to take in place of one of ours? Our side should be beating theirs and that's just that.

I can't quite fathom your reasoning - too much like the RS being given a free pass because of their 'istree'. Both Leicester and Crystal Palace have earned their current league placings by performing consistently well when they've needed to. Plenty of people also write us off as mid-table "regardless of how impressive" we might be - doesn't make it right. I'd probably take a few LCFC/CPFC players as useful squad members ahead of other 'top players' from the 'big clubs' tbh.

 

[Jxg]

I do realise I'm putting a negative outlook on what many of you consider to be a positive performance, but it drives me round one when you look at the quality of our side and the results we get. Bournemouth and Palace, we should have won, but that's always the case with Everton. It's always "but if it wasn't for the pitch invasion" or "the lucky defending" or "that lapse in concentration". That isn't what winning sides do. We may have played pretty football but if we do not change our attitude, we are not making top four. Even top six would be a push.