Match Thread Everton v Leeds United - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[BlueToff]

The second half was more closed off for both teams. We didn't create much, but neither did they aside from the last chance. And that only happens because we were chasing recklessly.

The goal wasn't really a chance just a great strike.

And look at our defending for the goal. Standing off a player 25 yards out. Pathetic.

fitness rules in this league. Liverpool won the title on it. Get fit, build from there. Ancelotti’s sides have a worrying trend of not being fit. But when he has world class players it’s not so much of an issue

8/11 players were on their arse by half-time. It’s not good enough

 

[sladen90]

Fair enough. He sets the bar extremely high in terms of performance and spirit. If he dips or is absent then we suffer. Simple as.

Yeah I agree with that, his bar is very high. So when he has a half decent game but poor by his standards we all notice.

 

[toffeepie1878]

Only Pickford (England No.1 who ended van Dikks season) came away with any credit. Very poor display and looks as if Carlo did not have a clue what to do. A shambles really. Carlo looked lost and out of sorts.

to the point that

 

[BlueToff]

I've said it in another thread if Carlo puts his 1st choice 11 out we win that game .

Its the strength of the squad that is the main worry , no Digne or Coleman & we are so unbalanced .

Good game last week for Iwobi , this week poor again.
Tom Davies & Delph coming in shows our weakness in quality.

But yet we still could have won .

Why play Iwobi left wing-back when you have an actual left-back available?

build on what worked rather than change it

Carlo was crap today. He doesn’t deserve defending.

we all know the issues in the squad. I don’t think Brands should be kept on. But, today is on Carlo

 

[toffeepie1878]

Like I said before far too many passengers at Everton, its not up for debate either many of em couldn't give two fiddles about wearing the Everton top

 

[TheBigIguana]

And look at our defending for the goal. Standing off a player 25 yards out. Pathetic.

fitness rules in this league. Liverpool won the title on it. Get fit, build from there. Ancelotti’s sides have a worrying trend of not being fit. But when he has world class players it’s not so much of an issue

8/11 players were on their arse by half-time. It’s not good enough

I don't think Godfrey hasn't closed him down because he doesn't have the energy, he's just a pretty questionable defender. On that exact play James has tracked the fullback 50 yards to not give Raphinha that option.

 

[miami]

I disagree, he wasn't exactly bad. Had a few decent runs taking players on and driving at the leeds defence. He just missed digne.

Lol. He missed digne.....That old chestnut. When a so called 100 million player cant play well (played like a donkey) because his regular left back wasn't playing, then maybe he shouldn't be regarded as a 100 million player then, should he? After all, those type of players should be able to influence any match due to their obvious 100 million valuation. Maybe he isn't as good as many of us are making out. If Barca or anyone else offered anything for him I'd bite their arm off and take it and buy a player who doesn't think it's all about him and whose attitude doesnt stink when he is having a stinker (which is way too many times for a 100 million player).

 

[catcherintherye]

I have began to calm a bit,so a few (longer) thoughts.

We are still wide open defensively. Pickford saved us a few times today, but it was another game we could have easily conceded 2+ goals. We've tried lots of combinations and few have worked. Doucoure was excellent last week but offered little protection this week. Not sure what we do. I hope we continue with todays back 3 as I think it's our most balanced back 3.

We remain to me quite an average team. We don't see to be able to deal with anything out of the ordinary. Injuries, suspensions, positional changes, decisions going against us etc and a lot of players go to pot. If we can get on a bit of a run, where everything goes ok, we will do well, but take us off the straight and narrow and we struggle. In truth Ancelotti is not helping this process currently, as he's changing a lot and it must be affecting confidence.

In terms of the specifities of the game, Leeds did well. As had been mentioned they are workmanlike and cover a lot of grass, and make you do things that are uncomfortable or alien to teams. The best way around this seemed to be when we broke the press and went past a player. Once you did that you could often get quite close to their box. Richarlinson did it well 1st half, and Allan well in the 2nd. I was surprised that Doucoure, and particularly Godfrey and Holgate didn't look to do this more. They are all capable of doing so, and it would have presented them with far more problems. Keane had a go 1st half and did it well. Far from me to say, but I'd have been saying to our defenders to carry the ball forward a lot more.

Our general form is now pretty poor. Burnley becomes an important game, and we have to hope, against better teams, where maybe we can sit a bit deeper and counter it wil suit us. Who knows. It's been a while since we had an allround good performance though, and that must be a worry.

 

[BlueToff]

I don't think Godfrey hasn't closed him down because he doesn't have the energy, he's just a pretty questionable defender. On that exact play James has tracked the fullback 50 yards to not give Raphinha that option.

We aren’t fit enough - it’s evident from the lack of chances we create after half-time.

godfrey should have done better, fit or not, I agree.

bad transfer strategy leaving us short - Brands, I’m fed up of him

Carlo needs to be better. Lack of system, lack of plan. Changing things that worked one week and not trusting younger players and instead going square pegs in round holes.

half of the squad aren’t good enough

it all adds up but I can’t see how anybody can watch us and say we look fit

i watched the game with two Leeds fans and a neutral today and after 40 minutes all of them were asking if we always look this knackered. It needs to change or we won’t get anywhere

 

[Death]

Richy he is great and we have nothing in attack without him put his shooting this season would have some of the super clubs sniffing around worrying I’m sure

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

No Siggy today, No pointing. No-one to blame - just not good enough it would seem.

 

[TheBigIguana]

We aren’t fit enough - it’s evident from the lack of chances we create after half-time.

godfrey should have done better, fit or not, I agree.

bad transfer strategy leaving us short - Brands, I’m fed up of him

Carlo needs to be better. Lack of system, lack of plan. Changing things that worked one week and not trusting younger players and instead going square pegs in round holes.

half of the squad aren’t good enough

it all adds up but I can’t see how anybody can watch us and say we look fit

i watched the game with two Leeds fans and a neutral today and after 40 minutes all of them were asking if we always look this knackered. It needs to change or we won’t get anywhere

Fitness is just too simple of an explanation of our problems, imo. I don't disagree with some of the other stuff, but that has nothing to do with fitness in a lot of cases.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

I have began to calm a bit,so a few (longer) thoughts.

We are still wide open defensively. Pickford saved us a few times today, but it was another game we could have easily conceded 2+ goals. We've tried lots of combinations and few have worked. Doucoure was excellent last week but offered little protection this week. Not sure what we do. I hope we continue with todays back 3 as I think it's our most balanced back 3.

We remain to me quite an average team. We don't see to be able to deal with anything out of the ordinary. Injuries, suspensions, positional changes, decisions going against us etc and a lot of players go to pot. If we can get on a bit of a run, where everything goes ok, we will do well, but take us off the straight and narrow and we struggle. In truth Ancelotti is not helping this process currently, as he's changing a lot and it must be affecting confidence.

In terms of the specifities of the game, Leeds did well. As had been mentioned they are workmanlike and cover a lot of grass, and make you do things that are uncomfortable or alien to teams. The best way around this seemed to be when we broke the press and went past a player. Once you did that you could often get quite close to their box. Richarlinson did it well 1st half, and Allan well in the 2nd. I was surprised that Doucoure, and particularly Godfrey and Holgate didn't look to do this more. They are all capable of doing so, and it would have presented them with far more problems. Keane had a go 1st half and did it well. Far from me to say, but I'd have been saying to our defenders to carry the ball forward a lot more.

Our general form is now pretty poor. Burnley becomes an important game, and we have to hope, against better teams, where maybe we can sit a bit deeper and counter it wil suit us. Who knows. It's been a while since we had an allround good performance though, and that must be a worry.

As Sir Bobby Robson (and doubtless other great managers) said, it’s all about the players. Tactics and formations are always secondary to having a good team of mentally strong players.

 

[billyblue80]

He said he was happy with the window. You can't possibly think having literally 0 back ups for EITHER fb is even remotely a good call for either him or Brands

His selections say different

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

I have began to calm a bit,so a few (longer) thoughts.

We are still wide open defensively. Pickford saved us a few times today, but it was another game we could have easily conceded 2+ goals. We've tried lots of combinations and few have worked. Doucoure was excellent last week but offered little protection this week. Not sure what we do. I hope we continue with todays back 3 as I think it's our most balanced back 3.

We remain to me quite an average team. We don't see to be able to deal with anything out of the ordinary. Injuries, suspensions, positional changes, decisions going against us etc and a lot of players go to pot. If we can get on a bit of a run, where everything goes ok, we will do well, but take us off the straight and narrow and we struggle. In truth Ancelotti is not helping this process currently, as he's changing a lot and it must be affecting confidence.

In terms of the specifities of the game, Leeds did well. As had been mentioned they are workmanlike and cover a lot of grass, and make you do things that are uncomfortable or alien to teams. The best way around this seemed to be when we broke the press and went past a player. Once you did that you could often get quite close to their box. Richarlinson did it well 1st half, and Allan well in the 2nd. I was surprised that Doucoure, and particularly Godfrey and Holgate didn't look to do this more. They are all capable of doing so, and it would have presented them with far more problems. Keane had a go 1st half and did it well. Far from me to say, but I'd have been saying to our defenders to carry the ball forward a lot more.

Our general form is now pretty poor. Burnley becomes an important game, and we have to hope, against better teams, where maybe we can sit a bit deeper and counter it wil suit us. Who knows. It's been a while since we had an allround good performance though, and that must be a worry.

Workmanlike?

Nah mate they are Brazil 70 reincarnated if you read the match reports.