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

[BlueToff]

I still just don't fully buy that. I mean why weren't we unfit when we outplayed Spurs for 90 minutes or when we put in a strong showing at Palace? It can't just be applied to games we don't do well in because fitness isn't a thing that comes and goes.

Mate, think about it.

NO team had pre-season.

At the start of the season we looked sharp but fitness wise we were at the same level as everyone else.

Teams build up fitness/match sharpness as the season progresses. By about game 10 is when teams usually hit their peak.

Granted an abnormal season, but we are so, so far off it. It's so clear.

You cannot compare the start of the season as every team plays at the same level.

Since the derby we have been outrun in every game. Arguably since the Brighton match, when we sat really, really deep in the second half and were saved because we scored an early third goal in the second half.

It's not rocket science.

We're basically at 60/70 per cent. Every other team started at that level and because we have good players, we did well.

As teams have improved in fitness and sharpness, we've stagnated - stayed at the same level. Throw in Brands' crap decisions impacting the squad and then crap decisions from Carlo too, and it's a recipe for disaster.

I'll look at Opta in a bit, but off the top of your head, think - since the Liverpool game (include it if you want) how many chances we've managed to create/build in the second halves of games compared to the first.

We are shot after 40 minutes. Every game.

 

[BlueToff]

It's got nothing to do with fitness. Our players are just too slow. Slow players will ALWAYS look unfit.

Of course that has to do with fitness, ffs.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Carlo needs to be better.

Half of the team that started today is new.

They were knackered after 40 minutes.

It's not all of our issue, no, but until we get fitter, we won't compete.

On top of that, we have players who aren't good / brave enough, and a manager making crap decisions.

On top of that, we have a DoF / transfer strategy that is incredibly naive.

Its really all about recruitment

We had a good side around 2013/2014 but sold our best players.

Since then we have spent extortionate amounts of money on players who are nowhere near good enough to play for Everton. The harder we've chased the top 4 dream, the further away we've got. We have a squad full of players who are not good, are on huge money and who don't care whether we win or lose.

Recruitment is the no.1 issue for us and has been for 6 or 7 years. We literally could not have made a bigger hash of it. We either sign completely the wrong players or we don't bother doing business for the key positions.

There is no manager in the world who can save us right now. We are so far beyond saving. Ancelotti is not the problem and it is a privilege to have him, but I dont think anyone can turn us around. The idea Ancelotti doesn't train the players hard is not something I'm buying. Nor is the idea he told players not to put the ball in the box for Dom. These players are the problem and that rests with the recruitment.

 

[Andy Gray Diving Headers]

As bad as anything Martinez and Silva served up that, probably worse

I flew back from Portugal with my two kids for their first ever Everton match last year. It was home to Norwich and Silva was the manager. Lost 2-0 and we still wouldn't have scored if the same teams were still playing now. I accept that Everton were outplayed today but certainly not to the extent of Silva days (I also accept that is not much of a consolation).

 

[BlueToff]

Fulham, Leeds, Southampton, Man Utd.

They have all run rings around us in the last month or so at different stages of the game.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Mate, think about it.

NO team had pre-season.

At the start of the season we looked sharp but fitness wise we were at the same level as everyone else.

Teams build up fitness/match sharpness as the season progresses. By about game 10 is when teams usually hit their peak.

Granted an abnormal season, but we are so, so far off it. It's so clear.

You cannot compare the start of the season as every team plays at the same level.

Since the derby we have been outrun in every game. Arguably since the Brighton match, when we sat really, really deep in the second half and were saved because we scored an early third goal in the second half.

It's not rocket science.

We're basically at 60/70 per cent. Every other team started at that level and because we have good players, we did well.

As teams have improved in fitness and sharpness, we've stagnated - stayed at the same level. Throw in Brands' crap decisions impacting the squad and then crap decisions from Carlo too, and it's a recipe for disaster.

I'll look at Opta in a bit, but off the top of your head, think - since the Liverpool game (include it if you want) how many chances we've managed to create/build in the second halves of games compared to the first.

We are shot after 40 minutes. Every game.

I still feel like we played with intensity for the whole game. We just weren't very good for periods because we aren't very good. We didn't defend well because we have bad defenders. We didn't create because the players who had space flubbed it up.

 

[BlueToff]

Its really all about recruitment

We had a good side around 2013/2014 but sold our best players.

Since then we have spent extortionate amounts of money on players who are nowhere near good enough to play for Everton. The harder we've chased the top 4 dream, the further away we've got. We have a squad full of players who are not good, are on huge money and who don't care whether we win or lose.

Recruitment is the no.1 issue for us and has been for 6 or 7 years. We literally could not have made a bigger hash of it. We either sign completely the wrong players or we don't both doing business for the key positions.

There is no manager in the world who can save us right now. We are so far beyond saving. Ancelotti is not the problem and it is a privilege to have him, but I dont think anyone can turn us around. The idea Ancelotti doesn't train the players hard is not something I'm buying. Nor is the idea he told players not to put the ball in the box for Dom. These players are the problem and that rests with the recruitment.

I agree to an extent but we've signed good players this summer - we just didn't sign enough, we agree on that.

But Allan (who pulled up with an obvious strain late on), Doucoure and James are all shot 40-50 miniutes into every game.

It is not ALL of our issues, but if players are fitter, they stay sharp for longer. Ancelotti has a record of having sides that aren't fit.

As the Premier League is at the moment, fitness is key.

Our players need to be getting flogged up hills, mate. They need to be pushing it. They need to be getting fit, quick.

We have quality players in our squad but when the majority of them are shot after 40 minutes, it doesn't matter.

 

[BlueToff]

I still feel like we played with intensity for the whole game. We just weren't very good for periods because we aren't very good. We didn't defend well because we have bad defenders. We didn't create because the players who had space flubbed it up.

Watch that second half again and tell me we played with intensity.

First 40, yes.

After that, nothing.

Leeds were far from at their best, but by the end had players - fresh subs and players who'd done 90 mins - getting around the pitch.

The only way to deal with being unfit in the short term - while you use training to build fitness - is by controlling the ball in games. We don't do that. We're crap at it. So we need to do one or the other.

Carlo has a lot to answer for. He has been crap as of late and it needs sorting.

 

[miami]

Of course that has to do with fitness, ffs.

Oh matron.......

So slow players doesn't matter then?........ffs. Maybe our lads can't get around the pitch cos theyre........wait for it.................SLOW .............ffs

 

[BlueToff]

Oh matron.......

So slow players doesn't matter then?........ffs

We have some quick players
But they were all knackered after 40 minutes

I could be as quick as Usain Bolt but if I can’t run for more than 40 minutes, I’m not going to be able to get close to another side, am I?

 

[mumwasablue]

Lot of negativity on here. Everton had plenty of chances, I think some of the Everton players under estimated about us being a team . We dont have the greatest players in the world , a work in progress thats us a sum of the parts. Quite a few are internationals we will get better once the new signings bed in. Bielsa likes a small squad, Anceloti will move on the players he doesnt want. We started from zero 2 years ago Everton are .better than some of you think . When you lose at home to Cheltenham on a wet Tuesday night then you have aright to moan.

 

[BlueToff]

Btw @miami - I agree we don’t have enough pace. Again it’s a transfer failing

but we are unfit - nobody can deny that

we’re 13 games in all comps into the season and our players are blowing out of their arses after 40 minutes

 

[Dean1919]

Stop being an idiot lad.

You were cut open time and again but we missed countless opportunities. I've just looked on whoscored, and your goalkeeper won MOM by a massive distance. That sort of sums it up really. It's funny how (even playing badly) we were outplayed, but your goalkeeper was your best player.

As for Godfrey, I suggest you acquaint yourself with the offside rule, as it doesn't matter where you stand if it's off a Leeds player.

If you think that we didn’t cut you open I don’t know what to say...

You can call us workmanlike or whatever back handed compliment you want.

Top & bottom of it your “quality players” were outplayed by our “championship plodders”

 

[ToffeeTim]

I agree to an extent but we've signed good players this summer - we just didn't sign enough, we agree on that.

But Allan (who pulled up with an obvious strain late on), Doucoure and James are all shot 40-50 miniutes into every game.

It is not ALL of our issues, but if players are fitter, they stay sharp for longer. Ancelotti has a record of having sides that aren't fit.

As the Premier League is at the moment, fitness is key.

Our players need to be getting flogged up hills, mate. They need to be pushing it. They need to be getting fit, quick.

We have quality players in our squad but when the majority of them are shot after 40 minutes, it doesn't matter.

I just dont think its all fitness. You can always be fitter and work harder but I think its a mentality more than anything.

There's no leadership on the park and not enough aggression. I hate seeing us be outworked and outmuscled. We always leave the pitch with more in the tank. Philips was absolutely knackered by the end because he left everything out there. That's mentality more than stamina.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Watch that second half again and tell me we played with intensity.

First 40, yes.

After that, nothing.

Leeds were far from at their best, but by the end had players - fresh subs and players who'd done 90 mins - getting around the pitch.

The only way to deal with being unfit in the short term - while you use training to build fitness - is by controlling the ball in games. We don't do that. We're crap at it. So we need to do one or the other.

Carlo has a lot to answer for. He has been crap as of late and it needs sorting.

I really don't feel like doing that but I thought we were fine. We were bad at Fulham I'll freely admit but today I didn't think it was the same which is why I feel like it is mentality. Fulham and Brighton (and maybe others) we thought it was job done and just eased off because we thought we could and not because we couldn't keep going.