Match Thread Everton v Leicester City - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[Jim Hopper]

At least we’ll have Doucoure & Allan back for next game. Finally have the team we started the season with which we haven’t been able to field since about 3 months ago

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Once the disappointment of Jordan Pickford letting the win slip from our grasp fades, the value of the point when severely hampered by player absences comes more to the fore. Make no mistake no Allan and Doucoure meaning Davies and Gomes was a serious handicap, Carlo had to come up with a plan to play without the ball, nullify Leicester and depend on a flash of brilliance to win, it all but came off.

He picked a team accordingly, our four centre back defence was predictable but Digne on the left in midfield not so much, he knew we would be forced back but we really limited Leicester to lots of possession and little real threat. It took a lame effort from 18 yards and a keeper error to give them a deserved equaliser. He may have seen it late said Carlo who was more than happy with a good point.

Doucoure back makes a big difference, this was a plan to be competitive last night while recognising and accommodating our weakest points. Carlo has always been a winner but also pragmatist, we don't have to win with style using plan A if the personnel aren't capable, plan B and winning another way is more important than possession and if you can't win you don't lose.

Carlo got it right last night, Leicester deserved at least a point and possibly all three but despite that we could have won, the plan was almost perfection.

 

[Jim Hopper]

Leicester are very good - every inch the modern oufit. Fast, well coordinated and with strength in reserve - something that we lack.
It's no shame to draw at home with them.
We need to play with that attacking intensity instead of our sporadic efforts.

They do play some nice stuff and they completely pressed any game plan we had worked on out of us. Their players were tenacious and didn’t stop. Seems like that’s a style of play put in place by Rodgers, I can’t see us ever playing like that under Ancelotti as that style of football isn’t really how he sets his teams up.

 

[Eggs]

....a night’s sleep and another Pickford blunder is still at the front of my thoughts.

When players die for the defensive cause, put their bodies on the line and are then let down late in the game by a teammate I guarantee Pickford has also been at the front of his teammates thoughts since the final whistle.

This team is far from ‘rubbish’ many posters are surprisingly suggesting. Ancelotti has found a way of being competitive against the top sides, but we now carry a threat in the final third. We now need to maximise that threat.

The lack of ‘legs’ in midfield was clear last night, we found it difficult to transition from defence to attack. Two full backs who rarely pass the halfway line doesn’t help, but it was a tactic Ancelotti went with and it nearly paid off. I’ve been critical of the manager (Newcastle away was very poor) but I wouldn’t criticise him for last night.

Play Digne where Digne plays, Doucoure coming back and the introduction of Iwobi will make a big difference.

 

[aglee]

Utter rubbish! Did you not read my post properly?

Carlo has had one summer transfer window, in which he brought in 4 quality players.

He's took on an average-to-mediocre squad, and has managed to get it (with the summer additions) to a position half way through the season where we are not only top half, but potentially challenging for a European spot next season.

As for this: '...We lost the games at HOME to West Ham and Leeds already this season due to his poor tactics...', ManUre lost at home to the bottom club tonight; the RS lost at home to Burnley. Villa spanked 7 past the RS. Teams are going to lose to other teams. Get used to it, and get over it...

I don't accept mediocre, since in my time I've seen us win the title four times, win the FA Cup 3 times, and a European trophy. I have seen how good this club has been. However, with Carlo, the fan base must be patient, which you obviously are not...

Remember, whenever we play, there's another team on the pitch, and most of the time, they have bloody good players. Leicester are not where they are at the moment in the league for nothing...

My head hurts and I feel queasy when people start making that sense thing

 

[Jim Hopper]

....a night’s sleep and another Pickford blunder is still at the front of my thoughts.

When players die for the defensive cause, put their bodies on the line and are then let down late in the game by a teammate I guarantee Pickford has also been at the front of his teammates thoughts since the final whistle.

This team is far from ‘rubbish’ many posters are surprisingly suggesting. Ancelotti has found a way of being competitive against the top sides, but we now carry a threat in the final third. We now need to maximise that threat.

The lack of ‘legs’ in midfield was clear last night, we found it difficult to transition from defence to attack. Two full backs who rarely pass the halfway line doesn’t help, but it was a tactic Ancelotti went with and it nearly paid off. I’ve been critical of the manager (Newcastle away was very poor) but I wouldn’t criticise him for last night.

Play Digne where Digne plays, Doucoure coming back and the introduction of Iwobi will make a big difference.

Digne actually hasn’t played that bad on the left. He still managed to create a lot of decent chances for us last night as he did in the game before. The problem with moving him back to left back is it’s completely disrespectful to Godfrey who has run himself into the ground in that position consistently for 3 / 4 months straight. He’s made that position his own. Shuffling the team to accommodate players who aren’t putting in the type of performances expected (Richy) doesn’t really sit well with me. I think Ancelotti agrees, with him keeping Godfrey at LB.

 

[BornBlue76]

....a night’s sleep and another Pickford blunder is still at the front of my thoughts.

When players die for the defensive cause, put their bodies on the line and are then let down late in the game by a teammate I guarantee Pickford has also been at the front of his teammates thoughts since the final whistle.

This team is far from ‘rubbish’ many posters are surprisingly suggesting. Ancelotti has found a way of being competitive against the top sides, but we now carry a threat in the final third. We now need to maximise that threat.

The lack of ‘legs’ in midfield was clear last night, we found it difficult to transition from defence to attack. Two full backs who rarely pass the halfway line doesn’t help, but it was a tactic Ancelotti went with and it nearly paid off. I’ve been critical of the manager (Newcastle away was very poor) but I wouldn’t criticise him for last night.

Play Digne where Digne plays, Doucoure coming back and the introduction of Iwobi will make a big difference.

think you're right. If we didnt intend to have the ball we would have been far better off surely playing Digne at LB and moving Godfrey or Holgate to the middle with Davies. Davies and Gomes cannot play together from the start. Disaster.

 

[Hickson9]

At least we’ll have Doucoure & Allan back for next game. Finally have the team we started the season with which we haven’t been able to field since about 3 months ago

Allan is meant to be back for Man U, so will be missing against Newcastle and Leeds.

 

[Terrarian]

Bloody frustrating that was last night. I need to give more credit to Leicester they are a good side but we can't just park the bus and hope for the best, it very rarely works.

 

[Jim Hopper]

Allan is meant to be back for Man U, so will be missing against Newcastle and Leeds.

I remain hopeful he’ll back this weekend. Carlo has a knack of trying to trick the opposition. Don’t rule it out.

 

[Eggs]

think you're right. If we didnt intend to have the ball we would have been far better off surely playing Digne at LB and moving Godfrey or Holgate to the middle with Davies. Davies and Gomes cannot play together from the start. Disaster.

....it was simply an Ancelotti game plan, and it was one that very nearly worked only for Pickford’s error. I have no issue at all with the approach, indeed I’m encouraged by it.

 

[Bluerover]

They do play some nice stuff and they completely pressed any game plan we had worked on out of us. Their players were tenacious and didn’t stop. Seems like that’s a style of play put in place by Rodgers, I can’t see us ever playing like that under Ancelotti as that style of football isn’t really how he sets his teams up.

Agreed, but this does not mean that our players should think they can stroll around. I am still concerned about the lack of intensity in their approach.

 

[msb]

With eyes on the big picture, we were a another Pickford howler away from a superb result, with a team missing our central core. We very nearly nicked it anyway, with both DCL and Gomes having excellent chances in the last few minutes.

We all know our back up players are not good enough, when there are significant gaps through injury/suspension - I don't understand the chest beating and gnashing of teeth for what is a reasonable result in the circumstances.

Carlo got it right, Pickford didn't. That's my match report. Godfrey player of the match for me, honourable mentions to Mina, Keane and Holgate. Davies and Gomes were not as bad as some on here think, but certainly not good enough long term as cover.

 

[Bob Latchford]

Eh, sitting back for so long just isn't sustainable. As you said, they didn't even have Vardy.

We beat them 2-0 when they did have him.

The big difference was our lack of midfield and - I can’t believe I’m trying this - someone like Iwobi to hold and carry the ball to allow us to play on the break. DCL was left completely isolated and we just sat too deep.

Carlo has looked at the United, Leeds, Southampton, Newcastle games etc and made a decision that either we’re not ready to play the way he wants us to and/or he’s not going to play in to other teams hands and instead we’ll be a team that will focus on defence. It’s a bit negative and nerve wracking to watch but there are more ways to be successful than playing 4-3-3 and counter pressing.

The team is evolving under Carlo as he continues to tinker with tactics and personnel. I trust him to build on the progress made in the second half of the season.

 

[Mashtray]

Lots to digest and mull. Olson needs a good run of 3-5 matches if for nothing other than to change scenery. In the end, rueing 2 points missed but happily take 1 point off a Leicester side coming to town with tails up.

Too bad for them that 50%of their games have to be played at the Kingpower