Match Thread Everton v Man City. 23rd August at 16.00.

[sd_1992]

I actually thought browning was the correct choice at the time.
Martinez was concerned with the pace on the wings I think and can you imagine Barry in a foot race with Navas.
just one of those days I think when you catch a quality team when all there players are in good form and confident

We lost the game because city knew exactly what they we up against... 2 isolated full backs (one of whom is very inexperienced) and no wingers, which meant that they could go 2 against 1 on each wing all game because there was no threat to their defence from wide.

The way we set up against city was shocking considering we had no intention of playing on the counter.

You only have to look at city's attack (one striker, one attacking midfielder, TWO BLOODY WINGERS, a box to box midfielder and a defensive midfielder) to realise it isn't exactly rocket science why they beat us...

 

[catcherintherye]

The painful truth yesterday was, that we lost to a better team. They are the best team in the division by a fair distance. Last season against Chelsea we beat ourselves with some terrible defending. Yesterday we went toe to toe with one of the bets in the division, but unfortunately they had that little bit of extra quality where it mattered.

Positives;
1) Barkley. He is playing like he did two years ago before his injuries. He wants the ball more now and is not worried about what can go wrong, he is looking at being positive, taking people on and getting shots away. He should have had an assist yesterday were it not for a dubious decision. I also like how he is getting involved deeper now and demanding the ball. Much better from him.

2) Cleverley. Until Colemans late burst I thought he was our best player. He covers an awful lot of ground and is like an upgrade on Osman. I think he will thrive in a wide right position that give shim the freedom to get around the pitch.

3) Coleman: His best display in a year. Again looks to have re gained his confidence. Keeping it simple too, rather than always looking to pass inside, when the moment arrives he is happy to run at players. A lot of sides are closing us down higher up the pitch, it only takes one full back to go past one player and we are in. More of the same Seamus.

Negatives:
Lukaku: Need a little more from him, Mangala outdid him yesterday. He didn't have a bad game, but there's more to come.

Galloway/Browning:Neither played badly, but in a game of that magnitude we were carrying them a bit. Browning a bit less so. I hope Oviedo will return soon.

Lots of positive signs though. We are a long way ahead of last season. We still have some way to go to be where we were two years ago though. But for Martinez and the players you can signs of progress.

 

[catcherintherye]

I would say the Browning substitution was a brave one.
Last year he would of moved Barry left back and put Osman on. In hidsight Browning looked uncomfortable and nervous at left back but I would never have a go at the manager for bringing a kid on

Although I agree with you on the other subs, I think everyone at the time wanted a double sub of Mirallas and Deulofeu to try and stretch the game a bit, maybe on 70 minutes and just go blow for blow with them.

This 100 times over. Browning (and Galloway before him) would have learnt a lot from that. Browning wasn't poor either. And we needed his legs at different moments in the game. Barry is an important player for us in the middle of midfield, and doesn't have the legs for full back. I think against anyone else in the league, Browning will do a good job for us in there.

 

[Raino85]

We lost the game because city knew exactly what they we up against... 2 isolated full backs (one of whom is very inexperienced) and no wingers, which meant that they could go 2 against 1 on each wing all game because there was no threat to their defence from wide.

The way we set up against city was shocking considering we had no intention of playing on the counter.

You only have to look at city's attack (one striker, one attacking midfielder, TWO BLOODY WINGERS, a box to box midfielder and a defensive midfielder) to realise it isn't exactly rocket science why they beat us...

I thought on another day we would of got something to be honest.
When we were at our best (probably 15/20 minutes before half time ) if we managed to get a goal up we could of then set up for the counter as they would have to chase us.
Although we did wether the storm when they came out the traps to begin with, Pellegrini got it spot on tacticly

 

[Raino85]

The painful truth yesterday was, that we lost to a better team. They are the best team in the division by a fair distance. Last season against Chelsea we beat ourselves with some terrible defending. Yesterday we went toe to toe with one of the bets in the division, but unfortunately they had that little bit of extra quality where it mattered.

Positives;
1) Barkley. He is playing like he did two years ago before his injuries. He wants the ball more now and is not worried about what can go wrong, he is looking at being positive, taking people on and getting shots away. He should have had an assist yesterday were it not for a dubious decision. I also like how he is getting involved deeper now and demanding the ball. Much better from him.

2) Cleverley. Until Colemans late burst I thought he was our best player. He covers an awful lot of ground and is like an upgrade on Osman. I think he will thrive in a wide right position that give shim the freedom to get around the pitch.

3) Coleman: His best display in a year. Again looks to have re gained his confidence. Keeping it simple too, rather than always looking to pass inside, when the moment arrives he is happy to run at players. A lot of sides are closing us down higher up the pitch, it only takes one full back to go past one player and we are in. More of the same Seamus.

Negatives:
Lukaku: Need a little more from him, Mangala outdid him yesterday. He didn't have a bad game, but there's more to come.

Galloway/Browning:Neither played badly, but in a game of that magnitude we were carrying them a bit. Browning a bit less so. I hope Oviedo will return soon.

Lots of positive signs though. We are a long way ahead of last season. We still have some way to go to be where we were two years ago though. But for Martinez and the players you can signs of progress.

Thought lukaku looked up for it and worked hard yesterday, unlike last week at Southampton Barkley & Kone had to do more defensive work so couldn't support him as much an Kompany & Mangala made sure he played with his back to goal as much as possible, but when he did get running at them and got support he looked dangerous

Galloway & Browning will make mistakes, the worst thing we could do is rush Oviedo in for either of them. Full backs such as Ivanovic and Azpiculetta got torn to bits by this team the week before so to drop young lads for not being outstanding against them would dent there confidence, keep them in, give them games, let them learn

 

[andy4efc]

Cant believe anybody is suggesting we should have put Barry against Jesus Navas.

 

[deipnosophist]

When City's mind is on the job they are the best in the PL, and by some distance.

 

[djsunyc]

clear difference in class between them and us. we played ok but it is painful to see how our offense is so impotent against a team like that. when we get bogged down, we have zero creativity. we really needed kev in there. the first goal was inexcusable by howard.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Not very good at home are we lads. Two games at GP and looking 2nd best for the most part.

We need to be more offensive, especially at home. If we lose, go down fighting from the start.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Silva and aguero are different class, think city are the ones to beat this season for The prem.

My brother in law supports City and I did say that if we had Silva and Aguero, we would have won. They are as you say, another level up in quality.

 

[Barkley1878]

Not very good at home are we lads. Two games at GP and looking 2nd best for the most part.

We need to be more offensive, especially at home. If we lose, go down fighting from the start.

Spot on i said the same yesterday I can accept losing a match if we give it a go but instead we packed the midfield moyes style with central midfielders and hoped for the best.

Their is no way you can stop city scoring especially with a young CB playing LB we needed to have gone out with Mirallas and possibly Deloufeu and gone for it.

 

[sportbillyblue]

start of the 2nd. half we looked so lethargic and immediately lost the momentum we'd been building up until half time. This has been the problem in other games too, particularly remember it happening against Arsenal (2-2) at the same time last year.

Also wondered why big Dunc was on the pitch warming up with the subs during half time and not in the dressing room. Martinez and Jones seem incapable of rousing the players, a task Big Dunc is no doubt capable of doing.

Crowd was a bit quiet at the beginning of the 2nd. half too.

 

[anton66]

We were good in the first half, problem was, Man City were great in the second half. That is where the wealth difference is evident. Everton are a good team,and we look better than last season already, mostly. Up against teams other than the one that will clearly win the league, we'll be sound for the majority of the time.

We are a top of the range Ford that needed a repair all last year. Everton the Ghia*, if you will, and we've just had our clutch done. Day to day, we look good, we have all the bells and whistles and we are reasonably quick in real world terms. We're ace. Yesterday we're sat at the lights after pulling level with a souped up Watford and then burning Southampton off, ready for the next team, feeling rather good about ourselves and with good reason too. Then as the lights change to green, Man City blast past in a Mercedes S-Class.

Suddenly we feel ordinary for a little bit. And sure, there'll be Chelsea and Arsenal driving by in Jags and BMW's, however there'll also be Nissans and Vauxhalls to encounter. This is not to say I'm happy with mediocrity, I'm not, but one step at a time, eh?

What all that crap above means, is that I think that apart from the first half against Watford, we've played better than we did in most games last season, which, while being beaten by Man City certainly does not please me, does at least mean we can recover from last season's abhorrence, and kick on from there.




*made up with thinking of that

Our mechanics are awful. Cheap parts and dodgy workmanship.

 

[sd_1992]

I thought on another day we would of got something to be honest.
When we were at our best (probably 15/20 minutes before half time ) if we managed to get a goal up we could of then set up for the counter as they would have to chase us.
Although we did wether the storm when they came out the traps to begin with, Pellegrini got it spot on tacticly

We could have easily gotten something yesterday, especially if Howard didn't conspire to somehow try and lose every game for us. Pellegrini got it spot on tactically because we allowed him to, it was obvious that they were doubling up on full backs from the first minute and yet nothing was done about it all game (a theme all too familiar from last season).

 

[Saaby]

Not really. I just said prepare to look an idiot. I didn't say you were one. Encouraging to see you were prepared though.

If it means a goal and a win im happy to look stupid lol