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

[ForestBlue]

Coady seemed quieter than usual from where I was sitting. Not sure why (if true)

Team lacked direction in the first half especially but better second half.

Not doom and gloom just beaten by a better team who always seemed to have options going forward, which we didn't.

 

[andy4efc]

My take on the game;

We we were poor last night, not sure what was up with the midfield. Onana doesnt seem to want to bust a gut to get around the pitch? Both United goals came from an individual error rather than poor defending or a lack of defending through the games. I thought apart from that we looked very comfortable defensively.

Annoyingly, said before the game that united team were there for the taking defensively, we needed a presence. Martinez had Maupay's number made him completely ineffective, needed DCL up there but fitness stopped that. As soon as we went direct, put balls in the box, they were absolutely crapping it. They could not handle the crazyness of pumping it in the box and looking for headers.

On Another night, the ball bounces our way and we get a result despite not being great.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Just a few why's. When they scored to make it 1-1, why did we look petrified of them?

Why did we allow Eriksen to boss the midfield?

Why did we allow Fernandes to keep running in behind us?

Why do we have players who for a split second become brain - dead?

 

[Johnnytotal]

We've got zero play makers.

 

[Bez2k2k]

All is not lost. Let’s have it right we have been undone by 2 goals, due to mistakes, from an 80million pound player and arguably the best player that’s ever graced the game. Personally, I found everyone off the pace, however how United set up you could tell they had done their research and played a formation which stretched us and allowed them space.

Our three midfielders in the centre of the park meant their wingers were constantly stood on the touch line on their own. It provided an out ball everytime from the back and we spent most of the game huffing and puffing but unable to get the ball back. Dare I say it, after Iwobi’s goal we should of switched to 5 at the back with Iwobi and Myko being wingbacks, Coleman as a centre back at least until half time and pushed Gordon up front with Maupay. That way we could have stopped their wide play. However if you don’t adapt you don’t succeed. Very annoying.

I think Pickford for both goals made the players minds up. Especially for Ronaldo’s, he ran out like a lunatic and got beat at his near post, stupid in my opinion. But again, all is not lost, James Garner looked handy and it was nice to see a midfielder have a shot on target, Dom came back and changed the game with his presence, however it is still disappointing to lose, especially after going a goal up. Coleman and Myko also caught for both goals, but let’s have it right, United where the better team.

 

[TyphooToffee]

That mediocre team have just beat Liverpool & Arsenal.
Not the best Utd team by a long shot , but a midfield & forward line stacked with World Class talent.

With a bit of luck we could even had a point or even 3.
Poor performance by all our players undone by 2 bad mistakes but yet we hung in there.
That gives me hope.

Agree with all of that. It's as if everyone was ignoring the second half of the Manchester derby, and Utd's form leading up to that match. They have a very astute manager now and it showed. Of course it didn't help that Iwobi and Gana lost or gave the ball away. We all know they can be prone to it, it's just our bad luck they both did so against a team with clinical finishers like Anthony and Ronaldo.

It's a shock/disappointment but hopefully Kane and Son won't be given the same chances.

 

[cjuk87]

Such a strange one last night. We went back to the mentality of old.

Standing and watching a player on the ball, instead of moving into space and offering support. The amount of times I saw a player with the ball and zero options was a disgrace.

Then defensively, no tracking back from the usual suspects, no pressure applied early on, no pressure at all actually.

We looked fed up and I can't understand why?

Gordon was a disgrace again. He looks exactly like Kane did, after he didn't get his move to City. Sulking, walking round, not tracking back. Beyond frustrating to watch.

 

[zook]

Second best all over the pitch, Luke Shaw pocketed everyone who tried to run it at him.

The individual mistakes in midfield were what ultimately cost us the game but probably our worst team performance of the season.

The wide men were shocking, Gordon in particular had his worst game in an Everton shirt. Offered very little threat, we need to bring in some quality there in January imo.

Looked better the last 10 mins when we realised we’d have more luck just pumping balls at them but left it too late.

Only positives were that Iwobi goal, DCL getting on the pitch and Garner looking sharp when he came on.

 

[brian labone]

Very poor show last night, mistakes all over the pitch, poor passing, gave up to easily and why does Lampard always leave it so late to bring on subs with little time left to get used to the pace of the game.

 

[Old Blue 2]

Done by two counter attacks after a midfield player lost the ball in their half of the pitch.
Done because our defenders were not tight enough on their attackers when we were in possession.
Simple lessons to be learned from that...

 

[dylsexicbleu]

Played poor against a team who themselves are up & down week to week. Hopefully just one of those games.

 

[Zezti]

we were crap, we deserved to lose, it happens
the proof of our progress will be in the response

 

[ChesterBlue]

Played poor against a team who themselves are up & down week to week. Hopefully just one of those games.

To be fair prior to the City mauling they had been on a 4 game win streak. Doesn’t excuse our performance, but they’ll be top 6 easy this season

 

[terryefc]

Poor team performance against a team low on confidence but with world class players who will damage you if they can.
We played like we were the away side. Far too conservative.
No one played better than a 6/10 except maybe Iwobi - who got my MOM.
Onana can do so much more - but he's young and it's early days.
Thought Garner looked promising and DCL did ok when he came on.
Gordon was shocking, Gana careless with passing and Pickford should have done better - but hard to criticize him after his recent outstanding performances.
Back down to earth with a big bump unfortunately. Play like that against Spuds and they'll walk all over us.

 

[davek]

The credit given to United is a bit OTT IMO. They're a poor Man United team. Worse teams than Everton will get a result out of United this season and they have already.

We just didn't see the identity we've put together since late last season out there last night. Too much of a belief that the unbeaten run make us a 'good team'. But they are not a good team, not at all.

For us to get results we have to have the team out there going into it knowing their own technical limitations and that their strength lies in organisation and hard work.