Everton v Middlesbrough. 17th Sep at 1730.

[Kantareller]

Still early days and we haven't really had the most difficult games so far.

But these games still need to be won and we have done that, it also gives us a momentum going forward. I bet Bobby would've been satisfied if we had 6 or 7 points today.

 

[RomanReigns]

Still early days and we haven't really had the most difficult games so far.

But these games still need to be won and we have done that, it also gives us a momentum going forward. I bet Bobby would've been satisfied if we had 6 or 7 points today.

same fixtures last season

Everton 1 Tottenham 1
West Brom 2 Everton 3
Everton 3 Stoke 4
Sunderland 3 Everton 0

bournemouth, watford and norwich got promoted

we beat bournemouth and norwich but drew with watford

Middlesborough finished 2nd in the championship, same position as Watford so if we compare the result we had against Boro yesterday to last season's game v's Watford then....

Everton 2 Watford 2

played 5 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 2 = 5 points out of 15

we are on 13 points out of 15

the difference of 8 points compared to last season already

 

[evo1878]

Yes.

I never felt at any stage in the second half they they were going to score even one goal and make it uncomfortable for us in the closing stages.

What I am loving most of all is the idea that a defender's first priority is to defend......not take the fraction of a second required to start an attack, the crucial split second which has allowed an attacker to worry them into a mistake too often this past couple years.

Yes totally agree with you. Hadn't appreciated that perspective but yes when you put it that way it's a frighteningly simple correction. The role Barry plays protecting the centre of the defence shouldn't be underestimated (but he was already doing that last season). What I loved most about yesterday was watching our hornet Gana buzzing around any of their players from angles they were not expecting. Noticed it first in the west brom game but his reading of the game is awesome. What was more impressive yesterday is the number of times he anticipated one of our defenders might be in trouble and was on the spot to help out and, ball won, almost always with a simple pass we were on the front foot again.

 

[Ballyfermot]

Did Williams mean that on Valdez considering the Negredo goal.

 

[deipnosophist]

My main brickbat?

We started slowly again as if someone had spiked the water with tamazepan. The Mason cock up actually did us a favour in that it roused us.
First half vs S'land we similarly had our drinks spiked.
I'm sure RK will address this slow start propensity.

 

[COYB]

anyone know to watch the full match anywhere?

probs wont sleep tonight so mayaswell watch the
match again 'sober' something to do

 

[Khalekan]

Did Williams mean that on Valdez considering the Negredo goal.

I shouldn't have thought so.

He could have done Valdez a bad injury and Ash doesn't seem to be the type of player to want to take thar risk.

 

[BIG Hugo]

Was it just me or did a bit of complacency sink in near the end?
Loads of supporters leaving with 10 minutes still to play.

 

[a bell maul]

My main brickbat?

We started slowly again as if someone had spiked the water with tamazepan. The Mason cock up actually did us a favour in that it roused us.
First half vs S'land we similarly had our drinks spiked.
I'm sure RK will address this slow start propensity.

Mason's cock up roused us eh?


Nice homo-eroticism.

 

[DualityNSNO]

Mason's cock up roused us eh?


Nice homo-eroticism.

GOT summed up.

 

[Jeff Jones]

My main brickbat?

We started slowly again as if someone had spiked the water with tamazepan. The Mason cock up actually did us a favour in that it roused us.
First half vs S'land we similarly had our drinks spiked.
I'm sure RK will address this slow start propensity.

Yes, and we were slow to fire up against WBA. We got away with it, but it needs to be addressed because we probably won't get away
with it against the better teams.

Pressing high is all the go now and will we survive against them if we're slow out of the blocks?

RK will have noticed this, as you say, and I hope he can sort it out.

 

[scotchbutterpin]

Great all round team performance on Saturday and I thought Barry was excellent again. Unsung hero.
I'm not going to start tugging myself off furiously as it's only September, but we could do some damage if we keep all players fit and top up in Jan if that spoofer Mosh releases some funds.

 

[Ballyfermot]

I shouldn't have thought so.

He could have done Valdez a bad injury and Ash doesn't seem to be the type of player to want to take thar risk.

Maybe but technically it was no different from the Negredo challenge. I'd like to think he figured he wouldn't shy away from challenging the 'keepers ball' cause he new the refs hands where tied. I'm not sayin he is a dirty player but he is smart and defenders like him don't take conceading goals lightly.

 

[MikeH72]

same fixtures last season

Everton 1 Tottenham 1
West Brom 2 Everton 3
Everton 3 Stoke 4
Sunderland 3 Everton 0

bournemouth, watford and norwich got promoted

we beat bournemouth and norwich but drew with watford

Middlesborough finished 2nd in the championship, same position as Watford so if we compare the result we had against Boro yesterday to last season's game v's Watford then....

Everton 2 Watford 2

played 5 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 2 = 5 points out of 15

we are on 13 points out of 15

the difference of 8 points compared to last season already

Doesn't matter mate, we haven't been the entertainers because we've not been letting in a shed load of goals like the good old days.

 

[Khalekan]

Maybe but technically it was no different from the Negredo challenge. I'd like to think he figured he wouldn't shy away from challenging the 'keepers ball' cause he new the refs hands where tied. I'm not sayin he is a dirty player but he is smart and defenders like him don't take conceading goals lightly.

I think it was well different from the Negredo challenge, if I am honest with you.

He was going for a ball he had a right to go for, he even connected with Stek's arm and there was more chance of an injury to his head than there was to Stek......truth be told he did lose that ball a bit too easily IMO

Ash went in with a foot held illegally high and if his foot had connected with Valdez's head it could have been bad for the goalie. I for one don't think Ashley Williams is the type of player would exact retribution on one player for the perceived action of another.