Everton v Norwich City - EFL Cup - Tuesday 20 Sept, 19.45 KO

[Caolam]

Nothing happened last night that most of us didn't expect. We know our squad was paper thin, most of us knew what we needed in the transfer window but it didn't happen. Last night is the out working of a very poor squad. We need all our players to stay fit until the next transfer window so that we can get some strength in depth.

 

[BlueToff]

Lennon is gash mate no end product what so ever has been the same for years.

He set up Del twice and Barkley once.

Had either of those two had their shooting boots on that's three assists.

 

[BlueToff]

Nothing happened last night that most of us didn't expect. We know our squad was paper thin, most of us knew what we needed in the transfer window but it didn't happen. Last night is the out working of a very poor squad. We need all our players to stay fit until the next transfer window so that we can get some strength in depth.

It's not a poor squad at all.

Injuries have hit us even since the close of the season - which hasn't helped but our main problem is quality depth in certain areas.

Martinez built an imbalanced squad, and it looks like our failure to add an out-and-out back-up striker will cost us.

However, there's no need to panic. It was merely a case of one too many changes last night and then the players we put out there (particularly Del and Barkley) not performing as required in front of goal.

Del's finishing is awful.

 

[BlueToff]

So he wasn't more casual in his approach than he has been with league games?

But the performance wasn't 'casual' was my point.

It was just really bad.

 

[BlueToff]

Of course it's relevant. Other teams around us have decent backup strikers. We took West Ham's fourth choice striker on loan.

Why did we go for Perez so late in the window. Wenger wasn't interested in him until he was desperate so if we had of wrapped up the deal early then Arsenal would never have had that chance. The fact that he would have signed for us, a striker with a very good scoring record in a top league just goes to show we can attract the players.

Has Kenwright's finger prints of dithering over wanting to get him for a bargain all over it. If we had the money then there shouldn't have been a problem and that was poor of the board/Kenwright/whoever was to blame.

I agree we shouldn't have dithered - but Perez clearly jumped ship at the earliest opportunity in terms of signing for a bigger and better club. It happens.

Our recruitment drive in the closing weeks of the window was poor. I don't think many would argue that.

But it isn't easy to get a top-quality/reliable back-up striker to come in purely as second choice unless you can offer European football.

 

[Caolam]

It's not a poor squad at all.

Injuries have hit us even since the close of the season - which hasn't helped but our main problem is quality depth in certain areas.

Martinez built an imbalanced squad, and it looks like our failure to add an out-and-out back-up striker will cost us.

However, there's no need to panic. It was merely a case of one too many changes last night and then the players we put out there (particularly Del and Barkley) not performing as required in front of goal.

Del's finishing is awful.

We need another centre half, cover for Barry, cover for Lukuka, cover for Stek a play maker. That is 5 short. I think that is an issue

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Ruddy had an excellent game and our players didn't have their shooting boots on

That XI was good enough to win, but we just couldn't manage it

Disappointing loss that certainly stings, but we've got to get over it and concentrate on the League now

 

[alwaysblue]

Disappointing result, but it's a mickey mouse cup anyway - well until you get knocked out! What was more disappointing was the idiot in front of me who thought it was ok to f and blind in front of his young lad. Calling players (mainly Barkley) [Poor language removed] etc etc. What an example to that young lad - should be ashamed.

 

[granter79]

Was a clear indication that they need to spend money in January. Fringe players not up to the standard of the first 11 and players that were given a chance didn't take it.

Not nice to lose but might just ground us all abit that we are still a work in progress squad wise and hope we don't get many serious injuries.

Still unbeaten in the league and would expect another 3 points from a tough game at the weekend.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

It's not a poor squad at all.

Injuries have hit us even since the close of the season - which hasn't helped but our main problem is quality depth in certain areas.

Martinez built an imbalanced squad, and it looks like our failure to add an out-and-out back-up striker will cost us.

However, there's no need to panic. It was merely a case of one too many changes last night and then the players we put out there (particularly Del and Barkley) not performing as required in front of goal.

Del's finishing is awful.

Yes it is. How can you argue otherwise?

Questions:
- Say Lukaku breaks his leg tomorrow, how do we maintain a good league position until January? Kone, Niasse, Valencia?
- What happens if one of Barry/Gueye does the same? Atm the obvious replacements (who aren't good enough anyway - McCarthy, Gibson, Besic) are all injured, which leaves us with Cleverley.

Our squad, in terms of strength in depth, is abysmal and the board are 100% to blame.

 

[Smodger]

Our squad, in terms of strength in depth, is abysmal and the board are 100% to blame.

100% right there mate.

 

[davids]

We need another centre half, cover for Barry, cover for Lukuka, cover for Stek a play maker. That is 5 short. I think that is an issue

We have needed a play maker since we were linked with Gheorghe Hagi

 

[BlueToff]

We need another centre half, cover for Barry, cover for Lukuka, cover for Stek a play maker. That is 5 short. I think that is an issue

We don't need another CB at all - Mori is more than adequate cover. A left-back, as he played last night, he is not.

A playmaker - yes, we do still need if Barkley can't step up his consistency. Striking cover - I think Valencia is okay tbh, but just not a player who can play the lone forward role.

Goalkeeper yes - and I think had Stek not been is as good a form as he has we'd have seen us go all out for a keeper in August.

And look at all the players you name - bar the playmaker it's all 'cover'.

We're still in a position where the players that we bring in as 'cover' aren't going to be of the quality top 6 sides have as cover.

 

[BlueToff]

Yes it is. How can you argue otherwise?

Questions:
- Say Lukaku breaks his leg tomorrow, how do we maintain a good league position until January? Kone, Niasse, Valencia?
- What happens if one of Barry/Gueye does the same? Atm the obvious replacements (who aren't good enough anyway - McCarthy, Gibson, Besic) are all injured, which leaves us with Cleverley.

Our squad, in terms of strength in depth, is abysmal and the board are 100% to blame.

But our squad isn't poor.

It lacks depth in certain areas - namely, striker and midfield.

Bare in mind that McCarthy and Besic are both injured already though. We still have a big squad.

We finished 11th and unless you finished top 6 or are Chelsea/Liverpool, getting top-quality players in purely as 'cover' doesn't happen.

While we should have done better in the window I also take the above into account.

 

[BlueToff]

Ruddy had an excellent game and our players didn't have their shooting boots on

That XI was good enough to win, but we just couldn't manage it

Disappointing loss that certainly stings, but we've got to get over it and concentrate on the League now

As Koeman said - "we don't celebrate when we win a game at this club, and we don't cry when we are out."

Some people on here could do with taking that on board.