Match Thread Everton v Southampton Sunday 27th Nov KO 16:30

[1966efc]

Takes a dedicated man to write a fine report after that dross. Thanks, Andy.

Couldn't quite believe what I'd seen on T V so watched the 'highlights' on MOTD.

I hope the opening minute is awarded a BAFTA for comedy. Surely the men starting the match must have some vague memory of what a footballer actually does? And yet there they are, performing like puppies on an ice rink.

It would be hilarious if so many people weren't so annoyed with them.

 

[JLW]

I don't think I saw one player run beyond lukaku yesterday in behind their defence. It's a basic of football. Our system is turd.

We have the players for 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 any of them will do next week as long as there is a change of system and personnel

 

[hktoffee]

None.

 

[BlueToff]

I don't think I saw one player run beyond lukaku yesterday in behind their defence. It's a basic of football. Our system is turd.

Definitely a change in system required.

That is what Koeman must do.

I don't blame him for the players not been up to scratch given that they're just as bad as they were for the past year (the new signings - despite not been great - are the only ones who have been productive for us or are coming close to hitting the levels expected of Everton players, so in that sense I think it's very clear what Koeman can get out of players who can adapt to how he likes to play).

I do think he's been very naive thinking that he's got the players for this system or that 4-2-3-1 is ever going to work for us.

It worked at S'ton last year for him as he had players who knew his system inside and out and worked hard - front players always pressing and hunting in packs, with big players in front of the defence and two very good cb's.

So, he needs to change that. I can understand in wanting to get a reaction from his first team, but its clear that is now not coming.

So players like Holgate and Davies should now be given a chance. At this stage there's nothing to lose, even against United.

He needs to be brave and decisive - the traits that he was showing early in the season that won us points.

For all his faults Stek has pulled off some very good saves and provides a solid-enough base.

Williams in front of him needs a partner with a bit of pace. Jagielka's legs have gone and he's quickly becoming a hate figure - so drop him. Get Mori in, and if Mori doesn't perform Holgate is next in line (presuming we stick with a four at the back).

Coleman's place should be under threat but that being said he's still one of our only players willing to run directly at the oppo and get into forward areas - the fact remains he's a full-back and isn't somebody who is going to guarantee goals.

Lukaku needs support. Whether that is Valencia or Del or Bolasie moved central I don't care. Barkley isn't up for it and either needs dropping or moving back.

He's got a lot of decisions to make next week and even if it ends up been just one or two key changes in personnel - plus a switch in system - I think the entire crowd would get a lift.

Realistically, it's hard to even do wholesale changes - as all of the first-team back-ups have been proven as tosh anyway - so it has to be the youngsters (the ones that are ready, and of that I think there is only Davies and Holgate) that are drafted in.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Definitely a change in system required.

That is what Koeman must do.

I don't blame him for the players not been up to scratch given that they're just as bad as they were for the past year (the new signings - despite not been great - are the only ones who have been productive for us or are coming close to hitting the levels expected of Everton players, so in that sense I think it's very clear what Koeman can get out of players who can adapt to how he likes to play).

I do think he's been very naive thinking that he's got the players for this system or that 4-2-3-1 is ever going to work for us.

It worked at S'ton last year for him as he had players who knew his system inside and out and worked hard - front players always pressing and hunting in packs, with big players in front of the defence and two very good cb's.

So, he needs to change that. I can understand in wanting to get a reaction from his first team, but its clear that is now not coming.

So players like Holgate and Davies should now be given a chance. At this stage there's nothing to lose, even against United.

He needs to be brave and decisive - the traits that he was showing early in the season that won us points.

For all his faults Stek has pulled off some very good saves and provides a solid-enough base.

Williams in front of him needs a partner with a bit of pace. Jagielka's legs have gone and he's quickly becoming a hate figure - so drop him. Get Mori in, and if Mori doesn't perform Holgate is next in line (presuming we stick with a four at the back).

Coleman's place should be under threat but that being said he's still one of our only players willing to run directly at the oppo and get into forward areas - the fact remains he's a full-back and isn't somebody who is going to guarantee goals.

Lukaku needs support. Whether that is Valencia or Del or Bolasie moved central I don't care. Barkley isn't up for it and either needs dropping or moving back.

He's got a lot of decisions to make next week and even if it ends up been just one or two key changes in personnel - plus a switch in system - I think the entire crowd would get a lift.

Realistically, it's hard to even do wholesale changes - as all of the first-team back-ups have been proven as tosh anyway - so it has to be the youngsters (the ones that are ready, and of that I think there is only Davies and Holgate) that are drafted in.

It frustrates me that we are going into a home game against the worst United team I've seen in my lifetime, and most are just writing the game off as a total lost cause.

The players and the manager both need to take collective responsibility to turn this, for the sake of their professional pride if nothing else. It's a very winnable game and they need to stop being mentally weaker than Lee Westwood over a 18 inch putt to win a major.

 

[BlueToff]

It frustrates me that we are going into a home game against the worst United team I've seen in my lifetime, and most are just writing the game off as a total lost cause.

The players and the manager both need to take collective responsibility to turn this, for the sake of their professional pride if nothing else. It's a very winnable game and they need to stop being mentally weaker than Lee Westwood over a 18 inch putt to win a major.

I said to my Dad yesterday - that there is no pride in this set of players.

He told me not be ridiculous.

This was after 15 minutes. You just knew we weren't getting back into that game.

 

[TheBlueGibbon]

I said to my Dad yesterday - that there is no pride in this set of players.

He told me not be ridiculous.

This was after 15 minutes. You just knew we weren't getting back into that game.

And yet we had more than enough chances to score at least 2, but we still never looked like we were going to get back into the game.

 

[BlueToff]

And yet we had more than enough chances to score at least 2, but we still never looked like we were going to get back into the game.

Oh we had the chances. We could easily have scored 3 in the first half but as usual our attempts were awful.

But one shot on target - that came in the 93rd minute.

So yeh, I never really believed we'd get back into it. And if we did I think they'd have returned to the standard and would have sat back and conceded again.

In fact, if not for Stek we'd have lost 4-0 anyway.

 

[Eggs]

...the keeper kept us in with a chance so it has to be him. I thought Bolasie was a bit headless but if anything was likely to happen it would've been via him. I also felt Coleman was ok.

 

[granter79]

Definitely a change in system required.

That is what Koeman must do.

I don't blame him for the players not been up to scratch given that they're just as bad as they were for the past year (the new signings - despite not been great - are the only ones who have been productive for us or are coming close to hitting the levels expected of Everton players, so in that sense I think it's very clear what Koeman can get out of players who can adapt to how he likes to play).

I do think he's been very naive thinking that he's got the players for this system or that 4-2-3-1 is ever going to work for us.

It worked at S'ton last year for him as he had players who knew his system inside and out and worked hard - front players always pressing and hunting in packs, with big players in front of the defence and two very good cb's.

So, he needs to change that. I can understand in wanting to get a reaction from his first team, but its clear that is now not coming.

So players like Holgate and Davies should now be given a chance. At this stage there's nothing to lose, even against United.

He needs to be brave and decisive - the traits that he was showing early in the season that won us points.

For all his faults Stek has pulled off some very good saves and provides a solid-enough base.

Williams in front of him needs a partner with a bit of pace. Jagielka's legs have gone and he's quickly becoming a hate figure - so drop him. Get Mori in, and if Mori doesn't perform Holgate is next in line (presuming we stick with a four at the back).

Coleman's place should be under threat but that being said he's still one of our only players willing to run directly at the oppo and get into forward areas - the fact remains he's a full-back and isn't somebody who is going to guarantee goals.

Lukaku needs support. Whether that is Valencia or Del or Bolasie moved central I don't care. Barkley isn't up for it and either needs dropping or moving back.

He's got a lot of decisions to make next week and even if it ends up been just one or two key changes in personnel - plus a switch in system - I think the entire crowd would get a lift.

Realistically, it's hard to even do wholesale changes - as all of the first-team back-ups have been proven as tosh anyway - so it has to be the youngsters (the ones that are ready, and of that I think there is only Davies and Holgate) that are drafted in.

agree

 

[royalblue66]

Just hope the players keep their gobs shut this week.

 

[Brendan Janus]

Shower of shoite. !

 

[Alan Whittle]

Palace fell from something like 6th at Christmas the season before and just about escaped relegation in the end... @Alan Whittle might confirm that.

Won at Stoke on December 19 to go 5th. Media blah about possible Champions League contenders (Pmsl) and Pardew almost nailed on as the next England manager, (Pmsl again but this time in a good way).
Mathematically safe with 1 game to go having won 2 league games between January 20 and May 7

 

[gorgeousgeorgeEFC]

Goodison should be a cesspit of hate next Sunday, the players and Koeman have been getting off to lightly in my opinion. A couple of boos at half time isn't good enough.

Surely that will just make our players perform even more poorly?

 

[Jeff Jones]

It's all good, only United next weekend.

Are they any better than us? Mourinho has been a disaster and that club is in turmoil.

The point is that the expectation is greater there and they are under even more pressure than us.