Everton v Stoke. Boxing Day at 15.00.

[allezlesbleus]

On a side issue did anyone notice the green laser pen or whatever being flashed around during the game, including on the head of their penalty taker. Just seen it clearly on MOTD too.
On topic that second half was terrible, no fight, leadership or self belief. Shoulders slumped at first signs of adversity. Feeling sorry for themselves..... Should see it from the stands lads or better still pay to watch. Get flipping stuck in and play for that shirt. Do not think they are best of mates at the moment either, a lot of moaning and arguing between themselves imo.

 

[sageyefc]

Naismith needs a reappraisal. Good start to the season showed he was a good option of the bench or when there are injuries. No way should he be taking a central position away from Barkley.

He is the same problem as Cahill was, has limited footballing ability, but scores a few, works hard and is seen as something of a managers favorite when really we should pick and choose what matches he plays in, times when we need his pressing and doggedness and times we need a bit more class and finesse from someone else. Either way we shouldn't be shoehorning Ross and Naismith in at every opportunity

 

[Connor]

With Naisy injured I can see Barkley being pulled back centrally and McGeady starting out wide. That's a positive, we'll get our balance back with two wingers.

Then I realized Joel will be in goal and we'll lose by at least 3.

 

[Dozbik]

How was Joel?

 

[navidson]

Just pmsl at the whole circus today.

Coleman and Baines - what's happened to them?

Jagiella, the captain, nowhere to be seen when the referee was bottling decisions all over the place.

Standard backwards and sideways football.

Barkley absolutely horrendous, same with Naismith. No need for Barry and McCarthy playing together.

Lukaku drifting out wide constantly.

Relegation dogfight it is. Six points off 19th and it's nearly 2015.

This is the perfect post - Sums up everything for me

 

[navidson]

ROSS BARKLEY IS NOT A WINGER. ROSS BARKLEY IS NOT A WINGER. ROSS BARKLEY IS NOT A WINGER.

Unfortunately he isn't a worker either

 

[navidson]

...if anybody knows the person who shone a laser in the Stoke boys face as he ran up to take his penalty can you inform him that he is an idiot. Presume he's no a grown up, can imagine him leaving his house and checking he has his season ticket, scarf, bobble hat and laser gun. Unbelievable, hope he's reported.

Did that really happen? What a bellend

 

[Kurt.]

To be honest, today's loss can be laid safely at the feet Howard and Landon Donovan.... To argue otherwise would be frightfully obtuse.

 

[Khalekan]

How was Joel?

He had absolutely nowt to do.

Neither did Howard in the first half, save face a penalty.

That is what makes today's defeat so hard to swallow.....we were beaten by a team which offered zero threat going forward and won the Game due to a soft penno.

And for all the incompetence of the ref, it was two glaring misses, from Barry and Mirallas, which cost us the game.

 

[Dozbik]

He had absolutely nowt to do.

Neither did Howard in the first half, save face a penalty.

That is what makes today's defeat so hard to swallow.....we were beaten by a team which offered zero threat going forward and won the Game due to a soft penno.

And for all the incompetence of the ref, it was two glaring misses, from Barry and Mirallas, which cost us the game.

awww, you just reminded me of Barry's miss...

 

[Khalekan]

awww, you just reminded me of Barry's miss...

It was even worse than Mirallas

 

[TX Bill]

We play like we did last weekend, with the players in the wrong positions, we'll lose this one 2-0.

For me?

Howard (only cause Robles is no better)

Garbutt (give Baines a rest)
Stones (Distin ain't good back to back to back matches)
Jagielka
Coleman (needs to produce now)

Besic

Pienaar (if Mirallas can't go)
Barkley
McGeady (assuming McCarthy can't go)

Lukaku
Naismith

Get after them from the off, and nothing but non-stop pressure. Once we get one, go get another, and another. Don't let up.

I don't want to see any soft players this match. Go in hard and let 'em know they're in a match.

Well I was close but wow...it just isn't happening right now is it?

Never thought I'd say this but I'd like to see Kone and Garbutt start next weekend.

Howard (if healthy)
Garbutt
Stones
Jags (if healthy)
Hibbert (give Coleman a rest)
Besic
McCarthy
Mirallas
Barkley
Lukaku
Kone

 

[TX Bill]

Despite how poor we were:

1) Mirallas down in the box was NOT a penalty

2) Walters hauling down Baines was a foul and a red card for last man.

3) Bojan down in the box was NOT a penalty

Lee Mason tried his best to out do Andre Marriner in the incompetent officiating sweepstakes. He may have done it.

If he was consistent and got either two or three right, we come away with at least a point.

 

[TX Bill]

He had absolutely nowt to do.

Neither did Howard in the first half, save face a penalty.

That is what makes today's defeat so hard to swallow.....we were beaten by a team which offered zero threat going forward and won the Game due to a soft penno.

And for all the incompetence of the ref, it was two glaring misses, from Barry and Mirallas, which cost us the game.

Agreed on the misses but had the referee properly applied the laws of the game, my sneaking suspicion is that those misses wouldn't have come back to haunt us.

 

[Klaas]

Barkley's poor form implies that his performance yesterday is somehow an aberration; the lad can only look good when defenses stand off him eg Aston Villa, QPR. Otherwise he is a limited footballer; grossly overated.