Everton v Stoke City. 28th Dec at 1500.

[ToffeeDoug]

Do you all remember how Jack Rodwell used to stand and mark space in front of oppo midfielders, never getting within 10 yards of them and making tackles, just drifting between covering positions. Well, we have a team full of that now.

It is not the defence as such for me that is causing concern, but the opposition are allowed to walk the ball into our half and then pick their passes at will, so little tackling and getting in sharply, no pressing, no closing down. Only Barry seems to try and get a foot in

 

[irishblue11]

lukaku must be sitting in changing room thinking feck this.

 

[Jimmy1]

We have the leagues top scorer, second highest number of goals in the league yet we could be 10th by the end of the day. Lukaku is more than doing his job and couldn't blame him if he wants off in the summer.

 

[Blueblooded]

Pathetic on so many levels, not least Tvvattenberg being allowed to ref at Goodison again. Bent as a nine bob note, the Kopite -bleep-. But we can't seem to defend a lead to save our lives - fantastic forward play is worthless when we are so effing shambolic at the back. So many points thrown away now, we can wave Rom goodbye at the end of the season when we should be giving Howard the boot in Jan.

 

[Peter g]

Great game to watch two good teams our defence obviously needs sorting quick but im hoping we can keep these players as the potential is there we just need to swerve the negativity and be a bit more realistic the whole league is inconsistant at the moment anyone can turn anyone over the last thing we need is to start sacking managers every couple of years as if we somehow have a devine right to success !

Well played stoke

 

[Ihaters]

Slightly less naff

Not sure its possible to of been more naff lol. But yeah we would of got at least a draw with Jags in.

I'm convinced that marking space isn't working and we should try to stop either the ball or the player. Think its maybe an option Martinez could consider.

 

[toffeejack]

lukaku must be sitting in changing room thinking feck this.

last couple of games he's gained that arrogance that he's going to have to do everything by himself, and he every right to think that.

 

[fareastblue]

the game boils down to the Naismith substitution for me .... terrible performance and dead weight .

yes the pen wasn't a pen and it cost us a point , but our managers substitutions before and after our 3rd goal fluffed it as far as I'm concerned.

Agree with the Naismith comment. I'm okay with him but it was a strange substitution.

 

[Ambient]

I have been an Everton supporters since I was 5 years old.
And in my eyes we have the best team ever in the worst PL ever and we can not defend.
We should be on the top of the league now instead we loose 3-4 at home.
We need to get a defensive coach and a set piece coach.
I was not able to see this game live since I choose shopping with the wife instead much better for an old mans heart. But reading here and see live commentary takes ages from my life

 

[bicycleheader]

Explain how he isn't at fault then? Crap ball, then just pottered back, didn't even attempt to get back into position. First goal he went charging out unnecessarily. I'll stick up for our players all day long and support the team through thick and thin. We are a young side growing into a decent team but there are times the players have to take responsibility and do better. Stones has been poor first half

I explained how his mistake for the first goal was something Jags is prone to doing also, and he is much more experienced.

I also said I thought it was a good ball as it was an excellent run behind the defense and despite the fact it was a bit short and it got cut out I would always want us to mix it up and try to pick out those runs. So well done Stones, keep trying stuff like that. His passing was off today, but its a busy schedule and he is very green so I have no issues with him. My original post was against the usual crap fuming which was doing much more than just saying he is paying poorly. What happened after his pass was cut out, didnt have too much to do with him really IMO. Great goal by Shakiri. I think Howard should be on his line there.

What do you actually mean by take responsibility and do better? Sounds like fluff that is easy to say for fans and commentators, but what are you expecting? No errors from him? Perfect positioning? Top class with no poor runs of form? How do you know he isn't and doesn't take a lot of responsibility in how he trains and his attitude?

Young team with a lot of talent and it isn't going right, I personally will have a huge amount of patience for what I can see being built at the club.

 

[Allezfan]

We have the leagues top scorer, second highest number of goals in the league yet we could be 10th by the end of the day. Lukaku is more than doing his job and couldn't blame him if he wants off in the summer.

We'll be 11th by the end of the day, west ham are playing saints, whatever the result at least 1 will overtake us.

 

[Toffeemeister]

10 HOME GAMES 18 CONCEEDED

As the seasons go on we conceed more, when will Martinez be shown the door, next season battling relegation.

I can see our best players going elsewhere.

If the board wont sack him, perhaps they should be going...........

Wow 18 goals shipped at home in 10 games is disgraceful. I'm so angry.

 

[The Mighty Quint]

10 HOME GAMES 18 CONCEEDED

As the seasons go on we conceed more, when will Martinez be shown the door, next season battling relegation.

I can see our best players going elsewhere.

If the board wont sack him, perhaps they should be going...........

Wigan MkII

 

[VentureBrosEFC]

This isn't to excuse our total lack of know how, defensive frailties and the manager's ridiculous decision to not take Kone off but for me the game was lost with Naismith's back pass. We were looking comfortable and confident and then he goes and gets the nerves a jittering again.

 

[Seanjd]

Although Stones was quite poor today, it's depressing that with one of the brightest young defensive prospects in Europe, and possibly one of the best defenders in England, our defence is so diabolical.