Everton v Sunderland. Sat 9th Nov @ 15.00.

[Baines' left foot]

View from the Palace End;

Early on Sunderland couldn't finish their dinner. Just as well. Everton settled well going forward and Miralles (sp?) looked unplayable. Jelavic and Pienaar looked out of sorts but after their early flourish Sunderland were gash. (When they did attack it was usually down their left and I came to the conclusion that they were targetting Seamus who did not look great defending.)
The Ossie/Neville central midfield combo is hampered by the latters inability to (having first won a 40/60 ball) pass to a player in the same colour shirt. Ossie was decent (their goal aside) and thought his close control was superb. A fit Gibbo required urgently.
Relentless pressure told in the end and I'm sure I wan't alone in thinking that if Everton could get one they would certainly go on and win. Jelavic sharpened up second half and Fellani had a bit more joy. A deserved win in the end.
As a slightly more dispassionate observer I offer the well known football cliche that teams who play under par and still win are generally pretty successful. I enjoyed it. The news that Palace had also come from behind to go back to the top as I was climbing down from the top balcony rounded off a good day.

Haha, a good description, that place is treacherous.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

RBJ. Interesting comments. first glance I think I agree with everything. I posted in the Naismith thread that, while he's been poor every time I've seen him, that could be a combination of fitness and confidence. First time I saw him come on (can't remeber if it was Villa or Swansea) I noticed he takes up good positions and when he had the ball he looked to use it intelligently. First touch let him down then and ever since from what I've seen. Hope it's just rustiness and adapation. Some players take longer than others to adjust.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

No. It's actually much simpler than that.

Tony Hibbert is a better defender than Seamus Coleman.

See?

I'm not even 100% sure that's true.

Hibbert has just as many horror defensive moments as Seamus does except Coleman is still learning.

And obviously Coleman offer a hell of a lot more going forward.

what coleman has added to the team from right back is huge for us, added to that you would think that hibbert defends like baresi the way some people talk, hes an ok defender who doesnt enjoy having the ball at his feet, hes not fit to lace colemans boots

Yeah its not simply some people think Hibbert is a better defender than Coleman, from a purely defensive point of view at this point in time he probably is.

Its whenever Coleman makes any kind of mistake, regardless of how big or small someone will go "oh Hibbert wouldn't have done that" as if Hibbert was the perfect defender and not a guy who the vast majority of fans have wanted to be replaced in the team because he wasn't up to the same level as most others in our team.

He made errors as a defender, so does Coleman. We are a more well rounded therefor better team with Coleman in.

But like i say, its not so much that but the implication that suddenly Hibbert would never make a mistake every time Coleman does.

 

[Walken]

Are people serious about putting Hibbert back in for Coleman?

Coleman may not be quite the defender that Hibbert is but his forward play is 10x better in my opinion. The only thing Hibbert has over his is maybe crossing, and Coleman is catching up with him in that regard.

Seriously, just look at the difference having Coleman on the right with a proper winger has made. That's not all Mirallas either, he's been good but having an attacking RB with the ability to overlap creates a foil for him. Coleman is also young and has the potential to improve, putting Hibbert back there is a step backwards in every sense.

Its insane isnt it, the amount weve improved as a team with Coleman is huge, he was driving us forward from RB yesterday when one nil down, the balance is so much better, even more so before Kev got injured, he's not as weak defensively as being made out,, and Hibberts not as good as being made out, we either sign or full back who can do both better or stick with Coleman, going back to hibbert is like admitting we are mid table and no more

 

[Joey66]

TH or PN should not displace Coleman from Right back - but with DM watch this space!

 

[evertondotcom]

Steven Naismith is ****ing ****e.

 

[blue61]

TH or PN should not displace Coleman from Right back - but with DM watch this space!

YFRT mate.

 

[harry]

Steven Naismith is ****ing ****e.

He definitely looks like player who has had a bad injury and is trying to learn the pace of a new and better league than he is used to.

ive learnt my lesson with fellaini.

 

[TheNiz]

Bloody daylight savings is killing me. These games are on at Midnight sydney time without daylight savings... then 2am! Fell asleep after they scored and woke up twice after hearing the chants for our goals!! Woke up the next morning to the Missus tsking at the XXX chat room ads stuck on the screen from the dodgy stream site.

Worth it! GO EVERTON!!

 

[TX Bill]

Absolutely laughing here at those who think that Coleman is a better DEFENDER than Hibbert. Laughing here.

Coleman doesn't come anywhere close to Hibbert in terms of defending but gee yeah, he gets forward better and has a better cross than Hibbert. That's nice. However, the first job of a defender is to DEFEND.

Hibbert is hands down a better defender than Coleman. Facts are facts, except when Evertonians don't like 'em.

 

[Jozzy]

Absolutely laughing here at those who think that Coleman is a better DEFENDER than Hibbert. Laughing here.

Coleman doesn't come anywhere close to Hibbert in terms of defending but gee yeah, he gets forward better and has a better cross than Hibbert. That's nice. However, the first job of a defender is to DEFEND.

Hibbert is hands down a better defender than Coleman. Facts are facts, except when Evertonians don't like 'em.

Gotta agree with this, Coleman is improving out of sight and is so good going for but based on defending only HIbbert is our best right back.

 

[TX Bill]

Hey, the day might come (and sooner rather than later) where Coleman IS a better defender than Hibbert, at which point it's a no brainer to keep him in the side as he does offer so much more going forward.

I don't disagree that you want something going forward from your wingbacks a Baines is a perfect example of that.

 

[Elong]

Absolutely laughing here at those who think that Coleman is a better DEFENDER than Hibbert. Laughing here.

Coleman doesn't come anywhere close to Hibbert in terms of defending but gee yeah, he gets forward better and has a better cross than Hibbert. That's nice. However, the first job of a defender is to DEFEND.

Hibbert is hands down a better defender than Coleman. Facts are facts, except when Evertonians don't like 'em.

I like both of them Bill, but I'd take Coleman. Coleman is "hands down" better attacking than Hibbert. I like our approach of scoring more goals than we let in, it's exciting for a change. We're still going to finish 7th, may as well have some fun doing it?

 

[DualityNSNO]

Absolutely laughing here at those who think that Coleman is a better DEFENDER than Hibbert. Laughing here.

Coleman doesn't come anywhere close to Hibbert in terms of defending but gee yeah, he gets forward better and has a better cross than Hibbert. That's nice. However, the first job of a defender is to DEFEND.

Hibbert is hands down a better defender than Coleman. Facts are facts, except when Evertonians don't like 'em.

Facts are facts - when Hibbert plays we have no right wing and have only one option - Baines - or a moment of brilliance from one player, which has a bigger chance of actually not happening.

Boy do we love defending though!

*Expect to be called names.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Hibbert is the better defender but Coleman is at least as good a player, if not better, and has the potential to improve.

Hibbert will be 32 in a February where as Coleman is 24, and not too long ago was nominated for young player of the season.

It's a no brainer in my opinion.