Everton v West Brom. Sat 24th Aug. @ 15.00.

[Aidey9]

Stop being negative, yes it was frustrating not to see us score and give the ball away too easy, but this is gonna take time. I understand we haven't got time to waste but everything should click into place soon, hopefully.

West Brom played the time wasting tactic and got the point they came for. The referee didn't help matters but the chances we had were unlucky. First half was crap, build up was slow and players were coming too deep to get the ball, we couldn't break them down. Second half was better but still not as good as I've seen this team play, there seemed to be lack of player movement off the ball and players seemed to stand still. When we had a throw in, nobody wanted it! Barkley had to come over twice to give us a good throw. I think off the ball we wasn't as good as what I've seen. We seemed still sometimes and it was frustrating. My head hurts and so does my throat, I need to see highlights so I can look again but I'm not really happy drawing 0-0 with a mediocre team like West Brom.

Like I say, it's gonna take time to get used to things so maybe we might have to be a bit 'forgiving' the next few outings.

Got to beat Stevenage for any chance of a cup run.

Got to get something at Cardiff
Chelsea? Well, they're playing better football but we are still good enough to take something here.

If we haven't picked up a win by the end of September, it's not panic stations but it'll be harder to crawl back.

Anyone wonder why Howard kept booting the ball up to the head of Naismith when he can't win a header? That was annoying.

Totally agree mate, it was frustrating today and we were lacking in movement which didn't allow us to move the ball around quick enough to catch West Brom out and possibly create better goal scoring chances, but like you say, it will take time for us to fully get into swing with how Martinez wants us to play!.

Martinez said himself there's areas to improve on and im sure he means the movement off the ball and the need to get the ball into dangerous areas within the final third sooner, but it will all come with more training and games.

We are an impatient lot and want to see us winning and winning well sooner but we seriously have to be patient with how Martinez wants us to play and go about games!.

 

[SLAVEN BILIC]

final decision from mirallas and pienaar are what cost us today and jelavic's bird needs to teach the offside rule. if we can sort out who wants to shoot and cross and the right time we'll be alright. little bit too hesitant at times in the final third.

 

[Aidey9]

We won't play pass and move very successfully with the players we have in that side, namely Felliani and Osman

It'll take Martinez time to get his own players in so I'm prepared for a long season with the odd highlight thrown in. I don't expect many Evertonians to have that patience.

I thought Felli was good today and Osman strangely wasn't proper sh!te but wasn't great either, but a Felli, Ossie combo isn't going to be good enough for us!. We seriously need Gibbo back or we need to make an addition for CM before the window shuts!. We need something a lot more in CM than what Osman offers us!.

 

[Minimeister]

I thought Felli was good today and Osman strangely wasn't proper sh!te but wasn't great either, but a Felli, Ossie combo isn't going to be good enough for us!. We seriously need Gibbo back or we need to make an addition for CM before the window shuts!. We need something a lot more in CM than what Osman offers us!.

I agree mate. The set up Martinez wants is tailor made for Gibson but seen as the lad is made of glass we need to get as much as we can for Felli and get a couple more midfielders in. I really wish I never had to watch Ossie wear the shirt again.

 

[Tree13]

So what happened at Norwich last week then..?

The biggest issue is that we're not winning games we should be. Simple as.

Last week Jags had an utter stinker, and compounded it with a howler gifting them their second. Van Wolfspenis bummed him for most of the game.

 

[royalblue66]

I thought Felli was good today and Osman strangely wasn't proper sh!te but wasn't great either, but a Felli, Ossie combo isn't going to be good enough for us!. We seriously need Gibbo back or we need to make an addition for CM before the window shuts!. We need something a lot more in CM than what Osman offers us!.

Thought that Mulumba of West Brom absolutely bossed the game today, and he cost something like £125,000

 

[Liam_Baggies]

After seeing our side at the start I'm thoroughly delighted with the point and we were much better than we were against Southampton - we have areas too work on, we badly need a new addition up-front because we look incredibly toothless and we couldn't really utilise our counter attacking weapon as we would have liked.

I thought you had plenty of the ball but we looked incredibly comfortable defending. Our back four were terrific and supported very well by the midfield in-front of them. You're going through a period of transition and therefore it will take time to adjust. If Martinez is going to play that way though then you really do need to quicken the tempo of the game otherwise you end up having plenty of the ball without really troubling a defence which were happy to allow Osman and the back four pass the ball sideways and backwards.

Don't understand why he starts with Jelavic either - especially when Kone tore us a new arsehole some months ago at The Hawthorns.

A lot to improve on for both sides.

 

[MACCA75]

Mulumbu was good for your lot.

 

[Tree13]

I see it didn't take the sh*te long to carve Villa open... and I thought Sturridge was meant to be crap lads??

Sturridge is young, English and good (with evidence for that from his time at Bolton (was it Bolton?) - if we had the money to make the bid for Negredo back in January, we should have been looking at this guy. £12m was a good price for him.

 

[Liam_Baggies]

Mulumbu was good for your lot.

He's brilliant every week - I'm still staggered that a bigger club hasn't made a bid for him yet.

Considering we bought him for around £125,000, if we do sell him in the future, we're guaranteed a very good profit given his recent contract extension.

 

[roydo]

After seeing our side at the start I'm thoroughly delighted with the point and we were much better than we were against Southampton - we have areas too work on, we badly need a new addition up-front because we look incredibly toothless and we couldn't really utilise our counter attacking weapon as we would have liked.

I thought you had plenty of the ball but we looked incredibly comfortable defending. Our back four were terrific and supported very well by the midfield in-front of them. You're going through a period of transition and therefore it will take time to adjust. If Martinez is going to play that way though then you really do need to quicken the tempo of the game otherwise you end up having plenty of the ball without really troubling a defence which were happy to allow Osman and the back four pass the ball sideways and backwards.

Don't understand why he starts with Jelavic either - especially when Kone tore us a new arsehole some months ago at The Hawthorns.

A lot to improve on for both sides.

Would not disagree with that mate. Great post IMO. Good luck for the season and all that.

BTW, watching Big Ron on Celebrity BB? He must still be a legend for you lot I would guess. (And no, I am not having a dig re his "comments" a while back!)

 

[Tree13]

After seeing our side at the start I'm thoroughly delighted with the point and we were much better than we were against Southampton - we have areas too work on, we badly need a new addition up-front because we look incredibly toothless and we couldn't really utilise our counter attacking weapon as we would have liked.

I thought you had plenty of the ball but we looked incredibly comfortable defending. Our back four were terrific and supported very well by the midfield in-front of them. You're going through a period of transition and therefore it will take time to adjust. If Martinez is going to play that way though then you really do need to quicken the tempo of the game otherwise you end up having plenty of the ball without really troubling a defence which were happy to allow Osman and the back four pass the ball sideways and backwards.

Don't understand why he starts with Jelavic either - especially when Kone tore us a new arsehole some months ago at The Hawthorns.

A lot to improve on for both sides.

All very reasonable comments mate, can't argue with you. Two questions though:

1) What's your take on Olsson trying to decapitate Jelavic with an elbow off the ball?

2) Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?

 

[Liam_Baggies]

Would not disagree with that mate. Great post IMO. Good luck for the season and all that.

BTW, watching Big Ron on Celebrity BB? He must still be a legend for you lot I would guess. (And no, I am not having a dig re his "comments" a while back!)

I don't think he's viewed as a legend but his sides brought so much in enjoyment to our older supporters for their charisma, ability to play football the right way and the history they created with the three degrees. Many view it as a travesty that the side never won anything substantial - many can't see us having days like that again.

It is ultimately a side which will go down in our history for many reasons.

I wasn't around at the time, but there's nothing better than watching the footage of our 5-3 victory at Man United. My grandad informed me that the whole side took so much stick and abuse for bringing through three black players but they responded with great entertainment, energy, charisma and personality.

 

[Liam_Baggies]

All very reasonable comments mate, can't argue with you. Two questions though:

1) What's your take on Olsson trying to decapitate Jelavic with an elbow off the ball?

2) Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?

I get the feeling Jonas Olsson loves winding up opposition supporters - that's nothing unusual.

Watching it on the stream (which wasn't the best), it looked to me like he tried blocking the run of Jelavic by standing his ground, admittedly with some force. I'll have to watch MOTD to form an accurate opinion.

I've answered the pineapple question before - I despise pineapple so there's your answer.

 

[roydo]

I don't think he's viewed as a legend but his sides brought so much in enjoyment to our older supporters for their charisma, ability to play football the right way and the history they created with the three degrees. Many view it as a travesty that the side never won anything substantial - many can't see us having days like that again.

It is ultimately a side which will go down in our history for many reasons.

I wasn't around at the time, but there's nothing better than watching the footage of our 5-3 victory at Man United. My grandad informed me that the whole side took so much stick and abuse for bringing through three black players but they responded with great entertainment, energy, charisma and personality.

Shame that mate. I was, and that side was far and away the most attractive to watch at the time. Not just the 3 degrees, but Robson, and some winger whose name escapes me.