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

[toffee-bhoy]

the only thing that has stood out in the 2 games so far is our inability to move the ball at pace .....

hopefully this will come in time and of it doesn't then we currently have to accept that we play ball ( but a lot slower) or we play hoof ball ( with determination and tempo)

individual/ team stats are going to be up and down all season ( show me team who wont have these)

in the fickle world of football we just need a little patience

 

[Bluerover]

Really good post. My old man talks about the days of Kendall being manager first time around and finding it tough, then he says we bought 2, possibly 3 players, one was Heath definitely but the other/others pass me by but apparently, they seemed to make the difference and after a result against Oxford in the cup, we never looked back, things clicked into place and we was very successful!.

Things are even harder these days due to finances and certain teams having a hell of a lot more financial muscle than the rest, and especially us so it will take us time to slowly but gradually get in the players we need to be able to suit the methods and systems Martinez wants us to play in.


Edit:- It may of been just Heath and Andy Gray if I remember rightly, and someone else possibly, but them 2 definitely I think, if someone can correct me?!.

Peter Reid and Kevin Sheedy were key players mate.

 

[Bluerover]

Lest I forget...... the best Goal keeper in the world at the time (according to Franz Beckenbauer) !!

 

[billycopper]

And in the Norwich game we were the better team also.

I'd be far more bothered if we were getting beaten or playing like we often did at the start of the season under Moyes, but we're not.

We've been the better team in both games.

I've just looked on Statzone and Jelavic had NO shots on target yesterday. One effort was blocked and he put another one wide.

Mirallas had two shots that were both saved.

Maybe that's our problem? The two players who were banging them in during pre-season and who we would expect to be our leading scorers didn't get enough shots away for whatever reason.

Barkley had 1 on target, 2 blocked and 2 wide.

Fellaini had 1 on target, 1 blocked and 1 wide (post).

Pienaar had 2 on target.

Osman had 1 blocked and 1 wide.

 

[paulbefc]

Some managers come in and raise expectations, some don't. Moyes came in with us looking probable relegation candidates and left us disappointed with 7th place finishes. Ironically, the 7th place trophy piss-taking was aimed at the man himself. Football fans for you.

Anyway, the idea that we should be expecting to go backwards this year is laughable and closed-minded in the extreme but will still be pushed out there for various reasons. If we go backwards this season, there are no excuses for it as we have a quality, highly professional side. It won't be sack the manager time - we'll still have to wait and hope for better, as long as there are positive signs - but it's not good either. After all, this is Everton ffs. Only if our squad is ripped apart over the next few weeks will there be truly sound reason for a considerable fall down the league. It wouldn't be the first time anyway, tbf.

At the end of the day, we should not ever be finishing below 7th this year. None of the teams below that spot have the quality to challenge our side. I've seen enough positive signs over the past few months to suggest we won't have to worry about that at all though. I think our main concern will be keeping pace with the top 6 and trying to keep our place in it this year.

 

[davek]

We've been the better team in both games.

I've just looked on Statzone and Jelavic had NO shots on target yesterday. One effort was blocked and he put another one wide.

Mirallas had two shots that were both saved.

Maybe that's our problem? The two players who were banging them in during pre-season and who we would expect to be our leading scorers didn't get enough shots away for whatever reason.

Barkley had 1 on target, 2 blocked and 2 wide.

Fellaini had 1 on target, 1 blocked and 1 wide (post).

Pienaar had 2 on target.

Osman had 1 blocked and 1 wide.

Martinez needs to be forthright now and just start Kone for the next few PL games. If Jelavic wants to moan about it let him, he surely knows he's not done enough in competitive games to deserve the shirt ahead of a newly signed forward.

 

[billycopper]

Liverpool had ONE shot on target yesterday. (1:1)
Villa had 3. (3:0)
Stoke had 5. (5:2)
Palace had 5. (5:1)
Southampton had 6. (6:1)
Sunderland had 3. (3:1)
Newcastle had 0. (0:0)
West Ham had 1. (1:0)
Hull had 2. (2:1)
Norwich had 4. (4:0)
Fulham had 7. (7:1)
Arsenal had 7. (7:3)

So we had the most shots on target of any team but we also had the worst shot to goals ratio. Jelavic had no shots on target and Kone had no shots of any description.

 

[billycopper]

Martinez needs to be forthright now and just start Kone for the next few PL games. If Jelavic wants to moan about it let him, he surely knows he's not done enough in competitive games to deserve the shirt ahead of a newly signed forward.

Kone had about 20 minutes and didn't shoot at all. Maybe we're over-playing and trying to walk it in? It sounds like we need to take shots more quickly once we get around the box.

 

[davek]

Liverpool had ONE shot on target yesterday. (1:1)
Villa had 3. (3:0)
Stoke had 5. (5:2)
Palace had 5. (5:1)
Southampton had 6. (6:1)
Sunderland had 3. (3:1)
Newcastle had 0. (0:0)
West Ham had 1. (1:0)
Hull had 2. (2:1)
Norwich had 4. (4:0)
Fulham had 7. (7:1)
Arsenal had 7. (7:3)

So we had the most shots on target of any team but we also had the worst shot to goals ratio. Jelavic had no shots on target and Kone had no shots of any description.

If one on target had gone in I'd imagine the world for many would have been a different place today.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

...I think this is the point for me, we didn't play with the same tempo as normal at Goodison. I just think if we had a bit more ooooopmh we would've broken them down.

^ this

We didn't play with enough pace in the final third, posession football needs to add pace when moving in on goal, otherwise you just end up playing square balls in front of the oppostion. We still should have won the game though, so it's not as if we're not creating anything, but he needs to get them working on moving the ball quicker.

 

[Titus Bramble]

^ this

We didn't play with enough pace in the final third, posession football needs to add pace when moving in on goal, otherwise you just end up playing square balls in front of the oppostion. We still should have won the game though, so it's not as if we're not creating anything, but he needs to get them working on moving the ball quicker.

We did have momenst of quick, sharp passing which led to efforts on goal. Mirallas' shot that was tipped over in the first half springs to mind.

 

[Aidey9]

Peter Reid and Kevin Sheedy were key players mate.

I know mate, we had some crackers, but my old man said that the 2 signings, or 3, Heath & Gray, maybe even Reid who was deemed a crock, changed are fortunes all of a sudden as the team clicked and we became one of the best around, said if it wasn't for Hysel (sp) we'd of been competing in the old CL and giving the likes of Real Madrid a run for there money, we was that good?!.

 

[billycopper]

If one on target had gone in I'd imagine the world for many would have been a different place today.

I suppose the stats to note are that the RS had 1 shot, 1 goal and Arsenal scored 3 from 7 shots on target. It seems like Foster was inspired and we also had at least one cleared off the line, but we could really do with being more clinical.

It could be an encouraging sign that we were flat and turgid, yet still created more chances than anyone else. Perhaps our expectations for free-flowing football are too high so early in a new era?

 

[Petit]

Martinez needs to be forthright now and just start Kone for the next few PL games. If Jelavic wants to moan about it let him, he surely knows he's not done enough in competitive games to deserve the shirt ahead of a newly signed forward.

I was as hopefull as anyone about Jelavic revival during pre-season, but after the first two matches imo it´s as clear as the light of day he´s not up for it. He´s a good footballer, but this is the wrong league for him. He´d probably thrive in Italy but the premiership is simply too rough and too fast for him.

 

[D410]

Very wrong - unbeaten and dominating both games played so far. Do me favour.

I fear for your well being when we get beat and are second best in a game.

Opinions pal, I try not to climb into the backside of a manager for the sake it.

You,l be fooking sobbing when the king with no clothes yanks the switch again.