Everton v West Ham. 22nd Nov at 15.00.

[LAToffee]

Wish Eto'o had scored. Lovely build up. We'll take the points, but certainly one to forget. We really miss Baines and Oviedo. Hibbert just doesn't work in that system. Glad to see Ossie so thrilled to get that goal. Ultimately, winning these kinds of games are what gets you there or thereabouts. We are nowhere near as good as we were last season. What's missing?

 

[Fearthainn]

That second half performance in particular was concerning, but having said that we are unlikely to field a weaker team than that until the end of the season. Eto'o is class and made the difference, not only with the assist but with the composure he showed whenever he got the ball, when most around him were in panic mode. Play poorly, get 3 points, move on from that. As others have said we have played better this season and come away with nothing.

I really hope we can produce better performances soon but I will take that.

 

[streeky]

so when i say a player is great going forward but a liability in defense...how does any of the above play into that?

As a defender you must have cover in front of you, he had nothing 1st half ,how is that his fault.

 

[blueboy1945]

i hate to say it, but Osman has been pretty good so far. disappointing stuff from Ross and Barkley so far, need to step it up here.

you must be a total idiot to say that about osman.

 

[mezzrow]

Successful clubs play dodgy football and leave with three points. Underachievers can play sexy togger yet leave with a single point if they're lucky. West Ham weren't all crap out there, and some of our heroes left their game somewhere other than the Goodison pitch today. Sam made good adjustments, as there's a reason he keeps getting hired. The shovel-mouthed **** sure doesn't get jobs based on style points. They were dogged, opportunistic, and physical.

Count your blessings. Hope Naismith's knock doesn't linger, because if he goes off the boil we're down to Eto'o. If not for Eto'o, though...

What a player. A Manure/Arse draw wouldn't be so bad, either.

 

[DanEFC92]

YERRRRSSSSSS SHOVE THAT RIGHT UP YOUR HOOP, EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH WEST HAM.

 

[Eggs]

Wish Eto'o had scored. Lovely build up. We'll take the points, but certainly one to forget. We really miss Baines and Oviedo. Hibbert just doesn't work in that system. Glad to see Ossie so thrilled to get that goal. Ultimately, winning these kinds of games are what gets you there or thereabouts. We are nowhere near as good as we were last season. What's missing?

...a settled side I would say. Hanging in there, any win against any opposition keeps us in the mix.

 

[streeky]

People saying "Hibbert played well" aren't paying enough attention to what's happening on the pitch. Sure, he didn't do anything "wrong", didn't make any howlers. But we couldn't build any momentum through attacks down the left hand side because Hibbert isn't capable of actually moving forward with the ball. It's not his fault, he just shouldn't have been playing there

what do you want him to do, beat 2 or 3 men get to the bye line and put in a perfect cross with his swinger

 

[Fearthainn]

what do you want him to do, beat 2 or 3 men get to the bye line and put in a perfect cross with his swinger

We want him to shoot, I think the whole of Goodison agrees.

 

[bainesontoast]

What kind of man are you?

"Yeah we win but they win more headers and what if they had Stuart Downing playing!"


Weirdo.

Firstly, its quite easy to see why you've been negged so much as you seriously lack coherency.

Secondly, Downing has been good this season, he's part of the reason West Ham were in the top 4 before today...

 

[canuckblue]

People saying "Hibbert played well" aren't paying enough attention to what's happening on the pitch. Sure, he didn't do anything "wrong", didn't make any howlers. But we couldn't build any momentum through attacks down the left hand side because Hibbert isn't capable of actually moving forward with the ball. It's not his fault, he just shouldn't have been playing there

Mate, he has always been limited offensively. No surprise there, so whenever he's on the pitch, we know little will be done offensively on his side of the field. He was a stopgap measure against a physical side and did the job. Needs must and all that. And don't think for a moment I can't wait to see Baines back and also see Garbutt given a chance in a game that won't have major repercussions on the season if we lose, like Wolfsburg on Thursday. Today was a game we absolutely had to win, and in my mind that meant fielding our strongest available defenders. Like it or not, Hibbert is better than Garbutt in that area at the moment, if only on experience in the Premier League. This ain't the under-21s.

 

[Tilling]

you must be a total idiot to say that about osman.

i'm more concerned by those two underperforming players, ross and barkley. I meant Mirallas! :<

 

[canuckblue]

Spot on that. We're miles off being in decent form.

And I think the reason for that, Dave, is simply our injury problems. They've robbed us of any chance at establishing a regular starting XI, with players getting to develop a chemistry that allows them to sense where the others will be at any given moment and play fluidly, much like Baines and Pienaar at times. You could see it today -- passes were made with the assumption the receiving player would be where the passer thought he would be, only to see the receiving player do something different. Give the team a run of a few games with an unchanged lineup and see what happens.

 

[deipnosophist]

That Zarata fella in their team looked very good

 

[bluegirl]

My heart can't take Everton. Good day at the office though. On to Thursday now and qualifying for the next stage of the Europa League, Up the Toffees!!!!!