Everton V West Ham FA Cup 6/01/15

[Philw]

Talk of that goal being the 'Heath' moment is very scary and I hope people don't really beleive that.

It could well be.

But and its a big but (lol - I like big buts and I cannot lie), we just failed to beat a very weakened West Ham team at home. There's no hiding from that.

Yes there were some pretty decent positives. Rom played really well. Robles almost looked like an actual goalkeeper. And Besic and McGeady had good moments.

But we failed to beat West Ham at home.

Last time out we failed to draw to Hull (away), so I would still consider it a massive improvement!

Think that was very positive in terms of the improvement over recent weeks. It was a great performance overall, but it wasn't bad overall. I have been critical of Lukaku several times this year but last night I thought he was much improved - had the control and power and pace that he needs to show, and got himself on the score sheet to rescue the result for us.

Despite what people say I thought Barkley did pretty well, some good runs and balls that nearly came off, but he was positive and trying to drive us forward, and when he was put out wide he put in a great cross that Lukaku nearly got on the end of and won us a corner with a good run and shot.

Besic and Oviedo both did well, and the fullbacks seemed to get forward more than they have been doing this year, which is important. Also thought Robles did well in goal - made some good saves and came out well for a couple crosses which was good to see given a few flaps he had in the last games.

Overall, the desire and effort was good, and there was much more pressing and closing down than there has been recently, hopefully that continues in the coming weeks.

 

[COYB]

made up i went yesterday now.. yes we didnt win but largely improved

there was harldy any of that nonsense passing around for the sake of it maybe a couple where
there were groans, the jagielka basspass was actually hillarious, Lukaku amazing / Besic .. what a difference it makes
playing to his strength what really we should be doing he's the main striker build the team around and weel score
he was unlucky not to get a hatrick yesterday i still think the ruled out goal should of been a goal.

players like Barkley / Barry /besic can do decent balls so use them like that.. we was more quicker and direct
instead of that nonsense and it almost paid off .. yes we wont have the majority of the possesion if were playing more risky
but even when we lost the ball we went for the best outcome and thats what create the goals

not perfect but for me alot better and actually enjoyed going yesterday what i havent felt like for a while

COYB !!!

 

[Toffeelover]

It is the morning after the day members of the team found energy and remembered their purpose to come out playing but some were not with it. However feel a bit better today than a couple of days ago.

 

[polish]

Ok, I see where coming from and I agree. In my opinion you can't look at sports in extremes.

You can't look and at a match where they lost and say it was a [Poor language removed] performance and the manager needs to be sacked ASAP or look at a match where they won and say everything is fantastic, the team looks great, the manager is a genius and everything is just sunshine, unicorns and gumdrops, that in sports you do have to adopt a position in the middle.

It just doesn't work that way by looking at a match from a certain extreme because there are matches where a team is won and can pick out particulars that the team needs to work on and you can look at a match that a team lost and can pick out positives the team did that you can hang your hat on moving forward because that's just being objective.

I agree that you can't look at it in extremes because in every match in are always particulars that don't go along with the match result or that regarding the players and manager you can look at positives aspects from them as well as certain aspects from their game they need to work on.

Take my position on Roberto Martinez. My position on him is I think he's a good manager and a guy we should stick with, but at the same time there are aspects of him I wish he would change such as adjusting more in games, his sub selection and his positive statements in his post game presser after EFC just had a pathetic performance (Bobby, it's OK to say Everton played a lousy game, more people would respect you for being honest but instead you look like a fool when you talk like that).

By taking an extreme I would say that Martinez is a good manager and everyone should quit your whining and back him. No I won't do that because comments like that aren't helpful at all and because i'm objective and choose to look at sports from a middle ground perspective and it's better to look at the team that way instead of an everything is good/everything is bad extreme.

That's a brilliant post.

 

[Coach]

Of course it is, but posession for the sake of it it's a road to nowhere.

That's like saying, "defending for the sake of it it's a road to nowhere".

You need passes to distract your opponent and prepare yourself for an attack, not just ping it around without purpose

Sometimes the purpose is to defend.

It's the old "they can't score if you have the ball".

 

[Mouth of Martinez]

I know we didn't win, but we showed heart that we haven't seen in the team for quite a while. Bešić was phenomal and should not lose his place when McCarthy comes back, Barry should or they should play 3 cm. Barkley was positive and drove at the defence as he knew they'd back off and when he lost possession he won it back

We have 3 very capable LB it seems, Oviedo didn't do enough to stop crosses though.

I do wish Lukaku could play like that a bit more often. Recorded a sufficient amount of yards and shots on goal - more of the same and we will start winning

 

[sageyefc]

I know we didn't win, but we showed heart that we haven't seen in the team for quite a while. Bešić was phenomal and should not lose his place when McCarthy comes back, Barry should or they should play 3 cm. Barkley was positive and drove at the defence as he knew they'd back off and when he lost possession he won it back

We have 3 very capable LB it seems, Oviedo didn't do enough to stop crosses though.

I do wish Lukaku could play like that a bit more often. Recorded a sufficient amount of yards and shots on goal - more of the same and we will start winning

TBH thought he did alright getting out to his man, it was coleman who was standing off and all over the place. The full backs defo need to see more cover though, very lazy performance from Kev, and ross doesnt concentrate enough when helping out

 

[Toffeelover]

TBH thought he did alright getting out to his man, it was coleman who was standing off and all over the place. The full backs defo need to see more cover though, very lazy performance from Kev, and ross doesnt concentrate enough when helping out

I wish RM would have risked subbing him for Garbutt.

 

[uknightbreed]

There were lots still wrong ( the center backs , barkleys position not being cam , the substitutions ie etoo's position and why take besic off and not barry ? ) , but a few more positives than we have seen of late.

I thought robles looked a lot better.
coleman , not great but looked a bit better
besic was very good ( I love this lad - a fighter we need )
oviedo showed a bit of drive and menace going forward.
lukaku was getting stuck in.

For me those players earnt a starting place.
the rest still need to either be played in the right position (etoo -barkley ) or need to raise there game much more.

We so need a distin replacement.
Lastly roberto needs to sort out his love affair of barry. He isnt playing well and isnt the must pick player he thinks he is. When fit Mccarthy and besic deserve to be our cm pairing.
both of distin and barry are good backup , nothing more.

 

[Mouth of Martinez]

I said post Chelsea that Bešić will displace Barry by the end of season

 

[Furey1878]

I said post Chelsea that Bešić will displace Barry by the end of season

Well surely you'd know more than any of us in that regard, being the mouth of Martinez and all...

 

[Connor]

Agree with that, was turning up here to post something similar.

It was very noticable and a big change in form that heads didn't drop (fully) when the oppo (West Ham this time) scored, and even though the gaping orifice referee did his worst the players also didn't let that get to them. Distinct positives.

Exactly, you only have to look recently, Martinez slated them for leatting themselves accept defeat 1-0 down. Last night they rallyed and got back into the game.

Helped that the crowd didn't give up either, willed that goal in.

 

[Eggs]

I said post Chelsea that Bešić will displace Barry by the end of season

.......that might ultimately be an ideal role for him, Makelele mark 2. It is a specific position, though, requiring real discipline. He'll have a bit of learning to do.

 

[bainesontoast]

My summary pretty much reflects what has already been said. No, we weren't perfect last night, but there was more positives than negatives. In itself that is a start based on what we've seen in previous games.

We must continue to play to Lukaku's strengths, though, as its quite obvious the difference he can make.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

.......that might ultimately be an ideal role for him, Makelele mark 2. It is a specific position, though, requiring real discipline. He'll have a bit of learning to do.

I honestly see him as more of a Toni Kroos type of player. Not saying he'll be that level but more his style than Makelele. He's got more in his locker than Makelele had with the ball at his feet. Not as good in the discipline department though.