Match Thread Everton vs Ruzemberok, Thursday 27th July, 8.05pm

[diggerdestroyer]

Players who impressed me last night -
Keane [won everything in the air and looked composed on the ball], Sandro [really quickened up the pace when he came on], Gueye [looked fully fit already and was brilliant], Schneiderlin [I think he's great, good in the tackle and calm on the ball]

Players who didn't impress me last night -
Williams [sloppy, looks unfit], Martina [looked very much like a third-rate right back], Mirallas [no end product as per]

Meh -
Stekelenberg [one good save, one mistake], Baines [needs help on the left, lucky on the goal but at least he got the strike away], Rooney [I am desperate for him to be a squad player and not an automatic starter], DCL [do not understand how he plays so much], Klaassen [should have scored and looks quite slow, but did ok for a first game and had some nice touches]

I thought very similiar. Gana excellent , snides, keane very good. Didnt think klaassen was slow. Moved quickly when he had to esp 1 :2 in box. He will improve. Rooney ,baines ok. Keeper made 2 good saves but always looks suspect. Mirallas usual works hard but no end product. How does dlc get so much game time ,so average? Ya williams needs ti up his game big time. Martinia looks complete rubbish. If he starts in premier matches we will be targeted there. Dlc and martinia is a championship combination at best

 

[ChesterBlue]

I think Sandro looked a little like a young Aguero - not as good obviously, but a similar kind of player

 

[Death]

Didn't we get rinced one preseason under Moyes and then have a strong top five season.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Didn't we get rinced one preseason under Moyes and then have a strong top five season.

We weren't rinsed last night mate

We played a team in their fifth European tie of the season and they were sharper as consequence

We still managed to win and avoided the away goal

If we'd managed at least one more, we'd be going to Slovakia with a reasonable two goal cushion and a good chance of progressing

As it is, progression is going to be trickier now, but it's still in our own hands at least. Get one goal and they're going to need 3

It won't be easy, as I reckon we'll be walking into a bear pit, and Rangers have already shown that reputation and pedigree mean little this early in the season, but it we keep it tight and nick a goal, then we've got an excellent chance of going through

It's happened now, no point dwelling or building it up to be more than it was. It's time now to work out a game plan to get us over the line in the 2nd leg

If we make the group stages then we won't even remember the game last night, it'll just be a footnote

 

[madkiwi]

Listened to the game live, but only just got a chance to watch the highlights. Noticed the official site's "20 minute" highlights are 17 minutes long. That's a worry...

 

[ToffeeTim]

We weren't rinsed last night mate

We played a team in their fifth European tie of the season and they were sharper as consequence

We still managed to win and avoided the away goal

If we'd managed at least one more, we'd be going to Slovakia with a reasonable two goal cushion and a good chance of progressing

As it is, progression is going to be trickier now, but it's still in our own hands at least. Get one goal and they're going to need 3

It won't be easy, as I reckon we'll be walking into a bear pit, and Rangers have already shown that reputation and pedigree mean little this early in the season, but it we keep it tight and nick a goal, then we've got an excellent chance of going through

It's happened now, no point dwelling or building it up to be more than it was. It's time now to work out a game plan to get us over the line in the 2nd leg

If we make the group stages then we won't even remember the game last night, it'll just be a footnote

Absolutely no reason to be worried. But it's everton so I am worried.

 

[Rook]

we only won 1-0? sell Pickford.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Absolutely no reason to be worried. But it's everton so I am worried.

Sound logic

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

we only won 1-0? sell Pickford.

Wait here, I'll go and fetch the giant wicker man

 

[Brendan Janus]

We huffed & puffed but couldn't blow the house down !!

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

Why the heck would we not walk out to Z Cars???

I'm glad you said that because in the Europa League last time, we had to play Z cars first and then walk out to the Europa League music.

Last night, we never. BUT I am assuming it is because it's a qualifier and not an actual Europa League game.

The hoardings are supposed to be covered and only show 'Europa League'

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

We weren't rinsed last night mate

We played a team in their fifth European tie of the season and they were sharper as consequence

We still managed to win and avoided the away goal

If we'd managed at least one more, we'd be going to Slovakia with a reasonable two goal cushion and a good chance of progressing

As it is, progression is going to be trickier now, but it's still in our own hands at least. Get one goal and they're going to need 3

It won't be easy, as I reckon we'll be walking into a bear pit, and Rangers have already shown that reputation and pedigree mean little this early in the season, but it we keep it tight and nick a goal, then we've got an excellent chance of going through

It's happened now, no point dwelling or building it up to be more than it was. It's time now to work out a game plan to get us over the line in the 2nd leg

If we make the group stages then we won't even remember the game last night, it'll just be a footnote

Making the group stages seems a long way off, looking at some of those teams playing last night, can we draw them in the next round?

 

[Jeff Jones]

We don't need him. What we need is a centre forward. A powder puff display last night against very modest opposition

We've got a centre forward. I'd like another one to strengthen the squad, but the one we've got looks OK, to me.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Making the group stages seems a long way off, looking at some of those teams playing last night, can we draw them in the next round?

I know we can possibly get Celtic if they lose to Rosenborg

Cracking atmos but a sticky tie that

 

[Little Ralphy]

Are you sure? The last time I was there they weren't using Euros

They've been using the Euro since 2009 mate. I was there when they switched over, they all had these little pocket calculators to work out how much everything was.