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

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Pittsburgh Footy said:
All we need is 1 goal on the away leg and we'll get that, as Ruzem will come out of their shell a little to score.

Also, for all the bedwetting over last night's performance, it was our first real game, guys wanted to impress, jittery, etc. Usually we have games like this in the first game of the season. We're getting them out of the way now.
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yes mate, you might well be right. We are getting the rustiness (for want of a better word), out of our system earlier than our PL rivals (who admittedly are playing friendlies...but they are psychologically different). We might well hit the start of the PL season in a better state of match preparedness. I hope so anyway, since we've got a torrid start to the season
 

Little Ralphy said:
I thought it interesting last night how slow some of the players looked. Rooney for one looked miles off the pace, you could tell cos he kept falling over and mis-controlling stuff. He did better when he moved further back cos they were all shattered and suddenly we had other players to do the running. Not a good sign if he's supposed to have been in training to get in shape.

Martina looked very poor. Like he didn't have a clue poor. He gave the ball away loads and was always out of position. Everything they did came down his side, and they're not a good side by any stretch.

DCL looks about a foot taller than I remembered him from last season. I'd have rather seen him central and Rooney start wider to be honest, if he was going to start at all.

Williams, Klaassen and Mirallas all looked off the pace as well.

Gueye and Schneiderlin looked quality as always and both Keane and Baines looked decent.

Sandro looked really hungry for it, and quick of mind and body as well. Hopefully he starts next week cos we had a lot more movement when he came on.
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Agree with this. Prepared to give Martina the benefit of the doubt given he's playing in a team which still looks disjointed though his positional sense seems off. Even Rooney and Klassen covered for him at a couple of points while he was 20 yards off the play getting back. Peach of a cross late on though and if anyone had attacked the ball it was 2-0.

DCL has had a bit of unfair stick and I think he made the best of quite a few poor balls played to him. I'd also have prepared him leading the line as an out and out forward. His size may well have caused a very dodgy looking keeper some problems and would have bought a little space for Klassen & Rooney to operate in.

Couple of wild miskicks from Rooney - at least we know his hamstrings in good condition as a couple of those swings could have pinged them.

Not at all sure where Mirallas was playing and alongside Klassen did little other than clutter up an already cluttered part of the pitch. Some touches here and there between them but there's a lot of work needs doing before it clicks.
 
a bell maul said:
On principle, I don't disagree with you mate. I guess my position (as regards the return leg), is purely practical. To be honest, I thought our fitness levels do not look 'all that' (and in Tubby Ashley's case, they look dire)...I do not think we are presently aerobically equipped to play expansive football; hence my conservative tactical approach.
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What happens if the club go out at this stage?

I'm in two minds on this: it could be good in that the extra games aren't an issue this season; it could be bad in terms of a blow to morale.

Just another reason for avoiding this competition like the plague.
 


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