Hull Tigers v Everton. New Year's Day at 15.00.

[peteblue]

Have a look at the age of our back three in the 2nd half Jags - Barry - Alcaraz = over 100 years combined!!!!

You'd think with that experience they could get the odd clean sheet...........

 

[Woolly Blue]

Could have sworn I saw Blue Bill with an EFC scarf on today,can't ever recall that before,things must be bad if the Chairmans digging out his "lucky"scarflol

The Everton stewards were giving Everton scarves away before the game. I'd guess Bill couldn't say no to a freebie !

Actually, it was a nice touch from the club, and a damned sight better than the Blue hats we got at Soton. Sadly, we didn't see many nice touches on the pitch today from anyone in Blue.

 

[BigDunc'sFod]

At the moment Barkley is an absolute disgrace with his diving and the sooner he gets booked every time he goes down the better. When diving, he will learn nothing that will make him a better player. Barkley needs to start doing the basics better, pass and move, pass and move 1-2's, before all the showboating in an attempt to walk the ball in.

Replay analysis seemed to show he was both pushed and tripped by two different players

Looked like a dive in real-time to me though

 

[maddison]

Time to change things up (which he unfortunately won't, but hey).

Robles (Christ, so long as he's our best option in goal we'll always be leaking goals right, left and centre. A pathetic goalkeeper)
-
Coleman
Jagielka
Stones
Oviedo
-
McCarthy (as a holding midfielder, to sit in front of the defence and literally do nothing more than protect them, get the ball and pass it to an attacking player - no offensive responsibilities whatsoever, he needs to help us defend, and sit deeper when the full backs are attacking)
-
Besic
Barkley (both central midfield, Besic deeper, Barkley attacking in a free role)
-
Kone
Mirallas (right and left wing or vice-versa)
-
Lukaku (being assisted by Kone and Mirallas in attacking)

To line up like this...

This is basically the RS and Brendas favoured formation. I think we'd have the same problem in this set up that they've had in the first half of the season, we'd need another Miralles type player on the flanks to make it work and we'd need to move the ball quickly. Martinez won't play that way, so I can't see that formation working for us.

I'd rather see us playing a 4-5-1 if the priority is to protect the back four.

Then again I don't know what the answer is at the moment, so your suggestion is better than my lack of one.

I'm not sure the formation is the problem, there seems to be a distinct lack of coaching, and a variation of tactics. We're stale and we aren't organised off the ball. We don't press like we used to. And we don't chsnge our play to counter what the opposition are doing to stifle ours. Worrying times.

I'd still rather give Martinez a little more time before hoping a dashing saviour comes riding in on a white horse with a glowing arm band to save the day

 

[Who's_up_for_cumpkins?]

Watching motd already one thing stands out. Pace. Most premier league goals from open play come from one touch play moving the ball very quickly, with movement to match. We're currently fannying about like we're in treacle whatever the scenario. We should only be playing the slow possession stuff when we're a few goals to the good and killing the game off, not from minute one. And unfortunately not instructing or motivating the players to do this is roberto's fault.

 

[maccavennie]

On MOTD now for anyone who is wrong on the head like me and wants to see highlights

 

[EFCNIK]

Lol @ jelavic goal.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Watching motd already one thing stands out. Pace. Most premier league goals from open play come from one touch play moving the ball very quickly, with movement to match. We're currently fannying about like we're in treacle whatever the scenario. We should only be playing the slow possession stuff when we're a few goals to the good and killing the game off, not from minute one. And unfortunately not instructing or motivating the players to do this is roberto's fault.

Someone said it recently and it is so true...

Whenever we're one down we play like we're one up.

 

[Azza]

Lol @ jelavic goal.

Make yourself big Robles... chops off his legs at the knees. What the [Poor language removed] is he doing.

 

[Mozza1987]

What is Barry doing for both of them goals, utter useless!

 

[ijjysmith]

Make yourself big Robles... chops off his legs at the knees. What the [Poor language removed] is he doing.

Can't arsed having a go at Robles. He's turd. Didn't expect anything different.

 

[Azza]

Great analysis from Savage. Back 4, thinking Barry wasn't playing as a centre back. Weird.

 

[ijjysmith]

Those Wigan comparisons were pretty scary.

 

[Azza]

Can't arsed having a go at Robles. He's turd. Didn't expect anything different.

Only 5 and a bit weeks of him left, before The Secretary of Defence returns... lol

 

[daz4matty]

Those Wigan comparisons were pretty scary.

Bang on though mate