Maarten Stekelenburg

[Bluerover]

He needed to be stronger BUT it was a foul as it was in both of his hands before the striker barged into him. 99 times out of 100 that is given as a foul, that's now two goals we've had our goalkeeper fouled on but not been given the decision (WBA the other), so really only conceded one legitimate goal in 5 games which ain't too shoddy.

I agree.

Poor judgement by Mason.

Gray's goal could arguably have been disallowed but overall Everton thoroughly deserved to win.

On Saturday my only disappointment was failure to push on, attacking the Gwladys end, in the second half.

 

[Kaiser Soysauce]

I'd personally like to see his reaction if Phil Jagielka captained us to winning the Champions League, with Mirallas netting the winner and Stekky making a last minute wonder save lol

And Koeman ripping his face mask off to reveal he's actually Martinez, mission impossible style.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

I agree.

Poor judgement by Mason.

Gray's goal could arguably have been disallowed but overall Everton thoroughly deserved to win.

On Saturday my only disappointment was failure to push on, attacking the Gwladys end, in the second half.

I see it exactly the same. I thought we could have really gone for the kill. We should have ended the game with 5 or 6 goals really. Boro didn't trouble the goalkeeper or our defence at all in the game, the goal aside. But looking at it from a different perspective, perhaps it's also good for the players to just control the game without pushing themselves too much? We have two games this week and that saved energy from the second half could be very useful for the weekend. Rest Lukaku on Tuesday and have him fully fit on Saturday, mix the team up a little to give fringe players a chance versus Norwich (3 or 4 max I reckon) and keep everybody firing on all cylinders versus Bournemouth. Watching the second half was really boring as a fan, but I am sure Koeman was delighted at how we controlled it completely.

 

[banno]

I see it exactly the same. I thought we could have really gone for the kill. We should have ended the game with 5 or 6 goals really. Boro didn't trouble the goalkeeper or our defence at all in the game, the goal aside. But looking at it from a different perspective, perhaps it's also good for the players to just control the game without pushing themselves too much? We have two games this week and that saved energy from the second half could be very useful for the weekend. Rest Lukaku on Tuesday and have him fully fit on Saturday, mix the team up a little to give fringe players a chance versus Norwich (3 or 4 max I reckon) and keep everybody firing on all cylinders versus Bournemouth. Watching the second half was really boring as a fan, but I am sure Koeman was delighted at how we controlled it completely.

No need to push on. We managed that game perfectly and we also looked more likely to get more goals. Protection of lead without backing into our own area too much was paramount. We still looked for goals but without thinning our back line and midfield and taking risks. It is what we must do. We never left any space at the back or midfield to be exploited in the 2nd half but still conservatively looked for more goals. Perfect I say and very sensible.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

No need to push on. We managed that game perfectly and we also looked more likely to get more goals. Protection of lead without backing into our own area too much was paramount. We still looked for goals but without thinning our back line and midfield and taking risks. It is what we must do. We never left any space at the back or midfield to be exploited in the 2nd half but still conservatively looked for more goals. Perfect I say and very sensible.

This ^

It was perfect game management. They didn't have an effort on target for the entire 90 minutes

 

[Mountfield1985]

Sorry mate but if he turns his body to block Negredo then he's trying to catch a ball whilst facing his own goal six yards out, that would be absolutely mental goalkeeping, and I can't recall ever seeing a decent keeper doing that

You know what I mean, needed to turn slightly and use his body to block Negredo off.

It's nitpicking, as it was a clear foul, but it was a bit complacent of him and he should have been stronger.

As I said though, very encouraged by his overall form so far.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

No need to push on. We managed that game perfectly and we also looked more likely to get more goals. Protection of lead without backing into our own area too much was paramount. We still looked for goals but without thinning our back line and midfield and taking risks. It is what we must do. We never left any space at the back or midfield to be exploited in the 2nd half but still conservatively looked for more goals. Perfect I say and very sensible.

Yes indeed, completely agree! I'd have hated to have been a ticket-buying fan though for that second half. Zero entertainment on display. Great for the club, brilliantly controlled victory, but entertainment value was basically nothing. First half great though!

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

No need to push on. We managed that game perfectly and we also looked more likely to get more goals. Protection of lead without backing into our own area too much was paramount. We still looked for goals but without thinning our back line and midfield and taking risks. It is what we must do. We never left any space at the back or midfield to be exploited in the 2nd half but still conservatively looked for more goals. Perfect I say and very sensible.

Agreed

As someone who went the match, I had no problem with that 2nd half

I go to watch Everton win, entertainment is a pleasant side effect

 

[Mountfield1985]

Yes indeed, completely agree! I'd have hated to have been a ticket-buying fan though for that second half. Zero entertainment on display. Great for the club, brilliantly controlled victory, but entertainment value was basically nothing. First half great though!

Don't worry, we had a great time.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I see it exactly the same. I thought we could have really gone for the kill. We should have ended the game with 5 or 6 goals really. Boro didn't trouble the goalkeeper or our defence at all in the game, the goal aside. But looking at it from a different perspective, perhaps it's also good for the players to just control the game without pushing themselves too much? We have two games this week and that saved energy from the second half could be very useful for the weekend. Rest Lukaku on Tuesday and have him fully fit on Saturday, mix the team up a little to give fringe players a chance versus Norwich (3 or 4 max I reckon) and keep everybody firing on all cylinders versus Bournemouth. Watching the second half was really boring as a fan, but I am sure Koeman was delighted at how we controlled it completely.

As a fan I like to be entertained so would have liked us to push on.

However with my reasonable head on, it's nice to be able to control games whilst in second gear, and also know that we have it within us to up a gear like we did for 15 minutes in the first half.

Having had a quick look at a Boro fan zone a large number of them recognised this too. Many were grateful that we took our foot of the pedal as it could have been very embarrassing for them.

I suppose having complained about our lack of game management for so long it's a bit churlish to moan when we show some.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Agreed

As someone who went the match, I had no problem with that 2nd half

I go to watch Everton win, entertainment is a pleasant side effect

Me neither mate.

Up until the end of January last season we only gained 13 points at home.

We've got 7 already this.

 

[Michaelcoyb]

As somebody who was 5 foot away from the incident, I can assure everybody that not a single person in the world could have kept hold of that ball.

Its possibly a foul, its VERY borderline, what its defo not, is a GK error.

So if its "defo not" a GK error,

and only possibly a foul,

What is the other possibility?

 

[Tree13]

lol

Gray actually touched the ball. Negredo head butted Steks arm

So far today I've read negative posts from you about Koeman, Bolasie, the stadium move and our keeper.

We're second in the league, unbeaten this season, playing well and look defensively solid. There's nothing to be negative about and yet you seemingly have to strive to find something, anything, it's genuinely tragic.

The best bit was when he said our good attacking play is down to Martinez's magic beans after spending the past 2 years berating anyone who suggested our good defence in 13/14 was down to Moyes.

I wouldn't take much notice to be honest mate. Seemingly isn't happy unless he is having a moan or just putting our own team down. I'm sure if we were to win the league he would still find something negative to say.

*hazards a guess as to who these posters are all talking about
*clicks on "show ignored content"
*is not remotely surprised

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Me neither mate.

Up until the end of January last season we only gained 13 points at home.

We've got 7 already this.

Agreed

And we were attacking in that second half as well, just nothing came of the attacks

 

[banno]

Yes indeed, completely agree! I'd have hated to have been a ticket-buying fan though for that second half. Zero entertainment on display. Great for the club, brilliantly controlled victory, but entertainment value was basically nothing. First half great though!

I understand what you are saying but I bet the ticket-buying fan was sitting back with contentment in the 2nd half. The entertaining games are usually the close end to end games. I would rather have the boro type of game than them and have the 3 points in the bag.