Match Thread Middlesbrough vs Everton - Sat 11 Feb, 15:00

[tjcefc]

For me the most significant factor was the change to a 4 at the back. We look almost clueless at times in that system characterised by a lack of options on the the ball and a lack of fluidity. Having holgate makes a absolutely huge difference because let's be honest williams is absolute woeful on the ball and Mori is only marginally better. Not to mention the players further up the field also benefit. Lookman is not a winger and looks far more dangerous in a more central role which 3 at the back provides. And finally. Lukaku is incredibly isolated when we play the system we did yesterday. Not sure why Ronald has changed it tbh. Even against Bournemouth it was crying out for it second half and that is when we took control of the game, after holgate came on. One poor half against Stoke and it seems Koeman has for some reason holding that against Mason

 

[Barnfred 55]

For me the most significant factor was the change to a 4 at the back. We look almost clueless at times in that system characterised by a lack of options on the the ball and a lack of fluidity. Having holgate makes a absolutely huge difference because let's be honest williams is absolute woeful on the ball and Mori is only marginally better. Not to mention the players further up the field also benefit. Lookman is not a winger and looks far more dangerous in a more central role which 3 at the back provides. And finally. Lukaku is incredibly isolated when we play the system we did yesterday. Not sure why Ronald has changed it tbh. Even against Bournemouth it was crying out for it second half and that is when we took control of the game, after holgate came on. One poor half against Stoke and it seems Koeman has for some reason holding that against Mason

My personal opinion is that he is trying to get a system that put's our best players on the pitch. We're overloaded with quality CMs. If we play a 433 he can get 3 on the pitch (and that's playing Ross out wide). If we play 3 at the back he can only really fit 2 on the pitch.

Personally, I'd rather he went back to a system that he knows works and also get's the best out of Rom and Ross, which is 3 at the back. It also suits Williams' game too as he and Mori/Jags in a back 4 doesn't look too secure to me.

We took back control of the game against Bournemouth last week when he changed things around and I honestly expected him to do the same in the second half yesterday.

 

[nsno-chris]

Though he would have changed to 3 at the back at half time. Fabio was following Barkley everywhere. Would have went 3 and told Coleman that as soon as Barkley gets the ball in field then to bomb up the flank and exploit the hole when Fabio goes in with him.

Lukaku looks a lot less isolated with 3 at the back, wing backs go so far up the pitch that he gets more support off the inside forwards

 

[ExpatinBangkok]

We have no goal scorers apart from Lukaku. Coleman, our rb, is our second top scorer. We need an attacking lw, rw, cam. None of our current players can do that including barckley, mirallis, Lennon, lookman, CL.

 

[ExpatinBangkok]

spot on mate, just small things but the palace away win needed to be replicated against Stoke and Boro. Can't happen overnight but something to work on. But we are becoming hard to beat on our travels so look at it from a home teams point of view they probably think "in for a tough game when Everton come to town" and that's a good sign

We might look back on this at seasons end as a good point earned. Not the end of the world. They were alright and things didn't go our way, it happens. At least they didn't nick it at the end, fair play to Robles for stopping that

We need DCL to get back to fitness so we have some more attacking options

Yes if we were a championship or division 1 league team then DCL could be a key player. But a premier league pinning our hopes DCL?.. ""

 

[moyes cardy]

For me the most significant factor was the change to a 4 at the back. We look almost clueless at times in that system characterised by a lack of options on the the ball and a lack of fluidity. Having holgate makes a absolutely huge difference because let's be honest williams is absolute woeful on the ball and Mori is only marginally better. Not to mention the players further up the field also benefit. Lookman is not a winger and looks far more dangerous in a more central role which 3 at the back provides. And finally. Lukaku is incredibly isolated when we play the system we did yesterday. Not sure why Ronald has changed it tbh. Even against Bournemouth it was crying out for it second half and that is when we took control of the game, after holgate came on. One poor half against Stoke and it seems Koeman has for some reason holding that against Mason

Your spot on here mate - was crying out for this yesterday also allows better width and Lookman and Barkley to get closer to Lakaku. I agree odd why this wasn't used.

 

[ExpatinBangkok]

To sum up.. We just drew 0-0 with Middlesborough who are crap and we are pinning out hopes on a bunch of 18 yr olds because we struggle to attract and sign experienced world class players.

 

[rochdaleblue]

To sum up.. We just drew 0-0 with Middlesborough who are crap and we are pinning out hopes on a bunch of 18 yr olds because we struggle to attract and sign experienced world class players.

Any team would struggle to attract world class players with no European football to offer.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Still reckon replacing Gana with Holgate would've arguably been the better sub, we just didn't kick on after the changes were made.

 

[DrEFC]

Still fewmin about Williams and his aimless chips forward.

 

[marsh]

Still fewmin about Williams and his aimless chips forward.

Glad someone else notices this, does my head in. It seems its fine though as most Evertonians like him..

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Glad someone else notices this, does my head in. It seems its fine though as most Evertonians like him..

Na I'm not a fan either. Can't recall a single time he's played a 'long pass' successfully. He really just needs to give it to the CM in front of him instead.

 

[toffeejack]

Still fewmin about Williams and his aimless chips forward.

i think he's stuck in wales mode. For swansea the ball never left the floor, and it was mainly him starting off the defence move from the back. yes he never ran it out like mori does, but he would never look long. Its a bit odd, because none of our attackers want that and as koeman related to earlier in the season "we are kicking it long but i don't know why", so not sure what's going on there. Yesterday could have been excused if he would juts hoof it 100 yards in the air and hoping the defence wouldn't know how to deal with the wind and bouncing ball, but it was just little fairy chips to a striker not renowned for good hold up play.

 

[Khalekan]

To sum up.. We just drew 0-0 with Middlesborough who are crap and we are pinning out hopes on a bunch of 18 yr olds because we struggle to attract and sign experienced world class players.

That's the spirit

 

[Toffe3m4n]

That's the spirit

We house a particularly over-dramatic bunch here at GOT, don't we?