Norwich v Everton. 17th Aug @ 15.00.

[evertorial]

Can't believe I am saying this but Felli is sorely underrated by some of our fans..... The shouts that they would be happy to see him go show a real lack of ambition and understanding of the impact (often unnoticed) he has for us.....

I agree, I think Fellaini in the team puts our possession up by almost 10% sometimes and particularly did yesterday. His ability to win back the ball and win every header from punts up the pitch from the opposition really is invaluable. I think Fellaini is right when he says he is best in that role because he is extremely effective there, however towards the end of the game chasing to get the goal, i think he should of been more advanced.

I think we played very well, on most days we would have won that game against a team who are decent at home. We take the point and move on. Its such a long season and you get those kind of games in every season and every team will get them, you also get games where you deserve nothing and get something so theres no need to be too downhearted. We play like that against West Brom next Saturday and we will win quite easily.

COYB

 

[toffee-bhoy]

Not seeing a stream of long balls launched up front for Fellaini is always going to make him appear not to be involved in the game as much. Apart from letting Whittaker go past him untouched -- he was probably leery of giving away a free kick, but still should have made a challenge -- he had a fairly solid game IMO.

this is it ....i read stats-wise he was top with touches of ball and and close to top with passes completed but the fact that hes further back people think hes ****...if anything he was poor for not putting in any challenge to their 1st goal

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

The more I think about this game, the better I think we played. We were very unlucky.

Did highlight our need for a couple of centre mids though.

 

[flowboy]

Boom!

Nice to see Jelavic and Distin on their toes there too.

Yeah. Very alert for the loose ball.

It all was very encouraging for me. Separately, Norwich's Van Wolfboy looks like he may take some points from rival teams.

Yahoo's Live Text Commentary

86 minute: Everton have enjoyed 69% of possession in this second half. No wonder Chris Hughton is bringing on a defender.

 

[Petit]

I agree, I think Fellaini in the team puts our possession up by almost 10% sometimes and particularly did yesterday. His ability to win back the ball and win every header from punts up the pitch from the opposition really is invaluable. I think Fellaini is right when he says he is best in that role because he is extremely effective there, however towards the end of the game chasing to get the goal, i think he should of been more advanced.

I think we played very well, on most days we would have won that game against a team who are decent at home. We take the point and move on. Its such a long season and you get those kind of games in every season and every team will get them, you also get games where you deserve nothing and get something so theres no need to be too downhearted. We play like that against West Brom next Saturday and we will win quite easily.

COYB

Agreed 100%.

I trust Martinez to spend money well, but Fellaini is one of the best midfielders in the premiership and should not be sold.

 

[harris78]

I agree, I think Fellaini in the team puts our possession up by almost 10% sometimes and particularly did yesterday. His ability to win back the ball and win every header from punts up the pitch from the opposition really is invaluable. I think Fellaini is right when he says he is best in that role because he is extremely effective there, however towards the end of the game chasing to get the goal, i think he should of been more advanced.

I think we played very well, on most days we would have won that game against a team who are decent at home. We take the point and move on. Its such a long season and you get those kind of games in every season and every team will get them, you also get games where you deserve nothing and get something so theres no need to be too downhearted. We play like that against West Brom next Saturday and we will win quite easily.

COYB

This all day.

Yesterday i was really happy with the performance by the lads. We controlled the game pretty much for the entire 90 minutes with Norwich getting a lucky break on both their goals. After the match i went to the pub with a few Norwich fans who were relieved to get to 90 minutes. On another day it could have been 3 or 4-0.

Pretty much the whole team had a decent game. I know Osman has been coming in for some stick but apart from a couple of loose passes in the 90, i thought he did ok. He was picking the ball up off of the back four and keeping it simple. As with Fellaini i thought he was decent. He broke play up numerous times and helped to build attacks. With Fellaini though unless you see the whole game he can look disinterested. Yesterday he looked good but watching highlights last night you could get the impression he was not up for it.

If we can continue and build on yesterdays performance i am quite optimistic for the season. If also by any chance we could get one or two more in to come into the first 11, then we really could do something.

 

[hktoffee]

This all day.

Yesterday i was really happy with the performance by the lads. We controlled the game pretty much for the entire 90 minutes with Norwich getting a lucky break on both their goals. After the match i went to the pub with a few Norwich fans who were relieved to get to 90 minutes. On another day it could have been 3 or 4-0.

Pretty much the whole team had a decent game. I know Osman has been coming in for some stick but apart from a couple of loose passes in the 90, i thought he did ok. He was picking the ball up off of the back four and keeping it simple. As with Fellaini i thought he was decent. He broke play up numerous times and helped to build attacks. With Fellaini though unless you see the whole game he can look disinterested. Yesterday he looked good but watching highlights last night you could get the impression he was not up for it.

If we can continue and build on yesterdays performance i am quite optimistic for the season. If also by any chance we could get one or two more in to come into the first 11, then we really could do something.

No matter how bad he had done, you never see him as the problem? He conistantly lost the ball in the middle of the park, made the most misplaced pass in the team and he can't track the opposition as he is too slow and hadn't got the greatest strength too. He is going downhill recently. We need Gibson back sooner rather than later.

 

[SwedishToffe]

Can't believe I am saying this but Felli is sorely underrated by some of our fans..... The shouts that they would be happy to see him go show a real lack of ambition and understanding of the impact (often unnoticed) he has for us.....

Agree...

 

[Eric Djemba-Djemba]

Can't believe I am saying this but Felli is sorely underrated by some of our fans..... The shouts that they would be happy to see him go show a real lack of ambition and understanding of the impact (often unnoticed) he has for us.....

Spot on mate

 

[kevdotbadger]

For me yesterday was a great advert for our new football. A terrific goal by Barkley, but the build up to Coleman's goal was amazing. The passing building up to it was something Barca would pull off. It started with a pass from Fellaini in midfield, all the way back to Tim Howard. From there it was incredible, something we'd never see under Moyes. From Howard there was 16 passes to Jelavic's initial shot at goal. Going from right to left and eventually a cutting pass from Pienaar played forward to Jelavic's feet. Oddly thought, looking at the build up, a lot of players decided to NOT play it to Barkley, I guess they knew he would be marked tighter, or perhaps he was buzzing to much from the goal and wouldn't keep a cool head. Fellaini was in a decent area whilst all the passing was going on, he was sitting on the half way line, just incase anything went wrong. Baines made a terrific run which got the attention of about 4 Norwich players, leaving Jelavic to made a straight forward run through the defence. I mean take a look at this picture.

Pienaar had about 7/8 options (5 obvious ones). In hindsight he made the correct one, but he could had easily played a ball to Baines, or even to Barkley to have another pop!

Norwich scored a couple of lucky goals, both preventable. Fellaini was at fault for the first one, lack of commitment to the cause. He first didn't even try to tackle/foul Whittaker. Even when Whittaker got a past Fellaini he didn't even bother following him. If he did, he would had prevented the rebound. I also think Distin could had reacted quicker to the initial shot and stopped the rebound. I think the second one was less preventable, again I personally think Fellaini was at fault again. When Redmond ran at our defence Fellaini should had known/trusted Jags and Osman to get a tackle in, but instead he jogs into a strange area.

Once Redmond cuts inside, Fellaini is out of the picture. He should be on Redmonds back before he plays the ball out wide. Instead the following happens which leads to the looped cross, and eventually the goal.

 

[SchoolOfScience]

Norwich scored a couple of lucky goals, both preventable. Fellaini was at fault for the first one, lack of commitment to the cause. He first didn't even try to tackle/foul Whittaker. Even when Whittaker got a past Fellaini he didn't even bother following him. If he did, he would had prevented the rebound. I also think Distin could had reacted quicker to the initial shot and stopped the rebound. I think the second one was less preventable, again I personally think Fellaini was at fault again. When Redmond ran at our defence Fellaini should had known/trusted Jags and Osman to get a tackle in, but instead he jogs into a strange area.

First goal was a collection of errors and good movement from Norwich imo, Baines got left exposed by neither Pienaar or Fellaini giving great cover forcing Distin to cover over left back which left a hole as big as Katie Price's gash once Felli had half heartedly tried to win possession, once it hits the post it's the luck of the draw where it's gonna land

 

[billycopper]

Just noticed that we had 5 players in the box for both goals! Under Moyes we were lucky if we had one player in the box.

 

[Pienaar'sdisciple]

Not signing a quality striker is going to cost us a lot of points. If other teams top 4 teams dominanted play like we did then they'd have scored. Jelavic is now a waste of time, we have no business playing him. Perhaps kone will pprove to be a top marksmam throughout the season. Barkley was great, but his decision making at times was suspect. Still not sure where he'd be best suited to playing, in midfield or as a no10. But with us not having any real quality in the 10 I guess its more usefull to us to use him there.

All in all we played well but our defensive shape is a mess. They few times norwitch had the ball they threatened.

 

[TX Bill]

A few observations:

1) Ross Barkley - Welcome to the Premier League. Enjoy your stay cause it's gonna be a long one.

2) Unlucky on the header but what are you gonna do.

3) Pleased overall with the match and several positives to take from it. I was actually happy to see Naismith come on based on his solid preseason performances.

4) Wanted to see Big Vic instead of Kone though.

5) Not gonna **** Osman because I guarantee there he'll have a match or two this year that he's is the Man of the Match. What I'd like from him is a bit more consistency. That said, Fellaini & Gibson will start in the middle when all healthy.

 

[mac123]

Distin's positioning was the ultimate cause for their first goal. He had no need to drift so far out to the left back area. You defend where the danger is, in this instance down the middle!! If he had stayed where he was, he cuts it out no problem or if Whittaker passed it wide, the worst that happens is a cross!! Really was a schoolboy error by an experienced defender!!!