Elston Gunnn

The biggest positive to me was that the defense looked more organized than it has to date. There wasn't much space for Sterling and Balotelli. I thought Howard played mostly well. Maybe he should have made that save on the free kick, but also don't forget that that penatly was garbage. Balotelli flopped; there wasn't any contact so it should never have been given.
 
They didn't get much going offensively but I think that was the game plan. They played it safe and limited their mistakes. I think there are positives to build on going into Old Trafford next week.

Can we get off this anti-Rom bandwagon? He was nowhere near as bad as being made out. Once you start looking for negatives, you'll find them in anyone. If you look for positives, you'll find them too! We see what we want to see sometimes.
 
We just went to Anfield, lost Mirallas in the first half, and still stole a point. Much better than last season, good play from Hibbert (despite all the slating of him before kickoff), nice debut for Browning, strong defence (something to really be noted and appreciated), and a potential goal of the season.

My biggest fear for this game is that Coleman won't be fit and we go with Stones at RB. That has nothing to do with the mauling he took playing there last season (I know he wasn't alone in that respect) but because him playing RB disrupts our balance even more than it has been this season. I don't care how shit Liverpool have been so far this season, if you gift them chances to score they'll take some of them.
 
Please be fit, Seamus!

3-3 probably would have been a fair result. Disappointing, but closer to actual play on the pitch. Baines really good defensively today. Eto'o very impressive. Jagielka wildly inconsistent. Many good hustle plays on our goals. Defense tired last 20 minutes, or more.
 
Shots/on goal -- Everton 12/7, W 27/13.

That's no penalty, outside the box.

Want to see, well, a 4th goal, of course, but also gradual subs starting around 60 minutes -- Eto'o for Lukaku, Besic for Naismith, Atsu for Mirallas.

If we're serious about this cup we need to field the strongest team available. Wolfsburg will be one of the harder tests.
 
Tonight's line up will give us an indication if Martinez motive in this competition.

It's true that RM is being paid rather more than I to think way too much about the problem - or as RM prefers, "enjoyment" - of this crowded list of matches. Still, thinking in some detail about possible lineups must surely be an acceptable expression of Everton football obsession. Next you'll tell me there's no Santa Claus, or that Basil Fawlty is a kind-hearted soul.
 
Take your own speculation about the revised 11 RM may play Thursday. Unless I'm once again overthinking - distinct possibility - you suggest no Lukaku or Mirallas starting v. Wolfsburg. Although it would surprise me a little, yes, I could see Mirallas rested, even held out totally; but for Lukaku, given his publicly professed desire for European football, to be held out entirely from this first EL fixture - that would surprise me a lot.
 
As I said in my post, I agree with you that we're likely to see several to lots of new faces v. Swansea.

As I am so new to this board, I'm hesitant to begin a new thread. Still, given the disappointing start to the season -- acknowledging, too, the exciting football when on the attack -- it's hard not to start looking forward to better results next month. Our August results have put us in a hole; there is surely general agreement that we "gave away" 4 points.
 
So, September. Not merely WBrom, about which a thread will begin at later date. "One game at a time" is sound advice, but the bigger picture also beckons. For me, of the 5 fixtures upcoming, the least important is Swansea in the League Cup. Before that tie, we have an international break, then 3 winnable games. And we badly need to win them, for obvious reasons: 9/13 @ WBrom, 9/18 Wolfsburg, 9/21 CP. The international break should provide needed time to improve the defense. Unfortunately, pride in having 3 of ours on England/international duty -- plus others for other countries -- is undercut somewhat by our feeling that we need Stones, Jags, and Baines, and all the others, to practice for Everton!
 
Even so, we should and must defeat WBrom. A draw won't suffice. A win, plus sufficient time to recover physically before the much-anticipated opening of our Europa League campaign, might plausibly provide psychological/emotional uplift in front of the Wolfsburg tie, another must-win. As is the Goodison fixture 3 days later v. CP. Mediocre play -- especially on defense -- in any of those 3 ties will be discouraging, dismaying, even.
 
We will expect to see Stones, Besic, Gibson, Atsu, not to mention Eto'o, possibly Pienaar (Kone? a September 1 loan?). It will be interesting to see the lineup for each of these 3 matches: WBrom, because of the poor start; Wolfsburg, because it's Europe; CP because it's a quick turn-around, but one that we should be able to handle, given that it's Goodison after Goodison. Do we or do we not have pretty good squad depth? These 3-in-8-days won't provide a definitive "yes," but they might suggest an ominous "no." We need 3 wins. Actually prefer 3 impressive wins.
 
Am I off-base in thinking the Swansea match is far less important than the 3 that precede it? Right now, it looks the least winnable. Only 2 days after CP? And much less important than the derby 5 days later. Really interesting to compare lineups in the 3-in-6-days (Wolfsburg, CP, Swansea). Again, a real test for squad depth, managing injuries, integrating new lads.
 
A win at Swansea would perhaps provide nice momentum going into the derby, but the other 3 matches are bigger. I'll gladly hope Ossie, Alcaraz, and Hibbert lead us to a 3-0 smashing of Swansea, but I'll be investing much more energy in the other 4 September fixtures. Indeed, if we are "desperate" to defeat Swansea in the League Cup, then things will have gone desperately pear-shaped by September 23.

As I am so new to this board, I'm hesitant to begin a new thread. Still, given the disappointing start to the season -- acknowledging, too, the exciting football when on the attack -- it's hard not to start looking forward to better results next month. Our August results have put us in a hole; there is surely general agreement that we "gave away" 4 points.
 
So, September. Not merely WBrom, about which a thread will begin at later date. "One game at a time" is sound advice, but the bigger picture also beckons. For me, of the 5 fixtures upcoming, the least important is Swansea in the League Cup. Before that tie, we have an international break, then 3 winnable games. And we badly need to win them, for obvious reasons: 9/13 @ WBrom, 9/18 Wolfsburg, 9/21 CP. The international break should provide needed time to improve the defense. Unfortunately, pride in having 3 of ours on England/international duty -- plus others for other countries -- is undercut somewhat by our feeling that we need Stones, Jags, and Baines, and all the others, to practice for Everton!
 
Even so, we should and must defeat WBrom. A draw won't suffice. A win, plus sufficient time to recover physically before the much-anticipated opening of our Europa League campaign, might plausibly provide psychological/emotional uplift in front of the Wolfsburg tie, another must-win. As is the Goodison fixture 3 days later v. CP. Mediocre play -- especially on defense -- in any of those 3 ties will be discouraging, dismaying, even.
 
We will expect to see Stones, Besic, Gibson, Atsu, not to mention Eto'o, possibly Pienaar (Kone? a September 1 loan?). It will be interesting to see the lineup for each of these 3 matches: WBrom, because of the poor start; Wolfsburg, because it's Europe; CP because it's a quick turn-around, but one that we should be able to handle, given that it's Goodison after Goodison. Do we or do we not have pretty good squad depth? These 3-in-8-days won't provide a definitive "yes," but they might suggest an ominous "no." We need 3 wins. Actually prefer 3 impressive wins.
 
Am I off-base in thinking the Swansea match is far less important than the 3 that precede it? Right now, it looks the least winnable. Only 2 days after CP? And much less important than the derby 5 days later. Really interesting to compare lineups in the 3-in-6-days (Wolfsburg, CP, Swansea). Again, a real test for squad depth, managing injuries, integrating new lads.
 
A win at Swansea would perhaps provide nice momentum going into the derby, but the other 3 matches are bigger. I'll gladly hope Ossie, Alcaraz, and Hibbert lead us to a 3-0 smashing of Swansea, but I'll be investing much more energy in the other 4 September fixtures. Indeed, if we are "desperate" to defeat Swansea in the League Cup, then things will have gone desperately pear-shaped by September 23.

Spurs have easier group than Everton, but much tougher travel. Their exhaustion factor looks high. Match locales are crucial for Nov. 27 ties. I'll hope their Nov. 27 tie is away, and ours is at Goodison, as we play Spurs Nov. 30 in London. Definitely bad schedule if we are away at Krasnodar Nov. 27.

Spurs have easier group than Everton, but much tougher travel. Their exhaustion factor looks high. Match locales are crucial for Nov. 27 ties. I'll hope their Nov. 27 tie is away, and ours is at Goodison, as we play Spurs Nov. 30 in London. Definitely bad schedule if we are away at Krasnodar Nov. 27.

Pass me the Holy Handgrenade.
 
Thou shalt count to 3. And the number you count wilt be 3. Not 4 and neither will it be 2. 5 is right out.

What if we get him in a dress and slap on some rouge?

Worth a read:
 
http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2014/08/getting-used-to-the-new-everton/
 
I suspect "Martin Liptrot" is some anagram nom de plume for one of you lot.

Just in case anyone was wondering who Everton should support in the Europa fixtures this afternoon, I put together a little information on the games and what it means for our upcoming group draw.
 
Check it out at: http://planetgoodison.com/2014/08/europa-league-watch/
 
Basically we need some favorites to get beaten by underdogs to have the chance at Pot 2; a scenario which would give us a much easier group.
 
(Sorry if this looks like shameless self promotion for my blog, it kind of is, but this is more about the Europa League than anything else).

Ok. Hard cheese, Bob's your uncle, give us a biscuit.
 
More to the point, transfer-window-wise, I expect to feel gutted, chuffed, arsed, and made up. Over the next 48 hours, and probably the next fortnight.

Ok. Hard cheese, Bob's your uncle, give us a biscuit.
 
More to the point, transfer-window-wise, I expect to feel gutted, chuffed, arsed, and made up. Over the next 48 hours, and probably the next fortnight.

Hopefully this is official soon. I still fear Chelsea might prefer him to go to one of the other English teams interested in him, some place where they have less (or simply lesser) established wingers as he might get more opportunities to showcase his abilities there which would inflate his price more come next summer. Don't think Chelsea will allow an option to buy, but obviously that won't mean we can't buy him anyway if he impresses. I don't think he's ever going to feature for Chelsea, but just having him perform for a Premier League team means they'll be able to squeeze more money out of suitors next summer. By all accounts, Atsu himself really wants to join us rather than those other teams which I like obviously and it probably is a good sign in case we want to sign him permanently next summer.
 
Nice mix in styles in our wide men if this would happen. Pienaar is more of a playmaker on the left wing. Mirallas is more of a direct player on the left wing, more of a goal scoring inverted winger, who I think has been limited a bit by playing on the right which forces him into the role of a crosser more. McGeady is a direct player, but of the traditional kind that gets chalk on his boots and beats his full back to whip the ball into the box. Atsu is the first left-footed player and likes to play in that inside right area, similar to Pienaar but on the other side of the pitch. Mirallas, McGeady and Atsu can play on the other wing as well.
 
Now on to a centre forward!

Anybody seen this? Worth a read. Not sure whether "positional determinism" is quite right, but at least it's intriguing, as is "endearing vanity."
 
http://www.therussianlinesman.com/blog/besic-mccarthy-endearing-vanity-martinezs-central-midfield-fixation/

There's a big omission in my post #6 above. I neglected to mention an emerging Everton star, attacking midfielder Ross Barkley. He runs at people fiercely, with good dribbling skills, power, and great balance. Sometimes tries to do too much, loses possession, but he strikes fear into opposing center-halves, as he's got a rocket shot from distance. Backed up by veteran Everton loyalist, Leon Osman, clever passer, best years just behind him, still will play some at several midfield positions.
 
I also didn't comment on your question re season expectations. Pretty sure there's a separate thread on that very subject. Right now it's a dicey question, as Everton have yet to secure the several new, and absolutely needed, players that Roberto seeks. Absent any additional signings -- somewhere between a disappointment and a catastrophe -- the consensus here might be 8th or 9th in the table. But most expect another couple of signings; depending on said signings and their quality, the predictions here would range from 4th (and UEFA Champions League in Fall 2015) to 7th (behind Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool, and Tottenham).
 
Great hopes for this Fall (2014) and the UEFA Europa League, where Everton are automatically in the Group Stage, beginning play in September. But absent additional signings, the fear is squad exhaustion, as Europa League play is always on Thursday nights, and long trips especially to eastern Europe make for a difficult match back in England on Sunday.
 
We really want to nick into the top 4 in the table this season, where some big money awaits in the Champions League in Fall 2015 (and we hope into Spring 2016). As very much a financial have-not, Everton are right now -- this season -- just on the cusp of bigger things. But several things -- signings of proven or promising players, continuing squad unity and special spirit, and especially a relatively injury-free season -- must break good, not bad.
 
We're excited, and nervous.

Apackard1 --
 
I'm American, too, following Everton for nearly 20 years, but because so little access to the EPL on US tv, have only begun to see lots of Everton games in last year or so. If you have NBC Sports Network, they carry all EPL games -- either on regular broadcast, or on Live Extra. You should be able to see plenty of Everton games!
 
As to your important question re players, coaches, expectations, I'll chime in here, after acknowledging that I know relatively little, compared with the many longstanding Everton fans on this board. They'll feel free to correct my faulty impressions. Anyhow, I won't begin every sentence with, IMO. Rather, everything that follows is IMO.
 
Everton are blessed with one of the most highly respected managers in all of football, Roberto Martinez. You will surely have heard his expert commentary for ESPN from Brazil. He's brilliant, researches players in many leagues, can explain systems, formations, intricacies far better than most. Highly respected as an analyst, thinker, manager. A sweet person, as well, treats people and players with great respect. Always optimistic -- irritatingly so, occasionally -- but that's who he is. Well connected across several leagues, perhaps especially La Liga, and more especially, at least recently, to FC Barcelona. Roberto is himself Catalan.
 
Players, where to begin? You know Tim Howard well; he's presumably here as starter for another 2-4 years. Back line very solid, with near-world-class LB, Leighton Baines [superb at set pieces, great delivery for headers or into the top corner of the net on his own from the right distance], near-world-class RB, Seamus Coleman, solid center-halves, Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin. Many think young John Stones will replace Jagielka soon as starter. Backup to Baines at LB may be a contest between two young players, Luke Garbutt, and Costa Rican Bryan Oviedo, the latter of whom may see time on the pitch at LM, too.
 
The holding midfielders are solid, with smart veteran Gareth Barry and rising star, runs everywhere James McCarthy, backed by Darron Gibson, excellent passer. Everton hope to sign young Bosnian mid, Muhamed Besic, soon.
 
Wing mids look solid to me, perhaps a bit less so to others. LM is Steven Pienaar, veteran, clever. Question is his stamina, and injuries. RM is Kevin Mirallas, whom you will have seen playing for Belgium v. US. Fast, good dribbler, may play striker on occasion. Everton need goals from him! Backup, right now, for both wing mids is Aiden McGeady. Tricky dribbler, very promising, will play lots this season. Lots.
 
Problem area is forwards. Everton trying to sign Romalu Lukaku, another young Belgian you will have seen, who played for Everton last season on loan from Chelsea. Need to sign him, as Everton's only two strikers right now are Arouna Kone, injured all last season, and Steven Naismith, good, clever, but not dominant, will not score loads of goals.
 
Everton, the club, are different from many in EPL, which differences I will let others here explain, because they understand the club's history so much better than I. But it is different, and better, and more interesting.

Apackard1 --
 
I'm American, too, following Everton for nearly 20 years, but because so little access to the EPL on US tv, have only begun to see lots of Everton games in last year or so. If you have NBC Sports Network, they carry all EPL games -- either on regular broadcast, or on Live Extra. You should be able to see plenty of Everton games!
 
As to your important question re players, coaches, expectations, I'll chime in here, after acknowledging that I know relatively little, compared with the many longstanding Everton fans on this board. They'll feel free to correct my faulty impressions. Anyhow, I won't begin every sentence with, IMO. Rather, everything that follows is IMO.
 
Everton are blessed with one of the most highly respected managers in all of football, Roberto Martinez. You will surely have heard his expert commentary for ESPN from Brazil. He's brilliant, researches players in many leagues, can explain systems, formations, intricacies far better than most. Highly respected as an analyst, thinker, manager. A sweet person, as well, treats people and players with great respect. Always optimistic -- irritatingly so, occasionally -- but that's who he is. Well connected across several leagues, perhaps especially La Liga, and more especially, at least recently, to FC Barcelona. Roberto is himself Catalan.
 
Players, where to begin? You know Tim Howard well; he's presumably here as starter for another 2-4 years. Back line very solid, with near-world-class LB, Leighton Baines [superb at set pieces, great delivery for headers or into the top corner of the net on his own from the right distance], near-world-class RB, Seamus Coleman, solid center-halves, Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin. Many think young John Stones will replace Jagielka soon as starter. Backup to Baines at LB may be a contest between two young players, Luke Garbutt, and Costa Rican Bryan Oviedo, the latter of whom may see time on the pitch at LM, too.
 
The holding midfielders are solid, with smart veteran Gareth Barry and rising star, runs everywhere James McCarthy, backed by Darron Gibson, excellent passer. Everton hope to sign young Bosnian mid, Muhamed Besic, soon.
 
Wing mids look solid to me, perhaps a bit less so to others. LM is Steven Pienaar, veteran, clever. Question is his stamina, and injuries. RM is Kevin Mirallas, whom you will have seen playing for Belgium v. US. Fast, good dribbler, may play striker on occasion. Everton need goals from him! Backup, right now, for both wing mids is Aiden McGeady. Tricky dribbler, very promising, will play lots this season. Lots.
 
Problem area is forwards. Everton trying to sign Romalu Lukaku, another young Belgian you will have seen, who played for Everton last season on loan from Chelsea. Need to sign him, as Everton's only two strikers right now are Arouna Kone, injured all last season, and Steven Naismith, good, clever, but not dominant, will not score loads of goals.
 
Everton, the club, are different from many in EPL, which differences I will let others here explain, because they understand the club's history so much better than I. But it is different, and better, and more interesting.

There's a big omission in my post #6 above. I neglected to mention an emerging Everton star, attacking midfielder Ross Barkley. He runs at people fiercely, with good dribbling skills, power, and great balance. Sometimes tries to do too much, loses possession, but he strikes fear into opposing center-halves, as he's got a rocket shot from distance. Backed up by veteran Everton loyalist, Leon Osman, clever passer, best years just behind him, still will play some at several midfield positions.
 
I also didn't comment on your question re season expectations. Pretty sure there's a separate thread on that very subject. Right now it's a dicey question, as Everton have yet to secure the several new, and absolutely needed, players that Roberto seeks. Absent any additional signings -- somewhere between a disappointment and a catastrophe -- the consensus here might be 8th or 9th in the table. But most expect another couple of signings; depending on said signings and their quality, the predictions here would range from 4th (and UEFA Champions League in Fall 2015) to 7th (behind Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool, and Tottenham).
 
Great hopes for this Fall (2014) and the UEFA Europa League, where Everton are automatically in the Group Stage, beginning play in September. But absent additional signings, the fear is squad exhaustion, as Europa League play is always on Thursday nights, and long trips especially to eastern Europe make for a difficult match back in England on Sunday.
 
We really want to nick into the top 4 in the table this season, where some big money awaits in the Champions League in Fall 2015 (and we hope into Spring 2016). As very much a financial have-not, Everton are right now -- this season -- just on the cusp of bigger things. But several things -- signings of proven or promising players, continuing squad unity and special spirit, and especially a relatively injury-free season -- must break good, not bad.
 
We're excited, and nervous.

Apackard1 --
 
I'm American, too, following Everton for nearly 20 years, but because so little access to the EPL on US tv, have only begun to see lots of Everton games in last year or so. If you have NBC Sports Network, they carry all EPL games -- either on regular broadcast, or on Live Extra. You should be able to see plenty of Everton games!
 
As to your important question re players, coaches, expectations, I'll chime in here, after acknowledging that I know relatively little, compared with the many longstanding Everton fans on this board. They'll feel free to correct my faulty impressions. Anyhow, I won't begin every sentence with, IMO. Rather, everything that follows is IMO.
 
Everton are blessed with one of the most highly respected managers in all of football, Roberto Martinez. You will surely have heard his expert commentary for ESPN from Brazil. He's brilliant, researches players in many leagues, can explain systems, formations, intricacies far better than most. Highly respected as an analyst, thinker, manager. A sweet person, as well, treats people and players with great respect. Always optimistic -- irritatingly so, occasionally -- but that's who he is. Well connected across several leagues, perhaps especially La Liga, and more especially, at least recently, to FC Barcelona. Roberto is himself Catalan.
 
Players, where to begin? You know Tim Howard well; he's presumably here as starter for another 2-4 years. Back line very solid, with near-world-class LB, Leighton Baines [superb at set pieces, great delivery for headers or into the top corner of the net on his own from the right distance], near-world-class RB, Seamus Coleman, solid center-halves, Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin. Many think young John Stones will replace Jagielka soon as starter. Backup to Baines at LB may be a contest between two young players, Luke Garbutt, and Costa Rican Bryan Oviedo, the latter of whom may see time on the pitch at LM, too.
 
The holding midfielders are solid, with smart veteran Gareth Barry and rising star, runs everywhere James McCarthy, backed by Darron Gibson, excellent passer. Everton hope to sign young Bosnian mid, Muhamed Besic, soon.
 
Wing mids look solid to me, perhaps a bit less so to others. LM is Steven Pienaar, veteran, clever. Question is his stamina, and injuries. RM is Kevin Mirallas, whom you will have seen playing for Belgium v. US. Fast, good dribbler, may play striker on occasion. Everton need goals from him! Backup, right now, for both wing mids is Aiden McGeady. Tricky dribbler, very promising, will play lots this season. Lots.
 
Problem area is forwards. Everton trying to sign Romalu Lukaku, another young Belgian you will have seen, who played for Everton last season on loan from Chelsea. Need to sign him, as Everton's only two strikers right now are Arouna Kone, injured all last season, and Steven Naismith, good, clever, but not dominant, will not score loads of goals.
 
Everton, the club, are different from many in EPL, which differences I will let others here explain, because they understand the club's history so much better than I. But it is different, and better, and more interesting.