TOFFEEliscious

On ‎9‎/‎29‎/‎2017 at 07:20, markjazzbassist said:

rooney is stealing his spots.  either bench rooney or tell him to stay up top and never go past the half way line.  Rooney thinks he's messi but he's not.

pretty much this. I'm totally surprised as to how much time Rooney has been given in the side, I saw him as a starter sometimes, a bench player coming on to influence things later in the game, but it's a  long season with Europe and the hope of a deep cup run. He's got a lot of miles on him and I thought he'd be played more sparingly. 

I'm done with him too at this point. get rid of him for a good price. has always thought he was bigger than the club, but look at his games against big sides, he doesn't show up, look at him against the RS, he couldn't win a header.

good finisher yes, but not at all complete player. I think many people will be surprised that Everton won't suffer as much as some think if he leaves.

he doesn't want to be here, as long as we can get a good price then so be it.

I was watching NBCSN in america and they put up a league table without each teams' top scorer , so Everton without Lukaku goals, and Everton would've been 4th or even 3rd. I can't quite remember and have searched for it but can't find it so I don't have a link. Tottenham would fall to about 7th.

really made me think. Nobody is bigger than the team and sometimes when you lose a player you think it'll have a catastrophic effect on your team but it isn't always the case.

I didn't have too much a problem with the interview, but I didn't like near the end when he's asked about whether Everton are ambitious enough and he backslides and just say his job is on the pitch, ""to train and play, train and play,"" but to me you're talking out of both sides of your mouth in a somewhat passive aggressive way because on the other hand he's has come out and talked about the direction of the club and investment and bringing in new players. So he comes out and makes waves but then takes a back step.

maybe it's just a matter of poor timing, give Moshiri another year or two and Lukaku will fit in with Everton's "ambitions" better or vice versa. But will it happen quick enough for Rom?

He isn't the complete package but in the end he produces so I find myself never holding a grudge. His main job is to score and that he does.

I'd argue that during season two and three of Martinez' reign we were not entertaining for the most part to be honest. First season, yes, entertaining in the extreme. I loved going to Goodison, even if we didn't win I'd know that most games we'd play open, expansive football and have a good crack at it. But after that? Goodison became a morgue, and not only because we weren't winning - the football was sterile, it was slow, pedestrian and mind-numbing to watch. I'd dread going to watch us, there was more talking amongst the fans than I've ever heard before because people were just not interested in watching the football in front of them.

this.

one dimensional, tiky-takka b.s. , boring, slow down at the penalty area like there was a magical force-field we couldn't penetrate with square passing, he was stubborn not having a plan b, just like a lesser talented Pep Guardiola.

I believe this is great news for Everton. Usmanov was battling with Kroenke for major shares of Arsenal and Kroenke won, most fans at arsenal aren't happy about that as Kroenke is a bad owner, here in American he owns far more teams than just the Rams, teams in the NBA, NHL, and MLS and they've never done anything, he's a terrible owner and he's terrible for Arsenal.

Usmanov seemed like he wanted to be the next Abromovich and really throw his money around. Kroenke is just happy with the team as an investment.

Cautiously optimistic about this. The future is looking very bright for Everton I think.

Why is everyone a Kopite who doesn't agree with you Paddock?

 

I'll be honest with you, I don't see anything that indicates we are improving. The team is playing as individuals and we're all over the place. Koeman is worse than Martinez in my eyes! His brand of football is dreadful

we are improving if only because some new young guys are getting time and looking decent. we sometimes play as individuals but against Hull we were able to string together patches of play where we looked decent. We're not consistent, that's for sure. But RK has an aged squad and hasn't really had time, 15 games, are we really that impatient?

did you believe in what he did at SouHpt? I think he needs more time. At least RK tells it like it is and doesn't sugar coat things. He hasn't had enough time or opportunity to get his players to implement is brand of football.

I like the starting lineup from him vs. the RS, was hamstrung by both injuries and really only had 1 sub to make. However, I would've put Valencia up with Rom to get a goal and not put a youngster in such a big game.

we either need to play with two up top or get rid of Rom. He's just not a hold-up player because of his poor touch, not because of his size, considering his size he should be able to hold the ball well. He's great running into space with a head of steam but can't play with his back to goal. And he doesn't play for the team. He was a bit better tonight pressing but still not that great, watch a guy like Costa and see the difference. Good goal scoring record for sure but a bit flattering considering the overall package and what was paid for him.

I thought the ref was unfair, they were flopping a bit and exagerating and aggressive towards Dean. Lovren was already on a yellow and he did everything Coleman did but wasn't booked for shoving precisely because he was already cautioned. The only argument was perhaps that Coleman came from a long way away.

disappointing but expected, hate to say it.

Me either. Cleverley offers this team absolutely nothing as a winger. Anywhere really, but on the flank he's as good as a lost DCM. He needs to be offloaded badly.

agreed, he offers absolutely nothing at this stage of his career and I honestly don't think he should wear the shirt again. Send him out in January.

Schneiderlin and DePay (along with Darmian) have been left off their Europa League squad which is telling. If Koeman knows him and can use Schneiderlin to his best advantage then it makes even more sense. Would like to see how the long-term look of a putative deal would be, we will need long-term cover in this area with Barry aging and no other stars outside Gana IMO.

at least a loan with first rights to buy outright might be best.

Struggling for two reasons:

 

He's never really done it in the big leagues before, used to playing in piss poor Italian and French leagues.

 

He's old as fuck.

 

Over rated pish in my opinion and never proved his worth to be regarded as a world class player.

this guy never, ever, seems to come up big in big games against big opponents. I've always thought he was overrated, some in the media just love him, it was dirty by him, he knew exactly what he was doing to Seamus at the time.

thought he was a real monster today. encouraging to see him do so well. Pulis will be good for him I think.

As an American i love Tim Howard as much as anyone. Absolute hero who has truly changed the path of US Soccer.

 

He is not good enough to be the GK of Everton Football Club any longer. Father Time defeats all and his time has come.

 

Need a new GK in January because im afraid Robles is just slightly better and certainly still causes nerves every time a ball heads in his direction.

I'm American too and I've been critical of the play of Howard as well, passports have nothing to do with it. I just want what's best for Everton.

Not quite so sure how much he's changed the path of US Soccer, a couple of guys named Friedel and Keller were pretty good as well, (both better really, at least Friedel)

Robles might not be much better but perhaps with a run of games to get sorted out he'll come good, he's got more upside at this point in his career I think.

Come on you Blues!!!

didn't understand Besic being subbed off instead of Barry, he was on a yellow already and hasn't played well most of the season!

very strange.

I like Naismith centrally, rate him over Barkley actually. And yes, I do like his workrate, he was always back deeper than barkley defending plus he is more pacey which is why he's better played in the middle. It'd be great to see Miralles and Atsu on the wings when healthy.

didn't really like any of RM's moves or starting lineup but will admit he got Howard right today, I'd kept in Robles.

still, to have played that way today, especially in defense after shipping 6 at Goodison, and only losing on a deflected goal late spells good things for the rest of the season.

it's an improvement.

I don't see us in a relegation battle either. First season I supported the blues was 2011-2012, Cahill's last season if you'll recall and at Christmas time we were sitting in the position we were in now. We hit great form second half of the season to finish 7th, and were within reaching distance of (if I recall correctly) Chelsea in 6th who went on to win the Champions League.

 

The differences between then and now are:

 

-We have a manager who wants to win games, rather than not lose them.

 

-We have talent across the park, as well as depth rather than academy players filling up the subs bench.

 

-Bilyaletinov (sp?) was our winger going forward, now we have Mirallas.

 

-Saha was our striker, backed up by Cahill, neither of whom could even get a sniff of a shot away inside the box. Now we have Lukaku, Eto'o and Barkley.

 

-Phil Neville was our centre-mid with big-wig, now we've got McCarthy and Besic/Barry (irrespective of the latter's form, we're much better off with him than Neville)

 

 

I could go on forever about the positives over three seasons ago, but you all know them. My point is it's only December, and there's plenty of time to come good and start playing to the capabilities that we know this squad/manager produced last season. This time last season Arsenal were marching towards a title, and by the end only beat us to 4th because we threw it away.

 

Teams go through bad patches of form, it happens in every sport. We'll come out of it, I'm sure of it. Whether we end up finishing twelfth or lower end of the top 10 I don't know, but I'm certain we won't be in a relegation fight.

didn't we finish something like 17th with Moyes in charge rather early in his reign?

we've had a lot of injuries, some bad ref calls, etc, I'm still not worried. We do need a better second half but I can't see it not improving.

I applaud RM for trying a few new things this game, I especially liked Baines in midfield. Garbutt has come good and deserves more time. We've seen some fullbacks moved farther forward from other managers and it can work.

I refuse to see us as relegation fodder. I just can't see it. There's still too much talent out there.

We're shipping goals but I think part of that is there's no press or urgency from some of our forwards and midfielders, especially Eto'o for instance. Kone starting was a good move considering his substitute appearances and due to fixture congestion.

I really hope the dressing room isn't lost for RM, I think he deserves January still, I don't want us to turn into that type of club.

Come on you Everton!

you want me prove both sides of the argument? Do it yourself! :shaking fist:

 

I know, defending can be part of it but our defence is not perfect. But you could argue that Howard is part of the defence

he's absolutely part of the defense. they work as a unit.

I was a bit surprised at some of the team selections considering the travel from Europa league midweek. Eto for one.

we really need to get our defense sorted out. Still loving our fullback play. Still very fun to watch.

there's still time for a CL finish!