The Beard

Yep, I will agree that in today's terms the 5 or so million paid for them two is bargain basement.

Not exactly bargain basement Bill, decent championship players, but I get the point. If only other teams could see that far without spending the trillions on wastes of space from abroad, and to be honest, the more cash floating around the more dross introduced. I met a few Wolverhampton blokes on holiday just after we bought Lescott and they swore by him and said we had a bargain. Fairplay to them, seems they knew their stuff ha-ha and fairplay to him and Jagielka, in this day to play that many games in a short space of time deserves credit.

Haha, Well that's me voting for Neville. I know Arteta will get all the plaudits and fair play he deserves them, but for me, he got the chance to shine because, at last, we have found someone to protect the skilful midfielder. Phil Neville may not get all (if any) of the credit but today he was outstanding. He broke up everything Sunderland brought forward and protected Arteta so well that he was able to express himself, great teamwork in my opinion. Granted Arteta scored two goals and was immense in his own performance but for me unsung Neville gets my vote.

After taking some berating, not just on this site but in general, I think it is time to hold up our hands and give some credit, where it is due to a team that is playing for the cause. After the Wigan debacle, I was first on here bemoaning a sorry state of affairs, however I did say that once that team spirit returned, things would change. Since that disastrous night at the JJB, the Blues have began to resemble a decent outfit. In adversity, with the injuries and small squad, the right men have stood up to the challenge. Take a step forward Messrs. Neville, Arteta, Cahill, Lescott. Just four names that took some stick but with a tinkering of tactics have all improved dramatically, with their input in the past 5 or 6 games. Arteta moving into the middle, with Neville as his minder has been a great move (if only Moyes could make brave decisions like that regularly) and with the gradual introduction of the younger players i.e. Gosling and today Jutkiewicz, will make for a stronger squad and enhance team spirit. Even Anichebe today realised what he needed to do and in his 15 minute cameo won more headers and kept hold of the ball more than he has all season. To me a sure sign that confidence and seeing what others can achieve, rub off. To be honest, the win at Spurs was vital (and deserving) and has kicked start the season and i think we can all realise the blip in the middle of this decent run against Villa was undeserved but that's football. Here's to a great start to 2009 and see you all at Macc. next week

I went for Fellaini, his all round game was quite impressive yesterday. As most have pointed out there where a few players who could have been voted man of the match and positively they where all midfield/ forward players. A sure sign that we have played well when the defence dont get a look in, in the man of the match stakes.

We have nothing to fear on Thursday. Since the Wigan game, the spirit has started to re-emerge, coupled with some decent football. If we play anywhere near our potential (I suppose anyone could say that) we should be to strong for them. Only thing that worries me is they have had two extra days to get over there last game, so hope tiredness does not set in. If I had to predict the score then I go 2-1 for us.

Oh! well, I do like to, and appeared to have provoked a reaction. However, it appears that if you are not wearing your blue tinted specs you seem to be deemed an outsider and open to the ridicule and insults of others. Sorry lads but as an honest supporter, season ticket holder of over 35 years and an away attendance that stands up to the hardiest of supporters, I will endeavour to voice my opinion, whether you find that agreeable, contentious or in the words of one of the more literal posters "Shit". Like I said I am not devaluing anyone at the club and at the game I never shout them down or slag them off. I reserve that for decent conversation after the game with other Blues. Anyway, here's wishing you all a Merry Xmas and a good three points on Thursday, our bus leaves at 9.30, happy journey and see you there.

So telling the truth adds up to being a good assistant manager, I find that ridiculous. In fact about as ridiculous as the fact you think that Round has had nothing to do with our poor performances this season. As I posted in another thread, if he has had nothing to do with tactics etc. then what is the point of him being there. Some even argued that he has nothing to do with tactics as Moyes doesn,t even speak to him but now because of a decent couple of performances and he gets a bit of air time he is a solid assistant manager. You also state that we are in a comfortable mid-table position, look closer and we are actually nearer a relegation place than a European spot, point wise anyway. I am not trying to devalue the guy at all and as always will endeavour to offer all my support to the Blue cause but if you are part of the equation then you are part of the problem until it is solved. So Round is there with Moyes, the players and the rest of the club. I like many thousands of others hope that problem is solved sooner rather than later. Oh I do like to start the day on a positive note. Three points tonight will cheer me up.

The Automatic one has done the rounds, we actually sang it for Andy Johnson but changed the words to "whos that scoring again its Andy Johnson" etc, even Wigan sang it about Heskey. I agree that the singing at away games is better but that fucking half time at away games where everyone congregates down the stairs singing ".........and we love our Neville Southall etc..........." does my fucking head in, then the silly sods put it on youtube, so embarrassing. Personally i like it that we are differwent and don't have numerous comical ditties, id rather leave that to the inbred fuckers over the road. However i did like the "Robbie Fowlers illegitimate, he ain't got no birth certificate, hes got aids and cant get rid of it, poor old smack head b*****d" and "Super Kev Campbell, he scores in a scramble, he knows where the fucking net is"

Nice to hear views from a non Evertonian, even if some comments can be scorned at but if its an honest opinion then should not be mocked, after all we all have contrasting views about our team. Howard has grown in stature and is a solid base to the defence. The defence has hardly changed from last season and we had one of the better defensive records. That will improve soon as confidence returns, the moments of non concentration is a fair point made. Yobo, Lescott and Jagielka all culpable this season. The midfield i feel is the area we need to build upon, sometimes we appear to lack pace and other times aggression, a mixture of both would see the midfield further improve. The forward line can be imposing, we all know that Yakubu has an attitude problem but Moyes was willing to take that chance. He needs his management skills to get the best, however i feel we still need someone else, who? well i havent a clue and without knowing the cash we have to spend that specualtion wuill continue unitl February 1st 2009.

Staying positive is the name of the game this week. Sticking to the last three performances, but forgetting the defensive mistakes, means this will be a tight affair so with that logic i can see us winning 3-2, now thats a bold prediction.

Team spirit has returned, shown in evidence at Spurs, against Villa and yesterday. Fellaini gets my vote, tackled well, got forward to support Cahill and his passing in the main was spot on, defence coped well, although City had a couple of chance that will happen in anygame, even Nevilles passing improved. Midfield was generally solid, nice to see Castillo getting stuck in and teh rest of the midfield supported Cahill well. Also a quick mention to our 12th man yesterday, yes thats us lot in the crowd. The usual great turnout with great verbal support given by our lot, sometimes our away support does not the get the recognition it deserves.

Memma, your last thread regarded the introduction of Van Der Meyde and how glad you where to see him get a game and a run in the team could free Arteta into the middle, however you now question the validity of Saha. Surel some contradiction interms there.

He won't be in the starting 11 on Saturday because 10 minutes in a couple of seasons doesn't warrant a starting place. I believe if he does Moyes will be made to look a laughing stock because of Van Der Meydes previous transgressions. If the bloke was coming back from a lengthy lay off he wouldn't be pitched straight back in, because he wouldn't be match fit so why should he be given a start. We will be back to our cautious selves, trying to earn a point to make up for last weekend.

I have gone for Lescott, purely because of his goals yesterday. I would have gone for Jagielka but that mistake was so costly and cannot be condoned, even if the lad has been star player this year so far.

At the moment you could say we have got nothing to lose by playing him. On previous evidence, against Stoke, on début, I thought he played quite well, got stuck in, was neat and tidy. Ok he gave the ball away a few times but understandable playing first game in the Premier League. At Blackburn in the League Cup and Hull in the League, he wasn't that bad, it was the system that was wrong, hence he got yanked off at half time. To put him into perspective, Moyes trusted him with a starting place against Liege at home and since then he has hardly kicked a ball. Yes we know he was injured but as previous post says, what is the point of loan players if they are going to warm the bench, the fringe players can do that.

If you want to stay in the city centre to avoid the hussle on match days then there are plenty of places and only about a fiver in a cab to the ground, takes about 10-15 minutes. Around the ground there is lots of pubs to enjoy a pint. County Road/ Walton Road have a few large places like Wetherspoons/ Black Horse and lots of old fashioned boozers. Just follow the crowds and you won't go wrong and the prices don't go up on match days, not like certain pubs by the shithole over the road. Recommended, The Springfield and The Abbey

Ok, we have managed to get a few things off our chest, now lets look on the bright side(Yes there is one). The fact that apart from the top 3 or so, everyone appears to be able to beat everyone else. However whilst the likes of Stoke, WBA, Sunderland, Fulham, Blackburn etc. have to be at, for most part their best on the day, we are capable, as results have shown, of nicking wins when we play poor. Although this may not constitute great, flowing, attacking, pacy football it is something we have gotten used to over the past 4-5 years. Once Moyes gets that mentality and desire and passion re-instilled, things will pick up, it may not be pretty but damned effective......... Honest. Easy this football manager lark.

Like I said, nothing surprises me anymore

To be honest I would be surprised if there are any votes for anyone but Howard but then again nothing surprises me any more.

First go for me, im on C4

FAO, Romey and Dark. If you read properly I wasn't attaching blame solely on the shoulders of Round, if i was blaming him at all, hence the use of the word 'may'. I was merely pointing his input out, as first team coach, I am presuming he would have some say in what tactics are used and how players use them. If that's not the case then what is the point of him being there at all. Is it coincidence that we bring in an alternative second in command and performances drop? Either he is getting used to the Moyes and Everton way or Moyes and Everton are getting used to his.

Lets get things into perspective and admit last night was an accident waiting to happen. a five match unbeaten run was papering over the cracks. apart from the second half of the Man Utd game, there was no real period of positive possession, perversely the only sustained periods of good play seen all season have been in the first half against Arsenal and the second half against Man Utd. Fulham, Bolton, West Ham and Boro, may count themselves unlucky not to have beaten us, I am not trying to be so negative, just honest. So where lies the problem, last night the tactics and leadership must really be questioned before we even start on about individual performances. Having Cahill playing wide midfield, is he ever going to beat a full back to the by-line and put over a cross?, then switching him with Arteta every 10 minutes because things were not happening did nothing for continuity, every time there was a switch the rest of the midfield appeared to lose there own roles. There was no passion, no pace and definitely no skill. I lost count the amount of times the ball was either hoofed out of play or given away when no-one was under any pressure, basic skills that just seem to get worse. We where outfought and outplayed by WIGAN, yes Wigan, who with Lee Cattermole, a young kid who couldn't get a game for Boro running the show. At half time, who felt brave enough to make a change, well it wasn't Moyes. His substitutions leave a lot to be desired, waiting for 60 odd minutes before putting on a guy who can get stuck in, upset defenders, out on the wing rendering him worthless and a right back to accommodate a left back with 5 minutes ago smacked of clueless. Spirit appears to have dissipated, Arteta appears elsewhere, Yakubu is having one of his strops(we where warned), Lescott has lost the plot with basic defending and Neville the ability to kick a ball have all accentuated events. Watching Neville trying to gee up the payers last night, when he lost possession so many times himself was comical or rather unbelievable. Moyes needs to realise that some players are not indispensable and can be dropped, to be honest apart from Jagielka and Howard from last night that leaves one heck of a choice. There are I believe many more problems to be resolved but I shall open that for debate and again lets not paper over the cracks and admit we are a very average and at times appear a poor side. Before I go, maybe two words that may have played a big part in the abject performances we have seen so far this season.........Steve Round, Who?

I feel the 4-5-1 may be back in favour for this one. After yesterdays point, Moyes will be looking for consolidation rather then attacking for the three points, not what i would want but feel he can be negative at times. However a similar result to last season looks on the card with Cahill getting back amongst the goals (if fit and playing).

Although we are'nt playing well, three wins on the bounce should breed some confidence. Boro have been doing the same of late, gifted 2 goals against Villa last week. If we can get anywhere near as good as we can be then 3 points should be easy enough. I predict a comfortable 2-0.