nyblue23

fucking hell set pieces.

To be fair, it's going to take a lot to break down the back line this morning. Norwich have yet to create a real chance, or even come very close.

This is the first game where Kone has looked poor in the first half. He's tired... get Mirallas on at half.

Norwich 0 - 2 Everton

Lukaku

Injured today. Looks like he won't be going anywhere in January.

The most frustrating thing is that I'm not even mad RM made no subs. I'm more mad at his refusal to ever change the basic structure of the squad. Our two sitters were not necessary tonight, and as great as TC was, we could have benefited from playing both Lukaku and Kone up front with Mirallas on the left and Geri on the right and Barkley slotted in behind. We're a month from the window and unless Mirallas gets a run of starts, he's gone and we lose one of our 5 most creative players.

After the Bournemouth draw, this feels like a serious, serious loss, especially because we attacked so goddamn well all game.

Also, if RM doesn't start putting in work on set pieces... holy hell.

Really don't understand why Baines isn't starting. We're definitely losing Mirallas in January.

Everton 2 - 1 Palace

Deulofeu

This all day long. He was fantastic in the first half but was fucked from about the 55th minute. How he wasn't subbed on the hour is beyond me.

But but but... I just said this.

Going to be hard to get the taste of that match out of my mouth today. Had bright plans for brunch with friends but all I want to do right now is mope.

At least there's Tuesday before we have to face a Palace side that just completely dismantled Newcastle.

Kone's been riding on luck for a while. He's no Mirallas and it's a travesty that he plays ahead of him.

 

I have to admit I could be wrong about Galloway. He's been great but that wide player (king?) tore him a new arsehole it was blindingly obvious Bournemouth had exposed out left hand side. Yet nothing was done.

 

In the heat of the moment this could all be a knee jerk from myself but it does highlight we have major floors. It's time for Martinez to play his best side and not the YES MEN

I disagree on Kone. Kone's hold up and link-up play have been some of the best we've seen in a couple years from any attacker. Today was no different until about 60 minutes, when the rest of the team stopped making runs and getting into space, and he let a couple balls go. By 70 minutes, he was clearly gassed and needed to be subbed.

Had the Everton supporters not charged the pitch, the whistle would have been blown and 3-2 Everton.

This is true.

Yep, Galloway was really exposed in the second half. One on one he was beaten to easily. Kone was great controlling the ball in thier half but then would give it away.

 

This is why we need Baines back so badly.

This is also why you need to rotate your squad. Players looked exhausted; no one had any mind for possession let alone creativity. That second half was the worst half of football I've seen in 7 years as an Everton fan.

Bournemouth wanted it far more. Even Distin looked like he could run laps around every Everton player in the second half. What a miserable fucking game.

Villa 11 for me with baines and clev doing some minutes later on in the match. Boro same 11 but baines starts and have clev Lennon mirallas naisy at the ready. Next match villa 11, it works let's keep using it till it doesn't.

This is silly to me. We're entering a pretty good run of fixtures; you've got to rotate the squad a bit or you risk injury/wearing out players like 34 year old Barry far too quickly. You've also got Baines back healthy who is still a better attacking option than Galloway, and you have a fit again Besic to replace a well in form but old Barry. I say you start the Villa 11, and if any signs of fatigue appear, give one or two run outs at halftime. Tuesday, you start Baines, Besic and Cleverley no matter what.

Because as it looks on TV it looks a small pitch. I shall not bring anything up again without fully looking into any dimension I can think of before posting oh master

This is annoying.

AFC Bournemouth 1 - Everton 3

Lukaku

If Baines can come back in and get get up to his best level quickly, we're going to be fucking devastating.

We were good, but Villa...

That said, great performances all the way around. All right when said that this how we should be playing against bottom-dwellers. Calm and composed in possession, waiting for our moment to break through. And when we do, it can be devastating. Just need to play like that against top-half teams as well.

Everton 2 - 0 Villa

Lukaku

Should be Ross coming off and Gerry to the 10. Lennon will certainly shut down their left side though.

Agree with this. Ross looked awful today. Not a great showing from him, Funes Mori or Galloway. Everyone else solid if uninspiring with the exception of Coleman.

Forgot to post. If it's not too late to post 4 minutes in...

West Ham 2 - Everton 2

Lukaku

Galloway has to play ahead of Oviedo. The kid gets up and down the pitch and has an engine. We need a run now

This will be a moot point starting next week hopefully if not after the international break. Baines training with the team now.

From a fan's perspective, Stones's lackadaisical play there is very hard to stomach.

This has been a lot of the season so far for me. What commentators keep calling his "calm" and "collectedness" often comes across as arrogance and carelessness to me.

We need some decent midfielders.... Gibson and Oman have no legs at all and McCarthy is chasing shadows. Can't believe we were the long ball team near the end. That's how much confidence that side has.

Thought McCarthy looked better today.

Mori looks a revelation. Get Naismith on for Ossie. I'd say Gibson but now we don't have a back line.

Save for two great passes Gibbo looks drunk.