SpartyBlue

I think that he'd be quite a smart buy at this point. He's a serious physical presence (6'5") and scored 15 in 28 starts and 5 sub appearances in the league. Most of his goals were converting crosses with his head which is what we need and he obviously has a repoire with Siggy. I'm not sure how his hold up play is but I think he'd be really solid for what we need for a year or two (as has been mentioned) while we find the perfect longterm option. His physicality alone will force defenses to account for him and open up space for others.

He does look promising. Obviously not a great league but he seems to be an intelligent player with a pretty well rounded skill set. Good at creating space for himself.

 

agree again. he's also the kind of player that its him and his teammates against the world. he is very loyal (still hasn't bad mouthed chelsea teammates, just conti) to his teammates.

Why would he badmouth his teammates after winning the title with them and while he's trying to secure a move? I think that he's out of favor with Conte so quickly is an indication of the type of respect he garners at Chelsea.

I agree, a player you don't want to play against, but would love to have in your team.

I may be in the minority here but I don't want Costa regardless of what help he might provide on the pitch. He's one of the worst characters in world football and I'd be embarrassed to see him wearing an Everton shirt. He's stomped, spit on and headbutted opponents. On top of that he's an egregious diver and managed to find himself out of favor at Chelsea despite contributing to a title. There's a difference between being scrappy and difficult to play against and simply being a dirty player. He is very clearly the latter.

They're just empty threats, they're terrified to actually punish clubs. Until they actually do it there is no incentive for fans to behave.

The club/local authorities and, ultimately, the more reasonable fans need to be incentivized to police this themselves. In order for that to happen the penalties have to be harsher and/or enforced more liberally. If your club behaves consistently bad and it starts costing you a chance to play in Europe or the fines are an amount that will effect transfer business they will have no choice but to really address it. It's similar to players diving. When there is no real punishment for simulation there is no reason for players to change their tactics. As an American, i am both horrified and fascinated by these sorts of incidents. It's just not something we deal with hardly at all when it comes to sports. It's laughable to think of Yankees fans roaming the streets looking to take on visiting Cleveland Indians supporters.

That's dated the 5th of August?

From this year's earlier qualifying rounds. Reading more about UEFA discipline, I'm not sure why Lyon is even allowed in Europe this season. They and Besiktas were both given bans from the next UEFA competition they qualified for but both were deferred for 2 years and those clubs were placed on probation. Subsequently, several charges were made against Lyon during their Europa semifinal with Ajax. It's a little unclear whether they were actually found guilty but, assuming they were, I don't know how this wouldn't be a violation of their probation. A more conspiratorial individual might conclude that they are being given leniency because they are hosting the final. http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/disciplinary/index.html

Here we go again... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4762664/Aberdeen-Apollon-Limassol-face-UEFA-charges.html

I didn't think he was that bad. Remember he has come up two leagues and only played a handful of games

If you're saying he wasn't that bad given his circumstances than that's a different argument.

nice being linked with class players isn't it.

Wouldn't associate Costa with the word class.

thought that too. Think he was overawed yesterday.

He just needs to learn to make better decisions about when to attack and try to beat his man. At first he was going forward in some situations where a simple pass was a better choice and now he's doing the opposite. If we do send him on loan it needs to be at as high a level as possible so he can learn to strike a balance and improve his decision making. If we sent him to League 1 he'd just win with talent alone and I don't think that would serve him or us well long term.

 

Could've been easier.

They've finished in the bottom half of Serie A every year since promotion looks like (2011-2012) before last year's 4th. Don't know their circumstances but it's possible that last year was a bit fluky.

Are we sure that was a deflection? I've watched it over and over and tried to see it hit Baines and I just don't think it did.

 

That said, I both agree with Paddock and everyone else here. I am fully confident with him in goal, and I doubt any keeper in the world could've gotten to that shot with its movement and pace, but I think he might occasionally concede a goal that's fired at the top netting or near the top corner. Those are concessions I'm willing to make given how good he is at everything else.

If he were a few inches taller he would not be quite as quick most likely so there are pros and cons.

I was more impressed with his save in the first half. He's 6'1" which isn't small, and to get down to the ground from such a short range shot was incredible - more impressive than the penalty save for me

Agreed. I think that ball may have been deflected a touch as well. That was an incredible save and will likely be underrated.

Brilliant run from Gylphi, unlucky there. Much better

yea that was genius to run from deep like that. It's basically unstoppable when the ball is played on time and they are trying to hold a line

What's that? Only up 2-1 on aggregate? Hostile environment? Playing awful? Gylfi- "Hold my beer"

And that's how you become a fucking legend in your first start. My word.

Agreed that's too much. I'd rather have that guy from Real Sociedad

 

Have you learned nothing on here Ste? When proven wrong you never admit it; you either come up with a stat that "proves" you were actually correct all along or (if you can't think of one) just ignore the post completely and carry on as if nothing happened, you need to read the TT T&Cs again .

It's an approach that has worked for a certain politician here in America.

Is wrongest actually a word?

I think it's wrongiest*

The trend at the moment is that everyone's opinion is bollocks.

 

I'm sure this place goes through male PMT. Most are sound as can be then it turns into a right bitch fest.

 

Crazy thing is that most posters make valid points, whatever side of the argument, but then become so hell bent on being the 'most right'...that the point kind of gets lost in hostility.

 

Includes me too by the way!

 

As a club we are in a good place. Let's just give Koeman a fair chance to blend this squad how he wants to. And that's more than 2 league games by the way! Judge him over the marathon not the sprint.

 

I have no doubt that if he fails the axe will swing quickly, unlike in previous era's.

Solid post. The real test for me will be next season. By then he'll have had 4 full transfer windows and time for the new players to gel. It may take longer than that (perhaps until the stadium) to legitimately bridge the gap to the top 6 but by then we should be getting close and really putting ourselves in that conversation.

Im not sure the strikers we are looking at if you believe the media are good enough the last thing we need is another Niasse situation so let's not do a panic buy.

Gonna be hard to find someone we "know" is good enough who would come to a non champions league club. Whoever we bring in is likely to be a bit of a gamble. On the bright side we don't need a 20+ goal scorer with how our team is structured now.

 

I'm afraid that view completely ignores the circumstances. We would all have settled for a point before the game, but we were only playing against 10 men for a good part of the game. There was a major opportunity to get all three points and we had one attempt on their goal in the second-half. At half-time, Koeman appears to have told them 'park the bus'. Very disappointing and negative given the circumstances.

You're making the assumption that however the players performed tactically it was because RK had instructed them to do so. Given that Koeman expressed frustration that we didn't do more high tempo passing in the second half, and that he changed formation while subbing in two attack minded midfielders prior to their equalizing goal, I find it unlikely he wanted us to play in the way you describe.

Lesser teams than us will get something against them.

 

The reason? Their defence is poor. We spent so much focus on preventing their strengths opposed to exposing their weakness.

 

Too much tinkering by koeman and again we started a game with players not looking like they know their job.

 

He's spending a fortune yet seems to have no real idea on how best to use his players.

 

Yes city are strong but ffs are we gonna play the top 4 like this home and away?

 

It didn't take a mistake for them to score... it took a matter of time. They should have been out of sight after 30 minutes - 9 times out of 10 they will have been.

I think your'e overstating what happened in the first 30 minutes. They didn't have any clear cut chances really and we looked threatening on the break. In the few minutes leading up to our goal they were certainly dangerous and should have scored but it's City at home against an Everton side that is still learning itself and who didn't have it's best lineup. High expectations are fine but yours are a little unreasonable at this early stage.

We won't win many against the big boys setting up how we did to start. But I can see why koeman has done it, lots of energy and organised defensive player.

 

Also - id be irate if we had a player sent off for those challenges despite walker being a grub. Just because the ref got it wrong doesn't mean it's right to send one of ours off and we lose a player for the weeks to come.

I don't mind the first yellow on Walker. He came in dangerously and you don't need to make contact in those situations for it to be a foul.

I like DCL - he improves with each game. Playing very well again today. However, I do not at all like the behaviour in the Walker red card.

 

Rooney, I know he scored, but I don't think this is the right game for him with how we are set up. He's lacking the pace we need when we attack and looks goosed much earlier than normal.

 

It's a good hard performance by our boys. Clearly come to defend solid and hold them up as much as possible but we've rode our luck for a 10 minute period...and then hot our luck!!!

 

Keep it solid and sensible 2nd half. Ugly results are just as important as pretty 4 nillers. 3 points are 3 points.

I imagine it'll be a wild second half as it goes on. They are gonna have to throw bodies forward at some point and, down a man, there will be opportunities for us countering. I would argue that Because Rooney makes such good decisions and finds those pockets of space he'll be important in those moments.