chicagoblue

So so poor from us. Offered absolutely nothing after the first 20 minutes. He'll take some stick despite his goal and Naismith deserves it. Heitinga caught out over and over. Can't remember seeing Pienaar play worse, could not pick a pass, could not hold the ball, didn't defend, shocking. Jelavic looked half asleep most of the game. Only Baines, Distin and Oviedo did well. Particularly impressed with Oviedo, only he and Baines seemed to want to drive forward. Thought the substitution came way, way too late. We were clearly tiring badly and needed something. Jelavic couldn't win anything against their CBs and support from Vellios earlier might well have helped. Naismith certainly wasn't. Feels like come May we'll look back on these last 6 weeks of easy points dropped and think about what might have been.

He's not a wordsmith is he? Suppose I'l not complain if he lives up to some of the billing, but my god, keep him away from the interviews. http://www.evertonfc...aNRRtzjAfzU54W1

Hitzlsperger v Reading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3uvykF6lhc&feature=colike By my count only 3 or 4 misplaced passes all game. Apart from shoddy marking on corners, I thought he looked quite tidy, and definitely an improvement from Neville. If we lack Phil's influence on the field, then I think it's up to our swath of internationals to step up and take on the roll. We know Phil is out for a while now, next few weeks could go a good ways to answering the 'next captain' question.

So, no news on Barkley then?

Shouldn't take anger to beat sides of Reading's quality. They pretty much rolled over in the first half, we just completely lack that killer instinct at the moment. No way we'll be challenging for Champions league at this rate. Top teams beat those below them and we just aren't doing that consistently. Next week without Felli will be interesting, hope we have a few back from injury, because we need something to spark the season to life again. Can't let this performance drag us down as we head into the sterner tests of the next month. COYB get it together

How many aimless long balls can we pump forward!? No plan B, no creativity, terrible delivery from the wide areas, not ability to keep the ball in forward areas and press. Awful performance all around, can't believe this is the same team we've been watching for the last 3 months.

Think we spent too much time at half moaning about the decisions that weren't given. Whole team giving Atkinson a lot of grief when we should have made him a non-issue way before now.

About 14 minutes too late on this Vellios change. Was obvious from the first 5 of the 2nd half that we weren't up for it.

Can't believe I work up to watch this. Where is the team that's supposed to be challenging the top 4? Absolute shite. Wtf Coleman

Wow. We're going to lose to Reading. Ouch.

It's got to be time to make a change, no? Need some pace or another target, someone with a little hunger.

Need to stop giving these set pieces away. It's exactly what they want and we don't look convincing at all defending from them.

Think its time for Vellios

Did we switch jerseys at halftime?

What an abject start to the half. Deserved that for our shite.

Not attacking with enough purpose. We're all over them, but haven't made them pay for it. Goes without saying, but the longer we let them stay in this game the greater the chance we'll find ourselves scrapping for the points again. Not sure why, but doesn't seem like our fullbacks are bombing on as much today. Coleman especially, every time someone looks to switch the play to him he's well back. Pienaar and Baines still not back to their best and we don't seem to have that killer pass in us today, all a bit static. As Hitz tires, we should bring on Vellios and give them a bit of a bombardment. Still think 3-1 is as likely as not.

Link?

Moyes has apparently watched him play for Norway on Wednesday. Can't tell from the way the article is written whether he actually went to Budapest or watched it on telly, but there you go. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1228332/everton-interested-in-molde-defender-vegard-forren?cc=5901

I'll be in the UK for the first time over the holidays, heading to a few matches including our visit to the Hammers. Any idea on when away tickets will be released and the chance of a non-season ticket holder managing to get any? Is this away day usually sold out? When would you expect our lot to go on sale? If need be I'm prepared to buy from West Ham direct, but would obviously much prefer to sit with the away fans. Cheers,

They might look headed straight back to the championship, but that's where they were when they knocked us out of the FA cup not long back. Don' think they'll make it easy. Could very closely resemble the Sunderland game, and if we don't find the net fairly early I wouldn't be surprised to see the same formation we ended with against Sunderland used for a longer stretch. If Gibson still isn't fit I'd be tempted to start that way as it seems to give both Fellaini and Jelavic more space and we shouldn't be too hard pressed to keep possession against Reading. With Oviedo on the other side of the world for a late international it's got to be Naismith in for Mirallas, let's hope he can find his passing boots, because we won't have many options to replace him. If he doesn't want to take on his man down the line, well then Coleman can do the bombing and Nais can jink inside, don't see why they shouldn't complement each other quite well. Pienaar and Baines back together on the left should be able to work their partnership. Reading appear fond of whipping in crosses and in Pogrbnyak and the two CBs they've a few decent targets, might be worth bringing Distin back in. ----------Howard-------------- Coleman-Jags-Distin-Baines Nais--Osman-Pienaar ----------Felli-------- Vellios Jelly Won't predict us keeping a clean sheet again until we actually do. 3-1 Jelly needs to be on the score sheet again, as a sustained run of goals from him might well make the difference this season.

Just watched the highlights again. Really impressed with Vellios' work off the ball for the first goal. Edge of the box, marked by Cuellar, saw Fellaini receive the pass, then just just out-muscled Cueller backing into him to create the pocket for Felli to step into.

Lost 2-0 last night to Blackpool, played the full 90.

Technically, though I'm not sure how much he does except go flying into the box after headers. Bit of a Spanish Tim Cahill

They certainly don't fancy coming here, but I can't imagine where so many of their supporters get the notion we'll hammer them 4 or 5 nil. Our defense has been adequate at best this season, and while they've lacked a cutting edge, they've been, bar last weekend, a reasonably organized and disciplined team. Can't see a blow out, going to be close. They'll sit back and ask us to break them down. If we can answer that challenge in the first 20 or so without exposing ourselves, then we should be comfortable. If they're still well in it at half then I think we could struggle as their resolve will only build.

Interesting to note on that link how often 3 at the back is getting played in Italy. You can certainly see where Mancini got the idea. I don't think we really need to go to this formation, the one thing going for it though is that we have 3 CBs who might just be perfectly suited to it. Pace and power from Distin, absolute commitment and great positioning from Jags, and a steady head to work play out with Heitinga. It would certainly let us push Coleman and Baines way up on the wings and could provide an interesting alternative if our current game plan ever starts to hit a wall. All that aside, don't see it ever happening. With the way Felli is playing up front I think it less and less likely that he'll ever move back. His technique and composure in the box is getting scary good. Can't bet on the league over in Cannuckistan, but Felli for top scorer for Everton and midfielders in the league might both be attractive.