Calico

Why?

Well it looks like some of their fans behave like their players. Retards.

Couldn't agree more. As for Cars, I reckon maybe because he's been playing for Republic as well as against Kharkiv that Moyes wants to give him some rest. Also, he may want Jags to replace him long term so is trying to break him in. I was still gutted to not see him in the starting line up against the shite, though.

Yeah, I'd love to see Joleon in the middle more, especially since that means we'll see Baines starting. Does he have a slight injury or something, because I couldn't believe he was on the bench. Him and McFad and Pienaar... I was well gutted by that.

Yeah, some of his family lives round there... and a certain Mr Hibbo has been served at the til by me before.

Once Jags get fit yeah? And I think he's better than Hibbo at full back as well at the mo'. I just can't agree with him being captain, because then it's near impossible for Moyes to drop him, even though other plays could find better form than him over a season. As I said, it just doesn't make sense.

This kid is gonna rule the world of footie. Edit: Okay, a little info for those unaware: 17 years old. 5 ft 7 in. Position: second striker/centre forward Club: Barcelona National team: Serbian-born but has been playing for Spains youth teams and likely to choose to play for the Spanish senior team. This kid is good, as in, the next Raul good. Along with Messi and Giovani dos Santos, they'll keep Barcelona at the top of the footballing world... that is, if they all stay there of course.

One word for football at the moment: Barcelona ... And not just because of the awesome foursome (plus Krkic and Geovani), but also because they bought G. Milito and Abidal over the summer so that the defence is as good as the attack. The midfield is class as well with Deco, Iniesta and Xavi. I do lament that the defensive AND controlling aspect of football is severley underrated and basically lost in the Prem (for the most part).

Yeah, I do mate. I put in for a transfer to the Liverpool Metro last year, but the nature of the company is to tie you down like a slave Cheers for the welcomes. As for the wringer, well... it's like a personal accessory <_<

Totally agree with that last line, RuffRob. Here's hoping we don't need anything from that last match, and am made up we're not away to Zenit.

Well said, Blue4Ever. The fact is that he's had centre midfielders playing in front of him and so has had no cover. Sadly, however, I think that Neville can deal with that more than Hibbert so I can't see him getting back in; espicially if we get Timmy and Tommy back, because then there won't be any room in the midfield for Neville and since he was made captain I'm not sure Moyes can leave him on the bench.

Yeah, I agree with Goldfish and Prisoner. I'd have him as our best right back, since Hibbert's form went for a walk. So you think he should be captain? And you think his performances deserve a midfield place?

I just... seeing him play in the midfield... and even at right back, he is still captain but he's so... ah crap, I just can't explain it. WHY???

lol that'd be a good. At the beginning of last season Cahill and AJ were on fire before Tim got injured. Edit: Also, looks like Victor got his chance and didn't score. Even though he looked good for twenty minutes against Metalist, he is still very young and shouldn't have that pressure on him.

I agree. I mean, he has been a Blue all his life, so would have to be stupid to ignore anything that's only good for the club.

Certainly was! Cheers mate.

You count the Carling Cup as serious? But seriously, semantics are just taking the piss, which is why I did it. And my point is nothing to do with him being guaranteed a starting place at all. But on that note, it'll help him get match fit and used to playing in the team. We play differently to both Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, and time is needed for strikers to get into their groove... Yeah, Johnson fit in, but his game is about running the channels and creating as well as scoring, whereas Yak is about driving at defences and scoring. Don't get me wrong, if Johnson and McFadden could play well together (which I don't think they have yet) or if Victor was a couple years older then it'd be great to bring Yak off the bench to help him get fit. Also, McFadden has been very inconsistent for us until recently and with Johnson unfit, it's gotta be Yak.... The thing with Victor is, he can give away too many fouls (due mainly to youthful exuberance ), especially away from home and still has more to learn, so needs to be nurtured properly. I remember seeing him go in on a player at the end of last season and he easily could have done himself an injury... I think it was in the Bolton match in which Vaughan did his foot... basically, Victor could've put himself out for a while and then we'd really be buggered. I'm just saying there is logic behind starting Yak, even if he isn't fully fit. That still doesn't mean I think piss-poor form can be allowed. Either way, my point was about him being a quality player, and that judgement is from nearly five years of playing in the Prem.

Played for a Premiership football club have you? You must have since you clearly know exactly what it takes to be fit when playing for one. Actually, you'll find he has been playing in the Prem for four years. Also, he has made 3 starts for us and 1 sub appearance. I never said there is no excuse for not putting effort in; that is being lazy, and not what I was talking about. And yes, I totally agree that he's had a months training and maybe three or four serious matches... however, what about the end of his last season with Middlesbrough? He wasn't training a lot at all, and as much as that is his own fault, it still doesn't take away the fact that he hasn't been training enough. And you seem to have misunderstood me; I was making the point that the Argentinians not knowing the league was NOT the deciding factor in any indifferent performances, but rather that they hadn't been training properly, which I don't think Yakubu has either. Look, I'm not saying he is not at fault for his performances but rather that there is some logic with his lack of fitness other than... "He's a lazy, fat piece of ****!!!", as some supposed Evertonians seem to be saying here. I mean, what happened to giving a player support in his first season? And once again, what about his goal-scoring record in the Prem? Is that not enough proof that when he is fit, used to playing in the team and getting the right service that he'll do it for us as well? As for giving Moyes shit, how about these people apply to manage the club?.... Oh wait, they wouldn't know how to, and yet the speak like the do. What a load of crap. Well I'm just supporting one of our new boys as I think he'll do it for us and don't see the sense in slating someone who is new to the team. As for the hard done to thing, well as I said above I know that it's not good enough for a player at this club to not be fit, but there is still a better excuse for it than "he's a lazy, fat ****" THAT just doesn't make sense when you look at his record. Yeah, fair enough. But you need to keep in mind that he has moved to a new club, team, area of the country, and we're not even a week into the season. I mean, did Lineker ever do much for the team? No, but he scored bags of goals, and even then if you look at Yakubu when he scores goals and is on form most defences in the Prem can't live with him. Aye, I agree, and I'm sure Moyes will. The point I'm making is that the lad isn't suddenly a crap player, as peoples reactions are making out.

I'm not saying Yakubu didn't play well - in fact he most obviously played poorly and looked lazy, just as he has done already this season. HOWEVER THINK ABOUT IT Carlos Tevez looked "off the pace", as did Mascherano when they arrived... and that was not just because they were new to the league. Neither had a proper pre-season at all.... Yak hasn't either, but when he did at Pompey and 'boro, he scored bags and bags of goals. So I'm just saying, slate his performances, but don't slate him as a player when it's ONLY THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. It's not that hard to give him a chance, support him... you know, be a fan?

Yeah, Metalist weren't afraid to play some good football out there and were unlucky in the end. However, that's something we've been putting up with in years, so hopefully we'll get the rub of the green now. As for any one knocking Moyes, well that's about as short-sighted as you can get. Edit: Also, I think the slating Yak is getting is ridiculous... can we all remember that for two or three years only Thierry Henry scored more in the Prem than he did? Besides, he has only played a few games. Not all players can fit right into any team.

We'll avoid Fiore and Atletico... phew. However, Bayern and Villareal make me wet my pants in fear.

I'm so glad Moyesey got in Pienaar, as his European experience really paid off tonight. Howard... Safe as houses when he had a chance, can't blame him for the goals. Yobo... Couple of his dosey moments, still needs work on his concentration BUT did show his talent in flashes, particularly one moment where he nipped the ball in a dangerous moment and passed it to Arteta. Stubbs... Can be solid as a rock but seemed to be out-foxed by Metalists passing. Neville... Solid enough and passing was neat at times, but didn't see him lead by example which is what we needed tonight. Lescott... Pure class. Need to be able to play him at centre back though, as we missed Baines at left back. Jagielka... Another disappointing performance. Is he fit? Did he have a proper pre-season? Is central midfield his position? Looked like we need Cars when Jags went missing as they ran at our defence. Osman... Ossie was busy again and looked neat at times, but still can't enforce himself in the centre. Probably played out of position to be honest. Pienaar... Boy is looking as good as his potential. His play out wide and through the centre was vital for us, especially since the centre of our midfield wasn't keeping the ball. There is no doubting his quality and he seems to help share the work load in attack with Mikel. Arteta... Mikel was quiet tonight, but I wasn't surprised. You can't expect him to do it all, especially after only just recovering from an injury. He still had it in him to keep the ball for us at times and even make a couple of classy runs. McFadden... Faddy the Laddy once again. Worked hard to attempt to attack for us, but suffered from a woeful lack of service. Think he's the technically better option than AJ, but still needs to prove he can be consistent. With that said, he's been much better on a consistent basis for us and this is surely his chance to shine. YET ANOTHER well taken goal. Get in there, lad. Yakubu... Same problem as Jags. He just seems to be un-fit, lacking a pre-season and perhaps a little lost in an Everton team. Spurned a great chance after a good touch from brilliant build-up play by Joleon, however, once again his finishing touch let him go. Needs time by the looks of it. Baines... I actually cheered when he came on. Can perhaps understand why Moyes rested him - give him a rest, don't want him to get injured and maybe wanted Stubbs for his leadership - but still looked the better option on the left of MIDFIELD than even left-back, so still a shame he didn't start because we keep the ball better with him IMO. Fortunately the gamble has paid off, though. Hibbert... Came on to waste time mainly, but did hack away an important clearance. Still don't understand why he didn't start; maybe for the same reasons Baines didn't? Anichebe... Breath of fresh air compared to the Yak, and it paid off wonderfully. Once again, he could have started but maybe he just came on at the right time when they weren't defending quite as well. Took his goal very well with great composure and a neat bit of skill. Moyes... Method to his madness? I guess we'll never know.

Yeah, Elano came from the Ukraine didn't he? He cost somewhere in the region of £8m, which isn't cheap, especially when you don't know if they'll take to the pace of the Prem. We didn't play well tonight at all, but we can learn from this.

Hi. Been a blue since I was 8, that's 14 years now. Used to live in Huyton, am now living just outside Liverpool city centre with me girlfriend. Am in JMU, work part time in Tesco's in Prescot. So yeah, all the basic stuff there. Just watched the Metalist game and am chuffed The Blue Boys puttin' me through the wringer again, though lol