BoroBlue

I don't see Felliani as a DM, nor do I see him as an attacking midfielder, for me he should be playing in the middle where he can dominate a game and influence both attacking and defensive phases of play. I see him as a box-to-box, ball-winning midfielder. I think Gibson brings the best out in him as he stays very disciplined and sits in front of the back 4 and allows Felliani the freedom to roam and dominate the game wherever it is being played, but I would still like to see a more advanced playmaker playing in front of him supporting the striker.

Yeah but its fashionable on this site to blame defensive errors on Jags where as Heitinga can do no wrong in some peoples eyes, infact its probably due to some sort of miscommunication on Jags part that Heitinga got sold 2 dummies today. The fact is the game was very stretched and open against world class opposition, I don't think either of them played well but I'm not going to be too critical of them, it was just one of them games, and fantastic to watch.

Harsh I agree and to be honest it was a bit of an oversight but: I would like to see Duffy involved with the matchday squad for experience between now and the end of the season. I don't want to see 2 centrebacks on the bench. I think Jags and Heitinga should be tried for a few consecutive games to see how they play together.

I would like to see us start with our strongest team and look to bring on some of the young fringe players later in the game. I don't see the value of having players like McFadden and Stracqualursi on the bench at this stage of the season as they probably won't be here next year and aren't going to change game coming on. Why not give the youngsters a go, we don't know what we are going to get from them but then neither do the opposition, and at least they will be fully motivated to impress. My team for the game would be: Howard, Hibbert, Neville, Jagielka, Heitinga, Felliani, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, Cahill, Jelavic Subs: Mucha, Duffy, Coleman, Barkley, Baxter, Gueye, Vellios

I just remembered one last little glimmer of hope in the extra qualification spot for the uefa fair play league . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . then I checked the table and we are sitting in tenth, with Swansea sitting on top so looks like it will go to them, nevermind!

If the best team on paper won every game football would be very boring. I agree that was a massive opportunity missed for us but thats football. To me we looked nervous from the off and never really looked relaxed enough to play our natural game which would have won us the game. I would have picked the exact same team we started with, unfortunately we just didn't perform on the day. I still think we are looking strong for next season, we have a good strong core of players and some exciting talent coming through the ranks, I do think we need to get rid of a few of the fringe players though and raise what funds we can from transfer fees and saved wages, aswell as giving an opportunity for more game time for some of the younger lads.

Not dumb at all mate, the fact I aren't from Liverpool probably means I don't put as much impetus on the fact this is a derby match as some of the born and bred scousers on here, so to me a final is bigger than a semi regardless of who you are playing. Although another way to look at it is we had already qualified for europe when we played that game where as this one will qualify us if we win, so you could say this is bigger from that point of view, in which case I would have to agree with MikeO and say the Villarreal champs league qualifiers.

FA Cup Final Vs Chelsea 2009

http://www.liverpool...00252-30749457/ Very glad Howard Kendall isn't picking the team after reading this. I agree that the team picks itself apart from those 3 positions but for me Johnny has to play at the back, a case could be made for Jags or Distin playing alongside him and to be honest I don't mind which. Hibbert or Neville for RB, again cases could be made for both players and I really don't mind which. LM I think Gueye deserves his chance, I don't think Coleman has shown enough this season to warrant switching round the midfield to accomodate him and I would be reluctant to play Drenthe from the start in such a big game with question marks over his fitness and concentration/consistency. My team for the derby would be: Howard Neville Jags Heitinga Baines Felliani Gibson Osman Cahill Gueye Jelavic

I agree that the partnership doesn't work but I think the blame for that falls on both of them not just Jags, completely agree with you though marco they are both quality defenders that just don't work as a partnership, and in the end that is the most important thing. Paul I should have specified I meant the previous 2 league games against Swansea and WBA both of which Jags played and both of which we were solid and kept a clean sheet. The reason I am suggesting Jags and Heits in a partnership is because they would compliment each other very well, not so Heitinga can hold Jags hand. Jags is great at coming out of defence to cut out attacks and making last ditch tackles and interceptions as well as being physically imposing, but he is too easily drawn out of position and prone to the odd mistake due to his put everything on the line style. Heitinga is a very calming influence with great positional awareness and reading of the game aswell as being a real ball-playing defender, his weaknesses are much less obvious than Jags but if I were really looking I would say he is small for a centreback (although his timing seems to largely make up for this) and his positional discpline does allow players in the hole space to hurt us (although Felliani and Gibson do a great job of closing this space). I would also like to see Jags and Heitinga paired together as Distin surely can't keep playing at this level for too much longer. It also seems a waste to have one of them sat on the bench so if they can't play together I would rather see one of them sold to raise funds for more pressing areas, like thw wide midfield positions.

Why is it that Jags is getting all the criticism on here? I agree he was pretty poor but so was Distin and I would say Distin was at fault for both goals yet he seems to be exempt from the worst of it. Heitinga should be playing no doubt but I think calls for young Duffy to be picked ahead of Jags are a bit ridiculous, the previous 2 clean sheets seem to have been forgotten quickly. I think not having the regular duo of Gibson and Felliani shielding the defence made things more difficult as Jags does have a tendancy to get drawn out of defence when players are allowed space in front of him and Distin doesn't seem to be alert to the danger. I would personally like to see Jags and Heitinga as the first choice duo, I think Heitinga could be the perfect partner for Jags as his positioning and reading of the game are as good as I have seen, which is where Jags is a bit lacking at times.

I think the fact his name is an anagram of April Fools is a dead give away. The story coming from bluekipper that BK has sold the club to Colonel Sanders could have something to it though!

A few facts and figures I thought you might all enjoy. Sunderland haven't won a game against Everton in 17 matches in all competitions. They haven't beaten us at the Staium of Light in 11 years. David Moyes record victory as Everton manager came against Sunderland in a 7-1 demolition in 2007. Anthonys95 is right though, they just had an off day and we shouldn't be getting ahead of ourselves just yet.

Agreed, if we play like that against the shite we will pick them apart.

The problem for me with the way we are playing is the gaps between Defence and Midfield, and more obviously Midfield and Attack. I don't see how playing an extra centreback as a sweeper helps this all. I agree with playing Baines and Coleman as the fullbacks and giving them more freedom to attack but I think this could be done with 2 centrebacks and Felliani playing in front of the back 4. I think this does more to plug the gap between defence and midfield and gives us an extra body further up the pitch to plug the gap between midfield and Attack.

Barcelona couldn't make the formation work, I doubt we could. I just think its a waste of a player having 3 centre backs, especially playing with a defensive centre mid infront, its not an area of the pitch I would like to see alot of the play happening so I don't see the value of putting extra men there.

Perhaps he should refuse to play on the grounds its unfair on the others as they are playing better at the moment, or perhaps he should refuse to play for england on the grounds it may increase his reputation giving him an unfair advantage in the competition for places, perhaps he should refuse to play with a broken toe taking pain killing injections on the grounds it may lead some fans to question his commitment to the club, or perhaps he should do what he is paid to do and play and give his all when the manager asks him to do so.

Pretty sure Moyes picks the team not Jags, and I think it is common knowledge that Everton turned down a bid of around 15m in the summer for Jags but he has shown nothing to but commitment to the club since then, no media interviews stating he would one day love to play for another club like the defender he 'robs' of a place.

Why would you hate Jagielka? The guy has been a great player for us and while his form hasn't been great this season he still gives his all in every game he plays.

Not sure we need 4 strikers really, In a team that play 2 up front maybe, but we don't, would rather see us with 2 quality lone strikers (Jelavic and Vellios will do for me), and 2 deep lying forward / trequarista / advanced playmaker / fake number 9 (this is what I think we are lacking).

I went for Jelavic, was massively impressed with him and as people have mentioned he is not fully up to speed yet. I think he has all the attributes to play as a lone front man. Works hard, great in the air, brings others in to play and obviously has an eye for goal too.

How do people feel about a Jagielka-Heitinga partnership? Played the odd game together but never really been tested for a run of games as far as I can remember. For me both are too good to be bit part players so should either be played or sold. Also Distin won't be around for ever so we need to find a partnership that works without him.

Thanks Haf. I am going to be bold and disagree with you on Rodwell and Felliani (certainly not on the evidence of last night though). I think the 2 of them could form a good partnership if; we play 5 in midfield the 3rd centre midfielder is a creative player capable of playing in the hole (Osman or Barkley) the 2 wide midfielders are given a licence to attack, drift inside on occasion and switch flanks on occasion we play 2 attacking full backs (Baines and Coleman) we play a lone centre forward capable of holding the ball and bringing others in to play (Jelavic or Vellios) The advantage of having 2 centre mids who playing disciplined roles is it allows us to be bold and attacking in other areas. Unfortunately if we play them both in a flat midfield like last night and expect one of them to be the creative playmaker, thats never going to work.

In some games recently Moyes has been tactically spot on and this has allowed us to beat some of the top teams in the league. In many more games he has been tactically shocking and this has led to some awful performances and results and I think the blame lies well and truly with him last night. I see this morning he is blaming 'defensive lapses' for the defeat, just hold your hands up Moyes and admit you got it terribly wrong. Why make 6 changes to a winning team, none of which were forced by injury or suspension? Why drop the form players in the side? Why bring players in who haven't played for month and are physically and mentally not match fit/sharp? Why change formation to play 2 up top in a derby match, a formation we are not used to playing? Why play 2 defensive centre midfielders and 2 lumbering forwards that leave that a huge gap in between? Why so you still insist on playing people out of position? I would like to say that perhaps Moyes would learn something from last night, but if after 10 years he is still making these ridiculous tactical mistakes I aren't going to hold my breath. Heres hoping I weill be proved wrong. COYB.

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/everton-lucky-to-get-a-point-and-desperately-missing-darron-gibson/ I think the fact that Darron Gibsons injury has led to Phil Neville playing centre mid is the reason we are desperately missing him. Would still rather see Rodwell or Barkley playing alongside Fellian, Gibson as back-up and Phil Neville no where near the first team.