Newty82

Oh man. Is that right? Naismith, Osman and Pienaar all starting? Not the strongest...but lets see!!!

I'd beg to differ.

The club did everything it possibly could to persude Bale to stay, but the player was determined to join Real Madrid.

Under those circumstances, all that remained was to try to get the best price possible for him, which I think we did.

Ok, I know this is an everton forum but nothing wrong with a bit of cross club 'gossip'!!!

On that thinking then, if spurs were already going to spend £100mill on player recruitment and keep Bale...you must be expecting another massive recruitment this summer? £100mill has set the standard plus £80mill = £180-200mill in your summer kitty??? Am I right with that? Or do u do an evertonian and stand outside the stadium, shrug your shoulders and shout 'Wheres the money gone Bill?'!!!

He played well in the circumstances...as in, standing in for a position, or a role, that he doesnt usually play in. I think that was the angle peeps where trying to go at. Under the circumstances, he was/is possibly our next option after Coleman...possibly!!! Going forward, maybe not. Im sure RM would have liked to have another option (yes I know, Hibbert! Not for me, not how we play these days).

But anyway, let it go! You've made your point umpteen times. Some agree, some dont. You remind me of a good pal of mine...once ge gets a bee in his bonnet about something, he cant let it go and brings it up at any given opportunity! Ha!

 

It wasn't just Bale who left during the summer.

 

David Bentley, William Gallas, Steven Caulker, Clint Dempsey, Tom Huddlestone and Scott Parker all were transferred to new clubs while Jake Livermore, Tom Carroll, Iago Falque and Benoit Assou-Akotto all went out on loan.

But wasnt it the sale of Bale that started the spending spree on those 7 players? I remember thinking pre-bale sale that spurs had a great chance of pushing for the league. When Bale went, I thought fair play, great fee...they'll reinvest that on 3 quality players and be even stronger. But then remember thinking 'what the hell?...they're blowing it...all those jonny foreigners will take a while to settle....too many too many' ha!!!

Your midfield is average. No stand out players at Spurs anymore. You've got a couple of big names like Eriksen but other than him I don't fear Spurs anymore. Very misjointed side. I reckon we'll win convincingly.

Dont agree that the midfield is average, as individuals they have some belters. But defo agree that they are disjointed. When they sold bale, they went mental buying, what, 9 players??? There was no method to the madness. It was crazy, and ruined a fairly good team.

I'll wait until I see the line ups before I think of a result. If we have a pretty much full strength line up...I would fancy us. Looking forward to this game.

Notice Stones heat map stops at the edge of the 18 yard box. Hasn't a clue once he's there.

Get off your high horse about the kid. We all agree he is gonna be a good future CB, but did ok filling in at RB when needed recently.

Good to see those stats too...no doubt a work in progress, but progress is good just now.

I think it could be better. If I didn't I'd be happy with the position we are in now. It's pretty similar to where we where under Moyes last year. It's the draws.

 

If we want to be genuine contenders we need to kick the habit. We need to turn draws into wins. Look at the teams above us. A couple less losses than those teams but they have more wins.

 

1 win and a loss is better than drawing 2!

 

However the quality of squad at Martinez disposal should be able to turn games in our favour. The injuries of late haven't helped, hopefully we can crack on and take 3 points rather than 1.

 

It's a must win at Spurs to keep breathing down Liverpools necks. Once the gap opens a little further it will be goodnight 4th.

Be real honest, what were your expectations pre-season?

Can't forecast where we are gonna finish on the back of one shite result....because if you do, then where are arsenal gonna finish?!!!

We are rank outsiders for 4th, in fact most out there think spurs and utd will finish above us. And fair play to the kopshites, they are rightly favourite for 4th...but they ain't to clever away from home????

So, let us be outsiders. We have done well this season so far. The changes made have been great. I didn't expect too much this season, a battle for 5th at best. Next season....that's when the real fun begins!!!

That first team listed would be my choice Cotto.

Lukaku has got some stick recently because he has dipped in form....but no other player can offer 9 goals and 5 assists...he is responsible for a over a third of our league goals! Still the best choice up top.

So yeah, what a brill team we have just now!

Hang on...surely you cant question Martinez defensively simply because he took over another managers back 4?! Thats so simplistic.

Its what you do with those players that counts. Martinez has them passing more, the full backs bombing forward and at that point the two CB's splitting and Barry sitting in if required (a tactic I notice liverpool now use Gerrard in!). On top of that...we have the third best defensive record in the league. I get the argument about lets see who he brings in himself, but that can be applied to any manager and any position, and could take years to prove...

Another simplistic argument is that the defensive maestro Moyes took over the league champions...how they getting on?!!

Midget!

Haha!!! I might be 5'7" actually. But definately no more!!!

Just measure each other's penises and get it over with. Congratulations to you both for being such amazing supporters.

Last time, mine was 6.5inches errect. Quite happy with that, its half an inch above uk average and I am only 5'6".

Dont forget the £200mill we'll get for finishing 4th....!!!

Its a bit of a chicken and egg situation!!!

I don't know how to take this reply it sounds like your agreeing with brett angel,obviously another who wasn't there,as I said the atmosphere was quite good moreso in the second half, the idea of seats is you sit,but we still cheer our team on not from a warm living room though.

Take it how you want to read it...doesn't matter to me.

Yeah, lets not argue about it! Its defo not meant as an insult to those who go, either every so often or every game (and I give big credit to those who go every game). Nor should those who are able to go insult those 'who sit st home', as those who are at home I am sure would love to be able to go to every game.

So my original thoughts where just simply that when I do get down, I feel disappointment by the atmosphere. But maybe my expectation is to high, maybe I am a little over excited and then it feels flat compared to my joy at getting there! I am sure there will be peeps who ignorantly will be thinking 'well get to games then you lame arse gob off'...and I would love to...but even after work and family commitments, well if I do go it costs £150-£200 (tickets, petrol, appetite!)...and that cost will go up once my lil 2 year old is old enough!!!

So yeah, by no means a dig at anyone. It is what it is, and if that means its a bit quiet then I will know what to expect next time I get down.

how can you sitting at home criticise the fans who are there in the pissing down rain and very cold weather,actually the atmosphere in the second half was quite good considering the conditions on the day.

Its possible because if you are able to go, you are onto a goodun. Those who cant go, maybe just feel that it should be a bit more lively. Why spend all that money to just sit still?

 

I go home and away and it is the same in most of the grounds Ive been to

 

The away support is always more vociferous,

Proper fan!!! Good on you!!!

You must be a bad omen mate lol. We were shite against spurs too! And yes it was quite but that's because we were playing poorly. However Spurs is never a "big game" at Goodison. United, Chelsea, Liverpool, more recent City. I'd say Spurs are even below Newcastle in terms of a big game for us.

Haha....Im thinkin that too!!! Maybe my ideology is unrealistic, but to only be able to give it some for a full game against a select few seems a bit poor. Anyway, plan to fit a few more games in, we'll see how they go!

When I said big games, I meant more like the teams that will be challenging for euro places. But yeah, works either way.

If it's not a big game the way the team is playing is generally the vibe you'll get from the crowd.

I was there vs spurs...1st chant of 'everton' went off at 50minutes. Thats a big enough game...and thats poor. The away fans sing non stop.

Fans chanting etc straight off can influence how the home team performs....must be a real buzz being part of a team with all that noise...then the total opposite with pure silence.

Its a shame, because we have a rep for it now.

I agree that, from what I have seen of him, Stones aint done bad at RB....not mind blowingly good, but certainly hasnt done a Hettinga.

Fair play, he aint as dynamic as Coleman (who lets be honest has morphed into something exceptional this season, reaching a level no one expected!) BUT Coleman was also a very questionable RB a couple of seasons ago.

I like the look of Stones. Think he's going to be a very useful player and 'big up' the youngun for filling into the very tough boots of Coleman.

Oh, and earlier on, about the crowd etc. I wasnt quite slating it, well not intending to. But on the occasions I get to visit GP...I always look forward to a cracking atmosphere. And when it doesnt happen, regardless of the result, its a let down. Its no good....anyone got any insights into this???

Just highlighting the fact that teams who have pressed us high up the pitch this season have had great success

I think I know what your getting at.

We do like to pass it around the back, nice and relaxed. If the opposition puts pressure on our back line, certainly in the last 3 games we have struggled. We play good possesion football, we should build on that quality. We maybe need to move it forward a bit quicker in these circumstances. Its a slight kink in our armour at the moment, nothing more.

Great result from an otherwise awful display.

 

Bailed out by the quality of Mirallas.

 

Villa pressed us high up the pitch in the first 45 the same as Liverpool did on Tuesday and it worked again. There has to be a plan B.

 

Another mention on how limited John Stones at right back is. We played much better when he went off and funnily enough McCarthy slotted in there.

 

It's the constant passing backwards from the lad. He won't even throw a cross in no edge going forward! The weak link! He should not be played there again, he's awful there. I'd rather have Hibbert... Really!!!

Surely there was a plan b? Hence we went in at half time one down....and won 2-1????

Quite disappointing, isn't it?

Yep. Its no good only getting a bit vocal when we start winning. The whole advantage of playing at home is having your fans chanting like fuck and giving the opposition flack at every touch.

Goodison has the reputation of having a good vibrant 'old school' atmosphere....the last few times I've been, its been shite!!!

COYB!

Thanks for the coverage lads...between this, SSN and BBC app, you're there!!!

Anyway....after the derby, we just needed a good solid performance and 3 points. Certainly got them.

Other positives...utd look like losing, spurs drawing and I fancy baggies against shite tom.

And I see the atmosphere was quiet again...what the hell is goin on at GP these days?!