Pearso

Mate, no one is making excuses for his performance or his attitude today, just trying to give some people who are calling for his head some perspective. Not singling you out in particular, just a general voice that has been singing from Everton fans after the game. Have you been on Twitter? People are saying he should never wear an Everton jersey again, he should be sent home, people are abusing him left right and centre. He had a shit game, I'm sure he knows that. And I'm sure he knows he looked like he didn't give a rats ass. But when you're having a shit game, your team is having a shit game, and you're 3-0 down at home after 35 minutes in a quarter final, I think the last thing he wants to hear is the crowd booing the team and walking for the exits (whether they were leaving or going for a pint). It was just one of those days for mine. I'm sure a lot of the other players were feeling the same shit feeling of disappointment that Fellaini was, it's just that he has trouble keeping control of his emotion and let it show in his body language. Just think back to the Villa game when he saved our asses with those two goals late at the end. Everyone was loving him and he was oozing passion for the club. A few weeks later and fans are booing him for a shit performance?

Hard to get excited for this. Gonna have to have a speech written about how City are a soulless club of mercenaries for when my city fan friend comes to rub it in after we get hammered. Let's hope gibbo repeats his heroics. Heart says 1-0 Head says 0-2

I always laugh at how Liverpool fans run around bagging other clubs for being 'smaller' than theirs, one of the 'biggest clubs in the world'. They've blown millions and millions, won't be playing in Europe next season and are a lowly top ten prem team who have fallen behind their skint rivals. At least when our team disappoints with a bad performance we don't stand for it, rather than using all our past trophies and successes as an excuse. I'll bring you up to speed pal, your club is on the same level as QPR, trying to spend your way out of a rut that exists deep down at the core of your shitty club. Anyway, on the game, it really does seem like its time to cash in on Fellaini and refresh the squad. Not particularly arsed about moyes anymore, if he had the passion and desire to continue he would make his intentions clear. The squad is broken at the moment, the injuries don't help either and personally I think Mirallas is a gem amongst the rough at the moment, the only thing we have to look forward to.

Crap. Let's hope Mucha has an Anichebe esque spike of form.

I disagree matt. His worst game at the back against Villa was when he was paired with distin. Jags was at RB remember? Heitinga looks gone beyond repair to me. Every time he plays his man scores a goal without him getting close. Readings goal for example, I don't think I've ever seen Jags just sit there and watch his man nod in. It's time for Duffy IMO.

Coleman for mine, gave the right side hell, always looked dangerous, gave Bainesy an easy day at the office and delivered a beautiful cross for Felli.

Coleman, mirallas and Pienaar were all class. Would love Le Fondre too next window if we could pick him up. Not back to our best given the opposition but its a start. Let's hope Moyes plays Duffy against City, I don't think he could do any worse than Heitinga to be honest.

Another game against league one battlers to play the likes of Duffy, Oviedo, Vellios etc. I don't think we'll have any trouble beating them at Goodison, even playing a second string side. Call that smug or arrogant but they seemed to me like a team playing on adrenaline and heart in front of their home phones. They can't possibly play a third top notch game like they did today and against Liverpool when they come to Goodison.

Got to say the result hasnt bothered me that much. Maybe in a league game if points were dropped, but its a cup game and we now have the league one minnows coming to Goodison. Honestly if we don't play like that against Norwhich and get a decent win I think this will be well put out of everyone's mind. I probably would have done the same thing re: the Duffy sub. If Jelavic was left on the park I still think they would have snatched it. Move on fellas, at least we didn't lose! And Arsenal have been knocked out of the cup. We can only go up from here IMO.

Couldn't be bothered to write a depthy analysis of the game from my perspective. All I'll say is we never even looked like scoring apart from that square ball from Mirallas to Vic, and the players didn't look like they were trying to win, particularly in the last ten minutes. Looked like they just wanted the game over with. Not sure if I'm just getting into the habit of using Heits as a scapegoat but I felt he was too easily beaten for the first goal, Distin wouldn't have been shrugged aside like that. Anyway, Europa seems to be the likely outcome of this season for mine.

Nick Powell made an appearance in the Champions League after joining United last year from Crewe. Does that count? League 2 to Champs League is pretty impressive

Glad about these new rules. I've always hated how the League is often dictated by who has the deepest pockets.

So Spurs and Arsenal both won, as did Chelsea. This leaves us in sixth, six points out of the top 4. On the same note, City lost this morning and gave United a huge advantage in the title race, which could leave them complacent and with a weakened side in preparation for midweek against Madrid. A win gets us back up to 5th, 3 points shy of top 4. Anything else and we remain in sixth. Three points please Mr Moyes. I think Fellaini will play too. It doesn't seem uncommon that players will sit out international friendlies and play for their club a few days later.

Jelavic got a double in this fixture last year. Worth giving him a run? He might like Old Trafford. It seems (watching United this season) to be a place where you can play shit and still succeed, so maybe one of his scuffs or half volleys straight at the keeper might get parried in by De Gea.

surely the kid was just taking the piss? Look I hate to point the finger, and frankly the abuse Heits has been getting on Twitter is disgraceful, but he was the difference today for mine. We got three goals past them today, had Jags and Distin been the central defence pairing I think I'd be generous in saying they would have got one. Their second half goal was beautiful and perhaps would have been hard to defend but I would back Jags every day of the week in those other two goals.

Absolutely no problem with felli having a quiet but solid half if the others can win it themselves. Keeps the big spenders at bay and a lot more confidence in the defence. Wonder if we'll see Jela come on to try and snag a goal. He'd thrive on this.

Leighton Baines you are a beautiful man. Edit: wow my phone just had a fit.

Jelavic would have had 15 goals to his name had we been playing this style all season. He must be pissed that this was the game he got dropped for.

Matter of time fellas. I just can't help but think the same for wba at this stage.

Positive start, we look certain to score IMO, something I'm glad to say after the last two games. Also a distinct lack of hoofing, lovely to see.

Hope I've been around here long enough that the author of the thread is recognisable, wouldn't want to upset anyone in regards to who starts the ever-sacred West Brom match thread. In my opinion we need to blow these fellas off the park to get some momentum going again. We've hit a real lull in this post-Christmas period so far, and scraped in by the skin of our teeth against Bolton. To break into the top 4 we need some momentum, especially before we hit the likes of United at OT, City and Tottenham again. Therefore I would absolutely love to see us play them off the park, but in all likeliness that won't happen. Also think it's about time Moyes drops Jelavic and plays Vic or Vellios upfront. Heart says a comfortable 2-0 win. Head says a scrappy draw is coming our way.

Couldn't have asked for anyone better. Hope we flog Oldham and watch the kopite's go all red faced. No doubt we'll hear "who cares? We're focusing on the league" afterwards.

Came over here planning to only watch the Chelsea and Newcastle games, but since the Man City Arsenal game we're watching is tomorrow I was lucky enough to be able to squeeze one more in. On the train up from London now, so they better not let me down! Flew over here to watch them get a win at Goodison, St James doesn't count. If no one hears from me again, its because I've been killed valiantly in battle at the Emirates tomorrow. We're sitting with the away fans, and I plan on giving everyone of them enough shit about being bandwagon fuckers that they'll start throwing coins at me.

Barkley, Duffy and Vellios should all start IMO. Despite having a poor record againbst lower sides, our squad is already showing its weakness in its depth, so a league two team is a great opportunity to rest some players who may be getting fatigued. Perhaps if it were a Leeds sort of team id say throw the first XI at them, but Cheltenham really aren't.

I'm gonna sit in America's corner on the definition of football. Here, football is Rugby League or union, and the round balled game is soccer.