Bournemouth (Home) Saturday September 23rd

[Zoo 2.0]

I thought that the Bournemouth goal came at a bad time and as a result what ruined what could have been a good performance from us. I thought that we actually looked decent in the first half and whilst we didn't cause Begovic too much trouble you could see that we were growing into the game and looked the more likely of the two teams to break the dead-lock. Fast-forward three minutes into the second half and Joshua King has pulled the visitors ahead and we hit the panic button. You could see the cracks from the past few league games creep into the side and from there it turned into something of a nightmare. Kudos to Koeman (who is still being bashed despite us winning) for changing things around and bringing on Davies and Niasse who totally changed the game, without those two changes being made I do believe that we'd have lost.

Once we got the first it was only a matter of time until we got the second and let's not forget that we would have had another had the ball not been cleared off the line when the score was at 1-1. Once we got that first goal we were a totally different team and had we played like that for 90 minutes would have won considerably and comfortably, I just hope that we take this run of wins as a confidence boost and play Burnley off the park in a week's time. We've got the quality to make things happen, it's just a case of things clicking into place and us catching that big break.

Jordan Pickford I thought did well, he smothered the long balls that were thrown his way when Bournemouth were behind and denied Jermaine Defoe from close range just after King had scored to make it 1-0, if we had conceded there then it would have been curtains for us so he deserves as much credit as the rest of the lads for the points that's we've claimed today. 

Cuco Martina had another poor game for me, I know that it's the flavour of the month to get on his back but I thought he was awful in most departments. Even when he managed to get forward his crosses were gash and either hit the first man or found the opposition, you could really see the game change in this respect when Ronald added Kenny into the mix and I'd really like Jonjoe to start in midweek against Apollon.

Ashley Williams again had a mediocre game, it wasn't as bad as his performances against Spurs, Atalanta and Manchester United but he's still about as much use as a chocolate fireguard, I'd much rather we brought back Phil Jagielka or Mo Besic rather than playing a David Haye look-a-like for hire that struggles at the most basic aspects of defending. Mason Holgate alongside him I actually thought did well and looked the more experienced of the two, hopefully he gets a run of games now either in the centre of defence or instead of Cuco on the right flank. Leighton Baines had a quiet game for me but did what he needed to, we were rarely exposed on the left and he did make some moves in the oppositions third that gave them something to think about, I do think that he would have done a lot better if he had an out and out left winger to work with. (How I miss the days of Steven Pienaar in his prime...).

In midfield, Idrissa Gueye was awful and probably the worst player on the pitch in many ways. I'm actually a big fan of Gana and think that he was a cracking purchase but today he was totally incapable of finding a man in a blue shirt, I lost count of how many times a move ended with him and worryingly a lot of his misplaced passes were on the edge of our own box. Had we been playing a Chelsea or Manchester City I fear we may have been punished in this respect so it's lucky that Bournemouth are no such team. 

Alongside Gueye I thought Morgan Schneiderlin did OK although I do wish he would pass forwards more. It seems that sometimes his first instinct is to play a pass to Pickford rather than passing it through the lines but hopefully once we start playing better he takes the risks that he needs to in this respect, he was a great player for us last season after his move but has struggled to get going in this campaign. 

Gylfi Sigurdsson was anonymous (sadly) and Davy Klaasen didn't seem to get into the game, I think that the 90 minutes passed both of these players by. Wayne Rooney I thought played really well up until the elbow in the face which knocked him for six. At first I thought it would be good for him to be wound up but he seemed to just grow more and more frustrated as the afternoon went on and in the end started becoming a real weak link, I was glad when he was whipped off and replaced with Oumar.

Up top, I thought that Dominic Calvert-Lewin was superb as he was all over the show. He brought down the long balls that Pickford pumped forward like Fellaini used to do in his prime and did look a threat on the rare occasion that he was let loose in the box. I was begging for him to add to his account following the brace against Sunderland but it wasn't to be, hopefully he starts again against Burnley and finds the back of the net as he's turning into quite a player for us. I still think that we need a striker in January but I'm more than happy for Dom to serve as our number two. 

Overall, it was a shabby result in the end, there's still plenty of questions to be asked but at least we're winning again. Hopefully this serves as a confidence boost and snowballs into the Burnley, Limassol and Brighton games. If we can get through the next three or so games unscathed then we can hopefully put this bad run of form to bed once and for all as the quality of the team is there for all to see it's just that the machine isn't quite oiled up yet...

Oh, and Martin Atkinson really is a walking advert for contraception isn't he? What a complete bellend.

3 hours ago, Haiku said:

I think it's too early for our new players to settle in. Koeman didn't had the best start last year either. I remember many started shouting for his head at this time around, but things changed  after we've won against Arsenal in December and ran over City a few matches later. I truly expect things will change dramatically in couple of months.

Yeah, I remember many ''fans'' on social media calling for Koeman's head last year and it was all forgotten once we started winning again. It'll happen this season too, we'll start beating teams and all of a sudden the same ''fans'' will be rimming him and buying ginger wigs. Football fans are fickle unfortunately but that's just how life is.

2 hours ago, Romey 1878 said:

I hope we go on a good run just to stop all this stupid bickering. I'm glad I'm at the game and don't have to read all of it!

Amen - +1.

2 hours ago, pete0 said:

I don't understand how Keane being shite has anything to do with anyone other than himself. He's not a fighter. United were crying out for a centre half and he was scared to go back there. Not confident in his own ability and it shows. 

He was all set to sign for Manchester United and they announced the signing of Victor Lindlehof, because of this Keane turned his attention elsewhere. I'm not sure on what basis you've decided that he was ''scared to go back'' considering how he's a Manchester United fan at heart and because of the facts that I've just stated.

[pete0]

They signed who? Oh wait I remember he's that youngster from the Portuguese league who's not had a sniff in the first team, not a single minute. Yea I think it's more than fair to say Keane is a shithouse. 

[Palfy]

15 minutes ago, nyblue23 said:

I didn't realize 13 points gets you 7th in the league. Unreal.

Like you didn't realise we had a good start last season, that's what I questioned and you call me unreal.

If you think 4 wins and draw in your first 5 game's of the season is a poor start then your off you rocker completely nuts.

[MikeO]

2 hours ago, Palfy said:

Last season won four and drew one of the first five games, but that was fundamentally Martinez team...

So we should've kept Martinez then by that logic. Damn the board. 

[Palfy]

1 minute ago, MikeO said:

So we should've kept Martinez then by that logic. Damn the board. 

If I had the choice now it wouldn't be Koeman.

[MikeO]

3 minutes ago, Palfy said:

If I had the choice now it wouldn't be Koeman.

But would it be Martinez? "His" team were on fire after five games last season so we made a big mistake getting rid it seems, he just needed a bit more time.

[milesey05]

We won today and for me that's all that matters. 3 points is 3 points. We can all disagree on the starting line up but credit is due regarding subs- simply won the game for us.  We are nowhere near where we should be performance wise but taking a game at a time with a few wins the levels can only improve. 

scrappy win- of course it was!!! I'm going to wake up in the morning happy knowing a win next weekend will make it 3 from 3 games.

UP THE TOFFEE's 

[Palfy]

17 minutes ago, MikeO said:

But would it be Martinez? "His" team were on fire after five games last season so we made a big mistake getting rid it seems, he just needed a bit more time.

Koeman inherited the makings of a good team that played good football and scored plenty of goals from all areas, but didn't shut up shop and defend a lead when they needed to, if he sorted our defensive play out first we would have had a quality team, that he would have only needed to add one or two players a window to, but no he ripped the team apart bought a hat full of players, the result of what we see now a team that isn't a team, and some of the worst football we've seen for years, for me he's unravelled the good Moyes and Martinez achieved and sent us back years having spent the biggest budget given to anyone who has managed this club.

To be fair Mike it's all been said before,  but if you are happier with what your watching with Koeman than you were with Martinez, then great you've got what you wanted, I'm far from happy watching the football served up now, so I will keep banging my drum and kicking off about it until it changes or you ban me of course, but until then the manager is fucking shit and so is his style of football or lack of.

[MikeO]

10 minutes ago, Palfy said:

but no he ripped the team apart

Which of Martinez's players that he got rid of would you have kept? The ones that would now have given us a quality team.

[Hafnia]

1 hour ago, London Blue said:

Haf, I have no problem with you getting annoyed at people, and as I am not a mod (And I thank God that I'm not) I don't police anyone's opinions. I think everyone should be able to express themselves.

I just think to show the rage you do to a manager that is doing his best for the club is odd, especially so early in the season.

Well this is it.... doing his best?  Not so sure.

 

He's putting his ego first.  He is shoehorning his signings in when they aren't playing well - this is mr authority and no nonsense?  Not for me. He's throwing darts hoping to find a bullseye. 

[Haiku]

I must agree that under Martinez we've played pretty attractive, but ultimately no one will go far in the PL neglecting defensive duties. It's all about the defense these days and Koeman did it right last season as we had one of the best defensive records in the league. Yet we're failing in every football aspect - marking, tackling, positioning, break up, link up play, keeping possession, creating chances, finishing... All these suggest me that our players need more tactical coaching. I refuse to acknowledge that we have shit players, or that we bought shit ones. All of our summer signings except Martina are of proven quality and and I know for sure that they can cope, as long as they find themselves on the pitch and gel in the tactical shape of the team. This needs time and patience. Unfortunately we had the worst possible schedule at the start of this season, but at least since the Man U game we're showing some improvement and this will only get better. Show some patience and we'll talk again in a month or two.

[pete0]

28 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Which of Martinez's players that he got rid of would you have kept? The ones that would now have given us a quality team.

Lukaku, possibly would have stayed if we had a better manager and finished top 4.

Deulofeu would have saved us £45m on dead ball specialist. Or play Mirallas given there is little penetration from Koeman's favoured side. 

Barry and play him with Davies, instead of the worst midfield duo to ever play at Goodison in my lifetime. 

Play Holgate rather than the £30m lad whose main attribute is his height. 

[MikeO]

1 minute ago, pete0 said:

Lukaku, possibly would have stayed if we had a better manager and finished top 4.

Deulofeu would have saved us £45m on dead ball specialist. Or play Mirallas given there is little penetration from Koeman's favoured side. 

Barry and play him with Davies, instead of the worst midfield duo to ever play at Goodison in my lifetime. 

Play Holgate rather than the £30m lad whose main attribute is his height. 

We'd never have finished top four and Lukaku was never going to stay. Geri is never going to be more than a one trick pony, Mirallas is past his use by date, Barry might be useful but very short term, Holgate we still have. Don't buy it for a second.

[Palfy]

45 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Which of Martinez's players that he got rid of would you have kept? The ones that would now have given us a quality team.

Now I never said he got rid of them did I, but do you hand on heart think we are playing better football under Koeman than Martinez.

 

[Zoo 2.0]

43 minutes ago, pete0 said:

Lukaku, possibly would have stayed if we had a better manager and finished top 4.

I don't think there was ever a chance that he was going to stay. He wanted to move to a bigger club that was grounded in the Champions League, even if we qualified for it we're not as developed as a club like Manchester United or Real Madrid that considers European football the norm. He was gone from the moment he pulled the u-turn on his contract, I'm not saying that the board are not at fault for not replacing him but to say that Lukaku would have stayed is being a bit naive.

Deulofeu would have saved us £45m on dead ball specialist. Or play Mirallas given there is little penetration from Koeman's favoured side. 

Deulofeu is a Barcelona supporter first and foremost, when he left the first time his ambition was to one day return to the Camp Nou. Given that he had such a low release clause the writing was always on the wall for him. He's also had attitude problems at Sevilla (where he was frozen out by Sampaoli), had attitude problems in his first spell at Barcelona and if rumours are true had them at Goodison which is why Koeman dropped him. It's again naive to think that Geri was anything other than a short-term option.

Barry and play him with Davies, instead of the worst midfield duo to ever play at Goodison in my lifetime. 

Barry is is 36 years old and you could see from a mile away that his best years were behind him. Selling him was an essential bit of business, if we want to be the league title winning, all conquering European super-weight should we really be relying on players that are nearer to 40 than 30? 

Play Holgate rather than the £30m lad whose main attribute is his height. 

As with our other signings, give him time.

 

[pete0]

52 minutes ago, MikeO said:

We'd never have finished top four and Lukaku was never going to stay. Geri is never going to be more than a one trick pony, Mirallas is past his use by date, Barry might be useful but very short term, Holgate we still have. Don't buy it for a second.

A £6m salary should buy it. Top 4 was very achievable last year. If the manager had got the best of of Barkley and made changes sooner eg. Davies for Gana we would have been in the mix. 

[MikeO]

19 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Now I never said he got rid of them did I, but do you hand on heart think we are playing better football under Koeman than Martinez.

It's no worse, but we have (potentially) a much improved starting XI, a much improved bench and a much improved squad imo. We've looked like rabbits in the headlghts at times for sure but you and me are both old enough to have seen far worse; I'm still optimistic.

[MikeO]

2 minutes ago, pete0 said:

A £6m salary should buy it. Top 4 was very achievable last year. If the manager had got the best of of Barkley and made changes sooner eg. Davies for Gana we would have been in the mix. 

Fair enough, I disagree.

[pete0]

https://m.facebook.com/Everton/photos/a.122336166276.111722.56909226276/10154721184271277/?type=3&source=48

[Newty82]

1 hour ago, pete0 said:

A £6m salary should buy it. Top 4 was very achievable last year. If the manager had got the best of of Barkley and made changes sooner eg. Davies for Gana we would have been in the mix. 

I see this salary thing a lot.

From what your saying here, salary should buy us top 4...well it doesn't. 

Koeman is the 6th highest paid manager in the league. With Pochettino 7th...he bucks the trend as the other top 5 all finished above us last season.

So using your sound rationale, the best we should ever hope for from Koeman is 6th.

I simply don't get these salary jibes. They are toothless and cheap.

[pete0]

59 minutes ago, Newty82 said:

I see this salary thing a lot.

From what your saying here, salary should buy us top 4...well it doesn't. 

Koeman is the 6th highest paid manager in the league. With Pochettino 7th...he bucks the trend as the other top 5 all finished above us last season.

So using your sound rationale, the best we should ever hope for from Koeman is 6th.

I simply don't get these salary jibes. They are toothless and cheap.

Not the best, but the minimum, and when you look at the gulf in points he's underachieved massively, more so when you take into account the extra games the other teams had. 

[markjazzbassist]

1 hour ago, pete0 said:

https://m.facebook.com/Everton/photos/a.122336166276.111722.56909226276/10154721184271277/?type=3&source=48

Hahaha bolasie response is awesome

[Palfy]

7 hours ago, MikeO said:

It's no worse, but we have (potentially) a much improved starting XI, a much improved bench and a much improved squad imo. We've looked like rabbits in the headlghts at times for sure but you and me are both old enough to have seen far worse; I'm still optimistic.

On paper we do have a good set of players, but not a team, again it's what was here before his arrival that won the day, in Niasse and Davies, when will you and others realise that a team is the sum of its parts, not just the cost of the individuals, it's a blend of finding players you know will work in your equation, he hasn't done that he has gone for players that as individuals are good players, without any foresight to whether they will gel as a team, I honestly from what I've seen believe he lacks any ability as a manager to put a team together.

His parts maybe better but his sums and equation are miles off, he has done what everyone of us on here could have done, spent a shit load of money on players that the masses have heard of, then throw them altogether and fucking pray it works, clueless fucking clueless, then the I can't see no wrong in him brigade shout its not that bad, he needs more time in the next window he will put it right.

Please fifteen or sixteen months,  three windows and two hundred plus million and this is were we are, yesterday I was asked if I was real really.

[Guest]

9 hours ago, MikeO said:

It's no worse, but we have (potentially) a much improved starting XI, a much improved bench and a much improved squad imo. We've looked like rabbits in the headlghts at times for sure but you and me are both old enough to have seen far worse; I'm still optimistic.

It's funny that anti Martinez people on here love to twist things to their way of thinking.

Why don't we compare Martinez first season to Koemans first season when we speak about type of football.

Martinez hands down. We seem to compare Koemans first to Martinez last, which is unfair.

Sure, Martinez lost the team, fans and club in the end, but is there that much difference with Martinez's inability to change obvious flaws in his defence and Koemans inability to change an obvious flaw in his tactical set up?

[Newty82]

7 hours ago, pete0 said:

Not the best, but the minimum, and when you look at the gulf in points he's underachieved massively, more so when you take into account the extra games the other teams had. 

It's not the way I think to be honest Pete regarding his pay.

The argument that he should be getting top 4 because he earns £6mill a year doesn't work if the same rule applies to the 5 other managers who earn more than him and finished above him.

If used as a criticism of him, it doesn't stick because he's only the 6th highest paid, pretty much equal to where we finished.

There are plenty of other criticisms that carry much more weight. Stick to them...plenty of choice there!!!

Like I've said previously though, I've no doubt that if he doesn't improve us (which realistically means at least finishing much closer to the top 6), he'll lose his job. But the season is a marathon not a sprint, he's got plenty of time to prove himself. And he does need to prove himself.

[Newty82]

32 minutes ago, yamar said:

It's funny that anti Martinez people on here love to twist things to their way of thinking.

Why don't we compare Martinez first season to Koemans first season when we speak about type of football.

Martinez hands down. We seem to compare Koemans first to Martinez last, which is unfair.

Sure, Martinez lost the team, fans and club in the end, but is there that much difference with Martinez's inability to change obvious flaws in his defence and Koemans inability to change an obvious flaw in his tactical set up?

Why are we even trying to compare the seasons?!

What's the point?

I don't get why Martinez style of football is suddenly getting so much attention, when in reality it was 3 quarters of his first season, then the rest was mostly below what we expected.

It wasn't a successful era for this club. Two thirds of it was way below what we expected.

[Paddock]

37 minutes ago, yamar said:

It's funny that anti Martinez people on here love to twist things to their way of thinking.

Why don't we compare Martinez first season to Koemans first season when we speak about type of football.

Martinez hands down. We seem to compare Koemans first to Martinez last, which is unfair.

Sure, Martinez lost the team, fans and club in the end, but is there that much difference with Martinez's inability to change obvious flaws in his defence and Koemans inability to change an obvious flaw in his tactical set up?

Martinez first season was with Moyes team, Koemans first season was with Martinez teams. Not sure how you can't compare it any other way tbh.

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, Newty82 said:

Why are we even trying to compare the seasons?!

What's the point?

I don't get why Martinez style of football is suddenly getting so much attention, when in reality it was 3 quarters of his first season, then the rest was mostly below what we expected.

It wasn't a successful era for this club. Two thirds of it was way below what we expected.

Wasn't successful? Cup final and European football. The same acheivments as Moyes but in a far shorter time period.

For Christ sake, we went to wolfsberg with some top players playing for them at that time and wiped the floor with them. We now go to Atalanta and get made a show of.

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, Paddock said:

Martinez first season was with Moyes team, Koemans first season was with Martinez teams. Not sure how you can't compare it any other way tbh.

So if all your comparisons relate back to who's team they had at the time, then Koeman should be gone this week.

[Newty82]

45 minutes ago, yamar said:

Wasn't successful? Cup final and European football. The same acheivments as Moyes but in a far shorter time period.

For Christ sake, we went to wolfsberg with some top players playing for them at that time and wiped the floor with them. We now go to Atalanta and get made a show of.

Ah sorry pal! We have different barometers for success.

Well Koeman has given us European football after 1 year (equal to Martinez), so now all he needs is a cup final in his 3rd season and he's been a success.

Martinez did it over 3years...so Koeman still has 2 years left to become a success at Everton by getting to a cup final. So by your barometer of success, this season doesn't matter.

Thanks for clearing that up mucker...heres to another 2 years of Koeman!

(Although did we really get to a cup final under Martinez?!)