Arsenal (Away) Saturday February 3rd

[Haiku]

Finally Tosun Pasa is coming in.

[Sibdane]

DCL has the softest feet when it comes to finishing.

[Cornish Steve]

There are so many things that the manager plainly did wrong for this game. Any one of us here could have told him this, they are so obvious.

1) Playing Schneiderlin and Gueye together in midfield. How many more times must this happen for our manager to realize it never works?

2) Making yet more changes to our defensive setup. We need stability at the back. This was the worst possible game to bring in Mangala.

3) Starting Martina on the left. This is the gift that keeps on giving for our opponents. They target that side of the pitch.

4) Starting Niasse and leaving Tosun on the bench. Niasse is super-sub, not starter. And treating Tosun this way is terrible man-management.

5) Bringing off Walcott when he was one of few of our players trying hard to swim against the tide.

These are basic basic errors. There's no point blaming the players. They are hardly going to be motivated when the manager demonstrates a fundamental inability to either understand the club, prepare for games properly, or read how games are going. His lack of passion on the sidelines reveals the fact that all he cares about is money. What loss is it to him that we play so badly?

[JoeQuince]

DCL should feel shameful for that. 

[milesey05]

Thank fuck that is over. Now to listen to what that prick has to say for himself!!!!!

[nogs]

Had 85 minutes to think about what disgusts me most about this performance. I think it's the fact that we are in one competition now. Fuck two games in 4 games, fuck home and away, fuck sports science and so-called tactics. It should be winning XI stays on from now on in. I can excuse the Coleman change, the rest is just a disgrace. Keane, Schneiderlin and Bolasie should be nowhere near starters for us at the moment. 

[Hoof_It_Nev]

I think Sam was just told to keep us up and that's all we want. I also think taking Walcott off shows he'd given up on the game, which although it probably was gone, is completely wrong with half an hour left.

[Isaiah]

Our goal difference is now the same as West Brom, who are bottom of the table. 

[Gwlad]

 

1 minute ago, Isaiah said:

Our goal difference is now the same as West Brom, who are bottom of the table. 

Only 3 worse Stoke, Swansea , Huddersfield

[jofanon]

7 minutes ago, nogs said:

Had 85 minutes to think about what disgusts me most about this performance. I think it's the fact that we are in one competition now. Fuck two games in 4 games, fuck home and away, fuck sports science and so-called tactics. It should be winning XI stays on from now on in. I can excuse the Coleman change, the rest is just a disgrace. Keane, Schneiderlin and Bolasie should be nowhere near starters for us at the moment. 

Bolaise has some semblance of an excise

morgan and Michael are absolute shithouses and I want them out of the club tomorrow.

[nogs]

Just now, jofanon said:

Bolaise has some semblance of an excise

morgan and Michael are absolute shithouses and I want them out of the club tomorrow.

Yeah I agree but he should be coming on for 15-20 minutes at a time and building up to fitness. He keeps getting asked to play 90 and just looks awful. Keane and Schneiderlin, yeah, we fucked up, same as with Klaassen. Just stop playing them. 

[Romey 1878]

Sorry but Bolasie is a terrible player. He was terrible befor and he’s terrible now. 

The injury was bad and shit for him but he’s just not good enough. It’s that simple. 

[nogs]

5 minutes ago, Romey 1878 said:

Sorry but Bolasie is a terrible player. He was terrible befor and he’s terrible now. 

The injury was bad and shit for him but he’s just not good enough. It’s that simple. 

I wouldn't disagree to be honest. I'd rather see Lookman playing for us. 

[Cornish Steve]

33 minutes ago, milesey05 said:

Thank fuck that is over. Now to listen to what that prick has to say for himself!!!!!

Blame the players, no doubt. 

[Louis]

 

[nogs]

2 minutes ago, Louis said:

 

If only one of the players had the balls to stand up, throw a water bottle in his face and tell him it was pathetic, pathetic tactics. 

[MikeO]

8 minutes ago, nogs said:

If only one of the players had the balls to stand up, throw a water bottle in his face and tell him it was pathetic, pathetic tactics. 

We might as well have walked out of the tunnel with the captain waving a white flag, that would've best signaled the manager's game plan.

[pete0]

Don't see why only the manager is getting abuse. He picked the players, he never told them not to put a foot in. Too many players aren't arsed whether we win or lose. Schneiderlin, Gana, and Keane should never play for the club again, absolutely no commitment to the club. Be surprised if we've won a game were all 3 of them started. Alladyce doesn't like losing, annoyingly went for a clean sheet and nick a goal tactic, whereas some of these lot couldn't give a fuck about the result. If the players can't stick to a game plan for 20 minutes then they need looking at more than the manager. 3 down in 20 minutes is a disgrace when you've set up for a clean sheet. You can't blame the manager for that, that's all on the player's heads. 

One positive it looks as Davies should be starting every week from now on. 

[nogs]

25 minutes ago, pete0 said:

Don't see why only the manager is getting abuse. He picked the players, he never told them not to put a foot in. Too many players aren't arsed whether we win or lose. Schneiderlin, Gana, and Keane should never play for the club again, absolutely no commitment to the club. Be surprised if we've won a game were all 3 of them started. Alladyce doesn't like losing, annoyingly went for a clean sheet and nick a goal tactic, whereas some of these lot couldn't give a fuck about the result. If the players can't stick to a game plan for 20 minutes then they need looking at more than the manager. 3 down in 20 minutes is a disgrace when you've set up for a clean sheet. You can't blame the manager for that, that's all on the player's heads. 

One positive it looks as Davies should be starting every week from now on. 

I agree, of course players have to take blame. But they don't decide to make 5 changes to a team that just won, play 3 at the back when it suits none of our defenders, play 7 defensive specialists, play no one with any kind of vision and creativity in the centre... Like I say, agree with you, but buck stops with Allardyce for playing those players who are not up to it, in a formation that was nailed on to get beat. 

[JoeQuince]

16 minutes ago, pete0 said:

Don't see why only the manager is getting abuse. He picked the players, he never told them not to put a foot in. Too many players aren't arsed whether we win or lose. Schneiderlin, Gana, and Keane should never play for the club again, absolutely no commitment to the club. Be surprised if we've won a game were all 3 of them started. Alladyce doesn't like losing, annoyingly went for a clean sheet and nick a goal tactic, whereas some of these lot couldn't give a fuck about the result. If the players can't stick to a game plan for 20 minutes then they need looking at more than the manager. 3 down in 20 minutes is a disgrace when you've set up for a clean sheet. You can't blame the manager for that, that's all on the player's heads. 

One positive it looks as Davies should be starting every week from now on. 

I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t agree. Allardyce put together a back 3 (when we’re tactically comfortable with 2 CBs), started Mangala (who hasn’t had even a week of training), sent out a pairing of Gana and Schneiderlin (who we haven’t seen work well together for a solid year), neglected to play anyone who can connect play in midfield (Rooney or Sigurdsson, for instance), played Martina as LWB (when he can just barely do a job at LB), started Bolasie and Niasse (each of whom works hard, but they serve us better as subs), and clearly had no plan for how we would use the ball (you can’t ONLY defend with your backs to the wall—you need to relieve pressure somehow). The man is an absolute idiot. He set them up for failure and they failed. Maybe some of them downed tools (I really don’t think they did, except for maybe Schneiderlin, but he’s been shit all season). But, they were trying to protect a fort with nerf guns and one hand tied behind their backs. I wouldn’t blame them for downing tools, if they did. Allardyce is the worst type of English manager. Tactically clueless and dependent entirely upon his ability to motivate. 

[Finn balor]

At the end of the day what has happened to the days of that’s our best eleven here’s our best eleven and let’s have a match? All this bollocks about tactics does my head in. Football is football. He picked a shite shite team. Second half when the shackles were off we looked dangerous. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Williams,Keane,Martina,Morgan,should be nowhere near the first team. Lookman should have been kept and vlasic should be in there. The man looks deafeated and lost. Wouldn’t surprise me he walks 

[pete0]

I don't agree with the team he picked, but he put his reasons out there. He's watched Swansea beat them comfortably last week and tried to adopt their game plan. Players wise that falls on Walsh's head, and it speaks volumes how shit a job he's done when they can't even emulate Swansea. Biggest difference they had heart, our lot couldn't care less. 

[Cornish Steve]

9 minutes ago, nogs said:

I agree, of course players have to take blame. But they don't decide to make 5 changes to a team that just won, play 3 at the back when it suits none of our defenders, play 7 defensive specialists, play no one with any kind of vision and creativity in the centre... Like I say, agree with you, but buck stops with Allardyce for playing those players who are not up to it, in a formation that was nailed on to get beat. 

Frankly, I don't blame the players for this debacle. Here's why.

Imagine you work for a team with an important project to complete. Someone is appointed manager and determines how to go about the task. He tells you to do this, someone else to do that, and so on. Before long, you realize this approach is not going to complete the project on time - or even at all. The manager, though, calls all the shots. He swaps you out of your role, moves your neighbor to a different role, and dinks around with the project plan almost every day. Before long, everyone's lost confidence, and motivation goes down the toilet. "What's the point in me doing this? The project is going nowhere. Being associated with it, my reputation will take a hit." Frankly, it doesn't matter what you're paid in a situation like this: It's very difficult to remain motivated.

[Sir McGiven]

1 hour ago, Louis said:

 

He is flesh and bone version of Eric Cartman, it is always someone else.

If you are making 5 changes on a winning team and completely changing formation, you can not blame someone else. Looks like to me, most of his players doesn't give a s... about him/his outdated managerial and/or tactical abilities and lost their faith already. 3-4 of them still trying to do their best but can't tell the same for the rest.

Out of curiosity, what was the last time Everton played with 3 central defenders and 2 wing backs? I mean, is it a familiar tactical stance for Everton defenders at all?

[Romey 1878]

For once I agree Gana was a headless chicken. But it was down to necessity, rather than a lack of ability.

The fella was having to do his own job, which is difficult enough on it’s own. Then he was also having to do Schneiderlin’s job, because he’s the biggest shithouse going. He was also tasked with covering for Kenny and Martina, who put in two awful wing-back performances (particularly Kenny). As if all that wasn’t enough, Mangala kept popping up in truly bizarre positions and he had to help out the other two CB’s who were having a torrid time themselves. 

It’s no wonder he looked like a headless chicken when he literally had to race all over the pitch putting out fires he hadn’t even fucking caused. 

He, Walcott, Niasse and Pickford are the only starters that can have any chance of being able to look our fans in the eye. 

[Cornish Steve]

Alan Shearer on today's game:

"From an Everton point of view, if ever there was an example of football coming back to bite you, it was this - after Sam Allardyce suggested in his press conference before the game that Arsenal's defence was weak. Everton were all over the place. They were embarrassing. They were hopeless defensively in the first 45 minutes."

[Palfy]

Gana was headless because that's how he is not because he was trying to cover for players around him, he doesn't have a clue about covering he's just a poor player who wouldn't get into any other team in this league.

[Bailey]

5 hours ago, Romey 1878 said:

Sorry but Bolasie is a terrible player. He was terrible befor and he’s terrible now. 

The injury was bad and shit for him but he’s just not good enough. It’s that simple. 

Exactly, I just don' get it. He pops up every now and then with a bit of magic but after that you don't see him for a couple of  months. 

4 hours ago, pete0 said:

Don't see why only the manager is getting abuse. He picked the players, he never told them not to put a foot in. Too many players aren't arsed whether we win or lose. Schneiderlin, Gana, and Keane should never play for the club again, absolutely no commitment to the club. Be surprised if we've won a game were all 3 of them started. Alladyce doesn't like losing, annoyingly went for a clean sheet and nick a goal tactic, whereas some of these lot couldn't give a fuck about the result. If the players can't stick to a game plan for 20 minutes then they need looking at more than the manager. 3 down in 20 minutes is a disgrace when you've set up for a clean sheet. You can't blame the manager for that, that's all on the player's heads. 

One positive it looks as Davies should be starting every week from now on. 

Confidence is a big thing in football and if you have a manager that keeps changing the way you play, what do you expect. I saw several players in that first half who weren' sure what to do. Whether to close, whether to stick, whether to get forward or whether to hold their position. When that happens its natural to 2nd guess yourself and doubt what you are doing. Whereas normally you might put a foot in, if you aren't  sure what your meant to be doing you bottle it.

4 hours ago, JoeQuince said:

I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t agree. Allardyce put together a back 3 (when we’re tactically comfortable with 2 CBs), started Mangala (who hasn’t had even a week of training), sent out a pairing of Gana and Schneiderlin (who we haven’t seen work well together for a solid year), neglected to play anyone who can connect play in midfield (Rooney or Sigurdsson, for instance), played Martina as LWB (when he can just barely do a job at LB), started Bolasie and Niasse (each of whom works hard, but they serve us better as subs), and clearly had no plan for how we would use the ball (you can’t ONLY defend with your backs to the wall—you need to relieve pressure somehow). The man is an absolute idiot. He set them up for failure and they failed. Maybe some of them downed tools (I really don’t think they did, except for maybe Schneiderlin, but he’s been shit all season). But, they were trying to protect a fort with nerf guns and one hand tied behind their backs. I wouldn’t blame them for downing tools, if they did. Allardyce is the worst type of English manager. Tactically clueless and dependent entirely upon his ability to motivate. 

This is also a very good point. 

3 hours ago, pete0 said:

I don't agree with the team he picked, but he put his reasons out there. He's watched Swansea beat them comfortably last week and tried to adopt their game plan. Players wise that falls on Walsh's head, and it speaks volumes how shit a job he's done when they can't even emulate Swansea. Biggest difference they had heart, our lot couldn't care less. 

It doesn' fall on Walsh at all. Allardyce should look at the player he has and consider whether they can play the same way. He clearly thought then lyceum could when they couldn't. Kease has always looked fucking dreadful in a back 5 yet was asked to play there. Allardyce should know by now as to what suits and what doesn't.

[Bailey]

A gif of the Aubameyang goal just popped up on my timeline and in the background you can see Cuco ambling back which just sums up last night.

Barely anyone gives a shit and instead of helping each other out they are just standing there watching. 

[Formby]

7 hours ago, Bailey said:

It doesn' fall on Walsh at all. Allardyce should look at the player he has and consider whether they can play the same way. He clearly thought then lyceum could when they couldn't. Kease has always looked fucking dreadful in a back 5 yet was asked to play there. Allardyce should know by now as to what suits and what doesn't.

I think it falls on the whole club, actually, and that includes Walsh. The disconnect between manager and DoF is just staggering. I just don't see how that relationship works / is working unless the manager and DoF are on the same page. If they can't agree, then bring in a manager who knows what he wants and get rid of the DoF. Walsh is bringing in players who aren't ready (maybe never will be) for the PL, Tosun being the latest expensive example. We can't afford that. A lot of people hate Allardyce on this board and want him to fail before a ball is kicked. As he's the manager of Everton, I don't really get that. The situation is what it is. Maybe he's not the right man, maybe Koeman was, or Unsworth was, although I saw nothing in either. The bottom line is we need to get to 40 points and reassess in the summer. Some big decisions need to be taken. Blame Allardyce all you want, but the players and Walsh deserve equal blame and criticism. Collectively, the whole thing is a mess.