Everton at Home

[northbank123]

Point isn't a dreadful result by any means but having gone 1 up with 10 mins left we should have been able to see it out. When Lukaku went for the acrobatic kick Koscielny cowered away instead of trying to get his head on the cross and either getting it clear or winning a free-kick. Piss-poor from Gibbs as well, if a bloke is 10 yards out at least make him skin you to get a shot away, don't stand off him and let him rifle it in for fuck's sake.

We could have easily lost that game, we were staggering around like a team of punch-drunk boxers after they equalised. No shape and no balance, Rosicky seemed to be miles too deep to do anything meaningful whilst Flamini was running around in the final third and when we were getting the ball in stoppage time nobody was showing for it, we were just lumping balls into the box.

Anyway, now the fun begins!

[T.S]

Maybe I've been watching another team, but I think Gibbs has been ace this season. Also, although he definitely could have closed down the Everton lad quicker, it isn't as if that was a huge mistake either.

We're 5 points clear. May I suggest we not get on the players backs just yet.

[the playing mantis]

ffs whats up with everyone,we didn't lose,we were played off the park for large parts,we weren't at our best but got a point,we are 5 points clear,will people please get some perspective

ffs, its facking everton, sure there decnet enough but there no world beaters, and at home against a team like that a title aspiration team has to win.

simple as.

[the playing mantis]

Great match. Thanks to yesterday's results we could afford to draw this. A win would have been great but a draw isn't the end of the world.

I'm sure many will disagree but I think AW deserves credit for making a bold change and going for it.

I think Everton missed a trick by not attacking Jenkinson more.

I don't have a problem with the changes as such but people have been quick to dismiss the suggest that we need a big physical DM but today showed how easily our smaller flair players can be negated in a game. Tbh I thought that ozil was doing ok in patches before santi went off but he really took it up a gear after the changes which brings me back to the question of whether a team with ozil, cazorla, ramsey and wilshere all starting is unbalanced and prevents all of them playing to their max

im probably in aminority of one, but to me caz doesnt do enough...

[g88ner]

top teams have to beat those with similar ambitions. bar beating the scum, we are not doing it.

Not really.

It's a league format, so you have to finish with more points than everyone else to win the league. It really is that simple.

People love building up certain games as being more important than others but 3pts is 3pts, so Chavs losing at Stoke is just as relevant to the title race.

[SteveO 35]

Maybe I've been watching another team, but I think Gibbs has been ace this season. Also, although he definitely could have closed down the Everton lad quicker, it isn't as if that was a huge mistake either.

We're 5 points clear. May I suggest we not get on the players backs just yet.

Agree with you about Gibbs mate - think he's been consistently good this season. Not a major mistake at all and he made a number of crucial blocks again and also sent over several decent crosses.

[T.S]

Great match. Thanks to yesterday's results we could afford to draw this. A win would have been great but a draw isn't the end of the world.

I'm sure many will disagree but I think AW deserves credit for making a bold change and going for it.

I think Everton missed a trick by not attacking Jenkinson more.

I don't have a problem with the changes as such but people have been quick to dismiss the suggest that we need a big physical DM but today showed how easily our smaller flair players can be negated in a game. Tbh I thought that ozil was doing ok in patches before santi went off but he really took it up a gear after the changes which brings me back to the question of whether a team with ozil, cazorla, ramsey and wilshere all starting is unbalanced and prevents all of them playing to their max

Yeah I think that's fair. I know you're not his biggest fan but I love Flamini's attitude and I thought he drove the team forward when he came on. Playing all those midfielders is fine at home to Hull, but I do think it leaves us more unbalanced when it comes to stronger teams. Santi has been poor for a few games now but he is having to play much deeper than he is used to and I think that's affecting him too. He's getting marked out of games and I think we're better off leaving Wilshere in that deeper position with Flamini as a partner.

[QuartzGooner]

Maybe I've been watching another team, but I think Gibbs has been ace this season. Also, although he definitely could have closed down the Everton lad quicker, it isn't as if that was a huge mistake either.

We're 5 points clear. May I suggest we not get on the players backs just yet.

I thought Koscielny should have closed down Delofeu, Kos just stood off him for a second and it let him get the shot off.

[the playing mantis]

Maybe I've been watching another team, but I think Gibbs has been ace this season. Also, although he definitely could have closed down the Everton lad quicker, it isn't as if that was a huge mistake either.

We're 5 points clear. May I suggest we not get on the players backs just yet.

i thinks hes looked good too, but he always has a positioning error in him. i think there have been 3 goals agianst us this season at least that have been a direct consequence of him being out of position or standing off his man.

[the playing mantis]

top teams have to beat those with similar ambitions. bar beating the scum, we are not doing it.

Not really.

It's a league format, so you have to finish with more points than everyone else to win the league. It really is that simple.

People love building up certain games as being more important than others but 3pts is 3pts, so Chavs losing at Stoke is just as relevant to the title race.

i dont really know what to say to that. you have a point, obviously, but so do i on many levels.

[OneBardGooner]

Yes, but we should still have won today's game regardless of pundits/betting odds/predictions....and we didn't - I just hope this season isn't going to be Death by Ten Thousand Cuts - instead of Death By A Thousand like the last few seasons....we get all hopeful and then Blow it!...like we did this very day! - We had the game won and then give it away!.

[the playing mantis]

Great match. Thanks to yesterday's results we could afford to draw this. A win would have been great but a draw isn't the end of the world.

I'm sure many will disagree but I think AW deserves credit for making a bold change and going for it.

I think Everton missed a trick by not attacking Jenkinson more.

I don't have a problem with the changes as such but people have been quick to dismiss the suggest that we need a big physical DM but today showed how easily our smaller flair players can be negated in a game. Tbh I thought that ozil was doing ok in patches before santi went off but he really took it up a gear after the changes which brings me back to the question of whether a team with ozil, cazorla, ramsey and wilshere all starting is unbalanced and prevents all of them playing to their max

Yeah I think that's fair. I know you're not his biggest fan but I love Flamini's attitude and I thought he drove the team forward when he came on. Playing all those midfielders is fine at home to Hull, but I do think it leaves us more unbalanced when it comes to stronger teams. Santi has been poor for a few games now but he is having to play much deeper than he is used to and I think that's affecting him too. He's getting marked out of games and I think we're better off leaving Wilshere in that deeper position with Flamini as a partner.

i think he should start everygame, all those on here bemoaning his signing have gone quiet

[OneBardGooner]

Maybe I've been watching another team, but I think Gibbs has been ace this season. Also, although he definitely could have closed down the Everton lad quicker, it isn't as if that was a huge mistake either.

We're 5 points clear. May I suggest we not get on the players backs just yet.

I thought Koscielny should have closed down Delofeu, Kos just stood off him for a second and it let him get the shot off.

Kos and Gibbs ...and Gibbs was closer.

[OneBardGooner]

The moment Flamster came on the pitch he started barking orders - making sure everyone was awake - obviously it didn't work on gibbs

[the playing mantis]

Yes, but we should still have won today's game regardless of pundits/betting odds/predictions....and we didn't - I just hope this season isn't going to be Death by Ten Thousand Cuts - instead of Death By A Thousand like the last few seasons....we get all hopeful and then Blow it!...like we did this very day! - We had the game won and then give it away!.

its the hope that kills u.

beyond all doubts, ive started to believ again. but results like this given the next few games to come, hurt, when we have a chance to take advanatge of everyone elses slips