Everton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Another reason we needed to buy a leader, I reckon.

Too late Paulie.
Much too late.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm pleased with the point overall but obviously disappointed (and could predict) when the third goal of theirs went in. I think the lads did well to be 3-1 up but it must be how we are set up tactically that we can't defend a lead. That i'm afraid is down to the coaches so they really need to pull their finger out this week.

For the last 20 minutes all they seemed to do was launch long high balls into our box and we started to drop deeper. That's not down to coaching or tactics but confidence and I don't think you can coach that.

That is true, to be fair. In fact, even on the telly, you could see Lambert screaming at them to push up. Much as you would see McLeish doing last year.

It seems to be a truism that if leading in the last 10 minutes, the Villa defence retreats like a Frenchman faced with a bottle of shower gel. I blame O'Neill.

[Drummond]

I think it's why our home form is so poor, confidence is already very, very weak and the added pressure of expectation and the moans from the crowd when something goes wrong just increases it. When we're 2 ahead, they start to worry they may concede rather than thinking that they've done well to get to that position. I've no idea if the club have a sports psychologist, if there is one, they need to do some overtime, if there isn't, then it's a big oversight.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Somebody on here used to say 'if in doubt, blame the fans'
Can't remember who said it though.

[eastie]

Paul Lambert spoke of his mixed emotions shortly after the final whistle blew on an exhilarating 3-3 draw between Villa and Everton.

Lambert was obviously gutted his side couldn't hold on to the lead at the death, with the Toffees managing a stoppage-time leveller.

But the boss was delighted with the performance-levels of his team as they produced high-octane stuff throughout a non-stop 90 minutes.

He said: "My emotions are mixed.

"I thought we played really well throughout the game. Coming here, nobody gave us a chance.

"Everton are a right good side. David has them playing well and they have some fine players.

"We came here and I thought we played really, really well.

"I always think it's good to get a foothold in the game. It's important not to concede early too. We got the goal through Christian. Gabby's goal was top-class.

"We had a chance to make it 3-1 just after the start of the second half with Andi. That never materialised.

"Then the third we did score was world-class. It was a great move and great cross. It was a fantastic header, getting in front of the defender. I thought we looked a threat when we got into positions to score. The front lads were excellent.

"You then knew Everton were going to come at you strongly. But you just have to try and see the game through, which we never managed to do.

"The free-kicks and corners came into the box and the delivery of Everton is very good. Sometimes you have to deal with them.

"The one at the end we never managed to deal with it. Ron got caught a little bit.

"The amount of times Fellaini has done that throughout his time here has been incredible.

"But the general performance was very good. The lads gave it everything. They were blocking and things like that.

"You know what's coming at you at that time. But I can't praise the team highly enough for what they did.

"The form certainly looks good at the minute. And we have one or two new lads to come in. I thought we were very good.

"It was a massive help to see the way the fans reacted after the Newcastle game. That was a major thing because the players know that the fans are with them.

"If they keep turning in performances like that, we will win more games than not."

Lambert paid particular tribute to two-goal star Benteke, who bossed the Toffees backline throughout the afternoon.

He added: "He's only 22, just turned 22. For someone who has just come into British football he's been exceptional.

"I probably got criticised for signing him because he wasn't a name, no-one had heard of him, people thought 'what's Aston Villa doing signing him.' I'm pretty sure he's put that to bed."

[Lastfootstamper]

I'm pleased with the point overall but obviously disappointed (and could predict) when the third goal of theirs went in. I think the lads did well to be 3-1 up but it must be how we are set up tactically that we can't defend a lead. That i'm afraid is down to the coaches so they really need to pull their finger out this week.

For the last 20 minutes all they seemed to do was launch long high balls into our box and we started to drop deeper. That's not down to coaching or tactics but confidence and I don't think you can coach that.

Good old Chris.
Often imitated, never bettered.

Thing is, I suspect he's probably right. I didn't see our game today, but I do think confidence has a huge, huge role in our concession of late goals, and equalisers when we shouldn't be conceding.

Another reason we needed to buy a leader, I reckon.

Agreed. More than any specific player in any specific position, we desperately need a captain. And apologies for the quotathon, but it needs to be said

[Rip Van We Go Again]

and the added pressure of expectation and the moans from the crowd when something goes wrong just increases it.

But didn't Lambert say how great the home support is?
Standing ovation for losing and all that?

[eamonn]

To be honest, for all the dropped points, looking at each game objectively I don't think we deserved more than we got in any of them. 

Norwich at home in the second half was one of the worst performances I've ever seen from us (worse than Bradford/Wigan), notwithstanding being a man down.
Swansea murdered us at their place and deserved at least a point.
We had West Brom on the ropes for 45 minutes but sat far too deep in the second half and paid the price.
Similarly today, we sat back on our cushion, had a few narrow escapes but then the pressure told.
We've not really been robbed at all.

The Newcastle and Southampton defeats warranted a draw I would say. But wins to draws is the big differential and I can't really argue that those performances merited more.

Hopefully today's result away to a team who have lost 3 all season can help with our lot's fragile confidence.
We have to take that into next week and send Allardyce packing back to Dudley for dinner with his parents where he'll bore them with how much they were robbed and how the Villa should have appointed him manager when they had the chance.

[silhillvilla]

Just back, from M&S.
Did we hold out for the win ?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Just back, from M&S.

Really?
We were indulging in an afternoon session of S&M.

[pauliewalnuts]

On the bright side, after countless weekends wrecked by defeats in recent seasons, let's take heart from a point.

So, in other words, not totally fucked.

[eamonn]

Everton defender Jonny Heitinga after the 3-3 draw with Aston Villa on Twitter: "Played worst game ever in the shirt of Everton. Let team-mates and fans down but they never let me down. Will work hard to come back strong."

Hmm. Did any of our players on Twitta' apologise for the last 6 weeks of purgatory? Not that it would make much difference, but it would be something. I guess Vlaar was pretty apologetic when acknowledging the fans after the Bradford and Millwall games. Made up for it today though...

[LeeB]

I'm pleased with the point overall but obviously disappointed (and could predict) when the third goal of theirs went in. I think the lads did well to be 3-1 up but it must be how we are set up tactically that we can't defend a lead. That i'm afraid is down to the coaches so they really need to pull their finger out this week.

For the last 20 minutes all they seemed to do was launch long high balls into our box and we started to drop deeper. That's not down to coaching or tactics but confidence and I don't think you can coach that.

Good old Chris.
Often imitated, never bettered.

He's right though.

[eastie]

Everton defender Jonny Heitinga after the 3-3 draw with Aston Villa on Twitter: "Played worst game ever in the shirt of Everton. Let team-mates and fans down but they never let me down. Will work hard to come back strong."

Hmm. Did any of our players on Twitta' apologise for the last 6 weeks of purgatory? Not that it would make much difference, but it would be something. I guess Vlaar was pretty apologetic when acknowledging the fans after the Bradford and Millwall games. Made up for it today though...

Yes joe bennett did.

[LeeB]

Everton defender Jonny Heitinga after the 3-3 draw with Aston Villa on Twitter: "Played worst game ever in the shirt of Everton. Let team-mates and fans down but they never let me down. Will work hard to come back strong."

Hmm. Did any of our players on Twitta' apologise for the last 6 weeks of purgatory? Not that it would make much difference, but it would be something. I guess Vlaar was pretty apologetic when acknowledging the fans after the Bradford and Millwall games. Made up for it today though...

I hope not, because twitter is wank.