Everton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Matt C]

We all know the problems so no need for me to repeat them. A point more than I expected but a kick in the balls not to get all three in the end, especially in light of other results.

Think we've found a system more suited to us and we look capable of scoring. We play some good stuff. You watch us for long periods of that game and wonder how we're even in trouble, then the last 20 minutes remind you why. But, I feel like, very slowly, we're turning the corner. There you go, I've said it.

[Kingthing]

How did the fans react at the end, did many players come over?

[eastie]

Having watched the game on motd it confirms what i thought yesterday when watching realtime, clark is a really poor defender and i would be happier with baker rather than clark in the side.

The first goal was shocking defending by clark, the 2 nd we had four players all failed to get the block in and the 3rd fellaini had a free header and vlaar was caught out - these defensive errors must be cut out if we are to have a hope of survival.

[Mister E]

MOTD was an interesting summary of the game, and Hansen called it well I thought.
His analysis showed that Clark still has much to learn even if in the second half he appeared to learned something about not getting too tight.

It does beg the question about what they do in training each day and how we appear to be repeating the errors of previous games.

And the corner-defending record of  the three seasons really is quite frightening.

[Ron Manager]

I feel sorry for Clark. We know hes not a centre half I suspect he knows hes not a centre half but it appears Lambert thinks he is.

Well Mr Lambert you are wrong.

I only noticed at the third time of watching  Vlaar failing to deal with Fellaini for their late goal Clark pushing Jelavic over from behind in the area and then failing to get anywhere near Fellaini.

Our only hope is to play Baker and Vlarr unless there is a centre half in Reo Cokers current situation who we can bring in at short notice.

I dont rate Agbonlahor in any shape or form but yesterday he was magnificent no other word for it.

I would play Stevens at left back.

Finally you can,to a point, get away with the full backs in any team as long as they can defend a bit, but the centre backs have to be big brave and totally effective.

Thats where our problem lies. Ours are very far from that standard.

[dl9]

Set off from London at 9am yay and got back just in time to see us again on MoTD @ 10:30.

Whilst once again we conceded late I have to say that that's more like the battling Aston Villa that I want to see every week. We took 1000 fans but we sang throughout. I was in the Everton Directors box and it made me smile after the 19 min applause which was silent to then hear the 'no respect' chant. The people @ where I were genuinely didn't have a clue and amongst the noise and clatter of the match you could be forgiven for not even hearing it even if you did.

Benteke is different gravy, I think he'd be snapped up even if we did stay up. When I see us play like that it makes me more annoyed than anything as I know we can do it, especially when we you see on Collymore's twitter feed that if matches thus far this season ended at half time - we'd currently be in 6 th place on 31 pts.

Don't know where I'm at this morning, half of me doesn't want to be optimistic again after yesterday's valuable away draw as I'll only be setting myself up for more disappointment again. What to do......

[Ads]

Everton are a much better side than Arsenal and Tottenham.

They can do it all; mix it physically, pass it well, use width, hoof it into the box. Ultimately, that was a very good point.

Draw your away games, time to start winning tbe home ones.

I have seen us play a game and a half of football with pace and width and we look dangerous and capable of scoring goals.

[Jimbo]

Yes, there are plenty of positives to be taken from the performance, and yes, we'd all have accepted a point prior to kick off. But more worrying than individual defensive shortcomings, and worse than the fact that it feels like two points dropped, is our mental frailty. We showed fight, skill and spirit to take the lead, but not the composure and strength of mind to protect it. That's what you need to win games, and we desperately need to win games.

[olaftab]

Set off from London at 9am yay and got back just in time to see us again on MoTD @ 10:30.

Top man (I presume) dl9. Thank you for supporting.

[russon]

If anyone wants to insult me, that's ok. I really am the most massive tosser.

I've never met you or seen you but given your kind invite I'd like to confirm that you stink and have no friends, big nose.

[oldham_villa]

Same as what everyone has said, I originally did not give them a cat in bells chance of winning, even including Everton in my accumulator. With the luck I have, it was no surprise therefore to see us winning.

From what I saw on the stream yesterday, and from second half v Newcastle, the players appear to be giving more effort, almost as if they have realised the severity of the situation. This would normally give me some hope for the remainder of the season however I am still puzzled how we didn't manage to get someone into defence during the last transfer window. Clark's confidence is shot to pieces and he desperately needs time out of the game to revitalise himself.

One other observation that makes me smile when I see it, as I don't understand why they do it; Our midfield do an awful lot of pointing when a runner get beyond them. They do this and then just stay as they are. Westwood does this a lot, and I saw Al Ahmedi do it yesterday. This was despite the defenders being already outnumbered.

Of the remaining fixtures;

West Ham (h) - massive and must win game, just for a lift if anything. They will bombard us with crosses
Arsenal (a) - 4 days after they play Bayern Champs League, they may rest players
Man City (h) - unlikely to get anything
Reading (a) - massive and must win
QPR (h) - massive and must win
Liverpool (h) - if they make Europa League quarter final, it is 4 days after this. Team selection may be weaker
Stoke (a) - difficult match, but it is possible
Fulham (h) - need to get something out of this
Man Utd (a) - If they make champions league semis, team selection may be weaker
Sunderland (h) - need to get something out of this
Norwich (a) - need to get something out of this
Chelsea (h) - difficult
Wigan (a) - As Les McQueen said in League of Gentlemen, "this is where you shit yourself"

Can we do it? I'm an optimist, but there are very worrying signs. I'm not so sure

[nigel]

I find this 'Clark not a centre half, or 'Clark a poor centre half, I'd rather have Baker' thing quite interesting.
At the start of the Nathan Baker thread it was all praise for the two of them (pre Liverpool)
Later in the thread they were both as good as useless (post Liverpool)

These 2 quote from Ozzjim (sorry for picking you, buddy) are typical of the how views change.

Pre Liverpool: Baker is a solid, no nonsense centre half. With that you need a footballer, organiser and leader next to them. Clark is that now. Captain today, and rightly so.

Post Liverpool: Clark is a liability without a strong leader alongside him. Ditto Baker.

[Archie]

For one hour I have seen the team that I expected from Lambert since the beginning.
Four (not five) defenders, a very attacking-minded approach to the game with four offensive players even away, attractive football, and three quality strikers.
In the last half an hour we collapsed as usual, we went under pression, we stopped playing limiting to belt the ball clear in Dunne style,  and in these conditions the opponents' goal is only a question of time. Vlaar's marking was once again ridiculous, Clark is not a central defender, and generally speaking the defence has not the minimum of the organization that one would expect from a Premier League team. We must work hard on the defence and on the midfield that doesn't protect the defence.

[itbrvilla]

Same as what everyone has said, I originally did not give them a cat in bells chance of winning, even including Everton in my accumulator. With the luck I have, it was no surprise therefore to see us winning.

From what I saw on the stream yesterday, and from second half v Newcastle, the players appear to be giving more effort, almost as if they have realised the severity of the situation. This would normally give me some hope for the remainder of the season however I am still puzzled how we didn't manage to get someone into defence during the last transfer window. Clark's confidence is shot to pieces and he desperately needs time out of the game to revitalise himself.

One other observation that makes me smile when I see it, as I don't understand why they do it; Our midfield do an awful lot of pointing when a runner get beyond them. They do this and then just stay as they are. Westwood does this a lot, and I saw Al Ahmedi do it yesterday. This was despite the defenders being already outnumbered.

Of the remaining fixtures;

West Ham (h) - massive and must win game, just for a lift if anything. They will bombard us with crosses
Arsenal (a) - 4 days after they play Bayern Champs League, they may rest players
Man City (h) - unlikely to get anything
Reading (a) - massive and must win
QPR (h) - massive and must win
Liverpool (h) - if they make Europa League quarter final, it is 4 days after this. Team selection may be weaker
Stoke (a) - difficult match, but it is possible
Fulham (h) - need to get something out of this
Man Utd (a) - If they make champions league semis, team selection may be weaker
Sunderland (h) - need to get something out of this
Norwich (a) - need to get something out of this
Chelsea (h) - difficult
Wigan (a) - As Les McQueen said in League of Gentlemen, "this is where you shit yourself"

Can we do it? I'm an optimist, but there are very worrying signs. I'm not so sure

that is is difficult run  in with our form. Shit your pants starts time  now.

[andrew08]

It is a difficult run in, but I see 7 more than winnable games.