Everton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Steve R]

As bad as the game was, it makes a refreshing change to see a post-defeat match thread made up of reasoned opinions and debate rather than of endless tirade of X is a c*nt.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

First defeat at Goodison since 2006 but no wins there since 2008.

What's so annoying about today is we probably had the best chance of beating them, they had so many key players out but we decide to play to their strengths and our weaknesses.

[curiousorange]

First defeat at Goodison since 2006 but no wins there since 2008.

What's so annoying about today is we probably had the best chance of beating them, they had so many key players out but we decide to play to their strengths and our weaknesses.

So much like the Manchester United game it hurts.

[saunders_heroes]

Any news on Vlaar

Hamstring strain. They don't know if he'll be fit to face Wet Ham.
Well done, Villa. Another quality transfer window.

[Tuscans]

I really am starting to detest Lamberts port match interview. Why don't we ever hear, "We were very poor when we had the ball today and this needs to change", or, "It's not good enough giving silly free kicks away in dangerous areas of the pitch", and, " We need to press higher up the pitch and when we win the ball keep composed, heads up and take it to them".

But no, every game he pipes up with, and I quote, "I thought we looked really comfortable". "I am not so sure we deserved to lose the game". "You just keep trying to build it and keep going". "If we keep playing the way we are, we will certainly win more games than not."

I'm sorry but I can't agree with anything he says. No of course I don't want him to come out and slate them, nor do I want him sacked. But  we as fans see how bad we are with the ball, just be honest and say we were poor at keeping the ball, we need to improve because we certainly won't win more than not playing like that Paul.

[SashasGrandad]

Don't panic Mr Mainwaring.

A minimum of 4 pts from next 2 games will give us 31 points with 12 games left.

Then Fulham, Stoke, Norwich, Hull at home. Away at Palace, Swansea, Man Yew

Plenty of chances to get enough wins to keep us safe. Have Faith.

[curiousorange]

Don't panic Mr Mainwaring.

A minimum of 4 pts from next 2 games will give us 31 points with 12 games left.

Then Fulham, Stoke, Norwich, Hull at home. Away at Palace, Swansea, Man Yew

Plenty of chances to get enough wins to keep us safe. Have Faith.

How many of these will be straightforward, no-fuss victories? I know that's not your point, but I'd really like to hope it's most of them.

[SoccerHQ]

This game shows why we're miles off the top 6 nowadays. In mentality e.g lack of bravery to not even attempt to score a 2nd goal and in terms of quality e.g MIDFIELD. Everton have a proper midfield with strength in depth, that's why they're top 6 and 19 points clear of us after 24 games.

Still we've had a good run recently and in fairness Goodison isn't an away ground you can say you drop points on anymore as they've lost 1 there in 14 months (and that was them down to 10 men for 75 minutes against Sunderland).

I'm expecting 4 points from West Ham and Cardiff. This season has hit the buffers really as it's going to take a very good run just to catch Newcastle and Southampton so really just take 10th this season and hope Lambert has a knock to the head and start signing some forward thinking midfielders in the summer.

[Goldie.7]

How many games have we actually played well in this season? I think you can count them on one hand. Arsenal and Chelsea away. Liverpool away for 45 mins (a good result and a bit of resolute defending but backs to the wall in the second half). Parts of the WBA game. That's about it?

How can you play well in a game you lost. Everyone bangs on about we played well at Chelsea no we didn't. West Ham played well there we didin't

[Legion]

We played very well at Stamford Bridge.

[Surrey Villain]

Don't panic Mr Mainwaring.

A minimum of 4 pts from next 2 games will give us 31 points with 12 games left.

Then Fulham, Stoke, Norwich, Hull at home. Away at Palace, Swansea, Man Yew




Plenty of chances to get enough wins to keep us safe. Have Faith.

But some of those teams are improving - enough to overtake us if we play as tactically inept as today. I was lambasted, laughed at and abused for suggesting Lambert is tactically useless because he has FA badges and won the European Cup etc. It means nothing when you have to manage on a shoestring and think on your feet. He get tactically out-thought by opposition managers too regularly for my liking and today was yet another example. We (he) got lucky against Albion.

[Dribbler]

Our sequence of results for the last 6 games prior to today was LDW LDW so with today's loss i expect a draw in the next match and a win in the one after that.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I really am starting to detest Lamberts port match interview. Why don't we ever hear, "We were very poor when we had the ball today and this needs to change", or, "It's not good enough giving silly free kicks away in dangerous areas of the pitch", and, " We need to press higher up the pitch and when we win the ball keep composed, heads up and take it to them".

But no, every game he pipes up with, and I quote, "I thought we looked really comfortable". "I am not so sure we deserved to lose the game". "You just keep trying to build it and keep going". "If we keep playing the way we are, we will certainly win more games than not."

I'm sorry but I can't agree with anything he says. No of course I don't want him to come out and slate them, nor do I want him sacked. But  we as fans see how bad we are with the ball, just be honest and say we were poor at keeping the ball, we need to improve because we certainly won't win more than not playing like that Paul.

How many mangers come out and criticise their team? Very, very few. Why would a manager do that? If someone told you you're shit, would you take kindly to it? Probably not.

[not3bad]

How many games have we actually played well in this season? I think you can count them on one hand. Arsenal and Chelsea away. Liverpool away for 45 mins (a good result and a bit of resolute defending but backs to the wall in the second half). Parts of the WBA game. That's about it?

How can you play well in a game you lost.

If you can't play well in a game you lose, that also means you can't play badly in a game you win, right?

[Toronto Villa]

As soon as you go public with criticism it's over. Players will never take kindly to being called out in public. Tell me where it has ended well for any manager that has done that?