Everton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[UK Redsox]

When Alex McLeish set up his team to do exactly this everyone was up in arms were they not? Not here but at Birmingham!  They finished ninth that season.

Their fans hated watching Foster,Johnson,Dann etc hoofing it in the direction of Zigic for 90mins and said so.

We are doing exactly that. Paul Lambert doesn't have the intelligence to understand its awful to watch.

You may not like him but can you imagine Harry Redknapp playing this way?.

I didn't think so.

But we don't do it every game, that's the point. We were superb against Liverpool in the first half. They couldn't have complained if they'd gone in 3-0 down at half time. That's why yesterday was so bloody frustrating.

I agree, but looking at performances over the last 3 months or so I'd say the Liverpool game is a bit of a blip.

Just as it was last season

[supertom]

Its certainly time to put this 3-5-2 (or 10-0-0) formation to the knackers yard. It's awful, it's fugly to watch and more often than not we'll lose using it. Just because we pulled off a result against Man City (one of the most fortuitous results this season) doesn't make it a winner. The sooner Lambert gets that into his noggin the better. Unfortunately he's not proven himself to be a fast learner.
We got something out of Liverpool by being adventurous, pressing high up and attacking.

I don't think we're in any danger of relegation. I can't see us not getting another 13 points, which would be more than enough. I would fancy us to beat all those teams around us away from home. Just as long as Gabby is fit.

[JUAN PABLO]

Why did he change to three centre backs after the last two games being, arguably, out best. Bizarre. Would like him to explain his changes.

exactly .  he makes a lot of awful decisions , never learns .   I thought we were good against poo and thou baggies was so entertaining , it could have gone either way , two poor teams to be fair , they were just a little shiter.

[UK Redsox]

I've not read the thread and not seen any highlights. Therefore, the following is based purely on what I saw from my crappy position in the second row by the corner flag.

Firstly, regarding the area around Goodison Park. Do they import dog-shit or are the canines of Everton particularly proficient crappers ?

If Lukaku or any decent striker had been playing for Everton yesterday, Villa could not have complained about losing by five.

Starting Holt means that you don't have him available at the time he's most needed, ie with five minutes to go and you need to hang on for a point (see Liverpool away).

Of course Villa didn't need to sign another centre half. Why would anyone think that ? (insert sarcasm emoticon here)

How weak must the squad be when bringing on KEA is not just an improvement its an absolute necessity.

Benteke may be able to bully mediocre centre halves (see WBA) but put him up against a decent pairing and he's not a major threat (albeit, not having Gabby around didn't help him).

[UK Redsox]

Why did he change to three centre backs after the last two games being, arguably, out best. Bizarre. Would like him to explain his changes.

exactly .  he makes a lot of awful decisions , never learns .   I thought we were good against poo and thou baggies was so entertaining , it could have gone either way , two poor teams to be fair , they were just a little shiter.

I think that the three centre backs formation is because Lamberts trying to cover for Spongey Ron being a constant injury risk and Baker/Clark can't be trusted as a pair.

[Steve kirk]

For this and the last 3 seasons we have hardly ever put a consistent run together which is why it was no surprise that we were beaten yesterday, there is another reason though which is that Everton even with injuries are a very tough side to play at Goodison and were looking to respond to a bad defeat, it was always going to be very difficult, I agree with Chris Smith, why the fuss and surprise at this narrow defeat?

[Clampy]

What was also annoying about yesterday was that it was only a matter of time before they scored. Also, I thought the referee was poor. If you watch the highlights again from MOTD, he gives Everton a free kick late in the second half and he let's them take it from nowhere near where the offence occurred. He gave them a lot of the decisions as well. I'd never heard off him either.

[Ron Manager]

On a fashion note (and I'm sure Gok Wan would agree) I thought we looked very good in that kit with the claret shorts. Except Grant Holt who of course would look like a refuge collector no matter what kit he was wearing!

[supertom]

I've not read the thread and not seen any highlights. Therefore, the following is based purely on what I saw from my crappy position in the second row by the corner flag.

Firstly, regarding the area around Goodison Park. Do they import Blues or are the canines of Everton particularly proficient crappers ?

If Lukaku or any decent striker had been playing for Everton yesterday, Villa could not have complained about losing by five.

Starting Holt means that you don't have him available at the time he's most needed, ie with five minutes to go and you need to hang on for a point (see Liverpool away).

Of course Villa didn't need to sign another centre half. Why would anyone think that ? (insert sarcasm emoticon here)

How weak must the squad be when bringing on KEA is not just an improvement its an absolute necessity.

Benteke may be able to bully mediocre centre halves (see WBA) but put him up against a decent pairing and he's not a major threat (albeit, not having Gabby around didn't help him).

Wholly agreed on Lukaku. With a good focal point, Everton would have destroyed us with the pathetic way we set out.

As for Benteke. I've seen him bully the best. First half I thought he'd been getting slightly the better of Jagielka. Jagielka was actually looking a bit wound up by the end of the half. Second half however, not particularly his own fault, Benteke just never got the ball. Our ball retention went from piss poor, to absolutely fucking woeful between halfs.

It's a shame in many regards how we spent years as a side toe to toe with Everton. Normally very well matched games, but in recent times they look a whole league above us. It's embarrassing. It's fucking Everton!

[Clampy]

I agree with Chris Smith, why the fuss and surprise at this narrow defeat?

I think people are more annoyed about the way we set up and played rather the defeat.

[Surrey Villain]

What was also annoying about yesterday was that it was only a matter of time before they scored. Also, I thought the referee was poor. If you watch the highlights again from MOTD, he gives Everton a free kick late in the second half and he let's them take it from nowhere near where the offence occurred. He gave them a lot of the decisions as well. I'd never heard off him either.

It was his sixth game. I thought he was OK.

[Mister E]

... I agree with Chris Smith, why the fuss and surprise at this narrow defeat?

because of the insipid performance; because of the fact that we lacked the MF we thought should have been bought last month; because playing Holt and Benteke didn't seem to make sense; because Baker in a back three doesn't make sense; because ...

[David_Nab]

I agree with Chris Smith, why the fuss and surprise at this narrow defeat?

I think people are more annoyed about the way we set up and played rather the defeat.

That's certainly my issue.2nd half we were completely overan and the neither of the 2 strikers we played could hold the ball and therefore Weimann was also ineffective so it was basically then just attack vs defence.

[Surrey Villain]

I agree with Chris Smith, why the fuss and surprise at this narrow defeat?

I think people are more annoyed about the way we set up and played rather the defeat.

I agree but according to the BBC: "Prior to this result, Villa had only lost three times away all season and their 3-5-2 formation, along with some brave defending, made it look like they would pinch victory".

[supertom]

What was also annoying about yesterday was that it was only a matter of time before they scored. Also, I thought the referee was poor. If you watch the highlights again from MOTD, he gives Everton a free kick late in the second half and he let's them take it from nowhere near where the offence occurred. He gave them a lot of the decisions as well. I'd never heard off him either.

It was his sixth game. I thought he was OK.

I thought he did quite well. Some other refs might have whistled for Delph's challenge, leading up to our goal. He did get the ball, it was a good tackle, but he came in from behind so we're lucky that the ref had clear line of sight. Some refs will just always give challenges like that as a foul, no matter if the ball is got first.