Everton vs Aston Villa Match Thread

[Proposition Joe]

There were two things wrong with that half: we left 2 or 3 goals out there; and the marking of Calvert-Lewin at the corner.

[Toronto Villa]

Ollie has been superb this half, hope Southgate is there.

He’s certainly outshone DCL but both are excellent players. Ollie certainly isn’t harming his place in the current squad.

[manic-road]

I thought we were excellent in that first half and should be a couple ahead with a bit of luck.

[luke:lamf]

Southgate is there, he popped up on screen for a couple of secs.

Barkley seemed to have a good end to the half. McGinn - I'm not at all convinced he's a top-half PL midfielder, but his performance tonight is excellent so far.

AEG a passenger - can't beat a man, doesn't whip in a cross, stealing a living as a winger.

More of the same in the second half and they should come away with at least a point if not all 3.

[SoccerHQ]

Can’t see Ancelotti putting up with this so am expecting a different second half perhaps with Kienan coming on to change the game

Yep he'll change it. They're way too open with Sigurdsson and Iwobi in midfield so think Iwobi will be taken off and they'll put a more defensive minded player in there so try to squeeze the play more.

Dean got to be switched on to that otherwise they'll start to dominate and we'll be mugged like West Ham away.

That's easily our best 45 minutes of 2021 so a big plus generally.

[Matt C]

Played well, entertaining watch. Smith needs to take Luiz off before he gets sent off though.

[BC Villain]

So much better than what we've seen since the start of the year.  Far too many missed chances though

[saint13]

That was an excellent attacking half for us but defensively we look suspect (as do they).

Best we've played since Burnley by a long way.

Just logged in...was about to post the same.

[PhilVill]

Best half for many a week. Sorry to Allan but Barkley still fairly pants and Traore still does my head in. Ollie needs offered a new contract and soon. Play like that second half with big Davis on and we win.

[Smithy]

Ollie has been superb this half, hope Southgate is there.

He’s certainly outshone DCL but both are excellent players. Ollie certainly isn’t harming his place in the current squad.

Southgate's there, and taking notes every time the camera has gone to him.  With the extended squad I think Ollie has pretty good chance of going. Calvert-Lewin nailed on.

What an enjoyable half though. Some decent attacking football and it wouldn't have flattered us to be 3-1 up.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Very good.Apart from Luiz.Ramsey please.

Plus Davis on for El Ghazi and we'll smash these.

[Nii Lamptey]

Everyone on song in that half, except perhaps El Ghazi…. But even he manages to rattle the crossbar.
Cracking game of football between two PROPER football clubs!

[Ads]

Barkely is running the show in midfield.

Acres of space for him and especially for Cash on the right. We should be 4 or 5 up.

[Smithy]

Best half for many a week. Sorry to Allan but Barkley still fairly pants and Traore still does my head in. Ollie needs offered a new contract and soon. Play like that second half with big Davis on and we win.

I think Barkley has been pretty good for him - which is to say he's been ok. The goal was his fault though, he got rolled too easily giving away a free header.  Unlucky to hit the post.  If he'd played like this for the last three months we might have been looking to sign him permanently...

[Steve67]

Plenty of space for both sides.  I wish we could sort our set pieces out, in both boxes.  Been a good game to be fair but we have to take our chances.