Football 2013-2014

[pink_triangle]

But I do think he's bitten off more than he could chew, If I'm wrong I'll hold my hands up and say, but for me, I can't see him managing a team who's bigger than Everton, I may get sniped at by a member of the board for drawing comparisons here, but someone like West Ham or Newcastle may have suited him more,

[lost]

I suspect a lot of "bigger name" managers were put off the man utd job because they would rather be the man after fergies succesor rather than the man after fergie. It was always going to go to man like Moyes who was looking for a step up and couldnt afford to turn down the oppurtunity as he may not get another one. I agree he may end up not being the man for the job, but its possible that whoever succeeded fergie was destined to fial.

Edited September 30, 2013 by lost

[kaosmark2]

I suspect a lot of "bigger name" managers were put off the man utd job because they would rather be the man after fergies succesor rather than the man after fergie. It was always going to go to man like Moyes who was looking for a step up and couldnt afford to turn down the oppurtunity as he may not get another one. I agree he may end up not being the man for the job, but its possible that whoever succeeded fergie was destined to fial.

[LondonTom]

West ham apparently battered Hull in the second half, but when you have no strikers, or at least good ones, you're in trouble!

[kaosmark2]

Thats why we have the return of the over chuffed one coming soon .....Wha'ts worrying is the midfielders haven't been scoring and what's where we picked up a fair number of goals from last season.

But hey if your a manager who can't fit a player (Vaz Te) into the team, when his been consistently one of your best performers. I don't really know what he would do, even if he had a decent strike force.

[pink_triangle]

I'd agree with that. I'd also wonder if you asked people say 6 years ago who are the up and coming managers who could replace fergie who would get mentioned. O'Neil, Hughes , McLaren, Curbishley? As far as I can see either this country produces shit managers or consistently performing outside the big money clubs is very difficult

[strummer77]

the club champions league qualification finishing above the European champions, A UEFA cup run and finished above Liverpool two seasons running for the first time in 50 years. I honestly think Everton would be another Coventry City or Sheffield Wednesday without him.

[eFestivals]

I'm sorry, I think that says more about our implosion than anything else.

hey, don't worry, it's starting to look like it might be bettered.

Just as this season has got properly interesting so far, just imagine how interesting things might get if things are much the same at the end of the season. Just as it turned out that H&G's pockets were empty, there's not much different with the Glazers.

[5co77ie]

blimey Man U's defence is shocking! One thing Moyes has always done is keep a good backline, I see a fair few people getting cleared out fast.

[pink_triangle]

Its funny there has been a lot of talk about Liverpool at top 4 contenders but very little about Everton. When I look at the 2 Merseyside rivals I see teams who have had similar starts to this season, finished last season in a similar position and strengthened by a similar amount in the transfer window. Note I don't think either will finish top 4, but don't think there is the significant difference in quality that others seem to perceive.

[thetime]

Was very Impressed with Everton tonight, first half was the best I've seen a team play this season apart from city against utd.

Could of been a lot worse for Newcastle if Everton didn't take there eye of the ball in the 2nd half.

[kaosmark2]

Everton were great 1st half, but helped by atrocious defending from Colo + Mbiwa. The same balls they played in the 1st half were dealt with comfortably by Williamson 2nd (who I have slagged off to a rather large degree and admit fault on).

We were pretty good 2nd half, but Everton were very impressive defensively. Yes they conceded 2 goals but one was a ridiculous strike and another was a great ball and 2 ridiculous touches.

Everton were definitely the better team over 90 minutes though, while we probably edged the 2nd half, they dominated the first so much I've got no complaints about the result. Positives to take from it, but I stand by my assessment that we've got weaknesses that our talent won't overcome enough to make a realistic challenge for top 8, yet enough to keep comfortably clear of relegation.

Pt. Re diff between Everton and Liverpool: Suarez. I think otherwise they have comparable squads and talent, but Suarez is a special player and gives them the chance of breaking into something (although I doubt they will). Everton don't have anyone comparable.

[Bobs]

I'm keeping my feet firmly on the floor.

With Martinez we've got a good Young (-ish) manager who's out to play good football, and give the kids a go, whilst mixing with experience. we've got a good little team going on, But i won't get carried away, but today's 45 mins were spectacular, but we took our foot off the gas in the second half. just like we did against Fulham in the second half and we very nearly got caught out by another mediocre team, sorry KaosMark, but that just isn't a very good team, Remy and Cabaye are dangerous, and Ben Arfa when he wants to be, is too.

It's early days yet, but all the doubters out there who saw us as midtable at best this year, i'm sure they can take a huge bite out of their humble pies now because the resilience and style of football we've played this year is mightily refreshing. I doubt we'll finish ttop 4, but with everything being so topsy turvy at the moment, you can't rule it out if we're getting results, which is very similar to Liverpool, ultimately, i think we'll finish top 6, and we all know who i think won't!

Question is, Why didn't Moyes play Barkley?

[kaosmark2]

I'm keeping my feet firmly on the floor.

With Martinez we've got a good Young (-ish) manager who's out to play good football, and give the kids a go, whilst mixing with experience. we've got a good little team going on, But i won't get carried away, but today's 45 mins were spectacular, but we took our foot off the gas in the second half. just like we did against Fulham in the second half and we very nearly got caught out by another mediocre team, sorry KaosMark, but that just isn't a very good team, Remy and Cabaye are dangerous, and Ben Arfa when he wants to be, is too.

It's early days yet, but all the doubters out there who saw us as midtable at best this year, i'm sure they can take a huge bite out of their humble pies now because the resilience and style of football we've played this year is mightily refreshing. I doubt we'll finish ttop 4, but with everything being so topsy turvy at the moment, you can't rule it out if we're getting results, which is very similar to Liverpool, ultimately, i think we'll finish top 6, and we all know who i think won't!

Question is, Why didn't Moyes play Barkley?

[pink_triangle]

And, erm, Moyes did play Barkley, he scored the 2nd goal and was on the pitch until subbed off for Naismith in the dying minutes. He was anonymous 2nd half, but largely because we dominated midfield then and didn't get time on the ball.

[kaosmark2]

You mean Martinez? I think he meant Moyes when he was at everton.

[Bobs]

It's a strong mid-table team, nowt more, nowt less. Most of the players in the team who finished 5th are there, but that was a fluke based on other teams doing badly and a ridiculous amount of luck with injuries (ie. only Steven Taylor). Other teams have strengthened since, and we'll do well to finish top half, but 'mediocre' is probably harsh, when on form we're certainly a good team who can get points off most. Stats wise equal share of possession over the 90, and comparable shots. When you consider our awful defending 1st half, (far worse than yours for our two goals), I think we're a decent team, our problem is going to be consistency.

Calling Everton for top 6 I is pushing it. It's possible, but I don't think it's realistic. Which of the big 6 teams do you think you've got a realistic chance of finishing above over a season? Liverpool? Man U? Spurs? I'm sorry but I struggle to see that.

And, erm, Moyes did play Barkley, he scored the 2nd goal and was on the pitch until subbed off for Naismith in the dying minutes. He was anonymous 2nd half, but largely because we dominated midfield then and didn't get time on the ball.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Bobs

[eFestivals]

Its funny there has been a lot of talk about Liverpool at top 4 contenders but very little about Everton.

The word so far these season has been "interesting". I wonder when it'll change to "funny" or even "hilarious"?

[thetime]

The word so far these season has been "interesting". I wonder when it'll change to "funny" or even "hilarious"?

[eFestivals]

Your wishful thinking.

We'll see, eh?

The only reason it's been just "interesting" so far is that people can't quite believe it and are being cautious at getting carried away with it. If things carry on how they are then it'll be "funny" soon enough.

Edited October 1, 2013 by eFestivals

[kaosmark2]

Yeah, maybe a tad harsh, there are certainly worse teams in the league, but there are a lot of better teams too, the problem for me is/was when you finished 6th, i feel that a level of expectancy was raised, when in reality any other team who comes up is happy to survive, obviously success is something Newcastle and most fans in fairness strive for, and when a club the size of Newcastle (for what it's worth, i think Newcastle are a smaller team than Everton, and i liken them alot to West Ham), they expect that level of success, especially when you haven't won a trophy for some 50 years is it? For a club that size it's ridiculous.

I do feel Newcastle played better second half, but i feel that's because we dropped off massively, but credit for not giving up.

And yes, i meant Moyes in the previous years, he's made a couple of cameo appearances, but the lad oozes class, and needed game time, same as Deulofeu at Everton now, you can grow if you aren't playing, and he doesn't look out of place.

Good luck to Newcastle for the rest of the season mind! Although, very bad turn out this year

[lost]

And yes, i meant Moyes in the previous years, he's made a couple of cameo appearances, but the lad oozes class, and needed game time, same as Deulofeu at Everton now, you can grow if you aren't playing, and he doesn't look out of place.

:

[5co77ie]

Thought the whole team looked good - nursing my head after celebrating a bit at half time where it looked like we would bury them, followed by feverish fortification as it looked they would make a come back. Even Naismith looked decent!

[strummer77]

Its funny there has been a lot of talk about Liverpool at top 4 contenders but very little about Everton.

[pink_triangle]

. Just as it turned out that H&G's pockets were empty, there's not much different with the Glazers.