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Post by empresstouch on Nov 7, 2021 22:54:49 GMT
At long last: something good to talk about.
In fact, a lot of good stuff to get stuck into. So let’s not wait!
Frustratingly, events in my life prevented me watching the Wolves defeat, as well as the 1st-half of today’s fixture. It didn’t take much focus watching last Monday’s edited footage to see what was missing in our current on-pitch performance: midfield content.
Confidence and charismatic leadership may be in all-too-short supply throughout our first team squad, but whilst all teams have to deal with injuries at the best of times, losing key players of tangible return and output is something that’ll hit the smallest of squads very hard.
Our central midfield needs lots more of it all: high percentage passing, a willingness to keep opposing players honest (i.e. more running, without giving them any rest-bite), knowing where you need to be at all times; controlling the game with both body and mind for the full 90+ minutes. Doucoure’s absence has hurt us just as much as Calvert-Lewin’s conversion of goals and Yerry Mina’s assurance in defence – in many ways.
Yet this, of course, is an opportunity for someone else to stake their claim for a first XI place in the team – we’d hope.
And today: hope became expectation VERY quickly, with the most unlikely of personnel.
We can only hope now that Fabien Delph’s 60th minute substitution was nothing more than long-term fitness management, as we should Allan’s late departure from the pitch, for what I saw in that 2nd-half, for the signs were very positive.
But we must remember that it wasn’t just a very loud Goodison Park crowd that pushed our players to the limit today; we were facing opposition who’s only defeat (of sorts) for some time here came as the result of a 120-minute, 9-goal thriller. Tottenham may have struggled to dirty our ‘keeper’s gloves this afternoon, but wounded animal they remain in practice AND stature, so motivation to do your best should be expected from ANY professional player. They passed the ball quickly, accurately and with subtle disguise that comes with vast European experience our young academy players neither get to witness in action, nor in training – in all areas of the pitch. They deserve much credit for hiring a manager that may just help keep their #1 player asset – just like Moshiri should be for sticking to his guns on Rafael Benitez.
Still, competing as a team we did.
It resulted in a very good game of football, with something for everyone to take home.
There were the more unfortunate aspects of the game. Thankfully, our players as a team chose not to feel sorry over the penalty reversal and got on with the job in hand.
The other VAR decision led to a further incident that I’d like to shed light on;
Two crosses into Pickford’s goal area after Holgate’s walk and many white shirts looking for that winning goal left Andros Townsend in position to counter-attack. Thirty metres into stride and the most accomplished player on the day: Spurs’ defensive midfielder Oliver Skipp approach from Townsend’s right side. Expecting Skipp to take man-and-ball at all costs, Townsend readied himself to move out of the way of a dangerous foul when in fact, Skipp simply intended to usher our winger shoulder-to-shoulder. Townsend did nothing wrong. Neither did Skipp. The game has sufficiently changed that injuries are so much part of the game that taking ball first is no longer enough to be spared sanction and clearly upsets many. The fact is the game is played at a ferocious pace like never before and being in a certain position to make a tackle will always mean a recipe for disaster in many ways. The lack of consistency is understandable for feel frustrated with, especially as in Holgate’s case, the late sub had no intention of causing harm, plus Hojbjerg genuinely tried to move out of the way without any intended fuss. Dangerous foul play of the distant past is going to make victims of the playing future – Mason’s won’t be the last red card incident like this.
None-of-the-less, today’s match should be remembered for two classy teams getting off the canvas and delivering a very good game of football, with all having something to take forward with in performances – and results.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Nov 8, 2021 8:55:38 GMT
We huffed and puffed and I for one cannot fault the effort. Also if lady luck was on our side that penalty , which I thought WAS, was given and scored, we would have got our reward.
Delph , dare I say it is like a new signing and hopefully can stay injury free , this of course may mean a midfield of Delph Allan & Doucoure.
We need to build on this performance , but we all know what we are like after these frustrating International breaks
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Post by Avinalaff on Nov 8, 2021 11:25:58 GMT
empresstouch rugbytoffeeI didn't watch the game, despite intending to, as something came up. It shows how bad we are though, that we're now looking at a 0-0 draw at home, against a struggling Spurs side, as a positive step in the right direction. This football club has been nothing but a calamity of errors since David Moyes left, with nobody on the board showing that they have the slightest idea what they're doing. We're a club that talks the talk, with a lot of PR, but we're treading on very thin ice, and closer to relegation than we are winning the league, despite our spending. Building a new stadium has little to do with football, nor does Everton In The Community. Off the pitch, there are lots of positives, but on it, I see no positives at all. They've even made a mess of the Women's team, losing both the manager and sporting director, after a huge recruitment surge, showing we learned nothing from recent mistakes. Somebody at the top has to take responsibility.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Nov 8, 2021 13:33:15 GMT
empresstouch rugbytoffeeI didn't watch the game, despite intending to, as something came up. It shows how bad we are though, that we're now looking at a 0-0 draw at home, against a struggling Spurs side, as a positive step in the right direction. This football club has been nothing but a calamity of errors since David Moyes left, with nobody on the board showing that they have the slightest idea what they're doing. We're a club that talks the talk, with a lot of PR, but we're treading on very thin ice, and closer to relegation than we are winning the league, despite our spending. Building a new stadium has little to do with football, nor does Everton In The Community. Off the pitch, there are lots of positives, but on it, I see no positives at all. They've even made a mess of the Women's team, losing both the manager and sporting director, after a huge recruitment surge, showing we learned nothing from recent mistakes. Somebody at the top has to take responsibility. Agreed , I think we need somebody up top who is actually a football man and not just a business man
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Post by Avinalaff on Nov 8, 2021 13:50:50 GMT
empresstouch rugbytoffeeI didn't watch the game, despite intending to, as something came up. It shows how bad we are though, that we're now looking at a 0-0 draw at home, against a struggling Spurs side, as a positive step in the right direction. This football club has been nothing but a calamity of errors since David Moyes left, with nobody on the board showing that they have the slightest idea what they're doing. We're a club that talks the talk, with a lot of PR, but we're treading on very thin ice, and closer to relegation than we are winning the league, despite our spending. Building a new stadium has little to do with football, nor does Everton In The Community. Off the pitch, there are lots of positives, but on it, I see no positives at all. They've even made a mess of the Women's team, losing both the manager and sporting director, after a huge recruitment surge, showing we learned nothing from recent mistakes. Somebody at the top has to take responsibility. Agreed , I think we need somebody up top who is actually a football man and not just a business man Regarding the actual game, a few decisions were controversial after seeing the highlights. I see the penalty was retracted on the grounds that the keeper made contact with the ball, despite fouling Richarlison, yet Mason Holgate clears the ball, yet is sent off because the 2 players collide. Where is the consistency?
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