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Post by rosscrombie on Jan 22, 2017 20:43:20 GMT
This is really beginning to feel like 'something'. Not sure what, but certainly 'something'. A new dawn? Another false one? Or a sense of real momentum after a number of important results in the Premier League, and perhaps this Koeman Project is well on its way. Make no mistake, the project will have its bumpy road to navigate, no bumpier than Stoke away (love Joel's interview that he "doesn't know what the weather will be like" when asked about away to a team that has been a thorn in many a side), but there is a real sense that we're up and running.Crystal Palace away is always tough, and it would not have been a surprise (but yes, a massive disappointment), if the elation after thrashing City was followed by a frustrating afternoon in South London. It wouldn't be the first time - ever, let alone this season. But instead of a Hull or a Watford Away performance, we got another example of Everton with fight and attacking intent. OK, some might say "IF" Benteke's header had been 6 inches lower, and "IF" Dann's header hadn't been matched by a superb Joel save, then things might have been different, but of course they weren't, and you're never going to get a game where the opposition doesn't have a few chances, and it's up to every player to play their part, even the woodwork. It's as daft as saying we wouldn't have won the League without Big Nev. I mean, seriously. What's changed? The starting point for me has to be the formation. Three at the back against Chelsea simply didn't work, and that can't be just down to having Jagielka and Oviedo in the side and not Holgate and Baines; it was probably the worst game to try something out that hadn't been honed to perfection against without question the best side in the Country, both then and now. But Koeman is happy to acknowledge his own mistakes, and then rather than risk repeating them, he works on them, uses them as a learning experience, and the last two results at least seem to suggest a winning formula. I'm not convinced the back-ish five approach is the answer alone, one has to credit Barry and Davies too, and the most significant point for me is the mentality and work rate of the whole squad. No one doubts the work rate of Gana, but his absence has hardly been noticed, and not just because of the blond-haired maestro who's replaced his energy and added skills of his own. Idrissa Gana Gueye has without doubt been player of the season so far, but he does have a habit of getting caught in possession, and can't pass further than 5 yards. Davies can break up play, not quite at Gana's level, but he also wins the ball and immediately moves forward at pace, taking him away from recovering opposition, and then also has a searching pass or two in his locker. To build on last week's peach for Mirallas, I'd add yesterday's gem of a slightly longer ball behind the defence for Barkley, who either failed to find the target, or failed to pull it back enough for Lukaku, whichever was reality. Part of our recent success, then, is being able to turn defence in to swift attacks, not letting the opposition regroup quickly to repel our attacks. And those attacks for most of this season have been fairly insipid attacks for the most part, and lightly knocking on the door of packed defences ain't going to win you no football games. The 3 at the back malarkey seems also to have given us another dimension with Seamus Coleman re-acquainting himself with the opposition penalty area on a ar more regular basis, and if he can just nail his final ball, that could be another source of chances as the season progresses. And of course he's confident that someone will cover his defensive duties. It can be no coincidence that our upturn in fortunes has coincided with, or more likely been caused by, an upturn in Barkley's form. Yesterday was one of his best games for years. Excellent balance, really excellent balance in fact, an eye for the pass at the right time, never afraid of letting off a shot, and I just think a more considered approach of when to shoot and when to play in Rom will pay enormous dividends. Credit also to Mirallas, who seems to have a broader role across the front line; maybe not a No.10 whatever that is, but up with Lukaku offering options to lay the ball back, to be there for the flick on, and generally give defences lots more to think about than his huge Belgian team mate. It just feels 'right' this set up, and the players seem to be responding to it. I'm not getting carried away, don't worry (I've supported Everton for 49 years so I have the scars of hope), but I do detect a difference, and it's a momentum I suspect the players feel as well, and they're responding to it. If Joel is right and the weather in Stoke plays a part, then maybe our project will derail temporarily, but on form, it shouldn't. And even if it does, it has to be recognised that there is something different about the way this Everton side is playing, and it's mainly good! Ross Crombie
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Post by rugbytoffee on Jan 22, 2017 22:22:42 GMT
Excellent read , I think the players are now used to the system and what is expected from them.
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Post by Koeman's Clogs on Jan 23, 2017 11:21:48 GMT
I'd add that Mason Holgate has been the player that has had the biggest impact, yet gets little recognition. You yourself failed to mention him today, so that underlines my point, yet he has provided us with solid defending and a good bit of attacking play also. Not to detract from Davies, or anybody else, but he deserves to be reckoned when summing up why we have turned a corner. Also we find it harder to play against teams that park the bus.
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Post by forevereverton on Jan 23, 2017 13:04:05 GMT
Joel had another good game. Our defenders did well throughout but again they let Benteke in a few times. Our goal was much needed but did we really look like scoring? I say this as Everton have a bad habit of every time we have a few good games we think all our troubles are behind us, but they're not, and we have to keep improving. A scrappy win against them is no measure to celebrate when we scored 4 against City, so it will give the team a bit of confidence, but the manager should be wise enough to know that there is still a lot of work to do.
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Post by rosscrombie on Jan 23, 2017 13:29:43 GMT
I'd add that Mason Holgate has been the player that has had the biggest impact, yet gets little recognition. You yourself failed to mention him today, so that underlines my point, yet he has provided us with solid defending and a good bit of attacking play also. Not to detract from Davies, or anybody else, but he deserves to be reckoned when summing up why we have turned a corner. Also we find it harder to play against teams that park the bus. I agree, Holgate played well, but I didn't mention him this week, but have done previously. Not everyone can get a mention unless I do a player by player analysis! Holgate did play well, and for a 20 year old, it's remarkable. As I said previously, I reckon we may well have got the best of the two Barnsley imports, given the other one has gone to City! He still has a lot to learn, obviously given his age, but playing alongside Williams will help that. His positions on crosses is the area he needs to focus on most - he's got underneath the ball a few times which sides will exploit, especially at Stoke with the likes of Crouch and/or Walters. He's a work-in-progress, much like the team at the moment, but what a fantastic player to have in the squad. We should also not forget Pennington, who I think looks the part and is now just coming back from long term injury. We are still a bit light at the back, not sure Jags can cut it there any more I'm sad to say, and young guns like Mason, Matty P and the like are good back ups, but a player like Keane from Burnley would be ideal. Papers are linking us with Ivanovic, who would be a disaster imo.
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