I am a little taken aback by what I have just witnessed. I actually cannot believe it. Yet again we play fast, decisive, attractive football, take a lead and lose 1-3.
I spent 80 of the 90 minutes getting ready for what I was going to say in my report….words like exceptional, tenacious and entertaining kept popping up in my head (although “not quite good enough” came up after another poor touch from Louis Boa Morte). I was ready to put pen to paper with a report singing the praises of Zola’s tactics, his faith in Collison and Sears and basking in the quiality football he has got West Ham once again playing.
I am stunned.
One Dimensional Football Wins Games But Not Fans
I may offend some Everton fans with my next paragraph or so, but frankly I’m too fed up to care. Everton were poor rubbish today and yet on paper have come away with a convincing victory. For 80 minutes, they were second best and looked childish compared to the football we were playing. They were one-dimensional and had no imagination. However, just like Bolton, they have left Upton Park with a 3-1 victory.
Perhaps it’s the way forward this boring, one-dimensional football. In fact, it seems pretty simple. If I’ve understood it correctly having learnt from the best, Bolton and now Everton, all you have to do to win games is possess a quality striker and then stick men behind the ball. Play badly, win games….easy.
Actually all things considerd, perhaps we should bring back Curbishly. Stick Carlton Cole and Louis Boa Morte up front and all our problems will be solved.
That Ladies and Gentlemen, was a joke.
With Pace, Intention and Direction
Because the reality is our football today was exceptional. We dominated the game and created chance after chance. We attacked with pace, with direction and with a real intention. These are things that, after our spineless performance against City early in the season, I could never see happening again. Parker, for 80 minutes, was phenomenal. Bowyer played out of his skin. Collison and Sears were outstanding. Bellamy run himself into the ground.
As far as I am concerned, the same things could be said for when we played against Arsenal a few weeks back.
Unfortunately, just like the Arsenal game, we just cannot seem to score. What a difference a 15 goal a season striker would make to our team. I realise that seems like a glaringly obvious thing to say but the truth is, is that in almost every game under Zola we have made the chances for a striker to put into the back of the net. He just hasn’t been there.
Cole is not good enough and I don’t believe we will ever get 15 full games out of Bellamy or Ashton, let alone 20 goals.
The goal we did score today, showed to me what we are capable of. Once we won the ball after being on the back foot, we counter attacked with a real enthusiasm and creativity. We knew what we wanted to achieve and we did it. And what a reward for Collison’s hard work to get the goal that he did.
The trouble is, Parker layed the ball off to him and Collison scored. Neither of whom are strikers.
I am obviously frustrated that we are not getting the results that our performances have deserved. Despite what I would consider a vast improvement from what we had to endure under Curbishley, there was however a few clear problems that I would quickly like to mention:
Concerns
- Green’s ability of command his area (or lack of) is a problem for me. He didn’t have much to do today, but what he did do hardly filled me (or the defence) with confidence. We need him to be more than just the best shot stopper in the country and start being a genuine presence for crosses and corners etc.
- Our defence. It was obviously a shame to lose Upson early on, had we not done so, perhaps the scoreline would have been different. We are a very small team and it was noticeable today that Collins was the only player who could seemingly win a header. We need to have a bigger arial presence as not only will that help us defensively, but also going forward.
- Faubert as a right back. Not much more to say than it is not really working. Admittedly today, the decision was forced on Zola with the loss of Upson, but unfortunately the role of flying wingback just doesn’t suit him. As a defender he is poor and his final ball leaves a lot to be desired. I would however keep him in the side as his pace vital.
- Louis Boa More generally. I would never and have never booed him off the pitch, but he is simply not good enough. Yes, I know he works hard, but if I wanted someone who would work hard but offer nothing else whatsoever as a left sided forward, I would bring Julian Dicks back out of retirement. We need a lot more from a player in his position and he needs to go (still) in January.
- The way we crumble as soon as we concede is a huge concern for me. It happened against Bolton, against Arsenal and now against Everton. This has to stop and is my biggest worry.
- As previously mentioned, our lack of actual end product in the final third.
It is clear from our results (which unfortunately are what count) that something has to change. For me however it is not our strategy or our imaginative, forward thinking. Neither is it the pace in which we attack or our slick passing. Those things for me are hugey encouraging to see as a season ticket holder. We have to add height and depth in defensive and be more commanding from the back. I get worried every time the opposing team goes forward these days. We need to not let our heads drop as soon as a goal goes in and also hold our ground if that does happen. When you play that well for 80 mins and concede a goal, it destroys you as a player but we cannot just fall to pieces like we have done today.
How important does this make our next game against Pompey?!…it’s a great time to play them and a victory next week could prove a crucial turning point in this poor run of games.
Sam
Another loss next week and no matter what way we look at it, we could be in trouble. We need to turn this round asap.
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u can play your football in the 1st div lollollollollol go blow your bubbles
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ps all your bubbles burst tody
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Getting very worried about Zola and Clarke.The football is better and the movement is quick and exciting but can any one tell me what Faubert is doing on the pitch and to play him at right back is a decision that frightens me.When Upson went off why didnt mullins come on in that position and why no centre half on the bench even jordon spence to come on at right back.Collinson looks good and should of started,Reid may as well retire from football if he cant get on in front of boa morte and predictable ethrington.The Faubert decision is the worry,without a strong defence we are going one way and thats down.Thought Clarke would see what most of us can and to play Faubert at right back is managment suicide,lets get real we are in big big trouble.Time to bring in the young players if we have so many injuries again,Tomkins,Collinson,Reid and Sears and if you have no right back play anyone but Faubert!!!! Everyone makes mistakes but dont keep making the same one!
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Everton sprang to life in the 80th minute, ironically it was immediately after they took off Jack Rodwell and made that formation adjustment. It was brilliant tactics by David Moyes really and it could have been a hammering for the hammers had Everton started the game that way.
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Blue scouser come back when you have something more constructive to say, in the mean time go sandpaper your windows.
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You were robbed today gentlemen, dont be too harsh on yourselves.
Im an Evertonian and Im scratching my head as to how we did that.
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well lets face it
you got no money so it will be good bye parker come january make your self a few bob goto bet fair your a cert to go down have a bet
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ps i think shefeild united will be very happy
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As an Everton fan I’m not offended at all. We know we are playing some truly abysmmal stuff this year but 3 wins in 3 speaks for itself and with victories comes confidence. Everyone likes to see attractive football and yes, you played some promising stuff toda, however even the best teams still need to get the basics right.
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Ho dear we have a pc stalker on here in the form of blue scouser.silly boy
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LETS
FACE IT THERES CHELSEA ARSENAL THEN SPURES A BIG GAP THEN A GROUP CHARLTON C/PALACE QPR MILLWALL O YES WEST HAM LONDONS ALSO RANS
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OFF OUT NOW BUT MUST COMMENT ON YOU LEFT THAT GROUND FASTER THAN JET TAKEN OF FROM GATWICK SUPPORTERS MY A..E
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Putting aside blue scouser who is obviously lonely and craving more drugs, the problem lies at the back 4, and they fell asleep towards the end. This situation has to be addressed. Agree with the part of the article about the fact the style has improved, but this alone is not enough.
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more drugs in east end all thoses bankers or is it wankers take themwho knocked down those slums u lot come from but yes about the foot ball new golie deffo need new defence new midfeilder cos u cant afford parker three forwards cos u got none manger who knows how to defend owners who got money most of all loyal fans
Admin: Blue scouser, not entirely sure what you are but a proper football fan it is not. Clear off.
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This coming from scouselands second best team.
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Im with you on that one administrator, lets hope blue scouser can fade away and leave the football debates to real fans. Anyone agree with me on the 4-3-3, when I say that although it’s nice style we are playing, but maybe we should stick more with 4-4-2 until Zola can bring in players in January. Providing he will have money to spend.
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Im an Everton fan – and i completely agree. our football is shockingly bad – arguably the worst in England. And its because of Moyes and his hoofball tactics. We have played shite the past 3 matches and have gotten the results through pure luck. I was expecting West Ham to destroy us today…luckily they didnt.
Now dont say our tactics are the way forward – West Ham blew their chances – And luckily howard was on form too. Had your players had some composure you wouldve went in about 3-0 up at half time.
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Cheers dave, he is being a nob.
I have just deleted a comment of his referencing the death of Bobby Moore.
West Ham fans you have my wholehearted permission to lay into blue scouser!
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Sam, people like blue scouser have no place in the football world, and for him to even make any terrible comments about Bobby Moore just shows what a sick minded pillock blue scouser is.
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west ham cheated to stay up 2 years ago. hopefully you get what you deserve this year. enjoy your trip to colchester.
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Dave mate you are right….there is so much I can take, but to say what he said about Moore was not only disrespectful but was also disgusting. If I had someone to report him to, I would, but unfortunately it’s my blog so the buck stops with me!
I don’t think we will get relegated this year if we can find a goalscorer from somewhere. If we can’t soon, I will start to get a little concerned!
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I’m hoping Tristan will find some of that form he had some time ago. If he does, and with his height, this would suit players like Bellamy and Sears. We need some physical presence up front. Does anyone have news on the Upson injury. Read on a website someone saying they heard it was just a dead leg. Hope it’s nothing more, the guy is vital to the back four.
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blue scouser wrote:
who’s tody?
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well ive not heard anything dave, hopefully it is just the dead leg you suggest…we desperately need him.
I am also so unimpressed with the MOTD coverage…I might even blog about it because it was stupid. They didn’t even mention that we were all over Everton. Not even a “great goal” comment. Does MY HEAD IN!
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Change the record truth seeker the song is getting boring. We’ll still be in premiership while your lot languish where you belong. Early days yet, so come back when you have some clout to back up what you say, because you are embarassing yourself. Better still…don’t come back at all. You obviously can’t read properly as the article was about todays game, not a bunch of whinging idiots like you that can’t take the fact that you went down because you were rubbish.
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Blue scouser go somewhere and play with yourself, we all know you’re on here cos you have no mates and are some sad fing little piece of shit. When you want to have a serious discussion on how we blew it rather than your blue crap winning it then try again.
Now the important stuff. We are in big trouble and as things stand will go down. We all love to see great football but that is soon forgotten, the result is not because it is all about the points and we are not eeking out wins and it now looks like we have lost Upson as well, what is left for a central defence? Surprise, surprise that selling Ferdinand and MCartney will come back to haunt us. We cannot score more than one and that is not coming from our front line. I hear talk of January but unless BG sells before then it has been made clear there are no funds unless we raise them from player sales and I don’t see anyone beating down the door for the likes of Bowyer, Spector, Gabbidon, Boa Morte, so where are these funds going to come from? Our club is in a real mess and this can be traced back to the summer and the lack of investment in the playing staff. We didn’t strenghten but weakened ourselves and you cannot do that in this league. I want BG to sell now and give someone the chance to save us from the drop because unless that happens I only see one way and that is down. Yes, we must keep the faith but we are in a crisis with almost both hands tied behind our backs? COYI
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I agree with you Jman, we do need a new owner if we are to stand any chance of surviving. But also in the mean time we need to grind out some results pretty quickly. I don’t think Zolas new formation is right for the current squad we have, and although I love entertaining football, I would rather we stick with nicking some results, even if it means some scrappy football and not as entertaining. It’s too soon for Zola to stamp this style on the team. Maybe later when we have some clearance from the bottom. And also the new owner to help Zola bring in some quality in January.
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I agree Sam and it seems motd seem to not be very keen on West Ham. I’ve noticed how they treat us on there on more than one occasion.
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there wasnt even a mention of the way we played. i think at one point, shearer even said that it was a good everton performance. tis a joke!
i was so cross, did not do us justice in the slightest
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I agree,have to admit we dominated and played well,just that last set of disasters that sealed it, which shellshocked me. It’s typical of motd to do this. God knows why they do this to us.
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This is an honest opinion coming from an Everton fan, and like it or not, this is how it is.
Football as im sure you know is a results business. Everton are currently playing football to the standard of an under 12 side, hoofing it long. BUT, we have had 3 wins on the bounce and before that, a draw against Manchester Utd, against whom we played terrifically well.
In London, there is a policy of teams having to entertain and get results e.g. Tottenham, West Ham, Arsenal, Chelsea. If they don’t entertain, then they have failed as a football team. Rubbish! Do you think Liverpool care that they play shit football? of course they don’t. They lump the ball up to Torres and count on Gerrard to rescue them every other game.
You need to get results to build a base, which is what Everton is currently doing. We have a few very talented players in Arteta, Yakubu, Pienaar, Cahill and Saha, and they don’t deserve the football we are playing.
Unfortunately though, i speak for 99% of fans when i say that i would rather get a win and play like shit than lose and play wonderfully.
Good luck for the rest of the season. Ive always admired Zola and i wish him the best of luck as a coach.
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@ Gary:
thanks for your honest response….you are right that we need to build on a solid base of results. work towards the attractive football so to speak…
…heres to hoping!
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pretty much all about goal scorers yesterday ! bellamy and sears are more like attacking midfielders than strikers ! they help ya play better footy but not gonna get ya goals like proper strikers do ! yeah everton played ugly and rubbish ! but we’ve not played well all season ! got a lil lucky with the goal ! you lot went to pieces and we sensed a win ! last 15 mins ! looked like only one winner !
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i watched the game here everythingwesthamfc. we totaly ran the game for 75mins and like we did against borro we through it away if lose this week i think pepole will think we are in real troble
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Great piece. I feel exactly the same way. The season is long, we’ve got plenty of time to get this right. We are making progress: the football is beautiful. I’m keeping the faith with Zola and Clarke.
Paul
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