Everton pre match thread

[manwithnoname]

There's no point interacting with you Brendan. You are incapable of reading.

How odd. OK, so let's park the "disingenuous" bit. What's your fucking point?

Do you think this is all some kind of clever obfuscation on the part of Everton - aided and abetted by their cunning media pals - to make it seem as if the injury isn't serious and he actually will play in the derby?

 

[Mystic]

Don't even go there. He's clearly not our best "striker", if strikers are judged on normal stuff like goals.

Your statement would be correct if Sturridge was even a fifth of the player he was three years ago, unfortunately he's not, he's completely lost it.

 

[doctor_mac]

How odd. OK, so let's park the "disingenuous" bit. What's your fucking point?

Do you think this is all some kind of clever obfuscation on the part of Everton - aided and abetted by their cunning media pals - to make it seem as if the injury isn't serious and he actually will play in the derby?

No, I merely think it is shit reporting, something you are no doubt inured to; disingenuous in that it is trying to create something bigger out of it. Lets take the major problem in this report. He didn't 'limp out' – in pre-match warm up he withdrew from the team because he felt tightness in his hammy. So in other words he took a decision that might actually give him a chance of playing.

 

[Mystic]

Eh? I thought Firmino was going to score 15-20 goals? I kept hearing people saying that. You included.

I said he'd get fifteen give or take a goal or two. There's still time for him to have a mini purple patch, believe!

 

[manwithnoname]

No, I merely think it is shit reporting, something you are no doubt inured to; disingenuous in that it is trying to create something bigger out of it. Lets take the major problem in this report. He didn't 'limp out' – in pre-match warm up he withdrew from the team because he felt tightness in his hammy. So in other words he took a decision that might actually give him a chance of playing.

So it has no relevance or impact on the upcoming game or "disingenuous reporting" about McCarthy's likelihood to be play in it - the reason for the purported disingenuity being entirely vague anyway - but is rather a more broad issue about the prevalence of hyperbole in media reporting, with your actual grievance being the use of the words "limping out" which you have taken to mean the injury isn't really serious and he has more chance of playing than the report would accidentally suggest?

Not sure why you bothered.

 

[beejay]

Anyway, I'm more interested in how we line up. I'd rather not see Klavan up against Lukaku in his current form so if Lovren is fit, he should go straight back in.

Henderson will make the bench hopefully but can't see him starting when he has no game time under his belt.

Firmino & Coutinho to start but both may need to be subbed after their long haul flights back on Wednesday/Thursday.

 

[doctor_mac]

So it has no relevance or impact on the upcoming game or "disingenuous reporting" about McCarthy's likelihood to be play in it - the reason for the purported disingenuity being entirely vague anyway - but is rather a more broad issue about the prevalence of hyperbole in media reporting, with your actual grievance being the use of the words "limping out" which you have taken to mean the injury isn't really serious and he has more chance of playing than the report would accidentally suggest?

Not sure why you bothered.

I wasn't bothering for you, but for others prepared to engage in things more subtle than a brick to the face.

 

[manwithnoname]

Anyway, I'm more interested in how we line up. I'd rather not see Klavan up against Lukaku in his current form so if Lovren is fit, he should go straight back in.

Henderson will make the bench hopefully but can't see him starting when he has no game time under his belt.

Firmino & Coutinho to start but both may need to be subbed after their long haul flights back on Wednesday/Thursday.

It would be great if Henderson was considered fit enough to play, although Can was very good in his last game, and Wijnaldum wasn't far behind.

Not sure how mobile Everton's midfield will be; McCarthy hasn't been fit enough to play their last few games and won't start, Schneiderlin should play, so it could be Barry or Calvert-Lewin, with Davies and Barkley just ahead of those three.

Midfield will be very congested, to say the very least.

 

[manwithnoname]

I wasn't bothering for you, but for others prepared to engage in things more subtle than a brick to the face.

Yes, the Forum was certainly in a froth about the "limping out" report, unsure whether to be furious or simply totally bemused. Or both.

Luckily you were here to inform, educate and get it totally wrong.

 

[beejay]

It would be great if Henderson was considered fit enough to play, although Can was very good in his last game, and Wijnaldum wasn't far behind.

Not sure how mobile Everton's midfield will be; McCarthy hasn't been fit enough to play their last few games and won't start, Schneiderlin should play, so it could be Barry or Calvert-Lewin, with Davies and Barkley just ahead of those three.

Midfield will be very congested, to say the very least.

We have targeted Barry in recent games, going for the high press with some success, so I sure hope he starts. Same goes for Ashley-Williams and Robles is susceptible to long shots as Kane exposed recently. They are very dangerous going forward however, can't see this being 0-0

 

[keniget]

Given that we're the Premier Leagues top scorers after 29 games, it would be wrong to call us "short on goals". But the need for top quality striker this summer is a must. Signing a new striker that could chip in with 15-20 goals and offer some of the same attributes as Firmino would help us a lot.

We are a team prone to purple patches and goal gluts.

We also sacrifice (whether we want to or not) solidity for attacking prowess.

I think it's right to say that we are "short on goals" (see our performances in the absence of Mane) and we are not clinical.

 

[manwithnoname]

We are a team prone to purple patches and goal gluts.

We also sacrifice (whether we want to or not) solidity for attacking prowess.

I think it's right to say that we are "short on goals" (see our performances in the absence of Mane) and we are not clinical.

Yes, all very valid and correct. And nothing that many of us haven't been saying for a long time.

Even so, my priority would still be fixing the fucking defence and making us harder to beat, so while everyone finally acknowledges the need for a quality striker and one more quick attacking player, I'd spend the money on GK, CB, LB and CM/ DM first.

 

[manwithnoname]

We have targeted Barry in recent games, going for the high press with some success, so I sure hope he starts. Same goes for Ashley-Williams and Robles is susceptible to long shots as Kane exposed recently. They are very dangerous going forward however, can't see this being 0-0

Yeah, Barry has very obvious weaknesses, which is why even in the absence of McCarthy for their last few games, he hasn't been a certain starter.

 

[mark1975]

Your statement would be correct if Sturridge was even a fifth of the player he was three years ago, unfortunately he's not, he's completely lost it.

Ok, but that doesn't really make Firmino the answer, to being "our best striker" when he isn't striker and doesn't score enough goals, is the reason we'll buy one in the Summer, which more or less confirms what we've said all season.

 

[Insignificance]

Wow. A thread discussing Firmino's goals. This place is interesting!! ;-)

 

[Mystic]

Ok, but that doesn't really make Firmino the answer, to being "our best striker" when he isn't striker and doesn't score enough goals, is the reason we'll buy one in the Summer, which more or less confirms what we've said all season.

Well he is, because we currently have no one better.

 

[Kay Age El]

Yes, all very valid and correct. And nothing that many of us haven't been saying for a long time.

Even so, my priority would still be fixing the fucking defence and making us harder to beat, so while everyone finally acknowledges the need for a quality striker and one more quick attacking player, I'd spend the money on GK, CB, LB and CM/ DM first.

Which seems really fickle to be honest..

I mean yeah, we also need a better goalie, defense, midfield etc., but as one doesn't fix the other we desperately need a potent striker before the upcoming season that'll not only have more matches lined up for us but also comes with a clear aim to be at the very top in the league - and in Europe for that matter.

 

[Kay Age El]

We are a team prone to purple patches and goal gluts.

We also sacrifice (whether we want to or not) solidity for attacking prowess.

I think it's right to say that we are "short on goals" (see our performances in the absence of Mane) and we are not clinical.

I think it would be right to say we need a better balance, rather than to say we are short on goals, especially as facts very clearly state we are indeed not 'short on goals'.

It really wouldn't make sense for us to think we should outscore our opponents in the league so clearly as you and others seem to suggest. We are already 2 up on the leaders in terms of goals scored and they are 10 points ahead of 2nd (Spurs), why we have very obviously scored enough goals to be in contention.

Maybe not on the right time and in the right matches you could argue and have a strong case, but that is where the 'balance' comes into play - but there are certainly 'enough' goals to pick from.

Quite frankly it would be a recipe for failure if that was indeed our main focus point right now, to score even more goals than everyone else. We need to balance the team and the performances. We need to find a way to play against stubborn defenses and we need to continue our amazing form against the best.

 

[doctor_mac]

Yes, the Forum was certainly in a froth about the "limping out" report, unsure whether to be furious or simply totally bemused. Or both.

Luckily you were here to inform, educate and get it totally wrong.

There isn't much of forum left to get in a froth about anything. A lot of our best posters have found other things to do since you've decided to get back into that tiresome character.

 

[Hansern]

We are a team prone to purple patches and goal gluts.

We also sacrifice (whether we want to or not) solidity for attacking prowess.

I think it's right to say that we are "short on goals" (see our performances in the absence of Mane) and we are not clinical.

Wouldnt most teams be labelled "short on goals" when they are missing key players during some periods of the season?
And most teams are also prone to purple patches and goal gluts. We've scored in 25 of 29 games this season. Are there many better teams than that in the league?
Scoring goals haven't been the problem. But the problem is obviously when you concede 36 goals in 29 games.

The clinical part is obviously true and the need for a quality striker is there. Firstly as a replacement for Sturridge but also as an upgrade for Firmino in terms of quality and a pedigree for and ability to score match winning goals, in certain games.

Cant really see the logic behind a statement like "short on goals" in all honesty. Player wise there is obviously some truth in it, given the fact that Ings and Sturridge have been crocked for most of the season.

 

[keniget]

I think it would be right to say we need a better balance, rather than to say we are short on goals, especially as facts very clearly state we are indeed not 'short on goals'.

It really wouldn't make sense for us to think we should outscore our opponents in the league so clearly as you and others seem to suggest. We are already 2 up on the leaders in terms of goals scored and they are 10 points ahead of 2nd (Spurs), why we have very obviously scored enough goals to be in contention.

Maybe not on the right time and in the right matches you could argue and have a strong case, but that is where the 'balance' comes into play - but there are certainly 'enough' goals to pick from.

Quite frankly it would be a recipe for failure if that was indeed our main focus point right now, to score even more goals than everyone else. We need to balance the team and the performances. We need to find a way to play against stubborn defenses and we need to continue our amazing form against the best.

It kinda feels like you've ignored or missed the point I was making in my reply.

In Jan / Feb we managed 11 goals in 12 games.

What do you make of that?

As I said, we are a team that are prone to purple patches.

Stats can be skewed and in this case I think they are by some high scoring games.

 

[keniget]

Wouldnt most teams be labelled "short on goals" when they are missing key players during some periods of the season?
And most teams are also prone to purple patches and goal gluts. We've scored in 25 of 29 games this season. Are there many better teams than that in the league?
Scoring goals haven't been the problem. But the problem is obviously when you concede 36 goals in 29 games.

The clinical part is obviously true and the need for a quality striker is there. Firstly as a replacement for Sturridge but also as an upgrade for Firmino in terms of quality and a pedigree for and ability to score match winning goals, in certain games.

Cant really see the logic behind a statement like "short on goals" in all honesty. Player wise there is obviously some truth in it, given the fact that Ings and Sturridge have been crocked for most of the season.

I'm not suggesting that other areas of the team aren't a concern. I was most concerned about the state of our midfield and the defence it was shielding going into this season.

We all know what this team is like when you take away the bit of pace and directness it has. It happened with Sterling / Sturridge and it happened with Mane again in the new year.

It wasn't luck, tiredness or the natural cycles that teams go through over the course of the season. We know this because it's been an observable trend over the last few seasons.

This team doesn't function without a component that offers pace, directness and goal threat.

Sturridge is finished. Ings is an irrelevance. Origi has gone backwards. That leaves Mane.

We cannot leave ourselves in this position again. If you want to be picky then "we are short on players that offer pace, directness and goal threat".

 

[Hansern]

There isn't much of forum left to get in a froth about anything. A lot of our best posters have found other things to do since you've decided to get back into that tiresome character.

Whoever invited him back must surely ask themselves if it was worth it, when seeing so many quality posters leave.
At least we're making as poor transfer decisions on SCM that the team we support have been making in the past. The consistency is there.

 

[Kay Age El]

It kinda feels like you've ignored or missed the point I was making in my reply.

In Jan / Feb we managed 11 goals in 12 games.

What do you make of that?

As I said, we are a team that are prone to purple patches.

Stats can be skewed and in this case I think they are by some high scoring games.

I actually kinda got that hence my 'balance' point but either way I agree with the sentiment that we have to get rid of the barren runs like the one you mention.

 

[Hansern]

I'm not suggesting that other areas of the team aren't a concern. I was most concerned about the state of our midfield and the defence it was shielding going into this season.

We all know what this team is like when you take away the bit of pace and directness it has. It happened with Sterling / Sturridge and it happened with Mane again in the new year.

It wasn't luck, tiredness or the natural cycles that teams go through over the course of the season. We know this because it's been an observable trend over the last few seasons.

This team doesn't function without a component that offers pace, directness and goal threat.

Sturridge is finished. Ings is an irrelevance. Origi has gone backwards. That leaves Mane.

We cannot leave ourselves in this position again. If you want to be picky then "we are short on players that offer pace, directness and goal threat".

Agreed, and I think most on here will obviously agree with that as well. That wasnt really how I saw and read the "short on goals" comment, but the last sentence means we're on the same page. 😉

 

[keniget]

@Hansern @Kay Age El hi-five!

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

We are a team prone to purple patches and goal gluts.

We also sacrifice (whether we want to or not) solidity for attacking prowess.

I think it's right to say that we are "short on goals" (see our performances in the absence of Mane) and we are not clinical.

That's a fair point. If we knock six past someone shite team it skews the averages. We looked short of ideas, creativity and goalscoring threat in games like Hull and Leicester.

 

[Jack D Rips]

A lot of twittering that Lallana is out for four weeks. Hope to fuck that's not true.

 

[Hansern]

That would be just our luck with injuries and pointless international games

 

[manwithnoname]

The debate about purple patches and whatever is fine, if a bit hard to define, but surely there isn't any debate about our weaknesses in defence?

I'm confident Klopp will attempt to address both in summer though

He has to