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Two up and cruising...
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I can't put into words how gutted I am with that result.
Two up, we were cruising. We looked fucking awesome. And we end up taking what can only be considered a deserved point out of the game.
We threw it away due to playing the ball backwards, and going route one. The whole midfield needs a good bollocking there, they undid all their good football by losing concentration in the second half.
Brum had much more fight than us, and ended up getting a point nobody could argue with. Very very disappointed.
Dan Brierley, Posted 13/03/2010 at 17:11:22
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I don’t know...no Europa next season may be just the ticket for next season’s push...look at Tottenham this year...
Let’s not qualify for Europe this year so we can qualify next year?
WTF???
WTF???
Few points from today’s game:
1) Yak- we need to get rid of asap
2) Lee Probert- what a joker
3) Trevor Francis- worst commentator ever- no pretence at being neutral.
4) We don’t play well under pressre- once they got a goal back we were all over the shop
1) Yak- we need to get rid of asap
2) Lee Probert- what a joker
3) Trevor Francis- worst commentator ever- no pretence at being neutral.
4) We don’t play well under pressre- once they got a goal back we were all over the shop
Very poor 2nd half. Where’s the doggedness mentality of the Everton midfiled? Where’s the chasing, harrying?
2 pts dropped.
2 pts dropped.
Europa League qualification isn’t good enough, I wanna see us win the Premier League. Anything less is bollix so this season once again has been a huge failure.
Last year, we played ugly hoofball and could not pass to save our lives. But we knew how to win games, 1:0 usually. This season we have the best squad since the 80s and drop points left, right and center.
C’mon, it wasn’t THAT awful. Just think back to three, four years ago. We were watching what, the seventeenth out of eighteen shitty seasons (honorable exception to Royle’s DOW and their 6th place finish in ’95-’96... a late, late Bergkamp goal on the final day keeping us out of Europe). The players that have come in recently have been of far better quality than the likes of Beattie and Bent.
We controlled much of the second half today by playing football against an old version of ourselves. It’s no secret that Brum are using the DM template for punching above your weight and they are making a decent fist of it. Thankfully, we have moved on a touch.
We controlled much of the second half today by playing football against an old version of ourselves. It’s no secret that Brum are using the DM template for punching above your weight and they are making a decent fist of it. Thankfully, we have moved on a touch.
It wasnt bad but we needed to win for Europe and I don't like Everton being on equal terms to Birmingham.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d prefer top 4 to prattling about in the EUROPA. The best chance of that may lie in less fixtures next season.
Not wishing us not to qualify for the Europa Cup this season, but that might be the reality.
Silver lining and all that.
Not wishing us not to qualify for the Europa Cup this season, but that might be the reality.
Silver lining and all that.
That’s what frustrating. If it is the DM template then Moyes should know how to beat it... I mean it is after all his own tactics and setup.
10 points behind Spurs with 9 games to play. The sniff of 4th place is certainly gone. I can’t get too excited about Europa league. 7th place is still within our grasp.
Sean Condon, that’s the point I think: we can’t be comparing ourselves to those wretched times anymore. We have to be comparing ourselves to the potential that we’ve shown this season. And we just didn’t show that potential for long enough in this game. So frustrating.
Rob Murphy, I am with you. Fed up with this low expectation crap. On our day we can beat anyone and we can play some fantastic footy. We need to toughen up and find a way to win games like todays. We are just too inconsistent. 27 points left and I want all of them. COYB
One of the two handball penalty shouts in the first five minutes of the second half should certainly have been awarded, the second - particularly as the first had already been denied. But it rarely works that way against a home team.
But, two points dropped I’m afraid.
But, two points dropped I’m afraid.
Let’s try and get that 8th place and £750k more because we’re unlikely to get anything more than that for the remainder of the season.
Same old story as too often recently unfortunately- great in spells, but need to show far more consistency. When you look at some of the good players we have out there should be doing better.
when it went to 2-2, I looked at our bench to see what out and out strikers we had to come on. We had none. So, quick question, why the fuck has James Vaughan gone out one loan when we have no strikers to put on the bench????
One question burning through me now, is the Yak really poor, or is it we are not giving him anything to play with?
Somebody suggested recently that Cahill needs to be subbed with a proper footballer rather than picking goals from set pieces. Admittedly this will reduce Cahill's goal tally, but would it increase the Yak's by having a cultured passer such as Arteta or Pienaar in that position?
I think once Fellaini is back, Moyes should give some serious though to advancing Arteta and making him an attacking midfielder. In the short term, can Bily be more suited to this role? Cahill really looked out of sorts playing in front of a passing midfield today. Maybe that's unfair due to his recent injury, or Brums pressing game, but I still think Yak is not being fed as he should be.
Somebody suggested recently that Cahill needs to be subbed with a proper footballer rather than picking goals from set pieces. Admittedly this will reduce Cahill's goal tally, but would it increase the Yak's by having a cultured passer such as Arteta or Pienaar in that position?
I think once Fellaini is back, Moyes should give some serious though to advancing Arteta and making him an attacking midfielder. In the short term, can Bily be more suited to this role? Cahill really looked out of sorts playing in front of a passing midfield today. Maybe that's unfair due to his recent injury, or Brums pressing game, but I still think Yak is not being fed as he should be.
Got to admit that their goalkeeper kept them in the game with 2 excellent saves - one off Pienaar, and the Baines free kick at the stroke of half time. If that had gone in, we would have won.
Arteta’s free kicks were awful. Cahill had a quiet game, and a bad miss at the end.
Rodwell and Gosling didn’t do much.
And sad to see Landon go - if Anichebe is hurt, then the right side looks weak again...
Arteta’s free kicks were awful. Cahill had a quiet game, and a bad miss at the end.
Rodwell and Gosling didn’t do much.
And sad to see Landon go - if Anichebe is hurt, then the right side looks weak again...
Adam, big Vic picked up an unfortunate injury, he was playing well. It was a gamble to send Vaughan out, but in all honesty I dont think he would have added much to that game by coming on. A striker is probably top of our list come summer time. All the other positions seem to be pretty stable even with injuries. Even left back can be covered in the event of a Baines injury provided its not long term,
Any loan can be cut short at the request of the club so nothing too long term there but the referee and piss poor play gifted Brum two silly goals, hoofball on a few occasions reverting to type didn’t help either. Consistency is what I said on an earlier post is my main gripe and it shows it ugly mutt of a face again today.
Beaten by ’us’ from a couple of years ago. Get over it, it was a decent result against a team that have given a lot of teams a tough game this season.
I don’t know why people are so upset, they held us 1-1 at Goodison and 2-0 in the cup remember.
I don’t know why people are so upset, they held us 1-1 at Goodison and 2-0 in the cup remember.
Europe over? Season over? With an away draw? Jesus wept.
Decisions have got to be made, if we are going to hit the ground running next season.
Goalkeeper.
Rightback.
Centerback.
Is it worth experimenting with Ruddy Coleman and Duffy?
Goalkeeper.
Rightback.
Centerback.
Is it worth experimenting with Ruddy Coleman and Duffy?
What makes it worse is the teams above us bar Spurs dropped points it was a very good opportunity to close the gap
Thought our midfielders were magnificent for the first 30 mins and last 15 mins but in between times were 2nd best. During this period we sat further and further back and it looked like Brummie were going to take it.
Thought Heitinga and Pinnear went missing, we weren’t winning any balls and in fact loosing a lot of challenges. Birmingham never took advantage and we finally got our act together and regained control.
The substitution of Yak was baffling to me as Anichebe had taken a few knocks and to be honest looked out of it after his initial 30 min domination of Ridgewell. Yak went soon to be followed by Vic (I was hoping he’d got over regularly needing the trainer on for knocks).
When we are on song we are a match for anyone and can create and score some great goals but when we are on the rack we fall further and further back and an inevitable goal happens. How many goals have we conceded this season with deflections or Howard being unsighted.
We have got to get our away form sorted, too many games we haven’t got what we have deserved with our performance.
Thought Heitinga and Pinnear went missing, we weren’t winning any balls and in fact loosing a lot of challenges. Birmingham never took advantage and we finally got our act together and regained control.
The substitution of Yak was baffling to me as Anichebe had taken a few knocks and to be honest looked out of it after his initial 30 min domination of Ridgewell. Yak went soon to be followed by Vic (I was hoping he’d got over regularly needing the trainer on for knocks).
When we are on song we are a match for anyone and can create and score some great goals but when we are on the rack we fall further and further back and an inevitable goal happens. How many goals have we conceded this season with deflections or Howard being unsighted.
We have got to get our away form sorted, too many games we haven’t got what we have deserved with our performance.
Ste Lewis, completely agree.
Birmingham have had a good season and their two centre halves have been brilliant all season, hence them losing two at home all season. Yes, two-nill up but Brum are no pushovers on their own patch, get a grip with all this "season over" shit.
I was the one who said that Cahill should be subbed for a more passing/scoring from open play second striker. He is my favorite player but he looks out of sorts today and I think players are starting to see that -- he and Pienaar shouting at each other -- could be an ominous sign. He needed to bury that chance and I suspect two years ago he would have.
Quick question... Why oh why do we always include Neville in our forward movements down the right? He never supplies a good cross or advanced pass. He’s not even that good a defender anymore... All he really does is produce some bullshit dribble mid week in the press that nobody worth their salt even gives a shit about. Neville out! A real RB in! Coleman anyone????
Quick question... Why oh why do we always include Neville in our forward movements down the right? He never supplies a good cross or advanced pass. He’s not even that good a defender anymore... All he really does is produce some bullshit dribble mid week in the press that nobody worth their salt even gives a shit about. Neville out! A real RB in! Coleman anyone????
Cahill was poor again, but I think that Barry Ferguson got a grip of Arteta which kept us very quiet.
It seemed like we were cruising at two-nil but fair play to them, they were dogged and that explains their position in the league. As mentioned before, they are having a good season and are probably punching above their weight. Rumor has it that their ginger will be managing the dark side next season.
Almost as disappointing as a defeat. What are the tactics when you go 2-0 up? No plan for tightening up and consolidating?
Good coaches know that the longer you keep the other team from scoring, the more frustrated they become but Everton just let them come on in and get one too quickly then Everton looked like the losing team for a while.
Everton players just don’t funnel back quick enough when they lose possession. They looked so pedestrian. Cahill still looks out of place as a starter and Donovan should have started. Goofs by Moyes all around for not getting 3 points.
I disagree with you Tom about Donavon starting. Anichebe was a big threat apart from his goal. We ran a lot of out balls though him in the first half, when his height and strength won out over Ridgewell. As for tightening up, thats harsh on Moyes I think. I don’t want to be harsh on Tim Howard, but you do need your goalkeeper to make important saves at critical times and today he didn’t.
Extremely frustrating. How many shots on goal did they have? Birmingham seem to be absolutely amazing at converting half chances while we are always so profligate. And I know its trivial, but I just have to chime in about Trevor Francis. What was he in a former lift that he hates us so much! Jesus. The second half was bad enough without having to listen to that fucker.
Yakubu deserved to be subbed because he was either not fit enough to harry their backs or he was just lazy. I am bemused by that slogan, feed the Yak and he will score... If appearance, speed and agility are anything to go by, a bit less of the feed might improve him.
Compared to most central strikers in the Premier League his off ball movement and general work rate are very poor. In Euro games the distance covered by each player is shown. I would like to see something like that for the Yak.
Compared to most central strikers in the Premier League his off ball movement and general work rate are very poor. In Euro games the distance covered by each player is shown. I would like to see something like that for the Yak.
I really don’t think a point today was all that bad. There is still a lot two play for. Liverpool are only 6 points ahead of us and very catchable. overtaking them should be the aim. Birmingham have been a bogey side this year but they really have not impressed me at all. One of the worst footballing sides I’ve seen in a long time.
Wow, some of these comments, you would swear we had just been relegated. I don't think 2-2 at Brum is a bad result, especially as Birmingham have done so well this season. Low expectations? I don't think you can accuse Rob Murphy of that.
And Sam Higgins, WTF does "I don't like being on equal terms with Birmingham" mean? We have no divine right to be better than anyone and for a moment I thought you might be a Spurs fan, that the sort of stuff they normally come out with
Alun, I think you are touching on something there. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in hating the "we have a right to beat teams" attitude of Newcastle fans. Well it appears to me that the same attitude is creeping into some Everton fans. The way Birmingham have played this year they could beat anyone, and whilst no team would be happy to lose a 2 goal lead, every manager in the premiership would be happy to get a point at a place like St Andrews, this season.
We may have moved on from that style of play, but we should also know how hard it is to play against when it is done well, and Birmingham do it very well.
We may have moved on from that style of play, but we should also know how hard it is to play against when it is done well, and Birmingham do it very well.
It’s about ambition really, clearly some of you have none. It’s not just black and white "2-2 at Birmingham isn’t a bad result"... we have more to go on than that, we have seen the game.
It was another Moyes side trademark capitulation when put under the slightest amount of pressure and it is completely unacceptable. From playing pass and move football for 25 minutes, as soon as Jerome’s goal went in we lost all belief, all composure and simply started hoofing the ball from back to front.
Birmingham have had a good season, no doubt. Their ’success’ has been built on clean sheets and nicking games though, ramping back from 0-2 isn’t their MO at all. The way we played after it went 2-1 was completely mind bendingly shite and again Moyes is to blame.
The nonsense he then comes out with after the game about ’sloppy goals’ just compounds things. The goals were simply the daggers to the heart, what left us wide open was the way we stopped passing the ball and started hoofing it. The idiot needs to sort it out, I’m tired of his lame excuses.
Dick Fearon, the Yak compared to most other strikers in the Premier League, is second only to Thierry Henry when it comes to goals overall... and as for stats on distances, the yanks bore the shite out of people with crap like that... then again, I can see why you would like it.
Yakubu is a top-notch striker; always has been, always will be. The problem is he isn't a clever Berbatov / Bergkamp striker who can receive the pass and play a clever pass back to Pienaar, Arteta etc... He is pretty one dimensional but good at what he does (similar to Cahill?).
Think we need something different up top .
Think we need something different up top .
Dissappointing result given the great start in going into a thoroughly deserved 2-0 lead.
Though in some ways we were a bit unlucky - their first goal was a complete fluke - if it hits anyone including their striker its not a goal. And the second - Gardner would not do that again if he tried 100 times.
What did dissappoint me was that we somehow allowed their first oal to unsettle us and we just went deeper and deeper which in turn gave them encouragement. Also I defended Cahill on this site saying that he had a role to play in certain games and that it was a sign of our increased strength that we could leave him on the bench. Why he was picked yesterday though is beyond me - he has been out for a month and his performance showed that. We had other 100% fit players who deserved to start before him - he was a passanger for the whole 75 minutes he was on the pitch.
Though in some ways we were a bit unlucky - their first goal was a complete fluke - if it hits anyone including their striker its not a goal. And the second - Gardner would not do that again if he tried 100 times.
What did dissappoint me was that we somehow allowed their first oal to unsettle us and we just went deeper and deeper which in turn gave them encouragement. Also I defended Cahill on this site saying that he had a role to play in certain games and that it was a sign of our increased strength that we could leave him on the bench. Why he was picked yesterday though is beyond me - he has been out for a month and his performance showed that. We had other 100% fit players who deserved to start before him - he was a passanger for the whole 75 minutes he was on the pitch.
....and finishing off what you said Mike, is the downfall of a mediocre manager. Not being cut throat and playing the team that should be out there. There are players that are permanently on the team sheet and that sickens me...If they can walk, they’re in the starting XI. The players are just too comfortable and Moyes is just too much of a players manager.
After 8 years we still don’t have the nerve to fight back after giving up a fluke goal? What is this a Junior side?? Pathetic. You think we would have learned something in 8 years!
After 8 years we still don’t have the nerve to fight back after giving up a fluke goal? What is this a Junior side?? Pathetic. You think we would have learned something in 8 years!
It’s time to play Gosling,Rodwell and Coleman as starters. Come on Moyes wake up.Yesterday was poor in the end and yet Brum had played during the week.They should never have been allowed back in the game.In hindsight it’s easy to say certain things but up to now Donovan has been worth his inclusion.The team benefits from his zip and cleverness.We need to prepare for next season as this season now has nothing for us.Give the youngsters what they need.Rodwell seems to be following the path of Rooney by only being used sparingley.If Moyes thinks he isn’t good enough to start in this average team then let’s get some big cash for him soon.
If its any consolation, Vaughan came on as sub for Leicester and he was shit. First touch was a through ball that he ran on to and fell over.
Christopher Kelly -
"After 8 years we still don’t have the nerve to fight back after giving up a fluke goal? What is this a Junior side?? Pathetic. You think we would have learned something in 8 years! "
so going a goal down to Man Utd & Chelsea and still winning doesn’t count then.
I can’t believe how some people jump on everyones back the minute we have a disappointing result (and that only cos we were 2 up, I would have taken a point at kick-off).
note - we didn’t lose, we drew, and last time I looked we didn’t drop any points, we won one! - of the teams from 4th to 9th tihs weekend, they all got the results I expected (us included), this has not done us any harm at all in our chase for Europe, its continued where I expected us to be
"After 8 years we still don’t have the nerve to fight back after giving up a fluke goal? What is this a Junior side?? Pathetic. You think we would have learned something in 8 years! "
so going a goal down to Man Utd & Chelsea and still winning doesn’t count then.
I can’t believe how some people jump on everyones back the minute we have a disappointing result (and that only cos we were 2 up, I would have taken a point at kick-off).
note - we didn’t lose, we drew, and last time I looked we didn’t drop any points, we won one! - of the teams from 4th to 9th tihs weekend, they all got the results I expected (us included), this has not done us any harm at all in our chase for Europe, its continued where I expected us to be
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1 Posted 13/03/2010 at 11:54:37
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