Everton See Off Oldham At the Second Attempt

I personally thought the performance was extremely poor and at times it was difficult to see who was the Premier League team. Once again we defended deep towards the end and this must be sorted out asap. Moyes was going apeshit at times for us to play our game but for whatever reason we reverted to, at times, panic!

From where I was sitting I could hear players having a go at each other, which in itself is not a bad thing, but against Oldham??

At the final whistle you could hear the sigh of relief from those around us.

All the faults and problems visible at Norwich and previous games have disappeared.

Right!

Right?

On another note, Osman scored for the second game in a row, how many is that this season? 6, 7? Not a bad tally considering he's playing deep lying midfielder most of the time, imagine if he could shoot as well, or if Cech wasn't amazing, he'd be in double figures with ease. Pienaar with another assist again despite not being in top form, isn't he at the top of the assists table for the second season in a row for our team? Yeah they're crap those two, can't understand why Moyes keeps picking them, I mean what do they add to the team?

It is obvious now, as it has been for a long time, what Moyes' preferred, and the fans preferred line up is, and that he'll flog it for all its worth till season's end.

But isn't that the reason for it being stale and out of form? If resting players with Barkley's inclusion is a risk I fail to see that with Oviedo or Hitzlesperger.

And what constitutes a risk because as much as I want him to succeed, Naismith is a shocker.

For a few months we were going out with a great attitude and playing some really good stuff.

It wasn't ONE player playing well, it was 'the team', so a few chops and changes weren't of any great significance.

We were keeping the ball, moving it around well, basically playing what I think of as confident, energetic and intelligent football.

We weren't winning every game but we looked like we could beat anyone.

Plus, results-wise, we WERE having more success than with the (pre Swansea away last year) dross-football we'd had to endure.

Now, for reasons best known to Moyes, Round and the players, there seems to have been some sort of collective mental collapse.

Suddenly it's panic, we're constantly giving possession away, passing has turned to shite as has our defending.

Genuinely baffled and curious to hear considered opinions as to why and how.

To me, there are players who look very tired and are struggling to concentrate the full 90 minutes. The stat that we have used the fewest number of players in the PL is fairly telling. A failure to rotate with what we have - Oviedo and Vellios have been criminally underused in my book - and on the part of the board to bolster the ranks in January have only added to the overall problem.

Its form. It happens. WBA fell off dramatically over Christmas and NY and now they're on our tail.

Its not so much poor form that's a problem for teams, but how you come out of it the other end.

Some thoughts as to why the 'joined-up stuff,' (copyright: Ken Buckley) isn't happening: The Baines-Pienaar axis is deliberately being nullified by opposition tactics, and our often unimaginative response is lumping it up to the average-sized Jelavic - who looks as though he's running around in calapers.

Fellaini's receiving more 'attention, ' and his suspected ambivalence, (Nb: Possibly thinking about pastures new) could be affecting his consistency levels. Unlike the last two England managers, Moyes seemingly has no problem with Jagielka launching it way to often - a particular bug-bear of mine.

The lack of January investment, the fact that teams are raising their game precisely on account of the great form you mention, and I think the confidence has been on the slide. The manager's contractual indecision - another possibility perhaps.

I'd be interested to read your take on it.

Even though the likes of Wigan know they are going to be in a relegation fight, they seem to play out of their skin at the end of each season, because they know it's their last chance to get those 3 points that may keep them up.

Newly promoted sides may also take a while to gel, if they have a few new faces.

Or, we may just be mentally weak, some form of footballing ADHD. Our Jekyll & Hyde performances every season point to something a sports psychologist could get their teeth into.

We have heard the stories about Fergie - you are not allowed to rest on your past performances, he expects the same level of commitment each & every game. Maybe we don't expect our players to perform like this. We don't have that mentality, too many ready made excuses.

"At least you've seemed to simmered some Eugene, in the last few days you'd have said it was a tactic of Moyes to play so poorly"

This lazy nonsense is proof (if proof were needed) that you don't actually read the content of posts, just the tone in which they're delivered.

To suggest I'd have EVER said or suggested that 'it was a tactic of Moyes to play so poorly' only makes you look stupid.

Yes I have criticised Moyes many times for his tactics/selection/coaching/communication etc, but never once hinted that anything that has been detrimental to Everon has be deliberate on his part.

Like a few others, you seem to think any shite is acceptable to post as long as it's delivered 'calmly' and shows everyone what a rounded individual you are.

Reminds me of BK.

I regularly disagree with DM's decisions but I can see his point (eg, playing Neville so much, not giving Barkely a few substitute appearances, etc), but I cannot for the life of me comprehend why Naismith has not been tried behind Jelavic, even when Fellaini's been out of the team. The lad is a better player than he's shown so far, so if DM fancies him - which he evidently does - and we are lacking a cutting edge up front then why not try him "in the hole"? I don't get it. I don't get it at all.

One definite plus is the return of the Coleman/Mirallas combo, which is a danger in itself and stops the opposition focussing on Baines/Pienaar, thereby allowing those two to do their stuff.

I've never been a Victor fan, but he has got to be first choice to start at the moment. I guess that's the silver lining to the dark cloud which has descended on Jelavic. It will do his (Anichebe's) confidence the world of good.

Yesterday you took what was obviously bait and ran up a huge rant. Today it wasn't needed.

You've just gone back on the boil.

More of a concern are Pienaar and Jelavic who never looked like scoring even against lower league opposition.

DUUUR!!

Tip - instead of trying to impress us with your (unconvincing) 'look how calm I am' nonsense, why not address specific points raised in specific posts.

Failing to do so doesn't suggest 'reasonable', it suggests "Oh flip, I haven't got an answer for that, I'll say he's ranting".

Dolt!

Yes, Osman scored again but how many times did he lose or give the ball away or fall over? He is starting to piss me off big time. I just wish he would stay on his feet.

What has happened to Jelavic? We cannot keep hoping he will come back into form — he needs to be droped and someone else givin a chance

This is not an attempt to "Gang up on you" up on Nick.

Eugene I have to agree with your sentiments in the post, I have put a few posts on here and tried to state my case as clearly as possible and given those who want to reply plenty of chance to sink their teeth in (rightly or wrongly?) and suffered for it.

There's a few on here who seem to derive a vicarious thrill from the forum by using superficial comments that don't really contribute anything.

"I tend to be quite positive so I think..." or "I see the glass half blah blah"

Who gives a flying fuck and what does this have to do with....anything?

Despite the fantasy that might be going on inside the heads of some, if your facts are fucked, NOBODY is thinking "Well he's got that wrong but oooh isn't he wonderful - so positive like".

Long-time poster Tony Marsh just gives his opinion.

Some agree with him, some don't but either way, he doesn't feel the need to say "I tend to be narky and sweary so I think..."

There's loads of different posters and they (naturally) all have different personalities and different ways of expressing themselves, but it's what they say ABOUT EVERTON I'm interested in.

If you have a fact, let's hear it, If you have an opinion, let's hear that.

Personally, once someone starts giving me 'you've lost it' or 'calm yourself' etc, it is often a good indication that they want to get away from the original point because they see their 'argument' falling apart.

It is deflection pure and simple and DEAD obvious.

Agreed!

I had one by the name of John Ford deliberatly misquoted me with "'the wheels have come off' apparently (really?)'". I actually wrote: "the wheels are starting to come of the cart". This was after the Norwich loss, I had clearly stated why I thought they were coming off in my post .

His finishing line of his reply to my first post was patronisingly: "Focus, Boy ..... Focus!"

I absolutely slaughtered him in my reply, but he didn't bother with a reply.

They irritate me when the say "Why are you so negative, DM has done a great job, he's had no money!". It's their opinion and they're entitled to it.

Although they're replying to a post in which I would have given clear and good (I believe) reasons why we are not in such a good position, I/you have just spent time writing in detail an argument and they remain silent.

By the way have you seen this article on football365: http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8527174/Has-Moyes-Achieved-Enough-At-Everton-
It's well balanced I think and from a source outside the fan base.

Then why don't you reply to it?

You just went silent and you are on here a bit. You mis qouted my post deliberately - plain and simple. So you could use your rediculous witticism.

And if you didn't read it (the original post) how the hell can you say:
"Robert, if your reply was as loose as the original post then I doubt there was much slaughtering going on.

Then go on to say
"I didn't read it so can't comment on the specifics"

If you didn't read the original post how the can you say my comment to Eugene Ruane about you is "loose".

You're exaclty the kind of person myself and Eugene have been talking about in the above posts.

Focus boy focus! You're one dizzy individual.

Hello Eugene,

Have a read of the above comments, he's just the kind of person we've been talking about!

Whether wheels were off, punctured, worn or on bricks was irrelevant, so for the points being made how I para'd you was also irrelevant. As I recall, and I don recall your exact words but you exaggerated the case, big time. Understandably perhaps after a duff performance at Norwich but nonetheless ripe for a bit of bashing. One person view. Let's move on.

One thing that comes from adding the Mirallas/Coleman combo (your words) is that they provide the right flank axis option. The chance here is it means the defences need to spread somewhat. Jela needs to move around in the attacking middle because the chances should come from having the LH and RH threats.

One thing that seems to be missing is our speed of transition. Watching against Norwich and even Oldham our transition from defence to attack has been painfully slow most of the time (unless we play Jag style hoofball, which is a total waste of time).

I wonder what goes on in the training sessions. And at games, from the dug out, do you think Moyes says, FFS speed the fucking game up guys!!???

Probably not. More like "steady at the back guys, a bit of tippy tappy, oh now back to Jags to hoof it up to Jela! Oh shit, that one went straight through to the keeper. Never mind, Jela was probably offside anyhow". (because he'd been waiting so long!!!.)

Frustrating, isn't it???

Couldn't resist it

Pienaar is knackered/out of form. We spent good money on Oviedo, who hasn't looked out of place when he's been picked.
Osman is knackered/out of form. We have Barkley, Pienaar (although see above), Mirallas and Naismith (last option in my opinion) who could play in the 'hole' or alongside Jelly.

Jelly is knackered/out of form. How about trying Vellios against the likes of Oldham or Reading? Why did Moyes sign up Hitz when he still insists on playing Neville in midfield?