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Darren Hind
1 Posted 26/03/2014 at 05:22:22
Fantastic report, Lyndon.

A "69-yard run" now THAT is accurate reporting!!!

Brian Hill
2 Posted 26/03/2014 at 05:12:12
A marvellous performance, one of the best of the season. When Deulofeu learns to pass more often he is going to be incredible, unfortunately probably not with us. Osman had a very fine game, capped by a lovely finish. I have never been a great admirer of his, but he led by example last night.

This was the type of performance that exemplifies the Martinez philosophy - in control, always an attacking threat, strong in defence for the most part. Very pleasing.

Timothy Sebastian
3 Posted 26/03/2014 at 05:36:06
I hate to say it, but that was a Liverpool like performance from Everton. Could we be seeing signs of how Everton will be next season?
Brian Hill
4 Posted 26/03/2014 at 05:40:31
Darren, I thought it was closer to 68 yards. Don't you just hate exaggeration?
Brian Hill
5 Posted 26/03/2014 at 05:52:38
I am sure we all recall Pardew's comment a couple of years ago that Newcastle are in a different league to Everton. How right he was.......
Iain Love
6 Posted 26/03/2014 at 05:54:33
Watched the game online [ many thanks to Tommy for the link ] really enjoyed it and didn't have that nervous feeling when we went 0-1 up. Thought Mcarthy was everywhere and everyone put in a shift, a bit concerned about another yellow for Barry [ will he miss any more matches with another ] . Lukaku worries me scores one and sets one up but i'm not seeing a £25mill striker.
Gavin Ramejkis
7 Posted 26/03/2014 at 06:13:11
Some really nice football last night and good to see Everton driving forward with intent. My worry now is that 3 of those key players last night are only on loan. I think the Gareth Barry situation will end with him in a blue shirt, Deulofeu I have no idea other than to say I still don't think he could break onto the Barca bench unless he is playing as he did last night every week and Lukaku I think is already on his summer holidays thinking about a move to Monaco or PSG or similar. If we don't keep or replace like for like that will be a big miss.

Did Pardew sniper shot Stones from the Grassy Knoll? Not seen an Everton player that keen to just rub it clean and continue playing since Richard Gough telling the ref to leave him alone he had a game still to carry on with. A great result and one we badly needed to keep the moment going, was really disappointed outside our game with Lee Probert blowing the whistle with De Guzman bearing down on the Arsenal goal with just the keeper to beat.

Dick Fearon
8 Posted 26/03/2014 at 06:08:53
Lyndon's report has me impatient to see a TV replay of the game that is programmed for tonight.
It was damn annoying to rise at 2.30 am only to find our first sprinkle of rain since early November brought chaos to our reception.
Christopher Timmins
9 Posted 26/03/2014 at 06:36:34
Just maybe this season might have a plesant surprise at the end of it. Last night was the first sign that we might be returning to our pre Christmas performance levels.

One game at a time!

Andy Osborne
10 Posted 26/03/2014 at 06:27:54
Deulofeu is the type of player that changes games, based on last nights performance we should break the bank to keep him. I wonder how long it will take Lukaku, or another to learn that when he crosses the ball, he is not going to pull it back, he is going to fizz it across the goal line. They should be tapping it in at the near post (like Lukaku last night) or at the back post. I lost count of the number of times he put it across the goal last night. Could have been 6-0 if we had got on the end of them.
Andy Osborne
11 Posted 26/03/2014 at 06:44:56
Hate to say this but, Suarez would have had a field day with service like that.
Mike Oates
12 Posted 26/03/2014 at 07:17:22
Great performance, good awareness of colleagues in better positions - Mirallas please learn . We looked so much better moving the ball quickly, and using the pace we have, rather than 27 passes to get from A to B
David Ellis
13 Posted 26/03/2014 at 07:33:50
Champions League is now GAME ON again...still the odds are against us, but it is in our own hands now. Maybe we are a due a run of good form after a period of treading water? Good to see Barkley scoring in consecutive games, he's been missing in action for a few matches since he was injured, hopefully he is getting back to his best (same for a few of our boys who were injured - Coleman, Lukaku and Deulofeu
Sam Morrison
14 Posted 26/03/2014 at 10:39:37
Anyone have a link to highlights? Footytube won't play for me...
Bob Parrington
15 Posted 26/03/2014 at 10:36:26
After the first 5 minutes our so, this was a calm, cool destruction of what can be a difficult side. Businesslike with flair. Football School of Science welcome back!
Lord Hughes
16 Posted 26/03/2014 at 10:36:28
Poetic stuff on both accounts. Great game and a great report too!
Phil Walling
17 Posted 26/03/2014 at 10:52:27
If only we could play the Barcodes every week! We mesmerized them in the first-half of the home game and as Lyndon says above last night we were all ’pace, goals and killer instinct’ last night.

If only Martinez can instill those qualities permanently – even if it has to be at the expense of his beloved ticca-tacky – then my belief that our destiny for all time is to be seventh will be proved a myth.

If only.....

Amit Vithlani
18 Posted 26/03/2014 at 11:06:49
Phil 200. Newcastle are a decent side, to suggest they are not with the "can we play you every week" line is to belittle a superb performance. Credit (nay, a lot of credit) has to go to the manager and players for turning them over so clinically in their own back yard.
Sam Morrison
19 Posted 26/03/2014 at 11:25:07
Phil, you strike me as a glass half-empty type of guy. Personally I think seventh would be a decent achievement for a first season under a new manager, but Martinez is not settling for that. The Liverpool, Spurs, and Chelsea disappointments could and quite possibly would have led to certain other managers saying "It's beyond us now" – but that's emphatically not the case with Martinez. The relentless positivity may sometimes sound a little overly-optimistic, but it's a refreshing change and clearly having an effect.
David Ellis
20 Posted 26/03/2014 at 11:28:49
Phil - just to be clear, are you still predicting us to finish 7th this season? I was worried this might be our fate but last nights result's has greatly changed the equation.
Sam Hoare
21 Posted 26/03/2014 at 11:35:13
Last night was fantastic but will count for a lot less if it is not followed up with a similar level of intensity and performance for our next few games. As we know, there are no gimmies in the Premier League and every point must be fought for. Fulham this weekend are fighting for their lives and we will drop points if not at our best.

I had written 4th spot off but there is perhaps a glimmer. Arsenal however have a considerably easier run in than we do and there is no doubt we will need to beat them at ours and then match or better their results for the rest of the season. A long shot still but definitely more plausible than it looked a month ago.

Jim Bennings
22 Posted 26/03/2014 at 13:02:34
What a fantastic night to be an Evertonian, we have been crying out for a performance like that for ages now, especially away from home.

It was devastating football played with raw pace and agressive attacking play.
We are far better when we cut straight to it rather than pass the ball about just for passing sake, I have always said the passing is beautiful as long as there is some pace to it and end product, well last night there was.

Does anybody think we looked a better side without Mirallas in the team?
I know Deulofeu at times can be simlimar to Kev in that he tries stupid things but for me, Delboy just seems to be more devastating than Mirallas when both are on the peak of their game.

It's going to be a difficult decision for Roberto to make on Sunday but I would stick with Deulofue simply because his confidence will be high, plus lets be honest he is here on loan and we want to see him play.

As Sam says in the above post though, great result last night was, we cannot slip up at Fulham , a Fulham team that has conceded 70, yes SEVENTY goals this season.

This weekend could now be massive in terms of that top 4 place possibly being swung in our favour.
We can pray that Arsenal lose to City but first and foremost we MUST make sure we take care of our business in the early kick off at Craven Cottage.

We are one more positive weekend's results away from a potential barnstormer at home to Arsenal on April 6th.

Paul Holmes
23 Posted 26/03/2014 at 12:56:35
If you cant beat them, join them!

Last night, we played like Liverpool played against us in the derby and it suited us down to the ground: 'counter-attack football'.

With the big teams still to visit Goodison Park (they will go for it), and the away teams must take the game to us for their fans, we must have a great chance of picking up points playing this way for the remainder of the season. It works for the RS so it can work for us!

We will get in the Champions League because Arsenal are in free fall.

Paul Smith
24 Posted 26/03/2014 at 13:20:58
It was a good performance last night and that has to be the blueprint for all our away games in future which, Southampton apart, all look very winnable till the end of season as long as we show the same attitude.

I think Del boy deserves a prolonged run in the team till the end of the season with the other winger spot between Mirallas and McGeady depending on who we're playing.

Al Reddish
25 Posted 26/03/2014 at 13:33:31
I wonder if Martinez has had a word with some of the players regarding service to Lukaku. For two games running now he has had a relatively easy tap in after a player has played it across the 6 yard line for him. We haven't done that for a very long time (including previous seasons) and we can see the benefit of having a fit forward taking up the right positions.
Tommy Coleman
26 Posted 26/03/2014 at 13:36:48
Phil Walling - 200. Still can't enjoy a win eh ? ha ha.
Paul Thompson
27 Posted 26/03/2014 at 13:49:34
Al@226 - 'a relatively easy tap in'. Err, no. Those kind of goals require the right movement, strength and timing. Lukaku's 2 goals reminded me of the ones Lineker used to score. But I agree with your general point. Lukaku will do the business if he gets that kind of service. His dry spells have mostly been about the lack of it.
Lyndon Lloyd
28 Posted 26/03/2014 at 13:53:02
Darren: "Fantastic report, Lyndon.
A "69-yard run" now THAT is accurate reporting!!!
"

Hah, thanks, Darren! My initial guess was 70 but then I saw that they'd actually tracked it to 69 yards so I went with that for, well, accuracy :)

Regarding the continued criticism of Lukaku, some of which has been warranted at times, particularly with regard to his movement and hit-and-miss hold-up play: at 20 years old he is not the finished article. In the same way that neither Barkley (20), Deulofeu (20) or Stones (19) are anywhere near complete in their development, he still has plenty to learn, especially when it comes to leading the line on his own.

Is he a £25m player now? Probably not but he certainly could be and while I'd love to keep him, if he keeps his current rate of goals up and we qualify for Europe, I very much doubt we'll have the budget to buy him and the other squad reinforcements we'll need. That's a shame because I'm a big fan of his.

Andy Osborne
29 Posted 26/03/2014 at 14:15:09
If Deulofeu could be bought for $12 million, would anyone do it? I would and then concentrate on getting strikers who could capitalise on the service he provides.
Robin Cannon
30 Posted 26/03/2014 at 14:34:42
Except there's likely zero likelihood that Deulofeu could be bought for anything approaching that kind of price.
Jim Knightley
31 Posted 26/03/2014 at 14:35:16
Lukaku has 12 goals and 7 assists in 23 appearances...For a 20 year old, with inconsistent service, I'd say that's pretty fantastic, even if has disappeared a little at times. I understand criticism of Stones and Barkley alot more than Lukaku.

Deulofeu is fantastic...I'd pay 12million for him in a second. He is too greedy, and needs to work on his defensive play, but he is incredibly dangerous going forward, and has world class potential in my opinion. I'd rather see him in the team than any other wide player at the moment, even if it restricts the forward runs of Coleman a little.

Phil Walling
32 Posted 26/03/2014 at 14:41:30
Tommy, I can - and do enjoy a win with the best of them. I just don’t see it as much more than 3 points gained with little relevance to what happens in future games. I’ve been here too many times in my 50 years as an Evertonian.

Just to be clear, I think we should now finish 6th minimum. Like all other ToffeeWebbers , I shall love it... just love it... if we do better!

Andy Osborne
33 Posted 26/03/2014 at 14:46:48
www.transfermarkt.com has him valued at around $12 million. I think he is worth more, but if he could be bought for that, and Barcelona wanted to sell him, I would do it in a heartbeat. Yes he is still raw. But he can change games, and will only get better. Lukaku could score 30 goals a season just from crosses from Deulofeu.
Steve Jones
34 Posted 26/03/2014 at 15:08:41
Mourinho allegedly sniffing around Deulofeu which, if true, immediately hikes his price up 50%. Suggestions are that the boy himself dearly wants to force his way into the first team at the Nou Camp though.

Looking at his attitude on the pitch I find it easy to believe that Barca would have to very forcibly dispense with young Gerard before he would consider a future anywhere else. He does appear to be enjoying his time at Goodison though so you can imagine him speaking well of us amongst the wider circle of talented youngsters back in Spain. That itself could lead to interesting opportunities for us in the future.

Geoff Evans
35 Posted 26/03/2014 at 15:01:56
Brian #152: Different league, yeah the the Martinez league and the Pardew league, ones a manager who believes in all that is good about football and represents his club with dignity and manners the other was banned from his teams stadium last night because he's nothing more than a nutter.
Sam Hoare
36 Posted 26/03/2014 at 15:26:14
Sadly I would say we have very little chance of getting either Lukaku or Deulofeu permanently. First we would have to qualify for the CL which still looks an outside bet and then I think Bill would have to sanction a new club transfer record which may require more player sales.

We could get Del on loan for another season which would be great but I'm sure he was quoted in press somewhere saying he wants to fight for a place in Barcelona next season.

I think we should enjoy what time we have left with them and look forward to seeing who Martinez replaces them with.

Danny Kewley
37 Posted 26/03/2014 at 15:18:44
Brian -152-
You wrote exactly what I was gonna say! I was thinking about the game all the time while being in a sod-awful traffic jam on the North Circular at Walthamstow turn off and the match last night was what we have been waiting for!!!!! Traffic-jam my arse--COYToffeeeees! stay in the fast lane!
Bill Gall
38 Posted 26/03/2014 at 17:26:41
One of the things that make me happy with last nights performance is that it has shut up the media and supposed expert pundits going on over Tottenhams push for the championship league.
Peter Bell
39 Posted 26/03/2014 at 17:36:53
I think an interesting stat about last night’s game is that we only had 45% possession. The lowest for some time, yet played so well.
Eddie Dunn
40 Posted 26/03/2014 at 17:49:56
A super performance from the blues, with everyone doing their bit. I could not be prouder, especially of young Stones, who was reminiscent of Terry Butcher for England , with blood pouring down his forehead.

As for Lukaku. I thought he was great, conserving his energy for those sprints, and not wasting his power chugging around.

He is a big powerful player, and like a 100metre sprinter, he isn't built for the marathon.

I agree that it was interesting that we played so well without Mirallas.

Wayne Smyth
41 Posted 26/03/2014 at 17:30:38
I don't think Deulofeu will be good enough to play for Barcelona; very few are. Having watched El Classico the other night the players of Madrid and Barca were just head and shoulders above anything we or most of the other Premier League teams have in terms of their technical ability.

Deulofeu isn't even close to getting ahead of Neymar or Messi. If we can get a CL shot, I think it highly likely that we can get Deulofeu on a permie after next season with Roberto and his Spanish connections.

Lukaku on the other hand is far more likely to end up playing abroad as Chelsea are unlikely to want to sell him to a club in the same league.

Back to yesterdays game, I'm still hearing about this fantastic performance, and if I'm honest I saw a decent performance, but nothing out of place with how we've been playing for a while.

The only differences I can fathom between yesterdays game and the Chelsea or Spurs game is that our chances went in and theirs didn't. From what I can gather people are conflating 'performance' and 'result', when infact they don't always align.

Norman Merrill
42 Posted 26/03/2014 at 17:37:01
Our next fixture is at a ground that we have poor record at, Craven Cottage, so a win there would be a real bonus.
And then we entertain Arsenal? & we know what a home win that can do for our season?
So let's hope the Boys really turn it on, and give us fans, something to really get excited about?
Phil Walling
43 Posted 26/03/2014 at 18:57:15
For a manager for whom possession is everything, Peter’s stat of ’only’ 45% will not have made happy reading. But as Wayne says, what matters in the real world is how many of our chances went in.

It wasn’t the blessed ticca-tacky that won the game last night – it never is; it was the three words that started this thread. Pace. Goals. Killer Instinct.

Long may they reign.

Jimmy Kelly
44 Posted 26/03/2014 at 19:01:58
Wayne, I'd have to disagree entirely.

The performance last night was excellent, and nothing like recent games. For one, we actually had 'chances'. Not opportunities, not openings, but full blown chances. You've talked a lot recently about missing chances but the only time I can recall thinking 'he really should have scored that' in the past 4/5 away games was Barkley at arsenal, all the others have been decent efforts from range or scruffy opportunities. Last night there were a number of genuine chances where you would expect a goal, including the 3 we got.

Also, you surely must have noticed a massive tactical switch? It was a totally different set up last, geared up to countering at pace. The possession was secondary to the speed of attack for a change. The full backs got forward less, allowing the 3 attacking midfielders more space, and we ceded territory to allow us to counter, rather than defending high up the pitch.

If you can't see the difference between a real vibrant performance like last night and the dull battle of attrition at white hart lane I shouldn't be surprised that you can't see the potential that deulofeu has, but I still am.

Phil Walling
45 Posted 26/03/2014 at 19:20:27
Jimmy, you are right about the different tactics last night. Either Martinez ditched his ’filosofy’ or, as is more likely, the players ’took ownership’ of their performance.

ToffeeWebber’s béte noir, Ossie, had his best game for two years and capped a real skipper’s performance with the final, cracking goal.

Will the lads be allowed to play like that on Saturday? I sincerely hope so!

Tom Bowers
46 Posted 26/03/2014 at 19:10:32
If Delboy can't be sure of starting every game for the Blues it stands to reason that he will likely make himself available to other clubs.

The kid obviously is oozing talent which just needs some proper coaching. Much like the other young uns' at Goodison he wants a successful club and big money which the Blues may be hard pressed to match.

Chelski and Barcelona may want to cash in on that fact in the Summer. A Champions League place may however alter the scenario.

Mike Gaynes
47 Posted 26/03/2014 at 19:32:52
Jimmy (294) and Wayne (279), it's fascinating to contemplate Deulofeu's future and appreciate that we're getting the first glimpses. It's true that Geri isn't as developed as Messi or Neymar at the same age (20) and he'll never be a World XI like them, but I think the comparison is off-target because they're not the same kinds of players. Geri's going to grow up to be Pedro or Alexis Sanchez. Good enough for Barca? We're years away from knowing. But I think Wayne's scenario for him staying with us permanently is, unfortunately, a dream that can't come true.
Jim Bennings
48 Posted 26/03/2014 at 19:48:10
As passionate Evertonians who want to see our team do well in the present day and see big performances here and now, we can sometimes forget that the young players we have are in the infancy of their football careers.

Ross Barkley has not had a single full season yet, whilst Gerard Deulofeu has been in the Barcelona reserve team and had little first team experience before he made a brave bold decision at a young age to come and join us.

It is frightening to think how good Ross and Deulofeu could be in three or four years time.
I recall Christiano Ronaldo look very much the rough diamond in his first two years at Manchester United, but just look at the career he has had.

Then we have the ice cool 19 year old John Stones, again with little first team experience but if this lad is not a future England International I would be amazed.

Romelu Lukaku..20 years old, has had only one full season in the Premier League on loan at West Brom, even then playing mainly as a sub but still managed 17 goals.
Add to his 13 so far this season and his assists then you would have to say for a young guy with not much expperience behind him he is doing pretty good.

I am just slightly sad that we wont see Rom and very probably Gerard Deulofeu progress into even better players in the blue shirts of Everton.

I console myself in the knowledge that nobody could sign Ross Barkley without seriously breaking their bank, you really hope that will never happen though because I don't think the bank would be the only thing broken.
I can imagine Roberto Martinez, who rates Barkley so so much would be extremely saddened.

Darren Hind
49 Posted 26/03/2014 at 19:37:49
The change in tactics was obvious for all to see. The fast counter attacking football we saw last night was a million miles away from the slow laborious fayre that has been putting Goodison to sleep of late. . . .but to deny the manager credit for the change is IMO a tad churlish.

If we are going to criticise Martinez when its slow and predictable (and we should ) then surely we have to be even handedly and give him the credit when his side have played with pace and a swagger.

I'm a great believer of calling it as you see it. When RM decided he was going with GD he KNEW the kid was not going be content to keep possession, by selecting him RM made a conscious decision to go for the jugular. It worked a treat because he terrified Newcastle so did Barkley and gaps started to appear everywhere. . Ossie thought it was Chrimbo.

It's not about saving face or being right, its about being fair, by being prepared to try a bolder approach RM proved that he has other strings to his bow

10/10 for Martinez last night

Kevin Tully
50 Posted 26/03/2014 at 20:36:19
I don't think many would disagree we have far too pedestrian Darren, but hopefully the speed of play will increase the more we play this system. Pienaar's a good players but he does tend to slow us up in midfield.

Wayne Smyth
51 Posted 26/03/2014 at 20:27:43
Jimmy, had Anita's chance gone in, and had they managed to scramble a second of someone's elbow or arse in the 92nd minute to get a draw, I can't imagine I'd be coming here today to read about our vibrant performance and how the performance was great.

No, I'd be reading how we can't defend and how our performance was poor. Anita not scoring was nothing to do with our defending being better and everything to do with his finish being shit.

In truth the performance last night was good and the result was great....but our performances have generally been good, but results poor recently. You wouldn't think that from the way many fans over react.

If you can't remember any real chances from previous games, this just goes to highlight my point that the result is clouding your judgement of the football played over the 90 minutes.

Terry causes confusion in our box in stoppage time at Stamford Bridge and we end up with a Howard own goal, and suddenly the performance at Chelsea was no longer any good and we created no decent chances.

Forget Cech's tip over from Osmans 20 yard strike in the first half, or Cech's stunning reaction save from Osman's strike in the second half that took a nick of Mirallas. No we didn't create masses, but then away to Chelsea neither did they...and thats one of the reasons our performance was good.

At Spurs we also had good chances, with Lloris doing well to stop an Osman volley, one of 4 chances he had within a 10 minute period. But because we lost that game due to an individual error, it was "shit" performance.

Most people who post on here are rarely subjective and able to separate the result from the performance. Martinez has said basically what I'm saying on many occasions, that some of our recent losses have strangely also been good performances.

As for Deulofeu, there are lots of current "superstars" who will not be good enough for Barcelona. I'm not saying he's not going to be a great player. I'm sure he will be one of the top 10 wingers in the world and a regular for Spain, but I still think the chances of him being good enough for the best team in the world are very slim. Sadly as Mike says, he may end up being too good for us too and going to a Chelsea, PSG or Juventus.

Wayne Smyth
52 Posted 26/03/2014 at 20:59:48
Sorry, should have said people are rarely objective, not rarely subjective.
David Hallwood
53 Posted 26/03/2014 at 21:02:19
Great report Lyndon; unfortunately I only saw the highlights on the OS, but 3 quality goals and although everyone's concentrating on Ross' wonder goal-quite rightly so, special mention should be given to the Ossie's goal, which would have done justice to the 1970 Brazil side.

Its game on for a CL spot, won't be easy but key players are coming back to form/fitness, so why not.

Jimmy Kelly
54 Posted 26/03/2014 at 21:00:24
Wayne, how many of our goals last night were from 20 yards? None. How many of the two 'chances' you mention at Chelsea were from 20 yards? Two. Do you seriously not see the difference?

Of course 'if' we'd conceded two more goals and scored one less then I'd be less happy but that would be because it has a material effect on the performance, nothing to do with perception.

Against spurs they scored with about 35 minutes left and we made their keeper make no saves in that time. If you want to put that down to bad luck then fine, to me it just shows that we didn't actually play that well.

Wayne Smyth
55 Posted 26/03/2014 at 21:20:08
Jimmy, league leaders Chelsea away who've not lost at Stamford bridge for something like 70 games and highly inconsistent mid-table Newcastle away whose manager isn't allowed in the stadium, do you seriously not see the difference?

To answer your question more fully, our 3rd goal against Newcastle was from outside the area from what I recall.

Against Chelsea, Osmans 20 yard strike was superb after some brilliant link up play and was heading for the roof of the corner of the net were it not for a good save from Cech. This was not some shitty speculative effort that was made after a long-ball. This was a well worked effort involving good build up play from several players on the left before it was worked infield to Osman....against one of the best teams in Europe.

Mirallas had an effort from about 10 yards out heading for the net, but blocked by a last ditch challenge by a Chelsea player. Jags had a header from the penalty spot go just wide. Importantly we restricted one of the best sides in the league to fuck all chances over a 90 minute period. Our performance was very good bearing in mind the quality of the opposition and the fact that we were without Lukaku.

You say that any goals Newcastle scored would've materially affected our performance and thats where I disagree. Its a subtle point of difference, but I think if we let them in and they don't take their chances because they can't finish, it should still affect our performance. In this case it was just shit finishing by him and we can take no real credit for having not conceded.

Consequentially, the result is largely irrelevant when it comes to determining performance. You can get battered for 90 minutes, your woeful defending only saved by even more shocking finishing and then go up the other end and get a goal in the last minute. You win, but it's still a shit performance. Play like that 10 times and you'll lose it 9 times.

Happened to us against Sunderland too where we battered them with 10 men yet lost. Good performance, but shit result, not that some on here could see that.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that because its clear that you have your opinion, which you're perfectly entitled to, and I have mine which I'm not going to change.

Barry Stevens
56 Posted 26/03/2014 at 21:52:11
Good 3 away points, and puts us in a good position to push on. A game on Sunday at a ground we don't have the best of records at. Get a result there, and defeat for Arsenal will tee the following weeks game up nicely.

Thing is though. Do we want Champions league? I'd like the fact we've beat one of the so called big boys to it, and it's a big middle finger to the media but we would have little chance of success. Playing in Europa could give us silverware.

Tom Bowers
57 Posted 26/03/2014 at 22:01:46
Make no mistake that was a great result against the Barcodes. They have talent of their own and to hold them goalless on their own patch was quite an achievement. The aforementioned youngsters played like seasoned veterans and we all hope it carries forward to Sunday at the Cottage.

I know it's been an iffy ground to win at over the years but that was under Moyes and although like a few teams recently Fulham will be full of fight another performance like last night should be enough to get the points.

Fulham will have to come at Everton and that should suit Delboy and Ross.

If City can win at the Emirates against declining Arsenal then it would be great all around for the Blues.

Lyndon Lloyd
58 Posted 26/03/2014 at 22:20:59
Barry: "Thing is though. Do we want Champions league?"

Absolutely 100% yes!

It's not about our chances of winning the thing, it's about guaranteed millions in TV revenue, exposure, the raised profile of the club, the ability to attract better players. It's our holy grail and the first step towards being able to challenge again for the real Holy Grail!

Jimmy Kelly
59 Posted 26/03/2014 at 21:54:55
That's fine Wayne.

I think where your argument falls down quite spectacularly is that you're arguing as though I said the Chelsea performance was poor, when in actual fact - as I said on a different thread earlier - I thought it was good. I just thought to say it was 'no different' to last night was rather bizarre as they were totally different, both tactically and in execution. I was quite clear, I thought, that I was talking about the tactical difference with regards to our attacking play.

Of course Chelsea are better than Newcastle, that's why I thought Chelsea was a decent performance despite the result. Similarly I thought the performances at arsenal in December and against Liverpool at home were very good, despite not winning any of them. Conversely I thought wins against Swansea (league and cup), Cardiff and even the 4-1 win against Fulham were not very good. Note that these views do not appear to be influenced by the score line.

You, however, do appear to be suffering from the affliction you're accusing others of. You say Chelsea had 'fuck all chances', which really is selective memory. Howard made an excellent double save from hazard, they had 25 shots, 8 on target and I recall lampard strolling into our box to a position he would score from 90 % of the time only to make a total hash of his effort.

Your point about the 'subtle difference' is also flawed as I still think a 2-1 win would have shown it to be a good performance - you will note I have never said the performance was perfect and therefore conceding 1 goal would not alter my biew of it. Your totally hypothetical scenario where their best chance goes in AND they score again is just pointless as it never looked like happening.

Barry Stevens
60 Posted 26/03/2014 at 22:47:40
I hear what you're saying, Lyndon, but that didn't happen last time. I remember the anticipation of the big name new arrivals that never came.

I'd just prefer the scenario of winning Europa, then hitting Champions League the following season a la Mourinho's Porto.

Mike Gaynes
61 Posted 27/03/2014 at 02:33:25
Barry, if we made the Champions League I would love to see what Roberto would do with a full summer to make the team strong enough to compete. I think folks who were disappointed in the January transfer results were victims of high expectations... the fact is that major moves in January are pretty hard to pull off.

But summer is different. Remember Roberto didn't get the job until June and had to start cold with no preparation, yet his haul was dazzling -- Lukaku, Barry, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Kone (who will still prove out I believe), Alcaraz and Robles. Now think about what he could do in a full summer just on loans, with deals that he is no doubt already laying the groundwork for.

We're nowhere near ready for Europe right now... but if we get qualify, I'll bet the mortgage that Roberto will have us ready by the time the competition starts. Give the man a chance.

Jason Davenport
62 Posted 27/03/2014 at 03:33:36
Both Barry and Gerrard are one yellow card away from a 2 match ban. Both are key players for their respective clubs. We are challenging for 4th while the Shite are going for the title. It will be interesting to see which one will get another yellow before mid-April. I will put my money on Barry.
Julian Wait
63 Posted 27/03/2014 at 03:42:41
Champions League - yes! I am fed up of traveling around the world to see Man City and Chelsea shirts (not to mention the obvious ....).

I mean, seriously, if you'd said that in the 1980's or most of the 90's you would have been judged insane. We've missed the boat and we need to raise our profile to be able to compete for investment, players, TV time, and world exposure. Otherwise, we're perennial also-rans.

NVNG

(Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained)

Darren Hind
64 Posted 27/03/2014 at 04:34:14
Nobody is being blinded by results. Our performances against Spurs and Chelsea and the one we saw on Tuesday are chalk and cheese.

Against Spurs and Chelsea, we racked up possession stats and we had a couple of long range efforts, but rarely ( if at all ) did we see the whites of their goalies eyes, we simply were not bold enough. All our work was done in front of their back fours.
Last night we had players driving at the Newcastle defence and getting behind them, they just couldnt cope with it.

We deserved to lose those games at Stamford Bridge and at WHL because ( as we have done on several occasions this season ) we defended free kicks with about as much resolve of Jan Molby in a
cake shop. . . John Terry didnt cause confusion, we shit ourselves. Contrast that to the desire and bravery our lads showed in the face of a Newcastle side reknowned for loading up the box with half a dozen thugs every time they get a free kick or corner.

Tiki Taka does not need to be sacrificed, it merely needs to be complimented with drive and purpose.

Matt Traynor
65 Posted 27/03/2014 at 07:25:13
Barry #338, last time when we qualified for the CL Qualification round, it was as unexpected as it was welcome. However, Moyes was still turning the squad round. Don't forget the previous season we'd finished 17th, lowest post-war points total etc. and sold our best prospect in generations. The opening game was a 4-1 home defeat to Arsenal that had our then skipper, Kevin Campbell, suggesting that we'd take the same finishing position again...

I was in Thailand for the pre-season friendly, and whilst you couldn't read anything into it (the Thai U-23 team coped well with the heat/humidity, but we, Bolton and Man City struggled) you could see that the squad was painfully weak.

There was the debacle with Kroldrup - we were out of Europe before he even kicked a ball, and he was moved on again in no time.

Credit to Moyes where it's due for ultimately turning that squad around, but that squad that finished 4th did so more due to the inconsistency and inability of the teams behind us to catch us up.

If you need a reminder, look at our run of results in the 2nd half of that season.

If by some miracle we did finish 4th, we'd be there on merit having got there at the expense of some hugely expensive squads. The starting point would be very different from 2005. (I'm not sure the end result would be any different though!)

Phil Walling
66 Posted 27/03/2014 at 10:42:03
Totally agree it would be great to have another stab at Champions League although with a small squad I would fear the impact on our Prem performance if we were to be lumbered with the Europa farce.

I think that ECL qualification would ensure money was made available to RM whilst with the lesser competition he would be expected to make do and mend!

Kieran Fitzgerald
67 Posted 27/03/2014 at 11:22:03
I don't think we will get much more out of CL qualification than a large cheque. Outside of the UK and Ireland, we will just be one of those faceless minnows that are there to make up the numbers.

I think that there will not be a lot of extra cash made available by the Board in advance of any CL action. We may not have to sell, and may get enough for one decent signing, but that will be it.

James Newcombe
68 Posted 27/03/2014 at 12:27:32
Has anyone seen this joke of an article?

http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/26/why-everton-are-out-of-order-for-signing-so-many-loan-players-4679258/

Basically loans are fine as long as the players aren't any good, now get back in your box little Everton.

Phil Walling
69 Posted 27/03/2014 at 12:27:51
Keiran, don't be such an old curmudgeon. You are beginning to sound like Phil Walling!
David McKitt
70 Posted 27/03/2014 at 12:38:10
James 409: That is probably one of the worst, most nonsensical posts I've ever read! ... like.. ever!!
Kevin Tully
71 Posted 27/03/2014 at 12:31:41
James - I posted months ago there would be a big stink over this if we did one of the 'big' teams out of a CL spot.

If we were 8th/9th you wouldn't hear a peep, but because we are doing well people are now looking more closely why a team with a negative net spend can outperform Spurs who have spent £100m.

If we do manage to make it to the CL, it will be even sweeter doing it with 3 or 4 loan players. I hope Troare can get fit to score the winner to take us there in the final game. (That's not to say our owners are a bunch of useless twats like.)

James Newcombe
72 Posted 27/03/2014 at 12:43:03
Kevin, unfortunately I can see some rules being amended if we did somehow squeak 4th. I wouldn't put anything past the elite Sky clubs.
Kevin Tully
73 Posted 27/03/2014 at 12:49:35
Absolutely James – I can just picture Wenger on the last day of the season ; "Zey have basically cheated zer vay to 4th spot by phoning every club in Europe begging zem for spare strikers."

Love it!!

Mike Corcoran
74 Posted 27/03/2014 at 13:36:04
So Phil Walling has now revised his long-held prediction of 7th to an expectation of finishing at least 6th.

We now await the official club response and Twitter meltdown, and collapse of the economy.

David Donnellan
75 Posted 27/03/2014 at 15:41:27
James #409, I read that blog, it sounds like sour grapes from a Newcastle fan, Loic Remy is their main man upfront, he has had a big impact on their team. Other teams in the league have their fair share of loan players, its just that ours have been pivotal to our team.
It makes no sense, that blog, basically you can have loan players but only if they are shit & it doesn't propel your team towards the money elite top teams & heaven forbid their 'god given right' to the top four.
If Ronaldo fell out with his boss at Real Madrid & they decided to loan him out for a season, you would have every top team in this country tripping over themselves to get him. The guy who wrote this blog is an idiot.
For the record, I am not a massive fan of the loan system, but while it is legal & in place, why not utilise it like any other team in the league (including Newcastle) can. He wants to stop his whining, 3-0! get over it!
Jon Withey
76 Posted 27/03/2014 at 21:41:01
I don't think it is beyond the realms of possibility that we have a manager who can adapt tactics.

Tikki-takka as needed, counter-attacking as needed.

It's encouraging that he has been tinkering with the team and tactics as injuries and form have changed too. We've had to muddle through a bad period without Ross, Lukaku and Deulofeu...our best attacking players. It's certainly a shame that two of those are loans, I'd buy either in a heart beat.

Interesting that we have been getting Stones over Alcaraz but good for the future.

If only we had a precocious young striker and keeper, we'd have the spine of a new team !


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