Last-minute travesty denies Everton win

After an even first half, two goals came thanks to brilliant crosses from Leighton Baines, the first converted inadvertently by Terry, the second a superb volley on the turn from Mirallas. But a dreadful mix-up between Howard and Jagielka let Chelsea back in, and they were soon level off a deflection. After resisting further onslaught, Funes Mori put Everton back into the lead in the 91st minute, only for Terry to steal a draw in the 8th minute of added time.

Michael Kenrick 16/01/2016 297comments  |  Jump to last

After Bryan Oviedo was stretchered off with another serious-looking injury, John Stones was asked to fill in at right back again
Chelsea 3-3 Everton

After an even first half, two goals came thanks to brilliant crosses from Leighton Baines, the first converted inadvertently by Terry, the second a superb volley on the turn from Mirallas. But a dreadful mix-up between Howard and Jagielka let Chelsea back in, and they were soon level off a deflection. After resisting further onslaught, Funes Mori put Everton back into the lead in the 91st minute, only for Terry to steal a draw in the 8th minute of added time.

Kevin Mirallas got a rare start at Stamford Bridge for today's game against Chelsea, along with Bryan Oviedo, with Deulofeu and Funes Mori on the bench.

The game started in fairly pedestrian form, with Chelsea kicking off and making most of the early play until Everton put together a decent passing move to bring in Mirallas down the left but Barkley's shot was blocked.

Mirallas forced Everton's first corner, which Baines swung in well but neither Stones nor Lukaku could convert it. Fabregas got a knee in the back from Bryan Oviedo. Howard gathered a strong high cross. Barkley was fouled by Costa but the free-kick was wasted. Lennon then collided with Mikel, Everton perhaps showing a willingness to mix it a little?

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Baines was fouled but nothing given by the ref and Chelsea surged into attack, Willian lashing a shot on goal that Howard was well placed to bat away for a corner that he then gathered. At the other end, a nice ball dinked forward to Mirallas saw him finish but he was offside.

A great move should have produced more but Barkley was again blocked and Oviedo's first-time strike skewed wide of the post. Fabregas decided to press Stones in defence, forcing him to play the ball around. Lukaku got a sniff of a shot but scuffed it very poorly when a clean contact was the minimum requirement.

Costa was very strong, driving in along the byeline until Baines stepped across him, drawing the foul. Lukaku again got another sight of goal but was far too weak in allowing Zouma to command the ball.

Everton needed to be strong in defence, Jagielka getting his head to a dangerous cross, denying Costa, who was making threatening runs that were thankfully offside. Barkley had a marvellous chance to create something but his ball to Mirallas was hopelessly poor. Barkley and Lukaku then passed to eachother on the edge of the Chelsea area and contrived to lose the opportunity.

Barkley got free but had no support; however, strong play from Mirallas won another corner that Baines again delivered well. Some excellent control by Barkley saw a great ball that surprised Mirallas and ran out for a goal-kick. Everton had acquitted themselves well enough, containing the Chelsea threat, but were not completing promising moves with anything approaching a strike on goal.

Stones again was tempted to run the ball forward but ran into a cul-de-sac. Then he was required to play a free-kick upfield but the result was horrible, and it led to a Chelsea corner that fortunately curled out. Mirallas ran across the top of the Chelsea area and put in a great shot that forced a superb save from Courtois.

Everton were getting space and time to bring the ball forward and were putting together some great play in midfield but the crucial pass to create a chance seemed repeatedly lacking at the business end of the field. At the back, they had been solid, and there seemed no reason why improved defence should translate into a lack of inventiveness and belief going forward with the ball into the Chelsea area in the first half.

Despite kicking off the second half, it was a lively restart from Chelsea as Everton possession was squandered cheaply. Mirallas got forward but was driven wide and his shot was ineffective. Jagielka tried the long ball and Lukaku beat Terry to it but could not direct it to a white shirt.

A great move involving Lukaku and Barkley ended with a fantastic cross by Baines that Terry could only deliver into his own net, much to the delight of the traveling fans, as Everton took the lead after 50 minutes.

Another tremendous piece of play, robbing Chelsea in midfield, saw Mirallas pass out to Barkley who smashed a tremendous shot past Courtois but onto the face of the near post... deserved a goal but it was not to be. Oscar replaced Matic.

Another wonderful move from Everton, started by a drive from Barkley into a wall of four players, out to Lennon, who drove around, passed to Baines and a brilliant cross to pick out Mirallas who fired home in superb style.

Chelsea were not going to lie down, and some determined play forced a great one-handed save by Howard and a splendid block by Jagielka. This led to dangerous corners that were defended as Everton rode the anger and frustration of the home side and their crowd. More strong defending required, and Everton seemed to have weathered the storm until Fabregas bamboozled Jagielka and Howard into an awful muddle and he walked the ball into the net behind them.

Moments later, the home side were level, this time, a Fabregas shot took a big deflection beating Howard and the tremendous advantage had been squandered in a few crazy minutes. Oviedo defended a shot, taking the full force of on his lower leg, and it was a depressing sight to see the lad stretchered off, Funes Mori returning to the Everton defence with 10 stitches in a head wound from last weekend, as Stones moved out to right-back.

Everton were struggling to resist the onslaught, and could not play the ball out of their own half. Chelsea were pressing high, and creating another fearsome chance, Azpilicueta who failed to convert from 5 yards. A great ball up to Mirallas should have produced Everton's third but this time, with more space, Mirallas allowed Courtois to close down the angle and kick the ball away.

Costa went down and eventually hobbled off. Baines had to block a fearsome strike from Willian with his body. Martinez made a double change: Deulofeu and Pienaar replacing Mirallas and Lennon, so essentially like for like... except that after some confusion, it was in fact Barkley and not Mirallas who went off.

Everton were under the cosh at times, and were unable to get Deulofeu into the game, each foray forward when they did usually ending in a cheap turnover, and Funes Mori did well to dribble away from Remy. Crosses were finally swung in from Stones (right) and Baines (left) but were simply not good enough.

Deulofeu whipped in a fantastic ball for Lukaku but it was too clever for the big man to control but it did win a corner and there on the far post was Funes Mori in front of Lukaku to finish acrobatically in the 91st minute, his great celebration earning him a yellow card as the Evertonians went completely mad.

But SEVEN minutes of added time... Chelsea threatened from a corner and kept pushing Everton back as they sought another 3-3 draw, Willian firing a deflected shot inches wide. Everton tried to play out the final minutes but gave up possession once again, and were forced to defend desperately as the seconds ticked away, Stones lashing the ball away. But it came back and, with now 8 minutes of added time played, Terry was allowed to bundle the ball past Howard with his heel from a blatantly offside position.

A shocking end to the game, but nothing more than we have come to expect with Everton and poor officiating from Premier League referees.

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Jason Murray
1 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:17:32
Mirallas on the left, Lennon on the right. Barry, Besic, Barkley as a three. Jags and Stones with Oviedo filling in at right back. I'm sure you can guess the other positions!
Brent Stephens
2 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:21:07
Or Lennon staying deeper with Ross given a more forward role?
Tony Hill
3 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:21:10
Why drop Funes Mori after Wednesday?
Tony Hill
4 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:21:57
Funes Mori and Jagielka are a better pair.
John Jones
5 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:22:21
Positive – Mirallas gets a starts, he had to take this chance I really hope hes up for this!!!

Negative – He has dropped our best player in recent weeks in Funes Mori, perhaps giving his head a chance to heal. He will have to head a ball today, he didn't have to both against Aguero.

COYB

Jay Wood
6 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:23:12
That's an excellent 'sim miedo' starting XI.
Craig Mills
7 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:24:02
A really strong looking line-up but I feel a bit for Funes Mori, I don’t think he deserves to be dropped on current form.
Derek Turner
9 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:33:03
Two wingers and Besic doing his thing. Good stuff. Let's hope Howard is switched on today.
Frank Sheppard
10 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:35:10
That's a great starting 11, what a pleasant surprise!
Barry Pearce
11 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:36:38
I feel for Funes Mori, he doesn’t deserve to be benched.

Stones should have been on form anyway.

Geoff Evans
12 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:36:46
Super Tim in goal, ah well.
Mark Frere
13 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:42:30
I like the starting line-up - no complaints from me.
Gareth Clark
14 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:46:23
Perfect selection!

Give Funes Mori a break with his head gash, even though he was very good against Man City!

Lennon’s defensive ability will allow Mirallas to focus on attack!

Deulofeu needs a break, and off the bench for Barkley would be my choice!

Hopefully Oviedo is switched on & Howard is as good as he was against Man City!

Well done, Roberto!

Abhishek Saha
15 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:47:15
Oviedo in shows an attacking intent I guess!

Lennon and Oviedo overlapping each other!

COYB!

Brian Porter
16 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:49:46
Funes Mori receives a typical Martinez reward for his best performance in a blue shirt... a place on the bench. He should be there on form, well ahead of Stones, and looked solid with Jags against Man City.
Chris Gould
17 Posted 16/01/2016 at 14:52:03
I would have much preferred Funes Mori to Stones, but Stones has to play and stay in the shop window.

On a positive note: two wingers shows attacking intent and I'm happy Oviedo gets another chance to show what he can do.

Jim Hardin
19 Posted 16/01/2016 at 15:01:38
Stones in at center back, time for Chelsea to attack the box with cross after cross targeting him. Hope he stops letting the opposing players use him as a ladder.
Trevor Lynes
20 Posted 16/01/2016 at 15:52:56
Barkley's passing needs some coaching.
Joe Duffin
21 Posted 16/01/2016 at 16:29:18
Howard at fault for first one, he should have gone through everyone – but his biggest problem is he is afraid of getting hurt – same reason why he is afraid of crosses.

Then Stones gives the ball away again and, a short time after, a fluke deflection allows them to equalise, in a game they haven't had a shot on target in. If we don't get 3 points this will be an embarrassment. (And not Martinez's fault – but the players!)

Joe Duffin
22 Posted 16/01/2016 at 16:42:02
Still raging – still shouting at TV, wife, kids, raging...
Gavin Johnson
23 Posted 16/01/2016 at 16:55:23
8 MINUTES & OFFSIDE... WTF!!
Dave Ganley
24 Posted 16/01/2016 at 16:57:50
Fucking defence is fucking useless!!!
Si Turner
26 Posted 16/01/2016 at 16:58:01
WHAT A SHAM!!!!

8 minutes ET and it was blatantly offside!

Richard Reeves
27 Posted 16/01/2016 at 16:59:16
Mike Jones, what a twat!
Patrick Murphy
28 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:00:24
It wasn't even a close call for the offside: Terry was miles off.

But when are Everton going to learn to close a game out? Up 2-0 and cruising... one error and, before we know where we are, it’s level because the panic sets in.

Then, you think we’ve nicked it... only to capitulate yet again. It’s great for people who aren’t bothered who wins but, for the Blues, it’s yet another giant kick in the teeth.

Colin Glassar
29 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:00:29
You can't beat a crooked ref as the old saying goes. This guy must've been groomed by Mark Clattenberg.
Shane Corcoran
30 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:01:11
Michael, I know you're fuming, as am I, but I presume you'll regret and remove the headline at some stage.
Mike Watson
31 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:01:13
How could this happen twice in the same season? Roberto must go.
Gavin Johnson
32 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:01:19
We were robbed. I feel for the lads and Martinez. The refereeing was a complete joke!!

It was a spirited performance that deserved a win. I don't think there should be any criticism about how we played this evening.

Patrick Murphy
33 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:02:09
Some tasty tackles in that game too Colin and just the one yellow card for Funes Mori’s celebration.
Stephen Smith
34 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:02:36
Irrespective of the extra time, we fucked up again.

This season is sending me round the bend... another draw feels like a defeat.
Oscar Huglin
35 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:02:49
8 minutes of added time and an obviously offside equaliser, but don't worry everyone, Chelsea's revival under Hiddink is still going. The narrative is more important.
John Beesley
36 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:02:59
Are Everton involved with far eastern betting syndicates? Cos, if they are not, what the fuck is going on?
Karl Jones
37 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:03:24
What other team can have thrown away so many leads so cheaply. Defence is an absolute shambles. Worst I've ever known, and that includes the Mike Walker days. No chance of Europe or a trophy this season. The mentality is unbelievably poor.
Joe Duffin
38 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:03:29
Apoplectic now – so angry – not only giving away to crap goals, but then to have a third one in an extra extra minute added on, and for it to be Terry and him offside – shocker!
Jay Woods
39 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:03:33
Another win thrown away because we can't defend, regardless of the dodgy refereeing. If matches lasted 80 minutes, we'd be top 4 or near it.
Colin Glassar
40 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:03:34
There will be Gavin, there will be. A deflected goal and an offside goal 60 seconds after added time was up by all accounts.
Patrick Murphy
41 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:03:52
Just one more thing to add: I’ve argued for years that timekeeping should be taken off the man in the middle, it should be similar to rugby, when the hooter sounds the next time the ball goes out of play, game over.
Ian Riley
42 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:04:11
Just defend!! Who is the bloody hell is our defensive coach??? Sack him now!!! Offside, so, we were 2-0 up!! That is the difference between a top manager and Martinez!! Happening to often!!
Joe O'Brien
43 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:04:34
Unbelievable... If Chelsea hadn’t equalised even by this time, we would still be playing... what a farce!
Craig Fletcher
44 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:04:56
I have no words. Why even bother competing in the Premier League when the refs are all in Abramovic’s pocket?

What a farce.

Shane Corcoran
45 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:05:17
Gavin and Colin, are you seriously saying that there was nothing to criticise in that performance?
Dave Ganley
46 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:05:22
Patrick (#24) spot on. The goal may be offside but we just can't close games out. Panic stations. We should have won that game at a canter.
Ian McDowell
47 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:05:51
Same old story. Cannot defend, another 90+ minute equaliser. Cant keep a lead. Depressing. Mid-table mediocrity at best.
Dave Pritchard
48 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:06:10
Remember Barkley in the crowd against Bournemouth and ref adds on extra minute. Funes Mori did the same. Players do not learn and need slamming. Blame the ref if you want but the players have to take the blame for me.
Andy Meighan
49 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:07:09
Blame the ref all you like but we were two-up, blew that. Then, leading going into the last minute of added on time, and we blew that. How many late goals have we conceded this season? It's laughable.

We will never win there. They'll never be that poor again and we won't have a better chance than what we had today. I feel like someone has kicked me in the balls with a pair of steel toecaps...

I hate you, Everton, I really do.
Gavin Johnson
50 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:07:41
John Terry - "We were unlucky to win the game" What a weapon!!
Tony Hill
51 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:07:43
The cold truth is that we do not have the hardness of mind to win games. We allowed them back into it from 0-2 with shabby defending and their final goal should never have mattered.

Blaming the referee or deflections is a delusion.

We have no courage or cunning and we repeatedly pay the price. There will be those tonight who will say that the manager is not to blame but he left out our best defender in Funes Mori and he is responsible for the fact that the team is hopelessly soft.

I have had enough for this season and indeed until this ridiculous Board and manager are gone.

Martin O'Sullivan
52 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:08:31
So the big problems still exist!!! Can't close a game out or defend ffs!!! Bad referring and 8 mins extra but that's no excuse Bobby can't organise a defence and that's it.... Sick of this same old problem..
Colin Hughes
53 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:08:37
I fucking hate Everton, always build up the fans hopes only to drop us from height.

Do our fans really want us to play the RedShite in the League Cup Final, the way our defence can’t hold on to anything?
Terry McLavey
54 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:08:52
Money talks in football, no more obvious than today! Have a nice holiday ref.

Oh, by the way, you can book Chelsea players if you want to... but I doubt you wanted to!
Tony Dove
55 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:09:20
Could not see any logic in changing the defence from the City game? As I have said before, Oviedo is not a right-sided player.
Gavin Johnson
56 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:11:24
Sorry, meant to say Terry says "We were unlucky not to win the game"

I'm still raging from the refereeing.

Mark Fitzgerald
57 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:11:45
So disappointing. Their equaliser was clearly offside and it was scored in the 98th minute when the final whistle should have been blown a minute earlier. The officials have an awful lot to answer for here... but of course, Everton will receive no satisfaction.

All that said, the Everton players just needed to see out the final few minutes to secure the three points and they failed. In the build up to that final goal, they had several chances to win challenges and clear the ball but failed.

A point at Stamford Bridge is usually a good result but this one leaves a sour taste. For once there should be no criticism of RM for a lost three points. There are far bigger culprits.

Mike Oates
58 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:11:47
Even though it was terrible decision re Terry’s goal, we only have ourselves to blame – we cant defend when teams throw in crosses, doesn’t matter whether it's our England starlets Stones and Jags or even Jags and Funes Mori, we can't stop crosses coming in, and teams score from crosses. City in the week try to work the ball in and we can cope with that but not crosses.

Martinez should be in there now bollocking every bloody player for creating extra time, Barkley at Bournemouth, Funes Mori today, refs just add on 1-2 mins when players go off into crowds, so instead of 7 it becomes 9 mins.

Tom Harding
59 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:12:17
I’m going to become a fully fledged toffee web member and whinge my head off. I can’t remember when I was last so angry about a referee. How can a goal 1 minute after 7 ridiculously long minutes of injury time be allowed? Being offside just adds extra salt but you have to wonder if that referee was perhaps bought with Russian money. This is a scandal and should go to Fifa.
Craig Mills
60 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:12:33
I remember Martinez saying we will learn after the Bournemouth game...

10 games later, we do exactly the same again. I don’t think I’d feel as bad if they’d just beaten us 5-0...
Terry McLavey
61 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:12:33
Gavin (#47),

The ref did his best for them!
Patrick Murphy
62 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:12:58
Colin (#45),

Most definitely not mate, we’ll probably have half a side available and we’d get mullered. Perhaps it would lead to the dismissal of the manager, put off the potential buyers as we sink down the table and we’re all left to pick up the pieces from another wasted season.

Everton can’t you just do something right for a change? Why is it so easy for most clubs but tantamount to climbing Everest for Everton?
Thomas Surgenor
63 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:13:46
Bias in a nutshell...

Funes Mori booked for his celebration. Terry wasn’t.

Sean Patton
64 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:13:53
Maybe offside fucking maybe are you seriously taking the piss. As Joe says you just cant keep on playing until they fucking score the time was up AGAIN and the referee fucked us over AGAIN. It is an absolute conspiracy there is simply no other explanation.
Jay Woods
65 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:14:01
Don't ever go looking for happiness in football, because it's impossible. Even Barca, Real and Bayern fans are discontent and annoyed most of the time.
Geoff Evans
66 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:15:24
Some will always make excuses and blame anyone at hand for their teams shortcomings, wake up and smell the coffee our defence are crap. Three games where we've scored three goals, two away, and two points gained. How much more fucking proof do some of you want, I've seen better defences playing in pub leagues and they play for nothing.
John Beesley
67 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:15:48
Colin (#45) spot on, this result is Everton all over, they just build you up all the time just to let you fucking down. Who the fucking hell does this happen to else where in the bastard world only Everton FC.

I should have been born in Wigan and been a rugby supporter... I've had just about all I can take lately; pissed right off with that.

Phil Sammon
68 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:16:24
Don't know how anyone can have a go at the team or manager after that.

Firstly, where did SEVEN minutes come from?

Secondly, where did EIGHT minutes come from?!

Subs, goals, time wasted...all allegedly added on at the end. I'm sorry, but when was the last time we needed a goal to win and were given EIGHT additional minutes. Absolute bollocks! I'm sick over this!

Michael Ward
69 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:16:29
I know it seems ridiculous when we have conceded 3 goals but I think it's too easy to go "poor defending". The first was a goalkeeping error, the second a massive deflection and the 3rd was offside. We were robbed today, no two ways about it.
Mike Oates
70 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:17:04
Stop this 'ref bias' crap. Terry was booked, the ref said 7 and allowed 8 + because of Funes Mori celebrating and the LINESMAN got it wrong.
Anto Byrne
71 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:17:17
Cruising at 2-0 and in control... yet, once again, it's the goalkeeper who lets them back in the game. If he's coming for the ball, he has to get it, regardless of who's in the way. He clatters into Jags who no doubt would have been quick enough to tackle Costa. It was a total embarrassment watching that debacle. Had they dealt with that, they could have run down the clock. Until we get that clown of a keeper out of the side, it will never change. Yes, we are all pretty sick the ref played 8 minutes plus and the goal was offside but the question I have is: Why didn't we just keep possession for the last few minutes, slow it down, and give it to the keeper to burn off seconds and then lump it 80 yards and out to Deulofeu? Fuck me, the game was over and why it went on for 8 minutes is beyond a fucking joke.
Barry Jones
72 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:17:37
Gutted. Way over time and offside. Also, surely Howard should have stopped it or made a better attempt than just stupidly flapping at it. It was a weak back heel in the middle of the goal.

I am not buying into Martinez opinion that one good performance against City makes him a good keeper. Just simple maths... He gains us a point against City but how many has he squandered with farcical keeping?
Shane Corcoran
73 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:18:30
Tom (#52), Terry was booked.

Phil (#56), whatever about seven minutes, Funes Mori’s celebration surely warranted the 56 seconds added on.

Ray Jacques
74 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:19:17
Martin, spot on. They will never change, despite the manager telling us before Xmas that lessons were being learned.

Same old same old, I turned off at 2 2 . Went downstairs to watch final score to be elated to see we were 3 2 up. Said to the missus ’they will score’ sure enough we oblige.

At 2 0 away from home the game should be seen out . That’s where the problem is, the last minute should then be irrelevant. Instead we give away a circus act of a goal where Jagielka lets the ball go over his head and Howard, well does his usual and a panic sets in.

You know what’s going to happen and it’s frustrating and horrible.

Phil Grayston
75 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:19:57
Can’t believe how some people on here persist with their criticisms of the team even when we’ve just been flagrantly cheated out of the three points: Funes Mori celebrated too much; Michael should change his headline; shambolic defending, blah, blah, blah.

RM went for it with attack-minded substitutions, and it very nearly paid off. Moyes used to get stick for being cowardly and defensive. So what do you want?

We should be launching a protest and demand an explanation for that ending. They were allowed to equalise with an offside goal 1 minute and 20 seconds over the already massive allowance of 7 minutes.

I am furious right now, but not with our team.

John Parker
76 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:20:05
From Funes Mori scoring to Chelsea kicking off, it took approx, 1:14, that’s where the added minute came from.

Offside goal but still poor defending, 30 secs before the goal, Deulofeu had chance to lump it upfield and just dinked it a few yards.

Bottom line is 6 wins all season is not good enough

Pete Gunby
77 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:20:28
In the 97th minute we cleared the ball to Deulofeu. If he clips it into the corner the game is over... we are not intelligent or composed enough to finish off a hard-earned win. It has happened too many times for it to be blamed on luck.
Craig Fletcher
78 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:20:52
Phil Sammon, agreed. The second Chelsea goal was a wicked deflection, the third, was, well, just bollocks – well offside.

The defending wasn’t great, certainly compared to the Man City game, but the footballing gods must really hate Everton this season.

Jeff Armstrong
79 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:21:32
Our ball retention for the last 3 minutes was pathetic, we just kept giving it back to them, the final attack and all the hand wringing it entailed would not have happened at all if we had been better with our possession.
Ajay Gopal
80 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:22:12
I don't blame the extra minute, I think the referee had a good game overall. It was the poor offside decision by the linesman that was shocking. Also, Stones (although I like him), was playing with fire all through the match, but he was not to blame for any of the goals. Jags had a shocker for the 1st one, the 2nd was an unlucky deflection and the 3rd we were just robbed.

Overall, I am so disappointed because this was one of the poorest Chelsea sides I have ever seem. They were shocking! We should have been 3-0 up and never allowed them back in. Barkley caused the defence all kinds of problems, but he and Stones I think have let the hype around them make them think they are bigger than who they are now. Time and again they gave away the ball in dangerous positions, putting pressure on our defence, when really Everton should have been strolling.

James Marshall
82 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:23:32
Taking stock a little on the game, the 7 minutes was due to Oviedo’s injury, plus say 3 or 4 minutes added on (normal for all games) plus the extra minute for Funes Mori jumping into the crowd and being booked – so, the 8 minutes was correct.

What was incorrect was the Terry goal – clearly offside.

John Austin
83 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:24:42
Lightening doesn’t strike twice they say. Unless you support Everton of course. Bournemouth, Stoke and now Chelsea. 5 points dropped in injury time. And it will continue unless we get somebody who can teach our defenders to do what they are highly paid to do – bloody defend!
Mark Fitzgerald
84 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:24:59
Phil @56, as gutted as you but I was watching the game on TV and the added 7 minutes came from all six subs being used (3 mins) and Oviedo being down for a number of minutes, with an apparent bad injury, and a stretcher was required.

The 8th minute, God knows, the Funes Mori celebration? And the offside, well there’s absolutely no excuse for that. As RM has just said, ’Diabolical’!
Michael Polley
85 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:25:03
Robbed and can the fucking linesman not do their job properly!!!

I need a drink to calm myself. One of the worst experiences I’ve had to endure...

Ian McDowell
86 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:25:11
Like Pete says, this has happened too often to be blamed on luck. 2-0 leads blown v Sunderland, Bournemouth, Norwich and today. Goals constantly conceded late on... inability to hold a lead. Sorry, it's just not good enough.
Paul Thompson
87 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:25:37
We can defend (see previous game). But we can’t close a game out. You can focus on the errors of individual players or officials, but the pattern is inescapable.

For a side that is supposed to be about possession above all, this is poor. We don’t retain the ball and keep disciplined. Not even sure that the short-term fix is. (Scapegoating Howard is the simpleton’s solution, though he should have done better with the first goal.)
Drew O'Neall
88 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:25:38
How come we can only ’manage’ a game when it’s nil - nil or we’re losing? As soon as we are in the lead, then the other team takes over.
Tony Hill
89 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:26:19
Last thing I’m going to say for a while: with Roberto Martinez as manager, Everton will continue to fail (Capital One Cup or not). There are too many who who think he’s just a refereeing decision or a change of luck away from glory. Dream on.
Barry Jones
90 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:26:54
I am beginning to think that we are out of our comfort zone with a lead. All the good things that we are doing before taking the lead evaporate into thin air once we have it. We stopped chasing and winning the second balls, looking slower to the tackle and inviting them to run at us.

I don’t think it is laziness; I think it is confidence in dealing with a lead. We do not know how to dominate and kill off a team. More than that, we are uncomfortable with it.

Mike Hughes
92 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:27:48
John (#68) – shouldn’t that be 7 points dropped in those 3 games in injury time? Add that to our league tally and it’s clear what a waste this season has been.
Paul Nicholls
93 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:28:28
Classic fucking Everton. Yes, we were hard done to. But seriously, 2-0 up, and then 3-2 up in added time. Blame the players, blame the manager, blame the ref, blame the linesman. Same story every game. Results don’t lie, we’re a mid-table team at the moment. Wigan, just better.
Mike Powell
94 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:29:57
I was proud of Everton today, we deserved to win. How can you not blame the ref? Costa should've been booked about four times and to play 98 mins and allow a blatant offside goal is unbelievable. Well played Everton and fuck-off ref, you twat.
Michael Kenrick
95 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:30:14
Yea, sorry, the 8 minutes were probably justified... I was just so livid we allowed them back in. Just maddening that we can't hold out.

Martinez calling it an incredible injustice... unfair... feeling of anger.

Shane Corcoran
96 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:32:23
Understandable Michael and fair play for admitting it.

Is there a chance the linesman didn’t think the last header actually made contact? If so, shouldn’t there be communication between officials?

I think the linesman’s job is difficult beyond belief but in this case it shouldn’t have been difficult.

Geoff Evans
97 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:32:54
Martinez is the best at what he does since Charlie Corolli.
Frank Kearns
98 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:34:11
Ah! Fuck it, we lost. A combination of crap defending, dim-witted officials and the will to win. Who gives a toss when you get paid, win or lose?

Me, I’d only pay them if they won... it might brighten their ideas up.
Paul Ellam
99 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:35:02
Defending of this nature is why players like Lukaku will never stay long term with us. Why would they? We can’t offer them any hope of winning silverware when we can’t hold on to leads or close out games. How many times have we led and dropped points this season? I’m guessing we’ve done it in about 10 games now! How many points is that?

It is also the reason why top quality players won’t join us. I mean, we are plodding along in mid table with no prospects of challenging for Champions League places so many will be put off (Yarmolenko for example). We seriously need to sort this out or we will drift on for another 20 years without a trophy!

Some will disagree but I believe we are massively under achieving with the players we have. We have 3 of the "supposed" best defenders in England. Plus Jagielka. Yet we concede goals like a Sunday league team. It’s just not good enough.

John Austin
100 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:35:03
Mike. I'm too angry to add up properly!
Tom Roberts
101 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:35:25
6 wins in 22 league games says it all for me. Please replace Martinez while we are still a Premier League side. I say it every week but a quality manager would have Everton in the top 4 this season. Without any shadow of a doubt.

So very frustrating watching a wasted opportunity. Some of the bottom teams have started winning games while we continue to draw at best. Never mind, I’m just being negative...

Too right I am, any Martinez fans, please check his CV. He has previous...
Michael Ward
102 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:36:50
Funes Mori was not in the crowd for a minute. The 45 mins of the second half normal time had 4 goals a serious injury and 6 substitutions, if that equals 7 minutes there is no way one goal celebration equals 1 minute additional time in 7 mins of play.
Graham Morris
103 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:37:53
Nothing new there then. It’s happened before and it will happen again.
We need new owners who have to make a brave decision to sack this manager despite all the media bullshit about what a lovely entertaining team we are to watch.

We need a manager to tell Barkley to stop giving the ball away in dangerous positions and to work hard at getting it back. Tell Stones to stop posing on the edge of his box. Drop Howard. Organise the defence and instruct clearly how to see out a game.

Has anybody noticed the Middlesbrough managers recent record – no goals conceded in 9 games..... Dream on!!

Shane Corcoran
104 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:38:29
With regards to the controllables, I thought Lukaku was very poor. Barkley found space well to get on the ball but used it very poorly in my opinion.

I thought Jagielka was excellent apart from the catastrophic five minutes where they got their two goals. That sort of sums our captain’s career up.

Lennon and Mirallas were good also I thought.

As someone already said, on seven minutes Deulofeu had the ball and it was played back and whacked up to nobody instead of working it towards the corner.

Sean Patton
105 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:39:30
The linesman or assistant ref was just following his remit of simply allowing an equaliser no matter what time it was scored or what rules of the game were broken.

I mean, god almighty, it should never have stood – that is the be-all and end-all.

Ajay Gopal
106 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:39:59
Lukaku, Mirallas, Barkley were brilliant offensively. Besic was disappointing, to be honest. He did not impose himself on the match as much as I though he should, but certainly not poor. Barry was superb as usual, but for a player of his stature I just think that he does not command the team enough for everyone around to look up to him.

Howard made some very good saves before they scored their opener. The only poor decision that Martinez made (in my opinion) was bringing on Pienaar, he was quite anonymous. Someone like Naismith brought on towards the end would have probably kept the lead.
Christy Ring
107 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:42:13
Our defending was an absolute shambles again. We were 2-0 up and coasting, and yet again a mix up between the Jag and Howard changed the game. Terry’s goal in the 8th minute of added time??? And offside, both SHOCKING decisions by the ref; I’m LIVID.

How many times have we thrown away a winning position this season?

Dave Abrahams
108 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:43:53
On the game itself, that’s the first time I’ve seen a report on here, and all the comments and Barry hasn’t been mentioned, not even on the live forum.

Gutted with the result; Chelsea are a very poor team at the moment, we’ll all season and we can’t beat them even with a two-goal lead. Everton, Everton... where the fuck are you?

So frustrating and I can’t see them improving under this manager. Roll on the next match, how I and thousands of us haven’t got ulcers... it would drive you to drink... or poison.

Jay Wood
109 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:44:13
"Are you Bournemouth in disguise???"

Gut wrenching as it was to replicate the scoring pattern of the Bournemouth game, this was a MASSIVE improvement on that debacle and poor game management by Everton.

Step back a little bit everybody. Don’t all leap to your default blame positions, or target your personal Everton hate figure.

Today’s performance, added to the recent performances home and away to City, gives me huge encouragement as to how the team is developing.

The commentators had called it a dull first half. No, it wasn’t. It was a half largely dominated and controlled by Everton who were the better of Chelsea all over the pitch. The quality of our football and game management was top notch.

It continued at the start of the 2nd half when our play got two goals it had deserved. We were on easy street. A long lump forward from Chelsea causes the first confusion in the Everton defence all afternoon and (apologies to Jim Hardin...), but Howard makes the wrong call coming out to where he did. Easy tap in for Costa.

Two minutes later, and Chelsea are level with a deflected goal their play had not deserved. Naturally buoyed by that and the home crowd baying for me, Everton wobbled for the 1st time and were further disrupted with the injury to Oviedo.

Still, we regrouped, could have added a 3rd with Mirallas, did add a 3rd with Ramiro. We were running the clock down nicely until Gerry gave it away on the half way line with now 98 minutes approaching. The ball that gave Terry his goal scoring chance is clearly headed on by a Chelsea player, putting him offside.

Yes, again, we threw away a winning position, but I for one am not overly despondent, even though it would have been nice to record a 1st league win at Chelsea in 20 years. I thought, in the main, the defence was very solid today with Jags back at the heart of it and Baines in top form. There was a solidity, a ’joined-upness’ throughout the whole team which has largely been absent this season.

We just had no luck today. The quality of our football, for the most part, deserved far more than the final result gave us.

John Austin
110 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:45:05
I'm trying to convince myself that a point away to Chelsea is a good result. But it's not, all things considered, and I hope the players and manager are hurting as much as we are. I need a drink.
Barry Jones
111 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:45:37
Agree Christy, Chelsea’s first goal was a disaster. Jags is supposed to be one of the quickest players in the league. He had the advantage on Costa when the ball was played over the top but he was outpaced and outmuscled by Costa. Howard had committed himself half-way and was in no-man's land.
Geoff Evans
112 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:46:11
It’s now almost one win in every six attempts; phenomenal spin, from a phenomenal, bullshitting politician.
Graham Mockford
113 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:48:28
Michael (#91),

The goal was scored before the 90 was up, the board went up for 7 minutes and by the time the game restarted the clock was at 91 mins and 30 secs, so we can’t really complain on that point.

Of course it was a fucking mile offside

Eddie Dunn
114 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:49:45
Pete Gunby (#65) is spot on. Brain-dead players:

1. Funes-Mori jumps in crowd = time added on... also loses his headband! Perhaps he didn’t want to put his bonce on the line afterwards?

2. Deulofeu chipping the ball a few yards thinking he was going to beat the defender! Do me a favour, Del! Bang it way down into the corner.

3. The whole team defending in the last third! Push out, as every single cross was dangerous, as the offside line was just in front of Howard.

Anto Byrne
115 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:51:34
Pienaar looked tidy but what is the point when clearly past his use by date. We have to start winning games so bring on the Swans who will probably just park the bus and settle for a point.

Everton has a soft underbelly, it cant defend and the manager is not capable of changing the playing style to accommodate it. But, with minutes to go, it's Bournemouth all over again.

So, is it the captain... the manager... the keeper... or the whole team that lost this game???
Jamie Crowley
116 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:52:38
My wife is visiting her parents with three of my five sons in Michigan. The youngest (6) had to see the game so they switched it on.

My wife texted me:

I kept thinking why are they still playing when time is up?!? Home cookin !

Def off sides too!!!˜ 

She’s not exactly an expert when it comes to sports but she sure as hell nailed this one!!!

ROBBED!

Tony Twist
117 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:53:18
Bad refereeing but, let’s be honest, totally unprofessional yet again by the Blues, squandering a two goal lead, then going ahead again. Will they ever learn? It’s embarrassing, we are giving everyone a good laugh. Everton never change.
Phil Walling
118 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:54:39
Well at least Jay is a happy bunny! Good Evertonians blame it all on fate. There’ s always an explanation why we fucked up. The gods have it for us. Otherwise we are a great side !
Steve Guy
119 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:55:03
OK, the goal was offside but we had been assured after the City Cup game by Martinez that we had learned how to close a game out. Clearly that has been shown as bollocks today.

If this team knew how to defend and close games out ,we would be knocking on the door of Champions League. Waste of a team and a season. If the new owners do come through, I hope the first act is to get a new manager.
Paul Hughes
120 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:55:23
Completely gutted.

Bouncing around the pub when we got our 3rd...
Sitting quiet when the equaliser went in....
Livid when I seen the TV replays...

After the Leicester last minute penalty... now this. Something has to be done.
Jay Harris
121 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:56:57
Diabolical officiating and diabolical defending = 2 points lost.

I think Lukaku, Barkley and Stones have played poorly since picking up knocks recently. Contrast that with Baines who is carrying knocks but was MotM for me.

I thought it was interesting that Mirallas was to be subbed till the fans started booing and he changed it to Barkley. Don't know if it was in response to the fans but a good call anyway.

Question: How do you make an international back 5 look like a bunch of amateurs?
Answer: Appoint Martinez as their Manager.

Brent Stephens
122 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:58:09
Somebody on the Live Forum calculated as follows:

There were three goals before the 90th minute, so that’s other 90 seconds injury time. And 4 sets of substitutions for another two minutes. 2+3+1.5 = 6.5 minutes, so 7 is about right. Another 30 seconds added for our goal takes it to 98 minutes. It’s not far off really.

Terry scored at 97:53.
David King
123 Posted 16/01/2016 at 17:58:21
Robbed!!
Tony Doran
124 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:01:07
Interesting that our last manager's view on cameras being used for important things like the 3rd goal was that we should leave it to human error. I wonder what he thinks of that now?
Karl Parsons
125 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:01:32
Fucking Groundhog Day...
Eddie Tully
126 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:01:47
They hoofed it in after the added 7 minutes, we cleared to the half way line.

The whistle should have blown right there and then. The ref was determined to play on until they scored.

ROBBED AGAIN!

Nev Renshaw
127 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:02:23
Thank you, Everton. Once again I’m bitterly disappointed.

I’m going to focus my attention on Leicester for the rest of the season. Wouldn’t it be magnificent if they go on to take the title, it would be a kick in the teeth to all these clubs that have spent hundreds of millions season after season and then along comes a little outfit which spends peanuts in comparison and nicks the goods.
Chris Leyland
128 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:02:29
Headline is too soft. It isn’t ’unfair refeereeing’ – it is cheating, plain and simple.
Ian McDowell
130 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:04:38
The time that was added on didn’t cost us the game. It was poor defending, luck with the deflected goal from Fabregas, and a poor decision from the linesman not to disallow the 3rd goal.

We need to learn how to close out games. We seem to not know what to do when in the lead.
Chris Leyland
131 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:04:57
Good tweet from Andy Burnham
https://twitter.com/andyburnhammp/status/688412258788098048
Barry Jones
132 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:05:44
Jay (#114). Good point about the substitution. I thought that Mirallas was fabulous today and he took his goal superbly. Makes you think about all the potential lost opportunities in the previous games when Kone was on the field.
Dave Williams
133 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:06:28
Jay (#104), I agree. We showed in two games against Man City that we can defend and, whilst Funes Mori should have played as he is a big reason why we have looked more solid, he has to be given time for his head wound to heal.

Opposition teams can score too and Chelsea have good players even though they are not playing too well. I still think the tide will turn like it did for Howard Kendall when his talented young team couldn’t score a goal. This team has huge promise but is not ready yet. We still need a couple of players and a few of our young players are not yet quite where they need to be.

Our failure to close a game out does show a lack of maturity and quite why Jags, Baines and Barry can’t exert some control over how we play when leading is beyond me.

My main concern at the moment is Oviedo- was it his broken leg which was injured today – surely not another break?

Paul Nicholls
134 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:07:20
Jay (#104), you rightly point out that we haven’t won at the Bridge for over 20 years. Not dissimilar records away at Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool. Not many points gained at Spurs and, more recently, City. Some on here keep polishing the turd. I’m sick of it.

Bobby promised us the Champions League. Leicester, West Ham, Palace, Stoke and Southampton are above us.

I, for one, stick to my principles and still believe in our motto. Evidently others do not. WAKE THE FUCK UP.

Clive Rogers
135 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:08:43
Geoff 121,

Which game were you watching!!!

Steve Davies
136 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:11:27
Nothing has changed defensively. Dropped points again, same old issues, there is a common theme here. Our position doesn’t lie. If we get booted out of the Capital One Cup, RM’s record will come under serious scrutiny. And so it should!

The FA Cup win diverted attention from him getting Wigan relegated.

Poor manager, poor record!!!!

Joe Foster
137 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:12:18
Getting sick and tired of this. Only eleven more draws till safety.
John Atkins
138 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:12:29
Going to take me a while to get over this...
Peter Lee
139 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:14:29
We have a young side, by-and-large. We don't really have a strong character on the field as captain or otherwise. We had largely controlled the game, ignore the possession stats, and what we had to do was retain that control when we were 2-0 up. We looked like doing that until Chelsea scored their first, from a weary belt up-field. Sadly, Phil Jagielka had a yard, maybe two, on Costa but lost distance as he looked over his shoulder at the ball. Not a Stones fan anyway but he should have been at least trying to communicate with Jagielka even if he couldn't get back to intervene.

Howard, with a better view, had no option other than to come for it. In a similar position most CBs would have run in front of the striker and kept an arm out to keep tabs on him, ignoring the ball and telling the keeper what to do, stay or come. Apportion the blame according to your prejudices.

1-2

Momentum with them (You are most vulnerable when you've scored .... stats say otherwise, and we didn't do enough to help ourselves. We needed to see out 10 minutes with greater possession.) We had better players on the pitch than Chelsea and could have done that but, again, lack of on-pitch direction was crucial. I'll get stick for it but if we had the Phil Neville of five years ago on the pitch we'd have walked the game.

All that said, we give the ball away, see above, and Fabregas hits a nowhere shot that takes a wicked deflection. We didn't choose to get a grip of the game at that stage and we wasted time in chasing speculative through balls when we did have possession rather than build up pressure on them and take it off ourselves. We do this eventually and with 5 minutes to go I was praying for five minutes of added time, sure that we could win the game. Got my wish, exposed their midfield and defence for what they are and then, again, didn't show the experience and confidence to retain possession once we had got our reward.

When we are in an equivalent possession old heads for the opposition take the ball and turn away, inviting free-kicks - and we oblige. We are still a young team, we are still learning.

The equaliser was, perhaps, avoidable in turns of the retention of the ball. If we were better at that Terry wouldn't have had the chance to score a ridiculously offside goal.

Many on here complain that we never learn but that performance had miles more going for it than the Bournemouth game, in some respects a direct comparison. The full-back who scored the worldwide will never do it again.

We do need to learn not to go bananas if we score a late goal though, after all we do it fairly regularly these days.

I have been described for years as a glass half-full sort of person. That said I see some parallels between our young side of 1976-79 (sound of miserable bastards scurrying to the record books) which went on to become the Holy Trinity inspired Champions of 1979-80.

Big difference? The force of nature that was Alan Ball. For me we can still make top 6, even top 4. We can certainly win at least one cup. Is there anyone can see who our equivalent leader on the pitch might be?

Eddie Tully
140 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:15:31
To make matters even worse, I've just read that Hiddink asked the ref for the additional added minute!

Unacceptable.

Mohammed Horoub
141 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:17:08
Can this please be rock bottom because it feels like it... Regardless of how the refs tried their best to screw us the cold hard fact is we can’t hold a lead and can’t defend.

Martinez has to go. His philosophy is built for entertaining football but we will never get results in the league with him. Great for the neutral watching us but brutal if you’re an Everton fan.

I’ve decided I’m not going to watch another game that Howard starts so I’ll enjoy the cup runs while they last... Can’t wait to get to 40 pts because the defending is relegation material.

Colin Glassar
142 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:17:12
Unfair refereeing? Pathetic more like it and not just in this game. The standard of refereeing in this country has dipped dramatically over the last three years. It’s bog standard at best and this in a country where we once boasted of having the best refs in the world.

I honestly miss Clive Thomas and the likes of Uriah Rennie.

Jughinder Dhaliwal
143 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:17:44
How on earth have the FA got the cheek to call Fifa corrupt?? The FA and 99% of refs are taking back-handers – it’s so obvious that Stevie Wonder can see it.

Sky influence the refs with all these dodgy billionaires. We all know the outcome of every season... same as the last 20 years, same teams, same corruption. Yet we all turn a blind eye to it.

Dave Williams
144 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:18:46
Peter,

The 1969-70 side benifitted from Royle, Husband and Whittle maturing and Harvey developing into a marvellous midfielder plus of course Alan and Labby providing the "nous".

This lot could do the same yet but we must give them time.

Patrick Murphy
145 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:18:53
Contrary to the popular view, the Ref didn’t add any extra time to the original seven that he originally allotted. Everton scored exactly on 90 minutes the game restarted on 91:19 and the scheduled ending was 98:19. The ref was fully entitled to add seven minutes from the resumption of play after Everton scored their third goal.

The linesman should have flagged for offside that was incorrect and cost the Blues two points.
Alan McCulloch
146 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:21:27
Well done, Everton, yet again a very entertaining game, some wonderful football, spirit and endeavour. Whilst it was very frustrating to concede the goals it was nevertheless a great performance.

I have to say I am sick and tired of the merciless slagging off and complaints. Let's just enjoy the football and be patient. Like a previous commentator noted, this team is potentially on the cusp of great things... it just need a couple of players. I for one am enjoying this season and it's not over yet.

David Connor
147 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:22:05
It makes you wonder if this manager of ours actually thinks that defending doesn't matter. He has a proven track record of appalling defensive set ups at every club he has managed and so it is with ours.

We can match any team possibly in Europe going forward but every team we play must fancy their chances against us purely because we are so piss poor in defence. Europe via the Premier League is almost impossible for us now with the way he sets his team up.

If we don't win a trophy this season, I hope the board (whoever it may be) lay it on the line and tell Bobby that their patience is running out with him. I know mine is. No more bullshit interviews, Martinez... show us all you have some fire in your belly, you gutless twat... Enough is enough!!!
Stephen Brown
148 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:22:08
Sick! Can’t watch Match of the Day again! I think I’d feel better if we had been out classed and lost 4-0!

John Beesley
149 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:23:00
With Everton this has all got to be psychological we have suffered it for years. It is not this team or this manager because as I said it has been happening for years, with every team we have ever had.

Do you think it is us the fans putting loads of pressure on the team because we used to be such a Great team and our expectation levels are so high especially with that lot being our arch rivals

I am just watching Leicester and they don't look like they are going to concede at any given moment now that they are one up, is this because their fans have no expectation and therefore no pressure is being put on the team?

As I said, this has ALWAYS been Everton – does anyone have any ideas of why this happens as I feel like crying.

Brent Stephens
150 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:24:42
Sounds as if there was no unfair refereeing in terms of time added on. But that offside goal rankles like hell.
Colin Hughes
151 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:28:14
Having had 90 minutes (no injury time) to dwell on it, I have made the decision as a non-season ticket holder not to attend Goodison again until Martinez has gone.

It's remarkable that we haven’t managed to win back-to-back Premier League games this season when clubs like Southampton, Bournemouth and Watford have had no problems doing recently despite being below us. It's not bad luck – it’s bad defending... and preparation to keep letting the same thing happen, week-in & week-out.

Can you imagine if Cleverley's header at Newcastle had not gone in (a man on the post would have cleared it), we wouldn’t have won a game since November.

You can see how the remainder is going to pan out anyway: get knocked out of both cups by mid-March, then start winning some Premier League games which are largely nothing games because the pressure is off and we will scrape 8th or 9th place and hail it a magnificent end to the season. Yawn.

Andrew Clare
152 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:28:36
We were just very unlucky today... that’s all there is to it. We have some wonderful players and the football is great. It will click. We are the most exciting team in the league to watch without a doubt.

I too watched the great second Catterick team develop and this feels the same.

Phil Smith
153 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:28:56
Sorry but those of you who stated that the ref had a good game were watching a different match than me. He gave us NOTHING there. Lost count of the number of free-kicks we didn’t get and how none of their players were booked for fouls is beyond me. Shocking officiating!!
Pete Cross
155 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:29:14
Was the 7-min board shown before or after our third goal? If it was before, that might explain the extra minute.
Oliver Molloy
156 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:30:56
Charlie Austin for £4 million to Southampton, apparently.

Steven Naismith, £7-8 million? Unbelievable!

Keith Glazzard
157 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:31:28
An absolute fucking disgrace to English football, never mind us!

I’ll criticise our own boys quietly later, but the officials in our game are either incompetent or bent. Either way, not what we need or deserve.

Eddie Tully
158 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:31:32
Just watched it back, Funes Mori heads in exactly as the clock ticked over to 90 minutes.
Teddy Bertin
159 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:32:13
Devastated. On the bright side, though, at least we look like we can beat these teams. The last 20 years we never travel to the defending Premier League Champions and threaten that much. In fact, even under Moyes, we never looked capable of beating any top 4 sides.

We snuck a couple of games 1-0 but we never out-played the top sides. We’ve beaten Chelski already this season and everyone we play we look like we have the means to win. There’s serious firepower upfront (name the last time Everton had that) and some genuine depth to the squad.

Inexperience, lack of confidence and calamities at the back are costing us dear but I for one feel like Martinez has built the best Everton team in years. The results will come with experience and confidence. Sacking Martinez is hitting the reset button from what he’s building with these young players. Give him time.
William Cartwright
162 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:32:32
What’s all the fuss about time added on? 90 or 100 minutes it’s still 11 v 11 (if you don’t count the referees). Excellent game, result not the end of the world and let’s see what the next week brings.

Also fed up to keep hearing post match comments from managers focusing on the poor refereeing. Get onto the training pitch and set an example to the players and take responsibility for the team not having the mental strength or savvy to see the game out.

Besic was superb again today and Mirallas with an excellent strike was good to watch. The commentary here in Dubai was loaded to support Chelsea from the kick off, and Costa is a footballing disgrace. Otherwise situation normal! COYB!

Christy Ring
163 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:32:55
Still gutted, and not jumping on the bandwagon, but it's time Martinez bought a keeper who can command his area. Howard is past his sell by date, and a new keeper would improve our defence.
Amit Vithlani
164 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:33:23
Colin G, I know Mike Jones is a cunt. (The Blues have a poor record when he is in charge.) But Uriah Rennie? Are you taking the piss?
John Keating
165 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:34:22
This draw like many others this season is actually worse than a defeat.

The sheer incompetence of manager and players is unbelievable.

As regards the linesmans decision, I could understand if it were marginal but that twat Terry was well offside.

It is about time that these pricks officiating at games are held accountable and made to explain, if they can, their decisions.

Last season was a disgrace and this is turning out no better.

Supporters who are happy with the way and manner in which we play are, in my opinion , delusional.

I would rather we ground out a bloody 1-0 win than play this, sometimes shit open adventurous crap.

The whole country think we are great to watch but I for one am not in that group.

I mentioned before the game after watching Spurs that I was impressed how they could press and play at a high tempo for 90 plus minutes while we can barely manage 45.

We are unfit both mentally and physically and the clown and his staff that manage the Club are just unfit to be part of us

Raymond Fox
166 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:37:54
Good on you Jay (#104).

Why some on here always dwell on negatives beats me. What about the 3 goals we’ve scored, no credit! The end results lately, points-wise, have been a disappointment, granted... but as Jay says we have a young squad put together by Martinez that have proved in recent games that they are a match for anyone. If we can retain our best players we have a future, there’s no doubt.

Now if you want to make a negative out of a game that even Chelsea’s manager admits their equaliser at 2-3 was offside, carry on.

Amit Vithlani
167 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:38:07
Graham @99... no, I hadn’t noticed, because they are in the CHAMPIONSHIP.
Colin Glassar
168 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:38:25
Amit, Uriah Rennie was probably the most useless ref of his generation but, compared to some of the refs I’ve seen in recent years, he comes across as a genius.

Some of these guys don’t even seem to understand the basics of the game never mind being able to keep time.

Jeff Armstrong
169 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:41:25
Any decent manager could do better with this squad than the current encumbent... I mean, look at Graham’s post at #98, even if THIS manager took his simple advice on 2 or 3 points, we’d be 6 points better off.

Now, if we had a REAL manager (say, for arguments sake, Krancic at Boro’), imagine where this squad of players would be... top 6 at least.

Honestly, Martinez is the problem at this club, it is so blatantly obvious, it is actually hurting to think others cannot see or feel it.

Dennis Ng
170 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:43:38
I guess this is a good "angry motivation" for the Man City return game but I don’t see how RM can last this season with this display, even with a lucky cup win. At this rate, we’ll struggle to stay in our current spot which is already very low for the potential greatness of the youngsters.

Also, I don’t see how we can compare this to Howard Kendall’s era. I’ve not seen the era myself but the statistics that I’m reading tell me that progress could be seen in his methods. We are DIGRESSING!

Amit Vithlani
171 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:44:13
Top post, Jay (#104). My thoughts exactly, although I think Jags was culpable. He should have headed it out. Still, it's all about opinions. He exposed Howard who made a poor error, but Jagielka's error was just as basic.

Shane Corcoran
172 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:51:00
I’m trying to get my head around some of the blame being given to Funes Mori.

Had he not celebrated then the same amount of time would have been played. It’s just a question of whether the time ran from 91:30 to 98:00 or 90:30 to 97:00... I think.

Joe Edwards
173 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:51:19
Dire refereeing from a total fuckwit who has proven time and time again his total and utter unsuitability for Premier League games. This cretin should be sent back to Sunday League football where hopefully a disgruntled parent will punch his puss in for disallowing his son's goal.
Gavin Johnson
174 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:51:33
The result is sickening but I refuse to knock the performance. You can’t arbitrate for bad refereeing. It wasn’t a goal so I won’t blame the defending. The blame lies with the referee and his linesmen.

That’s two games where we’ve been mugged off by the referee. The Stoke game was bad but this comedy of errors was even worse.

Colin Glassar
175 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:57:26
Why can't we have an official timekeeper like in other sports? Why does the ref have to do everything?
Dave Southword
176 Posted 16/01/2016 at 18:58:39
If Ramiro had run back to the centre circle with the ball and put it on the spot and then Chelsea equalised in the 96th minute, he would be pilloried by you lot. He’d just scored against the Champions at their place. Fair play to the lad.

If the linesman had done his job properly (rather than the one Abramovich paid him for) then everything is marvellous – great character and last ditch defending, terrific win. Linesman gets it wrong and the players are naïve, Martinez is a clown, blah blah blah.

Joe Edwards
177 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:00:21
I was pleased with the display and Bob the Shoe Salesman finally seems to have realised how much better we are when phenomenal Kone dosen't play. We have balance in the squad with Besic who plays alongside Barry much more effectively and I for one am not panicking at Stones leaving as Funes Mori is looking more and more the real deal for me.

I have been Martinez strongest critic but, if he can take the extra step and drop Howard for Robles, I feel we will be much more resilient in defence. It’s been a while since Evertonians have seen their team competing well against strong sides like Chelsea and Man City; to be robbed of 2 points by a complete fuckwit like Jones is not something any manager can plan for. Hopefully he will be dropped back down to the Championship again and forgotten about.

Onwards and upwards for us though.
Eddie Dunn
178 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:01:59
Reflecting on the game after recovering my composure with two really stiff gins, I would like to say in defence of Roberto, that some of our play was fabulous and gave me paroxisms of orgasmic pleasure! Unfortunately it seems that he is totally fucking stupid.

He brings in Mirallas ,who was possibly our best player(along with Baines). Which makes me wonder why Kevin has been ignored in almost all of the games recently/

To top this, he drops Funes Mori to the bench to accommodate our great white hope, the Elegant Mr Stones. Why? I would have put Stones at right back to keep our best header of a ball in either box in the team.

On the one hand, Martinez is getting the team to play some great stuff, but on the other hand he has warped ideas, and can’t see obvious things that 90% of us can. Perplexing!

incidentally, Stones is a liability – he doesn’t know when to stick or twist. He only looks good striding out of the box, his play gives every other fucker the heebee jeebies!

Tony Kelly
179 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:06:02
Alan (#136) have you logged on to the wrong site? ToffeeWeb is now full of negativity and Martinez haters, it makes a pleasant change to read someone being positive, thank you.
Mark Hughes
180 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:08:25
Frustrating because this team is close to Greatness. Remember, Blue Bill and Roberto are responsible for us having the most exciting side in the Premier League. This is the first time in a generation I would keep more players than I’d change out with the Reds, Mancs or others.
Gerard Carey
181 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:11:32
We should have locked up shop at 2-0 up.

Oh, I forgot: Martinez doesn't do defense.
Thomas Surgenor
182 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:15:34
Right, to all those justifying the additional time. Tell me this: if they're supposed to add on time for each goal in injury time – why then blow up as soon as we kicked off, in a similar situation, against Bournemouth!!

Apologies if my memory is hazzy but that’s how I remember it going down and I don’t even know what happened after their goal today as I was in that bit a temper. Toys were well and truly out of the pram.... I hate football!!!

ps: Credit to Martinez for his bold selection. Unfortunately, like many, I disagreed with the subs.

Thomas Surgenor
183 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:17:23
Eddie (#160). In my humble opinion, Funes Mori was benched to allow his wounds to heal and was only to be used if no other option existed.
Chris Leyland
186 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:26:02
Whilst the officiating was a disgrace today, this stat from the BBC shows just how tactically naive we are under Martinez:

Since 28 November, Everton have dropped a league-high 11 points from leading positions in nine Premier League games.

Paul Doyle
187 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:26:19
At the end of the day, we have a back four of established internationals playing today who cannot defend for a full game. The manager is clutching at straws with his excuses, week-in & week-out.

I am not arsed if we played an hour over time, with this Everton team you just know we are going to concede goals. Even at 2-0 up, I new that all they needed was one chance to get back into the game and we would cave in . We need to be more ruthless and adopt a "Don’t give a fuck" attitude.

Martinez has built the nucleus of a great team which will go down the pan due to his naivety; he has got to go.
Craig Fletcher
188 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:27:02
To all those saying the extra minute was justified for the Funes Mori celebration.

Today, Aston Villa v Leicester, five minutes extra time was signalled. Villa made a sub in the 95th minute, which took around 30-40 seconds. Even so, the ref blew the game up at 95:14.

It's the complete lack of consistency that makes me fume.

Oliver Molloy
189 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:27:34
A draw that feels like a defeat and another case of not seeing a game out from a winning position in the last 5 or 10 minutes. Somebody said "we scored 3 goals no credit", what’s the point in scoring 3 goals in the first place if we keep letting 3 goals in OR MORE at our end?

Everybody scores against Chelsea these days, it is no big deal. What the big deal is : is that everybody knows they will score against us. Their second goal makes me so angry the less said about it the better, two of our most experienced players should know better how to deal with a long ball !

We, undoubtedly have the makings of a very good team, the best bunch of players in a long time with age on our side in most areas , but it just seems that the incredible one is incapable of doing what it takes to win us a game when we are on top, it is about doing the basics is it not Or maybe you’re just a Kopite or should be. we can not keep moaning about bad luck all the time, you make your own luck 9 time a out of 10.

We can be brilliant going forward but if we are crap at defending then how can we all be surprised. Apparently approximately 25% of our goals conceded are in the 90 minute or more – when is the manager going to tell the players to do what it takes to win. Somebody on the pitch has to take control, where are the leaders?

I desperately want the incredible one to succeed at Everton but my patience is wearing very thin. On a positive note we should be making a right few more £’s in TV money, Sky and the likes will be showing our games every week the way we play.

Shane Corcoran
191 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:37:36
Thomas (#162), you can only add on time for time wasted when there’s time to waste.

In the referee’s mind, there must only have been a couple of seconds left on the clock when Terry scored. So he allowed those couple of seconds for us to kick-off. That’s the theory anyway.

Craig (#167), you’re right about the inconsistency. If you wanted to stretch it you could say that the ref only intended on playing 94:35 (95 minutes rounded to the nearest minute) but that would be giving him too much benefit of the doubt.

Brin Williams
192 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:39:07
My chosen method of following the match today was TWs Forum link and listening to BBC live report – what an experience!

The Forum is the equivalent of Extreme ’everything’ and BBC live the equivalent of ’Death by a Thousand Cuts’ – what a combination.

Today’s experience left me shattered and in no small way absolutely pissed off with the whole thing Everton. I’ve never had faith in the ’system’ but now am more than convinced that the bastards have it in for us. There is no way we will ever be allowed to win anything under the present EPL/Sky hierarchy.

Talk about FIFA – there is more intrigue in the EPL than we will ever know and it sickens me.

Everton as a team sickens me at times – it is enough to make a grown man weep. The players, and management are to blame for their total incompetence in holding on to a lead, having shown that they are more than capable of murdering their opponents and letting the whole thing slip and letting down themselves and their fans. What a fucking shambles!!

I cancelled my Season Ticket a couple of seasons ago but still manage the occasional games. I understand now why I stopped going on a regular basis and as my visits to Goodison get fewer and fewer I wonder whether I will miss the craich. I certainly don’t miss the disappointment that is heaped upon heap on us long suffering fans.

That’s all I will say – I nearly said ’fuck Everton’, but I can’t quite bring myself around to that yet , especially as I think we are on the verge of something special.

Niall McGurgan
193 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:41:24
Did the 7 minutes added time include the time it took to celebrate the previous 4 goals? I think not. The added time included subs and injuries.

But blaming officials is masking the problems. Martinez needs to go – simple as that. Some of the stats I have seen in recent weeks about his record are embarrassing.
Mike Hughes
194 Posted 16/01/2016 at 19:59:48
For those who are "glass half-full" on today’s outcome, put the glue down and start smelling the coffee.

We let a 2-0 lead slip then another last gasp win turn into what feels like defeat. We knew we were only a matter of minutes away from breaking a 20 year hoodoo. But still, we could not hold on.

If this was a one-off, we could pick excuses out of the air (the ref, the offside etc). But there have been precedents to this situation in the very recent past. We’re not learning lessons after Bournemouth and Stoke.

Even when we’re winning in injury time, this will give future opposition the motivation to kick on. Evertonians can’t relax until the ref blows the final whistle – unless we’re 3 goals clear.

The rs are renowned for getting spawny last minute goals / decisions.
With us, it’s becoming the opposite – unless we happen to be playing NUFC.

Even today, I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t anything like confident we’d hold on when we went 3-2 up so late.

(That 14 unit / week alcohol limit better be for non Evertonians only.)

Hugh Jenkins
195 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:00:08
Colin (#158), I’ve been advocating this for years. Take a leaf out of rugby league’s book and have an independent time keeper who blows a bloody big hooter when the clock has run down.

Brent Stephens
196 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:02:17
Colin, Hugh. Totally agree – play stops, stop the clock. It would take a lot of aggro out of things. We could see the actual time (running / stopped) on the big screens.
Jay Woods
197 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:05:43
Let’s not forget, we got off away to Man City when they should have been awarded a last-minute penalty against us. I don’t think we can be too high horsey about the referee today.
John Raftery
198 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:11:00
I have not seen any TV replays yet but from my seat in the top tier it looked as though Jags was at fault for the first goal. When in doubt, the ball should be launched into the stand or at least into the air away from goal.

For the final goal, Deulofeu was guilty of self-indulgence. At that stage, all he needed to do was hit it down the channel sending the opposition back into their own half. The game would have been over. Instead he chose sloppily, lazily and unprofessionally to attempt a dribble past the defender losing possession very cheaply. Seconds later the ball is in our box and then our net.

Jags was not the only team mate giving Geri a withering look.
Paul Hewitt
199 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:12:15
We simply need a coach who can teach our players to defend. It’s clear Martinez can't do that (and that’s okay). But something needs to change soon. That’s 12 points dropped in the last 8 league games, that would have given us 41 points and pushing for top 4.
Winston Williamson
200 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:13:15
"We've learned our defensive lessons" RM after Newcastle and Man City...

Seems some people have forgotten those lessons already???

David Edwards
201 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:14:00
It’s been said many times by Evertonians – "It’s the HOPE that kills you!" 2-0, 2-2, 3-2... a minute to go! You just knew it was going to happen. It almost happened against City earlier this week, but we got the rub of the green that time.

Still smarting from the Bournemouth capitulation, but we keep coming back for more, don’t we? The joy of being a bluenose for life!
Gavin McGarvey
202 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:19:26
I felt we were unlucky today. Jags looked out of sorts for their first goal, and is still a bit rusty coming back from injury. They were lucky with the deflection for the second, and their third goal was offside.

I thought we were okay, but to be honest, I thought Chelsea were dreadful. We should have beaten them convincingly. All-in-all, a frustrating afternoon.
Craig Fletcher
203 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:25:25
Mike (171) I partly agree on the way we were defending (hoof ball to no-one in particular in the last few minutes, and Deulofeu should have been smarter than allowing himself to be in a position to have the ball taken off him in the 98th minute) but you simply cannot account for poor officiating.

And comparing today to our defending in the Stoke and Bournemouth games (now that WAS diabolical defending) is unfair – today our defending was far better, bar a panicky last few minutes.

Signs are increasingly more positive over the past two weeks.

James Flynn
204 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:31:14
I agree with:

1. The ref had the clock management correct.
2. The linesman choked.
3. We are exciting.
4. Our defending is weak.

I would add:

1. Stones is soft and possibly dumb.
2. Barkley isn’t soft, but might be dumb, too.
3. If Mirallas hasn’t shown enough to be selected over Kone, he never will.
4. As a squad, we flat do not have 90 minutes of leg under us.

This last most. If we can keep this group together one more season (the key players, I mean), a "Moyes-type" boot camp is in order. We can’t keep having these endings to games without acknowledging that team conditioning is poor.

John Crawley
205 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:32:53
A step backwards after the way we saw the game out with 10 men against Man City. As an example of this Deulofeu gave the ball away very cheaply just before Chelsea scored.

Jagielka was very poor for first goal, allowed the ball to bounce and then let Costa bully him, not the first time this has happened. Then to top it off Howard if he’s going to come charging out has to get the ball. We are lacking leadership at the back, starting with the goalkeeper.

Drew O'Neall
206 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:44:51
MK - you've duped me me in to reading the same article three times now with the title changes!
Christy Ring
207 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:48:11
Another 3pts thrown away, 2-0 up today, 2-0 up at Bournemouth, 3-2 up against Stoke, we've collected 9pts from 27pts, in our last 9 games, that's relegation form. It's not good enough, and Martinez can blame the officials today, but the bigger picture is that his game plan doesn't include defensive tactics and it's never going to change.
Mike Hughes
208 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:48:53
Craig (#179) – fine, but isn’t it those panicky last few minutes that we are referring to here? Regarding the officials, they are out of our sphere of control. What we can control is how we see out games.
Don Alexander
209 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:53:11
I have no hope at all of survival in the long run (by that I mean next season if two or three of our better players get transferred), never mind success with this clown in charge. He’s seven years into Premier League experience and we still sit beneath Watford ffs, but they’re managed by a Spaniard with know-how who’s totally new to England.

To use a TV cookery analogy, what would people think if Paul Hollywood every week showed us the ingredients at his disposal were right but he still baked a loaf, virtually every week, that was either totally flat or at best half-baked? We’d ask why the fuck is this guy still in a job, on telly.

I’m asking how many times we have to watch Martinez fanny about with our club before the board grow a pair in our, and their, best interests?

Jimmy Byrne
211 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:57:11
A lot of people want to know were the extra time came from. It came from Funes Mori's stupid dive into the crowd after scoring. The same as the stupid people that came on the pitch at Bournemouth. Have we learned nothing?

We looked solid at the back until 2-0 up. I thought that is what captains & senior players are in there for – to steady things down. By imploding, we are our own worst enemies. Some of our football under RM is breathless and we can live with anyone. Unfortunately his tactics are one-dimensional.

Lukaku was poor; Barry was below par; Howard was a liability. We need a commanding presence in the box – not a keeper that makes good reflex saves mixed with howlers.

Andy Meighan
212 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:58:00
The ref this... the ref that... My fuckin arse! We aren't good enough to see games out. And it's happened too many times this season for us to keep blaming referees.

Yes, we all know Terry's goal was offside. But Stokes wasn't... Bournemouth's wasn't... and we were fortunate enough not to concede a late penalty against Man City on Wednesday. No sorry, it's not all down to refs. It's down to this team not concentrating and not being able to defend. End of. I'm sick of it.

And today's capitulation only confirms my view that we won't finish in the top half of the table. The league table doesn't lie.
David Price
213 Posted 16/01/2016 at 20:59:47
Positives are, we have a team taking shape. Mirallas and Besic have taken their long overdue chance superbly well. But then again so has Robles, which hasn’t made a difference.

First goal for me was Tim's fault, you come out as a keeper, take control and take the lot out if required, not a flimsy feet first and hope for the best.

Attacking wise, superb today, defence, well I think Bobby is seeing what is the better centre back pairing is but still would have gone with same set up at Man City.

These last few games though, the side deserves praise for performing against League champions for the last two years and going toe to toe. Which is why everyone is so frustrated that we are not beating the lesser teams out of sight.

Tom Evans
214 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:03:49
Just had a peep at the league tables and surely I can’t be the only one getting a bit twitchy when you see the teams beneath us starting to get a couple of wins under their belts.

Not for the first time his season, another must-win game next Sunday, especially given our opponents. Lose that game and we will be well and truly in the thick and sticky.

Trevor Peers
215 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:10:51
It’s been an interesting experiment under Roberto, but in the summer we have to change managers or perish.

We’re good on the eye but are going backwards, another full season, with RM at the helm, might end in a record number of least wins in one season and possible relegation. That’s even if we win the League Cup.

Mike Hughes
216 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:12:57
Don’t worry Tom.

We only need another 11 points from the remaining 54 available and it’s mission accomplished for this season I’m sad to say. Plus the League Cup.

I’m really (not) looking forward to the post-match / midweek no-shit-Sherlock soundbites: ’we must stay focused to the end’ etc etc.

Gary Heywood
217 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:14:48
Martinez is unsackable as long as he avoids relegation battles. There is no pressure on him to win anything or achieve Euro football. That's the job description. So far he is meeting his job description. Poor team selections, defensive shambles and underperforming mean disappointment to the fans but nothing to the powers of EFC. We are pleased with everything you are doing Martinez and there's no need to concern yourself with the views, hopes and frustrations of the fans.

I was foolishly hoping that Martinez had now got it about the importance of defending and playing for the whole 90 minutes and winning football matches after the first leg of the semi. I was completely mistaken. I was hoping from that game onwards we would now be completely switched on and super confident going into the 2nd leg of the semi. I was completely mistaken.

However, the biggest mistake our forever loyal but increasingly exasperated fans are making is that whilst they have successful ambitions for EFC the board of EFC have only mediocre ambitions. What a dreadful dilemma for such great fans and a grand old club. It is now 20 years without a trophy, a disgrace to our great history! Martinez has to go but the board are patting him on the back. Fans on mass must now say enough is enough to turn around the ambitions of this club. Mid table and trophy less is a pointless and miserable existence for a club that should always be competing to win and be the best.

Kunal Desai
218 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:15:27
Aside from the inability to yet again defend a two-goal lead, isn’t it also time that the Premier League looked at potentially recruiting officials from other countries within Europe as they do in the Champions League.

There is so much bias amongst English officials officiating certain games in our country it’s becoming a real joke. We need officials in the Premier League who are 100% objective in the decisions they give, and I only think we’ll get that if we recruit from abroad.

The Premier League is a global brand filled with footballers from many different nationalities, I see no reason why officials can’t be brought in from abroad just like the players.

Patrick Murphy
219 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:20:10
Kunai (190),

That might make things even worse as most of what the FA and the Premier League want is for the rich clubs to colonise huge swathes of overseas supporters.

I’m still at a loss as to how the linesmen can spot the merest hint of an offside when the less rich clubs attack but are seemingly blind when a player of a rich club can stand yards offside and get away with it.

Everton didn’t help themselves today but a proper decision at the end of the game and we would all be celebrating 3 points and a much needed league victory.

David Greenwood
220 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:22:43
Patrick's second sentence above nails it. Why is that?
Tony Stanley
221 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:22:57
Really? We did it again.
Martin Mason
222 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:36:42
We lost today not because of the referee but because we couldn’t react to a brilliant substitution and defend a 2 goal lead, because our players reacted as though they had won with the third goal and because we couldn’t defend that winning goal.

The ref was correct with his timing and the only conclusion is that we lost the game because we have no understanding of how to win 3 points from strong positions.
Colin Malone
223 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:38:05
It's not all down to the defence to get us out of the shit. We cannot keep the ball up top when under pressure so the pressure stays with the defence.

Barkley has great skills but he has got an empty head.

Can anyone who knows stats, tell me how many balls in the air does the frustrating Lukaku win? Less then 10%?

So when we are under the cosh, its not all down to the defence.
Grant Rorrison
224 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:38:19
Only 6 points behind 5th place West Ham in the real battle for 4th. (Leicester will fall away) We've already been to City, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea. The season isn’t lost yet. It will be after Swansea beat us at home next week though... ;)
Michael Kidd
225 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:45:06
Martinez is definitely flawed and he’s not great on defence, that is obvious. But I think he’s getting a bit of a raw deal with some of the comments on here. Let’s think back on some recent games.

Totally dominated Palace at home and conceded two daft goals – but hit the post more than once. One of those goes in and we win.

Norwich – we should have been out of sight at half-time. Was the profligate finishing in that game Roberto’s fault? Sure, we shouldn’t have conceded, but that would have been a meaningless consolation at that stage.

Stoke – referee error loses us a point.

Chelsea – referee error loses us two points.

Add that up and we have 7 more points and are 5th on the table. I know this is a ’what if’ but none of these results would have been unrealistic or undeserved and Martinez did enough in all of these games for us to win the points we lost. Just shows how the margins can work in sport and how they are doing us down this season.

Martinez and Everton could be better but there’s very little perfection on show in the Premier League this season.

Craig Fletcher
226 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:47:19
Patrick Murphy, completely agree. Wasn’t it Scudamore (PL chief) who only two years ago stated, "the Premier League needs a strong Manchester United".

Until the FA and Sky get it into their heads that there are 20 teams in the Premier League and not their favoured 6, unfortunately we won’t see the end of these bullshit refereeing "decisions".

James Flynn
227 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:48:46
Please stop with the "FA conspiracy" stuff. "Gee whiz, he's off-side. What if I call off-sides? The FA will be angry I didn't take Chelsea off the hook. I might get fired!!!", thought the linesman Stop already with that.

He missed the call. He sure did. But that's it.

Gavin Johnson
228 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:53:59
Totally off subject. I’ve just seen that Saints have signed Charlie Austin for the princely sum of £4m. I think he’s had a few niggling injuries this season, but for that money I’m gutted to discover that we weren’t in the running.
Craig Fletcher
229 Posted 16/01/2016 at 21:56:23
James, Hiddink admitted he asked the 4th official for extra time after Funes Mori's celebration. Evidently, the extra-extra time was granted. If that isn't pandering to Chelsea's every wim, I don't know what is.

And Hiddink himself (all credit to him for admitting it, by the way) said the goal was off-side.

Jeff Armstrong
230 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:01:54
The biggest shock for me today was that, when it went 2-2, I bet every Evertonian in the world thought we’d lose, and we didn’t... amazing.
Jeff Armstrong
231 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:06:36
Patrick and your conspiracy theories, why bother watching if it's so bent?
Ste Traverse
232 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:07:35
I’ve just about run out of patience with Roberto. He talks about ’learning from mistakes’ but we aren’t doing that. A better manager would easily have this squad challenging for a top four place.

Let’s book Martinez a taxi NOW.

I’d quite like to see Rafa in situ at Goodison. I’m not even arsed he used to manage them.

He’s available, still lives on Merseyside, has won major trophies and would surely have this team much better organised, hence less late collapses.

Let’s get him in.

Colin Gee
233 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:07:49
I haven’t read through all the thread, I didn’t go as I was at work this morning, but I did watch the match on a live stream.

Yes, Terry’s goal was offside, but the reason we didn’t come away with a victory wasn’t down to that; it wasn’t down to the Linesman – it wasn’t down to the FA or Sky.

It was down to that clown in goal again...

Jughinder Dhaliwal
234 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:11:17
Has everybody missed the most obvious ref bias?

Funes Mori gets booked for jumping in the crowd... disgrace of a human, Terry, doesn’t? Ref pocketed a bung for sure. Costa should have got sent off... Obi at least a yellow... yet they got fuck all.

Jim Hardin
235 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:22:37
Well, a point from Chelsea isn't the end of the world although it feels like it.

Thought Lennon did a good job today and I thought Besic was marking the hell out of the best of the Chelsea players and did so effectively. Overall a good offensive performance. Unlucky on their first goal. Possibly, Howard came because he saw Jags getting beaten and was afraid Jags would have to pull down Costa and give away a pk and a red card. Still, if you go get there.

As for the extra time, thank goodness Chelsea scored or we still might be playing until they do. Are English seconds based upon the metric system or on a EEC scale so they are longer than our USA seconds?

I don't know why scoring plays cannot be subject to review by TV replay like our football games over here. This would eliminate blown offside goals and wouldn't delay the game any more than the celebrating players do.

Christy Ring
236 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:27:38
Gavin, agree entirely. Considering Naismith is on his way for £8m, I cannot believe Martinez didn’t make an offer, but Bob reckons Kone is better???
James Flynn
237 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:29:41
Craig (216) – C’mon now. Really? The ref added more time at the request of Hiddink? Doesn’t matter what Hiddink asked. Based on the Funes Mori’s goal and the celebration afterword, the ref had the time left correct. Go see the re-play yourself.

The linesman fucked up. That’s why the goal allowed.

The important thing here is that we had 11 guys bunched up around the goal. No direction, no nothing.

We’re set up to look good. For sure there.

We’re not set up to win, though. Which is our problem.

Nigel Munford
238 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:29:48
How about introducing cricket like appeals, we'd have won today with a system like that. Ok it'd slow the games down, but with appeals going to a 4th referee that has TV replays then these errors would be stamped out, and hopefully referring could improve.
Nigel Munford
239 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:31:46
Mind, we’d have lost in the week as it was a stone-wall penalty in the dying seconds.
Geoff Evans
240 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:47:26
Andy 203: Spot on mate,
Colin Glassar
241 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:56:14
How about our players showing a bit of self-control after scoring late goals? You'd think they'd had learned their lesson after Bournemouth but the refs seem determined to add up every second of our celebrating so why not cut it out?
Tony Dove
242 Posted 16/01/2016 at 22:56:26
I'll say it again, why did RM change the defence which performed so well on Wednesday?
Joe Green
243 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:01:22
Good point by Jenas on MotD ... although the 3rd goal was offside, we lost 3 successive headers before it!

Martinez has built a very good squad (GK aside) and is still building. We play good football and score plenty. BUT we concede plenty, don’t win enough and clearly have a major problem in securing games when ahead. When we went 2-0 up, I even predicted 3-3 as the final result (seriously).

If I were Chairman Bill I wouldn’t be sacking Martinez just yet. But I would be telling him:

"We are doing great, but there’s a huge glaring defensive weakness that’s preventing us reaching our full potential. I’m calling David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, someone who knows how to defend and I’m giving them a one month consultancy contract to review all aspects of our defending, including: staff, training, set-ups, set pieces and especially why we consistently concede so late. He will deliver a report to me and you with recommendations.

"It’s up to you what you do with the recommendations, you are the manager. But if there is no improvement in our goals conceded and points gained then I will be reviewing your position at end season".

Garry Corgan
244 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:06:38
Watching that again on Match of the Day, it really was a defensive horror show for all three goals. I won’t analyse them but multiple players had multiple opportunities to deal with the danger. It’s got to be addressed but I don’t know what the answer is. Shawcross?
Eddie Dunn
245 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:07:22
James (#223), correct! Loads of our boys crammed in our last third does not equal a good defence, just chaos. They looked like scoring every time they put any kind of cross in our box.

Speaking generally, Football needs to follow Rugby, and have the ref call "Time off" and a whacking big clock on the wall that everyone sees. When the time goes red, it’s over. Most sports now carry technology, Cricket, Rugby, Tennis, all have useful aids.

Football should use a fourth official watching replays, for things like today – a match deciding offside that was missed. Considering the money involved and the embarrassment to the "Game" and the officials, it is high time for its introduction.

Garry Corgan
246 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:12:29
Having a set clock or video referees is an irrelevant argument. It'd work against us as often as it's work for us. We simply have to not give away the chances in the first place.
Colin Glassar
247 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:17:53
Bloody hell, Joe (#229), Chairman Bill would wet himself if he had to say that. He is to wimps what Pamela Anderson is to silicon.
Ernie Baywood
248 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:19:49
Obviously disappointed with the offside. The waiting for the whistle was more enhanced spectacle than outrage... ultimately the game goes until the ref whistles and you can’t try to simply survive without playing football.

The positives are that we continue to play good football, continue to score, and keep on playing to end in search of goals.

Negative that we have no idea about managing a game. Absolutely no idea. 2-0 up and the stuffing was knocked out of the home team. Our approach to game management? Everyone forward!

We left Jags alone on the halfway line with Costa. From that point I don’t care about individual errors – if you keep putting players in one on one situations with half a pitch of space behind them then eventually your man will lose a battle. We’ve done this all season with no signs of learning.

Don Alexander
249 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:24:41
Folks, just listen to what the best of our players have said;

Ossie, just after this clown was appointed; "Training is different, easier, under Mr Martinez". Result?.....we run out of legs well before 90 mins are up.

Rom/Seamus/Bainesy when we won 10 out of 12 points in April; "WE decided to play the old Everton way." Result?......we avoided a relegation scrap.

Any player at any club saying anything like that just knows they're likely to be identified by other managers as "traitors", to the cost of their careers in the future.

Our players, last season and again this season, have openly talked about having "sought a sit down with the manager" to try to put things right. When on earth do you ever hear of another club's players doing the same to their "manager"? It's called "losing the dressing room " Bill!

But our players are too nice to REALLY kick off about his shite management (that's the job of their agents after all) so our board sticks its stupid head in the sand, hoping/praying that some dumb bastard from abroad makes them and their families loaded for centuries to come by buying the decrepit club they've created on the back of the blind loyalty always shown by us lot.

Shane Corcoran
250 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:28:05
Colin #227 and many many others, I posted on the other thread about our team celebrating. To save me posting again I'm going to copy and paste. Tell me what you think:

I'm trying to get my head around some of the blame being given to Funes Mori.
Had he not celebrated then the same amount of time would have been played. It's just a question of whether the time ran from 91:30 to 98:00 or 90:30 to 97:00............I think.

Brent Stephens
251 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:29:14
Shane, you think correctly – I think.
Shane Corcoran
252 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:31:08
Thank you Brent. So the length of time spent celebrating is irrelevant? I think now that most agree that the time added on was fair enough.

So it’s just a terrible, terrible decision and our own inability to manage a game. I’d like to say I feel better.

Tony Byrne
253 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:33:04
Ross Barkley!!! Will he ever make a tackle or just shadow run!!!

He needs to help out and get back more and stop chasing shadows and learn how to get stuck in.

I still cannot believe how we capitulated today.

Les Martin
254 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:38:37
Unlucky against Chelsea, yes; lucky against City, yes. Sometimes, that's the way the luck goes and it will even out.

I am certain we will get our share as the season progresses and then today will be forgotten, by us, but hopefully not by the Manager or players, everything will just add character and resilience to what is becoming an excellent Everton side.

Our defence has come in for some criticism but its a young and new partnership, also Jags is just coming back and Stones is not in his favoured role.

Calm down... have a Chang... we have a superb team in the making and everything is going to be beyond your wildest expectations, we just need to have patience, brothers...

Patrick Murphy
256 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:48:53
Shane (#237),

That’s correct, I must admit in the immediate aftermath of the game I too was ’fooled’ into believing we had been hard done to with the amount of time played, but Everton scored exactly on 90 minutes and the ref had already indicated that an extra seven minutes should have been played. Whether Everton took a minute or a hundred minutes to celebrate the third goal makes no difference as, from the restart, there were seven minutes still to be played and that is what the referee played.

So he was right about that element. Roberto, as an experienced manager, should have known that and passed it onto to his players. The TV companies could perhaps help the viewers if they showed the time left to play rather than letting the clock run on the screen.

It’s all academic now, of course; we dropped two points or gained one depending upon how you view a game of that nature.

I still think David Moyes will return to Goodison, only a hunch on my part, but a strong one.

Colin Glassar
257 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:50:21
Game management, Shane. I’ve also spoken about it before. It’s something the players need to learn as on at least two occasions it’s cost us four points.

I’m all for celebrating goals but what happened to the good old British handshake?

Joe Foster
258 Posted 16/01/2016 at 23:59:08
10 points from 4th, 10 points from relegation zone. He has learnt no lessons and I don't think he has any intention of learning any. We better hope we get some wins on the board and fast. The teams behind us don't care how pretty we look attacking they will grind out their wins at any cost.
Don Alexander
259 Posted 16/01/2016 at 00:02:04
Joe at #229; nobody like Moyes or Mourinho would lower themselves in their own minds to help ANY club for only a month.

And Colin at #239; nowt would please me more than seeing Martinez getting that proverbial handshake from Bill "How-Much" Kenwright.

Joe Foster
260 Posted 17/01/2016 at 00:03:23
This is probably the worst time to be concentrating more on the cups than the league with the monster cash that will hit the Premier League next season.
Anthony Lamb
261 Posted 16/01/2016 at 00:12:33
Only saw the MotD highlights and of course there are numerous issues to be debated not least the failure to disallow the Terry goal but Colin Glassar is surely correct to highlight the sheer lack of professional discipline in the ludicrously over the top goal celebrations?

Leaving aside the issue that then arises as to the amount of additional time to be added on, an equally important issue is surely the impact it has in distracting players’ focus from the job in hand which is to ensure that they actually win the match?

They are paid obscene amounts of money to focus totally on every aspect of the game that will contribute to them winning a game and to eradicate those that will prevent that. The over-the-top nonsense of diving into a crowd should merit some serious disciplinary action as it is blatantly obvious that focus and concentration are seriously undermined.

Among the many demands of a professional approach to one’s job is discipline and responsibility not the self indulgence on show all too often these days and clearly evident in today’s events at Stamford Bridge.

Christy Ring
262 Posted 17/01/2016 at 00:31:45
We were robbed today, but is that why we’re 11th, and in the bottom half of the table??

As for Kenwright and Co, the takeover bid has died a death, but then again, that was the story, before the shareholders meeting?????


Seb Niemand
263 Posted 17/01/2016 at 00:33:24
Fucking Hell. Someone has been slipped a plain envelope here. Is the club considering consulting its lawyers? Fucking outrageous.
Patrick Murphy
264 Posted 17/01/2016 at 00:35:38
Christy (#243),

I’m hoping that no news is good news. The agreement that is in place between the potential buyers and the club prevents either side from commenting on the situation one way or the other. I think that agreement lasts until January 28th or perhaps even to January 31st.

In a couple of weeks time we should be aware of what is going to happen, good or bad. We’ve waited for years for something to happen, another fortnight isn’t that long to wait, is it.....?

Gordon Crawford
265 Posted 17/01/2016 at 01:03:22
At the end of the day, we only have ourselves to blame. As Hansen used to say, "You can’t score from Row Z". We don’t seem to get this concept. Time and time again, we play our way into trouble.
James Wong
266 Posted 17/01/2016 at 01:09:22
The ones that should feel most sick should be Lukaku or the other forwards. Banging in goals every week at the other end and not winning games. I'd be totally fed up.

And Everton can't keep saying they are unlucky. Bad luck is something that's not recurring, keeps on happening so something is wrong. Martinez is just way too soft with these lads and he needs to stop playing his "favorites".

James Wong
267 Posted 17/01/2016 at 01:12:32
They had like 3 attempts to win a header for that John Terry goal and failed to win any of them.

Also it's a horrible decision to try to play John Terry offside, I doubt they knew he was coming anyway. More like they were ball watching.

Joe O'Brien
268 Posted 17/01/2016 at 01:17:15
Patrick (#239),

I really hope you are wrong and that we don’t get Moyes back. With Moyes we’ll never get relegated but will never win anything and will always finish around 5-8 position.

We are playing great football at the moment, conceding stupid goals, but going forward playing very well. If Moyes was in charge of this team, he would kill their flare without a doubt.

RM isn’t the man for us but I hope we never go back to OFM.

Derek Thomas
269 Posted 17/01/2016 at 01:22:56
Better get used to it. Martinez is NOT going anywhere, buy out or relegation meltdown excluded.

Poor Reffs. and inconsistent linesmen are a fact of life in the Prem. Better get used to it. Mirallas was just as (or not) far Offside as Terry; eg not much. One gets picked up the other doesn't. Bet...nah enough.

Jagielka has ALWAYS been shakey with it over the top; He and Distin at Villa, when Areteta was still here, how long ago was that...nothing new then; better get used to it. (sorry, last time)

Roberto is the Baldrick of tactics, Hiddunk is a canny old fox. He took off a DM and put a class act there in Fabregas...It was a good job Costa went off when he did.

The same old could, woulda, shoulda. I though I saw signs last week and today we had worked on our defence. More work needed...but I don't think it will happen...Bet. ( bit of predictive txt there honest)

Martinez; With this team we should be doing better, But aren't.

Moyes; With his teams we could have been better, but weren't.

I want one gone and don't want the other back.

We're crying out here for my 'Goldilocks Option' Enjoy the good bits and write off the bad as the cost of doing business. Nothings going to change.

Everton that, all day long...always was... you should be used to it.

Victor Jones
270 Posted 17/01/2016 at 02:24:07
Footballers have been celebrating scoring late winners for as long as I can remember. It doesn't matter that a few extra minutes are added as a result. Only this Everton set up can manage to concede in the last seconds of a game. The manager does not know how to set up to see out a game. A league two side would have managed to hold on to that lead ,with only minutes to play. But not Everton. Not Everton. It really is bloody frustrating.

And yes , the third Chelsea goal was offside. But what can you do. These things happen. I still have nightmares about Bryan Hamiltons dis-allowed goal. But there again , Stones and Everton got lucky last week. Forty years of dodgy decisions. And as most sports have moved on. Football still leaves supporters pissed off. Football still has that grey area of doubt and just plain old poor refereeing. Other sports can redress and alter poor decisions. Not football. A cup or a league will be won, or lost, someday, on a referees decision. The very least that should happen now (after that debacle) today, is that the referee and linesmen should be made explain their decisions and then be made referee down the leagues for the rest of the season. Those officials should be no where near the Premier League. At least send out a message that poor refereeing is not acceptable. And I pity the lower leagues getting those clowns.

Last points. The most alarming aspect for me is that we managed to throw away a two goal lead. And most supporters also expected that to happen.We are getting used to this nonsense.. WTF is wrong with this team. Squandering leads. Controlling games one minute. Headless chickens the next minute. Is there nobody that can just bloody calm everything down. Take the sting out of a game. I guess not. That game today should have just ended in a routine 2-0 Everton win. We should have closed up shop. To hell with entertainment. I just want the boring old Three points. For now.

Roll on next week. The players should be up for the Swansea game, especially after that game today. No resting players. We need to start picking up points. We need to be beating teams Like Swansea at Goodison Park. Nothing more than league win number seven will do. The League Cup semi final will take care of its self. Whatever happens....happens. I want Everton to start climbing the league. Remember teams like Birmingham and Wigan have won cups. Bet they wished they also concentrated on the league. Rant over. COYBs.

Paul Ward
271 Posted 17/01/2016 at 03:05:43
The commentators are thrilled and call us the most entertaining team in the EPL. We can’t win a game but that’s OK. We live in such a plastic reality show environment Everton are the today's stars. Martinez is the puppet master, that creates the illusion the baddies are going to win but despite their lead they settle for a draw or defeat.

The cold truth is this team is completely inept of securing 3 points. The manager and the players must take full responsibility of losing 2 points irrespective of poor refereeing.

Ernie Baywood
273 Posted 17/01/2016 at 03:40:56
Generally I'd disagree with criticism of officials, they do their best and pressure on them doesn't help. Maybe it's that pressure that saw the goal given? Disallowing a late Chelsea goal would be brave.

But in this case it really doesn't matter. The linesman will be demoted without a shadow of a doubt because it was such a bad decision. It's not like Terry was on the move, he was offside the whole time. The only excuse would be if the linesman thought it came off an Everton head and not Oscar... but the obvious answer would be to ask the ref. He was close enough.

Awful decision that obviously cost us a win that we had previously been desperate to throw away.

Mohammed Horoub
274 Posted 17/01/2016 at 08:55:05
6 wins from 22 games. 3 home wins from 11 games. 20 goals conceded at home...

Worst home defence in the league. (Chelsea are second with 19 for those who are proud that we scored 3 yesterday.)

11 points lost from winning positions which would have us in 4th place. Teams with worse home records than us have already sacked their managers.

We have 5 points more than Bournemouth. They have spent £40-50 million less than us on salaries.

But please continue to talk about the beautiful football and Martinez’s ’pure’ philosophy. We have an excellent team that I’m afraid are playing ’bad’ football. We can’t defend set pieces. We have a team that can only play for 70 mins. Our goalie wouldn’t get into a Championship side on current form but I don’t blame the players.

The buck stops with Martinez and the team of ’coaches’. It’s his system, training and selection. Every week, once the opposing manager makes a sub to change the game, he stands there like a deer in the headlights...

I can see him thinking: "It worked my first season here so it should work again." No more Moyes trained defence and fitness now for Mr Martinez. No more Europa League to hide behind this year and he’s been exposed... Either adapt his ’philosophy’ or get out....

Mark Andersson
275 Posted 17/01/2016 at 08:59:45
248 posts and all that anger and frustration means nothing to the powers that be.

Nothing is changing and sadly it will not as some hope just click into place.

This is entertainment at its best. By the end of the season every neutral fan will have a soft spot for us. Some will become long term Evertonians how phenomenal is that.

Helen Mallon
276 Posted 17/01/2016 at 09:11:37
James Wong,

Lukaku did fuck-all all afternoon. I swear he does not want to score against his beloved Chelsea. He just strolled around... really annoyed me, it did.

I also have to admit that Pienaar should not have come on and should never play again. People say Martinez plays the youngsters... well, he does... but only when we have injuries. Let’s be honest, Galloway would not have had a sniff if Baines had been fit.

Brent Stephens
277 Posted 17/01/2016 at 09:27:39
Shane (#239), "Thank you Brent. So the length of time spent celebrating is irrelevant? I think now that most agree that the time added on was fair enough."

Shane, by my calculations, the time added on should have been a full 11 minutes (Oviedo injury, subs and goal). If it had have been, then there would have been about 3 more minutes after Terry equalised.

Svein-Roger Jensen
278 Posted 17/01/2016 at 09:57:18
Corruption of officials, especially referees, has also been used to guarantee scores and can offer a more reliable outcome of pushing the odds in the favour of gambling syndicates.
Hugh Jenkins
279 Posted 17/01/2016 at 10:03:09
Peter Lee (#133)
Mo Besic?
Shane Corcoran
283 Posted 17/01/2016 at 10:52:04
Brent (#261), plenty of time to throw away even the draw so.

Colin (#243), an Argentinian is unlikely to take part in long-gone British customs.

Anyway, game management begins when the game restarts. They could have done a lap of honour and still been ready to manage the game.

Brent Stephens
284 Posted 17/01/2016 at 10:54:33
Shane "plenty of time to throw away even the draw".

Ha! Yes, we could have come away with null points! Maybe I'll settle for the draw!

Colin Glassar
285 Posted 17/01/2016 at 11:08:43
I've watched their first goal about ten times, from different angles, and I can now solemnly swear that it is Tim Howard's fault.

The ball comes too high for Jags to head it and not only that, the ball is drifting away from him. If Howard had delayed his mad dash out he could have either diverted that ball or caught it.

Their second goal took an awful deflection off Besic as Howard had it covered and as for the third, well I don't have words for that.

Mark Tanton
286 Posted 17/01/2016 at 11:14:58
I’d like to ask Howard how he has played with this back four for years yet is a stranger to them. Don’t him and Jags know each other?

Howard spreads panic through the side, Robles seems more authoritative and calm.

Shane Corcoran
287 Posted 17/01/2016 at 11:24:08
Brent, more importantly, I lost €1.98 of my accumulated €8 gambling wealth on yesterday’s games.

A lonely night was had.

Liam Carlen
288 Posted 17/01/2016 at 11:36:57
Not that it makes the slightest bit of difference now, but in terms of the time added on, the referee may have added an extra minute for Everton’s ’over exuberant’ celebration, but if that was the case, why didn’t he then add on the same for Terry’s lengthy celebration? As soon as the match kicked off after they had scored, he blew his whistle, no additional time, just adding to the level of incompetence displayed by the officials.

Had Everton been 3-2 down, would any official play time over and above a 7-minute added time? No. Would Martinez ask them to? No.

Which brings me to the point that Everton and Martinez are just too nice. To be successful in any professional sport, you need a ruthless streak, which they just haven’t got, whether that involves seeing games out, dropping players or insisting on success.

Could you imagine Ferguson saying he wouldn’t speak to the referee because there’s no point? Of course not, he would have gone in ranting, which I admit doesn’t alter what has happened, but it will make them think twice in the future.

Also, could you imagine any of the top sides putting up with Martinez’s win ratio? Could you imagine anyone putting up with their goalkeeper making so many mistakes and having the decision-making of Sepp Blatter? No. Even Pardew came out yesterday and said his keeper is in the last chance saloon having made mistakes in two games.

I enjoy the football we play under Martinez, but at some point during games you have to aim to take the win. Principles don’t win you anything, particularly when Martinez’s philosophy is to outscore the opposition – and we don’t! Plus, my heart can’t take may more days like Bournemouth, Stoke and Chelsea.....

Charles Mctegart
289 Posted 17/01/2016 at 12:00:02
Keeping a vigil on "Final Score" on Saturday for the Chelsea game was as pleasant as watching a toddler walk across a motorway! You know what’s going to happen.

Having kicked all the furniture within range, and a lot more, I eventually realised, it’s still the same old story, a fight for love or glory, a case of do or die, the fundamental rules apply, as time goes by.

Gary Player, the old pro golfer, once said, "The more I practise, the luckier I get!"

You make your own luck in all things... especially football. We got away with two penalties against Man City... Mirallas and Stones. We were robbed by the match officials against Chelsea.

It’s swings and roundabouts! We led the Chelsea game 2-0 and 3-2. and only drew it... That means we blew it!

David Moyes , you, me, all Match of the Day viewers know it. You have to defend as well as attack to win a football match.

Have I left anyone important off the above list?

If all you can do is attack, then the best you can hope for is to score as many as your opponents... ie, draw all your games. I hate all the praise we are getting for playing exciting football; it is only exciting to the non-committed.

Welcome to the mid-table, shattered nerves! And shattered hopes!

Adam Baig
290 Posted 17/01/2016 at 12:14:10
Mohammed (#259), Bournemouth have spent £40-50m less than us on salaries? Where do you get that chestnut from?

The reality is we cannot compete with the money clubs for the holy grail that is the top 4. Lots of clubs have massively improved squads this season, and there isn’t a week goes by without a couple of shock results.

The negativity around Everton – who are playing the most entertaining football I’ve seen in years – is nothing short of disgraceful. I’m sure there are plenty of Villa and Newcastle fans who would trade places with us.

Joe Clitherow
291 Posted 17/01/2016 at 12:42:01
It could get worse.

What if that is the point that keeps Chelsea up???

Colin Glassar
292 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:02:11
Liam 269, on Sunday Supplement today all four journos agreed that Everton are the most attractive team in the league to watch. Entertainment wise all the neutrals want to watch us and we should be, at least in their opinion, a top five side BUT we aren’t streetwise, we aren’t nasty, we are naive.

Who is to blame? The manager for not shutting up shop with over 30 minutes to go? Or the players for their unwillingness to kick the ball into Row Z? I wonder if Martinez told Stones to be in the Chelsea half with minutes to go, or if he told Deulofeu to try and knock the ball casually past the Chelsea player with seconds to go rather than try and get a foul?

This is a very young team which will make mistakes but where are our veteran players? Yesterday we finished the game with Howard, Jagielka, Baines, Barry, Mirallas and Pienaar on the pitch. Do these guys have no responsibility to get the younger players to just fucking boot the ball out of play rather than try and be clever?

Blame the manager by all means but these are experienced players and it seems the youngsters are calling the shots and not them.

Adam Baig
293 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:15:56
I agree Colin (#272).

As many have said, the temptation may be for some of these younger players to leave for ’bigger’ clubs.

How refreshing would it be for them to stay, grow and learn together, and realise their potential with us?

Joe Clitherow
294 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:17:57
Sorry, Colin, I read Martinez’s quote about not wanting to play out the last seconds of a game by running down the clock, see where the origin of the rank stupidity that permeates lies.
Steve Harris
295 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:32:49
Just read the embarrassing stat that even Tim Sherwood had a better win ratio than Martinez!!!
James Hughes
296 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:39:20
Leon Osman on MotD2 has just admitted this is becoming a habit – not closing out games when we should be banking the points. So I ask: Can the players ignore the manager’s instructions to not run down the clock and boot it out of the ground?

Roberto’s intransigence to temper the best of the game with some functionality and self-interest is costing the team points. Plain and simple, he refuses to adapt, develop or alter a style of play that is not relevant on the current stage. Like Don Quixote still tilting at windmills.

Roger Helm
297 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:50:57
I still can’t get out of my head the Chelsea fans singing "Two-nil – and you fucked it up. Two-nil..."

We are everybody’s favourite second team, like West Ham and Spurs of old – good to watch, easy to beat. Now every team in the land knows that, even at two-down against Everton, you are still in with a good chance of a result.

What concerns me is that Lukaku and Mirallas and other top players won’t want to stay in a team that is such a defensive shambles that their chance of winning anything is zero. And without Lukaku’s goals where would we be?

Also, history shows that all Martinez teams get worse year on year in terms of league position, presumably because his "system" is easy for other coaches to work out. Let’s hope he goes before we get relegated. Most relegated teams go down because they leak too many goals; coaches who win relegation battles do so by sorting out the defence.

Colin Glassar
298 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:53:25
Well if he said that, Joe, he obviously needs to see a shrink. I love open, attacking football but that borders on criminal negligence.

Grow up, Roberto, this is the Premier League – not fucking Narnia!!

Eddie Dunn
299 Posted 17/01/2016 at 13:55:55
Colin (#266),

I have said this on another thread, but anyway, I agree with you; Howard should not have come out so early, as it was still nip and tuck between Jags and Costa as to who would get the ball, and even if Costa had gained the upper hand, Jags may have been able to put him off his shot.

The early dash out from Tim put Jags off, and was mis-timed anyway, as when Tim realised he had gone out of the box, he pulled out of his dive for the ball. If Howard had waited, a second, he may have been able to gather in the box, or make a save from Costa.

At the end of the day Howard was at fault. It is true that he could do little about the deflection for goal No 2, but perhaps he was a little slow to react when he saw Terry looming large. The first goal was the one that was going to give them the way back, as we all knew that, if they got one, we would be under the cosh.

How many times have we been undone by a simple punt over the top?

Michael Penley
300 Posted 17/01/2016 at 14:06:41
Didn't we run down the clock against Man City in the cup game? It seems Martinez just comes up with excuses when convenient to cover up all his laziness.

God knows what kind of bullshit he invents when his missus wants to get intimate and he's too tired - "Oh darling you know I don't like to have sex after 10pm, it's bad for my complexion. Well yes you're right we did do it last night but it was in a good moment and it was a phenomenal team performance, incredible stamina and a very exciting and uniquezzzzzzzz....."

Svein-Roger Jensen
301 Posted 17/01/2016 at 14:07:49
Robbed!!!!!!!!
Kieran Fitzgerald
302 Posted 17/01/2016 at 14:14:59
We can talk about defining moments, this being a team still on a learning curve and Martinez being given the time he needs. However, it is different now to 25 or 30 years ago in terms of players giving a club time.

Ferguson was given time at Man Utd and Kendall was given time at Everton. But in their time, players stayed at clubs for longer and didn’t move within the division just to automatically double their wages.

Martinez may be given next season but he will have to do so with the strong chance that Stones, Coleman, Lukaku, Barkley and Deulofeu will be gone in the summer.

Players nowadays leaving in a quicker fashion would limit the time a manager is given to build success.

Mohammed Horoub
303 Posted 17/01/2016 at 14:26:36
Adam @270

https://www.totalsportek.com/money/english-premier-league-wage-bills-club-by-club/

I apologise it’s actually 49.7 million chestnuts.

While I feel bad for Villa and Newcastle, my frustration and those of many on here is that this team, if managed properly, should be competing for a top 4 spot. If our current form continues, we will be the ones wishing we were in Newcastle’s position but I try to avoid statements that tempt fate...

Your confidence in this manager is greater than mine...

Andy Crooks
304 Posted 17/01/2016 at 14:36:50
Mohammed, I agree. It seems to me to be about tge right coach at the right time. I bowed to no one in my criticism of Moyes but can you imagine what would have happened if Roberto had replaced Walter Smith? I reckon that the magnificent away support would be off to Stevenage.

I get to few home games now, never mind away games, but the Evertonians who travel away are the very best, just doing our club proud.

Mike Powell
305 Posted 17/01/2016 at 14:56:54
I don't give fuck how much time was added on – the point is it was well offside... not even close – we were robbed.

Another thing: why wasn’t that nasty piece of work, Costa, sent off? And how come when Mirallas got flattened just outside their area, that we never got a free kick?

That ref was a disgrace in fact I'll go as far and say he was a cheat. I thought Everton were excellent and deserved to win.

Adam Baig
306 Posted 17/01/2016 at 15:17:25
Mohammed, the article itself says the 2015 figures are speculative, and even if the figures are correct you can’t compare a year's wages of a Championship club to those of a Premier League one.

We are 8th in that speculative wage league, and my guess is there are a couple of teams who will go above us when real accounts come out.

There are plenty of good squads whose fans should expect top 4 more than us.

Ian Linn
307 Posted 17/01/2016 at 16:13:19
Irrespective of the added time which, considering our goal and proceeding celebrations, seemed about right, prior to Terry putting the ball into the net, our defenders lost out on 3 consecutive headers. Shitty defending; do that and you have to expect to get punished.
Colin Glassar
308 Posted 17/01/2016 at 16:45:57
Last thought on this travesty. Very few people have commented on the fact that Lukaku had a very quiet game and didn't put himself about as much as he has this season.

Do players tend to keep a lower profile against former clubs? Does Rom still yearn for a return to The Bridge? He has spoken of "unfinished business". I'm not trying to read too much into this but after watching the game, and highlights, I thought we were playing with a man down.

Patrick Murphy
309 Posted 17/01/2016 at 16:52:52
Colin (#286)

He certainly wasn’t as involved as much as he has been, but he wasn’t really up to much at Man City either; perhaps he isn’t 100% fit. Despite that, he was involved in the first two goals and would have scored had Funes Mori not decided to nick in first.

I wouldn’t make too much of it at the moment, but we’ll find out at the end of the season where everything stands. Following so many years of relative stability, everything is a bit up in the air at the moment on and off the park.

Mike Berry
311 Posted 17/01/2016 at 17:12:06
So why didn’t Jones play extra time for Terry’s ’goal’ celebrations?
Darren Fellows
312 Posted 17/01/2016 at 17:13:11
I think, as a team and squad, we are as good as anyone technically but we need a leader – a midfield general, a Gravesen- or Carsley-type player who can lead the team, slow the game down when needed, kill the game when we are leading, break play up – even if it means chopping someone down. And a new keeper is a must if we are to get into the top four.

These types of players aren’t the greatest technically but grab the game by the scruff of the neck and motivate players around them. They probably wouldn’t break the bank... mind you, I think we have moved on a little when we are disappointed to get only a draw at Chelsea.

I don’t think we are too far off some silverware. I do wonder sometimes how Moyes would have done with a squad like we have now.

Shane Corcoran
313 Posted 17/01/2016 at 17:50:29
Mike (#293) and Liam (#270), I answered this at my post #179 I think it was.
Oliver Molloy
314 Posted 17/01/2016 at 18:24:20
Darren,

He would ruin it!

Oliver Molloy
315 Posted 17/01/2016 at 18:49:04
Kieran @ 284,

Stones & Lukaku will definitely leave providing the Champions League clubs come in for them and we get the money we want.

The other names you mention will stay unless the club want to let them go, I would think.

Barkley is an Evertonian and is desperate to win something with the club. If that happens, who knows but he loves Everton and the fans.

I’d be very surprised if Deulofeu has done enough to date for his former club to come looking for him although the season has a bit to go.

Max Murphy
316 Posted 18/01/2016 at 20:24:43
After the collapses this season, Everton players should only celebrate goals scored after the final whistle goes. Maybe then they’d remain focussed and see the game out.

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