MessiWillSignForVilla

Tactics spot on first half, second half he failed to adapt his tactics to suit his and Evertons subs which left us looking lost and meant we couldn't get any sort of foothold in the game and had no outlet going forward. A good defensive performance let down by some shoddy second half decisions/tactics.

**** hell England, I was hoping you'd cheer me up a bit

Wasn't great today, but I really do think his coming off did more harm than good. Although he didn't make much impact on the ball, but off the ball, he kept Jagielka occupied leaving space for Benteke with only Distin marking him. It's what helped make the tactic work first half, as it allowed us to have some sort of outlet and let Benteke hold up the ball so we could break forward. Lambert didn't change the tactics to suit the sub, which meant Benteke was starting to get crowded out as Everton weren't worrying about the second striker, cancelling our outlet. Not great on the ball, but an off the ball presence that I think we missed second half.

And I would argue the Holt sub turned the game, he managed to keep Jagielka occupied by just being there, leaving only Distin to mark Tekkers, without Holt, Benteke seemed to get crowded out more.

Because if you close down too much you leave gaps for them to exploit. He didn't play that formation against Liverpool, should hav played same team swapped in albrighton for gabby Because Liverpool have more ability to unlock a stubborn defence than Everton, if we'd played like that against Plop, Suarez would've torn us to shreds. Plus Liverpool don't keep the ball in the same way Everton do. Everton are more slow build up types and try exploit players switching off and use the wings. Liverpool play a more fast and free flowing game and get behind the defence with Suarez and Sturridge, the best way to negate that is to stop them putting those balls through. If it wasn't for one mistake by Vlaar after 75 minutes, and a world class free kick, our tactics today would have completely stopped Everton today.

I completely agree, why would he take Vlaar off if he wasn't injured, but he didn't seem to be carrying a knock coming off, and if he was injured, why not bring on a defender as a like for like sub. It looked to me as a desperate attempt to try go more attacking after the equaliser.

Because if you close down too much you leave gaps for them to exploit.

If you've no idea why Vlaar came off you really shoudnt be commenting here Sorry, can you point to me where it is confirmed that Vlaar is injured? Or are you just going to assume and berate anyone who might think differently.

Thought we were solid defensively and tactics were spot on, first half especially. If it wasn't for one mistake and a world class free kick, we would have won. Although Holt didn't do much, I really think his sub changed the game. Having him on made Everton's CBs focus on both him and Tekkers, giving Tekkere space and time to hold it up, without him we got crowded out when we tried to go forward. Ref was poor all game, did whatever the Everton fans wanted him to do in the second half. If we'd held on it would have been such a great win

What are you going on about?? The ref has been waiting for the crowd reaction all game before making a decision

Been awesome defensively all day, one mistake and special goal finish us off, I **** hate football sometimes.

But do we know he's injured? Didn't look it to me, ran off quite comfortably.

NO!

would be first back to back wins of the season too We beat Norwich away and Man City at home back to back, in September. But we lost to Tottenham in cup in between

No point watching anymore, Stones was making it all worthwhile

Newcastle are 7 points ahead of us even if we win... Not sure I'd class them as being in any relevant to us barring a complete collapse from them They did just sell their best player and lose 3-0 to Sunderland, not out of the realms of possibility

Make or break now, if they don't score soon with this pressure, the frustration will overcome them, imo

If we hold on, and Tottenham beat Hull, we'll be in a little table of our own with Southampton and Newcastle.

I think if we hang on for another 10 minutes, or score again, we'll frustrate them enough that they will struggle to get back in it, but concede soon and I think they'll win.

would be first back to back wins of the season too

No need for subs yet. Holt hasn't been great, and we should revert to using him as a sub after this game, but no point messing with a working tactic just yet. In all honesty, I think having him on the pitch has created more space for Benteke, the other CB has been busy focusing on Holt that Benteke only has the 1 marker.

You're embarrassing, we're winning. Your just "result" focused. If you look at our overall game in that half, its been shit. It's called having a game plan. It's working. Everton haven't had any meaningful attacks. We're 1-0 up. I repeat, do you even understand football? Would like to see if u had the same opinion if we didnt score on our only chance in our game, and evertons hit in the bar in the start of the half went in Well that would be different wouldn't it, because the game plan wouldn't be working. But it is, and we're winning, that's all that really matters.

You're embarrassing, we're winning. Your just "result" focused. If you look at our overall game in that half, its been shit. Your right, let's play pretty football like Wigan did, we might get relegated, but it's not about the results!

Fantastic first half, may not have been exciting or had much ball, but we've frustrated them, not allowed them any real chances and taken the ones that came our way.

O ye of little faith