Match Day Thread Everton v Southampton 02/01/17 3pm

Agree, agree, agree. Very simple really. Relying on J, Redmond & Charlie was never going to work, which has been compounded by Puel's tactics (won't go there ATM).

 

Bertrand was injured with a "heel problem"

So why was he on the bench? Very tinpot thing to do to name an injured player just for the sake of filling the sub places. Feels like bullshit to me.

 

Players aren't looking like they are exactly inspired by Puel.

 

Chris Wilder is Sheffield Utd's manager (I assume it's the right one).

 

I want to hear why when we go a goal down the players heads drop. Why when our midfielders get 25 yards from goal, they are scared to go into the penalty box. Why do you keep talking about Jay Rod, Redmond, Long as being strikers, when none of them are out and out strikers. Why play Bertrand once in 16 days? Are you going to get a more settled team and stop the constant rotation now? Etc etc

 

Can anyone tell me what puels tactics are? The only things I can see are negative, with respect to previous managers.
Our midfield is too easily cut through. Full backs and wingers don't have that chemistry going forward, can't do hold up play i.e. Going direct doesn't work.

 

Off to Liverpool then?

 

Does anyone else feel that we do not have a very creative midfield but even our defensive midfielders apart from Romeu seem to be rather lightweight in stature so we can't dominate the games, and get overrun?

 

This is a really good post but Puel is hardly likely to indicate whether he has targets lined up for the transfer window..

 

No I don't get this argument at all. We have 3 recovery days before Liverpool and we are playing a Championship team lacking confidence themselves. We should play our best team for both games. If we lose with a weakened team for Norwich then crash out to Liverpool we are worse off again. Besides, I can't see anyone out there playing a blood and thunder style game at the moment, that's what they should have done against Hapoel too and they neglected to.

 

Saints won't sack Puel mid-season. Maybe in the summer.

If that is the case, then we should move heaven & earth to get Eddie Howe. That's a style of football I want to see Saints playing. He's not the finished article, but two seasons of Premiership under his belt, makes him perfect for stepping up to Saints.

 

I reckon we should rotate. Lets say 6 or seven players.
Thats a safe bet.

 

We have only lost once this year..............

 

Yes and no. Romeu is generally great, but you need 2 holding midfielders in the PL. We have 1 in the whole squad.

 

Several people said that we needed to play 2 x CDM earlier this season. I wasn't one of them, but I now think we do need to play two.

 

Bertrand was ill, not a heel problem. BBC Radio Solent interviewer mis-heard Puel.

 

You see,you're just being naughty now aren't you?

 

It's why I said in the Summer I wanted another DM signed, as Romeu (and Reed?) Are the only ones who are specialists in this role. People at the time said Pierre was Vics replacement but he's not that sort of player at all.

I also think this and the Spurs game show how much we miss Vic in games like this.

 

Its what he will do, there's no doubt. We don't have a second 11, we have a squad.
The big question is, will Virgil play against Norwich?

 

Virgil will be a mug if he stays with this shower come the summer.

 

Chris Wilder - shows my ignorance but who???????