I think it’s being perpetuated to hide how shocking the refereeing actually was I know those games must be hard but all you really need to do is dole out some cards early on Give Richarlison a red then boom easy
I'm unsure sure why there is all this vitriol directed towards the Everton performance. It wasn't pleasant to watch, Yes it was **** housery of the highest nature, but if I was in their position I'd expect us to do exactly the same. The first half it worked a treat, it wound the fans up, it wound the players up, it was only that klopp got a grip of them and managed to impart some sense that we didn't fall apart. It's all very well sitting on a pedestal saying everyone should be playing free flowing attacking football, but its not always possible. The game can be played in many ways, all as viable as each other. If they went against city and came out with a nil nil we'd all be thrilled.
Oh and on the young Everton lad, he ran really fast in a straight line, there's 3 lads in my boys under 11s team that can do that too. If he had someone in front of him he didn't know what to do, he couldnt hold the ball up, coukdnt bring players into play, I dont think he had a shot on target. I'm unsure where the excitement about his performance cones from either.
I dont think anyone is saying anything about free flowing football. I'm personally comparing that game to real real Madrid laughing at us last season 0-0 at anfield or say allardyce at West ham coming wanting 0-0 but getting at least a few chances. The reality is these sides at least have some.play to score. There was no plan for Everton there. Not breaking rapidly as they never supported the runs forward that happened a total of 3 times. They just hacked the ball away 17% possession. At least get the ball up the park and get a few set pieces. Sourness was right it was the easiest way to play but it was utterly cynical and seeing Richarilson fake injuries to enable his team mates to rush the ref and our players and throw arms and insults at us to look for a red card.
I don't have anything against the Everton performance as such, minus the cheating. My problem is more with the pundits who think they played well. I think Rory on 5live's Monday night club had the most sensible opinion on it, which is that it wasn't the same as Palace's 0-0 against City as palace actually carried a forward threat beyond lone runners, and that they were asking for trouble playing the way they did. And at the end of the day, they lost. When you do play like that the result defines whether you played well or not.
I don’t think anyone can complain about how they set up. Look at United the week before opened up and lost 4-0 which could have been 6 and they’re according to the table a better team than Everton. If Everton lose 6-0 they’re GD takes a huge hit as well as moral. Keep it tight and hope for a set piece to Nick 1-0 was legit tactics. The slowing down game is frustrating but again, perfectly legit if it’s within the laws of the games. The ref should have got some cards out or at least given a couple warning, especially to Pickford after first 10 mins though. No problem with taking time over GK’s but what ever happened to the 6 second rule when ball is in your hands? Everton did play ok. They frustrated us and the crowd and if it had carried on and got a 0-0 and then survived by a point at end of season would look back at it as a brilliant effort. Problem obviously comes if you play like that and don’t get anything. Then the questions are asked that should you have tried to do more etc.
but utd didn't open up. they simply were abject and didn't bother even running. they went 5 at the back and then useless players like dalot wandered off. If you want to compare the two then fine. Everton had a plan to try cheat. Utd had no plan at all and just stood about for 90mins. What we didn't see is what you wrote though; yes it was park a bus, no it wasn't get a set peice. it looked like get a red card to me. if thats a legit tactic then the game is gone. Pulis at stoke and allardyce wherever you like didn't have 17% possession and i can recall them applying the "nick a set piece goal tactic" much better than the abject disply we saw. Everton didn't play ok.... same as the clown campbell. thats not ok. Not even close. alan had 2 passes total. richarilson flopped over after a header and running 15 yards out. richarilson tried to tag thiago then flopped over and rolled about until dacoure hacked at fabinho and 9 of them charged at our players seeking retaliation Pickford slid on his knees and then flopped over on the rare occasions he caught a ball. The everton 17% possession was 50% goal kicks and Pickford holding the ball and not kicking it. there's nothing there that suggests a team digging in and going to try get a few set pieces and load the box. When we scored they have nothing. absolutely no plan. If they were chasing set piece then they failed utterly. you are right though, it get judged after the game. It was ABJECT, FAILED and has put them on a serious back foot regarding relegation.
8 of their starting 11 made only ten passes or less. That's shockingly poor. Thiago made more passes than their entire team.
Defending deep is a legitimate tactic. being that poor is not. Its that simple. I've seen plenty of games were sides have cos LFC points but never that cheating where a player drops and fakes head injury and not once but twice thier team rushes us seeking to start a fight and get someone sent off. a fulham game v rafa comes to mind. 0-0 but even there andy jonhson and jimmy bullard had a chance. that was hodgson in chanrge. A burnley game 0-2 where we had 705% possession and they hit on the counter. that west ham game with fat sam. 2013. thy were 12th in the table and decides a draw would do just fine. They turned up this weekend to cheat and were in the relegation zone knowing only a win would get them back out so the pressure was on pregame. It was an abject performance. kevin campbell said they need to win their home games (one is cheslea) and repeat that level of rubbish away. I think they need to get real here and grind out results but rolling about won't cut it. <10 passes all game form pro players just won't cut it. If you are that bad load up a big target and lump it at him and get the fast lads round him. Park 2 no 6s and get winger spiling on. whatever is needed. If Burnley win the next 2 (and they are very winnbale) then everton need 3 wins and match burnley in the other 2. this is really bad! Chelsea H Leicester A watford H Brentford A Palace H Arsenal A This is not good. Arsenal are fighting for 4th. Brentford are decent at home. Chesela are chelsea. Leicester are hard to call. Burnley are Watford H villa H Spurs A villa A Newcastle H Burenly can get to 37-40 points here suddenly. They are not as good as villa but can fight them off the park. Watford are a gimme for both sides. Newcastle will be on the beach. I simply don't see an easy route to 37/38 points for everton without a massive unexpected result. they have to beat Leicester imo.
Bringing in Frank Lampard was the greatest mistake. Young and inexperienced manager He cannot handle dogs fight. BIG SAM CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
I've always been staunch in not wanting Everton to go down, but I'm very hard pushed after that cynical ****e on Sunday. Chief culprits Richarlisson, Pickford and Gordon, who looks to have talent.
including pickford and richarilson flopping round like salon on a river bank despite not being touched and in one case nobody within 5 yards? Gordon has a rep for falling over pre this game anyway. it wasn't "worse" he just got a card for it which the ref was probably even coming into game expecting to give
I got quite a good view of the soles of his boots as well. Mostly as he either slammed them into henderson knee (the excuses that that is not a red were absolutely pathetic) or as he lay prone acting the cock. In fact the best part of him probably are his studs.
