Also heard them say on Sky Sports that last season it took until November for one of the newly promoted teams to get a win, so a round of applause for us and Sunderland
Really good from us tonight. 1st half we were all over them. They didn't know what hit them. Crowd were noisy and intimidating. 2nd half was frustrating as we stood off them and gave them time to get a foothold in the game. The crowd went a bit quieter and you could sense Everton were growing in confidence. Their fans even chanted once or twice. It looked a penalty from the Kop. Nmecha took it well. Deserved the win. Stach was everywhere, Tanaka reads the game so well, Ampadu was top class. Rodon had Beto tucked in his pocket. Gudmundsson was awesome that first half, looks a very astute signing. Bogle didnt play great but was decent enough. Piroe needs to get in the box more often. He's too busy ****ing about on the edge of the area. Dan James struggled to make an impact. Gnonto was good. Perri needs to calm the **** down. He'll certainly be entertaining until he costs us points. He's off his tits.
Agree with all of this but thought Gnoto needed to be quicker on the ball, felt like he took too long a lot of the time.
I thought Gnonto was our brightest attacking threat in the first half… legs went early in the second as did numerous others. All our midfield was really good until they tired. Bogle and James were off it, don’t think either are match fit. Gudmonsson made a few nervy errors early on then did really well. CBs both solid and decent on the ball, piroe quiet but worked hard. Subs added some fresh legs when needed and well timed by Farke. Keeper’s distribution is a work in progress.
The Penalty Tarcheatofski moved his body towards the ball and deviated it with his arm. Whether it was by his side or not is irrelevant. Clear penalty as given by on field ref and VAR. Was nervous for the pen but was stuck away in the corner.
I think when you consider that the penalty was so late In the game and 3 points virtually relied on it going in, with Nmacha having only just come on, his nerve and the quality of the penalty has to be applauded.
Perri - 8 - Solid enough, caught the ball and punched when needed. Passing leaves a bit to be desired but all in all an upgrade and good debut. Bogle - 8 - Shocked to see him on the lineup. Made some good runs and looked pretty solid. Tired towards the end but obviously not fully fit. Rodon - 8 - Didn’t notice him all that much and I think as a CB that can be a good thing. Struijk - 8 - Was slightly worried about him starting given his last outings in the PL but was strong and looked good. Good we now have options. Gudmundsson - 9 - Loved his energy, got stuck in and didn’t get beat. Brilliant debut. Definite upgrade on Firpo defensively which will be needed this season James - 7 - Put some good balls in and looked alright. Not his best outing but still a threat, don’t think he’s fully fit as he wasn’t as quick as he can be. Ampadu - 9 - Ran the show. Very good defensively and linked up really well. He was someone who I was worried about when stepping up but he did that last night. Stach - 9 - Solid and looks like he could makes things happen. Will score a few too I think. Tanaka - 9 - I honestly love him, my favourite player and probably our best. Just so classy on the ball and reads the game so well. Just hope he puts his shooting boots on next week. Gnoto - 7 - Getting a lot of praise on here and maybe I’m just still bitter with how he acted the other year however I don’t see the hype. I think he’s an okay option for us but thought he held on to the ball for too long, thought he had more time than he did and slowed play down a little when he got it. Still a good option but once Okafor comes in I think Okafor starts. Piroe - 6 - Worked hard but doesn’t have the legs/pressing skills for a 433 in the PL and not the vocal point we need this season. Hard to say where he’s going to fit in as he does know where the goal is. Subs: Aaronson - 8 - Hassled and pressed the defence. Can’t see him starting many but he’ll be massive for us as an impact sub. Very good. Nmecha - 9 - Cool as you like for the goal in a high pressure situation, perfect penalty. You know it’s a good one when the keeper dives the right way but it still goes in. Did some absolutely brilliant hold up play and got himself about when he was one. I’d start him at Arsenal. Harrison - 8 - Thought he got some good balls into the box, looked sharp and passed well. Experienced and looked it. Would be happy to keep him and be tempted to start him at Arsenal for his work rate. Can see Ramazani going on loan once the winger comes in and us having Okafor (medical going well) & Harrison on the left and Gnoto (although I think he’s better on the left Farke seems to rate him on the right) & James on the right. Gruev - 8 - Solid option and now we’re playing 3 in midfield I won’t be having any of this sale talk. Need him as an option and he’s a good one at that. Longstaff - N/A - Not on long enough to give a rating but love having him as an option. Farke - 9 - Long season ahead but credit where credits due, set up really well. Defensively looked strong and it didn’t upset our attacks. He needs more attackers to do his job as we need to do more with the chances/possession we had. A lot of criticism last year for his subs but made all the correct decisions tonight that helped us win the game. Also provided pressure to Everton when they started coming into the game to turn it back into our favour. Crowd - 8 - Fantastic and need this every week. Want teams to be scared to come here. This can also be a selling point to new players and somewhere we can bully the opposition. Would have been a 9 but didn’t go there as we need to stop booing our own players, I get people aren’t happy with Harrison but don’t do that. First game of the season, 0-0 at home and were booing our own player, not a good look and not helpful to the cause. Side before self and all that, applies to the fans too.
yep… penalties in my view need to ‘hit the Stanchion’ at pace, low or high… low is less risk. Smashed high down the middle is ok if it’s a keeper that always dives early. It staggers me how many takers hit pens at waist height (women’s Europeans anyone?) giving the keeper a better chance. It was just a penalty and a professional footballer should be able to score every time. But they don’t. Nmecha’s pen was as close to perfect as they come. Hit at pace, low, safely inside the post but too far away for any keeper to get to. Given the match circumstances. Great technique great bottle. Like that he had the confidence to want to take it, and he came across as a cool customer in his post match interview.
Fair assessment fella. Crowd needs to grow up re Harrison. He did well last night when he came on, he’ll always put a shift in. It’s a credit to him actually that he’s fronting up. Gnonto probably doesn’t have much X factor at this level - though his back heel tidying up/clearance in the first half was class. I just thought his movement was really good first half and he links play up well. End product probably the biggest criticism. He gassed early 2nd half and started making mistakes so DF was right to sub him
Just a thought on both our wingers last night. They were good at taking on the full backs but the consensus around me was that they were holding on to the ball too long and almost wanted to beat their man twice. My taking on it is that it's not the wingers fault. Quite often we would create the space to cross the ball but had to turn back because there was nobody in the box. Piroe likes to drop deep and play and without a recognised 10 he did this alot. I think the young uns call it a false 9. The result is Piroe playing the ball out wide and then there is nobody there to attack crosses. There is the concession we have to make playing a more conservative midfield 3. I can't see Stach, Tanaka, Gruev or Longstaff making runs beyond Piroe.
Summerville Klich Gelhardt Greenwood Klaesson Gyabi Gray Drameh Hjelde Our bench for the first game last time we came up, compared to last nights. Longstaff Aaronson Nmecha Harrison Gruev Ramazani Bornauw Byram Darlow Then begs the question, with DCLBijol and possibly Okafor to come into the squad, who drops out from the bench. Rama seems the obvious one but then who else?
There's also the issue of comparing benches. This years looks a lot better with proper cover for positions.
