Shown here as one of 4 alternative matches to choose live at 2am if the match set for that timeslot does not suit. Elected to watch the whole game rather than record and watch over breakfast. I have a 100 inch screen and on a few occasions have watched the whole 4 matches at once, occasionally flipping to the 5th! NB. Martinez was wrong about Everton not doing 4 consecutive league defeats. Moyes certainly did it!
Yes, because that is exactly what happened. The team adjusted to the loss of Rosenior as if he had not come on. We have done it many times over the years.
Davies finished the game in exactly the same position he started. Not meant to come across as a personal insult here, but do some people even watch the game or see the team shape? We never went to 4 at the back today. You are far from the first person to suggest Davies moved to left back; he didn't. The shape was McG Chester Maguire Bruce Davies Brady Elmo Livermore Meyler Jelavic Hernandez
Fez, no one in their right mind would bodge our back line up like that on 20 minutes if they didn't have to. I do think you have a point about Rosenior carrying a knock and Brady could have come in for Robbo instead. I expected Brady would come on at the time but not due to Rosenior carrying a niggle, I never even thought about that til reading all this, just because I think he's a better option down the left and offers better balance. I suspect Bruce went with Rosey for his defensive qualities. Regardless, it had to be him or Brady, bringing on Maguire wouldn't have worked at that time as we had no left wing back already on the pitch. When Rosey came off Brady dropped out of midfield back into defence, if we brought Maguire on, it would have to have been one of him, Chester, Bruce or Davies at left back. Just wouldn't have worked.
I haven't read the whole of this thread, so I'm not sure whether I'm making a point that isn't really necessary but when you say "We never went to 4 at the back today", are you intentionally ignoring the fact that we started like that and remained that way until Rosie went off? As in: McGregor Chester Bruce Davies Robertson/Rosenior Elmo Livermore Meyler Ramirez/Brady Hernandez Jelavic Edit - the shape has reformatted after I've posted but I did mean this to look a 4-4-2. I also found it odd that he brought Rosie on initially to replace Robertson instead of Brady, not only because of Rosie's recent injury but also because of the fact that it was another player not playing in their natural position, with Chester at right back already. I did consider the possibility that he felt Rosie might be the more sound defensively in a 4 but Brady is the natural left footed player and has played as left back in a 4 before. Another question in my mind at the time was that if Rosie was considered not fit enough to start, was he fit enough to play nearly 70 minutes? As it turned out, the decision was vindicated in the fact that Rosie provided the cross for Elmo's goal by cutting back and crossing on his right, as he always has to but on this ocassion it proved effective! Chester also did ok as a RB and as an RWB but there were moments where it showed and I'm sure against a better or more confident team, playing too many players out of their best position unnecessarily, might well have caught us out. It was a good win and we got at them and eroded any possible confidence they might have had from the outset but it does still concern me that we are still playing certain players out of position, when we don't absolutely have to. Rosie and Chester can both do the jobs they were given but Chester is so much more comfortable at CB, as is Rosie at RB rather than LB.
Interesting stat on the bbc website that says we have a 44.4% win percentage (4/9) when Alex Bruce has been involved and a 0% win percentage when he hasn't. Bit odd that he made Garth's team of the week when you look at our MotM thread.
My wife kept pointing out during the game that he hadn't "put a foot wrong" and had made some excellent interceptions, tackles and blocks not to mention headers. I had to agree and originally had him at no. 3 in my list but then replaced him with Livermore purely because of his mentality in busting a gut for the team today. Bruce was excellent though today.
To be fair, it was never really my argument that Maguire should have been brought on, it was more the point that Rosenior should not, as he was a risky sub. I used reference to Maguire 'chomping on the bit' as he was brought on and he showed he had a lot to offer. You have it there; it was when Rosie came off that rejigging was done. The assist sweetens the pill, but bringing Rosie on was strange on a couple of levels. My main point in all of this is that it is difficult to follow the thinking of Steve Bruce in his selections/subs.
No he didn't..... We end up playing with a back five, or a back three with two wing backs. Davies was play CB throughout with Brady either LWB or LB.
I think bring Rossy on was the right move with Robertson going off. The one player getting any success in the first half was Coleman down the right for Everton, and even though Rossy has a niggle (its was an Achilles according to the pre-match not hamstring) Rossy stopped that as he is a better defender than Robertson.
Alex Bruce was immense for the full match. I don't think there's anyone better you could play at central centre half when playing 3 in the back.
You are so full of conceited bullshyes he did Did you not see Brady near the opposition corner flag or are you SUCH A N EXPERT I must have been imagining watching Davies making them tackles on the left hand touchline then Why do some people on here think they are so intellectual He moved left get over it Or did we have 3 centre backs and a right back
Don't follow your logic there, John, as Robertson was replaced by Rosenior. I knew it was Achilles as it was posted (I think by OLM, who had seen him limping ,the day before). My real point being it was a risky sub as Achilles bad enough to cause a limp are highly probable to return - I don't know what happened with his hamstring as he wasn't stretching, but replay does show his ankle tweak over a bit - no idea if it was the problem ankle. It's academic anyway as he is fooked now. Brady in at LB or Maguire on as he did might have left us a sub for the final third,
Saw a stat today that Bruce jnrs pass rate to team mates was 100% and made 13 clearances against Everton. Making him our best defender on the pitch.
I like a good argument like the next chap but seriously you're arguing about whether we played the last 20 minutes as a 4-4-2 or a 5-3-2? Who ****ing cares? We were immense.
