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

Ok, but do it without being smart and digging out those of us that manage to analyse without slagging off.

Things aren't ****ing awful at all. Things are ****ing awful for Hull. Things just aren't as good as we have been used to in recent seasons. I am happy to acknowledge anybody's right to express concerns, but if I read them going over the top in their slagging off of people I support, or me by indirect dig, then be prepared for me to come back, because I will.

 

We can't keep saying this after every game though.

 

Your impression was correct. It was close and, if anything, we were playing better. Up until they scored their first, we were shaving it, IMO. Good defending, moving the ball up quickly and threatening their goal - just not getting it in their net.

And if that means I'm a happy clapper, so be it. I can only call it as I saw it. If people want to attack me for seeing our performance up to the goal as being pretty good, they are welcome to their views. I stopped arguing some time ago as it's become an article of faith in here (and elsewhere) that all of the following are true: We need to sign a new keeper, two more CBs, two attacking MFs and two 20+ per season strikers in January; VVD is already sold in a secret deal; We're headed for a relegation battle; We need Puel to go and be replaced by ... well... anyone really; Kat must go; The Chinese will fix all this, etc, etc, ad nauseam.

And the problem with people of faith is that, as with any faith, there's no place for rationality, reason or moderation.

One of my New Year resolutions was to stop doing anything that makes me unhappy so I'll be back when this has become a pleasant place to be again.

Vin

 

Here you go folks. An example of a sensible, calm post.

You are right Jaidi. That is worrying.

 

I actually thought the scoreline flattered Everton ... they were no better than us. I thought we played well for most of the match, just don't create/convert enough still.

Really not as bad as people are making out.[/QUOTE]

This being the most worrying bit. It's becoming a bit of a theme.

 

I see absolutely no point in continually running down the board, the manager, the players, and most of the supporters when I have absolutely no influence on what happens at the club. As a supporter, my job is to support the players on the pitch when they are playing.

Having said that, I have no problem with anyone who wants to carp and whine about anything. That's what this forum is for, so that anyone can express their views without being attacked at a personal level. You may, of course, find that people will disagree with you, and they have every right to, as long as personal insults are not levelled at you.

By the way, I may be a happy clapper, but there is nobody more concerned at the way things are going right now than me. We all have our own ways of dealing with these things, that's all.

 

It does highlight the long term fatigue problems that the Europa league brings. We aren't the first team to drop down the league while playing in Europa, and certainly won't be the last. Our squad depth is slightly better than previous seasons, so while the rotation makes sense, I feel it can be excessive.

Still top half, I suspect we'll drop a bit further down the league. The wheels were going to come off at some point, it's how we respond this summer that will decide our long term fate in this competition.

 

Something needs to change.

 

Of course you have a right to express concern and question our current approach. Just as other people have a right to respond to that, agree with it, or disagree with it. It's not being "chastised", it's trying to have a discussion.

I don't think you'll find anyone happy with the current state of play, in all senses of the word.

For me that was -

Average Team 3-0 Average Very Fragile Team

 

3 games in the space of 6 days certainly doesn't help, but to pick up no points during that run is rather worrying. Rotation was obviously needed, but Puel now needs to start putting out the best available team in the PL until the end of the season.

 

I agree that now I the time for some consistency in selection.

 

I don't want to come across as one of those people, but I said before Xmas that WBA was always the game which Puel had to prioritise over the two (just as he has to prioritise the Liverpool 1st leg next week). He didn't. That's his fault I'm afraid.

 

From mid-October on, our line is as follows: 3 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses. 9 goals scored, 18 conceded. That is genuinely quite bad.

 

I've defended Puel's rotation policy to a point with Europa involvement....but your back 4 has to be stable.
Got it badly wrong in the last 2 games when all PL teams were playing games in short space of time.
Romeo and VVD selected constantly.....surely a few other of our players can feature regularly as well?

 

Yes we have played a lot of games, but didn't the Arsenal invincibles in their time? They had the league, Europe and cups too but that back line did alright. I take your point about the 6 day part but it's more an anomaly. I think a lot of this is a lack of confidence. You can almost see them deflate after each time we concede.

 

I remember we would lose these games by seven in the nineties, # silverlining

 

This for me,thought we did ok (until obviously) don't understand some posters wanting to goad others.I'm no happy clapper but get some perspective.

 

Yeah that's the only thing that causes me unmitigated concern, a lot that can be fairly debated (not that it will be!) about our season/form/team/manager etc., but there's no question that at the moment we fold like a robot designed by the world's greatest minds for the sole purpose of making Origami. Not sure I'd say give up but we quickly provide ourselves with reason to at the very least, and the alternative descriptions I'd go for aren't much more flattering.

 

It's a shame there is nobody of the quality of Pelle or Mane to finish off teams. That's the essential difference from last season. In all aspects, Saints are still underneath that PL glass ceiling. The thing is now - are we serious about going the extra mile, or are we going to faff around making 6th or 7th our apex.?

Expectations have been encouraged to be high.

 

I know we won't get through the League Cup semi-final but I'm hoping it won't be 0-4 at home and the same again away.