Today was the first time for along time I saw a starting line up that appealed. I agree with Hughes on 10 men situation, we looked better when the game was open. Would have bitten your hand of this morning for a point, Everton are flying. Everyone is allowed an opinion, but I find it strange tonight that there are posts slagging Hughes after todays game. My only niggle was with 7 mins to go and Nelson (who I thought played well) going off, we could have gone 3 at the back and thrown Mackie up front. Sadly I wonder if these slaggers were in his mind, making him happier to save a point instead of going for 3. Diakite, Mbia and Granero are looking like great buys we could never a dreamed of just a couple of seasons ago
Nelsen had sore calves from flying to NZ and back. He had them iced right after he went off. i dont blame him for the defender swaps, he had no choice however we were dying for a formation change and he should have gone 442 or 352 and subbed Taarabt/Traore for Cisse.
Maybe so me old mate. These are trying times for all of us. I'm just trying to deflect any witch hunts on here. We've been down that road before. I really personally don't like us to see us digging out individual posters. Not to say that you have done so per-se Watford, we all have our moments on here..good and bad. I understand the frustrations of the good and the bad alike. But instead of channeling our energy into individuals, let's try and put it it into the team. Positive ones that is. A good performance today. Let's move on to the next one and take it from there. COYR's
Prior to this game i thought i'd be happy with: 1)A decent performance 2)With no new injuries 3)And at least a point On the face of it that probably looks like i'm easily pleased- but how often this season have all these conditions been satisfied? Number two is absolutely crucial, and practically a reason for celebration in itself (given our recent record).
Dont think MH did much wrong in this game.... Gave us all the team we wanted and played well against a good Everton side... Wish we could tempt Jagielka away to us....!
Amazing reactions to a thread on Hughes EXCUSES! It was not about his performance, there is a huge difference. Why does he need to make so many idiotic excuses, it wasn't necessary. Our performance was good overall - wrote that on other posts. We dominated the game. but we were let down again at the back by schoolboy defending, and at the front by Zamora who hardly seemed interested when good ball arrived, and Cisse didn't achieve much more either, but at least gave it go. Park was appalling as usual - how he gets selected over Ale in particular makes no sense at all to me.
This is untrue, you were criticising him for having to substitute Traore and Nelson, and specifically on selecting Nelsen at all. What in particular did park do today to merit classifying his performance as "appalling"? Also, how do we shoehorn Ale into the side instead of him when we're playing 442? You'd have three CM's in ale/granero/diakite playing as part of the midfield 4? Faurlin isn't a winger. Scandalous to suggest Cisse tried harder than Zamora.
I don't like or want Hughes but can't knock anything today. I would have taken a point if we were in tenth place never mind bottom.
I am criticising Hughes whining Excuses about being restricted about his substitutions. It was his decision to bring in 1 ageing CB when we needed as top priority 2 good CB's in the summer. He also knew said ageing CB Nelsen was likely to fly to NZ and back before key PL games. Hughes selected Nelsen ahead of Hill (injured maybe) and Ferdinand obviously fit enough - it was all his decisions, which he should have known had the risk of Nelsen not being able to play 90. same with Traore, though as there were no good alternatives his decision there was more understandable. But the point is he shouldn't be using these as excuses - his shout, he knew the risk, stop moaning Hughes. Park? He was hardly in the game and what he did was ineffectual at best. I never suggested Ale play wide, or that we play 4 4 2. Cisse gave Everton more problems than Zamora, no scandal there. Zamora did little, gave the ball away needlessly a number of times, and ignored 2 great crosss from Traore. Cisse ran into dangerous space, offside but at least he ran and if he'd had more time one or two would have been onside. He had a good shot which was an improvement on Zamora's zero. But neither Zamora or Cisse were good enough today.
If Ferdinand was picked, you'd have complained that he picked a player dreadfully out of form over Nelsen, our best defender. Nelsen and Mbia has the potential to be a very solid pairing and the more they can play together the better.
sorry hadn't finished, picked the right team although i'd probably played cisse instead of zamora but would do that against gunners, formation was ok & was hampered by injuries to the back two hence no mackie or fraulin, all in all a good performance & no problems with hughes!!
You should read what I write before having a go mate. I was criticising Hughes whining excuses not his actual substititions which were necessary because of tiredness/old injuries, and as Nelsen couldn't last 90, it seems unwise to start him. Didbyou think our central defense was good today? - It looked very unorganised to me on the few occasions Everton put us under pressure - the goal and header that hit the bar are good examples. I think if Clint could have played he may have organised the defense in lines, and moved all out leaving Distin offside for the goal- neither Nelsen or M'bia seemed to sort that.
