Quite correct - no idea why Hoilett started - him and Bobby should have been subbed at half-time for Vargas & Taarabt. Bobby grafted but his finishing was abysmal. With only 10 mins on, Taarabt's movement & link-up was excellent and he almost scored two goals. Sandro also looked extremely awkward with some of his clearances - I just don't see the money we paid for him.
This season is OVER. My real worry is that we have not got a clue about next season either. Dark days ahead.
Everton crowded their defence and relied on the pace and strength of their forwards going forward. We couldn't do that because we had to go out to win. That problem will now become standard at home. Disappointing that so few shots were on target.
Sandro gave the ball away and as soon as it happened I knew we were in the brown stuff. Austin was well off the pace today again.
Good effort today but not good enough we needed something from this but it's not over at all IMO Taarabt needed to come on a lot earlier We made enough chances to win that game but its no comfort Generally the team is looking a lot better IMO and don't be surprised if we do make it ... I still think we will do this We are not far off getting points , we are by any means gone yet
I was in the Loft lower with one of my boys today. Sun in my bloody eyes for most of the game. It's terrible at ground level you can only really see across the pitch but do not get the depth. I thought we started OK, and Joey was tearing around like a madman with the team looking up for it; trouble again was that the same old bad habits came to the fore. Sandro gave the ball away time and time again. Isla made sown great tackles - and I mean he dispossess players - but then proceeded to give the ball away again - so we were back to where we were! I thought we defended well and that Caulker had a good game today. Not sure who was responsible for picking up Coleman for evertons goal - it's not as if it's a surprise that Coleman gets forward for them though is it? Rangers had a real go in the second half and CR finally had enough of sandro and replaced him with Karl Henry - they are basically the same player except that one cost 10 mill and the other cost nothing. Vargas came on for Hoillet who had hit the bar earlier. I am not a fan of hoillet but did not think he deserved the 'cheers' when he was sub'd today. Fitting for a sunday match we scored a Sunday league goal but we didn't care because we deserved the goal and I honestly thought we would go on an win; but now it was all getting confusing Matt Phillips was on the left one minute and on the right the next. Vargas was running across the pitch and passing to Isla. Everton scored their second goal and then Adel was thrown on and came close twice but all too late. I thought Barton gave his all today and took the battle to Everton all over the place. Caulker had his best game for us. Phillips again flatters to deceive - he is a big guy and yet he has zero physical presence. Charlie looks jaded and in fairness got little service. Rangers only attacking tactic was to hit long balls into the box. This was easy for Everton to defend for the most part: not once did rangers get behind the Everton defence. Ask anybody who has played in defence and they will tell you that they are happiest when the ball is in front of them. and Everton were one of the worst teams I have seen this season! Really not sure where we go from here now.
Barton showed today what we have been missing - a real captain's performance. As has been said, we should have started with the team that finished the game. We really deserved to get something from the game, though. Good performances by Caulker and Yun, but Sandro was very poor.
Agree. I'm sure the players need more confidence shown in them. Support who are saying it's all over with 8 and 9 games to go and just 4 points to catch up don't help. We were unlucky today. If Adel, Vargas, Krancjar are fit and CR starts using them to win games, instead of hoof ball we might just win a few and give ourselves a shout.
Phillips had a very strange game. First half he hit cross after cross.......straight to the first defender or into the keeper's hands. 2nd half he just completely stopped playing. He wandered in off the right wing and just sort of stood there. Time and again he could have made a run into the right channel and he just stood there. Then he went over to the left, where Vargas had been put (out of position as usual) and left a huge gap on the right. I don't remember him getting one cross in all 2nd half. He really does flatter to deceive. And as for that shot from the Barton free kick?!!!!!!!!!!!! Hoilett was just as bad, but he was so unlucky with that great shot that hit the bar (a sign of what he is capable of). Vargas and Taarabt should start every game.
Thank God I only have to put myself through this 3 more times this year. Well 4, if you count the mass wake at Leicester. Everton were not good, clearly lacking confidence, but they still have better players and crisper, faster passing than us. And they can finish. I thought all of our team tried hard today, but only Isla and Vargas impressed, and Austin was invisible. Bored of it to be honest. Best bit was Ale thanking the fans at half time. Once again the A40 was brutal, both on the way in and the way out. Balls to it. Did your lad get a winners medal Col?
Come on Stan, I know it would stick in the craw, but surely you would have to admit that Barton played well?
He was fine, in his way, certainly commited. Trouble is we can't afford two midfield destroyers who add little else, especially if one (Sandro) is way off the pace. Only when Vargas and Taarbs began playing did we offer anything other than route one.
Haha, faint praise. Barton doesn't dictate the route one policy, in fact I thought his passing was very good. I agree that we were better with Vargas and Taarabt on the pitch, but then I would never start with Zamora. Sandro was shocking.
