It was great to be back at St mary's this afternoon but I felt the performance mirrored the general lack of interest in this fixture amongst fans. The first half was absolutely dreadful and the lack of changes in ther second half reinforced the impression that this match was being used by Ralph to test out the fringe players. I totally agree with the comments regarding both Obafemi and Long who afforded no threat whatsoever throughout the match and feel that both need to be shown the door, despite my appreciation that Shane has been a terrific servant to the club. The other players also struck me as being below par and I think that only Bednarek, Salisu, Valery and Livramento looked decent. I do not feel that Peraud will get much game time and Livramento made more impact within 2 mins of replacing the Frenchman than Peraud had in the first 45 mins. (I keep reminding myself about Jeremy Pied and Patrick Collater who have similar made the trip aross the Channel and been over-whelmed by younger talent.) good to have Peraud as back up but, on this performance. he looks really ordinary. As for the other players, I would be adding a few names to a list which includes Long and Obafemi who perhaps should be shown the door. Diallo was totally ineffectual and Djnepo struck me as being little better than Lemina. I would be tempted to trade both these players in and I just felt that the squad which will travel to Goodison next weekend will not have much relationship with the team who stepped out on to St Mary's this afternoon. All in all, Livramento struck me as being absolute class and Valery seemed to underscore the fact that he should never jave been allowed to go out on loan last season. Part from these two players, this was my first real good look at Salisu and i felt that he has the potential to be a top flight defnder. He looks like a terrific acquisition. Other than Valery, Livramento and Salisu, I have to say it was difficult to take any positives from the performance this afteroon. Ralphs probably now has the answers he was looking for and I feel that some of the players who started this afternoon will be discarded before the close of the window.
For Everton, I'd like to see this. Forster; KWP , Bednerak , Salisu , Perraud. Armstrong , Romeu; Walcott , Tella; Adams Redmond.
Are you assuming that JWP will be off too ? Otherwise, I pretty much agree with your assessment. Did you really think Perraud was better than Livramento? The game largely passed the Frenchman by. I do think Valery will have earned a place in the squad, though.
Based off JWP Missing all pre-season i believe Armstrong to be the most ready to play, And he did fantastic in that position the other day. Perraud has also had a very good pre-season i feel, This game wasn't so at it., But i still believe him to be the better option on the left hand side.
Is that the dive that people are talking about (the pen)? Ralph really needs to have a word. Djenepo is looking much better at the moment but I can't support someone who cheats. Also, that beard on the Spanish fella! No wonder we lost. Gorgeous.
This footage didn’t show the angle where you see the contact. Defender just ran across and took him out. It was a definite pen but as Tom pointed out his reputation goes before him
Nah! Cannot agree, there seems to be a slight delayed reaction to me before a dramatic forward flop to the ground. He is a blatant diver and the refs know it. Short of actually being shot, he will struggle to get a favourable decision in the EPL as his 'card is marked' and rightly so.
I don’t disagree with most of that. He is unfortunately a very exaggerated diver but when you see that incident from the best angle there is no doubt it should have been a pen
I think the point we agree on is the main issue. He isn’t going to be awarded many pens anytime soon!
No VAR of course, had there been it would have been scrutinised and probably given, it would be based on the contact, not the exagerated "dive".
I am not too bothered about who plays where. I am more bothered about who is going to to the first thread of the new season.
No way. I need the first 2-3 games out of the way, utter meltdown then No7 saves the day. Worked for @Onionman last year
I'm sure that I read in a paper this week that referees were going to take the same approach for Premier League matches as the refs for the European Championship took: No long looks, in microscopic detail, about offsides, and no assumption that 'contact' equals foul, aka a penalty inside the 18 yard (metre?) area. In other words, the existence of 'contact' between two players will not automatically result in a free kick being awarded. The attacker will now need to roll over 15 - 20 times, clutching his face, bang his fist on the ground, then look around to see if anything has been given. OK, maybe that last sentence is my interpretation of many players' antics, but the first point still stands - The existence of contact may not result in a penalty. At least not until a forward from a London/Manchester/Merseyside club has a decision go against them. Note to self: Stop being cynical
