Talking to the Enemy...

[Walker9009]

Hello, Everton fan here

Just wondering if I can ask a few questions ahead of this weeks game for our forum http://www.theevertonforum.co.uk and news site http://myevertonnews.com/

So...

How do you think you've fared this season. Has it played out how you were expecting?

There are always certain players in teams that get the majority of the media praise and I would say this has mainly been Hoolahan during the televised games. How do you rate him?

Are there any players that haven't been getting the praise they deserve from the media and even your own fan base this season?

Is your recent slump in form worrying you? Have you been playing poorly, been unlucky in games or a mixture of both?

Grant Holt always seems to give our defence the run around, but who else do you think the Everton side need to be most fearful of during Saturday afternoons game?

What do you think of your manager Chris Hughton?

Moving on to Everton...

How do you think we have fared this season?

Who do you think will be the biggest threat to your Canaries team in the upcoming game?

What is your opinion of David Moyes and what do you make of the job he has done for Everton?

Where do you think us Toffee's will finish come the end of the season?

Finally, predictions for the game?



Thanks.

 

[ThaiCanary]

How do you think you've fared this season. Has it played out how you were expecting?

Not so great, probably a little harder than expected although it was never going to be easy.

There are always certain players in teams that get the majority of the media praise and I would say this has mainly been Hoolahan during the televised games. How do you rate him?

On his day - near impossible to stop but can go AWOL sometimes. Has certainly been one of the better players this season and quite consistently.

Are there any players that haven't been getting the praise they deserve from the media and even your own fan base this season?

Bassong & Tettey perhaps but that's fine, would rather keep under the radar from the vultures out there

Is your recent slump in form worrying you? Have you been playing poorly, been unlucky in games or a mixture of both?

Worrying? Yes. A bit of both, played awful against QPR, Newcastle & Fulham. Good against Spurs and could/should have taken 3 points so a bit of both

Grant Holt always seems to give our defence the run around, but who else do you think the Everton side need to be most fearful of during Saturday afternoons game?

Becchio I hope, Snodgrass would the other one to watch with his crosses and free kicks

What do you think of your manager Chris Hughton?

A bit negative in his tactics so far, still happy to give him a chance to see if he can guide us to better football and points at the same time

Moving on to Everton...

How do you think we have fared this season?

Quite poorly considering the start to the season you had. Your season has been the reverse of last season.

Who do you think will be the biggest threat to your Canaries team in the upcoming game?

Fellani, just hope he doesn't have his "thuggish" head on this week.


What is your opinion of David Moyes and what do you make of the job he has done for Everton?

Outstanding manager, good enough to be poached by Man Utd when SAF leaves them.

Where do you think us Toffee's will finish come the end of the season?

6th - 8th in all probability unless the early season form is recaptured

Finally, predictions for the game?

0-0, wake me up when it's finished

 

[Hucks for Manager!]

Hi Walker - I notice you've only posted once. Are we the only 'enemy' you dare talk to?

Anyway, I don't know whether you wanted more than one response, but I'm bored so thought I'd help anyway.

How do you think you've fared this season. Has it played out how you were expecting?

After 7 games (from which we'd managed three points), I'd have snapped your hand off had you offered me 17th at the end of the season. To be honest, I still probably would, so 14th at this point isn't bad. I can still see us getting relegated though. We need to start playing more positively. I can't see us picking up many more points if we can't score.

There are always certain players in teams that get the majority of the media praise and I would say this has mainly been Hoolahan during the televised games. How do you rate him?

Hoolahan was far too good for League One and the Championship, don't get me wrong. And he's played very well a lot of times this season. But you already know that. The thing is, he has a way of twisting himself into corners, he can't run more than 5 yards before being caught up, and he will not shoot if his life depends on it. He can be dangerous, but not as often as people think. In my humble opinion he is vastly over-rated, but still a very good player.

Are there any players that haven't been getting the praise they deserve from the media and even your own fan base this season?

Some people, although not really on here, think Grant Holt has been awful this season. These people clearly don't pay any attention to the games they watch, as Holt has simply been playing a lot deeper this season. He's 'taking one for the team', so to speak; not scoring, but doing so much more to help out everyone else than last season. Otherwise, Michael Turner has been exceptional since our 8th game. He plays a lot better with Bassong than anyone else though. Our fans now sing, 'He used to be ****e, but now he's alright, walking in a Turner wonderland'.

Is your recent slump in form worrying you? Have you been playing poorly, been unlucky in games or a mixture of both?

Yes. Unless we start scoring again soon there's a very real chance we'll be relegated. We have been playing poorly, and I think a lot of fans are getting fed up with Hughton's negative tactics. Keeping a clean sheet is our absolute first priority, and we'll often play on the counter-attack, even at home. I think it's a confidence issue too though - once we win another game, I think we'll be OK.

Grant Holt always seems to give our defence the run around, but who else do you think the Everton side need to be most fearful of during Saturday afternoons game?

Robert Snodgrass has been our player of the season so far, I think. He can cross, shoot and defend, and, when he wants to, he can get past players as well. He is one of few players in our team who can produce something out of absolutely nothing.

What do you think of your manager Chris Hughton?

The jury's still out. If he wasn't such a nice guy I think I'd be starting to get to the end of my tether, but I really want him to succeed. Problem is, that at times we can play some really vile football and it's just a pain to watch. When we attack we barely throw a player forward; we're too obsessed with not conceding. Sometimes we pass the ball around really well, and sometimes we just hoof it aimlessly. I hope that, if we stay up, Hughton will start to implement a more positive, aesthetic style of play. Results wise, he's done brilliantly so far.

Moving on to Everton...

How do you think we have fared this season?

Very well, but I don't think you'll qualify for the Champions' League. You've still got a great chance, but the current top four have got too much quality, and you have a habit of throwing leads away at the moment.

Who do you think will be the biggest threat to your Canaries team in the upcoming game?

We were fortunate enough not to have to play Fellaini at Goodison earlier in the season. He'll be a big threat. If we can get Bradley Johnson to wind him up enough though, we might be able to get him sent off - his one flaw. Otherwise, Pienaar's quality, and Baines is always capable of producing from set pieces, as you know. Jelavic scored twice against us at Carrow Road last season, so if he plays he could threaten.

What is your opinion of David Moyes and what do you make of the job he has done for Everton?

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said a million times. He is your club's greatest asset, and to lose him in the summer could be disastrous for you.

Where do you think us Toffee's will finish come the end of the season?

5th.

Finally, predictions for the game?

I said 3-0 Norwich in my prediction league, but in all probability that won't be the case. I'll say 1-1, but it could just as easily be 0-0. Hopefully your good football may invigorate us to play a bit better.

 

[canary-dave]

Hucks, he's only made one post because he is a moderator on the Everton forum on another site, he's posted on this site because we have an active Norwich board.

You are very welcome Mr. Walker, it would be nice now that you've joined not606 if you could post on the Toffee board from time to time!

 

[Dangerous Marsupial]

1) Well, to be honest, I thought we would really struggle this season, so the fact that we still a little bit above the relegation scrap means I am delighted.
2) Inconsistent; sometimes overly greedy and sometimes our best player on the pitch. Kinda like every creative player I guess.
3) Michael Turner: had a shaky start to the season but recently our best and most consistent performer and our fans haven't really recognised that and I find that sad. Also I think Bradley Johnson is horribly under-rated too.
4) I guess it is a little concerning but certainly not alarming; I would say whenever we deserve to lose we lose and whenever we deserve to win we draw. Make snese?
5) Don't thinka side with the quality of Everton really need to 'fear' any of our players, but keep an eye on Robert Snodgrass!
6) Hughton is undoubtedly one of the good guys of football, and he managed to lean up our defence so he gets my vote!
7) I guess Everton are about where I imagined them to be; on the edge of Europe which I guess they owe to being much more consistent than the clubs above them who supposedly have stronger squads.
8) Fellaini is the obvious cliché, but I think Leighton Baines is a great player and really deadly from a dead ball.
9) For me, David Moyes is the second best manager in the modern English game after the great SAF. Without wanting to write an essay, his performance on a relatively low budget is well documented, but his modesty and hate of the games scourges like diving is not.
10) I think Everton will make the Europa League but can't see them making the top four.
11) And finally I'll go for a 1 - 1 draw!

Hopefully I've answered all the questions in the right order!