[Archived] Everton Preview

[CAPT KAYOS]

First off - I enjoyed the game - and even though we got beat didn't feel to downbeat, just frustrated that if we had adopted the same attitude/stance as the last half hour for the first half the 3 pts would have been ours

I think Grizfoot's post covers the game very well and IMO Sam got the tactics wrong today. I don't understand why we had to change personnel for the same formation especially if Grella wasn't injured.

The less said of Andrews the better

Can't blame the ref( officials) for the defeat - although it just strengthened the argument that yet again they don't know the rules/laws themselves and contrary to what they say, do not apply it as they like people to believe.

Was quite impressed with Everton , even if we did give them time to have a kick about in the sun. IMO they could certainly threaten that top 4 next season being a bit more direct and possibly 1 maybe two siginings (with a better start) - their pass and move football was pleasing on the eye if a little sideways at times.

Arteta - as per every time we play them - as gifted as he is is still a cheat and predictable (the penalty was nailed on as soon as he received it in the box)

What did occur to me on Saturday and hit home - was how many times have we looked very unstable in the opening exchanges and have only managed to survive due to the intervention mainly of Samba - something which we definitely missed on Saturday.

[BRFC95]

Strangest thing is that MGP got booked for being poked in the eye.

Very strange, he usually gets booked for being thumped

[BPF]

How pathetic. The guy can't even manage to apologise to MGP. There was no malice in the tackle, he just simple stood on his ankle. No need for the reaction he got and he should have been sent off for it. Strangest thing is that MGP got booked for being poked in the eye.

[Hughesy]

Strangest thing is that MGP got booked for being poked in the eye.

Nothing strange about it as far as the refs in this league are concerned - we very rarely get a fair & consistent game from the refs....what other clubs get away with, we usually get booked for! Its bizarre!

[roversmum]

I really can't understand why Referees are so 'untouchable'. Anyone else doing a job would be out on their ear if they were so useless at it.

[gumboots]

I really can't understand why Referees are so 'untouchable'. Anyone else doing a job would be out on their ear if they were so useless at it.

They do get relegated to the lower leagues sometimes but that just means they make their mistakes elsewhere. I wouldn't want their job but you would like to see more of that word consistency in what they do. And when the rules or rather laws are clear you'd definitely like to see them applied. I don't know if we'd have won if Arteta had been sent off because the whole game would have panned out differently, but I'd have liked to see us given the chance.

[roversmum]

My son plays in one of the Preston Sunday Leagues and he was moaning about their referee on Sunday! I absolutely understand that it is a difficult job, the speed of the game, bodies in the way, etc etc, but Arteta's face poke on Pedersen was so blatant and as you say the rules are so clear, I just don't understand why he didn't get an early bath. It's so annoying when the players are trying so hard and the referees are so inconsistent and gets so much wrong.

[RIML]

Graham Poll's excuse Poor football can be blamed for poor decisions from our Premier League refs

[DE.]

You can accept when refs get certain things wrong - niggly fouls, the odd corner/throw in, an unclear handball... but recently there have been some decisions that have just been baffling in their making. The decision to give MGP a yellow and not send Arteta off was one of these decisions, and the fans and managers have every right to have a go at the official if they make a decision that is so clearly wrong. Refs jobs are difficult, but sometimes there are easy decisions to be made and for reasons beyond understanding the referees do the opposite and make life even harder for themselves. I'm not sure if it's a fear of reaction from players/fans, unconscious bias or serious lapses in concentration, but it's a situation that needs to be looked at.

I think the refs definitely need more help. Why, in an age where we can get instant replays on the TV screen at home, video evidence is not used to help officials during a match I have no idea.

[thenodrog]

Arteta.......“I probably shouldn’t have reacted like I did but there have been a few times – not just today – when he’s made bad tackles."

Boloox! I cannot recall MGP ever making a bad tackle!

Too late now of course but I'd have paid good money to watch Arteta try that stunt on Andy Todd.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Two stats from the game - possession Rovers 37% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 63%.

Passing success Rovers 55% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 79%

That says it all for me.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Two stats from the game - possession Rovers 37% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 63%.

Passing success Rovers 55% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 79%

That says it all for me.

Agreed. I don't know why people think giving the ball away and not getting it back is good under any tactical system.

Interestingly, Wigan achieved 74% pass success rate and 49% possession against Arsenal, but of course we can't do that against teams who have spent more money than us.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Boloox! I cannot recall MGP ever making a bad tackle!

Corrected for you.

Too late now of course but I'd have paid good money to watch Arteta try that stunt on Andy Todd.

Although I'm not a violent man, there are few funnier sights for me than seeing some bloke get booted up the @rse.

[thenodrog]

Corrected for you.

Although I'm not a violent man, there are few funnier sights for me than seeing some bloke get booted up the @rse.

Especially when it's an arrogant buggger from France.

Two stats from the game - possession Rovers 37% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 63%.

Passing success Rovers 55% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 79%

That says it all for me.

Really? 2-3 says it all for me. It's the only stat that counts anywhere.

[Hughesy]

Two stats from the game - possession Rovers 37% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 63%.

Passing success Rovers 55% ( the worst in the whole of the Premier League ) , Everton 79%

That says it all for me.

Stats are what you make them.

Fulham v Wolves - 1 shot on target

Our game? Plenty more....including to 2 block-buster goals from us!

[Majiball]

If you haven't got the ball you can't score.

Its also commonly thought that the hardest work is done when you don't have the ball. Our posession stats are shocking for a premiership team, we do need to retain the ball better.

[Hughesy]

If you haven't got the ball you can't score.

Its also commonly thought that the hardest work is done when you don't have the ball. Our posession stats are shocking for a premiership team, we do need to retain the ball better.

We sure do - however with the likes of Andrews & Nelsen that isnt likely to happen over night...Also if we lost MGP our stats would probably go up as he wouldnt just aimlessly lump it into the 6 yards box, and we would play more football to get it there.

A quality midfielder alongside NZonzi next season should also boost our retention of the ball.

[alexanders]

I think it is valid to bring in the fact that this discussion about negative tactics and long balls are almost equal with games played with Ryan Nelsen.

[waggy]

going behind so early made the game very difficult,even harder with 1 front man,watched the game with a everton fan,and his views summed our team up.everton passed and moved,we did not.2 great goals,which will mean sir roberts will be in v wolves,god help us

[zakk]

players' grades in the game with Everton

http://www.voteplayers.com/Matches/Blackburn-Rovers-vs-Everton-04172010-4011.aspx

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Especially when it's an arrogant buggger from France.

Really? 2-3 says it all for me. It's the only stat that counts anywhere.

Do you practice at being a dipstick or is it a skill you were born with ?

[thenodrog]

Really? 2-3 says it all for me. It's the only stat that counts anywhere.

Do you practice at being a dipstick or is it a skill you were born with ?

Thats a bit aggressive Tyrone. Anyway please explain which part of my post was inaccurate and which stats you consider more important, and why .

... Your little admirer can feel free to do the same too.