As a Watford fan with 2 Everton supporting brothers this was a much needed and enjoyable victory. Honestly tough to watch but we edged it in the 2nd half and deserved the win. We do have a great team spirit - love deeney - refreshingly honest in post match interview. Happy Days - Night All.
I think a lot of people have touched on it, but today, I thought, was a good game. Just because the game was a boring drag (have to say I was enjoying myself throughout, seeing as I could not see us losing it, and plenty of solid performances), doesn't mean it wasn't a good team display. Still a long way to go with establishing that link between build up and goals, but for me, as I think for most of us, it was further indication of improvement and consolidation under Gracia.
A fantastic win that was absolutely terrible at the same time. It was like setting up FIFA to play itself with 2 AI teams on the easiest difficulty, terrible. Doucoure was very disappointing imo and nowhere near his best (although everyone is allowed an off-game here and there). Our players looked lazy when Deulofeu was on the pitch - he was everywhere and involved in every single thing - both defensively and offensively, as if our players were expecting him to have a worldie. Him going off was a blessing in disguise as everyone realised they'd have to step it up a notch - which somehow came off. Was it glamorous? No. Was it needed? **** yeah.
I just looked at the stats on whoscored and apparently, Doucoure had a blinder... Drinking and football opinions = bad.
Delighted with the result. Yes, Everton might have ruined our great start to the season, but we helped ruin their vile club by having them employ BFS as a last ditch desperate measure. The name Allardyce wlll be forever as much part of their history as Z Cars and toffee. I'd love to see them relegated, knowing that we were partly responsible for their train wreck of a campaign, and on that showing it has to be a possibility.
Wasn't pretty but who cares, BFS and his anti football got what they deserved. Imagine being an Everton fan you support a top 7 club all that money spent and then you get a dinosaur like that running it into the ground. I hope slither gets a chance there after bfs gets the chop. Be very enjoyable to watch the slow demise of that grand old team. Just hope we can continue with a result at home to the baggies as they will come and I can see it being very much the same as today two teams not wanting to lose but them much more desperate for the 3 points now than us. But with our new found defensive discipline I'd take another 1 - 0 Deeney win.
I agree with you in that Doucoure, IMO, was under par. I guess it is probably an indication of what we have come to expect from him, rather than of him having had a bad game. I also agree we stepped up when Deulofeu came off. Though I suspect it was more an element of him putting himself about, rather than a willingness to let him get on with it. I didn't think any of our players appeared to be holding back, even if they did look a little under-confident. An example of what I am getting at is one of the things which hacks me off when people go on about how great David Beckham was, by citing his great display in that Greece game. Yes, he put a great amount of effort in, but most of it was misdirected, taking the ball off other players feet and cutting them further out of the game, rather than leading them or pushing them into upping their own game. Players trying too hard can be as problematic as players not being bothered, and I think that Deulofeu is maybe trying a little bit too hard at the moment. Not to the extent that Beckham did in the Greece game, but I still think he needs to relax a little and let things flow more naturally. He looks like a great player, and I am in no way trying to criticise him, or compare him as a player to Becks; just trying to assess the way he affected the game today.
They did us a solid. They exposed Silva for what he really is, and allowed us to bring in a better coach
Reids, i usually agree with your assessments but I have to disagree about Doucoure - thought, as usual, he was one of our best players. Also wouldn't have waxed lyrical to the same degree about Deulofeu - yes, he was everywhere & involved but his passing often let him down. Edit: Just read your following post!
I know he's a good exemplar of all that's wring with with English football's management but BFS was very complimentary about Troy in the post-match interview. And Pickford - I really, really like him.
Most pleasing for me was Gracia showing he has a plan A (play a shorter game out from the back) and a plan B (more direct) and most importantly he knows when to use them
Doucoure looked slightly less than his full self, just very slightly less energetic than usual. For example when he was robbed by Davies he didn't ever sprint to get back goal side of him as Everton broke. Everyone had one of those games where passes got struck too fast or slow, or intercepted or went out for a throw in. The 2 foul throws were so at home in a game like that, they had re-decorated the kitchen, bought a new sofa and looked at the school catchment for their future kids. If foul throws had kids? Commentator on NBC mentioned there was lots of bluster and effort but very little control or calmness on the ball. I thought we did get that building up to the goal in the second half, but it wasn't a good game aesthetically.
I thought that was what reids was saying essentially - he was everywhere and his team mates expected him to have a worldie...but he didn't and it hampered our overall performance.
I thought BFS comments about Troy were odd, obviously trying to make a point to his board and obviously holds him in high regard, but has he even seen him play? “you give Troy Deeney that much room in the box, he generally he scores.” and "They had somebody who can finish and we didn't” generally neither of those statements are true, hence why he had yet to score from open play all season. It makes more sense when you read what he has said about Tosun, he’s publically said he’s not good enough and won’t regularly start games until they’re safe. Clearly he didn’t want him and wanted Troy.
My thoughts exactly. After a few weeks, teams worked out how to nullify the flashy attacking and exploit the zonal defending nonsense. Gracia seems much more tactically astute, equally able to motivate and not in love with his own reflection.
First back to back home wins since last April when we beat Sunderland and West Brom and made it three by beating Swansea, which was our also our last 1-0 win
Thought Doucoure wasn't as effective as he normally was and our players started off like they had been on holiday for two weeks. Everton had a game plan and stuck to it, press us high and make us play it long and get to the second ball. I think it's time for a Richarlison spell on the bench just to help him out a bit. At times we still looked a bit niave at the back especially with cutting out crosses but we now look effective. Gracia is a very likeable manager.
Deeney has been revitalized under Gracia. Good to have 'Mr Watford' back with an added bonus of keeping Gray out of the team.
Loving the Kiko/Janmaat combo on the right side. It’s like playing with 2 overlapping wingers with the ball and double wingbacks off the ball. With Richarlison and Carrillo both off the boil at the moment I’d carry on with this. Hopefully the deulofeu injury isn’t too serious. If so, I’d play Holebas/zeegelaar on the left away from home to match the right. Should make us stronger defensively but also have plenty of width and pace when on the counter
I'd like to see 4-4-2 given a chance against WBA. If Deulofeu is injured for next week, I'd go Hughes, Capoue, Doucoure & Femenia in midfield.
I was gonna say, what game were you watching!? Doucoure was imperious in midfield, won so many tackles where he had no right to get even close and drove and forwards all over the pitch. Capoue alongside him looks reborn.
I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that, but his chasing back saved what I thought was a good chance for them. Personally, I'd be happier with players that try too hard, than don't try enough. The former can be managed more easily.
Deep joy! BFS really is a most unsightly man and his teams reflect that. I like Doucoure but he does make extra work for himself by dilly dallying too often and then losing the ball,but as others have said,a great work ethic.I'm not sure he's ready for a top side but we'll see. Good to see Kiko back,I didn't recognise that he was injured again,hopefully he and GD are ok and GD's substitution was precautionary. Why wasn't the Everton player booked for kicking the ball away when ours was? Gritty from us and a good goal from Troy,not the least bit Spartan! New manager for the Baggies by next week I suppose? All hail my lucky carrot!
I've found all of Gracia's games (bar the Chelsea one) to be very similar where neither side looks fully in control and the game is somewhat scrappy. A focus on defence and positioning hinders any fluid attacking play, to some extent, but as a result I don't think we're going to concede every time the opposition picks up the ball in our half. Is it perfect? No. But it is effective and really what we need to guide us through this season. These games have all been close - Soton was won in the first few minutes, Stoke could've gone either way, West Ham essentially gifted 2 goals and today what seemed a nailed on 0-0 won by the most surprising bit of inspiration from Troy. Really really really really really hope Deulofeu isn't injured. He is by far and away the best attacking player we have in our arsenal. Feel bad for Richarlison as he's been playing basically nonstop for a year and he's only 20 but I haven't really felt he has been impactful on a game in such a long amount of time. Pereyra wasn't much better but for me against West Brom I'd prefer to see us start a 4-4-2 and drop Richarlison to the bench with Pereyra out wide (assuming Gerard is fit). Massive 3 points, such a difference between being 3 points from the drop zone and 6 points. Win vs West Brom and we should hopefully be plain sailing until the end of the season. I think a summer recruitment for Gracia and a return of key injured players and we will have a real go at it next season.
All Burnley defenders look great due to the hard work of the defensive shield in front of them. Ultra defensive team.
