*** Toffees v City Semi Final 1st Leg MATCH THREAD ***

[City64]

Shambles of a performance , how the fuck did we get away with just a 2-1 defeat ???? Yaya fucking diabolical embarrassment of a performance !!!! No leaders yet again !!!! How poorly are we playing ????
Guess we are still in it but we just have to get better all round !!!

Mate, we could just about get away with Yaya looking like a 50 year old but when you've got his twin coming on at half time, in front of a keeper who has no confidence whatsoever, then you may as well hand any team the game. I'm actually amazed we played as good as we did once I'd worked out the formation.

Yaya,s decline and inability to actually move gets worse by the week , Could he be the first premier league player to turn out on a rip and ride ?

[sheblue]

When will it get better? When?!

August.

[Wonderwall]

yaya invisible ,everton battled and wanted it more got away with a 2-1 loss,

Yaya wasn't invisible. He was the useless oaf in the middle of the pitch doing nothing but fall on his arse with his arms in the air all game. It's his last season with us for sure. He should not make the starting 11 at all for the rest of the season. Absolutely fucking useless.

[Beefymcfc]

Shambles of a performance , how the fuck did we get away with just a 2-1 defeat ???? Yaya fucking diabolical embarrassment of a performance !!!! No leaders yet again !!!! How poorly are we playing ????
Guess we are still in it but we just have to get better all round !!!

Mate, we could just about get away with Yaya looking like a 50 year old but when you've got his twin coming on at half time, in front of a keeper who has no confidence whatsoever, then you may as well hand any team the game. I'm actually amazed we played as good as we did once I'd worked out the formation.

Yaya,s decline and inability to actually move gets worse by the week , Could he be the first premier league player to turn out on a rip and ride ?

We've seen a huge decline with Yaya but he usually has something in the legs that gets noticed. Tonight he looked like he needed a zimmer frame and seriously past it.

[freshie]

yaya invisible ,everton battled and wanted it more got away with a 2-1 loss,

Yaya wasn't invisible. He was the useless oaf in the middle of the pitch doing nothing but fall on his arse with his arms in the air all game. It's his last season with us for sure. He should not make the starting 11 at all for the rest of the season. Absolutely fucking useless.

Couldn't agree more. That run in the first half when Barry took the ball off him summed it up - he's past it

[blues2win]

To be honest Yaya looked out of puff at the weekend and shouldn't have played. Mangala has a hamstring issue and won't be available at the weekend. I expect it will be MDM and Otamendi.

[nottsblue]

We are still in the tie. Thats about the only positive thing to take from tonight. Apart from Navas finally scoring. Wouldnt bet against a draw in three weeks though.

[City64]

To be honest Yaya looked out of puff at the weekend and shouldn't have played. Mangala has a hamstring issue and won't be available at the weekend. I expect it will be MDM and Otamendi.

Yaya wasn't out of puff mate , his legs have gone , Teams actually target him now , its beyond embarrassing !

[iwasthere2012]

There was so much wrong in that game that are the norm rather than one-offs, that I really can't bring myself to write a tome about now.
Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.
One thing though. Although we are not out of it yet, I think I'd rather lose to Everton now than see us perform like that against Liverpool in a final.

[Beefymcfc]

There was so much wrong in that game that are the norm rather than one-offs, that I really can't bring myself to write a tome about now.
Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.
One thing though. Although we are not out of it yet, I think I'd rather lose to Everton now than see us perform like that against Liverpool in a final.

Come on, you've already given the Dippers the cup. They've not even beaten Stoke yet!

[iwasthere2012]

There was so much wrong in that game that are the norm rather than one-offs, that I really can't bring myself to write a tome about now.
Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.
One thing though. Although we are not out of it yet, I think I'd rather lose to Everton now than see us perform like that against Liverpool in a final.

Come on, you've already given the Dippers the cup. They've not even beaten Stoke yet!

They haven't Beefy, but my point is losing now to Everton wouldn't stick in my throat as much as a display of the same type in a final against Liverpool. If we played like that against Stoke, it would be bad, but against Liverpool it would be sickening.

[Beefymcfc]

There was so much wrong in that game that are the norm rather than one-offs, that I really can't bring myself to write a tome about now.
Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.
One thing though. Although we are not out of it yet, I think I'd rather lose to Everton now than see us perform like that against Liverpool in a final.

Come on, you've already given the Dippers the cup. They've not even beaten Stoke yet!

They haven't Beefy, but my point is losing now to Everton wouldn't stick in my throat as much as a display of the same type in a final against Liverpool. If we played like that against Stoke, it would be bad, but against Liverpool it would be sickening.

The question I have is:

Were we allowed to play?

Some of the shit that went on in that game made me feel we were playing against 12 men. After a while it must really get the players down.

It wasn't a poor game by us, not the best, but not the worst.

Stayed up a bit just to watch the replays on SSN and they are now reporting that Everton missed the chance to go 2 up with Lukaku's slide to the back post, totally disregarding the fact that the ref gave offside for Lukaku.

A strange game tonight, that I thought, from the comfort of my large chair, was decided by PiGMOL and the way they officiate.

Still gets me that the cunts had plenty off time to show the Navas stonewall but failed to show it until Everton had scored again, as if subliminely saying it dfid not matter.

[iwasthere2012]

There was so much wrong in that game that are the norm rather than one-offs, that I really can't bring myself to write a tome about now.
Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.
One thing though. Although we are not out of it yet, I think I'd rather lose to Everton now than see us perform like that against Liverpool in a final.

Come on, you've already given the Dippers the cup. They've not even beaten Stoke yet!

They haven't Beefy, but my point is losing now to Everton wouldn't stick in my throat as much as a display of the same type in a final against Liverpool. If we played like that against Stoke, it would be bad, but against Liverpool it would be sickening.

The question I have is:

Were we allowed to play?

Some of the shit that went on in that game made me feel we were playing against 12 men. After a while it must really get the players down.

It wasn't a poor game by us, not the best, but not the worst.

Stayed up a bit just to watch the replays on SSN and they are now reporting that Everton missed the chance to go 2 up with Lukaku's slide to the back post, totally disregarding the fact that the ref gave offside for Lukaku.

A strange game tonight, that I thought, from the comfort of my large chair, was decided by PiGMOL and the way they officiate.

Still gets me that the cunts had plenty off time to show the Navas stonewall but failed to show it until Everton had scored again, as if subliminely saying it dfid not matter.

I hear what you're saying and felt pretty much the same about the ref all through the game. But there was a lot wrong with that performance that is the norm now, as I said earlier. I'm going to sleep on it though and maybe try and think rationally tomorrow.
I still think it's not s major overhaul that is needed, but certainly a change of pace and attitudes.
Goodnight.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

There was so much wrong in that game that are the norm rather than one-offs, that I really can't bring myself to write a tome about now.
Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.
One thing though. Although we are not out of it yet, I think I'd rather lose to Everton now than see us perform like that against Liverpool in a final.

Come on, you've already given the Dippers the cup. They've not even beaten Stoke yet!

They haven't Beefy, but my point is losing now to Everton wouldn't stick in my throat as much as a display of the same type in a final against Liverpool. If we played like that against Stoke, it would be bad, but against Liverpool it would be sickening.

The question I have is:

Were we allowed to play?

Some of the shit that went on in that game made me feel we were playing against 12 men. After a while it must really get the players down.

It wasn't a poor game by us, not the best, but not the worst.

Stayed up a bit just to watch the replays on SSN and they are now reporting that Everton missed the chance to go 2 up with Lukaku's slide to the back post, totally disregarding the fact that the ref gave offside for Lukaku.

A strange game tonight, that I thought, from the comfort of my large chair, was decided by PiGMOL and the way they officiate.

Still gets me that the cunts had plenty off time to show the Navas stonewall but failed to show it until Everton had scored again, as if subliminely saying it dfid not matter.

I hear what you're saying and felt pretty much the same about the ref all through the game. But there was a lot wrong with that performance that is the norm now, as I said earlier. I'm going to sleep on it though and maybe try and think rationally tomorrow.
I still think it's not s major overhaul that is needed, but certainly a change of pace and attitudes.
Goodnight.

There was a lot wrong but it was not as bad as the knee jerkers are making it out to be. The reality is we have started to expect top notch perfomances and anything less is deemed to be utter shite. There is somewhere in the middle and a lot of our efforts (home and away) are in the middle ground.

Having said that there are some individual bits which are appalling and I would say Yaya fell into that category tonight. Apart from the fact that most of us wouldn't start him I actually wouldn't know how bext to use him if he does play. When he plays in a deeper role in midfield he can be a total liability as he cannot and does not defend.Any team worth their salt can target him and the gaps he leaves.

But today he played more forward and was totally ineffective. Everton got to him quickly and completely snuffed him out. We all hoped he would produce something special as he has been but nothing tonight. We lost 2.1 had a penalty not given which was a joke and Kun missed a sitter. All the talk about their chances and goals disallowed are complete nonsense as they were all offside as we got it right in defence with the high line.

I agree we looked dodgy at the back especially when they broke through the middle of the park where Yaya wasn't but they didn't force Willy into too many saves did they so we can't have been all that bad.

Going forward was too slow (Yaya) but yet again we had Silva,Kun and Kevin not quite doing it.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Our away performances are diabolical and its not getting any better.

Pellegrini continues playing players who are past their sell by date....they are accidents waiting to happen and are costing us big time but the cunt will NOT DROP THEM and it will continue fucking us up.

Yayas displays are embarrassing game by game even if he has scored from nothing in one or 2 of them, but it doesn't mask over what a shite player hes been overall this season....should never ever be allowed on the pitch from the off.

I can name some other players but what's the point..Pellegrini won't drop them.

Can't wait for Pep in the summer.

[zabbadabbado]

Pellegrini lovers can give me all the shit they want.

He really is stitching us up.He is deliberately undermining our season, out of fucking spite.

If proof was needed ,his last substitution. Everton down to 10 men, we are 2-1 down needing a goal, Sterling, and Kelechi, on the bench he brings on Fernando.

I rest my case

His substitutions make no sense and benefit the opposition nearly every game.

Maybe if you posted about fucking ANYTHING else other than whining about pellegrini, or if you appeared ANY other time besides when we lose, then maybe people might not think of you as a fucking joke.

When you came on here first, all you did was bang on about ROBERTO MANCINI. You wouldn't even call him Mancini ffs. You have a major hard on for the guy and that's fine. But stop carrying on like pellegrini robbed your girlfriend you fucking muppet.

Is it your time of the month Lovey ?.Maybe you should go and give your fanny a wipe, maybe you change your Tampax while your at it.

We can all call people a Muppet from the safety of a keyboard, using anonymity of the internet. That was uncalled for.

The best of it is, you don't even know me,I don't know you either. You could be a disrespectful teenager. Or more likely just some gobby, clinically obese, lard mard arsed twat, sat in his underpants typing frantically on his fucking keyboard, tbh I don't really fucking care.

I treat posters on here with courtesy, and respect, always have. If I don't like others opinions I engage them in debate, or move on. I don't resort to personal abuse. Maybe you should give it a try. Where I live calling someone a Muppet is fighting talk. You would know this if your were a Mancunian, i might be a cunt :-),been called this a few times over the years by fellow Blues. Never been called a Muppet though. I assure you i am no Muppet. I will leave it at that.

[phips]

no idea how Yaya played the full 96. he was absolutely shocking and put in a shameful performance. he was destroyed by Besic and Barry and his shots were speculative and wasteful.

Otamendi is surprisingly soft and weak especially in tight quarters.


pretty telling that Pellegrini would rather bring on a defensive midfielder down 1 goal and against 10 men than bring on Nacho or Sterling.

[Im_Spartacus]

Having not watched the game, I'd say that the outcome of 2-1 with an away goal (do these still count) in a 2 legged fixture is a decent enough result for us considering how poor we have been playing lately.

I'd also point out that:

• We had 18 shots to their 8
  They had 7 (88%) on target we had 4 (22%)

The statistic above completely reflects comments I've made elsewhere about not creating clear cut chances whilst our defensive lapses allow clear chances for the opposition. Our chances normally happen in a crowded box, wheras opposition chances often happen after mistakes and leave 1 on 1 or with the attacker having acres of space in the box. Our build up is slow, labored, and predictable - only by sheer volume of shots and the law of averages do we tend to score - yet the opposition manage to convert a much higher proportion of their chances - not good enough considering the quality of the players on show.

Overall though, I'd take a 2-1 defeat away from home in a game where we had a goal wrongly allowed for Everton, a nailed on penalty ignored, and a central midfielder who people say might as well not have bothered putting his boots on. In perspective, it's not the end of the world, we live to fight another day

I can understand the anger of those who saw the game and were frustrated, but in the big scheme of things, is anyone really surprised?

[Redna]

We will be at Wembley given we get an impartial referee for the second leg.
CTID!!

[City64]

Having not watched the game, I'd say that the outcome of 2-1 with an away goal (do these still count) in a 2 legged fixture is a decent enough result for us considering how poor we have been playing lately.

I'd also point out that:

• We had 18 shots to their 8
  They had 7 (88%) on target we had 4 (22%)

The statistic above completely reflects comments I've made elsewhere about not creating clear cut chances whilst our defensive lapses allow clear chances for the opposition. Our chances normally happen in a crowded box, wheras opposition chances often happen after mistakes and leave 1 on 1 or with the attacker having acres of space in the box. Our build up is slow, labored, and predictable - only by sheer volume of shots and the law of averages do we tend to score - yet the opposition manage to convert a much higher proportion of their chances - not good enough considering the quality of the players on show.

Overall though, I'd take a 2-1 defeat away from home in a game where we had a goal wrongly allowed for Everton, a nailed on penalty ignored, and a central midfielder who people say might as well not have bothered putting his boots on. In perspective, it's not the end of the world, we live to fight another day

I can understand the anger of those who saw the game and were frustrated, but in the big scheme of things, is anyone really surprised?

If it was that simple ??? Yes we were poor in areas yet again but 2 huge calls by the officials have given Everton the advantage .