What we learned last night...

[Paul Comstive]

First of all I'd just like to say that despite that freak goal by Howard, the wind actually was our friend last night. 

Bear with me here ...

With the wind howling around Goodison, it was absolutely pointless for us to punt the ball forward as we usually do, especially in the second half.  This FORCED us to play short passes on the deck.  What we actually saw lasy night was a team that CAN play football.  The build up to Ngog's goal was the sort of football we haven't really seen since the start of last season when the press were all wnaking over us being the new Brazil.

Also, as I (and I'm sure 99% of us) have been screaming for since the start of the season, Coyle finally went 4-5-1.  We just looked a lot more solid when the ball was in open play and Everton were in posession.  Similarly, when we had the ball their just seemed so many more options.  How nice was it to see us stroke the ball around?!?!

Ricketts coming into LB makes such a difference too.  He just seems so much quicker than Robinson, plus he's a lot bigger which makes a big difference when defending the far post.

Absolutely chuffed to bits and proud of them last night for not letting their heads drop after that opener, but we just have to hope that in the coming games (especially if United turn us over comfortably)  that Coyle doesn't forget/ignore the valuable lessons we learned last night.

4-5-1 is the future ... as is keeping the ball on the floor.

Still a long way to go, but from looking absolutely doomed after the Newcastle defeat, there is a very feint glimmer of hope again.

COYWM

PS - United getting trounced too just made it a perfect night all round! 

[azreal88]

I think that's pretty much spot-on.  4-5-1 seems to suit the available personnel far better than 4-4-2.  Mavies and Eagles especially, being light-weight, are able to release the ball more quickly (due to having greater options) and are thus less liable to be forced off the ball or bullied down a blind alley.

We were able to utilise the best aspects of Muamba and Reo-Coker, without asking them to play-make into the bargain.  Meaning they could break-up play and then give it short to set up an attack.  We also saw the defence able to play-out, as midfielders came short to receive the ball.

All-in-all, we looked far more comfortable.

[aarons2009]

As with our goal against wolves, the ball was played on the floor and not hoofed up field from our goal keeper.

I wonder if we would have seen more long balls if jussi was in net last night?

We seem to have a more solid back 4 with gretar and ricketts on each side and to be fair we looked more solid when alonso was playing, just when robbo comes in we looked very unbalanced.

When we put it on the floor and knock it about we are a match for most teams outside the top 5/6.

I wouldn't say 4-5-1 is the future as I still think we can play some great football in a 4-4-2 but with our next 3 games in the league coming up a 4-5-1 is a more sensible formation.

[Paul Comstive]

IMO, neither NRC or Muamba are creative enough to be the central pairing in a 4-4-2.  M.Davies also isn't robust enough to play in a 4-4-2.

Once Holden and Lee are back I think we can play 4-4-2, but with the players at our disposal 4-5-1 is defo our best option.  What is imperitive though, is by playing one up top, we need that one player to have pace, so that the opposition doesn't play as high a line.  Ngog may have the touch of a baby elephant, but his pace does mean the opposition's defence has to defend that bit further back.  If the one up front is Kevin Davies or Klasnice then they know they can defend on the halfway line.

[Weststander]

Bogdan had a decent game, no sulks or tantrums with his defence and actually came off his line a few times.

Our reserve keeper could play at Macc if recovered from thigh injury. Anyone really believe that?