Everton 0 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Date:	Monday 19th January 2015
Competition:	Barclays Premier League
Everton: 5.6
WBA: 6.5	Foster 7.3, Wisdom 6.8, McAuley 7.2, Lescott 7.1, Baird 6.6, Gardner 6.0, Brunt 5.6, Yacob 8.3, Morrison 6.2 (Sessegnon, 65 6.6), Berahino 6.3 (Dorrans, 70 5.7), Anichebe 6.9 (Ideye, 79 5.4) Unused subs: Myhill, Pocognoli, Samaras, Dawson Manager: Tony Pulis 7.0
Referee:	Michael Oliver (Northumberland) 6.1
Attendance:	34,739 Home Fans 4.4 Away Fans 6.7

Bobby Hope:

Well I am sitting here embarrassed watching the Baggies - what a terrible first half. Brunt and Wisdom against Baines and Mirallas and Berahino against Coleman with Baird behind him!!! Absolutely awful spectacle. I will nail my colours to the mast now and say if that's how we have to play to stay up I would rather go down playing football. Poor old Berahino - he must be thinking what the hell am I doing this for??

I can only hope that in true Pulis fashion they stick it out until the 87th minute when they get a winner and go home happy. That is exactly what he was brought in to do. Everything I hated about Stoke I saw in the Albion over the last 45 minutes. When it gets a result it is almost bearable but watching that and then coming away without a point is somewhat testing to say the least.

Can't fault the effort and determination of the players but we were very lucky. The real issue is that every time we won the ball we gave it back to them and put immense pressure on ourselves again. And TP says we need a pacey winger for the counter attack - sorry but what is Varela? Or where is Varela? It ain't gonna be pretty but TP might just do it.

Virginia Baggie:

For the first time this season I feel good about us. Obviously not the most inspiring game to watch OR was it? I guess that depends on what you were watching.

The Baggies pretty much to a man worked their socks off. Every time an Everton player got the ball and moved forward or turned an Albion man was on him - we pressed at the right time and made key decisions at the right time. The team knew its job and performed it on the most part very well. Hats off to Foster for some key saves - I'll it to others for scores but remember points for coming back and defending when judging our attackers.

I guess we were lucky on the penalty miss but then I thought it was ball to hand & not deliberate anyway! We're up a slot above the villa on goal difference and I'd certainly say these 2 old clubs are heading in different directions.

Finally to the bit that really makes me happy .... With the bid for Wigan's Callum McManaman (4 mill - turned down) it's pretty obvious we will be active in the window (look for another bid for C Mc) and this it......!!!! It's TONY PULIS not the Director or any of his appointees calling the shots.

Well done Mr Peace you give him the money and then LEAVE HIM ALONE! This is how a club is supposed to work. We are in safe hands with TP and I'm positive he will get the most out of our current squad as well as add wisely to it. He is a good football man, a nice chap and should remain in football charge for the forseable future - REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE FINISH!

WBA Need stability and to stop making hasty and suspect manager switches. How lucky we have the right man here!

Albion Till I Die - Beat the BlueNoses Saturday!

Brendan Clegg:

By any means necessary - that's what I'm taking from 2 weeks and 3 games of thePulis era.

And yes it a results business, and no I wouldn't be happy playing pretty football and losing evey week, and I completely accept any accusations of being ungrateful and everything else.

But this isn't football is it?

The game plan, irrespective of the opposition, appears to me to be reduce the quality as much as possible, make it horrible, make it an even playing field and then keep a clean sheet or possibly nick a goal. Show little ambition, just spoil the match.

Don't get me wrong - I am not asking for free-flowing expansive football against any opposition. I'm just arguing that even with the players we have, we are capable of out-footballing the teams in the bottom six, mixing the discipline and shape Pulis has introduced with the natural ability of our players available in attacking areas.

In the post match press conference Pulis emphasised our need to keep the ball better and pass through the lines. Quite correct, and if you put Poc at left back (and ask him never to go over the halfway line and show the discipline of Baird), then you at least have balance at the back to move the ball forward.

Next, Saido has to play up front - not on the left wing. You wouldn't dream of playing Defoe on the left wing. And you have to have a place in your 11 for Sess. Saido has come on leaps and bounds with his back to goal, and Sess is our only player (perhaps Morrison aside) who can pick the ball up in deep positions on the break, carry it and keep it.

And we only need to look at West Ham away as an example of how Sess and Saido can give us real threat on the break and fantastic goalscoring efficiency.

It looks like he is on his way but if you then also add Varela on the other wing - I dont care what the back 4 is, or who the 3 destroyers in the centre of midfield are - you have 3 attacking players who can score, create and keep the ball. And it's not like Varela and Sess can't tuck in when we dont have the ball. They can.

The alternative is watching Brunt, Gardner, Morrison, Ideye, Dorrans, Anichibe (who for once actually did OK) et al labour to spoiling matches without any creativity or enjoyment.

I should probably leave the mini-rant there, and anyone who sees the game differently and just wants the results - good on you, I'm niot being ungrateful and I'm willing to give TP the benefit of the doubt until the end of the season with this by any means necessary approach; I worry about the signings and the way this might be going. I do worry just how playing like this is going to get the other 4 or 5 wins we need.

Foster - 7 Looks rock solid since TP came in and back to his best. Just what was Kiely doing?
Wisdom - 7 The perfect Pulis fullback. to be honest, we'll really miss him next year, developing into a very decent player.
McAuley - 8 Very very good defensively, the hoofing less so.
Lescott - 7 Was deffo a pen and a couple of other slips but generally also excellent.
Baird - 7 Defensively absolutely great but can only go sideways, backwards or for the long hoof due to playing on his wrong foot. I worry better teams than Hull and Everton will expose him.
Brunt - 4 Worked hard, probably the worst on the pitch for ball retention.
Gardner - 5 Worked hard, probably the 2nd worst on the pitch for ball retention. I still don't get it. Morrison is better in this advanced role. All effort and no quality.
Yacob - 8 Perfect game for him in his perfect role as the pivot in a Midfield 5. All we need to do now is play Mulumbu alonside him, Morrison in front of them and sign Long, Lukaku and Odemwingie and we might finish 8th.
Morrison - 5 Worked hard, probably the 3rd worst on the pitch for ball retention. Used his pace to nick the ball off them in dangerous areas a few times.
Saido - 5 Worked hard and did a job on Coleman but pretty much nullified himself and couldn't get up near Anichibe to support.
Anichibe - 7 I'd say over the long period he was on that was probably up there with his best games for us as he is normally Mr 20 minutes. when we got the ball within 5 yards of him he held it up well and brought people into play but so often was isolated and Everton pushed right up on him knowing we'd never get in behind - hence decent game but no rolling opportunities.

Sess - 7 Gave us a bit of pace and ability to get out of defence - we looked a bit better as a result.
Dorrans - 5 Kept it quite well actually - better at keeping the ball than Gardner but not as mobile or in-yer-face. The summary is probably that neither are good enough.
Ideye - 5 Showed a couple of good moments, but then when it really mattered and the situations were there, the first touch or awareness were not good enough. Looks Championship at best.

What I would really love to see against Blues next week is the handbreak off just a little bit - just to see what we can do creatively but from the same defensive platform.

Mark Koppel:

Find it a little strange that anyone at all is criticising Pulis. Just like with Megson, after several really bad Head Coach appointments and 2 summers of dreadful recruitment, Pulis is exactly what we needed and has done wonders in a short period of time.

It is also great to hear him talk about him not only keeping our best player( Saido) but adding strength to the squad.And its January when we normally sleep through the transfer window.

Finally, for those who thought we gave Everton too much respect, I understand that in part but TC is having to work with the squad he inherited that is still weaker than we had 2/3 seasons ago.

Player ratings today:

Foster 7 - Very positive and safe hands all game long.
Baird 6 - Not sure he is the long term answer at left back but solid especially in the air.
McAuley 7 - Really strong in defence but poor 'Hoof' distribution.
Lescott 7 - Fantastic until he gave the penalty away, then was more nervous.
Wisdom 7 - Really didn't think I would say this but continues to improve and also is now heading the ball. If he can stop playing so narrow, and get over to the wide man quicker, then I take it all back about him.
Morrison 7 - I do have a soft spot for him. Asked to play a deeper role which he does effectively. If he got up the pitch more could be back to Morrison of old.
Yacob 8 - In system that suits him. Having said that he did nearly everything to perfection. The one exception was putting his hands on Naismith in the box after being warned (a little stupid).
Brunt 3 - Just like against Hull, constantly gives the ball away. Our weakest player last night but I fear Pulis will stick with him as he tries.
Gardner 6 - Tried to support Vic but left his shooting boots at the Villa game.
Sick Vic 7 - No Sick Vic tonight. Did run out of steam a little but up to c.65 mins look really strong, held the ball up superbly, and laid it off to whoever was there.
Berahino 7 - Asked to play left wing and to all those stupid Albion Fans who still say sell because of his attitude look at the shift he put in playing a totally unsuitable position. Pulis does need to play him as striker though if we are to score goals.

Subs:

Dorans 4 - Still too weak on the ball, which nearly cost us in the last minute. As said before, could be the first Pulis midfield victim if he brings in one of his 6ft plus giants.
Sess 6 - Would have got a higher mark but still cannot shoot for toffee, or against the Toffees!
Brown 'No' Ideye 3 - Still got no 'Ideye'(= "Idea" said with a Black Country accent)