A delayed report on the defeat at Goodison Park due to the journey back from the game as Saints put up a good show but ultimately just lacked that little something.

It has to be said that this game in many respects mirrored most of our away fixtures this season, plenty of possession 55%, plenty of shots on goal 9, again being more than the home side, but sadly fewer on target than the opposition 2 as opposed to 4and of course the most important stat being against us and thats goals scored.

Saints put up a decent show as they have done in most away games, but the fact was that most of the shots didnt trouble the keeper and for most of the game Everton were content to let us pass it about on the half way line and wait for us to come on and when we did they usually dealt with it quite easily.

But they were ready to break quickly when the chance arose and against the run of play they opened the scoring with 9 minutes gone, Seamus Coleman ripped us apart on the left side in way that would have had effigys of Danny Fox being burned in the away section if he had been the culprit and unleashed a shot into the far corner, yes a superb goal but one that should have been defended, likewise the winner that again saw us lacking a little bit of concentration in the build up.

In between though we dominated large swathes and although there will be those that claim we should have had at least one penalty and I would concur the ref did us no favours throughout the game, but we have to get over that and realise that an under strength Everton side dealt with most things easily, yes we played some pretty football but again it lacked a cutting edge, there is too much interchanging and although some would say that is the way we play, the harsh fact is that it isnt working enough times as results in the past 8 games prove with only five points having been garnered from those 8 games.

Yes at the half way point 27 points from 19 games is more than we would have expected, but the medium term trend is downward, 5 points from the last 24 is not acceptable and if repeated in the next 8 could see us looking nervously over our shoulder, if we want to take a little longer view and look at the 10 game points total, it is a little better with 9 points from 10, but the warning signs are there, that is ovver half our games this season and not even a point a game average over the last 10.

So once again it is an honourable defeat on our travels with the opposition saying nice things about us but having the satisfaction of three points in the bag,some would claim it is something to be proud of I would call it patronising.

Perhaps the most worrying thing is the most overlooked, once again we tinkered, it took Gazzaniga a few games to get his confidence up, but just as he did he is droppd for kelvin Davis, Kelvin did nothing wrong, but you had the feeling that Gazzaniga would have fared no worse, Gazza is the future, Kelvin is the past, as I have said in the past we need to get real competition for places, by dropping Gazza after a great display at Cardiff it can send out the wrong message and dent the confidence of some of our youngsters.

Again we ended the match with three central forwards on the pitch, with none of the trio looking like they quite knew where they should be as we continued with our pretty passing in the final minutes as Everton sat back and wondered when the late flurry was going to start.

Photo: Action Images

montecristo added 18:19 - Dec 30 not sure that I agree with all of this pointedly not a word about Gaston s performance yet he was man of the match for us. Ill say it again its high time that people recognized the difficulties he has faced adapting and supported him. He did nothing wrong yesterday and there are signs he could still become the player we all hoped for.Certainly he offers real threat going forward and if he can add strength to his game he is one that all teams are going to have to watch out for. Gazzaniga would have been creamed yesterday he definitely would not have saved the goal bound shot that Kelvin stopped diving to his left.

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SaintNick added 18:41 - Dec 30 With respect, Gaston came on for 24 minutes, hit a wonder goal and ran around with a bit more enthusiasm than he has of late, I dont think this was a man of the match performance though. I support Gaston and have always said i consider him a good player, unfortunately though his talents are not utilised, play Rodriguez up front and get Gaston to play through balls and we might get the best out of him, with lambert up front and no pace, Gaston was never going to shine

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Fordy added 19:01 - Dec 30 It is a shame MP wasn't astute enough to take off Morgan at HT when we were 3-0 up against Cardiff because we really missed him here. JWP seems to be way off the pace at the moment and was at fault for both goals. For the first it is ok showing Coleman inside but you have to keep him on his left foot once you have. Shaw's positioning was also poor. It was ok letting JWP take him but Shaw had to take a deeper position. For the second JWP just let McCarthy go, Morgan just wouldn't let this happen. We really rely on Morgan and rarely do well without him. If you have a player who is so vital to the team and is one booking off a suspension and you are 3-0 up you have to take him off, particularly this close to the cut off point. Also, for all the criticism of Wanyama's passing it is clear we are half the side without him in the team. Hopefully when we have these two back we can kick on again and at least we have played most of the top teams away already. Lambert is also looking off the pace at the moment. I would give him a break against Chelsea as he'll be meat and drink for Terry at the moment. The one thing Terry and Luiz don't ike is pace so it might be a game to try JRod in there on his own.

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Bulgarian added 19:56 - Dec 30 I see Gaston as a like-to-like replacement for JRod's current position. This is why I expected Gaston to come for JRod - in truth the latter was isolated during the whole game. Didn't like to see Cork substituted again, when he clearly was not our weak link. With respect, I don't agree that Gazza is the future. He won't reach the criteria to be 1st choice at SFC. Don't call me negative, but if we are to believe NC and MP's words of "next level" etc., we should judge our progress by their standards. This is why I was more angry than satisfied after the final whistle: this is exactly the type of games we should be drawing or winning; this is why this season we are the oh-so-near team. Our crossing and final deliveries were not good. In key attacking moments we lacked concentration and the result is "great show - no points". I hope next season the media (apart from NC) will openly demand more from us in such games. A bright ray of hope for Gaston (or for me wanting him to succeed here) and a truly magical moment from Lalla - I'm dreaming of more, as I am starting to believe he is showing signs of fulfilling the prophecy that he is MLT reborn.

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mayfairsaint1 added 20:37 - Dec 30 I totally agree that you don't get points for possesion but possesion does provide a base for control the game. We need to be more clinical and we really need our 2 South American imports to produce some flair and magic. I guess thats why the Don invested 27 million in them.
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IanRC added 20:47 - Dec 30 Fordy, agree with that. MoPo has a lot to learn still it would seem and thought JWP had an (uncharacteristically) poor game, much to often muscled out and badly at fault for both goals. Morgan is irreplaceable for me but still not sure about Wanyama think Morgan and Cork are perfectly satisfactory together. Not at all convinced about Ramirez still far too lightweight most of the time. JRod remains very frustrating - touches of brilliance a la Cardiff but then several games when you would hardly know he is on the pitch. Hopefully against Chelsea we will have our first choice full and centre backs available for the first time in a while. COYR and pick up the pace for heavens sake MoPo. He was however right that the referee was unbelievably bad (again).

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SaintNick added 21:17 - Dec 30 I think Cork was subbed because he had been booked and looked like getting a second yellow card
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bjwg added 22:21 - Dec 30 Spent 2 years reading this blog, thought I'd get of the fence. Gazza is not the future, he's second rate. A year or so in, saints training has produced a keeper so bad he needs a career rethink. I have seats in the chapel, and see it closely, he is terrible even as a 3rd keeper. That aside, when the first 11 are fit we are awesome and when they are not we are average. I'm sure those upstairs are well aware of this, Rome wasn't built in a day. That said, Fox and Hoover have to go, costing us points as is Gazza. I don't blame them, it's the management that has to take things forward. Give it time.

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SaintNick added 22:38 - Dec 30 bjwg, how many times have you seen Gazza play ? look at the situations he has been placed in in terms of both times being thrown into a side with a defence in disaray and in poor form. If you could see how bad he was a year ago why cant the management ? You ask people to give the management time but you arent willing to do the same for Gazzaniga, I remember when Tim Flowers arrived, it took him a couple of years to get in the team and then he was dropped for John Burridge, there are many Saints fans who said similar things about him as you have about Burridge. Rome wasnt built in a da, but how much has been spend on players that for various reasons arent first team regulars or not at the club, yet its easy to blame Hooiveld, Fox or Gazza, but it isnt their fault that they still get called upon, its whoever spent money on the likes of Forren or Mayuka and Osvaldo

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ExiledSupporter added 23:53 - Dec 30 There seems to be a madness about some of the above correspondents eg. some still chuntering about Hooiveld and Fox; some taking every opportunity to put the boot into Gazzaniga despite his excellent performance at Cardiff; one correspondent suggesting that Rodriguez is keeping Ramirez out of the team and several turning on JWP despite his contributions for most of the season (tho' I would agree he has been below par in the last few matches. No doubt if Guly didn't have a lengthy injury problem he too would be 'in the stocks' MP's tactical selections and substitutions seem to have become erratic recently, has he been under pressure from above to rotate within the squad or has he become particularly sensitive to the potential exhaustion of some ever present members due to the intensity of the Xmas period. I think everyone seems agreed that Cork is an invaluable squad member and should not generally be left out of the starting eleven and should not be the first to be substituted when a tactical change is needed...its just a pity that he scores so rarely. I think he is more valuable to the team than the slightly over-hyped JWP who understandably at 18 needs to develop a little more both physically and tactically before being a regular. Is it impossible for us to play MS, VW and JC in the same team? I also thing that there have recently been glimmerings of renewed promise from Ramirez coming off the bench and I think he deserves an extended 'trial' again at 10. Bear in mind he has hardly played in the last four months, it will take him a while to acclimatise. I strongly concur with Nick that GR's ability to play balls into the channels will benefit JR (and Osvaldo too), but are largely wasted on RL. Let's play GR as play maker and put JR up front playing off the shoulder of defenders...I bet they both suddenly look like much better players than before. I'd suggest this should be our first team when all are available from injury/suspension: Boruc (Gazza until then) Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw Schneiderlein, Wanyama (Cork until then) Cork (JWP or Davis until then), Ramirez, Lallana Rodriguez Subs: Chambers, Yoshida, Davis, Osvaldo, Ward-Prowse, Lambert, Gazzaniga

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Bulgarian added 00:01 - Dec 31 Seriously. At first I sensed that Mordor will kidnapp our precious, then torment him and turn him into a bad guys chieftan. Like MP recently, I found it hard to sleep: Then I got enlightenment:
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bjwg added 00:52 - Dec 31 I've watched Gazza every match he's played, I've watched him off the ball just to confirm my own thoughts. He's second rate, poor feet, poor positionally, can't command a defence and looks like a rabbit in the headlights every ball in. He's had a year in training and 8 or so games this season. Why do u think kelvin was back just as soon as he could be? As I said, with a first 11 we are pretty much there, wanyama is no better player than cork but fits poch's first team better. We can't match the big boys for depth. If we finish 8th or better it will be an awesome year.

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SaintNick added 09:58 - Dec 31 Exiled supporter - You are spot on, too many people cannot move on and are always judging certain players by past misdemeanors and never giving them credit or indeed a chance because of this. Secondly you are right to be concerned about recent erratic selections. bjwg - you are right Gazza has been like a frozen rabbit, this is all down to confidence and this also causes the other problems such as positioning etc, at Cardiff he looked far better and his confidence was regained, perhaps no coincidence that this was the first game he didnt have saints supporters behind him in the stands and on his back. Goalkeepers dont really mature till their mid twenties so he has a long time to go, a year in training will have helped him, but the 8 games he has been thrown into wont have as he has been let down just as much by the players in front of him, perhaps Pochettino has pulled him out at the right moment, he has his confidence back and he isnt exposed to what could have been a potential onslaught at Everton and might be for Chelsea, Kelvins confidence wont be knocked so much, dont forget kelvin spent his first two years here being worse than Gazza Gazza'a biggest problem is that some wont get off his back whatever he does, he did a job for Saints in these 8 games, he tried his best in trying circumstances, too many people couldnt thank him for these 8 games and let him get back to learning his trade, but have to slag him off and are probably waiting for his next appearance in a years time so they can get on his back again, Gazza is in better form than Joe Hart at the moment which shows that keepers can have dodgy periods. I have no crystal ball so I dont know whether Gazza will make a Premier keeper, all I know is he has the potential and I have seen keepers play for Saints like Tim Flowers for instance in similar circumstances and succeed, however it has just struck me that I havent seen many come through our ranks, which probably tells me something about how our supporters destroy our young keepers at the first mistake as happened with Bialkowski

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stmichael added 11:46 - Dec 31 Kelvin is an experienced goal keeper who is more than capable of being a number 2 to Boruc. In fact a great alternative as a number 2 to Boruc. Gazza is no where near either of them and how can he possibly be man of the match when the opposition dont have 1 shot on target? He needs to listen and learn daily from the two older heads and HOPEFULLY he may be ready one day. I think he will drift away like Bart and Tommy to be honest..

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ItchenNorth added 12:01 - Dec 31 Why are you even mentioning Fox Nick ! You are just making the same tired point again and again and again. We get your view on it, except the views if others please and move on ! One point from the game; yet again for me Ramirez proved why he must get more game time. The formation & players around him needs to honed though to get the most out of him; if he is to have a future with us beyond January. Come on Gaston !

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SaintNick added 12:18 - Dec 31 Half the posts on here have been about a player who played no part in the game at everton, the saddest part is that Saints fans in the past few years have lost sight of the fact that it should be about the football club and not individuals, but many cant handle if their favourite player is dropped or cricisised and seem to think that its a personal affront if one of the "certain targets of abuse" has to play. Someone put up a post over xmas that showed a banner that Saints put up around the club saying "Its not about the name on the back of the shirt its about the name on the front" A lot of our fans would do well to read that over and over again and take a long hard look at what a simple statement actually means. Personally I would be happy to see Rickie Lambert, Morgan Schneiderlin, Luke Shaw or any other member of our team not play another game this season if it meant they were being kept out by someone playing out of their skin. Your right Mike Gazzaniga does need to listen and learn from the two older heads, Im sure kelvin Davis will be telling him to ignore the crowd who get on your back and will perhaps recount the stories of how he was treated in his fist two years and how he could have easily have drifted away like bart (Is that the same bart by the way who came into the side when we were leaking goals and put in a series of displays that dragged us into the play offs ? before being torn apart by the fans ) Perhaps Kelvin will point out that his team mates are all behind him and willing him to do well even if the fans arent. Perhaps he will be telling him that goalkeeping is not just about shot stopping but about catching crosses and commanding his box and being confident. I also suspect he will tell him not to listen to supporters who give an opinion on a match they clearly havent seen, yes Cardiff didnt have a shot on target directly, but anyone who watched it will tell you that Gazza made a superb save from a shot that was deflected and was definately on target, if you had watched the game you would know that Sorry Mike but your eagerness to tell the world how bad Gazzaniga is when it is of no relevance says a lot about some fans of this football club who love to turn on certain players whatever they do. Did Paulo Gazzaniga look at the situation we were in and pretend to be injured, No all he has done is pull on the jersey and try his hardest when there were no other options for the team, he didnt shirk he didnt hide even though he must have been lacking in confidence. Why some people cannot support those that pull on a Saints shirt i dont know, I suspect they truly wont be happy till we put out a team of 11 hated players so they can be booed on the pitch and ironically cheered every time they catch a cross or pass to one of their own players I have often been described as negative on this site because i dare to point out things that arent right, however I remain staunchly behind every player when he pulls on a Saints shirt

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davepid added 12:21 - Dec 31 Good commentary Nic. I heard it on radio after travelling to Goodison and unable to buy a ticket on the day! Why oh why , when we get a free kick 25 yds out with minutes to go , their keeper having proved he wAs dodgy from distance we try to float one in . Why didn't Rickie just thump it? Who decides those on field tactics ?
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halftimeorange added 14:08 - Dec 31 Talking of players being kept out by others playing well I wonder if Clyne will dislodge Chambers. There isn't much in it from what I've seen. Is far as Gaston is concerned I remember our previous manager waxing lyrical about what he could do in training so, maybe he did lose his confidence. If he has the talent it will show - starting with Burnley, which is when I would expect to see Gazzaniga to reappear and Gallagher start instead of Lambert (assuming Osvaldo is either crocked or being disciplined). Despite all the praise above I regret to say that Jack Cork again dropped out of the game at Everton shortly after the second half began. That was surely why he was substituted. Rodrigues is certainly a worker but he doesn't have Lambert's foresight and should not lead the line regularly. Against Burnley, yes.

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