Tactics

[ZLF 271]

Much has had written about teh Everton game but I believe that the game was lost on the blackboard and not on the pitch with Moyes easily getting the better of Worthy.

Eevrton played their normal 4-5-1 formation. Worthy picked a team that he though could break it down however it was simply the wrong choice for this game. For the first 45 mins there was no invention within the Norwich side which comes as no surprise with aside fielding 5 defenders and two defensive midfielders, backed up by a further holding midfielder and central defender on the bench. Too negative by half.

With space at a premium it was always going to need something a bit special to unlock a defensively very secure Everton team. 2-0 was flattering to Everton but we did not have the guile to really threaten them.

Come half time Worthy made the change that had been predicted on the terraces and a quick start by Leon set the ball rolling for an excellent 20 minutes. However Moyes then brought on his subs and the game was over - he nullified our changes by bring on an outlet up front and squeezed Hux/Drury space by introducing Steve Watson. From then on while we passed better than in the first 45 minutes we never really looked like scoring again and inevitably a long cross came form the gap left by playing Hux left wing was met at the far post by a player 4+ inches taller than our defence.

We need to be cuter than this tactically. Why did we introduce Helveg when Bentley had the skill to unlock a packed midfield? Why was Docherty not introduced to marshall Big Dunc? When our midfield passing in particular was so poor in the first half was Safri (''the best passer at the club''?) not introuduced?

This is not a get Worthy post - he should be our manager next season no matter what happens this - but it does confirm that his learning curve continues to rise steeply.

OTBC