Stoke/Everton: Cameron and Timmy start

That was a really fun game. I thought Cameron was fine. The player that really had an awful game was Stoke's left back. He made at least 3 terrible players. What a fun game though.

 

It was a great game. Our Americans did pretty well overall. I don't think Geoff had a poor game, but he wasn't spot on, either. It's almost like Hughes has told him to stay out of the penalty area, and he isn't sure of who to pick up/how far to mark the players in that space just outside the arc. Maybe he just needs to fine tune this new position.

 

that is just xick. wow.

 

God, he looked bloody awful for the first half. Improved a bit in the second, but he was clearly hampered by the injury, couldnt get round the pitch well enough. Starting an unchanged side for the second game in 3 days, with 3 players carrying injuries, could have ********ed us today. As well as the attack played, we looked knackered out there. Pieters in particular was shocking

Game of the season though

 

Why didn't Hughes rotate? Does he really not trust Walters, Wilson, or Adam to start?

 

Must have watched a different game but for me he was fantastic the first 25 minutes and subpar/worn out for the other 50.

 

Not sure really. He said before the game that we've been playing so well and he doesnt like to make changes anyway. I'd have had van Ginkel in there, I dont think we should have started both Cameron and Whelan, considering both went off with injuries on Saturday. Oh well, it all worked out in the end and a great game for the neutral I imagine.

 

I thought he was decent when he actually got on the ball, but he just looked shagged and couldnt keep up with the pace of the game. Case in point being McCarthy leaving him for dead for the first goal.

I'd be tempted to rest him for West Brom, and have him fully fit for the League Cup semi v Liverpool next Tuesday.

 

Cameron played alright. Really well considering he's got a strained hamstring. Fixture congestion where there is one day off between games, is not exactly made for a player with that injury. And he clearly still had it. Doesn't go away in a day or two. Only loosens up a bit before it has a chance to be aggravated again. He was dragging his leg while coming out of the previous game. This game he was grimacing and moving gingerly, and throughout he was reticent to get up to full speed or lunge. Those are big parts of a 6/8's job. Looked to be playing more of an 8 in this one. He was venturing a ways up the field and then not tracking all the way back, even if a player popped open in front of him. That's what happened on the first goal. I don't know if that was just his responsibility to be the outlet or he didn't want to stress his hammy in those moments and hope his teammates would pick him up. Later on, on that deflected shot that just went wide by Everton, a player popped open a little in front of him again, and he was barking at someone else to pick him up instead of doing it himself. On the third goal it required a lunging movement to clear, which he'd normally make but this time his body didn't allow him to do, he got caught out of position, and Everton took full advantage on the break.

Whelan, Pieters, and Wolly had pretty poor games defensively as well. Whelan was poor offensively too, plenty of giveaways, and little distribution. Cameron was very positive in this department, with accurate or deadened first touches, taking on opponents off the dribble when he pressured him, and making positive passes to advance the ball up field and threaten the Everton defense. Played a significant part in the first Stoke goal, taking on a defender initially, making a positive pass, and then another thru to Bojan in a seem after it came back. Beautiful goal by Stoke, another stylish offensive performance, and good result, albeit aided by a fortunate pk for Arnautovic to pick up 3 points on the road.

 

That was some game. Geoff was struggling today, nursing the hammy I suspect. The folks he was playing against weren't bad players either.

Both Geoff and Stoke have come a long way since he joined the potteries. It has been fun watching them both get better.

 

It's 4 days of rest between games vs. what was 1 for this one. That's an enormous difference when it comes to a hamstring strain recovery.

And maybe I just value the ancillary cup games (they are more just tradition and a chance for the lower level teams) a ton less at this point, but I'd just trot him out there again at the weekend, then you can rest him for a week and a half. It's back to back cup games.

To me, you have to go all out in league. It's a really down year for the top teams in the Premier, you've got a bunch of flair players and a solid roster, you're surging with this lineup, and now tied for a Europa League place. Getting into the Europa League would be a nice feather in the cap, and the Champions' League wouldn't be out of the question if Leicester swoons. At the very least Cameron should be readied to be the first man of the bench for Whelan or Van Ginkel. That's probably what he should have been today with one day in between games. Hughes got a little greedy. But it didn't cost them, presumably, unless it's going to cause Cameron to be hindered in future games.

 

Its the semi final. We want to go to Wembley, we want to win a trophy. I'd rather win a cup than finish 7th or 8th.

Geoff can be rested for the FA Cup game against Doncaster, but I want our best team out against Liverpool. I'd rather a proper tangible achievement than a few more points in the league

 

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but after Stoke scores its second goal and the other Potters are celebrating, Geoff goes to the sideline and appears to argue with Hughes about something (at the 2:43 mark in this vid)

 

I don't see anything in that. I think they are discussing Everton and how to tighten up the defense a bit.Geoff has never been known to be a argue with the coach type player

 

I agree. I didn't see that as Geoff arguing. It looked like they were discussing strategy to me.