Ancelotti disappointed but pleased with overall display against Newcastle

Still, a very painful lesson that shouldn't need teaching.

In other - more important- news. Sharpy has a new job (title) and Unsie's U23s are probably having another sleepover somewhere.

Only disappointment was the performance of the two late subs, Niasse and Davies. Both were so bad, that we lost any momentum we had left, and together with Pickford doing his once a month kamikaze act, we threw the game away.

Whilst Kean had obviously run himself into the ground and needed substituting I saw no tiredness in either Bernard or Walcott that required them to be subbed, particularly for two guys who aren't known for their ball retention skills

We have suffered numerous kicks in the plums in recent years but that game will haunt me for a long time

We're still only 4 points off 5th, which frankly is amazing.

Also polishing the turd, it could be worse. You could be a Man U fan tonight. 😂

Pleased we played reasonably well, pleased DCL scored again...I always said he would improve (oh yes I did).

But disappointed that Ancelotti, after how many games? 8, 9, 10? still has faith that the sows ears he has to work with, will turn out silk purse levels of nouse and application.

You might be able to get away with it with Top Teams and/or in Europe. But the Premier League is a different beast and he's no stranger to the vagaries of it.

Sometimes teams in The Premier League - unlike Europe (?) don't know, or forget 'their place'.
Didn't we get him the sack when he played us?

The game didn't need 'seeing out'. We had no game for 10 days, no legs to save.

Newcastle brought on defender to keep it respectable...we all know the rest.

And...continuing the tradition of decades, in keeping with us just being the sporting arm of EitC, we let a guy who's never scored a Premier League goal in his life get two.

Carlo, by all means keep it nice in the after match comments - but be sure to kick the teacups, hairdryers and gell, the 7 grand sponge bags, about the dressing room in private.

And after, look in the mirror, raise an eyebrow at yourself...remind yourself the best way to 'see a game out' is Not to concede the initiative, but continue with your foot on their throat in their half of the field, aka, do exactly what you were doing for 80mins, only until the Final Whistle.

Your last two paragraphs are the antithesis of Carlo Ancelotti. If that's what you're hoping for, you're going to be disappointed.

He won't get overly excited about anything.

He will continue to see games out.

Good luck Derek! You're gonna be frustrated.

The pragmatic approach to closing games out might not suit everyone. But it is better than ending games with 5 attacking players on the field as Silva did on occasion this season.

Only Everton and on this occasion we have out-Everton'd ourselves (if that is even a phrase)!!

I didn't see the match live and therefore couldn't comment at the time, but having now calmed down, viewed the highlights & read the reports, I can at least put this into context in my own head. Carlo is right in his analysis in the longer term bigger scheme of things. We may hate the result (I do), but the performance (less the last 2 minutes), was good and bodes well moving forward.

We have an exciting forward line of Kean, DCL & Richarlison with the likes of Bernard in support. We have a midfield that has been deprived of Gomez & Gbarmin for long periods of this season. No excuses but like other clubs, we are playing a patched up team most weeks.... how come Liverpool are seemingly injury-less of key players..... sorry, shouldn't be bitter!!

We have good full backs but the defence in general needs surgery. And the keeper; he may be England's number one, but he was at fault for both goals. Flaps at the first and is behind the line for the 2nd. Basics, but he's standing on the line and that second doesn't go in. I'm not comparing us to them, but Liverpool stepped up a level by addressing their centre back & goalkeeping issue. At our own current level, we have the makings of a good side if we do likewise.

Only 4 points off 5th but then so is every club from 14th up!! How bizarre and reflective of the standard of the self-proclaimed best league in the world (its not). Liverpool are different class (feel sick saying it but you can't deny). City are miles better than everyone else other than Liverpool. The rest are average.

That's a bit random & all over the place still a bit jet lagged but hopefully makes a least a bit of sense. I apologise in advance for my glass half full perspective.

That is why it is not acceptable.

When you need them to bag points to progress up the table they will consistently fail after two results. Actually a draw in the third game is progress. Everton will finish mid table as usual, the pattern has not been broken yet and will continue with this squad of players.

You do have to give Floridians props when it comes to relocating millions of people in a fairly organized fashion when the big baddies come rolling in. And yes, Man U isn't nearly as efficient. The wife was well pleased this evening. She said, "Oh look at that! Everton and Burnley are holding hands." I was like, "What?" She replied, "They're both on 30 points in the table."

I almost said, "Fuck off." Thankfully kept that in check.

Andy -

Laughed at that. Mike is like 3000 miles from me. Picking me up in his car would take a 45 hour drive. 😂
Love it.

Besides the above, Ancelotti has this team moving in the right direction in a very, very short period of time. Last night was a nightmare. It's going to get better.

I think The BBC MotD team summed it up nicely. Pickford's main flaw is his tendency to have a rush of blood; he needs to calm down more than anything else.

Jamie #16, start packing. I'll pick up you and my other mate Terry White (Pete's lifelong friend), who lives pretty close to you in Florida. (Can you say carpool???) And yes, y'all do a very nice job of getting the hell out of the way of those yearly monstrosities that visit you.

Ed #17, want me to pick you up on the way? And you're right, getting a good game out of that putz qualifies Carlo as a certified miracle worker.

Klopp knew Liverpool needed a world class central defender and goalkeeper, thats what he signed Alisson and Van Dijk and since then they have been virtually impeccable.

It's what got us 4th in 2005, we only scored 45 goals that season but the calmness of Nigel Martyn in goal brought about a priceless defensive solidarity, Martyn was a world class goalkeeper but his assured calmness was the biggest factor.

If only we had such a presence as Martyn now, I've never seen an Everton keeper applauded off the pitch after a 0-0 draw at Anfield, he was that good!

Pickford will never bring stability to an already at times unstable defence.

You can't have defenders playing in front of someone buzzing about like a bee in bottle not knowing if he's coming or going, punching or catching, running awol or staying static.

Pickford makes some great saves but then so did Richard Wright, Thomas Myhre, Tim Howard.

A keeper is judged in key moments and how he deals with things under pressure like Tuesday night, it's not the first time he's been found wanting and over the last 18 months it's becoming more and more frequent, not glaring errors as such, but decisive ones.

No tactics are needed against this Everton team, just put the ball in the box and put decent crosses in and they collapse.

I would know put defensive re I for cements this Jan ahead of midfield. The one area Carlo does seem to be improving the longer he has on the training pitch is midfield. The guys were looking forward and on the turn when receiving the ball tuesday. This was to be expected with him having been a top class midfielder himself.

It could always be worse! Moyes could have come “home” to us! Lucky west ham eh? To think some people think he'd do a better job than Carlo!

Don't try to superimpose good team / silk purse methods on to pigs ear / poor teams. It wont work, they can't manage it, it is, as yet, beyond them.

Pickford out.

There is only one constant to all this shite and that is Pickford. Same with England, you think we're doing alright and Pickford fucks up

Send him back to his relegation with Sunderland.

What we need to remember is, out of that starting eleven, I would say four of them Id keep, Holgate, Bernard, DCL and Kean.

The team is overflowing with shite and until he can do a bit of dealing in the transfer market he's managing the previous incumbents mess.

He is England's number one and still young. He cost £30m but we would still make a nice profit on him should the management team decide to move him on. His stock is high! But like most posters have said, who would we replace him with? Every keeper this season is having problems. Kepa is bottom of the league for save % and he is the worlds most expensive. Pope, Henderson, ramsdale, would all cost a fortune and are they really an upgrade? I wouldn't want to risk selling Pickford for Carlo to bring in a continental keeper who hasn't experienced anything like the premier league before.

Absolutely nothing to do with the topics of the thread, but I just loved how predictive text messes with you attempt to write (presumably!) 'reinforcement' in the following:

"I would now put defensive re I for cements this Jan ahead of midfield."

That's a corker!

On the other hand, Go for it. I'm sure we see really positive beginnings for the first time in a few years! Even Schneids looked somewhat decent. Good to see young Kean score. Bernard was classic.

None of our other managers since (whether interim or semi-permanent) seem to have seen anything at all in this man (although our last manager did take him to Hull on loan, I believe).

The only strength I could possibly see is his willingness - he never seems to give up. But other than that, what ever possessed someone to pay £13 million? And he was even injured when he arrived wasn't he?

Happy to be enlightened by the School of Enlightenment which is TW.

There is quite a bit of competition, but he must rank as one of the worst deals we have ever made, of Kroldrupesque proportions.

But . he needs a really excellent GK coach to calm him down and rapidly mature his "Karma".

As for anyone else advocating Pope as better than him yes he made an eye catching penalty save vs Leicester other day but the Leicester goal was very saveable but he was unable to get his lanky frame down in time and he has been caught out like this a number of times this season giving goals away that plenty of other keepers (including Pickford) would save with feet.

Think the true competition for England going forward will be Henderson and Id have no qualms if we also made that replacement in the Summer at a profit

Sounds like some journo from the Daily Star has made it up and everyone else thinks that they should also mention it...just in case. How/would that be affected by FFP? He's on a reported £190k a week and cost nearly £80m, Pope would cost a fair bit now with all the publicity this is getting, would Chelsea be able to afford it?

What if Niasse had gone to the corner flag instead of heading for goal, defender wins it, plays it to his goalkeeper who cannot pick it up so hoofs it upfield, landing perfect for Newcastle to score.

What if Digne booted the ball up field, finds a Newcastle player who hoofs it again in our danger area, resulting in a goal.

What if Davies had not fouled the player, taking one for the team, instead allowing the player to drift through ending up with a free kick close to our penalty area, again ending up with a goal.

Oh well too pissed out with those last few minutes of stupidity thought I would come up with something like the jfk magic bullet option.

All light hearted guys and lasses, before someone actually takes my I take serious.

He is not the biggest problem, however he IS a big problem and has been for 18 months.

The inability to look safe defending from set pieces or crosses stems from Pickfords lack of presence and commanding stature in the goal, so this area of the pitch IS a big problem.

Liverpool and Man City both knew that there keepers were not top drawer so there's no room for sentiments.

Liverpool moved on to a man mountain in Alisson and City brought in Ederson.

The only logical explanation to Niasse was that Bobby decided to adopt a scorched earth policy on his way out

That negligent act should have been factored in when determining his pay off

Pickford's demeanor is frantic, often addled when he makes a decision.

He injects this erratic style into his back four. His need to ‘be involved' refuses to pipe down.

He was at part of the litany of errors for the first goal. I personally think no blame for the second. He came for that cross and barely got a glove on it.

However that been said, he's way down the list of problems to fix.

Many people have a underlying condition that they don't know about or undiagnosed. It is a difficulty one to address, if not diagnosed when young, and the results can be unpredictable.

Jim #57, the problem is that our club is not going to spend £70 million to get an Ederson or Alisson or Kepa, a proven top-class keeper. For what we're willing and able to pay out, getting a keeper who's an improvement on Pickford would be a matter of sheer luck.

And as John P says, there are more urgent problems to fix. Lots of them.

thats my whole point, you might be able to get away with it with a good team...but we aren't a good team - yet.

There's no reason those players, none at all, shouldn't have been able to see out that game. None. The bar needs to be raised, not lowered. Those not meeting expectation need to be separated like wheat from chaff.

In short, don't dumb it down, raise the bar. That's the only way they'll improve. Carlo has the right of it, for me.

We have what we have, in the coach and players. Our financial situation most likely dictates that won't be changing much. We're also very, very injured presently - Gomes, Gbamin, Sigurddson, Richarlison, Iwobe, and probably 28 players I'm failing to remember.

We are very young, and many of these younger players are developing wonderfully, and turning into damn good footaballers.

We have a world class coach who will frustrate the bajeezuz out of supporters when one out of 4 to 5 games can't been "seen out", because, as I've been saying over and over, Carlo ain't changin' his ways.

Christine is correct. It really is time to stop slating the players and just get behind the project and the squad.

Won't be easy, because when I see Jordan kick it out of touch, or just rocket the ball straight to the other keeper, I will instinctively yell, "Fuckin' jackass!" But the likelihood many players (especially the young ones) will be moving anytime soon is very slim.

We'll wait for Theo, Schneids, Siggy, Oumar, Baines, Coleman, et al's contracts to expire and backfill with young kids and 1-2 big, quality signings. That's the roadmap, I'd bet my life on it. So start realizing it is what it is, and get behind the team and the players.

To your point, last years Brands called Rich, DCL and Lookman the “envy of the EPL.” Many of us laughed. The first two are starting to show evidence he was onto something. Similar with Holgate. Granted three players is a pretty thin nucleus but they're the right age so it's something.

Grand so.

You have Gordon, Davies if he can knock off the shenanigans, Kean, Iwobe, JJK, Holgate, and probably a few others I'm forgetting, coming through.

People can laugh all they want, and I said so on another thread (West Ham matchday), but I personally think we're a tidal wave brewing.

When to go long, when to go short? Retain possession or keep it? Throw or kick?
Style of pass? This one pisses me right off. The little chip to full backs pinned to the side line. They have no chance of bringing it down. A couple of beauts in the Newcastle game.
Stay on your line or come for it?
Come out or stay at home for through balls.

I can comfortably point out repeated flaws here, many of which he 'gets away' with. I've consistently critiqued this part of his game for some time. I'd even go as far to say technically he is as good as Ederson or even Allison, but will he match them for awareness, decision making and game management? For me no, light years behind.

So like many things with Everton, who do we get in? The option perhaps is a younger keeper with high decision making IQ, and let nature take its course. We cannot and will not spend on a finished article, it's just not a priority. So you have to think a medium to longer term plan is needed to replace him.

We can all argue about the substitutions on how the manager used them but it happened and we cant change it. Looking at the bench we had a spare keeper. 3 defenders, Coleman, Keane and Baines, there was 1 forward Niassie, and 1midfielder Davies.
This was not really a strong bench unless you wanted to just change the system into a defensive set up that Ancelotti was accused of against Brighton.

With some of the injured players starting to return, Iwobi, Siggy and Rich I am wondering if Everton are going to bring in any new players in January, or just try to sell some and do any major recruiting in the summer.?

I am still of the opinion that Everton have to get rid of at least 4-6 players before they buy, unless they can get a strong midfielder at a reasonable price and not an inflated January price.

We dominated the match and I don't think the barcodes had a shot on target until they scored? We were coasting and there was only going to be one result - until there wasn't! The defender they brought on to shore up their defence bangs in his first ever goals.

It really was a very good performance until the farce at the end, so I'm staying positive

Davies is just another naive player we possess in the squad, we have a whole team of players that never seem to learn from mistakes made a few games earlier.

Our in-game management is horrendous and has been for about three or four years now, every player we sign just falls victim to it.

Digne is another player that springs to mind, for a international footballer how daft can you get when the clock is running down, he did a stupid foul at Millwall last year too which cost us in the last minute.

As I say, whole bunch of naive stupid players at this club, nothing will change until they learn, the sad thing is they never do learn, if our players were kids they would never get to leave kindergarten.

You either are being coy, or haven't read any posts on the other threads. Davies has been torn a new ass.

He must be moved on to improve the squad. He can't finish, he'll track back only when it's his fancy, disappears in games, etc.

He seems a very nice guy. But to improve, we need to move past him. He's one of the "older" players that we need to move on from. He, Siggy, Schneids, insert name I've forgotten.

I truly believe he got a get out of jail card when Allardyce signed him. More years of top notch living, hiding inside a middling Club was his thought process. While the younger kids, our manager, our DOF, and our owner are striving for success, he's winding the clock down.

Would love to have a beer with him. Would also love to see him lose the jersey and move to MLS.

I still trust Don Carlo to change this feeble mindset.

City look far from convincing most weeks and you get the feeling as the resumption of the Champions League approaches City will switch attentions to that, meaning more league points lost.

Ain't life great being an Evertonian?

There is something very wrong with our ability to see out games.

I'd still sooner have Lennon, especially for the away games, because at least he gave 100% and was a lot braver than Theo, will ever be, but it just shows you how much money Everton, have wasted in wages and transfer fees, because if Walcott was an upgrade, then I'm yet to see it out on the pitch.

Hard work covers a multitude of sins, especially when you have got a front three who will give any team problems, but with DCL improving, and Kean, hopefully going to turn into a player, then Richarlison, who is definitely going to improve, maybe we just need Everton now, Especially after reading how Jay Woods, really rates him?

Football changes quickly, so hopefully Carlo, and Marcel, are working on bringing in some quality additions right now!

Pickford (as irritating as he is) is only 25
Digne - 26
Kenny - 22
Holgate - 23
Mina - 25
Gbamin - 24
Gomes - 26
Richarlison - 22
Iwobi - 23
Calvert-Lewin - 22
Kean - 19

Then there's he likes of Davies, Gordon, Gibson etc.

Maybe we just need to take the rough with the smooth and give them a bit of time to make the occasional mistake.

I cannot see him being anything more than a bit part player when everyone is fit. He is just a yard slower than he used to be or is it because he's now up against a lot of younger defenders.

Moise was really looking more confident against the Barcodes and we all hope this is the sign he is going to develop.

Robert #97, in a study I read from the summer of 2018, Theo was listed as the fifth-fastest player in the world by top speed, behind Bale, Mbappe, Traore and some guy I never heard of. He built a career around that, on teams that could play him through behind defenders. He never did finish a high percentage of those chances, and now he doesn't get there anymore.

Chris #101, that is a fascinating statistic. I wonder how much it has to do with fitness. I always had the feeling that Silva did not focus on running the players in the summer when conditioning is built.

Neil #103, I had the opposite impression. I liked very much the way Holgate distributed out of the back. No muss, no fuss. He's not as good a passer as Mina, but he has improved immensely over the past year -- last year it was 50-50 whether his passes would go to somebody in our shirt or theirs.

And as a final note, can ya believe that Tranmere beat Watford? They're gonna be relegated to League 2 but now they have a 4th round FA Cup tie with... Utd.

What do they say? C'mon You Rovers? I've no clue!

How many United fans are absolutely loathing the fact we have Carlo Ancelotti? Millions? Quite seriously, if Tranmere can beat Watford, right now they can beat United. Man U are in terrible form. They are a train wreck.

I think that the club is currently where it is. We can't obviously bring new playing staff in this window, because of the losses and P&S rules. However, I feel if we could get Zouma (or similar) back on a short term loan, and a RMF player on loan, then I think we'd have just enough to kick on up the table.

Looking at the squad, and the way they went from happy/complacency, to rabbits in headlights in 102 seconds (PL timings) from 2-0 all smiles, to 2-2 and a feeling that a point was a defeat was unbelievable?! Christ, we could lay blame wherever you want, but the starting XI for 71 minutes were very good value, against a pot poor Toon team imho. I still don't know how we contrived to concede those 2 goals... anyhoo

I think Carletto must learn that this team takes time to adapt to changes, strategic I.e. training pitch ones and systems, to tactical, substitutions etc... I was OK with the Coleman for Kean sub (t a degree, the lad looked knackered), but why not bring Gordon on at that point and keep up the pressure and the shape?
when Bernard started to go, bring on Keane, put Mason to RB, push Sidibe up to RMF and put Gordon at LMF.

Keep one sub spare for the last 7+ET in case of injury... Hindsight, and differing views huh! Ain't they great! :D

Oh well, a decent point at W. Ham, and two dropped on Tues. Just means we have to tank Watford and CP now. With what the 10 days till the next game, let's see what Carletto, Davidido and Big Dunc can get out of the players.

Hopefully Beni will be back, and maybe a loan signing too?

Keep the faith Ladies and Gentlemen, I don't believe Carlett is here for Paydirt, I genuinely think he wants to prove his detractors wrong, and build a European powerhouse at Everton.

C'mon Bluenoses, get behind the team, and we need every point we can get now...

Lets stop kicking the buggers down, whilst the season is on, and try and build them up a bit. It might do wonders for their morale and confidence.

Remember this, there will still be many dawns, but one of them will be the best dawn in the clubs history!

The future is bright, the future is Blue.

Everton, a European powerhouse in 5-7 years... Baby steps for now, and heaps and Heaps of patience.

Pickford 25, Hope Eng do well at the Euros and we can find a buyer in summer who'll pay in the ball park of 㿔m

Digne - 26 Agreed, he needs some downtime thho, the lad looks shot at the minute.

Kenny - 22 Nope, if schalke want him, then take the money. Pure profit, and we shift his wage bill

Holgate - 23 Agreed Mr. Multi utility at the minute, I just wish he'd stop bloody ball watching like the toon first goal...

Mina - 25 If he hasn't improved in two seasons, move him on. Too many mistakes at his age, and sends too much time on his ar$e

Gbamin - 24, depends on the thigh injury and how he returns as a player

Gomes - 26 depends on the ankle injury and how he returns as a player

Richarlison - 22, Agreed, BUT if somebody offered us 㿷m plus, snap their hand off.

Iwobi - 23, get rid, no future at this club IF we're serious about European football

Calvert-Lewin - 22, agreed

Kean - 19, agreed

Davies - 22, has no future at this cub, he just isn't good enough, take 㾶-20m for him and run...

Then there's he likes of Gordon, Gibson etc. (Feeney? Simms?)

Maybe we just need to take the rough with the smooth and give them a bit of time to make the occasional mistake. - I agree with this too.

Lots to look forward too as well for the rest of the season. Plus of course the summer window.

He is just not showing any signs of maturity, despite being technically decent. Additionally, he has something against him, that nothing will change, his size. He is a couple of inches too short for the PL level and style of play.

Our Keeper situation is pretty fluid anyway, Steks is going to replace Alan Kelly as GK coach. which is a bit weird, as he can't get a game, and I presume he's been helping now; so why is JP so inconsistent?

Lossl hasn't had a game, and Virignia has gone into the U23s.

Here is the updated PL stats for keepers;

Link

Personally, I'd try and prise Dubravka away from NUFC, or if a deal with CP can done, maybe offer Tosun (and A.N. Other) plus cash for Guaita.

Lastly, a dream scenario... well for me at least;

After the Euros, England reach the SFs or better, and JP is outstanding. De Gea wants to go back to Spain, United offer £85m for JP, and we get Dean Henderson for £25m :D

Mind you, the Pickford situation probably won't be addressed till the summer of 21/22.

As for Pickford, fine, go ahead and sell. Who do you replace him with for the same £40m? If you want somebody better -- and proven -- you'll have to spend more than that. A lot more.

With Mina, I noticed for a while he'd do little hops from left to right foot, which he didn't do against NUFC, and he carried the ball up well, and passed well. Yet, Holgate with a weak left foot is asked to play LCB, whilst Mina plays RCB?

Surely, Mason, should come over to the right for two reasons;

If Delph, who has had 135 mins of good football, and one aberration is retained. It means that Sidibe can be allowed to attack more, and try and galvanise our RHS options and attacking/supporting play.

As Sidibe goes upfield, Mason shifts into a mid CB/RB position, Yerry goes central and Delph covers the CB/LB hole with Digne helping out.

Secondly, it allows Mina who seems more effective bringing the ball out, more options from a central position without exposing Sidibe's poor defensive positional play.

Re Pickford and his 㿔m see (117) I pretty much covered it there, plus a dream option (for me at least!)

By the way Mike, who are you tipping for Sunday?

Are they fit enough physically and mentally to see out the second half and are substitutions / tactics working ?These are the two areas of concern. I can't think of any others, other than the need for wholesale change in personnel. The latter ain't going to happen to sort out these problem in the short term.

Ancelotti is making progress in two areas ; recovering from the opposition scoring first and improving performance away from home.

I think that Ancelotti will be looking at fitness first. The hot weather break has been done away with during the Feb winter break by Ancelotti. The squad will be at Finch Farm. 'We have good facilites at Finch Farm, we do not need to travel round the world', according to Ancelotti. Ancelotti says that he hasn't had time to work with players, because of the football schedule. It will interesting to see his take on International breaks. Ancelotti expects a lot of hard work to be done at Finch Farm, which in my opinion will be a shock for many of those that work there.

The collapse against Newcastle will have been a concern to Ancelotti and he will be looking at individual players and their ability to carry out tactics. He has Everton going forward better against Newcastle than they where against West Ham, but now another problem, which has existed for some time, has raised his ugly head.

In the January transfer window, I don't expect any new players, maybe a few moving out if we are lucky. Ancelotti has enough to work on and bringing new players into the existing set up would be risky, since the above areas need addressing and a new player would not necessarily fix the above problems.

It's pretty obvious there are no quick fixes. The other factor is the Board and off field management are not up to speed, so it will take time for changes to work through and be made, if Moshiri is up to it.

There is something wrong with basics at Everton FC . New managers / players have masked over them. Even our new owners have masked them, thinking financial voodoo will work.

Ancelotti is working on the basics. You can only deal with what is in front of you.

"Mina's is already steadily improving"..."I consider him a foundation piece to build around"

Is that some kind of a joke ?

If Yerry Mina keeps improving at the rate he is now. He will be a complete carthorse by the time he is twenty eight.
The guy is head and shoulders above virtually every opponent, yet he will inevitably head the ball with his ear when defending corners (on the rare occasion he gets anywhere near it) and he will always squander chances which have been laid on a plate for him when attacking them.

If Mina puts one of those piss easy headers in against Newcastle we win the game. Nobody looks for scapegoats. . He doesnt of course and we don't, but hey lets talk about his "steady improvement". Lets ignore the fact that he takes a time out to lie down OFF the pitch watching Newcastle equalize. Let pretend that he is trying desperately hard to get back up and try to effect the game.
Lets pretend he played a huge part in the dramatic improvement we saw in the latter stages of last season. Lets pretend the new manager hasnt already sat him down twice.. and while we are at it lets pretend we didnt win both of those games.

Yerry Mina has been dining out on the goals he scored for Columbia since he got here, but many are running out of patience with him. He's missed more chances than anybody else in the team. He needs to REALLY start improving. He needs to start making his presence, at either end, worthwhile.

An increasing number of Evertonians have had a belly full of his performing seal routine

Simon #119, I'm all in for the Chiefs. Not this Sunday, though... it's next Sunday 2/2. As for Dubravka, I've never seen anything particularly dazzling from him, and he's 31 and has spent most of his life as a backup, so he wouldn't be my first thought as a potential Top 4 keeper. Henderson I haven't seen enough of to opine, but I'll file away your endorsement just in case and congratulate you if it happens.

Bobby #120, I can't think of a worse idea than to recall Mo Besic for anything besides driving the team bus. Besides, Sheffield wouldn't give him up. The 10 minutes per game he is averaging for them would be irreplaceable. (And yes, I'm kidding.) No thanks.

I remember you being front and center whooping and clapping the Koeman/Walsh spending spree. I could not believe the dross you and so many others were getting so embarrassingly excited about. So I penned an article expressing my concern and disappointment.
The article was panned by the shrewdies. I especially remember your response where you tried to curry favour with all the other poor judges. You told me I had killed Tinkerbell because I had point blank refused to happy clap.
That particular window proved to be catastrophic for this club. we still haven't really recovered. It was probably the least productive spending spree by any club anywhere.

I knew back then that your idea of what constitutes a proper footballer was a million miles away from mine. I'm really kinda pleased about that. especially when I here you wax lyrical about some of the current crop
I cringe every time you plead for time every time somebody criticizes the latest Mina fuck up. Barcelona fell to the trap of being impressed by his "presence" They soon realized the had acquired a a guy who would not make a footballer as long as he had a hole is arse.

You whinge that a defender should not be judged for not scoring goals, but this guy - as his record shows - is desperately poor at keeping them out. Its pathetic that you think missing a proper genuine sitter is less of an offence to committing a foul on the half way line. Make no mistake Minas missed sitter had a far greater impact on us not winning the game than anything anybody else did.

Your attack on a youngster still learning the game was disgusting. It was also your latest attempt to cover up Minas shortcoming.
At the end of the day the youngster you claim has no place in top flight footballer will play an awful lot more top flight games that the international superstar you continue to fawn over.
You or any other Davies basher/Mina apologist can take that one to the bank

He looks the part all 6'4 of him but too often looks like Bambi on ice and is caught out of position a lot.

One aspect of his game that really has been a disappointment so far is his lack of aerial threat for us from corners.

Watching him play for Colombia he's a huge weapon for them and scores loads but every time he seems to win the header for us he heads the ball with the power of a pigeon.

Why do we sign players and then almost within a year they lose their strengths and we sit scratching our heads as to whether we actually signed the same player?

Watching old dvds seeing the likes of Davie Weir, Alan Stubbs, Sylvain Distin, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott these guys were proper tough defenders, the likes of Lescott and Distin hugely athletic presences.

I still think we miss the hulking Kurt Zouma to be honest, I thought he was the best defender at the club last season, and I think he suited Everton more than Chelsea.

Most headed attempts in the league, no goals, ranks outside the top 40 for aerial duels won in centre backs.

Deffo needs to pull his finger out.

He also should have scored in the second half, when his header down took too much power off the ball, but goals are a bonus, and the most important thing needed off a 6ft 4in centre-half, is that you want him to dominate the opposing teams centre forward?

Away from home, where you come under more pressure naturally, you look for leadership qualities all over the pitch but particularly in defensive area's and defensive midfielders.

We lack organisation and leadership qualities in key area's.

Is this going to change next season?

Not with the personnel we have, they can only take us so far but clearly limitations are there with this group, to sit and expect different results by repeating the same things in the finest definition of madness.

Your choice of Calvert-Lewin shows how fickle some fans are (this isn't directed solely at you), he would be in most peoples list for player of the year, yet just a few games ago he was still being roundly criticised for not being good enough, being “championship at best” (we might as well trademark that saying on here) and being “never more than a 1 in 7 striker”. Indeed, even 2 games ago some of those comments were creeping back in.

I hope Mina improves and he still has time to improve, however he is 25 and should be nearing his peak. Davies, on the other hand, is 22 and no where near his peak for a central midfielder. He could have lots of improvement in him. There's countless good midfielders who have come of age in their late 20's / early 30's, such as Henderson, Barry etc. Even the likes of De Bruyne and Ericksen only really started to be world class midfielders in their mid 20's.

Don't write off Mina yet, but definitely don't write Davies off yet.

He should definitely score more goals and has missed a few. He should be getting at least 3-5 a season.

John Pierce @130, where do you get the stat that he is outside the top 40 centre backs for aerial duels won?! I'd be staggered if that is correct. Whoscored has him winning 4 aerial duels per match which is in the top 10 for centre backs behind Keane and Zouma who both have 4.2. Top is Tarkowski on 5.

Mina barely played last season but now has 30 games for the club and in this league. I've had faith that he would improve but that improvement needs to start showing sooner rather later. Fingers crossed.

Hopefully this will change when we have midfielders who are much more adept and positive, when going to get the ball off our defenders, but since Ancelloti came into Everton, Yerry Mina, looks like he's got a bit more on his mind, and hasn't looked as effective in his defending so far?

Combining him with Keane in any way is asking for trouble! Calling for more time will simply not do any good – you can see whether a player has it in him to step up but is adjusting to a new club/league but this is not the case for me with Mina. He is struggling because he is not up to the required level. He seems to be another one who is injury prone too.

As for the Tom Davies debate, I think he will never quite cut the mustard as a top Premier League player sadly. Probably a handy squad player to have around but nothing more. He has played enough games now to show true star quality and often is found wanting. You don't need years and years to do it if you are good enough.

If you look at how many goals he has cost us this season from poor play, it tells its own story. Nothing personal and I'm sure he is a nice guy but, as a footballer, I can't see him making the grade as a top Premier League player.

It's easier said than done.

Whilst I understand Holgate, he's mediocre in the air. Mina is to my eye is very poor as his physical traits suggest otherwise. I commented only last week, when a goal is scored he's hardly ever in the frame.

Source from Royal blue podcast: Analyzing Everton. Worth a listen.

First, the Tinkerbell comment was a joke, based on a string of about 20 consecutive miserably negative posts you had put up. (And that was a good day.) Sorry it stuck with you for so long.

Second, I was never "whooping and clapping" Koeman and Walsh. Some signings I liked, some I didn't. I was negative about Keane (advocated for Steve Cook, better player at half the price) and Klaassen (said he was maybe the 5th best player on Ajax). I was positive about Gueye (correct), Pickford (correct), Schneiderlin (VERY incorrect) and Bolasie (who I still think would have worked out if not for the injury). I was pleased about Gylfi but not his price, and can't remember how I felt about Ashley. But you've got me mixed up with somebody else if you think I was ever a happy clapper on Koeman.

Third, the inexperienced Mina is still very much a work in progress, but his improvement is undeniable -- evidence the fact that the only "fuck up" you cite is him missing that goal. DCL has missed worse, and he's a far better goalscorer than Mina.

And as for "whinge-ing"... my god, your tears over my "attack on a youngster still learning the game"are beginning to melt my heart. I won't bother to point out that 21-year-olds are holding down starting jobs in top leagues all over the world, and that Davies has played four times as many Prem games as Mina, and twice as many top-level games overall in his career. So if he's still "learning the game", I'd say he's overdue for some remedial classes.

Whilst he might be winning a decent amount per game, it sounds like he's losing a lot too in total too. Is winning 4 headed duels good when is out of 10 for example? I'd argue not.

My eye is drawn to his technique, I'll repeat he is frequently drawn under the ball, his goal return based on opportunity backs that up. I bet you can recall numerous uncontested free headers, and the lad doesn't even test the keeper, that is down to bad technique.

Just look at Tuesday. Free header, under no duress over and wide the corner of the goal. He had the whole goal to aim at. His viewed improvement this season is masked by the rapid and terminal decline of Keane. I'd argue he only got slightly better. Add in the need to nurse his fitness, (you cannot have a frail centre back) he will do for now, but not for long.

Moral of the story? Transfers are hit and miss. Sadly, Everton have too many misses in recent decades.

P.S. Someone on here, the other day, advocated for the return of Williams, believe it or not! 😂😂😂

Actually, I remember Ashley, like Schneiderlin, being quite good for the first ten or so games with us before falling off a cliff. One memory that still brings a smile is his late gamewinner over Arsenal. Crashing header and then he ran about half the length of the Goodison pitch just screaming his head off. Great moment, especially because I was watching the game with a Gooner.

I reckon Darren is down on Mina because he backed him at 40/1 for the first goal vs Newcastle. :-)

To be honest, Mina went for a cross in the first half he should have scored from. I jumped off my chair, excited for Darren's bet.

End of the day, it's all about opinion and we are all entitled to post our own.

It's like a good recipe if you're missing one or two ingredients the meal won't be nearly as good.

Let's hop wee get a good midfield player in this window and I think that will make a lot of the players look better.

Bayless makes Stephen A look like a Pulitzer Prize journalist.

Interesting that Zouma's is second. He was definitely our best CB last year.

Pickford Is very capable of the spectacular but he really struggles with the simple. Does this need coaching or does it need treating? I really hope they can sort him out.

Maybe it's the modern coaching methods?

Make of the source what you will. But the stats definitely back up the eye test for my money.
Mina is no more than a squad player if we get good at any point!

Personally I would give Pickford more time as he is still a better keeper than Howard was.

In my time watching Everton, (starting with Jimmy O'Neill), the only keepers that were not erratic have been Big Nev and Nigel Martyn.

Even Gordon West suffered from nerves but he was a top keeper.

As you said Mike, Gordon Banks and Pat Jennings were great readers of the game and commanded their penalty area.

You havent changed a bit. Your'e no different now... Everything that comes through the door has you applauding. You think the sun shines out of Brands arse.
All I ever hear about this guy is how he has cleared the dead wood, but as soon as he ships one out (usually for free) he spends a fortune on bringing a another substandard player in. Twenty eight million for IWOBI !!! Are you fucking sure ???... And you think he's the dogs bollocks. Barcelona have had his kecks down so many times he's got a permanent invite to their Chrimbo do..

The only people shining in this team right now are players Brands had nothing to do with... and If you and others had their way they wouldnt even be in the team either. You were completely dismissive of Holgate as a viable replacement to the light houses. Now you are at it again with Davies.

I'm not shedding any tears about you criticising Davies, but I am registering disgust at the way you went about it. The whole culture within this fan base. THAT is my problem. THAT is what I'm talking about when I say I will one day walk away from this club. You can only assume they don't know what they are talking about for so long. But at some stage the penny drops. You realise. THEY'LL NEVER FUCKING KNOW !

If any of my Grandsons prove good enough to play at the top I will do everything in my power to ensure it wont be for this club. Id want them to go to a club where the fans are a help to their development. Not a fucking handicap.

Yerry Mina ?. . . Fuck me

Bows and sadly shakes his head

We are now entering the last week of the transfer window, I don't know if we will buy anybody or not, my opinion is don't bother with Gomes and Iwobi and Gbamin all back in training I think we would be better keeping our funds till the summer. I would imagine that Ancelotti will set out which players he would like in the summer, but getting the players he wants to come here might be a different matter. I think most of us are ruing that seeing a lot of the fancied teams are struggling, we havent been able to challenge the top 6 places.

The one position that would really improve everything if we could get the right player is an out and out attacking midfielder. Gylfi is getting a lot of stick but he is a brilliant footballer who Just no longer fits into the style of football that Everton try to play. I hate to see such a gem of a footballer struggle but he never had a lot of pace and at 30 he has lost a step.... Shamus an Bainsey same story.

This window a serious attacking Mid and a utility wide defender. Or maybe we have that already with Delph.

Is Pennington still around? I remember him going on loan last year and doing OK but didn't he have a bad loan this season and his contract is almost up?

Jamie Crowley, is next week's fixture against Watford another one of your "winnable games"? Like West Ham and Newcastle? Or will it be down to Carlo Ancelotti to bring on his "crock of shit" substitutes to lose us 2 points again?

Your sycophantic adoration of Ancelotti is both cringe-worthy and misplaced.

The biggest problem is the right side of the team, right back, right winger and right attack.

Second biggest problem is ball retention, pace and forward passing in central midfield.

This is why he is trying to correct this in January with a right winger and centre midfielder.

Then we can look seriously at Pickford and lack of centre backs and a striker in the summer.

I don't go onto other clubs websites because I'm only really interested in this one, but I do know other clubs' fans encourage their younger players far more than ours do. They will show their support and pride by singing "He's one of our own". Evertonians are fare more likely to sing "We're trying to disown"

Bernard is a skillful player but, for every decent game he plays, he will play four where he's ineffectual. They used to say that about James McFadden.

As for Brands's other signings, they seem to always slot into one of two categories: Shite or injured. Too often on the sickbed to get any kind of consistency going. Is that down purely to bad luck? Na...

Richarlison seems to be the exception. Although not quite top drawer. He is one of the few who may be worth more than what we actually paid for him.

In recent years the only players that you could say are our own are Barkley, Davies and Kenny. I agree with you to some extent re: Barkley, he received more criticism than other players. Davies is a strange one because there is a willingness for him to do well but it isn't happening.

The one that could significantly change things is Anthony Gordon, assuming he gets a fair chance, although it is doubtful whether that will come anytime soon. Supporters at games do sometimes get on his back, which has steadily worse in the last couple of seasons, possibly due to the flatlining of his progression.

The only one of Brands signing you could class as injury-prone is Delph. Gbamin and Gomes have long term, single injuries. We don't know whether the former is shit or not and Gomes is a class act who we have missed so much.

Digne was last years' player of the season and a regular in the French squad. To mention Bernard in the same breath as McFadden is a disgrace. He needs to have more of an impact in away games but at home has undoubtedly been our most creative player.

Mina struggled last season but has been of our best players this season, playing most games. Sidibe has been one of our Best attacking threats and if we sign for the 㾸 m already agreed, it would be a steal.

Richarlison, not quite top drawer but, for his age, is damn obviously getting there. Given their relatively young ages (apart from Delph), if we sold them all, we would undoubtedly show a significant profit.

I ask because the players who are not in that group get some terrible stick off posters appalled at the treatment the homegrown players get.

Have you seen Gomes's record? Mina has spent nearly more time on the sick bed than he has taking time-outs. I just watched him lying on the floor as Newcastle scored their second again – sickening. You fan-boys roaring your approval of these signings kills me.

Take a look at the Premier League table. We are half-a-dozen places behind where Deadly Dave used to finish and we have spent 𧺬M to get there. Our signings have been cringeworthy!!!

We must be the only club in the world who could have a billionaire owner, a "top class" Director of Football, a "world class" manager, a load of "top quality" signings... and still be chasing the worst Arsenal and Man Utd teams in memory. Not to mention Crystal Palace, Southampton, Wolves and Sheffield Utd...

And still they applaud!

I've just been looking at a list of the Premier League's top 10 goalscorers. Richarlison is nowhere to be seen.

I blame John Ebrell.

I'm not a psychologist but menopause can do strange things to otherwise sane people. Perhaps it now extends to male-menopause?

I cite the hissy fit you've very recently posted on your intention to depart TW if, in your view, the alleged criticism of younger players continues unabated, which you then topped by saying that you'd insist any talented grandson of yours should go anywhere but Everton for a career as a pro footballer!

Cahm down la', cahm down!

I don't know whether you simply aren't able to understand even the most basic point, or your inherent desire to score one hampers your ability to compute anything you have just read.

Nowhere do I lambast Richarlison. I lambast the stupidity of your claim that a forward who can't get into the top ten on either goals scored or assists should be considered top drawer.

In case you hadn't noticed, Richarlison is a youngster. One who I have high hopes for in the future, but I have seen too many really "top drawer" players to realize the foolishness of your claims that he is already top drawer are... "Lambast" him? You`d have been the only one who read that.

Then there's this false claim you make about me intending to "depart" TW. Yet another less-than-intelligent lie. If I walk away from this club, it will be because of the abuse from people like you directed at young players at Goodison Park. It's far worse than any of the relatively mild comments I've read on here. TW has nothing to do with it.

I shook my head in complete disbelief when people like you were so outraged when Ross Barkley ran his contract down. You'd verbally abused the boy for years. In your case, in a particularly nasty way which had nothing to do with his footballing ability.

I love that Calvert-Lewin and Holgate have silenced the boo boys (for now).

I most definitely stand by my comment that I would do everything in my power to stop any young relative of mine joining this club. The thought of allowing him to be subject to the sort of cowardly nasty treatment you dished out to young Ross for years makes my blood run cold.

"Ross Barkley's thick, dopey, an idiot"... Oh the irony!

My opinion, however, is that Richarlison is getting there. For his age, his goals output is acceptable at the moment given that he has been played as much out wide as striker.

Darren – the leading scorers you refer to, apart from Rashford and Abraham, are all in their prime and certainly more experienced. Perhaps if he didn't run his bollocks off for 90 minutes then he might get more. Importantly, people that really matter, ie, the Brazil manager, think he does have something special. It's like Lukaku, he wasn't really appreciated on here until he had gone!

I'm 41 and, growing up in the '80s and '90s in Ireland, I was often seen as a weirdo in football terms as I was always surrounded by glory hunters who couldn't understand my love affair with the club. But deep down, there was often a 'fair play' attitude to me because we were a proper club, with proper supporters and essentially were the People's Club not just in name. Friends and family who loved giving me stick also had a soft spot for us due to how we behaved and many were Man Utd or Liverpool fans.

Maybe I was just naive but I've noticed a huge difference in how we treat our players and especially the homegrown. For me, Tom Davies has still been the best midfielder at the club this season, despite what we are constantly told. One poster claimed that Rooney was performing at 16 so at 21 isn't young. If we hold players to those standards, we haven't a player for Saturday.

Forget that Davies carried the team for a couple of months despite Silva initially not giving him a chance; forget that he's had more decent games this season than Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Delph and Iwobi put together – despite their outlay, he seems to get more abuse than any of them regardless of his character because he has had a poor month.

I do slightly disagree with you on Richarlison being a top player. I take your point about him not being the finished article yet but, up until recently, he's been played wide or up top alone, which makes it difficult to get the chances to get to 20 goals a season. He isn't a creative player either. I think playing up top with Calvert-Lewin will see his figures get closer to where we would all like – though the caveat is if Moise continues to flourish.

I do find it strange that you are constantly seemingly in a lone fight on ToffeeWeb to preserve the integrity of what is supposed to be the essence of our club yet it's almost sacrilege to question the likes of Brands and Ancelotti because of their Hollywood status. On another thread, there was a discussion laughing at us who had the audacity to question Carlo because we are simple fans (keyboard warriors) while he is a legend who is one of the great tacticians. If our fan base don't think we should have a voice, what hope is there for the powers to be?

The greatest of them all, Dixie Dean, had his greatest season in 1928 when we won the league and he scored 60 league goals. He was only 21. He left Everton having been unable to get a starting berth at the age of 30, in an era when many played to a ripe old age.

Rooney might have burst onto the scene at 16, but you could argue that he was past his best by 2014 or 2015, again by the age of 30, and in an era where the older Zlatan (38) and Cristiano Ronaldo Aveiro (34) are still performing at the top level.

Just because some burst on the scene young, does not mean they should develop quickly. Davies is not a powerful pacey player like Rooney. A lot of his game is in his head, and that requires maturity. That should see him playing older, and so he should be coming into his own at the age of 25+.

The greatest midfielder of my generation is Zinedine Zidane. He great man was a slow developer. Like Davies he was playing at 17. He did enough to get a move to Bordeaux at the age of 20. But he was not the star he would become and was scouted and passed over by many, including Newcastle who reportedly described him as a Championship player or, more accurately, "a First Division player" (as said League was then called). Link: Football Agent Barry Silkman. It was not the age of 24 and moving to Juventus that Zidane transformed into the player we all know and admire.

Davies ain't Dean, Rooney, or Zidane. He's Tom Davies. Give him time and patience and he will come good. He's playing in one of the hardest positions on the pitch, the one that requires the most experience, as you need to read the game and interact with every other position on the pitch. If Tom Davies was put up for sale, there would be a long queue to sign him, and that would include a load of Premier League clubs. He'd get in most Premier League sides.

Unsworth is also doing an excellent job of developing young talent – Calvert-Lewin and Holgate were signed into the Academy but developed under David Unsworth, while Davies and Kenny will also be in our first team squad next season. Players who cannot make the first team will fetch fees if they are sold to Championship clubs or abroad. So developing young players is good business.

Compare that to Williams, Schneiderlin, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Keane, Bolasie, Klaassen – all of whom will be have a lower resale value when they finally depart – well done, Steve Walsh.

Football is passion but it is also a commercial business. Barkley ran out his contract to increase his salary, signing-on bonus, and his agent's fee – to the disadvantage of Everton, so it is absolutely fair game for our supporters to call him out.

Rating Brands is not denigrating Unsworth; respecting Ancelotti is not disrespecting Duncan. It is not a binary choice of home-grown = good and outsiders = bad. If we develop our home talent and enhance with outside capability, this club will do a lot better.

Some great points about Tom.

I also ridiculed the Championship view of the player when you compare squad midfielders at Man Utd, Leicester City and Arsenal, some of which Tom is ahead of at international level, so the top 6 argument is also dubious. It's our senior players who we should be able to hang our hat on and have Davies improving around them.

Brilliant stuff regarding Newcastle and Zidane, I never knew that.

Steve @196,

When I questioned Brands, it was this summer's work and primarily his role in improving the squad from window to window. I, like most Blues, still have high hopes for Gbamin and Kean to come good and won't be surprised if it is positive in the long run. It was almost seen as heresy yet my fears were all borne out.

Your comparisons of Walsh and Brands, imo, are a pointless exercise. Firstly, nearly all Evertonians agree that the former was a disaster, so Brands should not be held to the lowest standard as proof of success. Secondly, Walsh wasn't tasked with the same brief as Brands; Brands's brief was a reaction to the disaster that went before.

Walsh's brief was less about development and more about providing instant success. The poor state he left us was as much on Moshiri as it was Walsh, imo, considering the nucleus they inherited.

That summer has placed handcuffs on Everton (due to FFP regulations) that have hindered Brands ever since he arrived. I'd like to see what Brands would be able to do once the handcuffs come off, and I'm sure he won't make the same mistakes.

The area which I expected a lot more from Brands was the development side. Under Walsh (correct me if these are incorrect, they're from memory) we signed Calvert-Lewin, Adeniran, Gibson, Foulds, Bowler and possibly a couple more. While some of these won't make it, the gamble pays off as long as the occasional one does (probably Calvert-Lewin). I expected more in this area from Brands – but possibly on a more international scale than Walsh.

I don't think posters are advocating crucifixion of Tom. Most, me included, pointed out he had a poor game and has struggled recently.

I can't have that he would "get in most Premier League sides" either, I'm afraid.
Certainly nowhere near the top clubs.

Liverpool? No.
Man City? No.
Leicester City? No.
Chelsea? No.
Spurs? No.
Wolves? No.
Arsenal? No.

A very well constructed and balanced post. Too often judgement and opinion on any Everton related issues tend to be quite binary by some at both ends of the spectrum.

This seems heavily influenced by the 'law of immediacy' - what has just happened in a game, or the most recent game played.

Everything good that went before the more immediate incident of a game, or all previous games, is dismissed and forgotten.

The Newcastle game is a classic example.

For the overwhelming bulk of that game we were excellent. Because of what happened in the madcap final two minutes, people pile on to individual players, the manager, whoever and whatever.

Out come the preconceived notions some hold about said players and manager and then posters across the divide get into squabbles with each other.

Tom Davies, who has played well since his recall to the side, gets lambasted and described as having never done anything since his goal-scoring MoTM performance against City three seasons ago.

People are unable to acknowledge that both Delph and Schneiderlin had good games.

The manager is described as a dinosaur, resorting to 1990s Italian tactics due to his subs.

I remain a big fan of Tom Davies. I am a big fan of Carlo Ancelotti's appointment. That does not mean that I will only praise either or both of them all the time and exempt them from criticism.

On the flip side, I am not greatly enamoured of either Delph or Schneiderlin, but I can acknowledge when they play well.

Football, like life, is never as black and white - as binary - as Steve describes it.

I would just take issue with you Steve on Ross Barkley. The club, the then manager and the board as good as drove him out themselves, thus losing him for a much lower fee than he could have fetched or retaining him as a playing asset.

Ronald Koeman (and the board for allowing him to do so) handled that one very badly. There was a lot of sympathy and incredulity on TW at the time just how badly the club 'managed' that situation.

So, plenty of time for Davies. What he really needs is some help in the middle. Danny Murphy today on TalkShite was talking about West Ham's midfield and commented that neither Rice nor Noble was quick, but he, himself was never that quick but could still harry and harass.

He added that the game management skills were more important. You normally get better at that with time.

Also, what worries me is that Silva seemed to have a big say in the more successful window but seemed marginalised in this one, with Iwobi and Delph players he clearly didn't want and positions which he identified unfulfilled.

Kevin also makes a great point about the little gems Moyes and Martinez used to purchase, like Coleman, Stones and Holgate, which I too was expecting globally from Marcel.

Also, I don't see him drive forward purposely. Instead, he checks, waits for contact and tries to win a free-kick. Often resulting in him going down and losing possession as there is not enough in it.

If he plays well, he plays well but I just haven't seen it in a long time.

I remember flying over for a game and he misplaced his first pass. I was astounded at the amount of hatred and venom raining down from the stand. It even carried on over a half-time pie. I have honestly never heard anything like it.

That was long before his contract was even discussed. It would appear his tormentors wanted him to sign for less money so they could give him more abuse. The kid owed these people nothing. He did the right thing by getting himself out of such a hostile situation. Especially as he was able to get himself a nice deal.

Steve @196,

Nobody is denigrating Unsworth or Ferguson. They did okay, but they didn't sign anybody. We can hardly say they did a good or indeed a bad job of bringing players in.

Brands has and will always face judgment based on his signings – I think I'll wait a bit longer before I make mine though...

Marcel Brands has done a great job so far the players he has brought in I have no problem with. Gomes is maybe the classiest player to pull on the blue shirt since Arteta. Bernard show genius at times, Rich is tenacious and scores brilliant goals, a great player and actor. Gbamin we screwed up by playing him before he was fully fit. Delph was signed as a multi position fill in player not as a starter.

As a club we are about 60% through a total rebuild and this season we really have suffered by piling all of our long term injuries into the key midfield area.

A little imagination should tell us that just a couple of starting players ( say Vecino and EVERTON Soares) and the injured players back In action and we are really close to ending the rebuild stage.

Who would have thought for instance that at this stage of a totally frustrating season we would not be talking about the need for a goal scorer in the middle of the park?

David @ 206, I do think Unsworth and Ferguson have been undervalued over the years by fans and certain managers, which I hope will now change. Both have an elevated status and respect at the club now which is overdue; it is also excellent to see Ebrell and Jeffers working well at the club.

Jay @ 202, fair point on Barkley. Koeman did handle him really badly! And yes, more balanced assessments would be great as we played well for 90 minutes against Newcastle and comically for 5 minutes. Having looked at the goals you could assign blame to several players for each, not just Tom.

As for his ‘infectious enthusiasm' if he was anymore laid back he'd be horizontal.

Great Evertonian. Nice lad. Average footballer.

If we are going to take the next step, players of Tom's calibre are simply not good enough. I would love to be wrong honestly I would but he's been treading water far too long now.

His lack of pace will always hold him back as well.

As for the skateboard 🤔

https://www.instagram.com/1tomdavies/?hl=en

Link

Simple commonsense stuff.

I hope Brands and Ancellotti aren't of the same opinion as you that we are a couple of starting players off the rebuild being nearly finished.

We are miles off regularly competing near the top of the league.

If we are to ever get back to the top table then we are at least 5 or 6 starting players short currently.

My opinions...

Digne - Higher
Bernard - Higher
Mina - Lower
Sidibe - n/a
Gomes - same
Gbamin - same
Iwobi - lower
Kean - same
Delph - lower

I read something before about what Ancellotti, had been saying about his players, and it made loads and loads of sense to me. He treats them like adults, and he deals with them on an individual level, what more could you ask than that, if you was a serious footballer?

What are you expecting? Carlo Ancelotti to be completely different to everything that's gone before and become some hardline task master?

Carlo Ancelotti has made his latter career precisely because he does not "upset these sensitive buggers". That is him in a nutshell. He is a very subtle worker. He will not fall out with anyone. He will not rant and rave. He will be positive. It will be annoying. But, he knows what he is doing. He will try to move on those he thinks he cannot get enough out of.

I never lambast our younger players but if they display persistent failings I think it's fair to comment on them. On Barkley I repeatedly praised aspects of his skill but eventually I, like many others, tired of his mysterious ability to NOT do the the right thing when he was in excellent positions to do so. The less said about his defending or manner of departure the better but he came across to me as being thick, and in a football-savvy sense too. The fact that he's now a regular bench-warmer for Chelsea, if that, speaks volumes to me.

On here I have repeatedly stated my high hopes for DCL, Mason and Tom, albeit the latter is not now progressing, in my opinion.

And being accused by you of all people as arguing for arguments sake is laugh out loud funny, but you even outdo yourself with your inferred claim in #192 that loyalty to TW would endure even if the behaviour of fans causes you to walk away from the club (see your own message at #171).

Keep 'em coming!

In the Premier league to succeed every player and squad player has to be at the top of their game, every single one.. only in a man city, Chelsea or similar can players develop and fulfill their potential because they are blooded slowly, with players of outstanding ability beside them.

Not such luck with ourselves, every now and again we pluck a gem like Rooney or Barkley and we crucify them for leaving but the truth is just how is Tom Davies ever going to fulfil his potential plain alongside Morgan S or Delph? What can he learn?

The clamour for instant impact, for outstanding performance is too much to handle for them. We need to build a team that has built in success and an ability to blood until ready. We haven't had that in years. The Premier league elite have the best money can buy. They can blood youngsters at their le sure.

Carlos problem is building a good enough balance to compete and grow, with what he has at the moment the loses are and forever will be the youngsters.

He was the one driving the Sigurdsson deal...of whom we vastly overpaid. I can see him having a big say in Klassens and, off the back of the Euros, Williams too.

Walcott was all fat sams work.

I totally blame Koeman for setting this club back and for wasting irretrievable millions...and Moshiri for hiring the golfing dutchman.

Moshiri may have finally got lucky with hiring Brands and then got really lucky with having Ancelotti fall in his lap...even if Usmanov had to nudge him.

This season is another write off job. What with the Euros and a possible July start, I don't even want to qualify for the Thursday cup - This Season.

Rather, with a loan / try before you buy and /or a signing that actually works and is value for money now, plus good news by the end of April on the injury front.
I'd be happy if we were playing like we could make 5th if not for the bad start...

In racing terms, finally getting 'un-boxed in' at the back and storming up the outside, only the have the race finish a furlong ( 200m, 220 yds, one eigth of a mile, for our more younger, yank, overseas readers) too soon.

After this coming August window - then we see.

Oh, and a spade in the ground sometime soon at BMD would be good to.

Everton; bringing you false dawns since fuck knows when.

To save you the bother, here is the list:
Digne - Signed for £18m - Value £31.5m
Bernard - Signed for free - Value £18m
Mina - Signed for £27m - Value £22.5m
Sidibe - option to buy for £13m - value £10.8m
Gomes - signed for £22.5m - value £25.2m
Gbamin - signed for £22.5m - value £25m
Iwobi - signed for -£27.4m - value £28.8m
Kean - signed for -£24.5m - value £28.8m
Delph - signed for £8.6m - valued at £13.5m

They do have some surprising valuations though:
Richarlison £54m
Pickford £31.5m
Keane £27.0m
Sigurdsson £25.2m
Calvert-Lewin £20m
Davies £16m
Walcott £13m
Schneiderlin £11m
Coleman £11m
Holgate £6.3m

If that were true, let's sell Keane, Sigurdsson, Walcott, and Schneiderlin and bank the £75m to spend on some decent players, never mind the saving on wages. They also have Tosun at £13.5m, Kenny at £11m, Bolasie at £5m, Sandro at £3.6m, Besic £2.7m, Dowell £2.7m, Pennington £0.9m, Garbutt £0.6m. If we sold our loan players for those values, then that's another £40m. Never going to happen though. Only Kenny and Tosun are possible and I want to keep Kenny and play him.

Those figures aren't mine, mate. Mine would be quite different and a few of our guys would be worth £0. To be fair to TransferMarkt some have not been updated since the summer and no doubt their values will fall come the end of the season.

I suspect you think other posters were born yesterday. Anyone who logs on to this site regularly, will be aware of the incessant bile directed by you at everything related to Finch farm. They will also know that you have no knowledge of the roles the people you slag off, because you have been asked repeatedly and you are unable to answer. . You just know they are "stealing a living".

This thread could be about you and thousands like you. You didnt just "start criticising" Barkley. You constantly hammered away at him with vindictive, spiteful jibes and they were nearly always personal. very rarely football related.
Barkley got himself a massive pay rise and despite battling against a series of injuries, he has still played 38 games for Chelsea in two years. He has won medals too. The fact that you think you are still in a position to slag him off says more about you than him.
He's moved on. The "thicko" has out-witted his abusers. He's gone to pastures new and has left you guys to your bitterness...Smart boy ? probably not, but he is clearly smarter than the average hater

Now its Tom's turn. If you REALLY want to understand the absurdity of the claims he is not good enough, you need only track back and see the comments from some of his detractors after he had scored one of the goals that secured a victory at Southampton a few short weeks ago.. or the way they sang his praises when he smashed one in to get us back in the game against Leicester recently. He's no world beater, but as Conor quite rightly points out, He has out performed the multi million pound signings (the ones you never attack) by some distance.
If we have a midfield player who has performed better or more consistently than Tom Davies. I would like one of those people who dismiss him as "championship" and "Not good enough" to come on here and tell us who it is.

BTW; Much as I enjoy posting on TW. You wont - as you (once again) falsely claim - see a post from me pledging my loyalty to this site. If I stop watching Everton. I stop posting on this or any other site. . Otherwise I will come across like those fools who constantly slag off any ex players working at FF without having a scooby of what they are talking about..