ToffeeWeb

Time to reflect on yesterday’s match, generally I was pleased with the performance mostly midfield and attack from the flanks, still suspect in defence and a tad powder puff up front.

Having said that, Lille are no second rate outfit, referee could have been a bit more diligent, how many times have we said that ? Overall, not so fearful of facing Premiership teams, as I was last season. Hayden Hackney looks on showings so far, to be the midfield general we have missed since Tommy Graveson.

Gana did well for us, for many seasons, but in a different way, even scoring a ‘ rare as rocking horse shit goal ‘ Hackney looks like he may chip in with a few himself. Dibling almost looked a different player, although we all knew he had talent in abundance, but failed to show it last season, mainly due to not being picked and lacking confidence (thanks Moyes).

Ili did his usual Duracell Bunny role, I do hope we retain his services this season and beyond. KDH did well too, and young Harrison will have learned a lesson there too, probably still have nightmares over that glaring miss. All in all, we have the nucleus of a decent team but still need a RB although Rohl has been brilliant when deputising. Up front, although Barry seems to have improved slightly, we can’t rely on him and Bluto alone.

Funny how weve had 3 pens in pre season, but we wont get 3 pens in the prem all season.

Just saying like.

Aston Villa have arguably been in a worse place than us, but they get rid of managers without killer instincts & appoint one who has got one. Now look at them.

We fear the consequences of failing so much, we won’t do it. Look at Spurs reaction to nearly going down, I appreciate they still might struggle this season, but the energy has changed.

You can’t change a clubs ambitions without changing the manager, is it a risk?- of course it is. But others take it. I agree on Kenwright, he wanted Everton to himself. But he’s long gone.

What if if for once the board & leadership of the club adopted a win at all costs mentality? I’d accept route one football to win a lot more football games.

Don’t understand the criticism of Rohl at all. Given he was played out of position to start with, I thought he did pretty well overall.

Didn’t look out of place in the midfield either. I genuinely believe he could become a top player in time.

He has a bit of pace about him too, something we have been sadly lacking in.

Our midfield has quality and depth to it. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the defence.

Steve, genuine thanks for your info on the perverse, to me, nefarious financial “rules” governing all but the so-called elite clubs, but to me, boring as I seem to be to some of us, I still and will always ascribe our drastic demise as an elite club to Kenwright alone, for decades..

He was from start to finish a bogus shyster serving himself alone and yet so many genuine Toffees had some sort of respect for him, for years, as did “professional” Evertonian staff who were employed by him down the decades of our obvious decline.

Bizarre, and we’re still struggling as a result 40 years later!