ToffeeWeb

Tony, I think dibling has benefitted from a full pre season, where he has played a fair amount of minutes in pre season games and behind closed doors. A slower pace and been more of a focal point, with players away at the world cup.

His confidence has grown, but he still makes lots of errors and loses the ball a fair amount. That will drive the coaches nuts, not just Moyes.

The right back delay I think is down to holding out for a certain player.

I do think once that option happens or doesn’t happen, they’ll move to the back up option. Someone again posted yesterday that we have a strong interest in Doue. I hope that is the case, as he is undoubtedly the best option of all the right backs linked. But also the most expensive at £40m plus.

None of the back up options are perfect for what we need:-

Wan Bissaka and Spence are not creative.
Johnston is a gamble.
Munoz is very good, but 30 already.
Reed Feyenoord probably too young to play regular
Boey bayern munich, Baku Leipzig, ive not seen enough to comment.
Doue Strasbourg is clearly the star of the list

I can understand why Everton have monitored, but not bid so far. They’ve the weakest hand once others come in for him. So biding their time, watching the price come down, is probably the best and only option.

I think we would all be happier if the club signed their first choice target, rather than 6th, 7th, 8th on the list. All well and good say get a right back in, but it’ll be the same lot that say hes crap, championship level etc, and then looking to sell in 12-36 months time. That doesn’t take the club forward.

There is no doubt we need a new right back. In person, I can tell you Rohl is good enough to start the season. His main problem will be having quick enough feet for the small, nimble winger. But he will offer more going the other way than weve had for years.

This wont kill Rohl’s development either. The lad needs minutes, and if he isn't good enough to start midfield, playing right back will do him for more good playing – than sitting on the bench. Same with Obrien previously.

Are Lille and Roma both in the Champions League ? I thought they were both owned by TFG.

If Dibling is improving it will be because he has been playing in front of a right back who is prepared to run forward, would be my educated guess without seeing any of our games?

How we still haven’t signed a right back is, imo, completely unfathomable.

At least we have four wide players, which means they should be able to be constantly rotated, because anyone who knows anything about playing out wide, will tell you it’s a thankless job full of unselfish, dirty running, especially when you play behind a stay at home fullback.

I’m not one for predictions, experience tells me that they can often make you look silly, but with Everton, now having four wide players, it still wouldn’t be a surprise to me if I turn up at Bramley-Moore, next week, to see Merlin Rohl, playing on the right, in front of Jake O’Brien. We will see.

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.