Allardyce plans to question Everton players about wanting to stay

I think Sam is going about things the right way. The more I see and hear of him, the more I like the guy and think he is exactly what we need right now. We've been soft-arsed for long enough.

Niasse, for all his limitations, was refreshing with how he dealt with the appalling treatment he received from Koeman. I hope he can prove his doubters wrong on the pitch because he seems to possess integrity. I suspect a few others lack that.

Sam is setting the bar for them to show their desire to perform for EFC. I doubt he'll take any bullshit.

I think those who have yet to show their worth are more likely to want more time to prove themselves, whereas these two may feel they are not getting the recognition they deserve.

Hope this isn't just to prime us for the next bout of sell-to-buy (in no particular order).

When you see the players that come in and those who leave in January. it may be more apparent what kind of football we can look forward to. It was very unlikely we would be relegated with the players we have.

Lets see where we go with Sam's new bunch... that is, if you don't already know what's in store. Performance be damned. He cannot lose in his present position. What is failure for him?

If players don't want to play for Everton, what's the point in keeping them?

He wants to bring in his own players but has probably been told he'll need to trim the squad to do so.

Also puts the onus back on the player as, if they say they want to stay and fight for their position, then Sam can say they need to get on side and buy into what he's trying to do.

Very sensible, I'm thinking.

He's overseen two games, a win against Huddersfield and a draw against the RS. Early days to slag his style of play, IMO, but I prefer winning and drawing to getting twatted by the likes of Southampton.

I'm not a huge Allardyce fan either but "It was very unlikely we would be relegated with the players we have"! Possibly, but very likely with the management we had.

Allardyce is here to right a sinking ship and is on a fixed contract of 18 months. Give him the benefit of the doubt; you and I might be pleasantly surprised.

Perhaps as an arch pragmatist, that's the best he can do with what's available in the quest to reach safety at that 40 points mark.

Most on here seem to think the ends justify the means but I bet they will want rid of him before season's end!

"Early days to slag his style of play" – Really? Where you been over his tenure at many clubs, Brian? Do you really think this will change overmuch?

Its easy to say after a couple of wins that we wouldn't have been relegated. We had shipped more goals than other other Premier League team at that point in a season and it wasn't getting any better.

We needed a change and after unsuccessful pursuits of Silva, Zorro and probably many others who are under contract we got a manager who knows English football and has a proven track record of getting teams out of the mire.

He can spot a shirker a mile away. The squad is unbalanced and he needs to bring in 3 players in January. I hope they are in the class of Youri Djorkaeff , Fernando Hierro and Anelka.

If any player doesn't fancy it with us then they should be sold; give me the attitude of Tom Davies, Kenny and Niasse over Mirallas, Barkley, Schneiderlin any day. It's not the size of the man in the fight – it's the size of the fight in the man.

He will never be everyone's favourite but he is here and we have to get on with it. He takes no shit and isn't fazed by giving it back to the so called sky big 4.

If Moshiri backs him it will be the 1st time that he has had any money behind him in the market. I am cautiously optimistic that he will be better than the previous 3 managers that we have had.

On the back of this we employ him on a king's salary and pay him a fat bonus if he finishes 17th.

Meanwhile we use up another year of our lives watching games like yesterday's tripe. I don't think so.

I hope we can add in January but we still have half a dozen matches or so in order for him to have a good look at things.

Buying over-priced half-decent players for the sake of it if we are in a comfortable position in January, in my opinion, would be a big mistake.

Pray tell us, oh mystic one, who you think could turn a team into world beaters in 10 days? Also, tell us what you think the score would have been yesterday had that Dutch clown still been here?

I bet if anyone asked him, Allardyce would probably not have a good word to say about you either.

Too long have we pussyfooted around overpaid mercenary players who don't play with the passion that we and our club demands.

Breath of fresh air, I say... we might not like some of the answers but we will know where we stand and can deal with it. Good luck, Sam.

Says who? You? Did you even watch those players perform this season prior to the West Ham game?

Every single match was a relegation display, even the ones we fluked a win in.

Your post has naivety written all over it. Sorry, but true.

I'm not sure how many good players will be available and to be honest I'd rather give more game time to the likes of Calvert-Lewin and even Hornby than get someone mediocre like Deeney. If someone is available who will be a significant upgrade (like Giroud) then by all means let's go for it.

A new left back wouldn't go amiss either though I wonder if Kenny might play there when Coleman returns? Much as I love Baines, he's not quick or strong enough and hasn't been for a couple of years, in my opinion.

We have a lot to be optimistic about under Moshiri but we cannot afford to drop out of the Premier League. It wont be tripe every week under Big Sam and already we look far more organised. What formation and line up should he have picked on Sunday that would have won us the match?

3 weeks ago, names were getting pulled out of a hat and we were getting spanked which was no doubt very entertaining for the opposition but it was 'tripe' served up by us and Big Sam was nowhere to be seen. Under the circumstances, I would take a draw at Anfield and deprive that shower of any form of joy in watching it even if it means watching tripe.

Its obvious what we need on the pitch lets just hope we can buy the players in January and ship out anyone who doesn't fancy it, Barkley included.

As Jay (#21) said, every display had 'relegation' written all over it. In fact, if Koeman had still been manager on Sunday, I dread to think what the score would've been.

Allardyce has been here 5 minutes and yet you've already made your mind up how shit he is. None of us are under any illusions we played well on Sunday – in fact, the manager himself said as such, but to castigate him already is complete folly.

I said at the time of the appointment we'll have to give him time... so let's give him time. I'm more confident going into games now than I was 2 weeks ago – and that's down to the manager.

As for my naivety, I may very well suffer from this trait, among others but would prefer to be accused of it than the undisguised hubris you display at every opportunity.

Sorry, but true.

The group we have is more than capable of staying in this division; certainty has brought direction, the lack of which was created by the board.

Allardyce has by his own words done nothing more than the basics, which any half-decent appointment would have achieved.

My criteria remains the same. He must buy players that look up not down; by going back to his old stalwarts, it reeks of regression. The FA Cup must be given the respect its due and youth players must be retained, not shunted sideways.

The style must change quickly; if he cannot evolve, then that type of football will only keep us in the lower reaches, because we will not win away playing like that.

Because if that's all we have if it starts to go wrong then we have, well, nothing. I'll only truly know come the end of January, how I feel about it it all. At the moment, it all feels a little bit less than it did before.

.... in the two games he's been in charge!

I'm clear I'm not in favour; I set out what I want to see from him with a set of standards. The opinion is based on his managerial career to date – not two games he's had with us – and I even put a time frame on it.

What a shallow response. Argue the point properly rather than ridiculing it behind quotes. I might even think you have a point rather trying to be a clever dick.

I am not sure what people were watching prior to Allardyce's appointment but anyone who thought we weren't playing relegation standard football must be daft. No clean sheets, no scoring, no plan, nothing.

It's quite obvious some people don't want Allardyce here but at least give him a chance. Can he be any worse than the last two numpties?

Danny Baily speculated that Schneiderlin and Klaassen may be on their way come January... I am all for that! It pains me to think we have spunked nearly 㿞M on these two. Ouch!

In the last 4 games we have scored 10, let in 1 and come away from Anfield with a point. We have 6 first team regulars injured and a bunch of kids playing, plus our 2nd/3rd choice right-back at left-back.

We have done brilliantly recently in comparison to what went previously.

For what it is worth, we were terrible at Anfield I thought. However, we were organised and hard to break down. If that game was in September or October, what would the score have been?

Obviously we need a forward. It aligns with anything that we could possibly be planning. But beyond that, do we want Sam buying for even the medium term?

We still don't have a better idea about the medium or long term plan – we thought it might have been Walsh working with the board and manager but he's still there after a disastrous summer so I'm guessing that's not his responsibility. I'm also guessing it's not Sam's – how long do we expect him to be around?

While it's being debated, people really do need to ease up a little bit. In the two games he's managed, the team has looked a hell of a lot more competent than under Unsworth. No disrespect to him, but I do believe if Rhino had been given til the end of the season we would have been relegated.

Big Sam certainly wasn't my first choice, or second or third, but he's here now and is undefeated in 2.5 matches (half marks for the no-show in Cyprus). The derby wasn't pretty, but he oversaw the team hold Liverpool to an unusually low score. That we didn't attack much is more down to the fact that counter-attack was our only possibility, and it was pelting snow in spectacular fashion.

Rooney clearly wants to be here, He is on course for 16-17 goals this season (not bad for a free) and Sigurdsson, despite not firing on all cylinders yet, is pulling his tripe out.

Sandro hasn't really been given a chance, but people like Klaassen, Schneiderlin, Mirallas don't care enough for me. Then there is the likes of Baines, Williams, Jagielka, Martina. Their spirit is still willing, but the flesh becomes ever weaker.

Koeman has done an awful lot of damage to this club. He spent a fortune and only succeeded in sucking the life out of it.

For me, this is a "rip it up and start again" job. If Moshiri really wants to back his new manager, he has to make some of the decisions for him and pay the passengers off. The best thing he could do for Big Sam right now would be to send Walsh and Kenwright in the same direction he sent Koeman.

There are quite a few that I would not lose any sleep over, if they never played for us again. Martina, Schneiderlin and Mirallas to name but three, but has also been alluded to; thanks to Koeman, they are all on Lottery-equivalent contracts; and not so easy to get shut of.

I do expect that any players leaving, if anyone comes in for them, we will not get anywhere near the inflated prices we paid.

I also expect a couple of low-profile players, who have been with Sam before, may just come in, because he knows them and that they can play well for him. I doubt whether we will see any big-money buys in January.

It will be interesting too, to see his selection for Newcastle tonight, it will obviously require a different approach than the derby, and we need a more attacking game plan, while trying to remain solid at the back.

It could actually be that simple in some cases. Easy to assume the players are all highly enthusiastic and committed to the game but, despite the riches, and sometimes because of them, it probably really is just a job.

I bet many of us here fell out of love with something in our twenties that we loved as children. Remember Matt Jackson? Openly said he was more interested in the business side of football than playing, and during his career, used to spend down time learning the administrative side of the club.

I don't know fully how he did it, but Koeman sure did give an excellent display of how to psychologically destroy the mindset of a top-level football team, and this perhaps enhanced individual player shortcomings too. That guy could earn a living destroying football teams...

Klaassen, I have to say he looks like a headless chicken. I don't think he'll make it by now but there's no way of knowing 'til he at least gets his head together. Almost trying too hard, I think.

What do mean could?!

Secondly, in terms of players, I don't think that there is any harm in Allardyce putting agents and other clubs on alert. "We are having a fire sale in January, folks, come and see." True, we may not shift all of the deadwood, but doing what we can to offload some of it at least won't hurt.

Wouldn't be surprised to see 5 or 6 go either sold or out on loan.

Kieran (#45) – Sam Allardyce has stated that it was the clubs "ambition" that was what enticed him out of retirement. I think he sees himself here for several years if he gets it right.

He would not have been my first choice as Manager, but despite what happened to him whilst England manager, and putting aside anything else that may or may not have occurred in his career, I feel he is a very British style manager for a very British club. I watched the 20-minute press conference yesterday. He talks a lot of sense. At least we know where we are with him.

I feel he deserves a chance. The FA saw enough about him to warrant giving him the England job.

Klaassen, Sandro, Besic, Mirallas and Barkley will be on the endangered list.

Hopefully a left back, centre back and striker coming in. Nailed on we will get Kone from Sunderland.

The following two managers left the back door wide open and paid with their jobs. Regardless of how good they made us look in attack ultimately it did not work and even threatened us with relegation – though part of the blame must go to difficulties acquiring better players in vital positions.

Sam has a different job that he might manage to develop into a longer term job if we can attract the players, but one thing looks assured – the back door is firmly shut.

I did read it all mate. It wasn't clear to me that you were referring to his management pre-Everton. It still isn't after reading the post again.

Apologies if you were offended by my post. As for my reply being "shallow?" You haven't got a sister called Julie have you?

https://thisisfutbol.com/2017/12/blogs/premier-league/allardyce-cancels-everton-christmas-party/

Sorry can't do links.

Can't argue with his reasoning or the way he's handled it.

No surprise if any of Mirallas, Besic, Barkley or Sandro left either permanently or on loan.

I'd be a little surprised if anyone else left.

Not saying he's a definite stayer, but without more recruitment in that position, I don't think management will allow him to leave.

In all honesty, he has inherited a squad that has too many 30+-year-olds and others that under-perform on a regular basis. On the plus side there are a number of very promising youngsters. Not every player should be asked, For instance I would hate to lose Lookman for lack of game time. Looking forward and upwards.

COYMB

Klopp's rant has been ignored and air-brushed out. It's been a good week. All of a sudden this was the must win game and they expected points, 3 of them not 1.

Maybe Sam isn't the answer but he is a part of the solution.

"Make bad signings and you get the sack", now what could he be thinking of there and has he learnt other lessons. Cancel the Christmas Party; no way he's turning up in a red suit with a red tree!

Anyone want to leave? No, good as you've no objections to what we've done. You want away? Good, just in case Bill has lost the transfer pot again.

Bases covered.

That brought a smile to my face – if they didn't know who the gaffer was before... they certainly know now. Long may it continue.

The team needs a massive refresh and to be built around players we have now and for the future.

Some players, great in their day are past their prime and should be let go in January especially if Sam doesn't consider them a starters.

Everton seem to have an abundance of younger, talented players, some who have already had some valuable playing time and these should be readied to form the basis of the squad for years to come.

Some players, Mirallas, Barklay, Sandro and Klassen could be moved on as none seem to figure anymore.

I do appreciate that some younger players never quite reach the next level but under the guidance of experienced men like the ''Sammies'' the batch at Goodison could bear fruit in the next season or so.