Morgan Schneiderlin says he does care

He was an easy target last season because his role in the team isn't glitzy and creative and he has a miserable disposition.

He starts for me at the moment.

He was outstanding when he first joined. He is definitely talented so I hope we can get the best out of him.

Everyone understands that humans have off days, football fans know that players suffer bad games/loss of form now and then. They can also see the difference between a committed player and one showing an attitude or lack of effort. There's no hiding on the pitch.

Please just continue what you've done this season, in undeniable contrast to last, which is to make the effort in games. The form will then follow and improve. No statements needed.

He got exactly what he deserved after the incident.

Might it not be possible that nobody came in for him and wanted to pay the wages he's on here??

We all saw his efforts last season, the words may lie but the eyes don't.

Whether he's rehabilitated or not, we can judge come the end of the season. He's getting on so I'd be looking to take any decent offer we get.

Meantime, he has a certain “profile” (Silva's favourite word at the moment) that no-one else can match. What that means is no-one else is good at what he's good at whilst maintaining shape and discipline. Idrissa Gueye included.

I hope we get the best out of Schneiderlin and then flog him for as much as we can get next summer and get an upgrade on him. Neves would be the dream but he's only going to the best right now.

If he works hard and applies himself, I'm willing to write off last season.

Different manager, different attitude, new start. He gets my support and well done, Marco Silva.

I still see endless sideways and backwards short passes to where the ball came from, I still see cowardly closing down without a serious tackle, and I still see no creativity, shots at goal, or anything else a top team requires from its midfielders, even the defensive ones.

That said, everyone is entitled to throw a hissy and regret it and, if he is now buckling down and can get back to his best, then the team will benefit.

Happy to give him a second chance!

Agree entirely, an unglamorous role that requires shape and discipline.
For me shots on target and forward forays are for others.

And Jeff, if you meant me, I responded in detail with my article. We had Morgan Schneiderlin-sized holes in the middle after he went off and we had two midfielders on seek-and-destroy, rather than one sitting and holding position. But of course, they're running about a lot and expending energy, so it's all good...

That's the thing with fans, they have to see you do something to appreciate it. If you run about a lot but do little, they'll be more appreciative than if you hold position. Which is why so many loved the utterly shite liability called Besic.

It's a good job that Everton have got Brands on board as the ludicrous decisions that were being made by Walsh couldn't continue. Knuckle down and Schneiderlin may have an opportunity to resurrect his career — although, under Silva, I expect wholesale changes to the squad over the next 2-3 transfer windows.

It's noticeable how all of the players are talking in interviews about how they are now getting specific instructions for their roles. Something that was clearly lacking under Allardyce. No wonder all the players are better, they have a coach now.

Seriously,

Should he not have listened to the coaches, the Club managment when they told him to sharpen his game? Yes.

And he tells us he bettered himself when his old lady told him to do so. Why did he not do so earlier?

Honestly, I hope he's out of the team sooner rather than later, as I can't see his so-called progression.

And I don't trust he's playing for Everton at all — just for the cash Everton are splashing out on him.

What I see in Schneiderlin is a total fraud; what I see in Davies is a young lad constantly trying and giving 100%, never hiding, despite his limited abilities.

For what it's worth, I also thought Besic was shite, oh and Duncan Ferguson was quite average.

I know a player too, mate.

By the way, a window into the world of the personal standards of poster's who are calling players "pieces of shit" isn't needed.

So then we can all read the official Everton site as negative, humoristic or different opinions will be censored if you don't like them.

Thanks for making this Clear

After last season and the response he got from the crowd (rightly or wrongly) he could have hankered for a move, refused to train and 'got injured.' He hasn't. If he's being selected for the team, you have to believe that Silva and others believe he's putting in the effort on the training pitch and showing the right attitude.

Morgan was poor last season, but so were many others including a few who were irredeemably so, like Ashley Williams. While he appears to have said as much as he can say to The Times, now he has to go out there and show it on the pitch week-in, week-out and not complain when he's held to a higher standard than others.

Hopefully the next window will enable him to get in the replacement for the fraud Schneiderlin is, and move him out to a Club that respects him, and also his missus's opinions.

I'd say get behind him and if he gets his attitude correct then he'll stay in the team.

Just don't come on here and call them "a piece of shit".

Imagine a midfield of Gemmill, Nyarko and Pembridge.

He was rank bad last season, but so far in my view this season, there's a better balance in the team when he plays.

We all have our views on Tom Davies, who has potential, and I think this is his pivotal season as it will be for other players like Beni & Jonjoe.

Let's hope Morgan can maintain his game and the team gets winning momentum. Silva will decide and hopefully the whole squad are chomping at at the bit to get in the team. Competition for places and improving depth to the squad.

Let's hope we can beat West Ham, and the jinx of teams getting their first win of the season against us doesn't happen.

Gaute, try dross, rubbish, waster, lazy, fraudster has been used a fair bit. All apply!!

I think it’s a pivotal season for Holgate and Calvert-Lewin. I’d have said Lookman too, but if he flops he’s still got Germany. But Holgate and Calvert-Lewin have to come through this season if they are ever to make it to the top. Failure to do so and they’ll never amount to squad players or realise potential envisaged a year or so ago. Personally, I think both will have a break-out season.

He was one of the players I thought Silva could turn around.

I say get behind the guy. Anyone who has these moments are simply human. If they double down and correct their ways, good for them and that should be appreciated.

Redemption is one of my favorite things about sport in general. We have a player trying to redeem himself after a shit season.

I personally applaud that.

Can’t change the past, but you can reform and redeem yourself. Happens all the time. The real pricks are the ones who don’t attempt to change and don’t put in the effort. The good guys try, even if they ultimately fail.

Those first games after he joined us, with passes going forwards most of the time! Well, that is how I remember those days...

If Morgan can rediscover his forwards-looking passes (instead of the ones that always went/goes sideways/backwards), like he did early on this season, then he can win back the fans!

Lev #51, it wasn't sideways passing that cost him fan support. It was lazy, indifferent defending that infuriated us as the opponents he was responsible for marking were given free rein instead, costing us goals and games.

I think he has started this season in a much better frame of mind. There is no reason why he can’t keep it up and get stronger too.

However, just read what he says, especially regarding the training ground incident.

Honestly, does it really sound normal, something that would actually be said?

If it doesn't sound right it usually isn't. Sounds bloody stupid in my opinion, the whole lot.

He can say what he wants. All's I know is what I actually saw and to me he has no excuse.

Listening to some they make it sound as if he's the second coming. How balanced we are with him, how we need him. I just hope Silva spends the next window or two either getting a replacement or, letting one of our present lads step up.

Irreplaceable he definitely is not.

Last season, he also had to contend with a high opposition defence line that was able to push into midfield, supporting forward play. This season, he is still cautious, but things have improved behind him and in front of him.

Thank the Lord Schneiderlin married a pretty Mancunian shop assistant though, who's been able to point out the realities of real-world life. Maybe at this relatively late stage in his career he can get his nut down (like she probably did) and try to show talents that will again cause inquiries from other Champions League qualifying clubs to be made, or even get a few more caps for France, or even get us into the top four.

If you're close to that before the end of this season Morgan, I'll believe you.

Sure, along the way there were some really good players and some good results but far too often there has been disappointment.

Schneiderlin was a decent player with Soton and good enough to be wanted by Man Utd but his form has dropped off since going to Man Utd but that does happen for some reason. (Can anyone explain why Alexis Sanchez is struggling?)

However, Schneiderlin is showing signs of doing better, much like Walcott who had also been in the doldrums at Arsenal.

Silva could be a catalyst to get this team on track and only time will tell if Schneiderlin can play a significant role.

Personally, I think Macca would be better in that role once he is fully fit as he is much more mobile.

Dan #59, thanks for that insightful contribution. If you post without reading others, what are you doing here? Better to pick up a spray can and find an empty wall. It'll last longer.

For me, it's far too early for Schneiderlin to claim a real renaissance in form, and yes, players have to have a hugely over-inflated sense of their own importance, but did this come from the player, his agent, the club, our PR department, the journo (Paul Joyce, Northern Football Corespondent)... a seed planted by Brands or Moshiri... who was the driver behind this relatively high-profile puff piece proclaiming that everything is now good again, and we are only "looking forward"?

Now be a good fellow and edit out the second paragraph of my post #60 or people will think I've been into the magic mushrooms again. Thanks.

IMO, he had turned the corner at the back end of last season but he still needs to put in a few more shifts before he wins over his most vocal critics. But he's made a good start in doing that this season.

It won't change the fact that there's nothing special about him as a footballer.

I've never quite got this "he's on too much money to move" bollocks... If we had an offer and he was that keen to go for pastures new, taking a pay drop (Ha... only on £xxx thousand a week, instead of £xxxxx thousand) wouldn't matter.

But no, he'll do us a favour, grace us with his presence, stay for the money and have the good grace to up his efforts to barely average... thanks mate, true blue legend you.

To me, he's like a sheepdog. He seems to often stay a few metres from the attacker with the ball, shepherding them left or right, but not actually going at them and tackling, winning the ball, or forcing an errant pass. They have all the time in the world to pass to another player, and then it's not Schneiderlin's problem, it's someone else's. There are times it's best to keep your feet, but also times when a sliding tackle would be more appropriate, and too often I think he comes off with a spotlessly clean kit...

However, I don't think the debacle of last season falls mostly at his feet, I think it's more that in a crucial part of the pitch we had a triangle of Sheepdog Schneiderlin in front of Williams 'turtling' into his own shirt, and 'bunny in headlights' Keane...

I'm really enjoying it, and looking forward to games! We're not going to win every game, we still have problems and frailties, but we're going out there to win and score goals, and that's the football I want to watch.

I'm happy with the players we've let move on, and happy with the players we've signed. To continue the animal analogies, Digne is a whippet down the flanks, Zouma strong as a bull (as well as calm and composed), and Richarlison trickier than a hatful of monkeys – and we haven't even seen what the rest can add to our team.

With the very young, dynamic set of players we're putting together, I can see the genesis of an Everton I can be excited to watch, week-in and week-out... 🙂

But Rick, I feel the same... can't wait for the next game. Last season I sorta dreaded it. Like a trip to the dentist.

It would be much better if he's said his wife had pointed out he'd not been putting in the effort and he realised he'd been sulking and playing within himself and decided this season to get back into the game. I'd have "got" that. He's only human after all. But this mealy-mouthed nonsense is unhelpful.

Anyway, that aside, I think he's a decent player and glad he's found some form. He will shine in a team with good movement in front of him.

That sums him up for me. Give him an excuse and he takes it. We see that on the pitch all the time – offer him an easy way out and he chooses it every time. Cheap foul rather than a chase, drop in between the centre-backs rather than find space further up the pitch, simple irrelevant pass rather than risk something for the team. Happy for someone like Mason Holgate to play our balls forward so he doesn't cop any flack for losing it.

I want the bloke who says: "No, Duncan, as a team and as individuals we're struggling at the moment – it wouldn't be right to go and have a nap instead of doing my job."

We can reasonably assume that he's presenting the best version of the incident. And it's still so far off being alright!

I recall a teacher once telling me that if I wasn't going to do the preparation then I shouldn't bother turning up to class and wasting his time. The next lesson he came and grabbed the playing cards out of my hand in the sixth form common room. I repeated to him what he had told me. He called me a fucking idiot. And he was right, I was a childish, lazy, fucking idiot. I had the excuse of being 16 though.

Does this rule him out of the next Carabao Cup game which comes so soon after the weekend match? How gullible do they think we are?!?

He was rubbish last season and has only marginally improved so far this season. It is still nowhere near good enough.

Up to the Huddersfield game, Silva only had a pre-season in July and a handful of competitive games in August to change things. You could see improvements on the pitch.

For underperforming players from last season, like Schneiderlin, the break gives them a chance to learn under Silva and change things around.

As an aside, I heard Paul Merson say on Gilette Soccer Saturday that he had watched Everton this season and that the team hadn't looked especially fit. Fair enough we were down to ten men in two of the games but you wonder if this is part of the reason we couldn't see the Wolves and Bournemouth games out. Hopefully extra fitness is something also being worked on.

Also, I think a lot of the criticism of Schneiderlin is criticism of the position. Dropping between the centre-backs is certainly to instruction. Holding position and forcing the man with the ball onto someone else is too.

Going at them is vacating position. It's what Gueye would do and they simply pass around him into a hole he's just vacated. Schneiderlin has to hold his position and maintain shape.

Morgan Schneiderlin says in an interview how his wife, his family, and his friends, helped get his head back into gear when he was basically doubting himself and feeling particularly bad that he was being perceived as 'not giving a shit', and it gets turned into he says he upped his game ONLY because his missus had a word in his shell-like and absolutely not because he's paid so well, or was even advised to do so by his coaches, as a professional footballer at a Premier League team.

And let's just ignore the apology for getting sent off, right?

Really? His missus is his only inspiration?

That what he said???

Even if it isn't you all now have a general idea of Editorial Policy here.

Tom Davies wants to be box to box and is not the same player at all. I see a lot of people saying that Gomes is going to replace Schneiderlin when fit - far more likely to replace Davies.

Maybe it depends on the conditions of use you signed up to when you joined TW - Condition #10?

I know someone who was at Finch Farm on the day he and Mirallas were sent home from training, and it was nothing like Scheiderlin claims happened. I was told that the rest of the squad had started training and he and Mirallas were on another training pitch in the centre circle chipping balls onto the crossbar. Unsworth told Ferguson to tell them to either join in training or go home not in such polite words. Both decided to go home.

Steve Ferns, are you really standing by what you said in your post 13 about name any player from another club who could do a better job than Scneiderlin in that position. So you really believe he is the best holding midfield player in the Premiership. And if you do believe that why did you say in another post that nobody would buy him for £10 million in the summer.

Brian#89.So this professional footballer had to have his wife to tell him he needed to perform better,

We're still on the footy here Bri, right? ;-)

There are lawyers and lawyers Tom, some good some not so good. Some prosecute others defend. Schneiderlin is a defender and would appeal to a defence (lawyer) - if you know what I mean.

Some lawyers like to ensure that people have the full facts at their disposal, both the prosecution version of events and a full understanding of the law, in order to make the correct decision about how to deal with their case.

However the law of copyright may not be every lawyer's cup of tea, as many know little about other branches of the law and prefer to deal with the criminal element, their forte, with particular reference to the defence of the defenceless.

I rest my case M'lud.

(Surprising what you can find on the www.)

Maybe his wife was talking about something quite different to football and he assumed it was about his performance on the field, no I am not suggesting she is talking about outdoor activities either. I think I had better stop there.

Cross the white line at 3pm and show us you care Morgan. He's a cracking player he just needs to get his head down and work hard. That's the way to prove us wrong.

I don't wish to be divisive or insult posters on here but if people think this guy is all of a sudden going to turn into a game changer then they've been taking stupid pills! I will be the first to apologise if this is the case, but a this juncture I'm not worried. What does worry me is why so many Evertonians are so forgiving for a bare minimum of form change. He's quite literally had the kecks of us as a club.

Sean Dyce made for me a really poignant pearl of wisdom about his footballing philosophy which go's along the lines of "the minimum requirement is maximum effort" this is probably why Burnley finished above us and qualified for Europe, have a think about that one Morgan perhaps we can get a box of kittens for you to play with before every match to get you in the right frame of mind.

Cherie, vous were found out at Manchester United. Cette idiot scouserz team give you more money than we've ever had. Ils est non other team daft enough to give vous so much loot. Toe le line, pretend vous give a shit, so I don't have to do weekends in le Manchester sports shop to get cheap Nikes.

We can do all the fantastic tactical reports on this fraudster we want. The fact is he's a one pony show with the odd forward pass. Refuses to tackle, refuses to track back and continually loses his man.

If he was as good as some on here try to persuade us he is then what is he still doing here ?

“are you really standing by what you said in your post 13 about name any player from another club who could do a better job than Scneiderlin in that position. So you really believe he is the best holding midfield player in the Premiership. And if you do believe that why did you say in another post that nobody would buy him for £10 million in the summer”

I never said he was the best holding midfielder in the Premier League (it's not been called 'the Premiership' since Carling ceased its sponsorship). What I was asking for was for someone to pick a player and explain how such a player would perform better than Schneiderlin in his role. I’m interested because a lot of the criticism I see is because people don’t seem to understand what Silva is asking him to do, or what Allardyce asked him to do, or what Koeman asked him to do. Therefore, I was looking as to what player would be selected and what the critic would say this player would do better.

For what it’s worth I’d say there’s a number of players better in his position but these are players like Fred, Fernandinho, and Jorginho. They would still attract criticism because they play a disciplined role to instruction. Sure all three are a million times better. This position relies on others and the player can really look bad if his teammates don’t defend with him, or stand around like statues and are marked so he has no one to pass to. A lot of the criticism is justified but some should be redirected at other players.

It takes a man to admit you have been shit and to tell people it hurts to be critisised by almost every Evertonian. I am no different I think he was an absolute liability.

This season he has shown that he can play football and I sincerely hope that he can keep the consistency because he could turn out to be very very important this season.

Well done son keep the attitude and you will succeed!!

"Peter, if you weren't a professional footballer, what do you think you'd be?"

"A virgin" was his very honest self-depreciating reply.

I read the articles by Becky Tallentire that are posted on ToffeeWeb about past players and their wives. When you read about former greats like Bryan Labone, Joe Royle etc. in those excellent articles, you realise just how up their own arses, pampered and money-driven the modern footballer really is. These ex players played through injuries, sacrificed time with their families and had modest lifestyles which, although well-paid for their time, were much more in line with the average football fan. It's that loyalty and commitment which they each showed that makes these players great. It's why the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin will never be seen as a legend at any club that employs him.

He has been better this season, already making more assists than he has in the last two seasons. There's a decent player in there and if he keeps working hard then he will regain the fans respect and be a useful asset for us this year.

Merle #94, nobody here has said a word about him "turning into a game-changer" -- most here would be fine with just plain adequate -- but the fact is that he was a game-changer just 17 months ago. So hoping he becomes one again doesn't require "stupid pills", just wild-eyed optimism.

Steve #98, you have to admit he's a good-looking dude as well. My wife thinks so anyway.

Post a photo of yourselves lads.
I am expecting two George Clooney lookalikes.

There is a regular poster on here that has quite an obsession with excrement ( words such as, batshit, poo, dung, shit, shite, litter virtually every post) but he does not appear to be governed by the same moderation 'standard'.

On topic, Schneiderlin is, erm, not very good

I precisely agree that when he first came he sat just in front of the back four and played a slick short game taking out on coming midfielders with subtle, clever passes and just generally linking up play very nicely, this Schneiderlin has gone and its not down to ability, its down to attitude.

I'm expecting no trees to be pulled up from his performances in the future, just plain old plod along adequate (I for one am not happy with adequate @ £120K pw) and that's if we're lucky. A dream move back to France will eventually beckon and then we'll read all about his English nightmare. I think this bearing all statement is pure PR shite.

Just read your post ooops

Is that a backhanded way of saying that as Schneids is good-looking, and your wife thinks so, then she must have good taste, and therefore she must have exercised that good taste when she married a smasher?

Steady on!

mrs Merton

He is a senior pro with plenty of ability who is currently still too passive for me. If he hasn't got any more to give then I am hoping we can find a pairing in the centre of midfield that can give us his strengths without his weaknesses.

I don't know, I might be wrong and you may be right. You seem to know a lot about football.

But if you are right, then surely Morgan has the easiest job of all of football. If his 'holding midfielder' role only requires him to defend a patch of turf, shuffle a few metres left or right patrolling the 'D' and not worry about defending, winning the ball or tackling... Then surely there are hundreds of players who could do that. Hell, I reckon my dad could do that. Or a sheepdog. Or a big tree.

Perhaps our different views come from you see his role as a 'Holding' midfielder, and so if he 'holds' he's doing his job. I see his role as a 'defensive' midfielder, and as such I expect him to 'hold' when required – but I also expect him to read the situation, and when required he should be tackling, looking for opportunities to break, and all the other skills of a defensive midfielder.

When he strolled across the top of the penalty box, patrolling his patch of grass in that damning footage against Arsenal at the Emirates, you could probably argue that he was doing his job, fulfilling his role. Holding.

I think when he saw his teammate beaten, he should have reacted accordingly. And Defended. That's why I think we have very different views as to whether Schniederlin is a decent footballer.

As for Schneiderlin and his self-pitying plea to get us back on side – don't bother Another of Ronnie's awful purchases along with many others. I've seen every game this season and can honestly say he looks no different to last season. He doesn't influence the game at all and, when we're under the cosh, he hides. Apart from one raking 60-yard crossfield pass against Huddersfield, I'm struggling to see what he brings to the party.

An awful player whose attitude stinks. And what does his wife have to do with all this? If she's that much of a motivator and therapist... get her on the coaching staff.

First off, he's the shield in front of the defence and his job is to stop anything going through the middle and anyone getting a run at the centre-backs. Last season, he did this very badly and this season he's doing it a lot better.

Secondly, his job is to drop and cover the left back with Gueye covering the right back, although I've spotted Schneiderlin at right back at times. He also slots into the back four as a centre-back if someone gets caught out. He will also make the defence into a back three at times, splitting the centre-backs, which is why there's no need for us to play a back three.

Thirdly, and most importantly, his job is to initiate the attacks. I've not seen him hit any long diagonal passes, which Silva's teams thrive off, so I can only assume this is to instruction as Schniderlin is capable of doing it. Perhaps Silva doesn't think Schneiderlin is accurate enough or maybe he wants to play differently at Everton (better players means they don't have to be quite so direct?). Instead Silva has us using shorter, fast passes through the middle. This is a key area for Schneiderlin and he effectively sets the tempo for the side. See the Saints game were the tempo dropped without him. If he has a bad game, like Huddersfield, then the whole team can struggle. It's on him to make sure that the ball moves quickly up the pitch. He dictates this.

I've still got criticisms of the lad, including why he's not hitting long passes and getting the ball up to Walcott and Richarlison quicker, but maybe this needs to be asked of Silva. I think he goes to ground too easily and gives away fouls and gets cards as a result. His tackling is not actually very good.

But he's held shape very well, he's defended as part of a solid unit and you can see that shape evident in most games and no one is getting many chances to get at our back four. Instead, everything has to come down the flanks. This means that the attacker needs to turn inside or hold the ball up for a cross and so we get defenders back in numbers, particularly when countered.

So despite committing men forwards, despite pressing aggressively, we are not getting ripped apart when we turn the ball over. It's Schneiderlin to thank for that. Holding an attacker up, jockeying him, forcing the square pass, it's all far less glamorous defending than a Gueye interception but it's equally as effective.

I think we will start to move the ball even faster and counter more effectively, but that relies on more than Schneiderlin's passing and we need to see better movement off the ball with more runs into space.

If you want to see someone who is in superb form doing exactly what we want from Schneiderlin, then watch Jorginho of Chelsea closely. Also, note Kante much further up the pitch being box to box. I foresee Gueye being like this once Gomes gets fit enough to start, and we play more of a 4-3-3.

Last season's gone, thankfully, along with many players' poor seasons, so for me, it's a clean slate for everyone. Any player wearing an Everton shirt should be supported even through difficult times – and there's been plenty of them over the last 40-odd years I've been watching them.

He's started the season a whole lot better than he ended it; only time will tell whether he has what Silva needs going forward. I for one hope the manager can utilise his experience and get the best out of him as his tactics bed down, allowing money to be spent improving other areas of the squad.