Bernard has the guile to help to solve Everton's creativity problem

Thursday, 18 October, 2018 21comments  |  Jump to most recent
Nick Wright says that, "[t]he numbers suggest Everton have pulled off a coup by getting [Bernard] on a free transfer. The early months of Silva's Goodison Park revolution have not been without setbacks.

"The problems of last season are not consigned to history just yet. But with the boy from Brazil pulling the strings, their creativity issues might soon become a thing of the past."

» Read the full article at Sky Sports



Reader Comments (21)

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Simon Smith
1 Posted 19/10/2018 at 00:27:50
Looks a player, exactly what we've been lacking since Arteta, imo.
Kieran Kinsella
2 Posted 19/10/2018 at 02:52:48
Bernard can make Palace think Goodison is the Saudi consulate.
Mike Gaynes
3 Posted 19/10/2018 at 03:32:28
Whoa, Kieran. Easy there, mate.
John Raftery
4 Posted 19/10/2018 at 10:16:20
Players determine a team's style and creativity. Bernard has certainly made a good start in that respect. He links well with Digne. We now wait to see if he can maintain consistency in the weeks and months ahead. Let's see how he performs against the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea away.

A puzzle is why none of the Champions League teams across Europe chased his signature, especially as he was out of contract. Possibly his 5ft-4in height counted against him.

Derek Knox
5 Posted 19/10/2018 at 10:27:16
I have got to agree that Bernard could be the missing spark we have craved for years; there is no doubting he makes things happen, and has that awareness of players round him.

I know it's early days but the other side to his game; which is usually the sign of a very good footballer, he can make space and time to accommodate his team-mates with an intelligent pass or assist.

As has been mentioned too, his link up with Digne, has a symbiotic existence to it, I am also so pleased with Digne, a class act and a nice person too from what I have witnessed in his interviews.

Duncan McDine
6 Posted 19/10/2018 at 12:15:00
I enjoyed that, Kieran! Not sure he's a killer but my wife thinks Bernard looks a bit ‘rapey'. On a less offensive note, does anyone know when we had a smaller player? 5ft-4in is pretty dinky. I have a feeling he'll become a bit of a hero at Goodison Park.
Ray Roche
7 Posted 19/10/2018 at 12:23:31
Duncan,

We had a guy who was even smaller.

Mind you, he was in the Under-9s.

Jim Bennings
8 Posted 19/10/2018 at 13:06:44
Looks a player. Bernard to me reminds me of Juninho when he was at Boro in the 90s, quick feet and a clever football brain, a lock-picker of a player.

I believe there will be goals in Bernard once he gets more games and I think we could be looking at one hell of an inspired signing.

Martin Nicholls
9 Posted 19/10/2018 at 13:27:55
Duncan – Bobby Collins?
John McFarlane Snr
10 Posted 19/10/2018 at 13:48:01
Hi Martin [9], Bobby Collins and Graham Williams (late 1950s) were one of the smallest left-wing pairings we have had.
Martin Nicholls
11 Posted 19/10/2018 at 14:03:53
Thanks, John – I don't recall Williams who was (slightly) before my time.
John McFarlane Snr
12 Posted 19/10/2018 at 15:18:36
Hi again, Martin [11], Everton signed Graham Williams from Bradford City in March 1956. A mate and I went to Huddersfield's Leeds Road ground where Everton were beaten 1-0 by a Dave Hickson goal after 30 seconds, Williams playing his second game for the 'Blues'.

On the way home the coach stopped at a small roadside café, (pre-motorway days) there was a coachload of Bradford City fans there, returning from a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park, and when we got to talking about Graham Williams they gave the impression that they were glad to see the back of him. Williams played 33 games for Everton scoring 6 goals, before being transferred to Swansea Town (as they were known then) in 1959.

He was described in the 'Who's Who of Everton' as one of the smallest players in the game, Williams was an Under-21 International and gained 5 caps at senior level.

Kieran Kinsella
13 Posted 19/10/2018 at 16:24:18
Do you all remember when we had Howard Kendall II and the press having pictures of Ken Dodd superimposed over Kendall and calling them "The Diddy Men" and the "mighty midgets". In hindsight, the team wasn't unnaturally small but I think it got that reputation since we replaced Sharp with the smaller Beardsley, Johnston, Cottee etc.
Tony Heron
14 Posted 19/10/2018 at 18:06:12
Remember Willie Carlin (Derby County I think) standing in front of big Joe Corrigan from Man City at a corner. He was looking up at Joe who was about 2 ft taller!!
Martin Berry
15 Posted 19/10/2018 at 19:13:30
St Bernard you doff your cap when you mention the name !
Chris James
16 Posted 20/10/2018 at 13:22:36
I think the next 4 games will really show how Silva's team stands up and what his prospects are.

Start of the season is always a bit of a crap-shoot – new players getting used to things, injuries, etc and we were hard done-by with a number of decisions and injuries which could've seen draws turn to wins. Now we have almost all of the squad fit (including the new boys) and 2 winnable home games plus 2 super testing trips on the road. 6 points is the minimum we'd expect and would be the sort of results that keep us on track for a solid mid-table, 7 or 8 would feel like a step forward (meaning a point off Man Utd or Chelsea or both) 9 or even 10 would be a real statement of intent and underline credentials of getting into the top 6 or higher.

Personally I think the building blocks are there for a decent 'new wave' side (youthful keeper, fresh back line, some genuine pace and creative talent in midfield and flanks), what we're really missing is a talisman up front of course to complete the picture. Tosun and Niasse are solid professionals and Calvert-Lewin is willing and has some potential, but all 3 have "mid-lower Premier League" written all over them.

We're obviously not going to compete for the Agueros, Salah's and Kane types or even the Lacazettes, but if we had a Vardy, Giroud or Dzeko then I think it would make all the difference. Alternatively, we need to find our own Kane and stick with him (I'd love that to be Calvert-Lewin).

Sukhdev Sohal
17 Posted 20/10/2018 at 21:09:20
Totally agree Chris. I just hope our defence is up to scratch. I also wonder whether Richarlison will be as effective in home games as he was in the away game at Leicester as we will have more of the ball and less counter-attacking opportunities. Hopefully Gomes and Mina get some minutes too, but results are always the priority.
Simon Smith
18 Posted 21/10/2018 at 21:21:18
Bernard replaced today, imo he should have stayed on at the expense of Walcot who is out of form, but I believe Bernard will become a success at Everton.

John Raf @4;
Both Milan clubs plus Chelsea wanted and made offers for Bernard, Brands recently spoke about his transfer saying we made our offer and left it with Bernards advisors, but felt the deal as dead before it started due to the club's who were interested in him.

It was over a month later when the deal was supposed to be back on the table, Bernard wanted to play regular football, Silva heard about this, flew over to see Bernard and made the deal happen.

Kase Chow
19 Posted 21/10/2018 at 22:20:15
Bernard is obviously decent and has skill but has a way to go to convince me

He’s already looking predictable (cut in on his right foot) and for some reason doesn’t like shooting?!?! (Has a great opportunity to pull the trigger early in the first half but instead backheeled it to no one)

He works hard no doubt but there really is no evidence YET that he’s going to be as effective as Arteta or Couinho. Obviously I hope he’s a star and gets loads of goals and assists but for me he was poor today and lucky to stay on the pitch for as long as he did

John Pickles
20 Posted 22/10/2018 at 17:07:05
As a Brazilian I think he needs to be either Bernardo or Bernardinho to really get noticed.
Simon Smith
21 Posted 23/10/2018 at 23:19:58
Kase, I agree over his chance when he back-heeled it – that drove me mad.

I think we're a much better squad with him than without him, also I don't agree over being predictable, it's just what any right-footer on the left is going to do (sit in), it's just like Marhez for Man City, or even Messi back in his early Barca days from the right. Everyone knows what they're going to do but it's about how and when they're going to do it.

I'd reckon he will be well up for the Man Utd game; my bet is he will give Young the runaround.


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