Silva keen to keep hold of 'wantaway' Gueye

Monday, 28 January, 2019 214comments  |  Jump to most recent
Updated Marco Silva has confirmed that Everton have received and rejected an offer from Paris St Germain for Idrissa Gueye who has reportedly handed in a transfer request to secure the move.

PSG have been linked with a move for Gueye for the past month but they are understood to have only launched a formal bid within the last couple of days and Silva insists he doesn't want to lose the midfielder.

Reports in France have suggested that the 29-year-old is keen on making the switch and that Everton have given the French club signs that they would be willing to sell but not for the £21.5m they have apparently offered.

Now it is being reported by the likes of Sky Sports, who claimed earlier in te day that it would take a bid north of £40m to land the player, and MailSport that Gueye has formally asked to leave before this week's transfer deadline, "begging" them not to end his dream of joining PSG.

"We rejected the offer," Silva is quoted as saying. "He is a really important player for us. We don't put [our players] in the market.

"For clubs to come here to buy our players they have to really [meet] the value of the player. For this price I cannot see the value."

"You know my opinion since the first day you started speaking about this possible offer. From a technical point of view, as a manager, he is a really important player for us and he is one player we don't think to lose in this market.

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"Of course, [at some point] it is a matter of money and it is up to the club to decide but from my technical point of view he is a player who is really important for us."

 

Reader Comments (214)

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Bobby Mallon
1 Posted 28/01/2019 at 14:52:41
We should never sell Gueye until we have gotten rid of the shit we have stockpiled.

I'm sick of being a selling club... fucking sick. Lukaku, stones, Rooney... sick of it. If we sell him, then I'm going stop supporting and let my 11-year-old pick another team.

Brian Williams
3 Posted 28/01/2019 at 15:23:08
If only it was that easy, Bobby!
Alan J Thompson
4 Posted 28/01/2019 at 15:28:09
That's not a "No" then, but just a matter of the price.
Lee Courtliff
6 Posted 28/01/2019 at 15:46:25
I'd take £30M for him. Surely we could find a striker somewhere for that money? There must be some young, hungry player who wants to play in the Premier League that we could attract.

I have no idea who... but that's why we employ Brands and the rest of the scouting system.

If we have to replace Gueye with Schneiderlin, McCarthy, Davies etc, that will weaken the midfield but, with a decent striker, the overall effect on the team should be improvement.

I know... it's easier said than done.

Peter Cummings
7 Posted 28/01/2019 at 15:58:52
He has become more of a liability than an asset to the team with yellows in practically every game and has been lucky to stay on the pitch numerous times. As well, we are saddled with too much dead wood with nobody else apparently interested in taking off our hands for anything like what we paid for them.

I have been a dedicated Evertonian since the age of six when I watched my first game sat on my uncle's shoulders (he was 12) in the Boys Pen at the Gwladys Street end, now in my 82nd year, I am beginning to doubt If I will live to see a return to anything like The School Of Science and the true legends who graced the Goodison turf for years for buttons, compared to the overpaid garbage we have to put up with now.

So, if Mr Gueye wants out, get rid asap along with those who have ruined our club for far too long. (And yes, I am still a dedicated Evertonian, and always will be!)

Peter Laing
8 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:03:58
At 29, it's hard not to see why Gana wouldn't want the opportunity to seal a lucrative move to a team that are guaranteed domestic honours, speak his primary language, and qualify every season for the Champions League. The fee though, even for modern times is underwhelming.

Silva has also been told that he won't have the money to sign a replacement and he would have to rely on either Schneiderlin, McCarthy or Baningime for the remainder of the season.

Given that we aren't safe yet from relegation, I can't see Gana being sold – unless this is done from under Silva's feet by Marcel Brands.

John Pierce
9 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:26:45
If Silva has any say in the matter, he should see that it’s best to sell, and seize the moment to get a striker in.

Obviously good business based on the price we paid for him, but also will at least divert the headlines from him to the signing and generate some much needed buzz.

Deffo the smart move this.

It might help him transition from a formation he can’t make work to 3-4-3 or 3-5-2. A chance much like to Boston-tits to experiment and show some acumen. Don’t pass it up or you’re gonna get the sack Marco lad.

Dennis Stevens
10 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:37:42
I wonder whether Schneiderlin is reflecting on the possibility that by getting his finger out & putting a shift in, he might be the one being sought by PSG.
Gavin Johnson
11 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:39:45
He's 29. I'd sell him if PSG offer more than £30M. We're stuck with Schneiderlin; play him in the holding role and buy a striker.
Duncan McDine
12 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:40:59
Stop supporting Everton if we sell Gana?... is that right, Bobby?

We were all gutted about losing Rooney (along with a few others), all those years ago... but Gana is hardly irreplaceable. It would be sensible to sell for around £30-35m.

I'd also love for us to sell the crap players, but who'd have them on the wages they earn???

What we need is a midfielder that can defend AND go forward... perhaps selling Gana will give us a chance of finding that player.

Bobby Mallon
13 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:50:51
Ok rant over of course I will still support. But sell for a striker! Like who. Please don’t say that Chelsea reject batasuiy ( can’t spell it) he is not the answer and if we sell for 25-30 million then for that money we will end up with a who. We don’t in my opinion need a striker what we need is a system that fits the striker (Tosun) we have. Spend it on a Gana upgrade
Tony Everan
14 Posted 28/01/2019 at 16:54:21
I think Gana wants to go, and Silva doesnt want to keep a player against his will. But that doesn't mean selling on the cheap . The club comes first. It has to be £30+m

Gana is being professional keeping quiet about it, if the clubs valuation is met I think he is a gone . I just hope that we have a replacement lined up to step in that is a perceived improvement. Otherwise forget it until the summer.

Alan Smith
15 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:00:33
I think the famous DoF is absolutely shite unless he tells the board to buy a 250k week striker and a 200k replacement cm.

If he pretends there's another way to improve this clubs standing he's a charlatan.

Kieran Kinsella
16 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:03:07
IF we were to sell him I highly doubt we would get someone in this late. Bear in mind, PSG have been doing their public whispering campaign about signing him all month for a reported 25 million. Everton have publicly made it clear they wouldn't accept that. So three days before the window closes PSG finally come in with an even lower offer of 21 million. Cue 48 hours of trying to unsettle him, second bid come Wed of 24 million. Third bid on Thursday afternoon of 25 million, with the hope he throws a fit and gets a move, leaving us with about 8 minutes to replace him directly or improve another area of the team.
Alan Smith
17 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:07:28
I'm certain Everton have thought of that and have a replacement sounded out or believe they make it to the end of the season without one.

And what difference will it make?

Michael Kenrick
18 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:18:40
Hmmm... reading between the lines here, with the initial denial last week flying in the face of all the rumour smoke, this seems to be looking more and more likely to go through.

If I understood the latest Everton Business Matters podcast, we need to sell him at a good profit to reduce our potentially huge losses, which are set to exceed the current financial regulations (on a rolling 3-year basis)?

James Hughes
19 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:20:05
Alan. #17 are you sure of that ? At present we don't seem capable of organizing a drink in a brewery, never mind a piss up.

Gana is a 'love him or hate him' player. For me both emotions are arguing the toss all the time.

Oh we can't afford a £250k per week player

Tony Everan
20 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:20:09
Will Schneiderlin be given the Frankenstein treatment and be brought back to life as a replacement?

Any lightning storms due?

James Stewart
21 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:23:37
Couldn’t care less. We don’t play to his strengths anyway so it seems strange we would deny him a move to the cl.
Bill Gienapp
22 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:24:55
I'd keep him, but I at least see the wisdom of a potential deal at 35-40 million. 21.5 million is barely even worth returning the phone call.
Chris Cole
23 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:28:02
Alan @ 15
We'd probably pay a striker 250k per week, sadly he'd probably only be worth paying 2.5k, given our recent track record.
A striker worth paying 250k wouldn't want to come - we need to be identifying the next young big thing, like Lukaku, who effectively played for us for free.
Raymond Fox
24 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:35:53
If he really wants to go, let him.
Will it weaken the team, yes in my opinion, this is one of our main problems as soon as any of our players show ability a 'big club' comes sniffing around and their off.
Frank Sheppard
25 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:51:47
If we get a considerably bigger offer,then perhaps we should sell. I like the player, we are better with him breaking things up, but business is business.
Phil Smith
26 Posted 28/01/2019 at 17:55:18
The problem is, I don't think PSG can pay over the odds due to the financial fair play rules. Anything over 25 mil we should take. He's been one of my favourite players over the last few seasons, but not this year. Time for Benni to step up.
Alan Rooney
27 Posted 28/01/2019 at 18:08:08
Bobby Mallon @1. I wish I could stop supporting Sverton but its simply impossible any more than it is possible for me to support a another team. Help me.
Alan Smith
28 Posted 28/01/2019 at 18:12:08
Yes but Chris what's the point if we sell them as soon as they develop or hit form?

Day one of moshiris arrival lukaku should have been given 250k and Barkley 200.

We didn't want to pay koulibaly the necessary amount to replace stones either. But what have spent in cbs in fees and wages since?

We had deulofeu who is now wanted by Milan and we were linked with Draxler in moshiris first window. What have we wasted on wingers since? Well over 100 in fees alone.

Your right we can't attract those players now because we've set our stall out as the "going about the right way" team. That's code to potential signing for: don't go there they aren't buying the top players to build a trophy winning team or paying boss dough.

And brands will pretend he can break the top six because he's getting a king ransome to do so. He will ride this gravy train as long as possible.

So all these futile debates about managers, players etc.. It's all inconsequencial unless we are concerned about being the 7th best team in the league.

Some posters think we have good players.

Well ask yourself this

Arsenal and utd have a cf on 250k or more and back up strikers on the 140 we thought was too much for rooney!

They wouldn't touch any of our players. I can't think of three that would make their bench.

Spurs sold our record signing about six years ago to the massive Swansea because he wasn't good enough. The league is now stronger and siggurdsson is older.

You've alluded to finding another lukaku. Well we found him without a DoF. Moyes signed lots of good players too.

If you think we will DoF our way to the top 6 well Well I don't know really.

But now some fans can't wait to sell gana, change the manager, whatever. Like that will help. Nothing will change until the wage budget changes! And moshiri gets pressured into funding a top striker

Ian Pilkington
29 Posted 28/01/2019 at 18:24:43
Gana has been one of the few players who as actually played consistently well this season. At this stage of the transfer window an “acceptable” bid from PSG is unlikely to materialise until the last day - remember Rooney and Arteta? There will be no time to buy a replacement. Schneiderlin, McCarthy, Davies, Beni; none of them are good enough.
Harry Catterick thought it was “good business” to sell Alan Ball at the height of his powers for a big transfer fee; big mistake. Any chance Silva has to save his job and our season by finishing above mid table will evaporate if Gana is allowed to leave.

Jimmy Hogan
30 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:04:24
No-mark. Sell him.
Nathan Ford
31 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:09:01
Psg rumoured to be offering cash and munier as a deal for gana. Personally I think this would be 2 good to turn down.
Mike Gaynes
32 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:10:20
Peter #7, "...yellows in practically every game and has been lucky to stay on the pitch numerous times."

Pure malarkey.

Even while leading the Prem in tackles, Gana has had only four yellows for fouls in 21 games this season (he got his fifth for dissent after the handball goal, one of three Oliver dished out for that).

Hardly "every game."

And he has only one red card in his Everton career (only two in his 300 professional games), so clearly he's not "lucky" to stay on the pitch, he's exceptionally well-controlled.

You don't like him, fine, but making up reasons is pretty silly.

Jim Bennings
33 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:17:52
I’ve stuck up for Gueye in recent weeks but to be honest, I’ll say the same for every single player currently in our squad right now.

I would not really give a shit who we sold anymore because none of them are irreplaceable.

There was a time when the thought of selling a Wayne Rooney ( first time around) Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar was an almost tearful thought to comprehend.

But this current lot we have, I quite simply have no real affiliation with.

Brian Patrick
34 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:18:37
If we are now in a situation were we need to sell probably our best player just to balance the ffp books then it signals disaster to me. The Moshiri project has clearly failed. Lets ask the beloved Billbous Kenwright to fork out the funds for a new striker...
Jason Wilkinson
35 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:25:48
Bye Gana, we'll miss you. I wonder which technically gifted shithouse Marco is going to bring in next season to replace him.
Not a prayer of getting anyone in this window.
I don't mind selling Gana, after all he will be 30 next season, he is not top drawer and still makes plenty of stupid mistakes even at 29. What gets up my hooter is the BS from Marco and the club saying he is not for sale. He clearly is because you can only reject an offer you have been willing to listen to in the first place.

PSG: "we are interested in Gana"
EFC: "we're not looking to sell full stop"
PSG: "I bet you say that to all the clubs"
EFC: "no just the Echo to make our fans feel better, how much where you thinking"
PSG: "two bob ok?
EFC: "we will have to turn that down I'm afraid, come back with 3&6d on deadline day and we will sort it out"
PSG: "won't your fans be pissed off when you don't have time to replace him?"
EFC: "yeah but we will go on about how much talent we have in the U23's and how we need to get the wages down and release some other pointless news about BMD"
You can just imagine the conversation.

Ian Edwards
36 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:36:02
Dreadful player. Sell him. Supposed to be a holding midfielder. Goals we concede from open play usually see him racing back from whichever hole he's run into. I'd sooner have Davies, Schneiderlin and McCarthy. I'd even prefer a 50 year old Carsley.
Jim Bennings
37 Posted 28/01/2019 at 19:37:50
Ian

I’d rather have a 50 year old Carsley than ANY of our current so-called holding midfielders.

Chris Cole
38 Posted 28/01/2019 at 20:14:31
Alan @ 28
Cheers for the reply. Agree with a fair bit of that but, to sort of answer your question, Digne is the only player in our team who'd have a good chance of getting into one of the current top four (or Utd), and definitely if he could be less impetuous.

I don't rate Arsenal - they've just been very lucky this season - had more bad decisions go their way than the RS. They'd have lost to Millwall too. More of our players could make their team. Having said that, I'd take one of Aubameyang or Lacazette off their hands!

Going back to Lukaku, sure he left but we had him for four years. The problem was we never replaced him at all.

We have to get better gradually, like Spurs have. They bought young, hungry players, unlike us generally (see Walcott, among plenty of others).

Sigurdsson - massive disappointment for me the other night in a game he should have been taking by the scruff of the neck. Invisible. Sadly not a leader. Probably better suited to being a big fish at a smaller club wih lower expectations. As with Walcott, inflated fee, wages, no resale value, poor signing.

Agree there's plenty riding the gravy train - an owner has to know the time of day, unfortunately ours doesn't appear to even own a timepiece

Andrew Bentley
39 Posted 28/01/2019 at 20:26:10
I think we can all guess how this will play out.

Gana hands in transfer request to force move through
He signs for PSG before the deadline
We don’t have enough time to sign a replacement or a striker
Cash then isn’t available at the end of the season for summer signings as cash is needed for BMD

Roll on Schneiderlin & MCCarthy signing a new contract and press about it “being like signing a new player”

I hope I’m wrong but think we arent going to do anything meaningful this window and are just going to limp through to the end of the season

Martin Berry
40 Posted 28/01/2019 at 20:32:28
If the player pushes for the move he may well go.

I would let him go if the money hits £25m, we are out of the cup and 7th is the best we could achieve, and we wont get relegated.
Also he is 29 and the money may be off the table in the summer.
I see nothing wrong with McCarthy and Davies been put in and players from Unsworths team having the odd cameo, we should be planning for next season and trying out what we have before the summer recruitment is decided.

Gerard Carey
41 Posted 28/01/2019 at 20:34:39
When is Gana's contract up!?.
Rob Marsh
42 Posted 28/01/2019 at 20:47:11
Can't sell him, we'll have no bite in midfield if we do.

I've seen comments about his passing ability, I'm personally happy to suffer any minus points he may have, his good points overwhelm them.

We need his presence on the pitch, he's playing alongside 10 pansies at the moment.

Rob Marsh
43 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:03:53
Martin Berry #40

You're absolutely right there's nothing wrong McCarthy or Davies, for me it's just we're in a very delicate position and things could get worse?

Defensively Gueye brings an assurance to the team, even when not at his best he makes critical tackles.

McCarthy's long lay off worries me and Davies needs the influence of others around him to perform. An in form McCarthy would have been a good replacement for Gueye.

Mike Doyle
44 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:44:31
Sky reporting Gana asking EFC not to stand in his way. Not difficult to see how this will play out.
Rob Dolby
45 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:46:32
I hope this doesn't happen as I think he is the only midfielder who helps the defence out by stopping the opposition.

We are bad enough at conceding goals with him in the team, without him the floodgates could quite easily open against any team in the prem.

Silva may as well sign his own P45 if Gana goes.

Les Moorcroft
46 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:53:05
30 mil and TTFN. Before a striker should we not concentrate on sorting the back out first. On Saturday we created 3 chances scored 2 so if we had a decent forward there's no chances created for him. Shut the back door first. Old fashioned I am but any good side starts from the back.
Rob Marsh
47 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:54:15
I'd still be inclined to keep him, even if he wants out, he doesn't seem like the kind of player who throws the toys out of his pram and sulks to me.

I might be wrong though?

Mark Rankin
48 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:55:01
Part of the problem is that we’re not defending with assurance even with him in the team. People compare Gueye with Kante and say his stats are better but that’s part of the modern problem. Gueye is part of an Everton team that hasn’t consistently performed for a long time, he was also part of a poor Villa team. He’s 29, he’s not the answer.
Neil Copeland
49 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:55:15
According to Sky he asked EFC to let him have his dream move to PSG.
Kieran Kinsella
50 Posted 28/01/2019 at 21:57:25
Bolasie is apparently "demanding" to leave Everton before 31 Jan. This according to The Echo and Talksport who also say Everton were "far from happy" that he returned from Villa.

So let me get this straight... Bolasie shows up at Finch Farm:

"I am back!"
"You're not welcome here. We didn't want you back."
"I demand to leave."
"What part of 'You're not welcome here' didn't you understand?"

Gerry Ring
51 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:01:58
This really shows the awful management skills of Silva.

He's had, according to himself, a fit James McCarthy since mid-December. He selected him for the bench once, having played him in a couple of games. He didn't play him & didn't involve him in U23 games either. How is Macca expected to get match fit?

Looks like Gana is going, Crystal Palace want McCarthy, leaving Everton with a big gap in the middle of the park! I could understand Silva's reasons if we were in the top three but it beggars belief that he hasn't seen the writing on the wall here!!

Les Moorcroft
52 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:02:00
Isn't he 1 year into a 5-year contract? As long as it over £30 mil or more, the ball is our court. The lad is 29... 30 soon.

Everton, being Everton, will leave it till 10 pm Thursday. Watch.

Jason Wilkinson
53 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:02:45
Not so many clamouring for the permanent signing of Andre Gomes now, are there? Gana is very much Marmite. I don't think we have had much of a midfield bite since Carsley & Mad Tommy Gravesen.

I've not heard much about Beni Baningime this season. If he was ripping it up in the U23s or showing more at Finch Farm, you would think he would at least be getting 15 to 20 mins here and there.

Tom Davies looks ordinary. I think we got a bit excited when he scored against Man City. Besic back off loan is probably the best we can hope for. McCarthy will struggle to stay fit.

I wish these tablets would kick in. My head hurts.

Benjamin Dyke
54 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:07:11
Silva said as much in his press conference that everybody has a price. Now it's just cat and mouse between us and PSG.

And you can't blame the player for wanting at 29 to go to the best team in France where some real superstars play and they talk his first language and win trophies.

Unless Silva starts being a different coach, we're screwed. I can't really see us finishing top half, even when Gueye leaves. Our midfield is soft as heck.

Jay Harris
55 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:09:58
As usual we act like a bunch of pansies but, unlike previous where it used to be Man Utd or Chelsea we rolled over to, it's now some no-mark French club that happens to have come into money.

What's that you say, Moshiri? "We don't have to sell our best players anymore."

That's strange... I would have thought Lukaku, Stones and Gueye were in that category.

For those wanting Gueye gone, just watch the goals against column ratchet up if he leaves.

Les Moorcroft
56 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:18:24
Jay, it's not who wants him to go, it's reality that he wants to go where he can win trophies and play in the Champions League. Not too much to ask coming to the end-ish of your career.

And the only plus for Everton is profit. He's not the only defensive midfielder in the world... replace him ASAP. That's Brands's job.

Mark Rankin
57 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:19:25
Yeh, we could even start conceding 3 goals to Championship sides
Rob Halligan
58 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:25:57
In reply to Les, #52. Gueye's contract runs until June 2022. So PSG need to up their offer by a few million before we think about selling.

Would I sell him? I am not sure. If McCarthy was fit and had been playing, then maybe I would... but, at the moment, McCarthy needs a few games at U23 level to gain full match fitness and get his confidence before throwing himself into full-blooded challenges.

John Pierce
59 Posted 28/01/2019 at 22:54:28
Everton played again by a bigger club. Only days until the window shuts. Brands I hope has his trigger finger pulled to spend once we get screwed by PSG.

To be fair, I've consistently said "Sell". An improved team next season would see Gana become a squad player, why keep him when the season is done?

Jay Harris
60 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:02:23
Surely this is tapping up and should be reported to FIFA.

How does Gueye know enough to want to go if they "haven't" been given permission to speak to him.

These situations need dealing with.

Steve Ferns
61 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:03:52
Jay, I sincerely believe the goals against column would come down, provided we sign a player who can actually hold position. You know, a holding midfielder actually doing the job title and holding!

As for a short term fix, how's about Bernard's mate Fred? You know the £50m flop at Man Utd. He was brilliant for Shaktar and if he could rediscover that form, he'd be brilliant. A loan move would be win-win for both us and Utd and Fred would go for it as he wants to play and would not have to move.

Darryl Ritchie
62 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:04:57
From what I read: Silva doesn't want to sell Gana at any price, but it's out of his hands. Gana wants to go, so he will probably do just that. It's now a business thing. Everton is just making sure that if PSG really want him, then PSG had better up the offer, because 21 million just ain't gonna cut it.
Graeme Beresford
63 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:08:23
Clearly he’s going to be allowed to leave. Especially now he has said he wants to go. I love Gana but one thing he lacks in goals and that role of holding midfielder is a position that I think you can fill easier than others, but, this is Everton. He will leave late on Thursday, then we won’t get anyone in, then McCarthy will get an injury for 6 months and we will be left scratching our heads and Gana tears it up for PSG and starts banging a few goals in.

And yet again, we will all be sat here as we get beat by poorer teams than us but we will all accept it because of that word transition.

Silva out.

Brian Williams
64 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:23:11
It's pissing me off how this is panning out, if latest reports are to be believed.
PSG court the player for weeks, giving the idea time to sink in with the player. All this with no official approach. Then with a matter of days to go they make, what I consider to be, a derisory offer knowing the player will now be putting pressure on Everton, again if reports are to be believed.
Player allegedly writes a letter but doesn't put in a transfer request?
If a letter pleading him to be allowed to make his "dream move" isn't a transfer request then what the fuck is and is the letter, if not a transfer request, written to ensure no loss of money to the player?
No player is irreplaceable but unless a better alternative has been lined up, which I very much doubt, I'm worried where the required points will come from between now and the end of the season when we lose the only bit of steel we have in midfield.
We're "lucky" at the moment in that there are three teams adrift at the bottom of the table. Having said that who'd bet against the bottom team picking up three points tomorrow evening?
Steve Ferns
65 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:29:56
Brian, this type of thing goes on all the time. Nothing can be done about it mate. The guy is 29 anyway. Get a good deal and sign a player who adds more to the side.
Fran Mitchell
66 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:30:59
If we are forced to sell, we should push for a loan of Rabiot until the end of the season (before he joins barça) as part of any deal.

Or better yet, we say 'you can have him, but we must swap manager as part of any deal"

Anthony Murphy
67 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:34:30
If he’s allowed to leave, I wonder how Silva will react? He would have went into that 4th round tie knowing a defeat would leave him with little to offer in excuses, but selling arguably your best player a week later against your will at least allows him to point the finger of blame elsewhere from now to the end of the season - and quite possibly his tenure as manager. We’ve seen it before - it gives managers who are struggling a get out card. Players not focussed, disruption to future plans, heads turned, no clear and obvious replacement etc. I don’t see us replacing him in this window and like others before him, I don’t think we will appreciate what he brings until he’s gone.
Brian Williams
68 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:35:47
Steve#65.
I know mate but it's no less galling.
I just can't see us getting anyone in during this window if he goes and I genuinely fear for us mate I really do.
Steve Ferns
69 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:39:21
I think the opposite. Get a better player in who sits in the position properly. Someone who can pass and get us going. Someone who can help Gomes dictate the tempo. We’d be a different and more effective side. Gueye holds back. He’s not what we need. He’s old. Sell him.
Steve Ferns
70 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:47:27
Fran, you're a sensible guy, but Rabiot is not a sensible suggestion. He's a nutcase for one, but the main reason is that he is leaving in the summer for free. Don't believe the English press, the guy is going to Barcelona unless his even bigger nutcase of an agent ruins it for him. His agent? Only his mother! Anyway, PSG are livid and are not playing him out of spite and will let him rot for the rest of the season. They'd like to sell him but the player wants to cash in on a free transfer (a bosman) and so will run the contract down unless the right offer comes in, and no, there is absolutely nothing we can offer him to sign. As good as he is, he's not what we need anyway.
Eddie Dunn
71 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:50:07
I like Gueye and love his intent but I think Steve is right. We have just got used to players who are incredibly limited.

Just watch the Championship, or League football, there are plenty of players who can run about all day long, but some of them can pass and some can score goals.

I have no great attachment to most of our mercenaries, so if we can do better and the money enables it, then so be it.

Jason Wilkinson
72 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:53:34
Marco and Marcel have repeatedly stated no one coming through the door in this transfer window. The squad needs cropping and the summer will be re-build part two.

At this rate, we might get back to 7th by 2030. Are you missing a plaything Mr Usmanov? It's the only shortcut back to the top table I can see.

Danny Broderick
73 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:56:55
Steve (69),

You’ve been bigging up Silva all season, and talking down Gueye. I think you need to have a re-think mate!

The midfield is the engine room. And for about 3 seasons, he has been our engine, doing all the leg work alongside Schneiderlin and now Gomes. God knows where we’d have been without him. He is one of the few that we have got who always stands up and gets stuck in.

For the record, I can understand him wanting to go. He’s served us really well, and he wants to play for a great team who are winning everything over in France. They might even win the Champions League. And by the sounds of it, we will not be able to bring anyone in unless we do some trading ourselves, so we might have to sell him.

It sounds like he’s going to go, but let’s be clear. He has been our best midfielder these last 3 years. Talking him down is just nonsense.

Steve Ferns
74 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:58:30
Exactly Eddie. In modern football it's very hard to find a good striker. It's not hard to find an attacking midfielder (ie Klaassen, Sigurdsson, Bernard or Rooney), it's not hard to find a wide forward (ie Richarlison, Lookman, or Walcott). But the player that there is most of, that you find everywhere, is the defensive midfielder. They are ten a penny.

Loads of them moved in the summer. There's loads of them everywhere you look. A man of Brands' repute and at the head of a large scouting network can surely find someone with all of Gueye's qualities who can actually sit, plug gaps and yet also pass the ball. As I said, Fred from Man Utd could be a short term fix.

We're only what, 2 wins from safety? 3 at a push? Surely we can find the right player to anchor the midfield and give it the balance we need and use the rest of the season to get things right so we can really get back into the race for the top 6 next season.

Jim Bennings
75 Posted 28/01/2019 at 23:58:45
Breaking news that Gana has asked to leave Everton anyway so that's that, see ya later kid.

No players want to stay at Everton anyway.

How long before Richarlison, Pickford, Mina etc start making noises?

Just focus on signing hardworking dogs like Deeney and Austin would be my best advice.

Steve Ferns
76 Posted 28/01/2019 at 00:02:15
Danny it looks like we'll find out soon enough. I'm not talking him down, for what he does he's excellent. He ruins the balance of this team. He's frequently just passed around and instead of charging up the pitch, he needs to hold his position and forget about those ridiculous statistics. Who cares how many tackles or interceptions he makes, do your job and protect the back four, don't leave them wide open, because you see the opportunity to make a tackle because you gave a hospital pass to someone and now need to make up for it.
Danny Broderick
77 Posted 29/01/2019 at 00:15:37
Steve,

At the moment, Gueye is the best midfielder in the league at protecting the back four. He has made more tackles (83) than any other player in the Premier League this season; 20.7% of Everton's total.

The only player with higher than 20% of their team's output!

I am honestly baffled that you think Fred from Man U would do a better job for us as a holding midfielder. The job of the holding midfielder is to win tackles and interceptions. Gueye is probably one of the best in Europe currently at doing that.

Surely you can see that our problem has been the front 4 playing in front of Gueye? Our defending from set pieces hasn’t been too clever either? Gueye has been our best player!


Steve Ferns
78 Posted 29/01/2019 at 00:24:44
No, Gueye is the best at hunting the ball. If you hunt the ball, you vacate position, if you vacate position you are not protecting the back four. Gueye does not protect the back four, that's a complete fallacy.

Our main problem (other than set pieces) is a big massive gaping hole in the middle of the pitch where Gueye and Gomes should be, and oppositions running straight through the middle of us game after game. If Gueye was half the player you think he is, he'd stop them. But he is not. He vacates position and hunts the ball. No one else covers him, so any decent side passes it around him and then our defence is wide open. You let any defence be wide open like that and it doesn't matter if it's the great AC Milan defence, they're going to struggle, especially when playing such a high line and there being so much space in behind.

I cannot fault Gueye for effort. The lad runs hard all game and tries his heart out. Silva clearly allows him to do what he does or he would drop him. I wouldn't. I want the defensive midfielder to hold position. I guarantee you this would prevent goals, even if he hardly makes a tackle or interception. Those statistics are pointless. Lee Carsley did this so well, yet his statistics were a shadow of Gueye's. Carsley was twice the player Gueye is. Grantedhe couldn't pass either. The challenge is to find a Lee Carsley who can pass and there's loads of them. I trust Brands to find the right one for the right price. This single player would transform the side overnight.

Danny Broderick
79 Posted 29/01/2019 at 00:42:03
I think you are giving Gueye’s midfield partners a free pass judging on what you are saying Steve. Even if he does burst forward to make a tackle or interception that he doesn’t win, is it too much to expect Schneiderlin or Gomes to cover? Both play just as deep as Gueye when picked. If you look at any top midfield partnerships, there was always a covering midfielder when the other one went forward.

Gueye very seldom goes into the last third of the pitch, so I don’t buy the theory that he vacates the midfield. Yes he is snappy and goes hunting the ball. That’s what a defensive midfielder should do. Idrissa Gueye is ten times Fred, or Schneiderlin, who may hold but not get past third gear. That’s why PSG want Gueye and not them.

Our problems are defending crosses and creating chances. I hope Silva is going to concentrate on that in the coming weeks anyway.

John Pierce
80 Posted 29/01/2019 at 01:03:13
I’m with Steve on this one. The holes this lad leaves are vast. Exposing his partner time after time.
Potentially if we played with a five in midfield he could go hunt the ball. We don’t and unlikely under this coach.

Holding midfielders are there to put off/ slow up the opposition, allowing the other players to funnel back and regain position, maintain the shape and stop teams ploughing down the middle. Tackling and inceptions means the transition, were we get repeatedly murdered, are desperate actions and by committing just makes it easier.

Staying on your feet, something Gana often chooses to ignore, is the better ploy.

A useful player but, one dimensional. Get as much as you can, do it quickly and get the man you want in.

Everton won’t miss him, I guarantee.

Steve Ferns
81 Posted 29/01/2019 at 01:10:42
No Danny, I would not give Schneiderlin a pass at all. His job would be to cover Gueye. Gomes is not a defensive midfielder, he's better higher up the pitch and he should not be covering Gueye, that's ridiculous. Why should Gueye go hunting and Gomes sit? Gueye is in the side to protect the back four, and he does not do that. He does not hold, he hunts.

and my point is we should not be playing two holding midfielders just so one can cover for a limited player to bomb up the pitch to maintain his statistics. How often do we do something from a Gueye interception? He's not winning the ball and setting up attacks, so what's the point? It's much better to hold position and let Gomes and Sigurdsson be level in a narrower three with those two hunting. Now if they win the ball, they can pass, they can hurt the opposition and we can capitalise. See the difference?

By having a holding midfielder who can pass, think back to when Schneiderlin actually played well, he can take the ball off the defence and launch it. Then it's not Gomes doing that, instead Gomes can be in position to hurt the opposition.

We need to play a 433. One central defensive midfielder who sits in, anchoring the midfield and rarely straying from that position in front of the back four. This then pushes the opponents wide, as that's where we have left the space. Our back line is tall so can head crosses away all day long.

Let's see next season if you think Gueye is ten times the player Fred is. Gueye won't cost £50m either. Fred did. He did for a reason. He can tackle and he can pass.

Mark Rankin
82 Posted 29/01/2019 at 01:28:08
Idrissa Gueye was a great signing for £7 million, he's done well. If Everton are going to compete with the top 6, we have to sell him.

Selling a player approaching 30 for big money is invariably right; buying them in late 20s (Bolasie & Walcott etc) is invariably wrong.

Money matters; if we want to close the gap, we need to target big money signings as players 22 up to 25 years of age.

John Pierce
83 Posted 29/01/2019 at 01:45:00
Remember we often buy players on the £25-30m bracket. How good are they? Not very.
Jason Broome
84 Posted 29/01/2019 at 02:09:53
I trust Brands and I think he could still sell Gana in the summer for £20 Million.

We need him now so PSG can look elsewhere.

We are not a small club and we don't need to panic sell!

Ashley Roberts
85 Posted 29/01/2019 at 02:33:09
If we can hold out for £30M, I would snap their hands off.

While he puts in a lot of effort which is more than can be said for some of the other muppets, let's be honest he is a bang average footballer at best.

Yes he may tackle and we need players who can tackle, don't get me wrong, but it is what they do with the ball when it is at their feet. In that department, he is seriously lacking as are several others including Mina and Zouma. He is also close to 30 and so is only on the decline.

Actually I think selling him might give Sílva the incentive to change the 4-2-3-1 formation which has been a total disaster recently primarily because it means a lot of players are not playing in what I would call their natural positions.

I have been calling out to go to a 4-4-2 system as hopefully this would mean there are not huge gaps in midfield for the opposition to waltz in too (the Southampton game being the prime example) and we would have more of a goal threat up front.

In my opinion, Sílva does not want to lose him because he does not have a clue how to replace him in his favoured formation which is not working. Selling him now for a reasonable profit makes good business sense and it might force Sílva to try something different.

Anthony Murphy
86 Posted 29/01/2019 at 03:11:27
Just a few things:

I don't think it will be easy replacing him by spending in the region of £20-25M. In new money, that's fuck all these days.

If we want a quick fix at a decent price, I'd offer £10M for Drinkwater. May not be the exact fit, but isn't a bad shout if he leaves given Gomes is on loan too.

Weren't we all signing the praises of both him and Gomes for forming a decent midfield partnership just two short months ago?

Stones — no good for Everton but good enough for Man City;
Lukaku — no good for Everton but good enough for Man Utd
Barkley — no good for Everton but good enough for Chelsea
Gueye — no good for Everton but good enough for PSG

That's not a criticism of anyone, by the way, just an observation.

Alan J Thompson
87 Posted 29/01/2019 at 03:42:20
If the player really wants to leave for a club he his heart set on then just negotiate a fee and payment terms and move on.

Move on to what? Well, how about something nobody else in the Premier League seems to do, play with four attacking midfielders and ask them to do more defensively when not in possession. If nothing else, it might get the points to make relegation a thing others have to worry about before other teams wake up to our change in style.

Then look at what is wanted for next season as, at the moment, it looks like there is only one plan, one system of playing which is a copy of most other teams with the hope that something inspires the players to their best each game and appears to start with the words, "Our Father..."

Phil Sammon
88 Posted 29/01/2019 at 06:45:04
Easily one of our best players. If I were him, I'd jump ship too.

If he must go, I really hope Silva takes this opportunity to try something new. If Schneiderlin slots into Gueye's position I'll be doubly devastated.

Can't believe we look set to lose a top quality defensive mid for around £25M. He's got 4 good years in him at the very least. Why does the club get shafted on every deal it conducts?

If I were Moshiri, I'd take the money and not give Silva a cent of it. When he gets a tune out of Yerry Mina, then he can think about spending money again. Failing that, the money could be used to get Silva out the door.

No one player is going to solve our problems. Look at Gomes. He soon got dragged down to the level of his teammates.

Zahir ZJ
89 Posted 29/01/2019 at 07:29:07
These comments about replacing gueye are appalling! Do you know our record without him?!?? We were humiliated against spurs by conceding 6 goals! At home! Sheesh. He’s the only player who puts a shift in. Without him we’re just pedestrians walking across the football field. We’ll be in a relegation battle without him and yet people want to see him go for a striker. He’s not replaceable. He’s got the best stats for tackles in the league and top 5 for interceptions.20 odd million? I was laughing my ass off and some people were even considering it. There’s nobody who can come in and replace geueye; selling him will inevitably lead to our shortcomings. He’s the best dm I’ve seen and nobody in our team can do what he’s capable of. If you can’t see that right now you’ll see us relegated.
Zahir ZJ
90 Posted 29/01/2019 at 07:38:18
If he Gana geueye away it’ll be our last season in the premier league. Don’t even see us coming back with half the jokers on our wage bill.😣
Zahir ZJ
91 Posted 29/01/2019 at 07:52:40
#77
Hey Danny why was kante awarded not only Leicester and Chelsea’s player of the year but also France’s player of the year when he didn’t score many goals? only one in his international career.
Sandra Bowen
92 Posted 29/01/2019 at 08:17:03
Brilliant at what he does, running around like a lunatic and getting the ball but a defensive midfielder he is not. As many have said, constantly leaves holes and he’s actually pretty poor at tracking runners too. I’d still love to keep him but play him and Gomez in front of a new proper holding midfielder. Think we need to ditch the current formation and have three in the middle. Hell, even play Siggy as a striker flanked either side by Richarlison and Bernard/Lookman, worth a go. Gueye can hassle and Harry away but further up the pitch and allow Gomes to have a less disciplined role.
I’m sure there are plenty of options out there but one guy for the holding position I’ve always rated is Oriel Romeu at saints. Always committed and disciplined, a decent passer but a good organiser and a leader. Something we severely lack
Kevin Prytherch
93 Posted 29/01/2019 at 08:30:29
Sandra 92 - I advocate the same (but not with Sigurdsson up front).

I also think the only player we have with the discipline to sit in front of the defenders is Schneiderlin, unless we are prepared to give Beni a run in the team.

However I feel this debate will soon become pointless after Gueyes transfer request

Andrew Ellams
94 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:13:13
I'm not going to criticise Gana because PSG wouldn't want him if he was as bad as some of these posts are saying. But at the same time his positional sense does make him a liability too often to make him the be all and end all too.

Although it does look like PSG are going to sign Paredes from Zenit so the whole thing could be nothing anyway.

Sam Hoare
95 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:22:36
Steve F, my issue with your line of reasoning is that we have had a sitting midfielder in Schneiderlin and it has not helped the team at all. The opposite in fact. Perhaps you might say that’s because of the player but if so that detracts from your line that such players are easy to find.

I like Gueye a lot. One of my faves. One of our only CMs with an ounce of genuine athleticism which is why he seems to be able to get a foot in when others can’t. But equally he has been part of a central midfield that has not really functioned properly for 3 years or so, which does lend some credence to Steve F’s argument.

I guess it all depends on who replaces him. There was a rumour that we might ask for Meunier in exchange, unlikely he’d want to come but if he did I think that would strengthen our first XI significantly, quality player at RB (or on right of central 3). As for DMCs I do like Lobotka at Celta, similar player to Torreira at Arsenal, tenacious but a good passer and dribbler.

Andrew Laird
96 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:26:26
Some people on here are blinded by stats, it’s incredible. Maybe too much championship manager/fifa!

I wonder what the stats are for the amount of times Gueye is caught out of position leaving just a midfield of Gomes to deal with an opposition attack which will then pull one of our centre half’s or full backs out of position leaving gaping holes all over the pitch so we get cut apart with ease?

What are the stats for how many times Gueye coughs up possession when not even being put under pressure, leaving the team all out of position trying to attack?

Gueye is excellent at the high press, he is composed and rarely have I seen him lose his cool when already on a yellow. He is one of the best players in the league at intercepting the ball and successfully tackling but he is about as suited to Silva’s style of football and formation as Jimmy Cranky.

I honestly think sitting Schneiderlin (cannot abide him by the way) next to Gomes will improve our shape no end, will bring the best out of Siggurdsson and give confidence to the players to break forward and gamble because they know there is less chance of losing possession. It will even improve our possession stats if you like that sort of thing.

Andrew Ellams
97 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:30:56
Isn't Muenier a full back? I can see why we would need him but he wouldn't really be a replacement for Gana
Andrew Laird
98 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:35:15
Sam, Scneiderlin was sitting mostly in the same team as Gueye. As you alluded to above, Gana is the constant in this equation. He leaves his position, or loses possession and leaves the midfield wide open. Imagine how much better we would be if we could retain possession for a minute or two just to take the sting out of the opponent? How many times over the last 3 years do we just retreat and get run ragged until the inevitable goal is conceded?

Whether Schneiderlin is anywhere near the player we glimpsed for some of his first season I’m not so sure but I honestly believe he is far better suited to play with Gomes and Sigurddson than Gueye

Sam Hoare
99 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:43:51
Andrew, yes they didn't work together, nor has schneiderlin really worked with anyone after his initial promise which surely undermines the argument that if we had a sitting midfielder everything would be better?

If you played Schneiderlin, Gomes and Siggurdsson then we would have the slowest central midfield in the whole league. I struggle to see how that would improve things but I guess you never can tell.

If (and its a big if ) we could somehow swap Gueye for Meunier AND get someone like Lobotka (who i think looks a very talented, complete, sitting midfielder) then this whole deal might just work to our advantage.

Martin Nicholls
100 Posted 29/01/2019 at 09:50:51
Steve#78 - you favour a replacement who holds position "even if he hardly makes a tackle or interception". Are you advocating William Carvalho again? From what I've seen of him, that description fits him perfectly.
Not saying I necessarily disagree with you incudentally!
David Graves
102 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:05:14
Andrew you accuse others of living in a FIFA/Championship Manager world then suggest that we should play Schneiderlin alongside Gomes.
Do you recall his last abject performances in an Everton shirt? What do you think he has been doing since he last started a game - busting a gut to get back in the team? Why do you think he's not even in contention for a start?
A midfield trio of the one paced Gomez, glacier like Siggurdsson and Schneiderlin? Wow.
Andrew Ellams
103 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:09:54
The reason Schneiderlin is not the answer is his attitude and not his ability. He looked liked the answer to our problems when he arrived but he soon got bored and lazy.
David Graves
104 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:34:50
So in Gueye we have a player whom one of the biggest teams in Europe want and we can agree that he is extremely good at key parts of the game. He may be pulled out of position but here's a novel approach - perhaps Silva could coach the team so it wasn't such a problem.
Goals conceded because Gueye goes walk-about? There may well be some but he wasn't responsible for the 3 on Saturday was he?

Fred from Manchester United? He'd be "brilliant" would he? I despair. Have you seen him actually play this season? You cant have seen much of him as he has been dumped pretty quickly. Just ask a United fan what they think or listen to Gary Neville;
“Does he change a game? Does it look like he’s going to defend your goal? Does it look like he’s going to connect back-to-front? At this moment in time, no.”

Paul Mackay
105 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:35:20
Can we all remember the player he was when he first joined us with some of those early MOM performances?Everyone was raving about him, sadly his form has dropped off and we discovered that he actually doesn’t know how to pass. He’s essentially good at two things, first his big engine and second his high number of tackles in a game. Whilst a shadow of his former self I don’t think we can afford to sell him. And for those on here suggesting that we should cash in and play schneiderlin as a holding midfield have obviously lost the plot and neglected to point out that schneiderlin hasn’t had a good game for Everton for well over a year. He’s Utter garbage.
Sam Hoare
106 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:41:51
Interesting that PSG have just paid £40m for Paredes, statistically the second best player in the Russian league. The best? Our young Croat on loan.
James Marshall
107 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:52:12
Is it not true that PSG are only allowed to spend a certain amount of money on transfers? Surely Gana is worth more than the £20m-ish they're offering.

The selling club sets the fee.

Aside from that I don't blame Gana for putting in a transfer request. I would as well given how shite Everton are and the lure of PSG.

John Hammond
108 Posted 29/01/2019 at 10:58:24
Sky Sports saying he handed in a transfer request as well as saying we've denied he handed one in. PSG have now signed Paredes so will they still want him? Going to be an interesting few days.
Kevin Turner
109 Posted 29/01/2019 at 11:03:35
Can't see the point in hanging on to him tbh if he wants away as long as we get the right money. Circa £20m isn't enough in this market and in a January window. If PSG up the offer to nearer £30m then off you go son. Good luck but you're no world beater and time waits for no man. If we hang on to him then his frame of mind will be poor and in 12-18 months he'll be worth sod all given his age. We have Davies and McCarthy and what of Benny B?
Brian Harrison
110 Posted 29/01/2019 at 11:11:21
Steve

You usually write some excellent pieces but to actually suggest that Fred would be a good short term fix if we sold Gueye. Even the man who brought him to Utd refused to play him, and Solksjaer has given most of the players a start but even he doesnt fancy Fred. And as David Graves 104 said Gary Neville one of the few pundits I like to listen to doesnt rate him.

You also say that Gueye goes hunting the ball and leaves gaps in midfield, but Silva allegedly wants to play a high pressing game. So of course when Gueye presses high up the pitch he leaves gaps but thats because the other players are not pushing up to fill the gap. So to blame the the only player who seems to have the engine to play a high press, surely isn't the answer. Maybe we need to tell Gueye to sit and not press high up the pitch, but the manager needs to decide if he wants to play a high pressing game or not.

George Cumiskey
111 Posted 29/01/2019 at 11:11:26
You know the old cliche don't keep a player who wants away, plus the fact he can't pass a ball ten yards.
John Kavanagh
112 Posted 29/01/2019 at 11:22:42
If the player now wants out, we should let him go if the price is right. At 29 he is too old to be part of any long term plans. We should use the rest of this season to give an opportunity to some of the youngsters to prove themselves. If they prove to be not good enough, then recruit a replacement at the end of the season.

If Gana goes, I wish him well and thank him for his service to Everton.

Mike Doyle
113 Posted 29/01/2019 at 11:40:08
Always risky keeping players whose heads have been turned. Many TW posters have commented on Gana's high levels of effort during the season to date (compared to some of his team mates) but the risk is that these may drop of if denied a big move - and we can well do without any more players going through the motions.
Bill Shankly only wanted players who wanted to play for his team and was happy to dispose of those who didn't . and he knew a thing or two about motivation.
Andrew Laird
114 Posted 29/01/2019 at 11:41:41
Sam and David, just how much quicker do you think Gueye is than the other midfielders? He’s not. I just Can’t see that he is at all, he just looks like he is because he runs round like a headless chicken.

How quick was the midfield of Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Fellini? Surely that was the slowest in the league at that time?

With how fit all the players are now I would be amazed if it wasn’t extremely marginal with regards to how fast ALL of the leagues midfielders were. Give me a player who is quicker with the ball than can run and we might win something, no player can out run quick one and two touch football.

David Graves, perhaps I wasn’t clear enough but I alluded to saying that Schneiderlin is the only disciplined central midfielder who will sit that we have on the payroll. He can pass the ball 10 yards without looking like he has just put shit in his eyes. It was exactly these 2 traits which got him slaughtered in the first place ffs. I don’t know if he’s the answer, probably not, but he is far more suited to this managers tactics than Gueye. And yes I remember how bad he was playing next to Tom Davies or Gueye. About as bad as Gomes is now looking.

If Silva wants to press high then Sigurdsson can do it with a striker, safe in the knowledge that if the ball gets past him there will be 2 central midfielders behind him instead of 1 if Gueye is sold.

Nobody knows what’s going on at the training ground, who is busting their balls or not. All I can glean is that it must be pretty disheartening for the players not involved to see the same squad list every single game regardless of just how terrible our performances have been.


Anton Holmes
115 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:16:48
I know they are somewhat different style but Aaron Mooy, tackles well, has Steele and picks a good pass, shields it as well, has a goal in him, is younger, knows the premiership, and is down, “How much would he cost ? “
I’d swap!!
Mark Murphy
116 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:33:41
Is Besic still our player???
Phil Martin
117 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:40:04
Only Everton could get short changed by the most frivolous club in the world.
Andrew Ellams
118 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:41:51
Mike Graves, great managers know when to let top players leave. Ferguson was a master at it. Of course in the modern game you need to back your decision up with a large transfer fee to bring in a replacement.
Gareth Evans
119 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:43:27
Sell. He's a passenger in most games for me. Yes he runs around a lot and makes it a bit uncomfortable for the oppostion but from an offensive point of view he's hopeless: Cant pass, cant shoot, effectively he's 1/2 a player!
Phil Martin
120 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:49:22
He's been our most consistent player for several years. He has limitations but we have bigger problems to solve. Like a striker, right back, a number 10. We don't need another vacancy to fill at short notice.
Eddie Dunn
121 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:50:17
I always thought that a defensive midfield player held his position in front of the back for, trying to repel attacks by blocking the way through, staying on his feet, and tackling when neccessary.
The role Gueye seems to fill is one of a floating nuisance running this way and that, doing useful destructive work but his abandonment of that pivotal position means another is needed to sit-in.
I would conclude that Davies could do the harrassing instead and if Gana was to sit deep he would really need to improve his passing, which by PL standards is not good enough.
Considering Gueye's age, I wonder how long he can carry on running around doing his thing.
Andrew Ellams
122 Posted 29/01/2019 at 12:50:18
Gareth, I know his passing is an issue for a lot of people but his goal return is about average for a player in his position. It's no worse than Kante's and he's more two players than half a player.
Tony J Williams
123 Posted 29/01/2019 at 13:01:11
We don't need to sell and we can tell PSG to do one and cite it's too near the end of the window to consider selling

I'll take my £250 advice fee now, jobs a goodun

Andrew Ellams
124 Posted 29/01/2019 at 13:05:29
Tony, or alternatively the season's done, he wants to leave so take the cash and spend six months doing some proper planning on how to reinvest it.
Frank Wade
125 Posted 29/01/2019 at 13:17:50
Danny Broderick, Sam Hoare and Mike Gaynes and other Gana 'appreciators', I salute your comments above, thanks. You guys obviously understand the game.

Steve Ferns, I have an appreciation for your 'thinking' on how the game 'should' be played with a sitting defensive midfielder spraying passes like a quarter back, but that's way too one-dimensional. Teams have to be built with a bit more fluidity than that. Gana is never going to be the defensive midfielder, that you want, sitting in the pocket. We need a balance in midfield. We had a balance in midfield in the Chelsea away match that was applauded by most, the 3 G's. What happened to that? It was easy for Gylfi to shine sitting on the Chelsea quarterback Jorginho. Gomez has gone backwards, despite the early promise, although I suspect he is playing 'injured'.

Who on the Everton team is a better passer than Gana? We don't have anyone who can consistently hit 'threading the needle' passes. Gylfi tries with some success around the box, but is hit and miss. Gana hit some very good passes v Millwall in last game, even in those conditions. They all hit sloppy passes from time to time, but seem to get a free pass. If he goes, we certainly won't have near as much possession, to hit that perfect pass.

Question ? PSG are trying to buy an Everton player they think can help their team. That's PSG with Neymar and Mbappe, not some lower league side. Why is that? If he couldn't pass, does anyone think PSG would want him ?

Thanks Gana. The best ball winning midfielder I've ever seen in an Everton side. Hope they give you a big wages upgrade. You deserve to be playing in a better team than Everton.

Gerry Quinn
126 Posted 29/01/2019 at 13:20:52
BBC just stated he has NOT repeat NOT put a transfer request in...
Tony J Williams
127 Posted 29/01/2019 at 13:25:43
Andrew, exactly why should we sell him on the cheap?

It's irrelevant if our season is over, this a business.

Dean Johnson
128 Posted 29/01/2019 at 14:20:02
We all love a trier, but only up to a point.

As others have said, if we had a 3 man central midfield, Gana could go and hunt without leaving us exposed.

Currently, all opposition teams have to do is pass it round Gana and then lump it into the box for our defenders to fuck it up because Pickford hasn't come and claimed.

Andrew Ellams
129 Posted 29/01/2019 at 14:30:17
Tony, I didn't say sell him on the cheap. He wants to go, we need to unload deadwood to spend again. I don't care how good he may or may not be, if he wants out then he's deadwood.
Per Anders Stumo
130 Posted 29/01/2019 at 14:52:57
I'm a little baffled by the criticism of Gana. Is he the greatest thing since Frosted Flakes? Hell no! But he's about the only player this season that's done his job as he's been told to do it, and done it well.

Seriously, how does he manage to put in so many tackles and have so many interceptions if he leaves such big gaps and are so easily passed by? The offical PL stat lists successful tackles and interceptions only so it seems obvious to me that he's frequently exactly where he needs to be. Which is where the ball is.

It's also fairly obvious that Gana plays not only in the role Silva wants him to play, but in the formation and within the tactics that Silva employs. He's not been told to sit deep within a square box and defend that box and do nothing else. It looks to me that he's playing more as a box to box midfielder than a strictly defensive midfielder, which makes his stats look even better. Also, we play with overlapping wing backs, two wingers, a forward and an offensive midfielder. That leaves whole fecking lot of room in midfield to be covered by Gana and Gomes. And Gomes is an awful lot like Schneiderlin, he works best in a team that is good at keeping possession, especially in the opposition's half. And I'm sorry but Everton is shit at that at the moment. So what that means for Gana is that when all that fancy play breaks down he's got a very very difficult job ahead of him. One that he frequently manages to do, unlike most of the other players on the pitch or bench.

Also, I don't think he's not nearly as bad of a passer as everyone seems to think. He's just not. He's also got pretty decent technical skills and has passed players in midfield several times this season. There's a reason PSG wants Gana and not Schneiderlin or Gomes or Fred. They want a technical player with a bite.

Anyway, we'll sell him if we get enough for him. I don't doubt that. I for one will be sad to see him go. I also think that Silva will have to change his formation and tactics if he does go. We just don't seem to have anyone else who can do what he does.

Sam Hoare
131 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:06:43
Andrew Laird @114, I think he is significantly quicker, certainly to react. Headless chickens run around without doing anything, Gueye runs around and makes three times as many tackles AND interceptions per game as Gomes or Schneiderlin so your metaphor is way off. He also makes more key passes per game than Gomes (and Davies) for what its worth.

Whether or not his style is beneficial for the team as a whole is an interesting debate but its not like we have done better without him.

I don't think he's going.

Kim Vivian
132 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:09:17
Thank you Per Anders - saves me having to compose. I agree with all of that.
Gavin Johnson
133 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:34:30
We need a RB. I'd be inclined to deal with PSG if they throw in Thomas Meunier. He'd currently be an upgrade on the current version of Seamus. That would amount to £35m. I don't like keeping unhappy players. Gana's heads been turned. Play Schneiderlin until the end of the season and buy Michy Batshuayi.
Alan Smith
134 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:42:08
I agree with all the praise for gana in the majority of games. But when we play a top six side or a fired up ward prowse his baby legs don't have the power necessary to make his tackles worthwhile.

The amount of challenges that top players just ride. I remember him sliding in Emre Cann three times in space of of a minute and not significantly moving the ball far enough away from Canns feet. And he was baby like in this years Derby. Did he play against utd and spurs I don't remember?

Prowse beating him to knock downs was quite a worry the other day though. I didn't think I'd ever see a player as good at reading the second ball and be as determined to get there first. It just shows though that if a decent player wants it as much gana does then he is ineffective.

I whish him well. Always gives his all and always trys to play forward. Good luck mate get out of this fuck up as soon as possible.

You can't be hanging around here waiting for a stadium or super brands to magic four world class players from out of his arse

Dave Abrahams
135 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:45:20
Frank (125), I don’t mind Gana, but in answer to your question: Why do PSG want him?, well Real Madrid wanted Thomas Graveson once, that didn’t last long, it did surprise me though, same as the proposed move for
Gana.
Darren Murphy
136 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:49:29
He's not being a very nice Gueye to Everton, they will need to Idrissa this or he's Gana leave.
Sam Hoare
137 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:49:40
Since 2016 our win % with Gana (in 86 games) is 39.5% and without him (in 13 games) its 30.8%.

Quite a small sample size for games without but still a significant drop.

Andrew Laird
138 Posted 29/01/2019 at 15:51:52
Sam, so now he is quicker . to react. Brilliant.

Another nonsense with stats these “key” passes are probably because he is furthest forward of the midfield!!
People sat behind a computer trying to make the game way more complicated than it is. A “key” pass according to whom exactly?

To anybody out there who loves stats, How many times a game does Gueye give the ball away? How many times does he make “unforced errors” Is it more or less than the amount of times he “intercepts” the ball?

Here’s another little metaphor, you are walking down the street and on your travels you see 10 pound coins, you pick 8 of them up before anyone else giving you an 80% interception rate, you put all the coins in your pocket with a massive hole in and when you get home all the coins have fallen out. The stats will still say 80% the reality is what was the point in bending over in the first place.

Mike Gaynes
139 Posted 29/01/2019 at 16:15:36
Per #130, that's the first post I've seen from you. Good one. Well said.

Andrew #138 and #114, yes, there is a statistic that measures that. It's passing efficiency. Gueye is actually a little better than average. And he is anything but a "headless chicken", as attested by the number of interceptions he makes and opponent errors he forces. That requires awareness and anticipation. He is an extremely intelligent player who is doing exactly what he does best. But that won't change your mind about anything.

Dave #135, he's what PSG needs because for all their spectacular talents they don't have a real ballwinner. They don't need someone who "sits" in to protect the back four. They need someone willing to do the work to win the ball in midfield and trigger their frightening counterattacks -- not for Ligue 1, which they are coasting through, but for the Champions League. Gana could make a big difference for them.

Gerry Quinn
142 Posted 29/01/2019 at 17:16:38
Mike - received the best of news about Cathie this afternoon - she got the "ALL-CLEAR"

Just need a Lottery and Everton win now to clear our way ahead

Andrew Laird
143 Posted 29/01/2019 at 17:55:27
Links please Mike Gaynes, I would imagine most people have watched moneyball by now. Football is not baseball, never will be so sabermetrics isn’t applicable there are 11 players against 11 players with instructions and their own free will. Not every stat correlates to what you physically witness as I tried to highlight earlier. Not every stat makes any sense either. What exactly is a “key” pass? Who decides which passes are “key”?

If Gueye tackles a player in a 50 50 but the ball goes out of play is this a successful tackle stat? If Gueye makes a hospital pass and an Everton player manages to get his toe to the ball first before being dispossessed is this a tick in his “pass efficiency” box. There are so many variables it makes some stats completely subjective yet people cling on to them like they are legal tender.

So Gueye is “a little better than average” with his “passing efficiency” so he would fit in well at a club doing “a little better than average?”. Or would he be a perfect donkey /water carrier to charge around if surrounded by far better players (this is what PSG want him for, they are full of pea hearted mercenaries who don’t want to put the yards in). Perfect for a team just above mid table then right? Unfortunately that’s a position Everton aren’t even in at the moment!

I would imagine Marco Silva would reel out pages and pages of “stats” to prove zonal marking is the best way to defend set pieces yet that’s clearly not the case either.

Mike Gaynes
144 Posted 29/01/2019 at 18:18:47
GERRY, THAT IS AWESOME.

I am so happy for you and Cathie that I've got tears in my eyes.

Mazel tov. I share your joy. Celebrate heartily.

Paul Tran
145 Posted 29/01/2019 at 18:20:53
Gerry, that's wonderful news. Have an extra drink for me!
Brent Stephens
146 Posted 29/01/2019 at 18:25:26
Great news Gerry.
Dave Abrahams
147 Posted 29/01/2019 at 18:28:30
Mike (142) well you could be right there Mike, plus he might be better in a team with better players who like to attack and can hold the ball upfront better.

Share your joy with Gerry and his wife Cathie, you know better than most the share joy you must have got when
told that brilliant and relieving news, so glad for you Gerry and especially for your wife Cathie, wishing you many more happy and healthy years together.

Neil Copeland
148 Posted 29/01/2019 at 18:33:40
Gerry, fantastic news!
Tony Everan
149 Posted 29/01/2019 at 18:44:55
Gerry, after recently losing my mum to cancer it is great to hear excellent and heartwarming news. I am happy for you.

I don't want the midfield depleted after selling Gana . Dont sell unless we get a perceived upgrade. Gana is an important player but I don't like keeping players who want to go, it normally doesn't end well.

Same for Cenk, don't loan him to Palace, make them pay up front or walk away. If the deal goes through then have a gamble on Batshuayi or maybe Brands has another better prospect earmarked.

Steve Ferns
150 Posted 29/01/2019 at 19:04:58
Great news Gerry. Let’s hope there’s more good news to come.

Tony, really sorry to hear about it mate. I hope she passed peacefully, but I doubt makes the death any easier to take. I’m 5 months down the line and it’s yet to get easier for me. I just try to be as positive as I can. All the best mate. Let me know if you need someone to chat to about it.

Tony Everan
151 Posted 29/01/2019 at 19:13:16
Thanks Steve, I'm fine, my 2 young kids do not give me time to think or get down about it . The grief and regret are in a mental box that just doesn't get opened. My dad is on his own in Liverpool though and has Parkinson's so its all about trying to keep the old man happy, luckily he is a tough cookie.
Dermot Byrne
152 Posted 29/01/2019 at 19:44:59
Gerry...so so pleased. Perspective. Just so pleased how chuffed you must be and how relived Cathid
half must feel.
Jay Tee
153 Posted 29/01/2019 at 23:51:00
Can't blame him. Who would want to stay and play a load of rubbish, week-in & week-out. Good Luck to him if he goes.
Paul Cherrington
154 Posted 30/01/2019 at 09:21:38
I actually like Gana but, if we get offered big money for a player of his age who is not a world beater, we have to take it. I know you do not want to sell your best players off and would rather keep them to build our own team but I would not put him in that category.

Plus, if he wants to leave, then it is better to get it done. Otherwise, he may develop a bad attitude that could rub off on others.

Paul Mackay
155 Posted 30/01/2019 at 09:23:18
#121 Eddie
Davies is not a defensive midfielder imo. He played well against Huddersfield with Gomes playing deeper and he was able to break forward, hold off a player, quick feet etc. Davies is at his worst in a deeper role where the game is slower and it’s all tackle and 5 yard tippy tappy football.
Steven Astley
156 Posted 30/01/2019 at 10:58:43
Getting our knickers in a twist over a player who is the only one on our books, bar him in goal, who has tasted relegation.

The only time he has a good game is when the other outfield 9 have had a bad game.

Well liked in the dressing room, but cash in and use the money on 1 or 2 more coming in.

Phil Sammon
157 Posted 30/01/2019 at 11:27:43
Steven

So we should get rid of the lad because he was the best player in a relegated team?

I sincerely hope that, whatever happens, no decision is influenced by that kind of idiotic thinking.

Dale Rose
158 Posted 30/01/2019 at 11:51:26
Gana is a very good player, hard and tenacious. Despite what some say about him on here, he is being head hunted by one of the best teams in the world, do the sums regarding his ability. He will be sadly missed.
Chris Gould
159 Posted 30/01/2019 at 12:07:46
Per#130,
Absolutely agree with your entire post. Well said.
Looks like he's going, so guess we'll have to learn the hard way as I can't see us replacing him.
Vijay Nair
160 Posted 30/01/2019 at 12:45:02
Foreign media are reporting a deal has been agreed for £26M. Seems they are discussing terms of instalment payments.

I say just use some of those funds and get Batshuayi in, and maybe recall Joe Williams or try Beni Baningime, or James McCarthy even, to plug the midfield gap till season end. Anyone but Schneiderlin, please! A striker is surely a more pressing need at this time.

On a side note, is Antonee Robinson back from injury, and does he have a return clause in his loan with Wigan? Otherwise, we might be forced to look at Brendan Galloway for left-back cover against Wolves!

Jimmy Hogan
161 Posted 30/01/2019 at 12:51:29
According to the press, Man City may look to hijack Gueye's PSG move. They need cover for Fernandinho.
Steve Ferns
162 Posted 30/01/2019 at 12:53:21
Can we swap him Jimmy? Fernandinho would be the stuff of dreams, even if he is 33, soon to be 34.
Christopher Timmins
163 Posted 30/01/2019 at 12:55:36
Given his age and passing ability, I say let him go for £26M. We are not going to make the top, 6 nor are we going to be involved in a relegation scrap, so let's see if the other squad members can step up over the next 14 games.
Jamie Crowley
164 Posted 30/01/2019 at 13:51:29
Jimmy if that is true it is good news.

If we are going to lose Gana, and at this point it appears to me we will, we might as well have a bidding war of sorts to jack the price up.

I’ll still miss watching him. Some say he vacates his position, while others like myself think he’s a real asset. That’s been done to death.

But I really enjoy watching him play and I’ll miss seeing every tackle, every challenge, his effort, and covering every blade of grass.

The tough thing is, as I try to convince myself we will be fine without him, I truly believe we won’t be as good a team without Gueye.

Steve Ferns
165 Posted 30/01/2019 at 13:58:33
Jamie, I don't doubt he's a good player, and we will miss him. I would rather we change the style of the side, and in doing so there is no role for a man of his skills in my preferred team. He would very much be a player for the squad though, having a major role to play in a Plan B and a Plan C.

As an asset though, I think cashing in on him is a no brainer because of his age, the position he plays, and his importance to the side.

David Pearl
166 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:25:29
He was moved from his true position when Koeman decided to play Schniderlin behind him with him pressing ahead. Just like Sarri has done with Kante. In his true position (makelele) he has quite a few years left. He is number 1 in stats for a reason. It's our current manager that doesn't know how to get the best out of the squad. Getting rid of him is stupidity but I'm guessing it's more about the player now. We certainly have 10 other players we would prefer to ship out before Gana.
Jay Harris
167 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:35:46
Sky reporting Everton have accepted PSG's offer of £26.5M.

I am so disgusted with Everton right now.

I thought Moshiri had said we wouldn't sell our best players.

Kieran Kinsella
168 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:37:04
Man City rumors have been dismissed by Guardiola. He says he has denied this report no less than "five times." That's two more denials that St Peter in Gethsemane so it must be true
Paul Bernard
169 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:39:35
£40M Sell him. His stats look impressive in terms of recovering the ball and such, what people don't see is that its him giving the ball away to begin with.

Gana would be great in a midfield three containing one 'enforcer' and one 'playmaker' alongside him. He isn't the holding midfielder because he has no discipline, he isn't the playmaker because he has no technical ability, as gylfi holds the third attacking midfielder spot, Gana just ends up running out of position like a school kid.

We need to look at pushing Gomes further forward with a player like Allan from Napoli (not likely at 28) or a Gareth barry if you like to sit deep and literally protect the back four.

Ed Prytherch
170 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:46:28
Gana is a good player, good enough for PSG. There is no doubt that we will miss him in the short term but selling him is good business and it will help Tom's development which may be better in the longer term. Brands made a business of selling good players for good money in his previous job. Buy young and sell old.
Kieran Kinsella
171 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:46:54
If we sell him, I assume it is the price we pay to balance the books and cover Sandro's wages.
Steve Ferns
172 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:48:36
Jay, don't stress yet mate. That report comes from another source which is Yahoo France. I wouldn't worry just yet. £26.5m seems a bit low as well.

Silva seems very determined to keep him, and surely we'd only sell if the manager gave his consent?

Martin Mason
173 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:51:55
What a dilemma. He is our best player but I ask myself was he the missing link that improved us and is he a bed-blocker for talent coming through.

For me, the answer to both is such that the business case for selling is strong. He will be brilliant in a side that needs only his destructive qualities; we may benefit from somebody who has additional qualities.

Looks like he's off anyway and great business, good luck to him.

Jay Harris
174 Posted 30/01/2019 at 14:53:24
You know what they say though, Steve. There is no smoke without fire and Sky don't usually make statements like that without foundation.

This will be a true test of whether Moshiri and the snake oil salesman back Silva or not.

If Silva genuinely wants him to stay, then he should be backed.

Brian Harrison
175 Posted 30/01/2019 at 15:02:07
I said in another post earlier that Silva made it very obvious in his interview last night after the game, that he had just spoken to the board and he confirmed that nothing had changed. Now if the board have sold him against the managers wishes, then who made that decision? Moshiri or Brands? Either way it will certainly put a strain on their future relationships if true.

There is no doubt that financially Everton are in a mess, but surely the owner should be telling the DOF to get rid of players who haven't kicked a ball all season rather than one who has played every week. I know, it's not easy trying to offload these players especially when you see how much a week these players are on.

Our wage bill dwarfs all the other teams in the Premier League apart from the top 6 clubs. But we are a mid-table club – not a club that most seasons qualifies for the Champions League. As Arsenal are finding out, when you pay Champions League wages to players when not qualifying for the Champions League, you're in financial difficulty.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

176 Posted 30/01/2019 at 15:11:00
Steve @ 163.

Gueye is a key member of the team in the way Silva has set the team up all season.

When Gomes was first introduced, it was all working fine and dandy right up to and including the 96th minute at Anfield, even though André had a tendency to have only one good half of football.

The forwards played a high non-contact press on the opposition defence in their own half, making it difficult for them to pass out to their midfield. When they did, we gobbled up stray passes and were well placed to counter in numbers.

Our defensive lines were also higher and more compact, thus squeezing even more the space the opposition had to play in. In this set up, Gueye was primarily the sitting midfielder, but also the seek and destroy midfielder of stray passes by the opposition.

Gomes was technically more capable, strong in possession, good close control and a wonderful knack of turning away and getting free of close markers. But they were also disciplined and interchanged if and when the opportunity arose in-game. Both players spoke of this in interview.

The challenge was always going to be when the opposition sought to counter this set-up, or injuries forced changes.

The first time Silva blinked for me this season making a selection more concerned about the opposition, rather than picking his side and challenging the opposition to deal with us, was in the absence of Gueye for the away game at Man City, he went with 3 centre backs and played Gomes and Sigurdson together in central. No need to repeat how that played out.

It is an exercise in futility to continue to debate the merits and demerits of Gueye on TW because individually opinions on the player are now fossilised.

I will just say this: depending on how determined the 'don't rate' him demographic is to denigrate Gueye, they make exaggerated claims that he can't pass the ball 20, 10, 5 yards, or that he has to make so many tackles to make up for his own misplaced passing.

Bollocks, all of it. This season he has displayed a consistently good range of short and long passing. When fit this season, he has continued to be one of the most – if not THE most – effective players on the park in the role he is asked to play.

Frankly, it bemuses me when people 'grade' his passing and say the completion stats are false 'cos, for example, Gomes and Sigurdson are attempting more adventurous passing. Such claimants are watching different games to me, because in the poor run since early December Gomes and Sigurdson are two of the worst culprits of giving the ball away cheaply on simple 5- to10-yard passes a Premier League footballer should be making with his eyes shut.

At least Sigurdson contributes with assists and goals, but Gomes has consistently been the poorest of our midfielders for 10-12 games now. But it is Gueye who bears the brunt of the criticism of the midfield set-up.

In this bad run, the forwards were not pressing as high or as effectively as before, Gomes was being crowded when he received the ball, to the extent that Silva clearly started playing him deeper (I presume in an attempt to get him on the ball more so he could better influence the game. Note to Marco: it hasn't worked) with Gueye being asked to patrol the width of the midfield area either side of the half-way line. A big ask.

That left acres of space to cover as the forwards were not tracking back as effectively as earlier in the season, and the defence – possibly out of lack of confidence and nervousness - dropped ever deeper. Last night against Huddersfield, the defence's default starting position was much improved of late, a good 10-15 yards further forward. This has been a systematic failure by the manager, who to date has not found an answer to his preferred system being found out by the opposition.

If Gueye goes, Silva will need to find a solution to how he has set up the team for the bulk of the season. It would be lovely if we could come up with the sort of replacement for Gueye with all the attributes you listed in a post a couple of weeks back.

But if such a fantasy player is available, or even existed, I rather fancy there would be some fierce competition for his signature from clubs willing to spend £100 million on a player with the skill set you asked for.

Steve Ferns
177 Posted 30/01/2019 at 15:26:41
Jay, I might just whip my phone out against Wolves and start taking some pictures and post them to Twitter. I have a great view from the Park End.

All I see time and time again is Gueye out of position. If I need to take my own pictures and post them so those watching on TV can actually see the problem, then I might have to do just that.

David Pearl
178 Posted 30/01/2019 at 15:39:29
Jay @173. He also played 3 at the back and a midfield of Gomes and Sigurdsson against Burnley. Just reminding you of that.

And Steve, Gana is out of position because of the role he is being asked to play. I'd stick with selfies.

Steve Ferns
179 Posted 30/01/2019 at 15:45:38
The Daily Mirror say that Everton have rejected a bid of £25m for Ademola Lookman.

It looks like we could be in for a rough 24 hours if clubs are going to be pecking at our squad.

If only they were in for Sandro, Schniederlin and Bolasie.

Andy Riley
180 Posted 30/01/2019 at 15:51:00
Just seen that there is a report in the French media that Marco Silva has threatened to resign if we sell Gueye? Wonder if there is any substantce to that?
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

181 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:01:18
David @ 175.

"[Silva] also played 3 at the back and a midfield of Gomes and Sigurdsson against Burnley."

Yessss...and..?

Horses for courses. I did a comparison at the time of the two times Silva sent out a starting XI with 3 at the back - against City and Burnley - when people were discussing the merits of continuing with it or not. Coincidentally, Steve Ferns complimented me on my analysis.

The set up in each game was not like for like. Firstly, it was foolish to experiment with it for the first time in arguably the most difficult away fixture of the season - away to City.

What Silva got drastically wrong in that game was he still allowed the full backs, Coleman and Digne, to bomb on, leaving ample space behind them for a team as talented as City to exploit.

The three CBs, unaccustomed to the system, did not know when to hold their position or go out to meet the challenge. Things only radically improved when, after conceding the second goal, Silva reverted to a flat back four.

The Burnley game was again a one-off. It followed a few days after a 6-2 mauling at home to Spurs, Gueye was still not fit to play the whole game, and it made sense to counter Burnley's duly delivered aerial challenge with 3 CBs.

But THIS time the full backs stayed at home more and both the defence and midfield was more compact and difficult to play through.

Agree with you that Gueye is clearly playing the role the manager asks of him and that this has varied as the season has progressed.

The biggest failing in midfield is Gomes, not Gueye, and the manager still trying to accommodate him.

Pat Kelly
182 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:02:30
Andy, I doubt that's true but maybe we could kill two birds with the one stone. If he resigns, we won't have to sack him and pay him off. Surely, he's not that stupid. What club would hire a manager who thinks he can hold the board to ransom?
John G Davies
183 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:17:18
Steve @179,

Ade has got a decent chance of developing into a good player.

If there was a possibility of a straight swap with Palace for Wan Bissaka I would jump at it.

Even better if we could put Tosun into the mix and have a double swoop for Wan Bissaka and Zaha plus give them the Gana money.

I feel Zaha is just on high end of the limit of the quality of player we could attract.

Kristian Boyce
184 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:35:28
The Silva to quit rumour is picking up traction on Newsnow, with a number of media outlets reporting it. Don't know how much truth is in it, but it supposedly came from a tweet by 'Paris United', which has a pretty decent reputation.

After the mass Silva out calls this past weekend, it would be ironic if this is true, with him walking and not getting the sack. It would also highlight where the power lies, with Brands flexing his muscle as the DoF.

Jamie Crowley
185 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:40:56
Silva, if he actually leaves when Gana is sold (if Gana is sold...) will have a serious reputation problem as a quitter.

It may only be the second time he's put it in neutral / park in his managerial career (Watford, here), but they are so close time-wise it'll seem he has commitment issues to just about all and sundry I'd bet.

Funny thing is my attitude. If he goes, he goes. Won't really bother me. If he stays, fine. Turn it around Chief, good luck.

Kieran Kinsella
186 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:41:01
If the Silva quit rumor is true I would call PSG back right now and say "just kidding we will take the initial bid."
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

187 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:43:15
Kristian, traction on Newsnow is no indicator of the legitimacy of the story.

All the media feeds will have picked this up from the same single original source, which could be an acne-ridden teen getting imaginative in his bedroom in any corner of the globe, or a hack journalist with column inches to fill and a deadline looming.

Kieran Kinsella
188 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:43:39
There is an acquaintance of mine (different industry than football) who has made a career for himself by bouncing from job to job for about the last five years. He gets through the first 3 months or so of training, then during his first production quarter he always jumps ship and goes somewhere else. He has never really been proven to be shite at his job as he always quits right before he has been found out. I think Silva is cut from the same mold.
Jamie Crowley
189 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:49:10
"Which could be an acne-ridden teen getting imaginative in his bedroom"

Boy really needs to troll around the internet more.

Kieran Kinsella
190 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:53:04
Latest rumor from France is that Everton tried to Peter Johnson Silva by selling the player over his head but he threw a fit and said he would quit so they have now decided not to.
Tom Bowers
191 Posted 30/01/2019 at 16:59:20
Hard work is always hard to criticize but there has to be some impact from it. Running for 90 minutes and achieving nothing is something any 16-20 year old can do.

I see some Everton midfielders doing this but the tackling is weak and far too many opposition players come away with the ball in that middle third.

I agree Gomez has been nothing like he was when he first came in and Bernard has scarcely been seen but Silva has to take the blame for constantly starting them.

Sadly Everton cannot match paying exhorbitant wages to top class players who sit on the bench most of the time as the so-called top six can do and until that can happen then Everton will remain a mid-table team.

Brian Williams
192 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:01:38
The "Silva threatens to quit" story is IMO "friends" of PSG helping them to save face in failing to sign Gana.

They spout shite that a deal was agreed but it only fell through because of the threat from Silva.

Saves them looking bad for refusing to pay a decent fee for a decent player!

Brian Harrison
193 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:01:47
I like everybody else have no idea if its true, but if it is it would be very worrying.

As Brian Clough said to Sam Longson his chairman at Derby, Sam you just write the cheques and leave the football to me. Good Chairmen should be seen and not heard as most know absolutely nothing about football.

Again, the story might be a load of nonsense and let's hope it is, but when a Chairmen starts getting involved in buying and selling players then you're in trouble as a club.

Jay Harris
194 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:03:46
Although I don't rate Silva, I totally agree with this stance.

Moshiri promised we would not sell our best players and to do that when the manager and the team is under intense pressure and scrutiny does not bode well for the club.

I see teary Bill's hand in this "Ok Gana if this is what you really want we will be good to you as we were with Rom".

Steven Astley
195 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:04:39
Phil #157 - nothing idiotic about the comment. Players in his position drive teams on to the next level and dictate games.

Take a look at Fernandinho, Kante.

His position is "ten-a-penny" in the market. We are also well stocked with other players at the club (McCarthy, Beni)

Then look at how the club has performed since we have signed him. Yes he may appear in Opta stat tables for high amounts of successful tackles etc. That's great for him on a personal level, but he's hardly pushed us on has he? Same could be said for the team he got relegated with.

Tony Twist
196 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:05:13
Silva to quit, well we live in hope!
Jamie Crowley
197 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:08:17
I actually think Brian Williams might be on to something with the "friends of PSG in the French press" theory.

If Silva actually is threatening to leave, I'd sell Gana on principle.

The hierarchy is set up with Brands above Marco. If the Club decides to sell Gana, manage what you have ya whiner!

Take some cues from Sarri. Manage the players you have.

Tony Everan
198 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:15:33
Is this indicative that Brands is not impressed with Silva so far and that he can be overruled without too much worry?
Eddie Dunn
199 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:24:56
Paul Mackay 155, If you read what I said more carefully, you will see that I was not suggesting that Davies should sit deep, but run around hassling the opposition. Gomes can sit.
John Pierce
200 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:27:27
The rumours around our better players will only intensify and persist.

Gana, and Lookman both subject to speculation.

I posted the about failure of Silva to control the short term, arresting the slide quickly rather than ‘working through it’. It will give both players and other clubs reason to want away and bid for our better players.

If you don’t control the short term there will be no long term.

That’s the price paid for being mediocre, you invite thr Wolves to the door. Rinse & repeat for the last 24years.

With our season over, other teams can smell the weakness. So if we sell we just have to start again. But it’s a situation entirely of our own making. Mediocrity.

Jamie Crowley
201 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:37:05
The Wolves will arrive at the door this weekend, no?

Getting my coat and all that.

Julian Exshaw
202 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:39:09
Would Silva quit over this??
Jay Harris
203 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:51:48
Julian,

He may well have been put under pressure for results and is responding accordingly like "How can I perform when you sell players that I want to keep and won't buy players that I want?"

I have a feeling the same thing happened with Moyes and Koeman.

Pat Kelly
204 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:57:58
Another point, if the rumour were true and Silva forced the club to keep Gueye against the player's wishes, what sort of relationship would he then have with Gueye? Brian #192, you may well be right.
Paul A Smith
205 Posted 30/01/2019 at 17:58:56
Why would he quit? like somebody above says and risk losing millions. Plus if you believe rumours, there has been a transfer request from Gana.

I suppose it may depend on what Silva has been told he has to achieve? Maybe he would feel hung out to dry by selling and not buying but I think the writers are playing games, to be honest.

I did just hear from a mate we want Drinkwater for £20 million so who knows.

Jamie Crowley
206 Posted 30/01/2019 at 18:31:18
Hung out to dry Paul? How much money did we spend in the last window? Where's our position in the table?

No. Not for me. If that's Silva's mindset, he needs an attitude adjustment.

Ray Said
207 Posted 30/01/2019 at 18:42:33
If the rumour is true that Silva threatened to resign if Gana is sold then I think he is on borrowed time-he may be on that anyway.

I think that most managers who have worked in european football are now coaches only and are well used to the D of F making decisions about who gets sold and bought. Its more common in the Premier League now as well. If its the way our club is structured now then Silva has to bite the bullet and accept this may happen or pack his bags and look for his third club in three years. Financially the club would benefit and he would lose if he left under his own steam. Silva's reputation may be damaged badly if he demonstrates he is unwilling to bend the knee to the D of F on these issues.

On the evidence of this season he has more than enough work waiting for him out on the training pitch as I cant name a single player he has improved during his time here and should crack on with that rather than banging heads with the D of F who is also a board member.

Paul A Smith
208 Posted 30/01/2019 at 18:46:17
Yes' Jamie. Regardless of what he bought (and it wasn't enough) any manager would at least expect with less than half a season left, they get to keep the players they need to achieve what the board want. We have loaned in 2 regular starters. That's hardly a sign the club has bought what we need.Thats why I said "he may feel he has been hung out to dry".

If the board want 7th? With no real goalscorer and selling another guaranteed starter, he literally will have been hung.

Neil Copeland
209 Posted 30/01/2019 at 18:51:23
Perhaps the board want Silva to quit.
Jamie Crowley
210 Posted 30/01/2019 at 18:52:53
I have to respectfully disagree Paul.

Marco's had more than enough backing this past summer. Winter isn't the best time to buy when you're in 8th place, with nothing to really play for. And if that means selling an asset so you're poised to buy another player (striker!) come summer, for you and your team, as the manager?

That's sound business, not being hung out to dry. You do the best with what you have and look to bolster in the summer.

We're not talking about 4 fire sales of starting players here. We're talking about a single player, 29 years of age, who supposedly wants away. I don't see that as a rug pulling, hung out to dry exercise.

There may be something afoot as well behind the scenes. We'll never really know I suppose.

Paul A Smith
211 Posted 30/01/2019 at 18:57:51
That could be true Jamie I am just stating the board might want top 7.

If that is the case they should never expect him to "just go with what he's got" and expect a progressive run of form.

Maybe it's not the case and they don't mind being anywhere above relegation? If so, I don't see him staying.

I obviously don't know but I assume the board will have given him a target?

It may look like it's the wish of the board if the rumour is true.

John Pierce
212 Posted 30/01/2019 at 19:09:11
The resources and spending are in line with a minimum of 7th. If Moshiri is ‘pissed off’ and wants at least that it is to be applauded. Sounds like he doesn’t think we are in transition if he and the board are flexing their muscles.

You cannot build any reputation by floundering around in mid table obscurity. If we were 7th and at least trying for sixth and still in the cup, especially given this seasons draw, we’d be buyers not sellers.

We remind me of a NHL team going nowhere wanting to tank and rent their UFAs players down the stretch. Stunningly average.

We are under a DoF model, coaches are expendable and the DoF gets to sell and buy as he wants.

Silva knows that, if he quits, it just strengthens the suspicion he ain’t good enough.

Ryan Holroyd
213 Posted 30/01/2019 at 19:28:22
Silva isn't going to quit a £4M-a-year job.
Brian Harrison
214 Posted 30/01/2019 at 19:30:55
Alan Myers, who is in the know, said none of this is true; that will do for me.
Steve Ferns
215 Posted 30/01/2019 at 19:38:42
Silva’s career is in tatters if he leaves now. No matter how he’d try to spin it. No way would he resign. He’d also not get a payout.

As for all this talk of Brands being able to sell above Silva’s head and being Silva’s boss, do not be so sure. It’s more that they work together and in tandem. Brands can’t fire silva. He can only recommend such. Brands also said no player comes in or out with Silva’s agreement.

Anthony A Hughes
216 Posted 30/01/2019 at 20:23:29
Shite times here. We're here discussing the possible sale of our best performer (no goals or assists) this season while the Redshite are well on the way to winning the league tonight.

I saw one comment on another thread celebrating the fact we're in 2nd place in the "best of the rest league". Fuck me... is this what we've become?

Frank Wade
217 Posted 30/01/2019 at 20:24:11
Per #130 & Jay #176, brilliant posts and analysis.

Steve, if you get your phone out and start taking photos of gaps in our midfield at the Wolves game, do remember that Gana is following Silva's instructions. The same Silva, who is determined to keep him. The same Silva, who you rate so highly as a manager. Seems Silva rates Gana as highly as the majority do.

Like Jamie, I will miss him if he goes and will start watching the PSG games as well to enjoy his brilliance.

For Andrew #138. Your pound coins would be a lot safer with Gana and you'd have a lot more. I looked at the dreaded 'stats' for the last game he played v Millwall. Gana made 55 successful and 9 unsuccessful passes plus another 8 successful contributions, being fouled, tackles, interceptions etc. Gomes was next with 42 successful v 11, Gylfi had 16 successful v 3, Richarlison had 19 successful v 10, plus a successful contribution of a goal.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned, the B word. I think Gana's wife is French, so with the turmoil that B is destined to bring, it would suit them better to be living in France and in Europe.

Steve Ferns
218 Posted 30/01/2019 at 20:30:11
Frank, I know that. If Silva was frustrated at Gueye, he’d drop him and play Schniederlin.

I prefer Silva tactics as played by his sporting side to those of his Everton side.

William Carvalho never went wandering. He held position. He took the ball off the back four and knocked it short and fast to Adrien Silva or Joao Mario. I want to see a midfield three who play this way.

There’s no place for gueye and probably not for Sigurdsson in such a midfield.

Oliver Molloy
219 Posted 30/01/2019 at 21:22:33
I would say the only player Silva "signed" was Richarlison, the rest of the arrivals were down to Brands most likely.

Obviously this would have been discussed with Silva, but it is down to Brands to find the talent now and so far he hasn't really impressed me.

Regards Gueye, he is 29 years old and has a CL club after him packed with some magical players.
What footballer given the opportunity wouldn't want to play with the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, Cavini, Alves, Buffon, Rabiot, De Maria, Silva and the rest.
Like any footballer he wants something to show at the end of his career, medals and he ain't going to get them with Everton so for me it's an absolute no brainer, this is a huge opportunity for him.

I agree with MK and I think it's very obvious Silva is looking after number one by saying he really wants to keep him at the club etc etc.

In saying this I do believe if the club are going to sell, they should set the price and if PSG don't match it, tell them to fuck off as he has been a good performer us.
If he goes he will be missed and Silva knows it!


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