Stalemate at the London Stadium

Pickford
Coleman Mina Holgate Digne
Walcott Davies Delph Bernard
Calvert-Lewin Kean

Subs: Stekeleburg, Baines, Schneiderlin, Sidibe, Niasse, Gordon, Gibson.

No Michael Keane at all.

Interesting that Carlo has gone with Coleman at right back rather than Sidibe for a tricky away game with players missing.

With the absentees, happy to see that midfield from what we have available.

Good chance for Moise Kean to shine. The bench does look thin, however.

Edit: FT 0-0 for Spurs. Come on Blues, let's win 13-0!

The centre midfield battle between Davies and Delph vs Noble and Rice could be the biggest factor of the day. Our 4 midfield boys need to be on the top of their game.

Come on you Blueboys !!!!

I keep calling you the new Sandro partly cos it looks true but partly because I'd love you to prove me completely wrong

Yes he's 19 but in football things won't wait around for years, if he's to start laying down some foundations here he needs to grab games like today with both hands, work his socks off and maybe a lucky break might come his way.

Sidibe has been poor the last couple of games. Maybe his head has been turned by the "Milan" opportunity so I feel it was correct to put Seamus back in and he is the only senior "Captain" available.

Like everyone else I have a feeling this is the turning point for Moise Kean and hope he does the business today.

Mina is a bit of a concern considering he was doubtful up to yesterday so lets hope he is not too troubled.

Both teams have similar goals for and against but West HAme were aided by that 4-0 against Bournemouth.

I see this game as much tighter and predict a low scoring game with the Blues edging it.

COYB

Simply highlights our lack of quality in midfield. Quality central midfielders are a priority.

We are very poor in possession and on the ball. Far too ponderous in moving the ball through the lines. Only Mason Holgate a couple of times has stepped forward boldly to break the lines.

Credit to Moyes and WHU. They are pressing us high and catching us on the ball time and again.

Stupid free kick given away by Delph. Really poor defending on a nothing ball for their goal. Good corner by Digne. Vital near post header by Mason. Excellent readjustment and headed finish by Dom.

Pickford has had to make a couple of saves, but his kicking has been poor. Coleman and Digne looking shaky defending their flanks. Mina very mixed. Mason possibly our best player.

In midfield we are struggling. Tom is trying to take the game to them and threading through some good passes into the forwards, but he has also been caught and coughed up the ball a couple of times. Delph and Bernard have both been even poorer. Bernard is clever with little dinked 1-2s around their area, which don't always come off, but you can see what he is trying. But he is nowhere near the levels he displayed last week.

Walcott has been almost invisible. Kean doing well. Dom getting very little service, but he's got his goal.

Carlo will not be happy with the ponderous passing and possession. More zip needed all over the park.

Interesting sub. Gordon on for Bernard!

This could be fun!

Off.

We don't score enough goals, we don't create enough chances, we were probably just about worthy of the point, a decent point but still not anything like what we should be for the money spent.

Little snippet, only Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have scored goals for Everton since Michael Keane netted at Anfield on December 4th.

Backs up the point I make, we don't get anywhere near enough goals from other sources.

Pickford and Holgate the standouts for me.

And how can VAR run a check on Ajeti back-headed nutter on Mason and not advise the ref to at least take a look?

The ball was nowhere near them. The WHU player only had one intention when making that movement. That was violent conduct and a red card all day long for me.

Ah well, another point in the bag. But not pretty.

Edit: Add Iwobi to the list, I forgot him.

My mates a forest fan, I told him that it's a lucky escape!

That's about 40M in transfer fees right there.

Christ.

Money required.. no getting away from it.

Obviously we're going nowhere until we can go on the road and get three points against the likes of West Ham, but we're an injury-riddled work-in-progress. Still just one defeat in eight league matches since Silva was dismissed, which is solid form.

I'm sure more than a few will be roasting Moise Kean on here, but as I type this in my Moise Kean jersey that I bought from the Goodison pro shop after the Wolves match... screw it, I'm all in. I'm nailing my colors to the mast and sticking by the kid, until the bitter end, if that's what it takes. I believe in his potential and think Ancelotti will eventually find a way to unlock it.

Peter, Delph was good second half but he was poor in the first. I thought he dropped a bit deaper, behind Davies and was better for it.

Delph looks to play only safe passes, and can't seem to be able to control the tempo of the game, which he was supposedly be able to.

Davis is a trier, but he makes far too many sloppy passes. It's one thing to play and get exposure, but I get the sense that, Davis doesn't seem he is learning to cut out the errors

The big plus is Holgate who is making the most of his opportunities, growing in confidence and experience.

I'd love to see him have a run of games in CM with our best 11. I think he has all the attributes to move forward and control the play more

Very lethargic team display again with no stand outs other than maybe Holgate.

Biggest sinners, Walcot, Bernard and Delph for giving the ball away, at least Davies was trying.

Not so long ago we wouldn't have come back at all from going one down! Think we just about deserved a point today.

Still optimistic for the future though!

UTFT

It gave us a little more control and throttled back WHU's forward thrusts. And when he stepped forward from that position, he was picking off the ball better and distributing it much better than anything he did in a poor first half.

But over the 90 minutes the entire midfield unit, whoever it was, was pretty poor.

This was game 2 of a key 5 game period for me.
Brighton 1-0 win
West Ham 1-1 draw
Newcastle home
Watford away
C. Palace home

We need to win the two home games and the a draw at Palace and a draw at West Ham isn't too bad. This sequence keeps us well away from the bottom few and then we go into a tough run of games with confidence and the pressure off. Confidence to try to win these games:
Arsenal away
Man Utd home
Chelsea away
Liverpool home

We got 10 points from the first five last season, so 11 would be decent this season. We got 5 points from the difficult 4 last season, but two wins (Arsenal and Man Utd?) would better this.

At times we play some of the most boring, uninspiring football in the premership.

Can't remember thier keeper having a shot to save and if Pickford, another player often picked out as a scapegoat, hadn't of made 2 world class saves we would of been well beaten.

Baines has to start on Tuesday. Digne was poor again and needs to be rested/dropped.

Great to see Gordon get 45 minutes and hope to see more of him for the rest of the season

Again I thought Holgate played very well and Davies buzzed around making some good important interceptions and passes.

DCL good reaction to guide the ball into the net for his goal and his usual busy self.

The other players in general did OK. Forward players wasteful in possession but defensively we coped fairly well.

Pickford made some crucial saves and it could be argued our best player which says it all.

I would have taken a draw before kick off and so it proved that's what we got.

Brian, we definitely need something to get the team moving, it was very stale in the first half, and I detest that passing across and back in front of our own goal!

If West Ham had been sharper we could have been a couple down, second half was much better, although it was still difficult to see where a possible winner was going to come from.

Michael K, you always manage to spare a few words for a piece of poor play by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, yet when he scores a well-taken poacher's goal it is merely “nodded in”.

I like that word "precision" especially. As opposed to "sentimentality" and "bullshit".

One funeral, but I seemily missed another one, reading reports and posts.

How can footballers who have played for years and years be so regularly unable to do the basics? If Carlo can get to grips with that particular flaw by the end of this season, he'll have done okay. Asking for European football with this group is asking for trouble. It'd be nice for us as fans but the team would be exposed home and abroad and we need to build belief - not have it destroyed in the early months of the next campaign, providing we get enough points to retain our top flight status of course.

Mr Brands's acquisitions thus far leave a lot to be desired, to say the least. I am beginning to think he is another top bullshitter taking the piss out if the club. The man needs to come up trumps and bloody quick before disgruntled fans like me start to question him publicly. He has been a disaster so far without a doubt.

It's a good job the Premier League is a shit league or we would be in reel trouble. Massive investment needed yet again to get a decent squad together but we need to offload the shite we have. And we all know that ain't gonna be easy.

I support the point you make in your second paragraph. It is so blatant I find it more amusing than annoying. Despite a lack of decent service and poor support Dominic again showed he can score goals and lead the attack very effectively. I think if Richarlison had been available today we might well have come away with three points.

The result is what I expected and not without merit.
Any points away from home are good points.

The teams above us, aside from the top 3, are not obviously superior, unimpressive though we may be. They all have similar problems. We should not write ourselves off this season.

Nearly 2 weeks now to get into them. And I'd also like to say I think Calvert-Lewin deserves praise for the finish.

The other 5 cost around £125 million (Pickford, Mina, Digne, Walcott, Kean).

Although Pickford played well today, and Mina has been ok this season, 4 of the better players recently come from the first list.

Just shows that you don't have to spend hundreds of millions if you get recruitment right.

You have raised an issue we discussed at half time. If we were to leave two or three players up the pitch when we are defending a corner or free kick, the opposition would push fewer players forward, leaving our defenders more free to attack the incoming ball. Or is that too simple?

Yeah the game was low on Quality, but we, more than anybody, should know that a lot of games involving Davey Moyes end up like that.

He may have only been there a few days, but I swear I could have named their manager even if I didnt know he was there. West Ham were industrious, aggressive and contested ball all over the pitch. Better teams than us will struggle to play fluent football against them.

Anyway The Center Half who many claimed was nowhere near good enough was MOTM - Again... and the championship standard center forward scored another in the premier league and is on course for between 15 -20 goals.

I'll take the draw and look for improvement next time

Mason Holgate was MotM by a country mile.

This squad is unfortunately very low in quality especially in midfield and so Ancellotti has got a huge summer in front of him.

The spine of our team is so poor. If we have any chance of competing with the top teams in the league then there must be a massive overhaul of this squad in the next year or so.

Make sure she doesn't watch MOTD tonight. Don't want to set her back.

Conclusion: we missed Richarlison, our threat is diminished without him. We need to trade up from Walcott to a more direct goal threat winger, Everton Soares? Delph needs more games and more sharpness but we are missing our first choice centre midfield. Gomes's quality would have have made a difference today and in similar turgid matches. A loan deal for a quality central midfielder may be wise considering Delph's injury record.

Good job his hair is already grey is all I will say bar Holgate not one of them deserverd to be paid today, And I don't give a fck about tactics etc, a 5 yard pass is a 5 yard pass and so is controlling the ball ? absolute basics and they couldnt perform it No courage is the issue , ,Shocking

@John Cook 108 , I had noted your family and yourself have had a very difficult Christmas I hope 2020 will bring some improvement in your situation and that of your wife. I am glad you are sharing with TW as it very much puts things into perspective

Best wishes from Dubin

Gordon had a decent debut. Relatively quiet for him but I suspect he was under orders not to try what he does so well for the U23s - just to give it and go, not to try anything that would lose us possession except in the final third at most. Can't wait to see him display what he does in the U23s.

We now have gotten a recognized manager of a winning reputation that has been given the task of getting us into the top 4 over the next 3-4 years. He will understand the problems he faces with the players he has, plus the ones he has on the injury list that he hopes will be available to him soon.

So far with the difficult amount of fixtures over the Xmas and New Year, with some good games,some poor ones and one disgraceful one, he is gradually demonstrating to the players he is not willing to except poor play from them, but without being able to change 5-6 he will have to continue to get us into a respectable position hopefully 6th and start rebuilding during the summer period.
The transfer period is now open but I think prices in January are overinflated and we may only bring in 1 player hopefully a dominant midfielder.

With clubs fighting to avoid relegation and others trying for European Cup spots there is not going to be any easy games in the premier, so I believe we have now got the manager, even if we have other poor performances in the future, to get us into Europe. He will need backing from the Board, and the supporters to achieve this, no matter how many titles and trophies he has won.

Today was a point gained, our goal keeper saved us today, but I expected better from Everton.

Today, the glass is half full etc, Carlo will have seen the real limit of this squad. It's a massive task, but if any one can turn Everton FC around, Carlo, can.

Reality, bites, but he knows where he is, and what he must do, with board backing, to get EFC, back.

Two years minimum, unless there's hyper budgets, I'm happy, but today, proved, that EFC, has a long haul, to get consistency, and to challenge the so called top six.

But tonight we are on par with The Gunners, bar GD.

In Carlo, we trust, and a point is a point.

The Bar Codes will be up, but we must beat them. This is a key game in the quest to try and stay in Euro contention.

I reckon it's possible, but EFC, must pull out some away days, from by gone times at the top teams, as we know them., to genuinely get into Europe.

It has been, done in by gone times, and can be done again.

For me today the midfield didn't loose, but they didn't win. Each to their own view.

Loads of positives, and each day, Capo Dei Capi, our Carlo, is galvanising the spirit of Everton Football Club.

Everton FC, Hope Eternal.

All have a Ball this weekend.

Two kids who didn't cost much money but were our two best players today. Holgate was the pick, but Calvert-Lewin was the only forward player who was providing any real energy, and this was the most disappointing thing about watching Everton today.

I know quality is what we all want to see, but a bit more energy, bravery and desire to really win would have seen us get the points today, and it's a good job we weren't at home during that first half today, because Goodison would have gone toxic within the first 10 minutes.

Why do we keep passing sideways and backwards even when we play two up-front? These players have been over-coached in caution, and Ancellotti has got a very difficult task, just even trying to change this mindset.

I'm away for a long weekend in New York & was restricted to sneaky looks on my mobile to check on the score given we were doing the tourist thing. I was getting increasingly suspicious looks directed at me, so can't comment on what I didn't see, but, facing a Moyes team & also for some reason West Ham away, I'd have taken a point had it been offered before kick-off.

Darren Hind: I take the hit on Calvert-Lewin. I was one of those who didn't think he was up to the standard. In honesty, if the bar (longer term) is to be challenging for the holy grail of Champions League & potentially titles, then I still remain sceptical. But, I was / am not critical of the player & continue to hope I get proved wrong again.

On Holgate; liked him as soon as I saw him. I think he has huge potential. We have to remember that different positions mature and peak at different ages. Forwards, generally younger, midfielders in the 25-28 bracket with centre-backs not really hitting their prime until about 28 bordering on 30. This is probably why we didn't see so much of Mason until now. And even now, there is so much more development and potential in him to come.

And, puhleeze, can the rest of you stop lambasting our new ones coming up?!? Unless they get the actual time to practice playing at Premier League level, how can they ever develop? Calvert-Lewin is now good-ish, Holgate as well, and Tom Davies is not too bad at all, some of the time... According to grudgingly admitted amendments.

All have been slated as useless at times because they were not 'George Best' type top quality at their normal, when they started plying their trade at the top level that is the Premier League, which now attracts the very best of internationals, incidentally... George Best and the rest of our old-timey heroes never faced that competition in their youth!

We all know who previously leapt for the money bags while not yet ready, but these guys want to do good for us!

I would actually want Carlo to reserve one spot in eleven for younger players who have not yet played more than 10 games at senior level. At this time, we all know there will be at least 1-2 senior players not deserving the call-up, so that might make them pull their, um "dung" together...

I think Gordon showed good fight today, even if he was not used to the level!

Carlo is giving people a chance, even Oumar. However, some players are not showing that they aren't giving anything more than they did in the past and that coupled with the lethargic passing game particularly from the back is a problem that needs to be resolved.

With Gbamin back in training and hopefully Gomes not too far behind one hopes that the midfield strength can be improved especially if no new blood is available from outside the club.

The new lad Gordon looked decent so maybe he will see more time.

Fabian Delph, the People's Champ, proving that one right. The knobhead.

If we can add three players in the summer and players coming back from injury, top four is not completely out of the question. Keep believing!

I too was one of the hyper-criticals regarding Calvert-Lewin so I will praise him now that he's doing well. I still wouldn't put "top forward" or even "future top forward" next to his name due to a few weaknesses that he should have ironed out by his age, but the bottom 12-14 teams of the Premier League is riddled with adequate strikers who can score 8-12 goals a season.

Going back over the last few years, I was always optimistic about Davies. With every match though I'm becoming less so. Effort will get you so far, and he's got the occasional good pass, but he's just not showing the control or decision-making that a reliable midfielder needs to succeed. I do hope I'm wrong, but at his age, and 100 plus games, he shouldn't be making the same repeated mistakes so often.

I didn't think it was a foul by Delph that led to their goal, he got the ball first. Nice for Calvert-Lewin to score and for Holgate to get the recognition he deserves.

Roll on summer and we can get rid of the deadwood. Hopefully then get some quality in. I've been very impressed with Ancelloti.

Hardly surprising is it, with all the injuries the line up is different every week

A draw away at West Ham isn't a surprise either. Two months ago we lost a game like this, after going behind. Home or away.
But without either of our highest scorers from last season on the pitch, and missing most of our midfield there are not many goals in our available players. Bernard is hardly prolific in either scoring or assists, Walcott? We all know he isn't going to be a major threat.
Win home, draw away.

Christy Ring, I agree that we could use a midfield enforcer and we loaned ours out – Mo Besic.

I have only seen Everton able to do one without the other - they seem mutually exclusive. This may be the difference between average Premier League players and good ones.

And our squad seems rather heavily weighted on the average, unfortunately...

This is probably the longest period in 5 years that he has been fit. Unfortunately we could use him now but I think, from a realistic standpoint, it was the right idea to sell him. We have been hugely unlucky with injuries, but he would have been a squad player at most and he wants first-team football. Good to see he is getting that.

This match could have been won. He should have kept Walcott on longer. Loosing balls around midfield almost caused heart attacks.

I hope fans don't abandon the manager and team. How do you kill a racehorse? – break its leg... and the fans would do it themselves.

Most of West Ham's first half chances came from us giving up possession in midfield and if we sign just one player in this window it must be a midfield enforcer. Failing that, I'd move Holgate there.

Bernard continues to be an enigma; great one game and hopeless the next! Stand out player was Holgate but Kean continues to disappoint.

Just a word on the London Stadium. I think it's the most soulless stadium I've ever been in. Even in row 8, behind the goal, the pitch seemed miles away and I reckon the first 15 rows would be soaked in the rain.

I'm (very) pleased that Pickford, Holgate, Gordon and Calvert-Lewin showed up today. Delph grew as the game went on, as did Yerry Mina. Digne looks like he is still labouring with something? Maybe Baines for the Newcastle game?

I thought Gordon was the pick of our midfield players in the second half!

I hope Richarlison is fit for next Tuesday, as we look toothless without him; also, his work rate allows more time and space for Bernard, who had the game pass him by today. Even Iwobi, whom I personally don't rate coming back, will help with the balance, ie, someone who can play right midfield. Like others too, I don't see Gbamin playing again till much later in the season, and Gomes will have to be a case of 'slowly, slowly creepy monkey'.

Carletto made sensible substitutions today, and if anybody thinks that it is just big Dunc who has passion, I hope you witnessed Carletto's attempts at getting the lads geed up? I thought he was going to send Dunc on a couple of times to 'talk to' a couple of players!

Anyhoo, a point away is better than none, especially with so many missing. I'd have liked to have seen Gibson tried today, but not to be.

@John Cook, great news re your wife, and I hope she can indeed return home soon. And when she does, with your help, she will recover and recuperate better there than at any hospital. Good wishes.

Revenue coming in and wages of the books. Just need to get Oumar 'Bambi' Niasse off the books now too, especially at 㿣k pw.

The only reason I am actually posting is to indicate that I am still delighted that we signed up Ancelotti. I just feel confident that he will get the best out of our younger players and also get the experienced players to show what they "should" be doing. Tremendously impresed by Holgate who clearly demonstrates that wise loans will prove to be to Everton"s benefit. Calvert-Lewin is also showing just what he can do. However, he can still improve.

I would still like to continue to give more chances to the likes of Gordon. I still see something in Kean: despite the fact that he really hasn't done anything remotely special, there is just something there.

I thought Gordon was the pick of the m f'ing players too. Lol.

I have to say I was livid with those players. The amount of poor passing under little duress was astounding.

That XI executed next to nothing. The simple skill of passing it 10 yards, with the correct foot, right weight and direction, so a teammate doesn't need to adjust, was absent.

We wonder why the team has no tempo or urgency. When that basic skill cannot be executed, we stall, turn back and begin again. Only Holgate came close to passing well.

Some players just cannot stay in that team on that basis. Coleman, reliant on his instinct and athleticism, is exposed for the poor technician he is now his physicality is waning.

Walcott is the very definition of instinct: if the ball is not quick and early, he is devoid of any quality.

Pickford too was awful with his feet, finding touch more regularly than Jonny Wilkinson. This needs attention because we just cough it straight back to the opposition.

Sadly, what annoyed me most is the longer ball was the answer, it gave us a foothold and allowed the team to squeeze up. We neglected it until we fell behind.

Ah well. That game will be very quickly erased from memory.

From what I can see he has no movement, anticipates nothing, attitude to things going wrong in the game is dreadful, passing is poor, decision making awful, and he's got a complete lack of awareness when the game breaks down. He just goes missing.

I've seen literally nothing to indicate any promise. Is he fast at least? He doesn't really look it.

I'm sure he can't be as bad as we've seen but I wonder if we've been conned here. Even taking into account settling into a new country, new club... you'd still expect to see a few basics?

After the game I went and looked at his Juventus highlights. There isn't anything there of real note. Has he ever done anything to indicate he's a great talent? Surely just a little bit of it would be on camera?

For all the stick Oumar is getting on here, he had so much more impact than Kean.

He's had Ronaldo, Shevchenko, the polish german guy I won't even try to spell, to name but a few. But yesterday he had Niasse to call on.

You are being very harsh on the young man... but I cannot disagree.

His Juve highlights show him as some ‘fox in the box' type. Granted, he hasn't had too many opportunities to score goals for us but he hasn't even got close to being in the right positions.

His technical ability is great, if you're Oumar Niasse, who no longer holds the title of ‘Least Gifted' player at the club. To think Lukaku got grief for his first touch. The very worst of it is he actually seems unfit. That is inexcusable.

He's a young lad and he will obviously be given time but, the more I see him play, the less optimistic I am.

That said, I'll cheer him on and root for him while he's in an Everton shirt. I sincerely hope he can turn things around and be a good player for us. Ancelotti clearly has some faith in him.

I know we have a few missing through injury but, even allowing for that, there is nobody in midfield that can direct the game, and the amount of wasted short passes is verging on ridiculous.

I like Tom Davies but several times today he won the ball and passed it forward without looking, usually back to the Hammers. It wasn't as if it was a high tempo game, with little time to think either.

I don't know who from our Board were at the game today but, if they can't see the glaring deficiency, then God Help Us!

There are several people who post regularly, hammering everything about Finch Farm, but we got Calvert-Lewin and Holgate in their teens and we have had Gordon and Davies from School. That's four players who cost a combined total of ٠.5M who have all been developed right here.

The same people have battered away at Ferguson and Unsworth, both of whom stepped in to save us after foreign managers earning a fortune had sent us into free fall towards oblivion.

Maybe these people will now start to look at the 𧽴M we have spent on players and managers who have only ever managed to get us into deep shit and they will get down on their knees and thank the lord for Finch Farm, which costs the club a pittance to run.

Judging by the things Ancelotti has said (and done), he clearly sees the benefits of our home grown talent. He will have at least four players involved next week and he will definitely have the "living stealer" at his right hand.

This is a very big job Ancellotti has taken on, because I've never seen a team want to play the ball backwards, as much as this Everton team, and the amount of times Pickford could have threw the ball to one of our midfielders, for them to turn and go forward was staggering, especially when he waits another 15 seconds, and then gives it to Mina, to give it to Holgate, and so on, before it comes back to him anyway so he can launch it?

I don't care how good a manager Carlo is, because if players can't or won't think for themselves, they are never going to improve.

The damage that Koeman et al have caused cannot be rectified overnight, but I do believe we have the right team in place at the helm. Yes there are a few 'bad apples in the barrel' but because of contractual issues, none of which has been initiated by those in charge now (apart from a certain Board Member) and can't be changed immediately, but we will get there in the end.

Honestly, though, I just can't see it.

Our points return since Silva left is very decent indeed. Especially considering some (like ever season!) had us marked down for certain relegation.

Calvert-Lewin picking up goals regularly now and teaching the many on here that repeatedly labeled him a Championship player at best that patience can be a virtue. A big dose of it may be required for Kean.

We still need a central midfield and I expect that to be addressed before the win down shuts.

Am feeling optimistic once more and given how poor the other teams through 4th-10th I think we still have a 50/50 shot at Europe if injuries can be a bit kinder.

Brave post, but well done for saying things as they are. There's not much to disagree with.

I wouldn't give up on the kid just yet though, even though he has a lot to learn about the game over here. The game passed him by yesterday, I think he will be better suited to being used for home games, for now, where we are more on the front foot.

It's catch 22 for him, he needs matches but is not yet good enough to start.

DC-L or Richarlison will not be sacrificed for his inclusion for the forseeable future. The inevitable upgrade to Walcott with the likes of Everton Saores will be further competition for him to start. I want the lad to do well, a lot of us can see a player in there somewhere, but I am concerned for his development.

Not starting games at this stage of his career will be damaging, I can see the kid going on loan to a decent Italian club with a guarantee of playing time. He will return a better player.

Pickford is clearly good enough and Holgate has surpassed all expectations at center back and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the England set up for the Euros.

1. How good could they look alongside genuine class players. This suggests trying to sign some ready made 25 / 26 / 27 year olds who are Champions league class. Expensive. Hit and miss. Not many such players would join us right now.

2. Shouldn't we therefore focus on bringing in more like them. This is the 18 to 22 year old group. Up and coming. Less expensive. More motivated. Would come.

Option 2 is clearly the way to go. It does, however, probably mean putting up with walcott, schneiderlin, sigurdsson etc while their bumper contracts run down. Although the idea drains the life out if me it isn't so terrible as all offer something. There might be some exceptions to this strategy now and again (obviously barry was good for us and milner is good for them). In the meantime I think kean, iwobi, gordon and maybe gibson will add to our good young spine - and we should be focussed on providing them with a route to the first team which holgate, davies and DCL (championship at best) only got because of injuries.

There's a part of me that thinks that Silva over-coached the players to the point of confusion. Several of them appear to still have that habit of pondering on the ball, compounded by the lack of purposeful movement from the midfield.

It doesn't matter how much you get paid, changing habits takes time. That's Carlo's biggest task with these players.

David 182- I know what you are trying to ask but that question makes me so annoyed. Holgate is clearly our best defender at the club and I am convinced he will easily become our best PL centre half as he is the most complete one in terms of defending and playing and has so much more scope to improve physically.

Tom has been our best midfielder this season which I know doesn't say a lot but he started as fifth choice and has forced his way into the team. DCL has become our main man in terms of what was his biggest weakness so offers great hope for continued improvement.

Why have we to expect that these guys have to be superstars? There are players like Darren Fletcher and Jordan Henderson who weren't any better at the same age and played key roles in top teams because they improved around better players.

We have so much shit at this club who have stunk the place out year on year yet these super lads who always give their best come in for constant stick. We have 20 players or so to worry about before these guys.

Even young Moise now is becoming the new whipping boy. When Silva wasn't playing him he was getting the grief and now that Silva was proved right in that he's not up to the pace of the PL people are now turning on the player.

Again this is a 19yr old who has unquestionable ability. He is quick, athletic, strong and has an eye for goal. He is coming to a foreign league where everything is too fast for him and he looks so lost. We all wanted better but if you look at how other players struggle with even more experience then it shouldn't be a big surprise that he's not finding his feet. I heard an Arsenal fan tell me that Pepe was the biggest waste of money ever on a PL player yet in the last month he is starting to show what a quality player he is going to be.

So a lot to be positive about, sometimes the talent is right under your nose if you look hard enough, and Ancelotti indicated a couple of weeks back that he wants to see more of our Under 23 squad involved in the first team squad. Anthony Gordon was also given another run out yesterday, just proving that Ancelotti was true to his word. Our problem is how we get shut of many of our under performing senior players. Most are on wages that only clubs who qualify for the Champions league can afford and sadly none of these over paid players would get near a Champions league team. So getting them out of the club is going to be Brands hardest jobs. I see it was reported the other day that Niasse had turned down 2 possible moves to 2 Championship clubs, lets not forget the man who bought him Martinez didnt fancy him having watched him in training. I think we have at least 7/8 players who need moving on to allow Ancelotti and Brands to bring in the quality players we need.

We all know our current injuries however looking on to Tuesday, if Richarlison isn't fit I'd play Gordon right and Walcott with DCL up front.

Moise Kean. Wow. I saw him try to control a pass and have to chase back 40 yards as he tried to keep possession. Yes, give him time but he looks a long way off. He can't be enjoying himself, he can't find space.

It was like watching a kids game yesterday all the mistakes.

Fortunately, Brands and Ancelotti know better so all four will be regular fixtures in our first team squad next season. Unlike Sigurddson, Schneiderlin, Niasse, Martina and Walcott who will be sold provided we can persuade anyone to buy or loan them.

Keen has to adjust to the speed and physicality of the league, playing with new team mates, a new manager and settle in to a new country and culture. He also has to mature as a person and a player. He needs time and minutes - lots.

Under Silva, Davies and Holgate gave him a month or two stay of execution due to their performances even though he only initially played them due to absolute necessity.

Both Ferguson and Ancelotti have felt the love of our fan base in large thanks to the performances of DCL and Holgate. Big Dunc certainly deserves credit for invigorating the former but if both players had been injured for the last month we would be in deep trouble.

Take Carlos reign for example the only top performance was the Newcatle game and even then those two players were vital to the win. In all other games we have been very mediocre but their individual performances were the difference in amassing the points we have.

It's strange why we are even debating their value.

Now that Tosun has gone, plus hopefully a couple more off the books so we can get a one or two quality players in. Incredible to see we are 10 points off 4th spot. If we have the ambition we have to go for it now, not next season. Pity we wasted so much in the summer. Oh and last summer. And the summer before.

The lad can score but just doesn't fit into our system somehow, let's hope he continues in that frame, so we can start to recruit and build Carlo's team.

Bit pissed off with Niasse refusing to go to either Leeds or Forest who were both willing to take him, it may come back to bite him on the arse.

However, it can't get away from the fact that in my opinion if some of these young lads are starting 30 odd league games for us next season then no one can be surprised if we are not competing for the top 6, same goes for a lot of the senior players.

Before the cup game at Anfield people were saying we are only a couple of players short and then reality hit us hard.

This club needs a massive overhaul young and old players otherwise next season will once again lead to us having nothing of substance to play for after the middle of January.

Kean needs a run of games and needs to learn how to work with DCL.

Bernard didn't seem to be quite with it and gave the ball away far too often but he wasn't the only one.

Why Walcott lifted the ball in a final pass situation rather than play it along the deck baffles me!

Pickford's distribution was crap most of the time but occasionally was very good.

Overall I thought that Sidibe and Delph added some calmness to the side.

West Ham really played the high line pressure well and Moyes planned this well, knowing our players have been shit at this all season. Too much crap tippy happy for me. Players either understand this style and are composed or they or crap at it like our guys.

In all, a decent result to get a point but against an equally poor side.

And it's not even 20 games of 90 minutes he's played - his game minutes have been very limited. DCL had a poor goal return last season, couldn't hit the target, but he's now popping them in. Kean couldn't anticipate the movement of our other players or the movement of the ball yesterday or in previous games but hopefully that will come.

That's lunacy.

So quick to negatively judge. How'd that work out with DCL? I'd bet serious money that when Rooney came through the ranks, there were people on this very site saying he wasn't good enough.

Absolute lunacy.

Talk to me when he's 24 with hundreds of games under his belt.

West Ham have a huge club shop on the stadium concourse and it was heaving. They were even shifting 50/50 scarves!!

In comparison ours looks like a corner shop and we're obviously missing out on the opportunity to, as someone across the park once infamously said, 'sweat the asset'.

Hopefully, our abysmal retail offer will be addressed at B-MD.

I watched him at U21 level as Ireland are in the same group and he looks completely different gravy. At 19 he has achieved more than the likes of Henry and Kane and the former struggled intially in the PL also. it's too early to say whether he will be the next Eto or Balotelli yet.

Juve wanted to offer him a contract until Sarri came and he wouldn't have suited the technical style of the new manager. He had also problems with the fan base (racism) and with the dressing room senior figures so this may also have been a factor.

We have signed a player of great potential for the future so let's give him a little time to settle.

DCL, Richarlison, holgate, Davies, Gordon, Kean, Mina, Digne, Kenny, Gomes, Gbamin (hopefully), Iwobi, Bernard and Gibson are the only players I'd consider keeping. The rest are sellable in my opinion.

The rest have done nothing, when the chips are down, to warrant ever playing for us again...

This is going to take just as long to solve as it has taken to fuck up, possibly longer. Unless, and it's a big unless, we unveil four or five signings in the summer that really change our direction. This of course, is dependent on finding another mug to take our shite players...

My worry is he will turn out to be a bit of a Diego Forlan.

Forlan was one of a few player I can think of who's style simply didnt suit the English premiership League. Like Kean, he came with a reputation, but it didnt happen for him. at times he looked like he had never played the game.. Within weeks of leaving these shores he was banging them in left right and center - Often in European games against the very English teams he'd struggled so badly to make an impression against.

I coudnt agree more about Silva trying to Over-coach.

One really noticeable difference between him and Ancelotti. is the time it took to make a substitution.
Silva would often spend ten minutes filling substitutes heads with so much stuff they couldnt possibly have taken it all in.
Ancelotti gives them the nod has a very brief word and throws them on as soon as the ball is out of play.

Regarding the question of whether we can get top six next season with players like Davies, Holgate and DCL ? why wait until NEXT season. ? Despite Silvas best efforts we are only six points off season.

"Criticising Holgate, Davies, DCL and Kean while our discredited and over-paid senior players get barely a mention has been a trend on TW for at least two or three seasons. These youngsters have been the only bright spot in a poor season."

Agree with your final clause. These youngsters (and others) have been our primary bright spot for 2-3 seasons, not just this one.

But you are wrong to say the senior players have barely got a mention on TW for the last 2-3 seasons.

In that regard, TW is very democratic: there is not a single player who has escaped criticism and scorn by a few or many on here. Not one.

The summer transfer window would be a totally different prospect if we could qualify

As for Moise Kean, he is young and will improve. Harry Kane went out on loan from Spurs 2 or 3 times before he came good. I also remember Everton beating Wolfsburg home and away in the Europa League. Wolfsburg had a loanee, who did next to nothing in either leg; his name …. Kevin De Bruyne!

Is anything different now, with this squad?

We'll see.

The only question posed about the so called youngsters, some of them have been around for a while now, and it is a legitimate one, is to ask if are the they good enough to make it in the premiership on a consistent enough basis. Everyone has a different opinion of course, but we should all be able voice are opinions without being accused of wanting to destroy thier careers.

Kean turns 20 next month. Definitely, definitely worth being VERY patient with.

Darren #221, I've noticed the same thing about his first touch, but I have also seen some absolutely elegant first touches from him on occasion, especially bringing the ball down. I think it's possible that nerves/rushing, rather than lack of skill, is to blame for his problem with this.

If you criticise any younger player your out of of order and Your completely wrong etc.

There will always be some people who just moan about everything but there is also a lot of fans who go the other way and start saying Holgate for the euros squad etc after something like a dozen decent games.

We have got to face reality and realise we are miles off bring a top team and whilst every bad performance doesn't make us relegation fodder every half decent performance away at a team like West Ham doesn't make our youngsters the class of 92.

Contrary to popular ToffeeWeb opinion, I believe this is the toughest Premier League in ages and this will be born out by the team going down in 18th having the highest points total in ages, and also 6th having the lowest points total for ages. Meanwhile the PL clubs march on unstoppable in European Competition.

As things stand I would say that (and have done from minute one) that he is raw, and that his all-round game is lacking. Yes, there is a level of patience that fans would be well-placed to offer him, but he will have to live up to his teenage hype - or at least show clear signs of improvement - or he will prove to be another expensive transfer mistake. I generally am supportive of young players, DCL and Holgate in particular over the last few years, but that is because I saw things in their play and endeavour that were easy to support - with Kean it feels more like being asked to have faith rather than anything evidence-based.

In terms of Holgate, DCL and Davies as the spine of our team - I think Holgate and DCL are there on merit, while Davies is there out of necessity. I still wonder if he has the ability to make the position his own.

I think he's a better technician than both Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, but the others have scored goals this season with a terrible midfield, he's had the same ammunition. So yes there must be some improvement there.

He was bought for 30m so the raw material is good. The answer, for me, is hard work, something which he needs to adapt to. He won't get anywhere near starting until he works as hard as the front two. Both work like dogs, the bar is very high in that regard.

That for him is chicken and egg. He needs minutes for sure but he won't get the start unless he outworks his rivals for a spot.

He might get another start Tuesday?

What I find frustrating is when they get singled out when they are the least of our problems. Take Tom Davies for example when we were really struggling under Silva he was the standout player while experienced quality players like Siggy weren't lifting a leg. After only 2 games when Tom wasn't great there was a lot of crap levelled at him on here yet a guy with loads of ability got no more but was a passenger all season until Big Dunc came.

Supporters of Davies know that he might not be good enough to be a top player but there is no reason he can't continue to pull his weight. As I said he was our 5th choice midfielder at the start of the season and is fighting to start every game.

The top 6 argument is pie in the sky. Leicesters squad midfielders are Mendy and Choudhury, Utds are Matic and Gomes, Arsenals are Guendouzi and Willock. I think Tom wouldn't fear any of those.

Only City, RS and Chelsea have much better quality options. If we had Gomes Gbamin and Gueye ahead of him now there would be much less worries around him.

You are right, but until Everton play more like a team and individual players fulfil their roles, players like Kean will have difficulty establishing themselves.

Could we attribute the term "Midfield Dynamo" to any player in our current squad? Sadly, an emphatic no! Tom Davies is a tryer, but consistently makes too many bad passes, and is a lightweight, easily muscled off the ball. At best, he is an average Championship player. Carlo Ancelotti has his work cut out with the Everton squad. We have no guile, no brains, no skill, no spirit.
Some ToffeeWebbers go on about a "good away point" and seem happy with that – such low expectations have become the norm.

For over 25 years, we have had to endure rubbish performances week-in & week-out. As a spectator, and for the money we spend on the club, for once I'd like to be entertained. I cannot see this happening in the near future. Everton FC... RIP!

What's the point of arguing over the likes of Davies, Holgate and DCL. All three are good players worthy of a place in a mid-table side and well done to Unsey for bringing them on. Of course we'd like to be a top side and we have a proven manager who will work towards that end. But for now, have faith and stop seeing red. !

There are people on this very thread pleading for patience for Kean having battered DCL since he was a young kid... very funny.

Kean will get his chances under Ancelotti and if he is good enough. he will rise to the top

Holgate has been a class act since he got here. Silva made him a scapegoat for his brainless zonal marking and some poor judges jumped on the band wagon and dismissed him. He was off to WBA and he played very well even though he played right back - natural footballers can do that. Now he is back here playing his proper position and he is still a class act.

When DCL doesnt score, the people who hammered him as a young boy embarrass themselves by surfacing again to call him a championship player and you can bet your life that when Holgate's standards drop for a minute those who hammered him will be back ignoring all he has done to make daft arsed comments. .

Who cares what they say ? We got some fantastic young players and they will only get better. We just need to get our transfers right and start bringing in some top players to compliment them and we`ll be on our way

It's like one of those parables in the bible, where the three kids got loads of money. One spent it wisely, one squandered everything, but the only one who disappointed was the kid who buried his money, which is how I look at loads of our players at the minute.

The fact that not one player tried to reimburse the fans for that debacle at Anfield, tells me everything, because the bastards are definitely burying the money!

There is a sure-fire way to beat Liverpool, and that is to go and play football in their half? Make them think, instead of using the tactics, that they want teams to use, maybe?

I think you are getting your parables mixed up there mate. . And you a Cardinal Godfrey boy ?

I've forgotten the tale, but the moral of the story hasn't changed, especially when I watched West Ham, just put it in the channels sometimes, and end up with a throw-in 30 yards from our goal?

Mathew25, what we'd do for five talents now? And that Godfrey must have been going down the pan, by the time I got there!

None of their midfielders are special players. They do the basics with the confidence of having those players in front and behind.

I also read someone that Klopp tells them not to blow hard or sink to their knees when they're tired, to not let anyone think they're tired.

Tom Davies doesn't have to be a 'top' player. Like Holgate and DCL, he does need energy, purpose and organisation around him.

That's Carlo's job.

Aguero 73 minutes per goal
Salah 147
DCL 156
Mane 159
Sterling 160
Kane 162
Jimenez 194
Richarlison 239
Firmino 257

Link

I didn't think he was anything special, but he was still full of running, he looked strong, and he looked like he would have been able to do a lot more, with better players around him. Like you said, “players that play with a bit of purpose”

How can 'PL level' PROFESSIONAL footballers, not be able to pass and control a pass upto the 20m range? Our basic skills in the main were embarrassing yesterday. Rightly noted and mocked. On this display we're not the School of Science, its more like Nursery School, and baby steps...!

I laughed thinking he was talking turkey because you always hear the second will be greater than the first. For example Anton was touted as being better than Rio Ferdinand. He was adamant that there was no comparison between the two of them and he might just be right.

Partly a sheer lack of bollocks, to try a pass knowing it might not come off. That hardens an opponents belief you won't try anything different Or tricky. It allows teams to slowly close the net.

However the nub is the lack of urgency and execution of simple passes means we mis-control, often are facing back to goal and have to start again.

The group we have ATM are appalling passers.

Gomes, Digne, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Davies, Sidibe all have range, maybe Holgate but the rest are terrible. It's hurts us massively.

Ancelotti's pretty much said so yesterday or today, I forget which.

This approach kills players like Bernard who already have their next pass lined up in their head, as soon as we dither it's gone, the window closed.

Ultimately that's the players responsibility, however the manager is accountable for changing them when they don't or cannot execute.

I expect several changes come Tuesday.

Maybe we should push for Carlo to get his old team mate Mr Van Basten to spend a few sessions with him.

He's seems to have picked up physicality tips off Dunc, would be great to see what else he could pick up from a natural finisher

Even with Niasse, who I do not rate at all, I could form an early impression - that of honest trier with very little skill but someone who can sometimes finish with aplomb, albeit contributes little else.

If someone can tell me what to look for in Kean, I can perhaps make a judgement. He seems to go missing in games, is rarely on the ball and therefore impossible for me to form an impression.
I genuinely do not know what to think of him and yet desperately want him to succeed.

Unless I'm very much mistaken we still appear to be employing a zonal marking system.

He is 19 and should be given plenty of time to develop and come good. But once or twice yesterday he looked a bit knackered and dozy-arsed when it came to pressing and chasing West Ham's defenders down.

This is not a bashing, Richarlision had to learn it. Moise needs more fitness and awareness of the importance of this side of his game. Whether a player is 19 or 39, no team in the EPL can carry passengers and get away with it. DCLs goals are coming because of his insatiable desire to succeed, in training, every day and the dedicated hard work is paying off. Moise may even have more natural potential than DCL, only he can bring it to the fore.

There is plenty of optimisim behind Kean coming good, me included. The deal is that the fans need to be patient and Moise needs to work his socks off to get as fit as he can be [challenge himself to get fitter than DCL] and fully learn to adapt to the EPL and tune in to the the relentless workrate and focus that is necessary to succeed.

Moise Kean is an uncut diamond, raw and rough round the edges. One day he will be the jewel in the crown.

"But if his ability was unquestionable, (Connor #186) then why on earth would a massive Italian giant such as Juventus even consider releasing this 19-year-old 'jewel' for such a meagre fee? They chose to to cash in. We were conned. The kid is a dud. An Italian flash in the pan. "

I don't think his contract had much time left and he wouldn't sign another one so they had no choice but to sell.

People can take this as bashing. I've never really understood that. I bash Schneiderlin because he's a coward, but with Kean I'm just talking about ability. I don't think he even has the basics.

Yeah Serie A... Italy... U21... I know they should mean something. But what? What are people seeing that indicates potential? Do you see a good touch? Passing ability? Clever movement? Knack of being in the right place? Technique?

I don't see any of them. I see the opposite. No doubt settling into a new country at 19 impacts your output, but to the extent that you lose everything that makes you a footballer?

I've deliberately kept to his ability and kept away from his attitude... because I'll give him leeway on that side of things given age and circumstances. But I'm not a big fan of the on-pitch tantrums either. If you're not moving, and not in space, then complaining about the ball not getting to you seems a bit silly.

Whether there's potential or not, we can't afford to play a man down at the moment. There needs to be a better plan than just hoping he comes good.

When Gordon came on, it looked like Kean had a chat with him indicating to try to zip the early ball through for him to run on to.

I'm a firm believer that he will turn out to be a quality striker.

I suppose as a youngster (he still is) Juve saw something but he just hasn't progressed and despite the argument about lack of playing time he isn't showing that something special that warrants a starting position just yet.

It's a similar case to Deulofeu who was not regarded by Barca and was slow out of the blocks at Everton before a bad injury but Watford have persevered with him and he is doing very well with them.

Certainly I would like him to make it at Everton, along with Iwobi, but he hasn't taken his opportunities so far.

Any other business would be bankrupt now with these idiots at the sharp end. How can the team function properly when led by well-paid dickheads?

Unfortunately, that seemingly never-ending flow of money will keep coming as long as they keep us afloat!

Too many times did we see players turn back to our goal and make a short pass to another of our players under pressure or to Pickford, whose distribution was well below par. Laborious to the extreme. It is no surprise that our strikers rarely got a look-in!

Okay, the board is ultimately responsible for everything but is not taking the day-to-day decisions. These are for the different managers and, ultimately, the players.

I have the utmost respect for Ancelotti. If he wants to play out from the back he needs players with the confidence and know-how to execute this strategy.

Ancelotti has also adopted Zonal marking too. It cost us a goal against Newcastle and cost us another one on Saturday.

I wrote an article about Zonal shortly after Silva got here. I said then he would have to stop zonal, or it would eventually cost him his job.
I firmly believe he would still be here, pushing for European qualification if he hadn't destroyed confidence with all those goals we conceded through dead-ball situations.

Ancelotti is faced with the same problem. He either changes the players or he ditches Zonal. This group of players are very clearly not up to it. I winced when I saw the ease with which Diop powered above Kean and Davies on Saturday. I believe it would have been a different story had Mina or Calvert-Lewin been marking him.

He was asked specifically about our reputation for letting in goals from set-pieces and he essentially shrugged and commented along the lines that "this is football" and "lots of teams concede from set-pieces".

Early days of course and I know he ain't going to lay bare his true thoughts and potential remedies during a post-match interview. Body language and shrugs aside, I hope there is far more going on in his head and in meetings with Brands and the players.

I may be in a minority here but a tad more passion and irritation wouldn't go amiss – if only to let the fans know he's 'on it'.

I'm trusting his CV and undoubted record in the game and will keep doing that for as long as there is a reason to.

Darren – do I sense (very) early unease?

I mentioned above that as Diop scored Mina was (and had been) pulling on his arm. He was marking him but he still reached out a leg to pop it past Pickford. If he hadn't scored, it should have been a penalty.

We'd be only 8 points off 4th, 5 points off 5th.

This is game number 3 coming up against Newcastle, of 5 winnable games that would see us back near the Top 4-6 teams in the table.

If we are 2-3 points off 5th (or better) come that Arsenal game in February, fantastic. Then the season isn't entirely shot to hell, and we can play some games with real meaning.

I have been on about this run of games for a little while now. The four after that are difficult. But if we do as you say, and beat Newcastle, Watford and Palace, then we would be in the running for top 4. If you really want to close the gap then the easiest way is to beat them as you can really close the gap then. So playing Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal would be welcome.

After winning these six games, we then play the red shite at Goodison and smash them so badly they then fail to win another game and lose everything. That's when I wake up and realise that I'm only dreaming!

In an honest moment, we're simply not good enough for Top 4. Chelsea has a better team than us presently, in my opinion. But if we get close, you never, ever know what can happen.

And, tempering the above comment, I do believe we are going to see improvement under Carlo as we move forward. So if we're improving through this run of winnable games, you never, ever know what can happen.

Hope springs eternal, and it's the hope that kills you.

Knowing Everton, we'll get within 2 points of 4th place, have a chance to actually get to 4th by beating a top Club in 6-7 weeks time.

We'll lose, and finish 8th, lamenting what could have been.

I swear I'm a positive person, but I've seen this all before!

Top 7 is about right, said Phil Walling many times, but even Allardyce got us to 8th place, which is very easy to achieve once a team finds a bit of pragmatism in this league?

To get higher you need the things we are badly lacking, especially when we play away from Goodison Park, so let's see if we can sign a bit of quality, and drive, and then we might just get a little run for our money imo, mate.

When you look at our injuries, they have affected us massively. Reason being, they are in the same general area of the pitch – central midfield. Obviously I'm speaking of Gomes and Gbamin.

When injuries come, if they come in different positions, say a winger (American alert!) and a defender, and a central midfielder, teams of Everton's size can weather that storm. There should be enough depth in the squad to fill those positions handily.

When you lose two starters in central midfield, and now three with Sigurddson out, it's devastating. [Never mind Iwobi!] We're actually doing acceptably well considering this dynamic.

So for me, I'd like us to simply stay the course, get healthy, and add only 1-2 players of quality – one in midfield, and one at the back in the wider positions (left-bck for me, and I'd bring Kenny home to pair with Coleman on the right, and let Sidibe go back to his parent club after the loan).

If we're prudent and patient, over the next two years minding our outlay and improving our finances, while improving our quality with 1-2 signings in key areas, I think we'll push the Top 4.

And one more point - you can't underestimate the contribution our younger players will play in this ascent. Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Kean, Gordon, Kenny, Richarlison, et al. We have quality with the young kids. Patience, real patience, over the next 2 seasons will see us able to only buy sparingly and buy well.

Financial strength, solid team, world class manager. If the powers that be don't fuck this up, we have an extremely bright future. It just isn't going to happen over night. Thank Walsh, Fat Sam, and Ronald "Lest We Forget" Koeman for that. I don't blame Silva at all. He and Brands brought in some good players. Silva simply didn't have the tactical acumen required to succeed.

Onwards and Upwards.

American Footnote to make this post entirely too long:

In 1991-92 my NFL team, the Green Bay Packers, started bringing in some seriously talented kids. After the '92-'93 season, I genuinely felt we were a bomb waiting to explode. We signed this fella named Reggie White. No one will probably know who Reggie White is. He was a BEAST of a player. A defensive lineman who was simply the best I've ever seen. THAT was Green Bay's "big" signing. He, coupled with those kids, and quarterback named Brett Favre, saw us win the Super Bowl in the 95-'96 season.

Point being, I saw it coming. You could see the potential, and knew it was coming.

I have the exact same feeling about Everton. We've hired a man I really like in Marcel Brands. We now have a world class coach. We have a glut of potential with a bunch of kids in my opinion. We're 1-2 signings and some patience away from real success.

Health and consistency is the key. We have to stay acceptably healthy and keep our players. A career-ending injury or a few key transfers will reset the clock. But I don't see Everton selling any longer to be honest. I see a success project at its genesis.

I know Mina did have a tug at the guy who tried to get a foot on it, but the ball was already crossing the line. I think it's harsh to blame him as he is much more comfortable if you give him a big opponent to mark. He doesn't seem happy marking space.

We have too many players who are really piss-poor in the air to deploy zonal marking. Coleman, Digne, Walcott, Davies, Keane, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Schniederlin all offer little or no protection against centre-halves powering in on them. Holgate isn't much better than average in the air and Pickford makes Dai Davies look like Pat Jennings.

We can't do it. Every coach in England knows, if you can keep the ball away from Calvert-Lewin or Mina, you have every chance of scoring from a dead ball situation against us.

Jamie, you are ToffeeWeb's James Cagney, altogether now “I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy”, get over here and we”ll all sing it together. Going out now to meet my mates, we'll practice singing that at the end of the night in Ned Kelly's.

Dave, please have someone record that songfest on your phone -- and post it on social media. It'll go viral, I promised.

It was a great season overall.

Edit: sorry it ends 2022. Still needs sorting though.

For the most part, Mason Holgate is looking like and playing like the Everton captain right now. He has qualities that are setting him apart from most in our current squad.

I had not realised his contract situation was where it is at currently so it is little wonder that clubs such as Newcastle and Sheffield United are rumoured to be circling and if true, who can blame them?

Mason is needed here, right here, right now and the foreseeable future and medium-term certainly. Sort it NOW Brands!! Do your fucking job! Priority.

It's the scratch of what goes on at Finch Farm.