Richarlison eyeing progression at Everton

Not sure we should bank on who Richarlison wants at the club after reading the latest interview he's done with a foreign paper. Sounds very much to me like the lad wants out after our shocking season, and who can blame him?

That could cut both ways.

I know every player has his price but there'd be uproar if we let our only class player go. I mean, we've never done it before...

"I mean we've never done it before." How could anybody think we could have!

If he wants to be considered in the same bracket as people like Ings, Kane and Mane, he will need to learn to stand up to rough stuff and give it back. Not act like a complete fanny every time he feels the merest of touches.

Richarlison might not be our problem soon as a Brazilian outlet are saying that although Carlo wants him to stay for another season, if the right deal comes along, off he'll go to some protected club where the officials will protect him by sending off the various culprits.

If that's what he wants then goodbye! We can use the money to build the team until our next prima donna arrives and the cycle begins all over again.

Wasn't there a tale a while back in which he confirmed he had had a Barcelona offer last year or early this?

I was watching Cardiff vs Fulham last night – if either of them are promoted, they'll thrash Everton. There was more exciting football played in that game in 5 minutes, than I've seen in Everton's last 6 games.

Everton are going nowhere. Richarlison – go somewhere and save your career.

‘'Get some decent quality players in so we can challenge, or I will encourage Barcelona, etc, etc to come in for me.”

He has had enough of the never ending struggle, us having a dysfunctional non-existent midfield and is laying it on he line.

The idea used to be Everton bought a player – if he was good enough, he stayed; if not, he was sold.

Maybe I am being harsh there on Carlo and the inclusion of another one of Richarlison's countrymen is to dampen any feelings about leaving. Like when we had Lukaku, Everton are never keen on getting more than one shining star.

I'd say the last part is an honest kid, just telling it like it is, and probably just answering a sideways question about his long term future, in a very straightforward way.

Carlo seems unable to motivate this current crop of players and so for that reason alone needs to make wholesale changes. We need to put hunger and desire back into the Everton shirt, if Carlo believes ability alone is enough in the Premier League then better he walks right now.

If we do actually get another twelve months out of Richarlison then his presence has to be used to recruit new players, those at the club currently are mostly unfit for purpose – as well as being unfit too.

You cannot expect Richarlison to stay at Everton for the rest of his days. He is a Brazilian international, he plays with Neymar on international duty and Tom Davies with his club. If Everton do progress next season, he may stay longer.

Richarlison always represents us well and speaks positively about the club.

It's a warning shot to the board: "You've got the manager, now get the players – or I'll win my trophies elsewhere."

Carlo needs to realise it's now or never ambitious quality players won't give more than a year when better options abound.

This debilitating circle of the occasional decent player appearing only to be spirited away in an instant will only be broken by producing a challenging team almost immediately.

“You cannot [expect] Richarlison to stay at Everton for the rest of his days. He is a Brazilian international, he plays with Neymar on international duty and Tom Davies with his club. If Everton do progress next season, he may stay longer.“

Agree. I want him here a wee bit longer. Hopefully Carlo can attract some better players to line up alongside him. Maybe not Neymar but...

The football is so turgid that I can't even be bothered to watch it. Must be crap to play for such a disgraceful team.

If we could get top dollar, I'd accept it philosophically. Maybe we could send a delegation across the park to see how selling contracted players should be done?

Not suggesting Richarlison is comparable but the trend seems to be anyone half decent gets twitchy feet within about 2 years. Seen it all my life from Lineker, through Barmby, through to now Richarlison, and every joker in between. Even Tomas Radzinski, bloody Carl Tyler and Craig Short mouthed off about leaving for "bigger" clubs

Richarlison with a few seasons in the Premier League with a couple of struggling clubs can see his future in a better club and I admire him for a least saying he will stay for another season, and I hope Everton have a large buyout clause in his present contract.

Is this expected? No, and this is a warning that he may not be the last. Supporters instead of saying, "If he doesn't want to play for us we don't want him", should be asking "Why doesn't he want to play for us?"

The days of players staying at one club is long gone, players today are ambitious, and can see if you are skillful enough and willing to move, you can earn lots and win trophies. Richarlison is simply letting the club know that he is ambitious and, unless the club match his ambitions, he will move on.

The ball is in your court Brands, Ancelotti and the Owner and Board of Everton FC.

Feels a bit like the Lukaku 2016 summer, where I have on good hand that he agreed to give it another season to see where we were.

We need a midfield that can actually service the front players. I bang the drum again, you can play with 2 strikers all day long and they can be top quality strikers. But if they have an average midfield behind them, they will not succeed.

Generally and, in my experience, games are won and lost in midfield. Only this current Liverpool team seem to buck that trend with play broadly going from their full-backs to the space behind for their explosive front 3 to exploit, so their midfield is not as crucial.

We need major surgery on the midfield, but that's me just stating what many on here already know, as does Richarlison. He needs better players behind and around him for him and Everton to fully realise his potential.

I don't think Lineker had any desire to leave Everton when he did. Kendall decided to change the shape of the team and took a very good price off Barcelona when they came in for him.

I agree, he didn't argue too much about going but, when one of the top clubs in Europe call you, you go.

I can't see any of the top clubs calling Richarlison.

Lineker had joined and just finished what was to be his one season with the then English champions who narrowly missed out on retaining their title in the last weeks of the season when it was in their control. He didn't angle for a move or indicate he was restless in my recollection.

As you say, Barcelona approached and you don't turn those opportunities down as a player. I would say Barcelona's approach was influenced by having an English manager at the helm (Venables).

Fair enough. I guess I'm still bitter because Lineker was my favourite player when I was 9.

Unfortunately, Evertonians have seen this well-trodden path too many times. The club is in need of cash, the team requires re-building, the easiest path is to sell your crown-jewels and hope that you can plug the gap. Richarlison is contracted to Everton until 2023, not next year, nor the year after. If the lad wants to leave, then so be it, but not for a derisory fee like so many before him have been sold.

There's little point to holding on to a player if he's set on leaving, we can't build a team around a player who has his focus elsewhere, so Danny Ings or similar it is then – unless of course there's a budding Marcus Bent available on a free!

I saw this interview on TV before TW reported it.

It was a 3-way Zoom call with Richarlison Man City's Fernadinho and an ex-footballer, now commentator, Caio - possibly my favourite observer of the game on Brazilian TV. He always gives excellent tactical analysis of a game and players.

It's a mixture of serious and playful stuff. As reported in the opening post it doesn't capture or truly reflect the flow of the interview.

Richarlison first recalls with gratitude his roots starting professional football with America Mineiro and Fluminese before moving to England.

He brushes over Watford and speaks well of Everton and how much he has evolved at the club to the point where he got selected for the Brazil national team. He also speaks well of Ancelotti who speaks with him every day and who has continued his improvement.

He speaks honestly about how the majority of Blues view the season just ended, that we didn't achieve our objectives and there was a fall in standards. He adds that Carlo intends to improve the team next season and Richarlison personally hopes he also improves and continues to score even more goals.

Pause.

Caio the interviewer then asks the leading question: "Has Ancelotti spoken with you about next season because you are the key player at Everton, and Barcelona are after you, the big European clubs are after you, do you see yourself staying at Everton, or could you suddenly move to new pastures?"

Before giving Richarlison's reply, you must remember this was for a domestic Brazilian audience. Richarlison is hugely liked and admired in Brazil. And Brazilians want their best players playing for the best clubs, and for most that means Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Richarlison flat bats it away. 'Lots to talk about. He counts on me for next season. But... it depends. If there is a good offer... we sit and talk. It's all part of football. We are still talking about this and resolving things. He is bringing new players to the club. We will sit down and talk about this, but I will stay next season.'

In the context of the interview, it sounded to me the conversation is with Everton, not other clubs, possibly about giving him an improved contract. He makes no reference as enticed by the interviewer to Barcelona or other 'big clubs'.

He is also asked about his 'pipocada' with Van Dijk. That is 'popcorn fight' with Van Dijk when Richarlison said some dismissive things about him as a defender.

Richarison laughs it off. He talks about Silva's last game when there was a coming together of the two players in the derby, when a number of Red players tried it on with him. He went face to face with Van Dijk and asked him (in Portuguese, he laughingly admits!) "Who the hell do you think you are?" "Just defending my team colours and he was defending his."

He also talked of his desire to be Brazil's Number 9 because that is his own preferred position, playing close to and facing the goal.

The boy was NOT agitating for a move, but he is ambitious and I don't begrudge him that. We need more like him that strive to be the very best with the top clubs if we ourselves intend to progress.

Davie Hickson was my favourite player when he was sold to Aston Villa, although Davie definitely didn't want to leave the Blues. I was 14 at the time, thought it was the end of the world!!!

My father always spoke similarly of when Alan Ball was sold.

Also, whilst I wasn't a huge Duncan fan and more in the Joe Royle camp of him becoming the legend before becoming the player, my best friend (god bless, RIP Dave) was devastated. He likened it to having your girlfriend go off with your best mate – I think he had a soft spot for Newcastle!!

Next thing, he was pictured in an Arsenal shirt and I couldn't remotely understand the man going... again until much later.

I mention this because my eldest had really started to love the blues and particularly one Nick Barmby, signed picture in pride of place and...

There is a definite pattern here, hadn't thought of this till tonight.

"I am available if Barca or another top 10 club want me, but I will think about sticking around for a year if Everton increase my weekly salary from 䀆k to 𧴰k+. Bernard gets 𧴰k and he is not on my level."

"Join a decent team lad, this one is dragging you down"

"Join Barça/Bayern/PSG lad"

"Brazil needs you in the Champions League lad, this club can't even get in the Europa"

Hundreds of comments, on every post he does.

He also responds to many of the comments on his page (not these ones), so he is obviously aware of these comments. And that is just Instagram.

Imagine his Brazil team mates – join me at Juve, join me at PSG etc. Then his agent and others around him.

What we say about Sigurdsson, Davies etc I'm sure they say the same things.

One thing is for sure: he loves Everton, that's clear to see, but he wants to win things. We must improve if we want to keep him.

Enjoy him while he lasts. And let's hope the Richarlison money is spent better than the Lukaku money. 𧴜M on Sigurdson, Schneiderlin and Bolasie. With a resale of maybe 㾶M if we're lucky. Yikes!

However, as we found with Lukaku, it's hard to buy someone as good as the player you've just sold. It's also very easy to spend a big fee yet somehow make the team worse.

We really should be looking at bringing in Richarlison's replacement before he inevitably departs.

Teenagers with exceptional quality that get a year or two to settle in before we introduce them to the first team. Anyone?

Probably looking at a wage increase in the meantime. There are poorer players getting more money.

Yes, that's fair comment. If we can bring in some stronger players to support him it will take some of the attention away from him.

So many team mates have flattered to deceive and I am sure he feels he could achieve more with a better club. The likes of Bernard, Walcott and Iwobi have done little to improve Everton's firepower along with Sigurdsson who has been very inconsistent also.

Bernard may be on his way soon as he appears unhappy but there will be others, I'm sure.

I don't know how other posters feel, but; if we were offered 䀆m+ for him, I'd take it.

As for replacements, why aren't we sniffing around Chelsea's and Man City's academies; looking for the 'next' Lukaku, De Bruyne, Salah, Mount and Abrahams..?

Surely, we could do what other clubs, including ourselves with Rom, can do?

I was worried when Kendall left too but then my mind was put at ease because Sir Philip Carter did an interview on TV and basically said Colin Harvey would have the same success. That was good enough for me, aged 10.

By the age of 11, I was becoming more cynical... a continuing trend ever since.

Absolutely. And when we're offered the same amount for Calvert-Lewin, take that as well.

BTW, he would be a decent shout for Everton!

A couple of shrewd signings and Colin on board and everything clicked into place.

I for one thought we would have had some success with Colin.

The Premier League just isn't that deep; if we do things right in the next couple transfer windows and Carlo pulls our shit together, there's no reason in the world we can't match up with clubs like Leicester, Chelsea, Wolves and Spurs. They're simply not that good.

Start of the transfer season. Is it true we are linked with Ivanovic... dear oh dear.

What troubles me is the apparent attitude coming from the club which is disengage the brain and ignore glaring deficiencies in the players' fitness levels, the re-occurring amount of injuries and the total lack of ability of players that cost a fortune and try and buy success.

We really are at the cliff's edge, continuing with trying a short cut route to the top could be catastrophic.

I guess Harvey was unlucky with ageing players like Reid and Ratcliffe, injuries Brace and Snod, then the Euro ban saw Trev and Gary lured away

I am sure that Richarlison is aware that he has the talent to move to one of the bigger clubs in the future, and Ancelotti is sure that by holding on to him. it is another advantage in bringing in new players.

Like it or not, there is no way we can bring in 6 or7 new quality players, so the club has to take advantage of holding onto one of their finer players, and not by refusing him a transfer if he asked, but being told that he will be here next season.

The quicker Brands and Ancelotti start bringing in players, the type and quality they bring in will show the club's ambitions. It should also show the players kept on, the standard they will have to play at.

Richarlison is our best player and it's only a matter of time before he moves on or we match his ambitions.

Sigurdsson, Walcott, Iwobi, Bernard, Gomes, Davies, Delph, Schneiderlin – 9 goals.

You can't blame the lad if he fancies playing with some better players behind him than that hopeless bunch.

Oh for the bad old days.

4th was Harvey's best, followed by 6th which earned Moyes an 11-year stay and a great ovation, and his last full season we were 8h, same as Ronald, Sam, Marco over the prior three years — each of whom seemed to regard it as a success.

I am at a complete loss to understand the concern that he may be departing. Our entire squad needs upgrading and that includes him.

I could probably name 14 to 15 players who scored more than him last season. Not many, if any, would have started more games.

Clubs like Wolves Southampton and Burnley finished above us because their forwards were miles better than ours... And I bet you could count his assists on one hand too.

I don't want to hear that he doesn't get chances and I don't want to hear any daft-arsed stats. My eyes tell me he misses the target as often as he hits it.

I laugh when I read people complain that he only has Tom Davies to pass to him... Imagine how Davies feels? Imagine how any of our midfield feel. The guy spends half his time on the floor in apparent agony. What sort of an outlet is that?

Very few of the players who have outscored him (by miles in most cases) have anywhere near his ability, but you need to have the full package to be a top forward. The reason players of lesser ability, like Wood, Abraham or Ings, score more than him is because they act like men.

For Richarlison to get into the top ten strikers in this country, he needs to develop as a man. If he can't do that, then I'm afraid the 13 goals and laughable amount of assists will not be nearly as difficult to replace as some are making out.

"Going to one of the top clubs" ... Let's wait and see if he can become top scorer here before we start getting all Daily Star.

I know he's an exotic Brazillian and his 13 goals are worth far more than run-of-the-mill Kiwi Chris Wood's 14. That's why we finished comfortably above Dyche's journeyme... Oh, Hang on a minute.

He scored the same amount of goals as Calvert-Lewin who puts more of a shift in every game. This is the time we start getting tough with players. Tell him and whoever is left that they fucking got Everton in this mess so can get us out of it.

Hey diddly Dee, said the actor, who wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes when I was a child, and nothing but the best, for plucky little Everton!

I for one would like to see players shipped and three new midfielders purchased. I believe we will then see a huge upturn in our fortunes (obviously this depends on the quality of personnel brought in).

Same goes for defence, if we could only sign three players this summer, I for one am praying they are all midfielders. For all his prancing about and rolling around, Richarlison offers us panache and industry, he is also fantastic in the air. He will leave for a king's ransom in a years time, I'm sure of it.

As far as the Richarlison situation, isn't this pretty well the same way the Lukaku saga started. Same start rumour but different names?

I keep reading different links, and Everton must be linked with around 20 players at the moment, so the only thing I personally choose to believe, is the report claiming Ancelotti, is asking for significant funds because he underestimated the size of the job!

Trevor Birch lasted about six weeks once he told Kenwright to sell our only asset. I wonder how long Carlo, will last, if Moshiri doesn't give him the funds that we desperately need?

If we spent money like a kid in a sweet-shop, the wages we have paid can only be described as, “like confetti”. All part of a master plan (Everton being the only club not voting against Man City) or just a very badly run football club?

I cannot see us making a radical jump in 12 months to put us in a trophy-winning position; 2 or 3 years possibly.

He will go, I am resigned to it, I just want an astronomical fee and wish him well.

I remember a Leeds Utd fan who had 'Cantona' tattooed around his head. He learned the hard way that players come and go. It's just the fans that remain. Perhaps I should get a shirt with 'Stan from Row G' on the back.

The one problem I have with Richarlison is his passing. His pass completion rate is poor, his inter-passing is poor in the final third attack and he looks lost when his run is blocked and he has to pass.

Though he is the only player that Everton had who looks like a striker up till the last game. Kean did look like a striker against Bournemouth.

I was brought up to believe that a Brazilian footballer could automatically always pass a ball well with style, on top of their other skills. Sometimes, I find it hard to believe Richarlison is a Brazilian.

Add to that, the fact that he hardly gets any protection from the Premier League referees (incompetence, playing for an 'unfashionable' club, etc), and I am not surprised that he is thinking of a move to a bigger club.

Ancellotti has set him a target of 30 goals next season, and he is well capable of achieving it provided we strengthen in other areas.

And if he achieves that, and if Everton are still not among the European places, then surely we cannot begrudge him his big move, which would of course net us mega bucks.

The pairing of him and Calvert-Lewin is not right either. There is very little interaction between them, very few passes from one to the other.

I expect Carlo to bring a new striker in as I don't think he is happy with Dom.

I personally hope we bring in better forwards, because I definitely prefer Richarlison out wide at the minute.

I did not intend to be quite so scathing. Richarlison has lots of talent and I have high hopes of him realising his potential in an Everton shirt. I guess post was a response to the fan boys who never miss an opportunity to have a dig at academy boys.

Joe Mc Mahon

You do paint yourself into some corners. You would save yourself a lot of embarrassment if you didn't try to shoe-horn academy players into every debate so you could attack them.

According to you; The reason your superstar Brazilian hasn't scored more than the "Championship standard" Calvert-Lewin, or any of the top 14-15 scorers, is because he plays in midfield too.

Meanwhile; according to you also, the reason we don't score enough is because our midfield (which you claim Richarlison is part of) is "utter dross".

FYI, Richarlison doesn't come back to help out his beleaguered and out numbered midfield. He often plays wide, like Mane and Salah (both of whom outscore him every year) but he is an out-and-out forward. He just hasn't gotten to the same level as all those forwards who have scored more than him.

You use this thread for your now customary bash of Davies. You suggest that playing with Davies would be a reason for his leaving.

Think on this; Davies looked an awful lot better before Richarlison got here. He looked an awful lot better when he came into the team and was playing behind a forward who scored goals.

Playing next to Neymar? It's not that long ago when your exotic superstar had his hands full trying to keep Troy Deeney out of the team.

Richarlison has potential. No more. No less. Lets not start talking about him as if he had already realised it.

Don't come back with more, I can't be arsed, let's just wait for future development on the pitch.

Jay@27, thanks for that very useful insight. Very interesting.

We've suffered hugely from being in ‘transition' for about 5 years. In that time we've had about 6 different managers and a rotating door of players.

I'd say 3-4 new players (for first team) at max and then hopefully only 1-2 next summer. One, hopefully talented, manager needs time to really shape a team and an identity. It looks like Ancelotti is that man. Evolution not constant revolution.

Dixie Dean would be sitting down with his agent after that finish, and this sort of stuff goes on at all clubs save Real and Barca. Look at Liverpool, Salah's 'not sure what the future holds'.

And if Carlo can get 𧴜M for him and bring in the players he wants as a result, then maybe that's best for everyone.

You had a whole squad from which to choose from "in context only"
Once again you chose Davies. For years you hammered Calvert-Lewin as "Championship at best" and now you have turned to Davies.

That's your choice, but if you are going to use the Academy boys to big up your expensive signings, don't complain when the flaws in your argument are exposed. Don't get all upset when people point out to you that these expensive signings you lavish your praise on are doing no better (see post 64).

BTW: The Brazilians think Richarlison would be better with better players around him? Wow. Who'd have thought? ... Hold on a minute... Doesn't that apply to just about every player who ever put a pair of boots on???

All of that is his responsibility. He can do that first, then expect better service.

I'll be surprised if he's still here this time next year. If we have another disappointing summer of recruitment, he'll be sold to pay for next year's.

I clearly remember Terry Venables (managing Barca at the time) effectively "tapping up" Lineker when working as a pundit for the World Cup. I thought "fuck" at the time and sure enough, off he went. It is ironic that, through those '80s halcyon days, Lineker never won a trophy with us.

If we do not pull our socks up in every department in the next 12 months, from the top to the bottom, it is not unreasonable for Richarlison to look to greener pastures and I wouldn't blame him. Hopefully we can make good progress and he remains to be part of that. I'm not risking me lunch money on it though.

ps: Darren, I can't stand the bloke, and he spends half the time on the ground and making miraculous recoveries from gunshots, but I would have Neymar in our team if he could fit.

Like I've already posted but you ignored, don't come back.

Haha — what have you been watching?

When a good player puts on the blue shirt, it doesn't matter if he is from Bootle, Brazil or Betelgeuse – we need to become a club where good players are happy to ply their trade.

I have never addressed you yet. Not ever. I read your constant bashing of academy players and think to myself: "Why bother?" Why would I bother to address a guy who has the same reason for all our problems?

If you don't want a response from me, the answer is simple: don't address me, because then I will respond.

You didn't like criticism of an expensive signing and you came on challenging me offering excuses. Why? Are my comments allowed to be challenged while your comments not?

And why not have the courage of your convictions? Why deny your numerous digs at academy boys? If that's how you really feel, why deny it? When your criticism is pointed out to you, you say you want Calvert-Lewin to be better and what you believe he will be. Really?

At least you were being true to yourself on another current thread you state you have no hope at all in him...

"FYI Richarlison doesn't come back to help out his beleaguered and out-numbered midfield."

My eyes tell me otherwise.

The possible signings being touted already look like the usual scattergun, expensive, panic signings akin to much of the dross we already have. There's not a hint that anybody at Everton has a clue to even formulate a systematic plan to improve matters apart from the usual fare of rash signings and cheap media soundbites that has been going on for decades and got us into this dire situation already.

Do our board even watch us play or understand anything about football?

"I have a Brazilian mate playing for the top team here in Japan. He's not a supporter of the team, him and his wife are just trying to take care of their financial situation before his career his over. Same for Richarlison. BTW, he would be a decent shout for Everton!"

Come on, you can't leave it at that. Who are you talking about?

I find him good on many occasions and very frustrating on about the same number of occasions with his lack of vision and poor decision-making. We have a good player but I think he is over-rated by many on here.

How long before Carlo throws in the towel? You can guarantee Kenwright will come out with his usual statement, that a marquee signing is in his way, and we will end up with a Chelsea reject or reserve player. It's every season; it's got to stop now.

Trying to make too many changes would be counterproductive. Evolution is the best way to go, some of the way this window, then strengthen again next summer.

Højbjerg, Allan, Buendia, Immobile

Bring Kenny back, send Kean on loan for a year to get some much needed guaranteed games under his belt, and sign Ciro Immobile or similar to play up front with Richarlison and give Calvert-Lewin some real competition for that spot. Moise will return better and more ready.

If we can send some players the other way as part of any deal, Brands would be earning his corn.

Such a window would see us a very different team than last season. Essentially, and absolutely as priority No 1, much stronger in midfield, but also more dangerous and more goals up front. Richarlison would be buzzing with that team and kick on.

Big improvement in the team is possible with only 3 or 4 incoming players; with those four signings, I am confident we will be major challengers for both the top six and to win a cup.

Caveat: If we sign the right ones.

There isn't a forward alive who hasn't chased back to retrieve a ball in midfield (especially after squandering possession); that is not the same as playing in it. It's not the same as being part of it. It does not boost numbers or stop the midfield from being over-run for the rest of the game.

Incidentally, Richarlison has scored 31 goals in 109 games in the Premier League. Doesn't matter whether you are born in Brazil or Birkenhead, that's still only marginally better than a goal every four games.

If he improves his scoring rate dramatically, he may score as many as Kiwi Chris does for Burnley. As it stands now. he has scored less goals despite starting far more games.

But we have Brands the magician who would rather waste money on rubbish.

Moyes had that problem when he went to Man Utd; different era, different pressures and scenario, but you can't take the Champions to 7th place and expect to avoid scrutiny. And think back in the 80s, only 1st place made Europe's elite competition, so 4th or 6th then was akin to 7th or 8th now. Yes, we were banned at the time; however, the principal was still in place.

The impact of Heysel aside (a key factor in Kendall's decision), Harvey wasn't helped by the onset of poor club management that plagues us to this day. Resting on our laurels and lack of investment. I think that close season, our only recruitment was Ian Wilson (squad player) from Leicester City. If you stand still, you may as well walk backwards, right? Like when we totally failed to spot the Premier League Gravy Train coming. Our board were living in a bygone era.

Also, personal opinion, I think Colin Harvey falls into the category of being a great coach but not one who felt comfortable being a manager. Howard was the manager and knew how to man-manage. Colin carried out his instructions and whipped the team into shape.

Reverting to my military background, Kendall was the Commanding Officer, calm, composed, engaging. Harvey was the Sergeant Major, barking out orders and letting the troops know when standards weren't good enough.

Thanks for the clarification.

Chris Wood a very good penalty-box player, who has benefitted from Dyche's focus on details in set-pieces; in open play, he is limited, slower than our own Michael Keane in a race. If both he and Richarlison were up for sale at similar prices, who would be snapped up first by one of Europe's elite???

We are all frustrated and very nervous about our team's future but dismissing or assessing players against each other's goals return is very simplistic. We need to consider service they have received, goals from open play, and also all-round game contribution.

Some of the comments on Richarlison appear more akin to those of a spurned lover. Let's get realistic: he is a professional sportsman, albeit appearing very humble... appreciate him whilst he is here.

Collectively, let's hope Carlo gets backed in the transfer market; if he doesn't the repercussions will be catastrophic and Bramley-Moore Dock will be an unfinished white elephant whilst we try to climb back up the divisions. COYBB

Richarlison is an extremely hard-working wide player/forward who is able to score goals out of almost nothing whilst being a good counter-attacker and being very decent in the air.

He definitely has his faults as Dave alludes to and is dispossessed comfortably more than anyone else in our team. He does not always look after the ball well and I wouldn't be surprised if we were able to play more coherent football without him. Equally though, if more of our players were able to chip in with goals, then perhaps he wouldn't have quite so many opposition players giving him close attention.

Given that we will almost definitely sell him in a year or so, I think we should continue over-rating him in the hope that others buy the hype and give us 𧴜M for him!

Howard Kendall later explained El Tel had already agreed the Lineker deal but it was secret. Laurie McMenemy had a go at him on air as it looked like a tap-up but apparently the deal was already done

He does work back a hell of a lot.

There's also no point comparing his goals to Mane, Salah, Sterling, etc as they play in far better teams and get far more chances that he does.

Compare him to Everton players instead: He is only the second player to score double-figures in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons for us since 1998, Lukaku being the other one.

In the 25 years since we actually won something, only Kanchelskis and Yakubu once and Lukaku (3 times) have scored more league goals in a single season than he has for us.

He is not my Chris Wood. He is a bang-average journeyman playing for a bang-average team.

The fact is, the Burnley journeyman who gets a fraction of your Brazilian star's wages not only works harder, he pisses all over him in when you judge them by the criterion all strikers are judged by: goals.

If the Fantasy Football Managers on here are right and we do get offered 𧴜M for Richarlison (we must be throwing Finch Farm into the deal) then we can pocket 䀁M and go and buy the more prolific journeyman for the other 㾻M. He would still score more and we still wouldn't finish any lower.

Seriously, Sam, you are not daft and you know what I am doing. I'm trying to add a little bit of perspective to some of the OTT claims regarding Richarlison.

Richarlison can, as PT says, be anything, but let's see if he fulfills his potential before we bracket him with the top forwards and let's not run down the academy boys in order to make him look better than he has actually been.

Wood scored one more goal than him this year. One. And last year the Brazilian scored three more. Plus, as has been said frequently, Wood is a striker rather than winger so gets more chances.

I don't see any evidence that Wood works harder, either with my eyes or in the stats, which very strongly suggest the opposite.

Anyway I agree with you that Richarlison is far from perfect and that certainly we could replace him. He's not yet a top-class striker, but he did score the second-most goals out of any Brazilian in Europe and for some reason that gets people very excited. Which will be a good thing for us.

He went for the money, in my opinion, and I think his days as a Commanding Officer started and finished after those four years, Howard, unfortunately never had success anywhere else after those wonderful four years at Goodison, we all know one of the reasons that was so, and maybe he was specially chosen just to give us fans what it was like to go to nearly every game during that time expecting to win no matter who we played against.

I was matching OTT with OTT to demonstrate the absurdity of some of the claims. I did keep it factual though. They have both had three seasons in the Premier League.

Wood has scored 34 in 94 games – better than 1-3. Richarlison has scored 31 in 109 games.

In most sports, one of those records would be deemed as pissing all over the other.

Richarlison, who is unquestionably the better player, goes missing for long periods – sometimes whole games. That's why I say Wood works harder.

Go missing in a Sean Dyche team and you won't be playing in the next game.

Going back a long way to when Real Madrid were buying all the best players in the world, they had a good look at one of our all-time idols when he was playing for Hearts. Yes, the “Golden Vision” – they didn't buy him, he didn't come up to their standards. Then again, it might have been because he wasn't a Brazilian!!!

Top score in J3, J2...going for J1. Only 23, cheap, worth a punt?

The contribution to goals from everyone bar those 2 wasn't enough – I hope Ancelotti looks for improvement here

And if we didn't, it was a shrug of the shoulders and a blip, expecting we'd be back to normal the following week.

He works his ass off, not just retrieving the ball but tracking attackers back. He is far and away the Premier League leader in tackles by a forward with 70 (2nd is Ayew with 48), and he is one of the few forwards who will mark an opposing midfielder all the way into his own 18-yard box.

As for "stupid" fouls, I categorize those as fouls that give away needless free-kicks around the area -- a particular Gomes specialty -- and Richarlison simply doesn't commit those. He gives fouls around the halfway line or in the attacking end, where the free-kicks pose no danger.

There are flaws in Richarlison's game. Lack of defense or effort are not among them.

He has also played the majority of his Premier League games from the wing so the comparison with Chris Wood (a player I actually like) is quite bizarre.

Richarlison's finishing is lethal and he will only continue to score a hell of a lot more played up top, it is imperative we keep him and build the team around him. Only Everton could have Brazil's No 9, a world class manager, and still be shit!

The fact is, this sell-on nonsense sounds like a sensible policy but is anything but. No club wants to sell their best players regardless of what they are offered. Top young players are hard to come by and clubs and fans alike want to hold on to them. We want to add to our squad – not take away from it.

So the next time we want to buy an older player without any sell on value remember what we want is players that can improve the club's chances of success – regardless of their age or sell-on value.

As a more educated poster said above, one is a penalty box striker who suits Dyche's style & tactics. The other is a more fluid player who can drift in from wide to run at defenders or play in a supporting more modern No 10 role rather than as a traditional penalty box striker.

Dare I say, parallels to Salah? A "failed" right-winger who Chelsea didn't know what to do with so loaned him out to Roma and then sold. Look what happened when he got put amongst the right players and used by a manager who knew how to get the best out of him.

As for him only giving fouls away around the half-way line I don't think you have been watching properly, he gives enough away Gomes-type fouls from behind, one really stupid one was when he chased a Bournemouth player away this season about forty yards, the man was going right down the left flank when Richarlison caught him, from behind, a really daft foul, Pickford picked the free-kick out of the net.

I could go on, Mike, but the bottom line is: you think he is potentially world-class... I don't.

A) I want Richarlison to stay.

B) However, no down-side if he leaves as we have Carlo as the manager now and he theoretically knows a player based on historical signings.

Using Borussia Dortmund's model, make a good profit and buy the next young superstar... Pulisic to Chelsea, soon Sancho to ? for 𧴜M?

I have no problem doing this every year, selling a top player (doesn't have to be our very best player) at a very good profit, and buying a very good young player or maybe two in. Of course, depends on how good the procurement department is. :)

Paradoxically, this takes you higher up the league over time.

Most of the players have been here for at least two years now which is a very long time in football, imo, mate.

Some look like they just need better players around them, but Ancelotti has quietly already picked up on the lack of desire, the lack of pride in wanting to be better, which results in the total lack of consistency that is required to improve.

The recruitment last year was incredibly poor, a little bit unlucky with Gbamin, but we never replaced Zouma, and looked like we were buying for the future, rather than on concentrating on trying to get into the top 4, despite the way we finished the previous season.

I'd take four good players as a minimum, because we definitely need better players, and it doesn't take good players that long to gel. Without missing any points, surely the recruitment has got to improve.

He's not throwing his toys out of the pram; he is saying that he's happy to see if a Carlo and Everton match his ambition. If so, he's happy to stay; if not he'll move on. Seams fair and we'll get a decent fee too.

I know some have used players who have played as out and out centre-forwards all season, but Richarlison has played wide left wide right and in a 2 up front. So seeing as he has played in various positions its unfair to compare to players who have played as the main striker all season. But I would think there are 10 other players who we have to be more concerned about than Richarlison.

Maybe if he had other decent forwards to play alongside he would be even more impressive than he already is, added to the fact that our midfield create very little, it's a wonder he has scored so many.

Just to underline his usefulness to the team, he has scored more in his 2 years than Lukaku did in his. Lukaku played up top and was often criticised on here for lack of effort, something that can't be levelled at Richarlison.

We've got a mix of Koeman, Walsh, Silva, Brands signings are are now onto Ancelotti.

That's 2 odd years of uncertainty.

So not only is it overwhelmingly unlikely we'll sign more than 2 or 3 first teamers, that's probably the right thing too.

And finally, I wouldn't say no to Chris Woods as a back-up striker. He's made a good career for himself and credit Dyche for the outstanding job he's doing. But let's see who has most Champions League appearances once they've both hung up their boots.

The treatment he got from Spurs was ridiculous and not once did anyone in blue face up to the ref and have a go about the amount of times he got fouled. A deliberate policy from Mourinho, who was obviously very afraid of what Richarlison could do if not constantly fouled.

Get more players in who can score goals and be a threat and Richarlison will have more freedom to play. Right now, he's all we've got going forward and teams can concentrate on him and him alone.

Most of the squad had no intention of trying to get into the Europa League, as it would have made Everton a little more appetising to players to come and join us. If they had made the Europa League (ha), its akin to turkeys voting for Christmas. 3 points v Norwich, 1 point v Villa and Nil points against Bournemouth tells you all you need to know about the current squad and their capabilities - mostly feeble at best.

I see we are supposed to be after Ivanovic. If that is true, it must mean Carlo has had enough of these jokers and is bringing in someone to start cracking heads on his behalf.

However, I clearly have a higher opinion of him than you do, and I would very much like to see what he accomplishes with a quality midfield to feed him -- something he has never had.

There are good players with potential in this squad who would benefit from having better players around them. Richarlison being one of them (note I say good with potential, not world-class before I get jumped on!!). But, this squad needs serious overhaul and the priority has to be midfield in my opinion. Our attacking potential (Calvert-Lewin & Richarlison included) will only benefit from having an effective and creative midfield behind them.

Spend wisely and that doesn't always mean spending big.

"Richarlison does not score as many as other forwards because he plays in midfield" – However, when we deem the midfield as utter shite, he's not really part of it... so we do count him.

Richarlison (who apparently is a forward) has made more tackles than any other forward... Proof-positive that he does play in midfield.

Dave A is absolutely bang on the money. Richarlison does chase back (nearly always with a petulance when he feels hard done by or when he has given it away). But does that constitute playing in midfield? Really?

I gorra ask this: Does anybody seriously think that any coach, anywhere in the world would be interested in a guy because he racked up daft-arsed stats by making daft-arsed sliding tackles?

Is there a coach in the world who would not trade a striker making the kind of ridiculous sliding challenges an 11-year-old wouldn't make, for one who will stand in front of a defender and challenge him to pass?

Does anybody believe that Carlo (or Duncan for that matter) have said to Richarlison before the game. "I want you to play in the middle of the park today. Put your stamp on it"? Do you realise how ill-equipped he is to do that?

Would any future suitors (and I don't mean Daily Star ones) buy Richarlison for his ability to score great goals or for the supposed wing-wizardry which keeps him so busy, it allows all the other fowards to score more than him?

It amuses me when facts and records comparing Richarlison to 14 better marksman are greeted with a stream of yeah-but-no-buts. It amuses me even more when people want to counter those records with daft-arsed meaningless stats.

Stats. A poor apology for facts and records which are only ever offered up by people who want to use other people's arguments to try to substantiate their own feeble offering.

Funny you mention world-class players, I was just talking about that today with some lads. Obviously they mentioned Messi, and who can argue.

To my mind the only world-class player is Ronaldo. Messi took, in my opinion, the easy option and never proved himself in other leagues. Ronaldo has proven himself in 3 of the 4 top leagues, won everything or most everything in them.

Had age not been catching him up, he probably would have nipped over to Germany and done it there. Richarlison or Ronaldo? No comparison really.

.....Ducks to avoid the china

The reason people may be unclear as to where he has played is that he's been shunted all over the pitch. He's played CF, LW, RW, RM, LM and as second striker. He's been moved all over. Something I seem to remember you using to explain Calvert-Lewin's up and down scoring record when he was being asked to play out wide frequently.

I'm also interested in how you differentiate between facts and stats?

What I did point out – to your very obvious discomfort – is that the Lancashire journeyman has completely outscored your Brazilian superstar in the scoring stakes. Not as a flash in the pan, but over three full seasons.

I just gave you the facts. Don't shoot the messenger.

Everton have used various formations and are favoring the 4-4-2 formation, were the 2 forwards rely on the service from the 2 full-backs and the midfield. the full-backs we have at the moment are Coleman, who is no longer as quick as he used to be and Digne who seems okay. Both full-backs need support from the midfield left and right side midfielders, and so far Iwobi, Walcott Bernard and Siggy not good enough.

Gordon shows potential and Davies's form has deteriorated and could improve with better players around him.

We all realize that Everton are not going to bring in 6/7 new players, but we need a right back with more pace, a ball-winning midfielder, and a quick-moving midfielder at least in this transfer window.

This is Ancelotti's first transfer window and let's see if him and Brands are on the same page. I believe Richarlison's contract is until 2024 so who knows... if Everton show how ambitious they are, we may not have to lose our better players.

Burnley sell players and then buy another one cheaper, but they do play a certain way and Wood is a very good fit for their system.

I will put my cards on the table and say I don't like Richarlison and particularly his attitude on the field. Petulant, sulks like a big baby and spends more time rolling around on the ground than the groundsman's Flymo.

Plays only when it suits him and then only for himself with no awareness of teammates witnessed by a lack of any sign of a partnership with anyone playing alongside him.

But then we come back to this question of ambition, so I would say to him to stay another season, play alongside whoever Ancelotti brings in and above all prove that you are worthy of playing on a bigger stage.

One of the biggest problems we have at the club is, and here I do agree with Ancelotti, a lack of ambition. We have too many players who simply aspire to be a Premier League player. Probably explains why so few of the academy players push on.

They get their chance all get the stereotypical photo fit tattoos and haircuts and ponce around like billy big balls but lack the ambition to be better – to be a winner. They don't seem to hurt when they get beat or put in a bad performance. Maybe a few more with ambition is exactly what we need.

I think we need more experience up front, a real professional goalscorer. Immobile has been mentioned as being an interest. Ings has been a great signing for Southampton, Vardy would have been a great signing for us when Lukaku left, even though he was 31 back then.

I think signing such a player would give us more goals, an extra dimension in attack and be good overall in sharing duties with Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

What's your thoughts on the attacking department for next season? Do you think Carlo will be considering something along these lines?

Also a bit harsh to call Wood a journeyman when he cost 㾻m in 2017 and remains Burnley's record signing. Facts or stats?

Tony, he does fit their system well but I suspect Dyche would give a lot to have a player who works extremely hard, can beat his man frequently and, crucially, score out of nothing. I think Richarlison would probably do very well at Burnley actually!

I remember him playing as a centre forward for a few games last season, it didn't last long, he wasn't very good there.

As fo stats and facts: facts tell you how many goals he has scored from the amount of games he has played; stats tell you how many tackles he has made...

They don't tell you how many were successful or what sort of tackles they were, good strong tackles, weak tackles, half hearted tackles, well timed tackles or stupid reckless tackles – that's just two examples Sam.

Even at our peak, we sold our best players, perhaps only fleeting were we ever the preferred destination of players. There's nothing wrong in that, it's how you prepare and deal with it is the measure of the club.

The only real example of us achieving this was selling Lineker and finding a different way to play, and even then we hardly bought in better players.

It's not about Richarlison or the laughable juxtaposition with Chris Wood, it's the club should be run well enough to know how to get a player in to replace Richarlison or anyone for that matter and sell the asset at its peak.

Saying Richarlison is our only decent player is tantamount to acknowledging how badly run we are. Limes of ‘If we sell him we are nowhere etc‘. If your club revolves around one guy then you've got the lot wrong.

Run the club properly and your players can mouth off all they want, they're not emotionally attached, so the club should do the utmost for itself. They should know they can be sold at a moment's notice if you get a replacement and succession plans sorted. I bet that might even act as a decent ‘carroty-stick'.

We allow our better player to leave on their terms not ours. You cannot stop them just make it favorable to you. We stink at this, abject.

Rom was pilloried for it, I probably even piled on myself! Why did we get so upset because through the cipher of his ‘gobbing off' it told us how badly the club is run.

I'd actually say it wouldn't be horrendous to sell Richarlison. He maybe has one more year before his value peaks? What's the alternative? Maybe run him into the ground and depreciate an unhappy asset? How does that help us?

Like I said, Richarlison's words are the very prism to view the state of the club. I firmly believe if we are to evolve Brands may have to sell him to to move us forward. Look at Coutinho, sold to fund Van Dijk & Alisson.

A big summer for Brands.

Certainly there are useful stats and misleading stats but can the same not be said of facts? And there are probably people who make up stats, but no doubt there are prominent people who also make up facts!

Seems to me like there are a few people who use stats as a dirty word when a certain fact does not prop up their argument.

Seems to me you are seeing world-class potential or is there some other explanation for that sentence?

With that fixed, Richarlison can stay higher up the pitch and focus on scoring / making goals. He'd play the Firminho / Benzema role very well – with fast goal-scoring forwards either side and with a 3 man midfield behind.

Seems unlikely we'll see him in that role for us. But he can still really kick on with a decent midfield in a 4-4-2.

They might play well together but, if a team plays 4-4-2, they generally want at least one of their forwards to really get hold of the ball, and this is what Wood is very good at, helping Burnley play to their strengths.

Playing to your strengths is how you improve, and I think Ancellotti has already realised that the only way this Everton team is going to improve is by signing some better players.

I agree regarding the pairing with Calvert-Lewin. I used to think that Silva had put an emphasis on a forward shooting in the final third or moving into a shooting position. Final third play was ignored. Everton had the lowest final third passes in the Premier League last season.

In Richarlison's case, this meant running with the ball at the defence to get into a scoring position. In Calvert-Lewin's case, this meant laying off the ball to midfield and the wingers. Calvert-Lewin rarely turned his marker or tried to face goal. Tosun was worse.

Both Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin were always not positioned correctly to receive a cross. They never played one-twos. Teams started to channel Richarlison into blind alleys, knowing that he would only try to pass when his options ran out, often weakly.

Richardson also comes deep to fulfil a similar roll to Calvert-Lewin. In the case of Calvert-Lewin, the opposition defence would push up and compact the midfield. I also observed Richardson played better for Brazil than Everton.

But when Ancelotti came, he wanted more balls through the centre. What he wanted was both Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin to engage in final third play and get themselves into attacking positions and doing the basics right, eg, attacking the defensive line on the near post and following up attacking play in the centre and far post. Both have not consistently shown they could do this.

Kean's performance against Bournemouth actually showed how to do it and Everton had an attacking shape we could all identify. Darren and Clive are right that Richarlison would struggle in a top 4 team in any league, because this is all basic stuff that teams would expect an attacker to have.

Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin need to work harder at the attacking basics. Kean has it and could emerge as Everton's top attacker and worth a lot more in transfer value than either of them, if he can keep improving.

Richarlison probably wants an increase in his wages in the meantime. I doubt other top teams will show an interest.

"We just need 3 or 4 new players",
"2 midfielders, and another forward...",
"... someone to partner XYZ up front."
"If we have a good transfer window."

Blah! Blah! Blah! Groundhog Day comes to mind.

Kean did show a bit of that and it was refreshing. We all moaned about Lukaku but he did that too.

Richarlison has certainly got it in his locker but I think he's got too fixated on harassing opponents and lost something in his forward play.

Again, the mythical well-functioning midfield should resolve this...

Like me you would have looked on in admiration at Sams stuff. His knowledge – particularly of obscure players dotted around the globe – is second to none.

Unfortunately, somewhere down the line, he was beamed up by the dreaded "statto". He's been got at.

This curse of modern sport has infiltrated and distorted opinion right across the known world. Most notably among our American cousins.

I would like to think that one day we can get Sam and indeed all of our American cousins back. That sports fans all around the world will abandon these carefully contrived figures and, once again, think for themselves.

The omens are not good though. 200M Yanks have been in a vice-like grip of "The Stat" for 20 years or more. Free thinking and opinion have long since turned their toes up over there.

We`re are but a small island in comparison... What chance have we got?

But (and there's always one right?), it doesn't always have to be a negative as most clubs operate on that model. I get it; most successful teams keep their best players, but then players have always been bought and sold, regardless of club.

We need only look across the park to see how you can continuously sell prize assets for top dollar and still progress; Torres, Suarez, Coutinho. Tottenham with Modric and Bale. Even Ferguson shifted Kanchelskis, Ince and Beckham when he felt he needed to change things.

I appreciate those clubs, Man Utd especially, were arguably in different circumstances to us, although not too long ago, and when they sold some of those players, Liverpool were in regular 6th/7th territory, as were Tottenham until recent seasons. Take away this awful one and we were not too dissimilar.

I suppose my point is that selling a prize asset to reinvest is common place and not always a bad thing. Providing you reinvest wisely. There lies the reoccurring Everton problem.

The stats don't measure the psychological effects players have on each other; they measure what can be measured, rather than what actually matters. And they too often take people away from using their own eyes, in my view, the best judge of anything football.

I have neither predicted or dismissed the possibility that he'd be world class. Just said he isn't. That's sufficient on the topic, I think.

Don't get me wrong, I was very vocal in my dismay during Allardyce's tenure and love the beautiful game to be played the right way, but I concur: stats can be misleading and inevitably used or manipulated to convey a point of view either way rather than what is actually being served up.

I think the last time we sold and invested wisely was when Rooney went and we used some of that money to put together Cahill and Co, who finished 4th the very next year.

Funny you mention Spurs and the Bale sale because that was one occasion when they got all it wrong, blowing cash on Saldado etc.

Stats stink, in my opinion. I look at some of the stats quoted, not just on here but in newspapers and on TV screens, so and so has made 568 passes for instance... how many are back to the goalie? three or four passes between him and his fellow defender, two-yard passes.

I just think “Does any fan take any notice of this shite?” But they do, and loads of other absolutely boring nonsense. Got to add how does someone sit there and count this rubbish, I'd go round the bend sitting in the match trying to absorb the game and counting passes, free-kicks, corners etc.

Reminds me of a fella who worked in a cake factory. His job, day after day, was sitting there putting one cherry on each cake as it came down the assembly line> It took a few years but he went doo-lally, finished up in Rainhill.

I'm telling you statisticians, it's fuckin' dangerous, lads!

The problem is that our recruitment was poor last year, the year before wasn't too bad, but over a period of time it has definitely not been anywhere near good enough, and this has left a squad both short on talent, and character.

I understand continuity but a squad with a poor spine, definitely needs at least four good additions. We only have pace out wide if our forward plays there (Walcott being a symbol of the distinct lack of desire) which means either another striker or wide player.

Kenny and Coleman mean we can get away with a right back. Digne needs back-up. Can we afford to get away without another center-back? And our midfield definitely needs reinforcements.

This is what Ancelloti will surely be telling Moshiri, as well as explaining that the only way to improve our better players, is by giving them better players to play with.

Why not just buy a reliable keeper, strong centre-back & 2 centre-mids that give the team a spine and shape? I'm hoping that the current manager, who had this strange, old-fashioned idea that a centre-forward will do better if he spent more time in the opposition box, will focus on building a spine.

Yes, Liverpool always had that global brand thing behind them, but in reality, they got to a point where they were 6th/7th plain average.

Stats are a "measure of performance" it's black and/or white, which is not always a true reflection. As opposed to "measure of effect", which is subjective and based on outcomes, the way I've always tended to view football.

But they're all stats. Goals, matches played, clean sheets, corners, assists, yellows, caps etc. Hate to say it but you use them too. There's just some you like more than others.

Everton's poor midfield is not a help, but coming deep, laying off and chasing the ball, is the Everton midfield equivalent of passing sideways and backwards. It provides no options in attack for a forward pass and never challenges the opposition defence positionally.

What Kean did was to try and turn his marker or face the goal to play a forward pass, creating mobility and movement. On releasing the pass, he did everything possible to get into a challenging forwards position.

Because he had this objective from the start of any play he was involved in, he made up the yard necessary to get into the correct challenging position in front of goal. By leading the defence this way, other players where encouraged to have more movement in their play and pass positively forward, because options where created as a result. This gave Everton an attacking shape, which was very noticable.

In my opinion, Kean was subbed by Ancelotti to see what would happen to Everton's attack. What he got was attackers coming deep, out of position for any attacks, and a comfortable opposition defence, who where able to p!ay a higher defensive line, even able to support attacking p!ay.

Ancelotti coached all these players as he coached Kean, but we have only seem glimpses of them actually putting it into practice.

Why Calvert-Lewin, brought on by Ancelotti, would play like Silva was the Manager, is something that I find difficult to understand. Also, Bernard, who I thought had taken on board Ancelotti's coaching moreso than anyone else prior to the break, has reverted back to his old drag back ways. As a matter of fact, I have watched the Aston Villa, Sheffield Utd and Bournemouth games, only to be impressed how the forwards of these three teams consistently put good technical basics into theiir attacking play, more so than the Everton forwards, except Kean.

The only reason I can think of is a poor level of fittness, where it is easier to put a shift in, coming deep, not worrying about forward positions or providing options, with opposition defenders quite happy for Everton players to do so.

These Everton players are quite capable of getting these basics right and comfortably beating any of the lower teams in doing so. Playing as they do, is like giving the opposition defence a hand. The result would be a foregone conclusion if they did play this way, as it should be.

To do that, he needs a midfield in his club akin to Brazil's midfield (which isn't that great, admittedly). We're miles off it.

Farhad, what are you going to NOW do about it? Fund your fabulous serially-winning, expensively paid manager, or reduce him and us fans to even more Kenwright-inspired mediocrity in the ever-developing likelihood of relegation, by stripping him of finance for productive signings?

It did strike me that, on post-restart form, Calvert-Lewin would never have been in position to score Kean's tap-in. Like you say, they are all more than good enough to do the basics much, much better.

I agree with Jerome, Kean was fantastic in the 1st half against Bournemouth, something I had not seen from Everton all season. Calvert-Lewin's form has dropped off a cliff after the Corona lockdown break, and that is very worrying - he had at least 6-8 very decent chances to score and he was unable to convert a single one, although he worked tirelessly for the cause.

We need someone to give genuine competition to Calvert-Lewin – someone like Troy Deeney, Calum Wilson, Josh King, etc. Man Utd are reportedly cooling their interest in Grealish, he would be very expensive at 㿨 million at least, but what a coup that would be for Everton!

Also, bring back Gueye from PSG on the cheap, and our midfield would be transformed.

I have to disagree on your other point about Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin not pulling their weight. Both of these two work their socks off and both are among the fittest players we have.

Richarlison does make the sort of offensive runs you talk about and on the occasion when Walcott opted to shoot at their keeper (trying to meg him), Richarlison was in front of goal unmarked and clearly pissed -off that he wasn't seen.

Calvert-Lewin's form has dropped-off significantly since lockdown. He came back with a fancy hair-do and had probably begun to believe the press he was getting. He has (excuse the pun) taken his eye off the ball.

He is a simple player. He is athletic, has bulked-up and can now physically hold his own with most of the big bruisers. I suspect that big Dunc has been working on that aspect of his game.

He is stronger now but often gives away free kicks in his clumsy efforts to win the ball. For me he is too reliant on others for his chances. Defenders know he hasn't got any tricks, and he has wasted chances when one-on-one, trying to go it alone when teammates have been busting a gut to his right or left for a tap-in.

Watching Josh King for Bournemouth magnified Domenic's shortcomings. He was similarly busy, but his runs were dangerous and his close control (nutmegging Coleman ) was something Calvert-Lewin would only dream of.

I do think Calvert-Lewin can improve and his goals tally prove he is a Premier League player. He is still young but I would think that input from a former striker with a different game to Big Dunc would benefit him.

I cast my mind back to a few years ago when Rooney, Klaason and Calvert-Lewin had a match-off playing one-twos and shooting at Finch Farm. Dom was nowhere near as clinical as the other two. I was shocked at how poor his finishing was. It was a while ago but it demonstrated that he is not a natural finisher.

Richarlison on the other hand has innate ability and some of the goals he has scored of late reveal incredible talent. His problem is his ridiculous falling over screaming.

If I was Carlo, I would snap-up Josh King. Just the sort of competition for the front line.

OK - the Premier League is faster and harder.

But, you have the situations like Jordan Sancho who left Man City as he couldn't' see a route to the first team, becomes a star in Germany and is now being "brought back" to the Premier Leaguefor 𧵎m, if rumours are to be believed.

The old adage that, "if you are good enough, you are old enough", still holds true in my view.

A case in point is young Jarrad Braithwaite. Bought from Carlisle as "one for the future", in desperation he is introduced into the first team and performs well. Yes, he might make the odd mistake - but so do seasoned professionals.

In the past we had Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka on our books as youths and let them go as "not good enough", then bought them back for many millions several years later.

This is beginning to sound like a rant - which it isn't intended to be but, at the moment we have, Keane, Mina, Holgate, Braithwaite (and Gibson returning from Fleetwood) as our centre-backs – surely we don't need another (particularly as Gbamin can also (if he recovers) play there as a stop gap. Let's concentrate on the areas of the team the need strengthening.

Let's also start looking at the disaffected players from other sides that are looking for an out – or a quick route to first team football. At the moment, Dortmund seems to be the favoured path... why not Everton?

The Longstaff lads from Newcastle seem to want to move – both are midfielders with lots of promise – can we offer them or any others a home?

I have often thought that a few coaching sessions from someone like Ian Wright would benefit Calvert-Lewin. Ian was a clinical finisher and he has done a bit of coaching in the past.

At Chelsea, Tomori, Mount, James, Abraham have all kicked on from the loan system when the route to the first team was blocked by seasoned professionals. They'd have got very little from an extra couple of seasons in the U23s.

Some kids are good enough to come straight in. Some are lucky enough to find there's a gap in their position the first team. If not, once they've shown they can handle the U23s, it's time to loan them out so they can step up to the next challenge.

“That's sufficient on this post, I think.”

Yes, that will do me fine. Your word is my command.

I agree that Richarlison does make offensive runs, it is his main strength as a player. But in an Everton attack where he is the most recognised forward, this as a threat is too easily dealt with, especially if his passing and interplay in the final third are weak. This extra attention forces him deeper, making him less of a threat and making his runs when he does get on the ball more frequently tackled.

In the case of Calvert-Lewin, he has always been a yard short, against Bournemouth two yards short, of a challenging position in front of goal. When he plays, you can see the centre-back often clear the ball unchallenged.

Adding insult to injury, the centre-back often has time to look around before he brings the ball under control. In the Bournemouth game, near the end, you can see a cross from the right, where the Everton attackers all run to the near post with the centre-back ahead of them positionally, only too see the ball fly over their heads to the far post, with nobody there.

Hugh #192,

Players at Everton are loaned out to reduce the wages bill and as a trial in the hope someone will put in a bid for them. They are not contacted or observed throughout their loan period. There is little development feedback sought by Everton. I would go so far as to say that some are forgotten about.

Chris Coleman as a Manager has stated this publicly while Managing Sunderland about Everton, and Ancelotti has said 'Luke who??????' The latter tells you all you need to know about Everton loanees and those in charge of their development.

Raising Loanees questions on ToffeeWeb was the right thing to do. ToffeeWeb have posters who do know and try to get up-to-date information on loanees with up-to-date analysis. Contacting Everton!!!!! You would only be wasting your time.

Although stats don't always tell the full story, they have to be taken into account. According to Sky, Richarlison was involved in 36% of Everton's goals which was the 6th highest in the Premier League.

Do we use the stat that this season we collected just 1 win from the 12 games against the traditional top 6 as an important stat or just dismiss it?

Do we use the stat that we collected just 7 points from losing positions? Only Norwich, Bournemouth and West Ham retrieved fewer points from a losing position. Again is this just another meaningless stat that we should take no notice of.

I love when people hammer Sky for their ridiculous prejudiced biased presentation... then treat their numbers as gospel.

"Involved in" ... Lol!

Add to this the huge sums of money involved in transfer fees and salaries and the administrators and management at most clubs seek to justify its expenditure via the use of lots and lots of stats.

Football has forgotten that it is supposed to be part of the entertainment industry and therefore the game should not be quantified by numbers apart from the goals scored and the points gained.

Football should be treated as an art form and the performances judged subjectively, therefore it is not an ideal industry to quantify every single moment of each game using pretty useless data.

Obviously data relating to the fitness side of things is useful as a management tool, but the reason that most games we watch today are often unexciting is that the players are over-managed and they are more interested in their own personal stats rather than their actual meaningful contribution to the team and its results.

Everton FC is renowned as the 'School of Science' but deep down the fans want to see artistry and guile. Instead, we are subjected to robotic by-the-numbers football, which may be good for the geeks and those who love statistics, but does not entertain those of us who enjoy the simplicity of the game.

I agree that some Everton players play according to Stats. That's why you have backward and sideways passing and forwards coming deep to get on the ball.

The 'School of Science' at Finch Farm employs:

Video Analyst
Lead Performance Analyst
Data Analyst
Two Data Scientists

I bet a lot of players enjoy a coffee talking to these guys and it will occur to them when on the pitch, 'There's a good stat to improve my performance' and make the team talks more comfortable. Shots on targets is often swamped with other stats.

As you say, it takes you to actually analyse their play by observation. I myself find I get caught in this trap. It's easier to bring up stats than go forward and back through videos.

I often remember being at games and afterwards watching Jimmy Hills stats analysis. I often shouted at Hill on television to Fuck Off, when he analysed instances near where I was.

I suppose current pundits have more technology available to them. It's a blessing that Jimmy was before all this, because he would have definitely have got himself shot.

We have been massively defensive since the restart, but one of the things I have been very underwhelmed with is the front pairing.

We have never looked like a team that has got two men up front, because Lewin and Richarlison often run in opposite directions.

This is good when they work as a pair, and one pulls defenders out of position for the other one to exploit (Richarlison against Southampton, maybe? I'm not sure) but most of the time, Richarlison is going towards his own goal, possibly trying to get involved (because of what Robert T says about our disfunctual midfield)

It's why I prefer our Brazilian out wide, although Robert's other point about him running in behind is an exciting prospect because it's also something I think could become one of Richarlison's major strengths, given time?

If he could cut out this childish behaviour he could become a real player. Until then the jury is still out for me. If we got a ridiculous offer for him (㿲M plus) I'd take it.

His agent will no doubt be touting him around the big boys so, with a bit of luck, we have another 18 months before he will be sold.

Shame, he has all the attributes to be top class but lacks that 90 minute concentration the best players have.

I get your point but I think the ratio of good to stroppy improves with Rich this year so hopefully that trend will continue exponentially

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Stones Digne
Barkley Gueye Gomes
Deulofeu Lukaku Richarlison

Maybe an argument for Lundstram or Vlasic to get in for Gomes. And we could use a new right back and GK.

That stat is a prime example of the ridiculous nature of these crackpot stats. Not only is it wildly inaccurate, it does Richarlison a real disservice. As a forward, he is involved in 100% of the goals scored while he is on the pitch. His mere presence dictates that. He actually put the ball in the net personally for 13 of those 44 goals.

Sixth best in the league? These stattos are having an awful lot of kecks down.

Personally, I would rate our super estrela Brasileira as better than our previous left-sided flanker Ronnie Goodlass, but certainly not as effective as Terry Curran.

Not sure why the fella who scores our goals, wins loads of ball back for us, and actually gives a shit gets grief. Perhaps because he cost a few quid?

If you want to see someone who's downed tools since he got his big contract, take a look at his striking partner. Spends more time checking himself out in his silly tight shorts than doing what he's paid for – and wins no balls back for you and loses it with monotonous regularity. Needs a word in his ear.

Forget the homegrown players to take us to glory; Ancelloti will buy a team to be successful because that's what he excels at... or be happy with 12th most years.

I love Benrahma, Buendia and Connoly from Brighton, I have watched Leonidas Sergiu from St Gallen and he is an amazing centre-back. I wouldn't care if they aren't as renowned as some other players – I would take them over most of our current players.

And Jordan Pickford can fuck off too, get Pope in there. I like players who grow in the game, that shows talent; players who came from scratch and are still young. I would do a Moneyball with them.

No, he hasn't, he looks average most of the time, doesn't cross, doesn't dribble and isn't as imaginative as you would think.

I would argue that he is as good as we see it right now, it's not the team around him that increase or decrease his performances.

If he was world class, he would make all the others around him look better.