Bench duty for Everton duo

Hopefully, whatever ails them, will be cured by Monday.

And no changes "yet" to a team that's not performing in this second half.

Also, if you're up for a laugh, check out the replay's of Unai Simon's spectacular brain fart in the Spain/Kosovo game. The clown on TW who previously suggested Simon as our next keeper should be ashamed of himself. Oh wait, it was me.

DCL gets two minutes?

I'd have told Southgate "Nah yer alright, I won't bother ta."

England always overate themselves Mike. They dine off 1966 and the Premier League.

The reality is averageness. It boils down to the failings of our grass roots but I won't bore everyone with that!

Stones; had we kept hold of him, I wouldn't be rambling about the prospect of Koulibaly! Great player. Yes a mistake tonight, but to other discussion, you can only play with what is around you. As you say, with confidence in the keeper, he plays that back. That's where the space was.

Hopefully lol followed by "Let's be 'avin you San Allardyce" at Anfield

Wait, I'm wrong about that. ESPN interviewing Klinsmann. The expression on his face just put me on the floor. Looks like a Picasso portrait.

I always think it's amazing how many players and coaches insist they are "not interested" in jobs they haven't been offered. Then miraculously when an offer arrives they are "interested." Like you, I could see him hopping ship if the chance arose. Especially with Gbamin back in full training.

Stones is doing well and has medals / trophies to prove otherwise.

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/transfers/2020-2021/manchester-city-and-chelsea-see-romelu-lukaku-as-ideal-back-up-plan-transfer-notebook_sto8198835/story.shtml

"Everton are interested in Daryl Dike, the American forward producing great displays at Barnsley. He is on loan at Oakwell from Orlando City FC and is due to return the US in time for their new season in one month. However, he has made such an impact in his short spell in the Championship that it is not beyond realms of possibility that he is offered a move to the Premier League before long. Everton scouts have been impressed with his displays as he has turned in five goals from 11 appearances so far for the Tykes. It is believed he has a valuation of $20 million from MLS if the Toffees do decide to follow up initial interest in the 20-year-old."

Dike is a physical monster, 220 pounds with Adama Traore's muscle and blazing pace, and an aggressive runner with a nose for goal. But he's really raw, and for a player of his limited experience $20M seems extremely high.

But the potential is there. He's my pick to be the starting US striker in Qatar. So we'll see.

I remember the crowd going crazy when he told them to calm down, and I remember him being a great young footballer, who we got top money for, until you think that we spent the money on Keane and Mina, who are not in the same league. (Just my opinion)

Football is all about opinions, mine is that every time I've watched City play this season, that Stones just oozes class, but he gave a bad one away today, and will get a lot of stick accordingly.

Martin M... OK mate.

Imagine, England's innocuous offence for 85 minutes (except for a penalty) and no substitutions made. That was a major mistake by a man who has shown he is still not the manager for England.

Okay 3 wins in 3 games but the opposition was woeful and Poland missing their best attacker made it so difficult for Southgate's crew.

Perhaps if he had, he'd still be here playing soulless zombie football for the latest in a line of cowardly managers.

I thought Stones was finished with his mental health issues and, having read many quotes from Pep, I believe he was beginning to despair too. But he is back looking by far and away the classiest English defender since Bobby Moore.

"Yeah but the useless twat doesn't even know where Row Q is, never mind Row Z". "In my day, defenders bloody-well defended!"

As Stones picks up another couple of medals this season he will look back with a dewy-eyed nostalgia at the time he played in front of like so many like-minded football-loving entertainment junkies.

Stoke fans would have long since turned their backs on the football we play. Still, let's get all excited about a mistake from one of the game's true artisans. The bastard will probably only win a couple of trophies this year anyway. Then we can start buzzing about the prospect of signing Jethro Bodine from Barnsley.

The old adage "You get the team you deserve" has never rang truer. The trouble is... the rest of us get it too.

John Stones??? Pffft. Yerry Mina can control it further than this Fancy Dan prick can kick it.

Avvvviiiiitttt !!!!!

Defensively he is very average both in the air and in the tackle.

IMO he is benefitting from Man City's dominance in games and playing alongside Dias.

IMO Ben Godfrey is a much better centre-back.

Admittedly some of the 'football' served up recently has been verging on yawnfest, but to call Carlo a cowardly manager is a bit over the top. You must remember that he has inherited largely a group of mismatched and injury-prone footballers, but I can see that he is slowly turning it around and weeding out the 'sick and weak, but very well paid, misfits', and replacing them with genuine quality.

Next Transfer Window will speak volumes as to where we are going, and who with onboard. He has openly admitted he is enjoying life at Everton and wants to stay as long as is possible.

Just imagine when we get to Bramley-Moore Dock what we may look like and hopefully be the envy of the footballing world. So park the 'vertical trampoline' for a bit, sit back and enjoy. 😜

I watched Dike's Orlando highlights and saw a player who had good spatial awareness and consistent good quality high speed decision making, which are the two attributes I really admire in Harry Kane and the type which you cannot easily coach or build in the gym.

He has the raw physical attributes so no problems there. He works well as a target man bringing others in so I think he would work well as an understudy to Calvert-Lewin in terms of us not needing to adapt our style if we lost the latter for a few games.

I then watched his recent performances for Barnsley which was a collection of those ‘every contribution in a match' videos, which certainly wasn't a highlights reel and provided a more balanced view. For Barnsley, his decision making wasn't as good when he was back to goal and surrounded and that may be a) playing in a team or a league where he is receiving the ball further from the opponent's goal and with more attention from defenders or b) a faster pace to get used to or c) just more representative of his performances generally than the highlights but the result was more misplaced passes and headers.

That said, what I would say about him is he hunts the ball which means he's always involved. He's not one of these centre forwards who goes missing. If we're camped on the edge of our box he will always give us an outball.

So in summary, the guy is young and already has the physical attributes, tick. He understands the role, he's mobile and he enjoys a battle, tick. He has potential to develop with better players and coaches around him, tick. Can he make good decisions and correctly utilise space at a higher level than the MLS, maybe.

So where would he fit in? He'd definitely be playing second string to Calvert-Lewin.

Should/Could we get him? There's a lot still to prove so I'd be looking to take him on another loan with an option to buy before his stock rises any higher. If they'd loan him to Barnsley presumably Orlando would loan him to us too.

Final question for me is: are we still playing in this market? Unquestionably a Moyes-era Everton should be taking a chance on a young prospect like this if we could get him on a loan to buy but this is Ancelotti's Everton and, more importantly, Moshiri's Everton which requires a couple more pieces of the jigsaw to become a top four side. Perhaps the best thing for Everton would be to secure an option on this guy with him spending a year on loan at a ‘lower level' Premier League outfit while we tie up our valuable 21/22 squad positions only with proven European level strikers.

This is what Brands gets paid to assess and balance. For my money (coming in on the boo-boys on another thread) he makes a good job of improving that balance window by window, especially when you consider the mess he had to unpick following Koeman and Walsh.

I saw a rumour this morning linking us to Igor Jesus, a 20-year-old Brazilian striker playing in the UAE.

Are we still playing in this market? That's a good question. Not for first-teamers certainly. But for depth and succession planning I would hope we are.

As an aside, I notice that Villa have appointed a Head of Loans and Head of (something like) Championship Talent.

I think they are looking at how to use the Championship and lower tiers as a place to nurture their talent and a good market for players like Cash and Konsa who have done well for them.

Players and managers, I never like the leaning some have to preferring Premier League experience.

With regards to Dike, thanks for the assessment. He sounds very interesting prospect indeed. I wonder if, however, he will end up in the Bundesliga first? They seem to have more than a passing interest in the North American market.

Pickford is a better fit for us (and England) because of the style we play.

However as the main culprit plays for you know who, there will be little or no repercussions at all.

I'm really surprised that Carlo doesn't know that all he needs to do for European qualification is to stop being "cowardly" (eyes rolling). I'm proud of what the club is doing now and, yes, grateful that I support such a great club that is now challenging the rich clubs.

There are problems and we don't need Darren to tell us what they are but the right staff are now in place to resolve them and we still need 3 or 4 players to get to where we need to be. We're not there yet but support is what is needed, some find that concept difficult.

I have to say Declan Rice was the standout performer, I can't see West Ham keeping hold of him. I thought Mason Mount and Phil Foden also put in good performances, how nice to see so many young talented kids playing for England. Some really nice link up play and never stopped playing the right way.

Then we have Jack Grealish to come into the mix and a few others who werent there because of injury, so all looks really exciting. I think Kane looked a little tired last night and that is the only part of the squad that we lack top quality if Kane gets injured.

DCL has improved immensely this season and has proved to be clinical in the 6 yard box, but whether that ability will be enough I don't know. Also Tammy Abrahams is struggling to get game time for Chelsea and that must be a concern for Southgate as he and Dominic are the only alternatives to Kane at present.

The arguments will “to and fro” some prefer a John Terry, some prefer a John Stones. He's got previous doing this type of thing for England, so it will be interesting to see if Southgate sticks with him, but I don't buy him getting covered, (maybe protected?) because he usually plays last man.

I was astounded that Southgate failed to make an earlier sub. Kane looks tired and was trotting out wide(without his markers) and Foden was getting the ball too late. Walker had clearly been told to hold back and thus I only saw him hit one cross, too hard!

Stones and Maguire looked okay, and I felt for John with that poor touch. He made amends making the header for the equaliser. Kalvin Phillips is very ordinary ad no better than Tom Davies. Pope is not a patch on Pickford.

The media hype these lads up but, although they are a handful, they are not quite good enough.

Danish manager and a more than healthy smattering of Danish players in their squad.

John Stones deserves criticism for his error last night but for me he remains the best centre back in the country and his determination to make up for his error by laying on the winner for Maguire should be applauded.

As for England - so much talent on display but the players are looking tired and as bored as we are watching them.

I had a mate who played for the Everton youth team during Howard Kendall's years. I played five a side with him regularly. He absolutely hated losing, it didn't matter that it was a mini five-a-side tournament on a Wednesday night or a summer Sunday afternoon. He would be furious, devastated and inconsolable if we lost. He didn't even want to look at any of us that he thought let the team down. We disgusted him. I think some people are born with that tunnel vision type personality trait.

@Derek. Daniel Farke is German, not Danish. Please, do not mix those two, Denmark and Germany. It's like saying Mick McCarthy is the national coach of England.
A lot of people, especially overseas, think Denmark is the capital of the Netherlands!! Tiresome...

As Mads says, you inadvertently strayed into creating a Prince Phillip style diplomatic slip of the tongue there!! Like when our American brethren rile our north of the border cousins talking about Scotland being a place in England!!

On a serious note, Denmark does have a rich history in producing high calibre players in comparison to population size. Holland I think is the one that punches most above its weight and Croatia are another. Both Denmark & Croatia have similar population sizes to Scotland, one slightly more, one slightly less.

We are now among the very worst teams in world football. The lack of quality is quite astounding. The fact that our FA allowed Grealish and Rice to slip through their hands only makes things worse. They both should have been given first team appearances when part of the Irish underage set-up.

All players make so-called mistakes all the time, when a forward misses the target or doesn't score a chance, that's a mistake, or when a pass goes astray, like happens multiple times each game, that's a mistake. Are all those players everywhere carrying a potential mistake? Yes, they are. If a striker misses an open goal does, that mean he has a mistake in him, for the rest of his career?

This phrase, attributed to certain players only, is just confirmation bias, from pundits trying to justify their pointless existence. From fans' pantomime villans. We all need villains and heroes no matter what the actual reality is.

Ireland have had many fine players over the years but the pool to call from is so much smaller than that of England etc.

However, considering the bigger pool of players, English players when selected just never seem to raise themselves above average when playing for their country and fail miserably when up against the Germany's Belgium's and Spain's in the major competition's. They even sucked against a weak Polish team yesterday.

England, like most others will come out on top against the Moldova's, Albania's and San Marino's which mean's nothing.

Southgate just doesn't have the driving quality to get the best out of them and generally selects many players from the media mentions.

Holland, Denmark, Belgium and Croatia demonstrate that population need not be an excuse or barrier.

Before the last World Cup, I read an interview with a Croatian who was involved in player development. He made the point that, because of the relatively small population, Croatia cannot afford to let players with potential slip through the net at a young age because they may be smaller or slower relative to their peers. Instead they would persevere.

I think he suggested that, had he been born in the UK, a player like Luka Modric probably wouldn't have made it to first-team level as bigger, stronger, faster boys would have been preferred. I think Denmark has a similar approach.

Not sure what the position is in Scotland, other than to observe that their leagues seem to have a large Scandinavian contingent. Perhaps Mads can confirm?

We are embarrassing when it comes to youth development.

Still resisting. I've bored everyone enough on my views on this!

Wake me up when you've finished mate! 😜

Stones always plays a much better game, when he is further up the field, supporting and passing the ball around.

He made a mistake last night, but he has been playing very well this season, admitidly, I would look half decent in that City team, but give the guy credit, he has been performing well of late.

Ian #63, hello, mate! Delighted to see you back on the board! Where've ya been, sir? And no apologies necessary, but why do you think young Dike can't be polished into a quality player?

What I would urge you to do, I don't know what Derek Hatton said about Glen Keeley, good or bad, but in the thirty odd minutes of his Everton career he wasn't very good, that was because he wasn't match fit, he hadn't played all that season when he came on loan from Blackburn, he told Howard Kendall he wasn't match fit, Howard told him he'd be okay, Keeley's wife told him he wasn't ready, he wasn't, and that was down to Howard Kendall, Glen Keeley was a very good centre back and proved it over many years and games with Blackburn, Howard knew he was a very good centre back, that's why he asked for him on loan, he just wasn't match fit that day.

On Glen Keeley, it's not the player. In honesty I had / have no opinion on him as I didn't see enough. You make a very good point though, especially with the Stones discussion. We often judge centre backs too early at a very young age. It is a position on the pitch you won't see the best out of until they are hitting 28 or even 30. I hope we don't ruin Ben Godfrey with over expectation and frustration when he has a dip; young players do and he will. Conversely, I also hope we meet his expectations and we don't lose him as we did Stones.

Back to Keeley. No slate on the player who I have no doubt was a good centre back. It's just Derek Hatton's pronunciation of his name on that documentary that goes through me!!

The only thing wrong about the otherwise excellent Howard's Way DVD was the unfathomable inclusion of Derek Hatton.

Good comparison of Croatia and Denmark. It's ironic too because in 1992 Yugoslavia (mostly comprised of Croatian players) were the favorites to win the Euros until they were banned, then somewhat reluctantly Denmark were drafted in as last-minute replacements and won the whole thing.

I agree. I think it's the best midfield in the last 20 years. I think England have an amazing young squad. Forwards to add to your line Rashford, Greenwood, oh and Maddison into midfield as well. I think it's just down to the manager whether we win it or not. It's the manager that's the problem, IMO.

Where we are and what I assume are Ancelotti's targets, we will be focussing more on here an now. Put us on the map, get into Europe and then build on that.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin doesn't create his own scoring opportunities, and seems to be doing okay, so perhaps the lad doesn't need to!

I seldom post these days but I am still a daily reader of TW. As far as Dike is concerned, I most certainly wouldn't like to get in the way of a shot nor would I like to be the one pushing him off the ball. However, he needs space and time and although this can be improved, in my opinion, it cannot be polished enough to make it in the Premier League.

Positioning is also extremely raw but like Calvert-Lewin this can be improved but I fear not to the point where he would be an asset to EFC.

What irks me is when some players, put less than half a shift in, and almost just go through the motions, and I hate to bring it up, but are more than adequately paid. Trotting off at the final whistle having been beaten, and laughing and joking with each other and often with the opposition players too, with no signs of regret, while some kid in the stand is crying his eyes out because his beloved team lost!

Ian Pilkington @ 84, "The only thing wrong about the otherwise excellent Howard's Way DVD was the unfathomable inclusion of Derek Hatton." How many times with certain so-called 'celebrities' do we see them worming their way into everything, Jermaine Jenas, The Redknapps, how greedy are they, adverts, non-football shows etc? Furthermore who is the faceless and probably nameless idiots behind the scenes that think they are providing entertainment with these despicable limelight-seeking cretins, being thrust onto our TV screens, and into our living rooms with annoying regularity?

I didn't realise the Yugoslavia thing, which is ironic as a couple of years later I was in Croatia and Bosnia myself.

In my experience of coaching in west London, the British-Asian players are in general very technically gifted but lack the physical aspects of the game.

Definitely a pool of talent that for some reason we do not seem to tap into. It goes back to what the focus is. Pace, size, power.

Every year, if you look at our U17 national team, by far the most players are born January to June. And it is not because you become a more technical player from being born in the first half of the year. You just had 6 more months to grow.

There has been efforts to try to make special arrangement for the small players. Tournaments for players born in the second half of the year etc. Right now, there are efforts to match the players in the same league on physique and not by age. I think they call it Bio blending where they allow smaller players to train and play with younger players.

Moreover, the elite youth is concentrated on fewer and fewer clubs supported by the FA and the kids are moving clubs much earlier than in the past.

A number of the players from our 1986 team played youth football in small clubs. Elkjaer in FB, Jesper Olsen in Faxe etc (yes you don't know these clubs. They are small). A player like Molby would never had made it today. A slow player like him would never had made it through a modern academy. Speed is one of the first competencies they are checking on. It makes sense to look at the speed since that is a prerequisite in modern football. But unfortunately I think they look too much on general physique in elite youth players. Speed is very difficult to change, but your general physique can be developed through training.

I am watching a lot of elite youth football in Denmark and I am not too impressed about the type of players they are developing. A few years back, I was watching Benfica's U15 team. They were very impressive. Their individual technical level was amazing. You could see they were allowed to dribble, take players on, take chances in their game. No wonder that you find Portuguese talent all over.

Robert #82, that would be Jozy Altidore, who was never half the unit that Dike is -- similar aggression but 40 pounds lighter and none of the pace. But if Dike has Altidore's work ethic (and he appears to), he'll turn out just fine.

Eddie #89, I was more referring to the ability to just free himself with a touch to get a shot in. Dom has significantly improved in this area. If Dike can learn to do the same, he becomes really dangerous, because he has a rocket-launcher right leg that DCL could never dream of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqbpZhsvWG4 (1:34)

You touch on some very good points. I like the call about fewer clubs. If we really want to overall the youth / grass roots, it should consist of less, but better organised teams with better facilities and coaches.

Talking of players coming through in so called smaller clubs relates to my experiences in Germany; relatively big names and teams still playing in local leagues or at least playing with them, even if just in friendlies. Allow young players to experience a natural environment rather than detach them from reality and enclose them in an academy bubble.

I do have to mention Molby seeing as you did. I'm an Evertonian but my word that was some player. If ever there was an example of a midfield orchestrater, he was it. He didn't need pace, he just used his brain and ability to spread the ball and make the play. I know I should wash my mouth out with soap, but you can't deny class when you see it.

Portugal is another good call. I called Brentford with their Danish contingent earlier. Wolves with their Portugese crew have entertained the past few seasons. And Portugal were European Champions in 2016.

You bring back sad memories for me. A letter I'd mailed in 1986 was returned Indirizzo Sconosciuto “address unknown” after I sent a fan letter addressed to Preben Elkjaer, Verona, Italy. However, a year later I was able to get his autograph as my Dad's mate was the Russian translator at the football league versus the Rest of the world. So I finally got Elkjaer's autograph along with a few other lads named Maradona, Futre, Platini, and a fellow named Lineker who was once active in these parts.

Although I should add I already had Lineker's autograph after mailing a letter simply addressed as Gary Lineker, Barcelona, Spain. I guess the Spanish postmen were more in tune with football than their Italian counterparts

Thanks for calling me a pessimist. I was just providing input to the discussion on allowing smaller players to develop in a small country. Agree there seems to be some interesting young players coming through. I do hope they manage to get to the top level.

And by the way the pessimist in me would still mention that we still have a Youssef Poulsen in our starting eleven. I won't call him an attacking talent nor a technically gifted player. Just a hardworking player with physical presence. Nothing wrong with that. I do respect hard work and getting the maximum out of your talent. Buy a youth development system needs to bring through also other types of more technically gifted players. I do hope Skov Olsen will make the grade.

It was 18 months ago he made his debut cameo appearance as a late sub against them on the opening day of the season in a dull 0-0 draw.

It wasn't the most auspicious of performances from the lad, nor his curtailed start at home to Wolves next game.

I really really hope he gets some game time in the closing fixtures, but he has a lot to do to convince perhaps even himself that he can still play at this level and the very physical Premier League.

I hope so and that we see the player we thought we were getting. No doubt we will discuss on the headline thread that has just opened. Looks like his return is imminent.

You can go round the world with most things, my favourite Everton player Peter Reid, would also probably be to slow in the modern game, with its ultra-fast pitches, and I remember when we lost to Liverpool in the 1986 cup final, Molby getting motm.

Reid said in his book that Molby was the most rattled player on the pitch for the first hour, and it was Rush who done the real damage to Everton that day, but I bet you Molby, would say even if he was rattled, his quality got him through in the end?

Run, dribble, pass and move, does a kid really need to learn anything else in his junior years?

You clearly do need to be told what our problems are. You've been watching 15 months (3 years before that) of cowardly responsibility-shirking anti-football and you haven't stopped apologising for it.

Your inability to form an opinion of your own makes you one of the least interesting posters on TW. You belong to a handful of people who may as well save themselves hundreds of posts by putting up "Carlo is above criticism".

Before you have the temerity to tell me I have no right to speak about this club since Ancelotti got the gig, try to get your head around the fact that I know more about Everton than Carlo. I have always known more about Everton than Carlo. When he's gone, I will still know more about Everton than he ever will... So does everyone else who posts on this site.

You, my friend, would empty any alehouse. You don't have an opinion. You assume that, because we are managed by some arl fella who used to win things, we should all sit in silence as he royally takes the piss with this bone-idol brand of coaching... Fat Sam was ran out of town for serving up identical shite to this and you are whining because people are criticising rather than fall to their knees in humble gratitude, like you do.

"Don't question Carlo. He is always right"? ... an empty-headed sentiment peddled only by the emptiest of heads.

Come back and tell me I have no right to critcise when you have formed an opinion of your own. I already know Carlo's...

To be honest and fair Darren. I have read hundreds of posts from you. All with the same message.

I could give a list of the good things I've said on these pages about Ancelotti. And I could give a very long list of the numerous criticisms I have leveled at him... But I will always give my reasons. I will never subscribe to the sort of brainwashed, fingers-in-the-ears denials you offer in response. I avoid them because it would be like debating with the Stepford Wives.

This one about Stones is totally different to the last one about him being unable to blood and develop youngsters. I have a huge variety of different points.

This fingers-in-the-ears "la, la, la" denial of every criticism I see from the same group of people simply make me glaze over.

It works both ways you know.

So weird, it's like a little child's argument. "I have collected every Formula One panini sticker album so I know more about racing than Lewis Hamilton, ergo I am best qualified to tell him how to drive his car."

Equally absurd as "I have an opinion, you don't agree ergo you don't have an opinion, you're a sheep." Which begs the question, if any contrary opinions are not "opinions" then presumably there is only one true viewpoint, which negates the need for "opinion" in the first place as obviously it is demonstrable fact. Therefore, Darren doesn't actually have an "opinion" of his own, he is just stating obvious facts based on his large collection of sticker albums, and old copies of Shoot! So we may as well get rid of ToffeeWeb discussions and just have daily edicts of fact from the genius himself. The very same man who's own partner said he objected to Everton signing Alan Harper as he was a "red spy."

And Martin, for the record, I recognise where you're coming from and agree with you, as many will do, especially on your balanced, final paragraph:-

"There are problems and we don't need Darren to tell us what they are but the right staff are now in place to resolve them and we still need 3 or 4 players to get to where we need to be. We're not there yet but support is what is needed, some find that concept difficult."

Happy Easter folks!

3-6 here. I only need a post Florida, Southport and some army base down south and me acca...is complete

Alls that is missing is one of the "outraged" Will come and explain (Explain, not apologise for) for what we are seeing..They cant. They wont

Respects to Dave + Tony A...The likes of Peter Mills and SOOO many other open minded posters

Sad really, watching someone completely unravel into an incoherent mess.

For instance you, me, Dave A and many others have taken Boys Pen (allegedly) Bill to task repeatedly on the tsunami of shite he's delivered to us throughout his decades-long tenure.

Chill! But if you really really need to be naughty, just eat an Easter egg before Sunday! It'd be more grown-up of you.

We all have more in common, we just have different ways of showing it.

He obsessively criticized everything about the club, seems to be fueled by anger, gets into skirmishes with Evertonians. So, if he's a great Evertonian, then Gargamel must be a great smurf.