Good results for South American duo in qualifiers

Of more interest a very serious threat to the staging of the Copa America has been avoided. On Friday, post-match Brazilian captain Casimiro said that the entire squad - players, manager, technical staff - 100% had concerns at the viability of staging Copa America at this time.

None of them had been consulted before President Bolsonaro and the Brazilian football federation, CBF, unilaterally announced that Brazil would host the competition. 'Case closed' as Bolsonaro haughtily said.

After Argentina said they couldn't host it at this time due to their CV-19 situation, this decision was taken even though Brazil's CV-19 numbers remain the worst in the region and that in the four cities games will be played, occupancy of ICUs is above 70% due to the pandemic. Above 90% in two of the cities. Typically, 2,000+ people a DAY continue to die from CV-19 in Brazil.

Yesterday the Brazil squad said they will meet their obligations to play in the Copa America, but it was for the pride of the shirt and not as an endorsement of any political shenanigans some are using it as.

Oh! And change the record on Richy's 'smacked arse' look. It's his game face. He always wears it such is his intensity and concentration on the pitch. He has beamed with joy plenty of times wearing the blue shirt of Everton.

Sell 'em both!.

Firstly, I don't get the issue with his "sulky" look, It's how he plays and I've seen many like him. I've also seen him beam with joy when he scores for Everton.

Secondly, don't underestimate how much it means for the South Americans to represent their country. Now I know you can say that about any country or continent but we generally come from a club first football culture. These lads don't.

Starting last September, Mina played in 24 of a possible 27 games, league and cup. The three he sat out were coach's decisions/squad rotation. Not injury.

On Feb. 17 he yanked that calf against City, then had groin/adductor issues, and missed about half the remaining games.

Yerry also started the 2019-20 season by playing in 29 of a possible 31 games. No injuries there either.

So yes, he's had muscle injuries late in both seasons. But "never fit"? Not hardly.

A complete lack of skill, stamina, pace, mental toughness and passing ability are higher on my moan list.

A smiling Iwobi or a miserable Richarlison - no contest

Mina is second-best centre-half at the club. Sell Keane and Holgate first.

Strange remarks for an Evertonian?

Richarlison scoring for Brazil is always a win-win in my eyes. I don't understand this obsession with his "match" face? Who friggin cares?

Some people saying he's greedy? I wish we had a greedy bastard like Owen, Henry, or Shearer…? His form is the only sensible criticism.

We plod on.

Worrying more Jay's insight into Copa

Do you still rate him? Is he fit for purpose for the EPL? To me, there always looks to be a mistake in him and he’s, shall we say, erratic.

Happy to receive contrary views.

Like that Bobby. Good post

The thought honestly didn't occur to me until I saw it in the list of articles on NewsNow and it dawned on me that it might be misconstrued. Apologies for any panic it might have caused!

I have long held the belief as this pandemic goes on...and on...and on...that many sports people across many sports have been used as sacrificial lambs to a degree.

Whereas many more industries have furloughed staff or allowed them to 'post it in' and work from home, professional footballers as an example have been expected to 'get on with it', criss-cross their home nations and continental borders, all the while constantly monitored under their governing bodies and the public eye.

I have seen growing evidence as all competitions progressed of diminishing quality and energy levels as a result.

Isolation and mental health issues that induces in relation to the pandemic is of growing concern. Globally, tens of thousands of footballers driven by the demands of TV football broadcastings rights have for more than a year now been expected to 'get on with it' whilst entire nations are advised to lock down.

Last month Argentina giant River Plate played a Libertadores cup game - the South American equal of the European Cup - with 20 players ruled out due to testing positive for CV-19. That included FOUR goalkeepers. The ruling body CONMEBOL insisted the game was played. River Plate fielded the bare 11 players without a single player on the bench. Their goalkeeper was a midfield player. Incredibly, they won 2-1.

Another Argentina team arrived for a game here in Brazil. 11 tested positive for CV-19 and weren't even allowed out of the airport where they slept the night on the floor before flying home next day.

Just yesterday, Brazil's Health Minister in defending the staging of the Copa America in Brazil starting this weekend said that in the last year only one player has tested positive for the virus. The true number is 300+. One trainer died. Some months on have yet to fully recover and play or train again.

On the opening day of last season a Serie A game was called off with the away team already out on the pitch because late test results of the home team showed 18 players testing positive. There have been 8-10 examples here in Brazil of the virus running through clubs and laying low 15-25 players at a time.

The Brazilian national team has expressed their disatisfaction at both CONMEBOL and the Brazilian govt for agreeing to stage the Copa America at this time. The Brazilian public in the main sympathize with them, but in the political and corporate game being played out they are relatively small cogs in the machine.

They really are as they say in Portuguese 'Entre a espada e a parede' - between the sword and the wall on this one and they have my sympathy.

I saw a lot of him before he joined Barcelona when, together with Gabriel Jesus, he was a standout player for that year's champions, Palmeiras. Jesus left for City, Mina for Barca.

Mina was an absolute monster in defence and attack. Very pivotal in their title win. He looked a proper footballer on the ball and bringing it out from the back.

Whilst Brazilian football is more technical and played at a different tempo to the Premier League so that has to be taken into consideration, only occassionally have I seen him hit the same heights in the Blue of Everton.

I don't think he is as forlorn as some paint him, but nor do I think he is as impressive as I saw him with Palmeiras or as some describe him here on ToffeeWeb.

Finsl point: I'd rather see us sign players like Mina direct from South America in future. I think we'd view him as a steal had we signed him from Palmeiras. Instead, we view him as a bit mediocre having signed him from Barca off the back of performances for Colombia.

May you and your family be safe.

I hope we keep as he is one of those we have, that if surrounded better players, he could be great for us.

I remember World Cup Winners Ray Wilson and Alan Ball laughing and joking with opponents but then they were great players; can someone point out which Everton player is currently in the ‘Great’ column of footballers???

One thing I hate is the modern trait of playing like ballet dancers and going to ground for a "tarts" challenge; unfortunately, the sullen one is an exponent of this and is obviously sussed by referees to the extent that when he does get fouled it is ignored most of the time.

Once again I apologise for having the audacity to criticise our free scoring Brazilian; in future, I will put the despondent look on his kipper down to the kit man leaving the stud nails protruding through the sole of his boots.