Doucouré hoping to earn new deal with Everton

If I was Lampard, I would be telling him he has to improve his performances before things are discussed on his future Everton career. If he doesn't improve, ship him out with the rest of the crap we have.

He's missed quite a few games in the two seasons he's been here and I'm still not completely sold on what he's meant to be or what we want him to do.

Doucouré is athletic but there are too many games when opponents run harder than him, and when you factor in his passing is poor mostly, it's difficult to really know what we have with him.

At the very least I thought he'd be similar to Marouane Fellaini in his first year, struggling to nail down the centre of midfield but pushed up to play behind the striker and score 8 or 9 goals but that's never looked like happening.

I dare say we can't afford to lose anymore players now, unless they are Gbamin, Gomes etc.

But you'd feel if we had signed more players (one in Doucouré's mould) and cash would have been flowing, they'd have listened to sensibe offers for Doucouré.

Let his contract expire. Unless someone is daft enough to buy him beforehand.

Unfortunately, with a large group of our current squad we are going to see them leave at the end of their contracts. With no transfer fees.

It's a result of paying very ordinary players Top-6 wages and clubs tightening their wage budgets following income reductions due to Covid.

Seems like Everton, like with all things, are behind the curve on trends within the industry.

In Benitez's early games, Doucouré was let off the leash more with some powerful running displays.

To my mind, they are asked to play out of position, or if in position, others aren't and the team doesn't gel. No section is doing what they should, the midfield covering for defence, so little forward momentum. The forwards dropping too deep, same as wide players, hence the hoof to Calvert-Lewin.

I'm aware not much has changed on the playing staff but Ancelotti got better out of them. My fear is, if we cannot get some quality in, then Lampard is a fish out of water and a fresh managerial search will ensue around December, with us in Bottom 3.

For me, he and Allan were both short-term solutions. They are not good enough to play together and yet remain our best 2 midfielders.

Remember Match of the Day highlights and YouTube clips can make players appear better than they really are.

It's no surprise he had better games playing for Carlo and Rafa as they are both far better and more experienced managers.

We can only hope our next few purchases are top-quality midfielders.

Unfortunately I agree.

As much as I've seen a few good games from Doucouré where I've thought "Okay, this fella is not bad."

There's too many games where he's too sluggish, too ponderous and his passing is horrible.

29 isn't old for a midfield player but the best sides have replacements ready to bring in on the conveyor belt.

We should now be searching for the next midfielder with an engine and more attributes than Doucouré, someone 4 or 5 years younger.

Assuming he reaches the standards he set initially, I think he's worth a place in our midfield as someone who can cover the ground, win the ball back and occasionally do something in the opponent's box.

You have to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone forced to play alongside Gomes!

His overall season is a bit difficult to assess, as he suffered a pair of semi-serious injuries, and I think he rushed back early from both (particularly the foot fracture), to his own detriment.

I'm definitely not writing him off, though it's probably not realistic to look beyond extending him one more season.

If he could thread more passes like the one for Gray against Burnley last season, we'd have a player on our hands. Unfortunately his passing is atrocious at times.

He has the right attitude – I would give him the extra year.

Otherwise his energy is good, his passing is not and he's not going to score more than 3 or 4 a season.

This sort of quality could have been bought at much lower cost and younger too - so we wouldn't be facing a zero return now on a considerable outlay.

That said, given Allan, Davies and Doucoure are all out of contract June 2023, I can see the sense in extending his contract. Otherwise we have to completely rebuild the midfield from new players which is disruptive and expensive.

At the moment, for midfield squad depth, I prefer Doucouré to Gomes, Davies and Gbamin. The latter two may prove otherwise after their lengthy injuries, I hope so, but I wouldn't bet my house on it.

For that reason, he'd be one of the players we should keep and be focussed on moving on others if possible. Pathways need to be created for Warrington and maybe Price over the next two seasons. That means culling players who have had their chance and not quite taken it.

How can I make up for your unimpressed demeanour?

We got him late in his career unfortunately and now he is 2 years on from that point. He is a very good player and leader.

Doucoure needs to find consistency and, in my opinion, an identify as a player. Too often he seems to just be running around. Is that down to him? The coaching? The tactics? I don't know, but he is a very useful player to have.

I still don't know where that goal against Burnley came from. It seemed impossible he would get a shot in, let alone nearly burst the roof of the net.

More that please and your doubters will warm to you. We see the effort and energy. Just add more end product and finesse to your game.

We need a sweeper. Now definitions and positioning of sweeper vary depending on formation and tactics. But if I was Frank Lampard's advisor for a day, that's what I'd be saying. Not that he'd take my advice!!

Protection for the defence and stop the midfielders being exposed. Mind the gap as I've been saying for about 2 years or so now.

Also reports saying that Billy Gilmour and Harvey Vale have left the Chelsea first-team group as both were crap, hence everton is interested in the former!

It is just a case of you giving your opinion and in return I have given my opinion. We just see things differently, that's all.

The results last season told a story the last three months was almost Lazarus, like.

Get the mentality right and it's 11 v 11.

No more inferiority complex issues, as this seems in many games last season and before an issue.

Let the opposition know your in the game to win the game, individual duels, etc.. Win them, the Team has a chance..

Hope eternal, but hope demands effort, belief and dedication..

Everton FC, collectively start to deliver..

Face the music and turn the corner, from mediocrity, to reliability.

Hope eternal.