Everton perform better in win at Blackpool

We need to see if Patterson is ready; otherwise, we really going to struggle. I don't fancy a Seamus war cry for 9 months.

I wonder if that young goal-hungry protégé of ours, Ellis Simms, will get a run-out against his old loan club? The lad went all the way to Yankeeland yet didn't get a sniff. Perhaps Frank doesn't rate him. But then I think we know he doesn't really rate any of this rabble.

Added colour and a carefree playing style that could only be admired.

Anyway on to today's game, should be interesting to see just how our players approach this.

Attitude and application now with the season so close by is an absolute necessity because I'd guess by this point Frank Lampard is feeling bemused by the current goings on.

On a side note, we are only playing 4 pre-season games. That seems very low, I think; surely more are needed to build match fitness?

And we thought things were bad then... 🙄🙄🙄🙄!!!.

Info will probably appear on the live forum.

No mention of Micky Walsh and that other bum, Alan Ball. 😬😂

Then I realised it wasn't the '80s anymore, the ale will be crap, food too deep fried and shite, we'll be lucky to score and it's probably raining too.

I get an email saying all I have to do is log on and then access the feed. When I do it says I must be a registered member (which I am) and to log on.

I hope Davies can start producing the form he first showed, then I wouldn't be quite so worried as I am! I like the look of Tarkowski, Mina and Godfrey together.

Rondon playing at least gives a target and he looks much fitter; and I'd like to see some of the young lads get a go, as well.

Never Learn.

Good turnout by the Evertonians - yet again.

As for Dele Alli – get rid. He has zero interest.

Patterson doesn't look too bad to me.

If you are implying Gordon is only Championship level, then I despair. When we do have a genius quality player progress through the ranks, the TW know-it-alls appear to slate them.

No wonder we can never keep our best young players when they get such backing.

Obviously taking it really really easy in training, just doing the fun stuff. We are literary lambs to the slaughter. First full match watch in a while and to be honest I was appalled. People just aren't doing their jobs.

For me, the worst aspect of the game was, with three centre-backs, will still conceded goals too easily. Tarkowski looked comfortable but sorry to see he is right-footed, again, so we now have five centre backs and they are all right-footed.

So against quick forwards we will struggle... no, sorry, we will concede loads of goals. Not good and no better than last season which is understandable given that we are largely using the same players.

I don't like 5 at the back with our defenders. I don't think it suits any of them.

Any idea what position we can get the best out of Dele?

Why did we sell Bowler? He looks like he could play at a higher level.

More questions than answers but at least we scored a few and got a win.

Patterson got forward we'll as did Mykolenko, although Mykolenko was caught out by Bowler a couple of times.

Didn't notice Davies that much, but the midfield looked instantly worse when he went off.

Iwobi looked lively and, as much as his final ball irritates me, he covers a lot of ground.

Gordon had a quiet game, Rondon made some good runs - but I think this is about his level.

Dele could be a gem this season. His work rate is questionable – there were a couple of occasions he was just yards from the ball but stood there – but when he's on the ball, you can see he has class. He's also a narky player, which we need more of. He was in the right place for both of his goals and hopefully those two goals are what he needs. If he can arrive in those positions all season he'll be in double figures and worth every penny. We'll also have the added advantage of opposition defences having one eye on Dele, which will free up space for Calvert-Lewin.

Overall - 2 poor goals to concede, an individual mistake again and shocking zonal marking and we didn't create that much - but we scored 4. Pre-season, but much better than the last 2 games.

Tarkowski and Doucoure the pick with a good game too from Patterson. Tom did fine and Rondon was okay too. Dele will benefit from two goals and will make a huge difference if he can regain his form.

Much better and my stream worked very well.

I think five at the back is more about covering the deficiencies in midfield than because it suits the defenders. They are crap whether there is 4 or 5 at the back whereas the wing backs help the inept midfield so one area of the field isn't as crap as it otherwise would be.

Dele could be our best player if he gets and stays fit.

We'll be okay provided we strengthen up and get 2 or 3 good reinforcements.

I think we will, but they're not that easy to find.

I thought Rondon did much better today than he has in the past, but as usual we have to see what he'll be like against Premier League opponents.

One being we know we can play at this level!

That was the problem last season and nothing has changed.

The players we use across the middle are average at best and inconsistent. Added to that we have no real goalscorers so things do not look good once again. Boo-Hoo!!!

We can't afford passengers in midfield, especially with this obsession with 5 at the back. We need graft and he certainly doesn't offer any. Get rid.

Rondon has lost some ballast, so let's see how the squad responds the next couple of weeks.

I always enjoy your posts as they are rational and well thought out. I agree with you about Dele Alli. He could be a top player this season. He needs games under his belt to get his match fitness to where it needs to be, so I hope Frank perseveres with him.

Everyone focussed on the miss in Minnesota but the timing and positioning of the run was impeccable. If he continues to do that all season, he will be a valuable asset.

Dele has that languid body language. He may look uninterested but scored a couple and looks a lot fitter than last season.

I would be very surprised if he was sold in this transfer window after only just getting him in January.

The challenge for Lampard is finding a role for him in the team. He needs to play as he can score goals.

It is very hard to read Frank's position on Dele. I'm pretty sure he will play some part of the match on Friday. Frank must be giving him every chance to prove that he is worth paying some cash for him. 㾶 million after 20 matches and the other 㿊M to be paid when?

Personally having watched him closely today, despite scoring 2 goals and giving Connolly a good whack, I don't think he has the defensive nouse that we are going to need from every player... and then there is the money. If we haven't got a pot to piss in, 㾶M is a lot of money.

No Calvert-Lewin today, is Frank thinking of playing Dele up front? Why no Calvert-Lewin? Possibly injured? Possibly on his way to Newcastle!

I have heard it said that selling Richarlison was a double whammy. Good for FFP and did it go into the BMD black hole? Anything is possible with the board that we have!

I don't think Moshiri takes a piss before asking Usmanov and he has told him to get the fuck out and get his money back. Neither have any concern about EFC.

All this after we win!

After just 90 minutes more of this, we face Chelsea – heaven help us.

- Tarkowski has a decent range of long passing (a few nice diagonals and a through ball too).

- Patterson is a good footballer and has a good engine. He'll surely come good at some point.

- Mykolenko is really good

- Alli is classy on the ball and can score / create goals

- 3 at the back allowed our wing backs to push very high

Negatives:

- 3 at the back still doesn't work otherwise though. The back three are just not good enough on the ball. Consequently, the midfield constantly seems a man down.

- Even against a not very aggressive Blackpool press, we struggled to get the ball out of defence and into midfield

- We still look weak at set-pieces

- Our central midfield of Davies and Doucoure was not good, Gordon very quiet also.

To finish on Alli, I don't know if he's not arsed or just expecting other players to do their jobs properly - especially the other midfielders.

At the end of this year, we are also counting on Juve to cough up €25M+ for Moise Kean but, given he's been a flop there, not sure we can rely on that arriving.

A win is a win, hope it's not too long a wait till the next one and that we can find some Premier League clubs whose defence is as open as Blackpool's...

Also, we do seem to have the odd goal in us. It's the midfield where it all comes undone, it's like we've thought "We're not strong in midfield, so let's just ignore it and concentrate on the rest".

I thought we did okay, the game was effectively over after 10 minutes and we never looked like losing. Blackpool really struggled in the first half and only a daft goal gave them any hope.

The general performance was much better than the last 2 games without being at the level we will need.

I struggle to understand why Rondon is getting game time, much prefer to see Simms and/or Dobbin. Or, for that matter Broadhead.

Nathan Patterson played well, his crosses are good and I would have him taking corners and free-kicks if he makes the starting eleven.

Dele is a strange one because at times he looks totally disinterested but then comes up with a well-timed run or nice piece of skill. He looks to be improving with each game to me, though.

We looked a bit laboured in the second half until Iwobi came on and added some energy.

I thought Gordon was fouled in the middle of the park, the ref thought otherwise and the resulting break from Blackpool led to the corner for their second goal.

It's always difficult to take much from these games however, there was definite improvement which is encouraging although still plenty to do.

I've had exactly the same issue for all three games. It takes you around in a continuous circle. I've even tried logging out and then back in but to no avail. I'm just glad I'm not paying. It really isn't good enough for a Premier League club.

You can usually get a link to a decent stream on the ToffeeWeb Live Forum.

As for the game itself, we are still pitifully weak in midfield. There's very little joined-up play and the usual ploy is to play it long or pass to the other side. If we can sort midfield, it will solve a lot of other issues in the side.

First, Alli appeared to be doing what Calvert-Lewin did under Ancelotti - getting inside the goal area and making a bloody nuisance of himself and knocking in good crosses.

Second, Patterson and Mykolenko look as though they can be a pair of highly effective wingers, and having two such players will negate the usual tactic played against Everton of saturation defending against the one effective winger.

I have been extremely critical of Alli in his attitude, fitness and all-round application but, if Frank Lampard has found a way of getting him to play where he starts scoring regularly and generally messing with defences, he'll be worth his weight in gold – and I'm sure his motivation won't be any kind of issue!

I'm not sure Calvert-Lewin's ever coming back having had his head turned by whatever agent / other club / media garbage / modelling has got to him, and as a replacement, today's Alli would make an excellent replacement for the best of Ancelotti's Calvert-Lewin.

The problem is that ‘nice guy Frank' has blown smoke up his arse and told him he's a No 10. Tell him to stay on the wing, pressure the full-back and get a cross in, and we'll have a player. Carry on as we are, and its Ross 2.0...

He plays off the striker and doesn't suit pressing – everyone knows that – but, whilst he's not the player he was, he is still one of our better players, sadly.

Weird game today. At least we scored. Defence is exposed due to no midfield and there's no creativity in it so it doesn't really function. All the goals came from crosses but, if that doesn't work, we're in trouble.

To comments from other posters...

Rondon is presumably being given minutes to get him fit for the deputy striker role again - with Simms heading for another (probably necessary) developmental loan.

Dobbin I'd like to see more of.

The central midfield I'd like to see less of.

Thoughts and observations on the game?

If fit, Mina will start alongside Tarkowski versus Chelsea, the latter's range of long ball passing was impressive. As soon as Mina went off, we reverted to type and conceded a goal from a corner.

Midfield remains a concern, I watched Tom Davies the whole time he was on, and when he showed for the ball, he passed it back every time to an Everton player, never attempted to turn and run forward with it.

Will he ever cut the mustard for us? I'm beginning to doubt it; he's no longer a young lad making his way in the game.

Biggest disappointment, was Anthony Gordon, he failed to make any impression at all, and his crossing was awful.

Allan came on as a late sub, and I'm sorry, but he's past it now, the legs have gone, totally unsuited for the fast pace of the Premier League.

With 2 weeks to go, we're in desperate need of quality personnel in midfield and in attack.

Don't let the scoreline fool you, Blackpool were very average. This Everton team will struggle to score goals.

At the moment, we're in for a long hard season, unless things change remarkably on the transfer front.

A comment in this thread about Davies passing backwards. Does anyone remember the draw at Old Trafford when he passed to Mina in an offside position late in the game. Even MotD highlighted why did he not shoot. We could have got 3 points, but instead 1.

Rondon was better than usual today but surely we can do better. I think I read somewhere that Frank wants to send Dobbin out on loan with the only concern being our lack of depth if that happens. Assuming that does happen late in the window and both Simms and Broadhead are loaned or sold, then I can't see Dele going anywhere soon.

We continue to be linked with Broja which I cannot see as realistic unless either Calvert-Lewin is sold or we get the Moise Kean money. The former seems more likely, I would say at the moment.

As others have said, our midfield is a mess. Lewis Warrington looks promising and hopefully we will see more of him as the new season progresses but there is little else to look forward to in the middle. At least 2 solid hard-working midfielders required with one being an enforcer and the other a creator.

We were welcomed into the Bloomfield Club for a couple of pints, and the policing and stewarding at the ground was pleasantly low-key. There was a fine turn-out of Everton fans who were in good form.

It looks to me as though the Godfrey, Mina, Tarkowski trio will be Frank's preferred defence, allowing the two full backs to push up, as they did very much today. Patterson looked a bit anxious early on, but he was much happier when galloping forward. If he can master the defensive side of his game he could become a very popular player.

Tarkowski looked solid, and his passing was good. Ben Godfrey looked comfortable on the right.

The two early goals settled things down to a degree, and even prompted an outbreak of “We're gonna win the League” followed by “We shall not be moved”.

Unfortunately, as others have said above, things started to break down when we tried to play through midfield, which was pedestrian to say the least.

Blackpool's first goal arrived when their own midfield suddenly moved up through the gears very swiftly and left our lads standing. The ensuing shot at goal was seemingly well saved by Pickford, but instead of deflecting the ball away from goal he inexplicably parried it into the air from where it was nodded in. It was a strange goal.

The change of defenders at half-time brought about predictable worries. A corner for Blackpool inevitably resulted in a free header - shocking, but not surprising. Ok, we scored goals either side of it, but we simply cannot afford such sloppiness.

Dele Alli is an enigma. He has got some excellent skill, but drifts out of the game. I was unimpressed with his behaviour that led to his booking, others enjoyed seeing him dish out some retribution. He was in the right place to score twice.

Rondon tried, but the summer break has not added finesse to his limited repertoire. Iwobi also ran around.

There was a good-natured pitch invasion of mostly young kids at the end. I enjoy seeing the exuberance, but I think it will have to stop or we will be punished.

A good day out, but nothing was at stake. Every team in the Premier League is much better than Blackpool, and unless 3 or 4 quality reinforcements are brought in, which seems most unlikely, it's going to be a long, difficult season.

I'd be very surprised if there are no new players within next few weeks.

I expect:
A number 6: Gilmour (on loan) or Winks
A versatile forward: Broja, Dennis, or Cornet
An attacking midfielder: Gibbs-White or Barkley?!
A centre-back if we can sell Holgate, Keane or Mina: Colwill or Becao.

I reckon 3 or 4 more players in and hopefully they are the right ones. Many gaps.

We need midfielders, but Iwobi, Gray, and Gordon can float around, and all of them could also possibly play as a forward midfielder, which is something Alli can also do.

So it just leaves a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, and a centre-forward to hopefully all come in!

Another Pickford howler with the usual set-piece screwup ensured we would not keep a clean sheet and our fragility is worrying, particularly when we are pressed, which Blackpool did very little of.

I don't know what's going on with Calvert-Lewin but Dele Alli may be our main source of goals this season.

I thought Tom Davies did okay today but it's the lack of movement in front of him and the fact we sit so deep that worries me.

I think we have beaten Chelsea in approximately 9 out of the last 12 home matches.

I can't believe Frank even has him around the place. Oumar Niasse is a far better striker and didn't even get a locker.

Dele Alli creates another problem, when/ if he reaches twenty league games we have to pay Spurs 㾶M, can we afford to take the risk that he will get fitter and continue to improve? Even when he doesn't play, he costs 𧴜, 000 per week.

He had good moments today plus two goals but must be in the game more than he was today, still a big question mark over this complex transfer with all the good points going Spurs way.

The lad from Burnley will do me. I think he would be much better if we played with just two centre-backs.

I don't think Patterson will be going on loan – he looks like he will get better the more he plays in the team, like the lad from Ukraine has done.

I think Frank Lampard has an unenviable task trying to get players in and getting them ready to perform in 2 weeks. If he gets them before the end of the transfer window, it will help but obviously take longer to get them to gel together. We can only wish him the best of luck with the team he's got to help him.

I really don't get it, I saw grown men carrying their 3-year-old kids onto the pitch, and others, imploring their children to 'run' on for autographs.

Are these people really thick, particularly after what happened at the end of last season at Goodison???

The answer is probably Yes!!!

I agree with you and Sam #82 about the types of player we need. But we are rooting around the bargain basement, and the sort of names with whom we have been associated will not improve us massively. It's going to be tough this season, that's how it is.

They should look annoyed, they should be challenging each other as to who or why that just happened, bollocking each other so they learn from it. Who was at fault for that etc... That's what winners do... Doing nothing is what losers do... it needs to change.

I want to see winners from start to finish. As an example, Pickford conceding that goal, his mistake, yes he looked annoyed with himself – glad to see that – but the defence need to push him to stop the theatrics, keep it simple.

Same on the other foot, that header from the corner for their 2nd goal, Pickford needs to bollocking the defence, and so on...

The body language of the midfield needs to improve, it's not aggressive, sharp, quick, or incisive... very mundane. We need to get nasty with ourselves and on the pitch.

Rondon did well and actually linked-up much better than Calvert-Lewin can. And Niasse was nowhere near as average as Rondon.

Will the real Dele Alli please stand up!

Still, a win's a win and with Tuchel saying the same as Frank after a 0-4 vs Arsenal, maybe it's Arteta has them ahead of the pack, fired up fitness-wise for what is essentially a 3-month mini-season... it's not a marathon this year it's 'only' a 5000-m.

So Frank will have to make the proverbial silk purse. It looks like 3 or 5 at the back is nailed on, the difference I would like is to play 3 in midfield with 2 up top. In midfield I'd play Doucouré, Iwobi & Delli, it's up front that the cupboard is bare.

Perhaps he could persuade Pulisic to come here on a loan deal. Apparently he wants to leave Chelsea to get game time. Perhaps our backroom/scouting staff could extract their fingers out of their collective arses and try to get some up-and-coming players from God knows where.

But it maybe a case of more out before more in. Gomes, Allan and sadly Gbamin and even more sadly Tom Davies need to move on over the next season. Strangely enough, a couple of really good inspired signing could really turn the club around. Who and where those signings are is above my pay grade

We should find out a bit more after the Kiev game, but unless we get some in, we are in deep shit. I still think one of either Gordon or Calvert-Lewin will be sold, before the window shuts, then it is a case of who do we bring in?

If we are really in trouble being able to buy players, then I hope we use the Kiev game to give Stanley Mills, Warrington, Dobbin or Simms a longer run out. We may need these, sooner rather than later.

As for the second goal we conceded, that was some corner Garbutt whipped in at pace; up there with Hinchliffe, that corner.

It fucking really winds me up, idiot kids being encouraged by idiot parents to run onto the fucking pitch after shirts.

It was bad enough recently with the shit signs each game, kids sat around like tramps with shite cardboard signs begging for shirts. Now it's run onto the pitch to pester their 'stars' for shirts, all the while hollered on by morons.

The pitch invasion at the end of the game against Palace was acceptable, the one mid-game was a disgrace. As is celebrating a friendly win against Blackpool by legging it onto the pitch like scrounging little scruffs.

I fucking hope it does not happen against Kyiv and I honestly think we are still under the radar for this shit. In a season where we may well struggle for points, is it really worth risking more points to say "I got Mason Holgate's shirt against Blackpool" like one little cretin appeared to...?

I'm sick of saying it on here, season after season. But here goes one last time: Pickford is a liability who continues to make unforgivable errors. While he remains at the club, we will struggle and needlessly lose games.

It is no wonder the players immediately in front of him have shattered nerves as a result of his erratic antics. A goalkeeper's job is to martial his defence in a composed manner. Pickford is incapable of such a feat.

What on Earth were those young lads supposed to achieve in the final 10 minutes today when brought on as substitutes? They surely should have been afforded a full half at least.

Central Midfield is a crisis area for our team right now. Doucoure and Davies stroll through matches like passive observers. Alli is simply a waste of space. Replacements are urgently needed. The youngsters should be blooded immediately.

I hear rumours of possible signings in the shape of Billy Gilmour and Ross Barkley from Chelsea. Gilmour looked good a couple of years back, but struggled out on loan last term with doomed Norwich.

If Barkley comes back it will be back to negative mediocrity. We have that dubious commodity in abundance at present. Why add to it?

The signings of a quality centre midfielder and a proven striker seems essential to our survival. Failure to do so will undoubtedly see exactly the same relegation battle develop as last season. This time, we may not be as lucky.

Each to their own opinion but Pickford is far from being a liability in my opinion. We undoubtedly need to add some quality to the squad but a goalkeeper should be right at the bottom of the list of requirements needed.

Premier League defenses wouldn't let someone with no pace like Rondon break the offside trap and have so much space to wreak havoc, but I'm glad to see Rondon appeared to be fitter and had better movement.

Fingers crossed also that Dele's confidence remains on an upward trajectory after the brace. For fuck's sake, we need more playing time for Patterson instead of loaning him away, as suggested by the latest rumour!

Already there is a good defence of Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, Mykolenko. In front of them there are players like Iwobi, Doucouré, Gordon, Gray, Calvert-Lewin, and a host of young talented players such as Dobbin, Simms, Warrington, and more, leaving out Rondon – and the Abbott & Costello pair of Holgate and Keane.

So perhaps we shouldn't give up all hope just yet. If Frank can just bring in a couple of good loans or freebies, then we may start looking up the table to 10th or 12th place this season.

And I think you're talking about Jordan Pickford 2½ years ago. You'll never completely change his temperament or character, but he has definitely calmed and matured in that time period. I'd still like him out of his 6-yard box a bit more, commanding the area, but his saves pretty much kept us in the Premier League last season.

But, I don't think anyone disagrees with you on the point we need reinforcements. And soon. Last week in fact.

Blackpool played like a team, organized and each knowing their positions... we, on the other hand looked like a team without organization, structure or cohesion. Like we didn't know each other..

No one looked like a rock, that worries me. I think that's why half the team consistently go missing, no one player steps up and marshalls the team to counter the opposition.

You need a manager on the sidelines, yes, but you need a captain to organize, bollock, chat or inspire on the pitch. I think that's the problem.

I got the same impression. Obviously it's pre-season but this group has had so many changes of formation and changes of personnel that I don't think anyone other than Pickford, Mina and Mykolenko are used to the role they play. Interesting that these are our consistent better performers.

Lampard needs to cut out the chopping and changing once the season gets underway.

But then Frank does not think in terms of formations and a player like Iowbi, whose best position seems to be everywhere, is playing better for Frank than any other manager. Even the midfield is not definitive. It is more a blend of three players.

I think it may be going to be difficult defining Everton's play under Frank.

Frank Lampard.

I totally despair at times and not always about the club and team. Great win in the circumstances and hopefully this is just the start of better things.

Christine is right about a leader; Allan took on that role when he came on. But definitely we need 3 or 4 new and better players.

“Mykolenko & Patterson impress for Toffees

Blackpool 2-4 Everton

Summer signing Nathan Patterson and fellow full-back Vitalii Mykolenko got among the goals and assists for Everton.”

Summer signing! This is how little the media knows or cares about Everton and how little work the club does in addressing such things. It's pathetic.

Unfortunately, because of this, we are a nothing club to everyone apart from Everton supporters.

I think Lampard has to take some of the blame for the lack of cohesion by flip-flopping from 3 at the back to 5 at the back to 4 at the back. Our players are not the most technical and I think the constant changing of formation doesn't help anyone. All the top managers stick to one system and don't change from week to week.

While we have to remember it was only Blackpool we beat, a win is always very welcome to a side that struggles to score goals. I know when we lost to Arsenal Lampard commented that it was our first pre-season game while it was Arsenal's 3rd.

So maybe whoever decided our pre-season schedule should not have had us fly to America with all the time that takes and instead arranged more games around Europe.

The last thing this club needs is to get off to a bad start to the new season, and if players haven't had enough game time then that falls squarely on the manager's shoulders.

Very sensible post! I made the same point last year about playing Man Utd in pre-season, ie. why play a top team who are likely to beat us when we are just trying to build fitness and get match sharp? Surely getting stuffed by a top team will only damage confidence.

Obviously a game where we win too easily, like the 22-0 debacle a few years ago, is of no great use but some more like yesterday would be ideal.

Hopefully Friday evening will be a competitive but even enough game which will build on the improvements we saw yesterday.

"You want good people. Selfish characters can be the downfall of any team. James Tarkowski is a well-spoken leader and straight away gives off a professional tone. Character in the dressing room is huge and the main attribute for me. "

Frank Lampard.

Josh could look very good at times and lots of times he played for himself going on mazy runs beating two or players but running into dead ends. He has matured since moving to Blackpool and was their Player of the Season, I think, so there is a good player there.

I don't know how consistent he is but he was certainly much better in the second half when Blackpool decided to attack more and yesterday's performances he looked a better player than Anthony Gordon but that was just one game.

He cost money from QPR but never progressed at the Blues and I think he went on a free. Time waits for no man, he lost his chance at Everton. Maybe he will continue to improve at Blackpool and playing in the Championship get noticed more and move on to the Premier League.

We're currently a team that is less than the sum of its parts and that's down to a lot of chopping and changing and no partnerships or relationships on the pitch.

On a brighter note, I thought Patterson looked good, albeit against a lower Championship / upper League One side.

What to do with Dele? In some ways, I wish he hadn't scored the goals as the decision as to whether to splash out some money on him isn't such an easy one to make. He really could go either way from here.

We definitely need a defensive midfielder ASAP.

I agree with you. But during the relegation dogfight, Frank kept playing an open attacking style of football with the defence pushing up in support. Members of the defence hated it. He did change to five at the back, but the right and left back were more wing backs pushing up in support. Of course all the failings of a team that was 'less than the sum of its parts' were clearly exposed.

I think Frank is just picking up where he left off last season. He may get in the players to cover players who are not up to his demands, and continuing with repetitive blueprint training may enable players to get up to speed and reduce errors. But it will be a bit of a roller coaster performance-wise with our usual suspects.

The lower half teams of the Premier League had Everton well sussed last season as far as rigid tactics was concerned. Set up shop first half. Second half, push up into midfield, pushing the Everton back four deep. Their spiritual home.

Though Blackpool looked more organised, they where beaten 4-2.

Interesting to read Lampard's comments on Tarkowski and dressing room characters. It makes sense of his comments on Seamus at the end of last season.

Our movement up front is abysmal and there is only Tarkowski who can manage to play a decent pass.

Our passing and movement is a disgrace for a Premier League side and, while I don't want to be too negative after a much-improved performance, I still believe, if we don't get some midfield and forward reinforcements in, we will get some spankings which will destroy any confidence this squad has.

Top teams are moving towards a high press as we slumber into a low block.

Very worrying for me despite beating the mighty Blackpool.

Pickford
Patterson Mina Tarkowsi Mykolenko
Allan
Gordon Alli Iwobe Gray
Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Doucoure, Begovic, Godfrey, Coleman, pick a midfielder

That line-up isn't terrible, but it still scares me if there's injury woes, which there almost always are.

I'd also stick with 4 at the back, and I'd not change the line-up often! These comments about chop and change have merit. Stick with the system, stick with 11 to 14 players all season. There's 38 games, for fuck's sake! The League Cup can – and this pains me because I want to win that damn Mickey Mouse Cup – go to hell this season. Tackle the FA Cup in January when we know if we're decidedly mid-table or down near the bottom and adjust your approach accordingly.

Good luck, Frank, we're all counting on you.

He's incredibly talented. In fact, he's got more talent than any other player in the squad.

He's prone to bouts of laziness and becoming disinterested. It's up to Frank to keep him focused.

Alli will not be the guy busting a gut, running around the pitch like a madman, closing down, etc. But he will place himself in terrific positions on the pitch 10 seconds before anyone else realizes what's going on.

He'll frustrate the life out of me. But he's our most talented player in my opinion.

He's our Dimitar Berbatov.

You can add Gordon and Gray to your quote about busting a gut.

It's coming to fruition, the bad structure of the club, on the academy, where it was jobs for the old boys, ie, Unsworth. No-one has come through the ranks.

Where did Gordon come from?

It's going to be a battle but with three signings of more and playing to our strengths mid table is possible. Frank your methods need reviewing or October your be gone. Your stubbornness in staying with your principles and conceeding goals leads to one outcome. Managers who can adapt methods to get positive results with the players they have stay in the game for many years and have success.

Over the last 8 years, we have brought Gordon and Davies through and, by the way, both are very limited. It's a disgrace that no talent has come through.

So when you said 'none' – you meant two actually?

You also don't rate Gordon and he doesn't put much effort in? Is that right?

Apart from his goal, all that Davies did well was to move crab-like and point to where the ball should be passed because he either wasn't bothered or not skilled enough to do it himself. If Davies is one of our first eleven this season, then we have had it.

If Blackpool had some luck, this game would have been 4-4. Still the free headers in the box from corners.

Dele Alli plays like a man with a grievance and Gordon is hyped to the max; he's good but not that good. We need two or three class buys to see us safe this season. Why are we waiting?

His finishing is poor. He burst into the side demonstrating terrific energy when all around him were flagging. That's what made him stand out last season. The crowd were desperate for someone other than Richarlison to actually look like they cared. That's why they took him to heart.

But if you scrutinise his performances, for all of his backtracking, passion and desire, the end product overall has been meagre in goal terms. I'm sure I'll take stick here, but if someone came in with a decent offer now, I'd personally snatch their hands off.

It's interesting. I remember Luke Chadwick at Man Utd getting a lot of praise in his first season, then he sort of petered out.

Aaron Ramsey was younger but made a decent start then he struggled and was a victim of the boo boys but, a year or two later, he was one of the best in the Premier League.

Gordon could be another Cadamarteri but, even if his end product is lacking,he did improve dramatically last year. I'm hoping he continues on that trajectory but no doubt the boo boys will turn on him if he has a mediocre spell.

We need Chelsea to sign a forward to force their hand over Broja.

He did sort a few aspects of his game and progressed nicely last season. He has a way to go, like you say, end product and getting more shots away are probably the main areas.

We'll also probably need to be mindful of the dip that young players suffer after having a good season on the trajectory of continuous progression.

There is more to his game than what you say. He's not the quickest, but he has good feet, good control and beats players by his change of pace. I know he's slight and gets knocked easily but, to me, it speaks volumes that opposition teams started to target him last season as they viewed him a threat.

People have slaughtered Benitez, but one thing he definitely seemed to make Anthony Gordon realize, is that to become a top level footballer, you have also got to learn how to do the ugly side of the game.

Gordon did learn, his defensive work rate and positional play, both improved dramatically, (except when he was shattered, but still kept on, because Lampard seemed to prefer Anthony's discipline over Demari Gray?) but when this happens, sometimes it can initially take away some of the better parts of your game? (Usually the things you normally do the most naturally, maybe?)

He definitely surprised Alexander-Arnold at Anfield, how that wasn't a foul, I'll never know, and when he did the same thing to Matip, he should have been awarded a penalty kick. “It's this type of aggressive running, that I personally think, he's got to keep adding to his game, especially if he finds himself playing inside a bit more this season”?

I got in touch with Everton, and they have confirmed that the Soccerbuses as they call them, will be running as normal for the Kiev game, into and out of Liverpool and Sandhills, starting 2 hours before kick-off, and running up to 1 hour afterwards.

He had a good season in what was a difficult season, let alone for a young player, but is far from the finished article.

The difference for an Everton youngster stepping up in comparison to a Liverpool youngster is like stepping into the fire as opposed to walking down Easy Street.

Are they any better? I don't think so. But they step into a settled environment they have been prepared for, surrounded by better players, relaxed in the knowledge they don't have to change the world.

Whereas ours step into the cauldron of pressure, with the weight of expectation on their shoulders because the majority of the senior players have been failing.

I have hopes for Gordon. I'm old and wise enough to have seen them come and go. But if he can play his game, he bothers the opposition. Just put him in a team with better players.

It might be a different story if we had a Arjen Robben or a Kanchelskis, who would scare the shit out of the opposition and that's the formation Frank wants to play. He has not got the players to play that formation.

Fair enough. This season will be a big one for Gordon... we will see.

Wouldn't we will all love a Robben or Kanchelskis...?

Yes, we would! That's a very high standard to aim for.