Pickford out for up to a month

Then again, he is a liability to quite a few on here. Let's see what the stand-in can do. Let's hope he avoids an injury or its the youth team keeper as our main man.

Looks like three league matches he'll be out for. Maybe home to Man Utd, 9 October, the return target.

The Everton training ground curse continues…

But behind him, it's kinda thin...

Having said that, Begovic hasn't let us down.

The Everton team, has more belief and resilience than for many years.

Strength in adversity for Everton.

Pickford's 6 matches this season have brought him to the top of his game. But Begovic begins the next game as a novice, because he has not played enough games for a while, so, maybe a liability against Arsenal where he let in an awful amount of goals last season in the last game of the season because he also had not played for a while.

Get well, Pickers.

So who will be the reserve keeper on the bench Sunday?

How about we make a quick deal to bring Jagielka back from Stoke?

‘Begovic begins the next game as a novice.'

Can't wait to see this. Fully expecting Begovic to trot out with boots on his hands and gloves on his feet.

What a load of nonsense. He might be rusty but he's a decent backup keeper who has been around the block. We'll be alright.

Not many other options out there if we cannot recall any of our goalies.

Joe @ 18 - I agree.

Was Goodison built on a fucking Mic Mac Indian burial site?

Begovic at Arsenal is enough to convince me I could see a repeat score of the last day. 😔

Another shrewd bit of transfer business by Rafa.

We have to be one of the unluckiest football clubs on Earth, the complete opposite to the shithouses over the road. They probably put a curse on him after the game.

Simms is no world beater but an upgrade on Rondon. Even Dobbin. Same with Virginia, better than Begovic, from what I've seen. That lad has everything to be a good keeper.

But I thought I saw something about him not being as good as he was expected to be. Certainly his playing stats since joining last January are rather limited.

He made two Premier League 2 appearances for the U23s during the second half of last season, against Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United.

He did go on the US tour and played the second half in both games; was a sub on the bench unused for the second two pre-season friendlies

This season, he has played no part in any of the 5 Premier League 2 games played by the U21s but was in goal for the first EFL (Papa John's) Trophy game last week at Morecambe, where he let in 3 goals, and then 7 penalties in the shoot-out, where he has been given the No 43 shirt.

Probably not even on the list as a stand-in, although he did get onto the senior subs bench when Tom Davies pulled up in the pre-match warm-up at Fleetwood and was withdrawn.

We'll be fine.

Chances are not an option now with Everton needing cover.

But Everton "It's a curse! No other club has injuries! The sky is falling! You couldn't make it up!"

It's annoying… but not the end of the world.

I'm not suggesting he should be our Number 1, but he's not a bad fall-back. With our current defence in front of him, he'll be fine.

The Emirates monkey is coming off our back.

Okay, if the defense keeps up the good work, we may get by with Begovic… but he's no Pickford.

Everton will adapt improvise and overcome this injury to Pickford.

Our midfield looks light years better than last season, bring on the Arse!

UTFT!

Surely he's better than that walking hot-water bottle warming our bench (Lonergan), who has not played a single game, but is injured or unfit when we need him. Get rid, I say.

Still… what the fuck???

Ben Foster could be another to consider, despite what he said about the Everton players last season – which was true then but not now. Lonergan is a real last resort and not good enough for Everton. Why spoil the ship for a halfpenny worth of tar?

I wonder if he can even remember where he left his gloves. Probably hasn't left his armchair for weeks!

(They do train every day you know. He didn't turn into Jim Royle over night!)

It's a bit like saying don't bother with an outfield squad. Just go out and find someone available rather than elevate Tom Davies (assuming Iwobi, Obana and Gueye are the first choice midfield 3).

Sorry, I don't get it. It's a squad game and Begovic is in our squad. He steps up if the person in his position is injured or if the manager wants to rotate.

Begovic was bought for this scenario and trains with this in mind. Now he steps in and earns his salary.

By the way Begovic will be fine. He is a good keeper.

Quite. It is usually an Everton moon. Same as with other player injuries.

I saw a piece that Juventus will make a move for Aston Villa's
Douglas Luiz with Moise Kean going the other way?

Two keepers on the bench? You're 'avin' a laff.

Markv#69,

You do have a point, but Frank was shafted by the Chelsea players when he tried to play the same system that he now plays at Everton. Mostly, the same players that shafted Tuchel.

One prevailing point through the Transfer Window has been the removal of players who are not of a self-reliant character, who have not got the self-motivation to operate within Frank's system.

Frank's system is aimed at free expression and self motivation. Why would he think of going back to Chelsea with unknown owner and a group of unsuitable players on contracts that would make them harder to shift than Everton's deadwood?

Moise Kean is still on our books and on loan to Juve. They have an obligation to buy at about £25 million in June 2023, but they changed their minds and don't want to buy him now!

They are trying to be creative as they can and get him off the books whilst recouping as much of that unwanted future outlay as possible. Would be good news for us if he is traded as we would get, in theory, our £25M early.

He's a likeable guy; it is what it is regarding the Pickford situation. Which means that Begovic has the run of a few games to get himself into the rhythm of playing.

I don't see any problems here, only worry of course is if he picks up an injury in the next month and we end up being forced down the route we went down years ago in a game against Blackburn.

Nigel Martyn was injured, so Richard Wright came in as his back-up and got injured in the warm-up, the back-up's, back-up Iain Turner ended up starting but got sent off after 10 minutes and then the back-up's, back-up, back-up, John Ruddy, had to come on. Mind you he kept a clean sheet that day!

Actually Everton have managed him well. A real bonus if someone coughs up money for him. It is not Everton's problem if no-one does.

That's the reason we need a decent squad, isn't it? We just have to suck it up and get on with it.

Soccer Souls | Brentford model explained in detail

I stick with what I said last week, an early booking for one of our key players, to take the sting out of our performance.

At one time of day I wouldn't have said this, but I much prefer the thought of him recovered, then training and resting back here, over being away with England.

Just hope we don't need too many performances out of Berkovic like Pickford gave against the RS.

Amazing! Anyone notice he was playing with a strain? Maybe Frank needs to strain him every week. Outstanding against the RS. Has been for a while for us.

You obviously didn't see him at QPR, this time last year!

Roger #91

Yes!

On the evidence, I could well be totally wrong, but I see something in Moise Kean. Most definitely not at those prices, but as a lower-priced punt for someone.

There is a fluidity and directness to his game, he is athletic and can be at the right place at the right time in the box. I think the player is immature and needs to work on the technical aspects. He could be a a different looking player at 25 years old.

I'm not holding my breath expecting that to happen, but will follow his career with a bit of interest.

COYB and, god bless our glorious Queen.