Massive blow: Hamstring injury for Jarrad Branthwaite

Darn it!

Where have you heard about Branthwaite injury, a huge set back, if true?

He will probably tell me in the next few minutes or so, now!!

Hope you hear nothing Rob, a good sign!

Lee, I’d rather get Hibbo back

Seamus/Tarks/Keane/Jake?
Keane/Tarks/Jake/Seamus?

This is devastating news especially with Myko out for 6 weeks.

He missed the start of last season and end and now misses the start of the new one.

Hoping it's not the quad again.

I've got more hair than this squads got depth I'm no jack grealish!

Hard to build depth over 1 window to be fair to Moyes.

There's depth, and then there's a squad full of shite overpaid mercenaries.

If we can get a few good loans, which usually come last minute of the window, a good RW& RB, weather this defensive injury issue, the window will be a success in my eyes. Hopefully, we are getting our injuries early and out the way.

9 PL teams dealing with European football this year, we could spring a surprise only playing once a week if we beef out the squad !

The report is saying it's the same hamstring that he injured at the end of last season.

Branthwaite 'injury' is hopefully a strain, if true. Thank God we kept Keane and given our full back situation, it's a good job we gave Seamus, another season too.

It could be a back 3 versus Leeds.

Let's wait and see.

The 23-year-old is understood to have aggravated the same hamstring in his right thigh that saw him limp of in the final game at Goodison against Southampton in May.

It's never good when the same injury keeps happening

Hopefully O'Brien, Tarkowski and Keane will hold the fort but it's at fullback where we may be weak. Garner may be utilized on the right but I am not sure yet about the new left back.

We will need big performances by the midfield to stymie the opposition as it's there where I see we have stuttered in the past. Hopefully the new blood there will settle in quickly.

Maybe wingback in a back three, but even there Moyes is more likely to go with McNeil.

Shit happens players get injured, the squad need to front up and other players in the squad need to step up and be counted.

These positions needed filling first especially given Myko's injury and the fact that Patterson has almost certainly played his last match for us, given how little Moyes rates him (and he's probably right on that).

Grealish was a luxury when we really needed to focus on the essentials

I remember Jarrad being reported as having a "minor quad" injury and a few of us pointed out that there's no such thing as a "minor" quad injury. It wasn't his first either.

As someone who has had it, it's a prick of an injury. You never quite know when you're past it and it leads to all sorts of other niggles as you try to work around it.

I'm a bit concerned he's going to have an issue unless we give him a long rest and rehab.

Maybe he comes good, but a right back is now an absolute priority so that we can have Jake cover.

I thought I would never hear myself say this but I would persist with Michael Keane for now.

LB is the real issue. It is apparent Anjou is not ready for the Prem yet so we shouldnt destroy his confidence. There is talk of Getting Zinchenko from Arsenal as he wants more game time. That wouldnt be a bad thing.

Si, just suggesting that he's not ready to be a starting LB in the Prem. And I don't think the recruitment team needs any reminders. Looks to me like they are operating at flank speed.

Back at the end of last season, like most, with the addition of a right back and left back cover, the defence wood look okay.

Then Mykolenko goes down, now Branthwaite again and all of a sudden, we are looking light.

I'm not sure if the club will publish anything on the official website or we wait for Moyes' press conference to understand the severity. Trouble is, you can't rush a player back from a hamstring too early. It's going to be a month at least.

For the here and now, it will be patchwork quilt time. All that I can think is that if a back four, It would likely mean bringing Garner in at right back. I know he's played there and can play there, but I'm not too comfortable with that. Needs must I suppose. Then it's O'Brien and Tarkowski, with Keane playing makeshift left back. Sorry, that's all I can come up with.

Or, it's 3 at the back. Aznou might be worth a risk being higher up the pitch, he said himself, that he is better going forward. On the right? Maybe Garner. Again, I think he's played wide right midfield before.

Lots of unwelcome dilemmas for the manager to think about.

If youre playing O'brien at right back, you need another centre back. If hes deemed good enough to play centre back, then another right back needs to come in.

We cant be one more injury away than Aznou Keane Obrien and Patterson. Thats a shit defence that will get humped most weeks.

I was against Keane being re-signed, and now we will need to rely on him again. He might have scored some nice goals, played through the pain barrier and be a nice fella. But hes also a defensive liability that costs points. Sorry Mrs Keane.

The squad still shows we are still thin, and why we struggle most seasons. We might have a good starting 11, and perhaps one or two good subs. But its a squad game now, and you need 18-20 good players that can handle it. The drop off cant be too stark.

40 years of decline have caught up with us.

Will Moyes change the whole system? Wingbacks using Mcneill and Garner/Aznou?

Although we have done some decent business this summer I said at the start that I thought RB and RW were the obvious areas that we lacked; I find it bizarre that we have bought in 6 players but not yet one in these areas (though I'm sure the club have been trying). Meanwhile in Grealish, KDH and Alcaraz we have bought 3 players who all do best in the inside space around the 10 position.

On Keane, it's more about looking at him over the years. He's had some decent games, but as you say, he benefits from others. Should an experienced (now 32) player be relying on others?

Every player has strengths and weaknesses. Forgetting pace, that can be compensated for. His flaws have always been his anticipation, reading the game and playing catch up when the ball has gone over his head.

Anyway, for now, he's what we've got.

He’s a Barcelona academy graduate, signed by Bayern Munich, who has top flight experience in Spain. Maybe he’s got something, and maybe that first 70 minutes wasn’t the full range of his entire ability and potential.

I’d go with Colin’s back 4: Garner, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Aznou

That allows Dewsbury-Hall to play alongside Gana and then N’Diaye, McNeil, Grealish and Alcaraz to compete for the 3 creative places. The caveat with this line up is that it’s more suited to a home game and we may be more cautious away.

If Keane does play, then it may actually be the kind of game that suits him as Leeds are bound to be front-footed and we’ll spend time in the ‘low block’. Keane is also much, much better with a run of games and makes a poor reserve coming in cold - something that made me surprised that we’d kept him on.

He got thrown in against Roma after Mykolenko went down after 8 minutes, when he was probably expecting to play the last 15-20.

He has the pedigree, but the minutes played against Roma is not really the basis for making instant decisions on him.

Good though he could be, let’s hope we’re never again so destitute that we have to rely on players like Young.

It looks as though the plan is that we buy a RB with whatever kitty is left after we buy our right winger.

That might well be a good plan in the grand scheme of things but it’s frustrating to start the season, like last year, with another injury crisis.

Bit of a head scratcher with Aznou. I expect Plan A was to blood him in stages - possibly at left midfield with Mykolenko behind him - before he learns the ropes defensively and becomes our regular LB.

We’ll have to manage.

So:-

Aznou Keane Tarkowski Obrien

Aznou Tarkowski Obrien Coleman

That looks light and can see a back 5. Aznou, Tarkowski Keane, Obrien & Coleman or Garner.

KDH and Gueye in CM.

Grealish and Ndiaye in the half spaces behind Beto.

That’s much better than the patched up side we started last season with. Not ideal but not terrible.

This may get the best out of a few players. KDH and Gana are less likely to get exposed defensively. Grealish will be allowed to do as he wants and Ndiaye will have no defensive responsibility and play as a second striker where he wants to play.

I don't think we are quite as in the shit as many are making our. Garner and McNeill will both do a job defensively and both like to get forward and put deliveries in. Patterson and Anzou both are better suited as wing backs for now.

We were a lot more up shit creek in other seasons.

Have heard there’s a possibility Mykolenko which might change things as then I expect he’d just slot in Keane for Branthwaite.

We just need to keep adding quality before the window stops, so we isn't deal with it better.

I would like to think we can use the loan market to atleast target a right back allowing O'Brien to play centre back.

Not sure whether it's a case of 'great minds think alike' or 'dumb and dumber' but I hope we go with either variant.

Sam Myko back for Saturday? Are you sure?

The fixtures are broadly favourable in the first 6 weeks, so we need to get the hammer down and rack up the points.

Its a long season, so hopefully we can get through it. For me it highlights the quality of top players at the top end that play 50-60 games a season and never seemingly get injured. They must be machines.

I appreciate it can be changeable throughout the match, but generally, it will naturally force the team to sit deep. It may look defensively sound on paper, but it will invite the opposition on and leave us subject to the laws of average.

Hopefully Mykolenko's injury isn't too serious. Groin strains are easier to recover from than a hamstring, obviously depending on how severe the strain was. Painful at the time, but you can sometimes hardly feel it sometimes a few days later.

That said, I don't think a week will be enough, especially at the top level. Let's see what Moyes says.

Right now I expect Moyes will take the 'least disruption' route and just plug the two gaps rather than shuffle formations or move people around.

So for my money it's O'Brien-Keane-Tarkowski plus whoever he trusts most at left back. Options are probably just Aznou, Coleman, or McNeil.

Personally, I'd give Aznou a chance. He's a left back.

Let’s see what new additions we get and how Moyes lines the team up, get well soon Mr Branthwaite.

I was trying to recall examples but honestly couldn’t think of any.

Let’s not risk killing the boy’s confidence and morale by throwing him in when he is not ready.

Fortunately, Moyes won’t do it.

Danny doesn't want to use it as we will become too deep, how do you think we will play with a pairing of Keane and Tark in a 4. OBrien and McNeill as the likely fullbacks?

On Monday if we play with a 4 we could be vulnerable at centre back, left back, central midfield could be a problem and will be playing with 10 men if Charly is used wide right.

Part of the reason we have performed poorly in the past with a back five is because we haven't had the personnel as you need the wing backs to get up and down and to provide quality and two central midfielders with energy as not just to sit in a compact shape.

Until we get a right back and at least one right winger I think we should use it, ideally it will be only for the Leeds game which is likely to be a tight game. Having Grealish and Ndiaye in the most dangerous areas is also our best chance of winning the game.

Whatever system we use we won't be playing Leeds off the park if Mykolenko and Branthwaite are out.

3 at the back can work and I am comfortable with it because we have the centre backs. But to make it work, you rely on the wing backs, and that is where I think we fall short. Not top flight, but it was used to great effect in a successful team I played for.

Ironically, despite the doubts after 70 minutes, Aznou could do the job on the left. It's our nemesis of the right flank that would leave us exposed.

For Aznou, I know he has to adjust to a new country and new league, but he's already played in the Bundesliga and La Liga as well as coming through Barcelona's and then Bayern's youth set up.

The oldage is you play a back 3, because you don't trust your centre backs.

Unfortunately what you forget is that 2 of the most overachieving teams in the league in Palace and Forest regularly played with a three. Indeed Palace on a budget and selling their best player also put 2 trophies in a cabinet that had been empty for their entire history.

Moreover, the last time moneybags Chelsea lifted a title was when Conte used that system.

We won't play with that way after the short term, however. We have Moyes as manager and he talked down Aznou before he had even entered the building. Likewise he had already seemingly decided to send Armstrong out on loan before a ball was kicked in pre-season despite him proving more than capable of holding his own in this squad.

If it's a four he will go with experience and, with the personnel available, will leave us quite vulnerable

Oh, and he's scored 16 goals. Not bad for a shit defender.

We signed a kid who doesn't look close to being ready thought might be one day given his reputation. I've no problem with investing for the future, if we can afford to.

What we need right now is a proper ready to play LB. I think it's cruel on one with so little experience to be expected to play EPL regularly. But we'll see if he's up to it.

That suggests he is only part human, which, given the level of his performance, is probably true.

My hamstring "went" in early January. More comebacks than Sinatra since and each time I develop new issues.

I am 70, so hardly a fair comparison, but explanation from my physio hardly fills me with glee for Branthwaite's comeback and complete recovery.

I've managed 2 serious Parkruns in 6 months. The other attempts have been "Can I get around without injury?"

Hopefully, the might of EFC medical team will sort Jarrad out. My challenge is to get fit before him and to return to sub 23-minute 5 km.

That said, I would happily give up my recovery to see him back fit and firing. He is, with Pickford, the most important member of the team and bordering upon indispensable. I do fear for our results without him.

Mykolenko and Branthwaite both seem to get a lot of injuries, so it may be that we need to add an extra versatile defender capable of covering different positions.

I'm still surprised by our failure to utilise the free agent market, but I don't think there are really any left that fit the bill now. James Justin might be the man – not spectacular by any means, but competent at Premier League level and one year left on his contract so shouldn't cost much.

Midfield and possession are going to be crucial. Sitting back and being too deep is another problem with gaps between the midfield and defensive line. It's about getting the right balance and minimising errors .

In the Premier League, where everything is analysed to death, adapting and adjustment are needed for the next game.

And we're miles short.

So disappointing.

The epl have only allocated two goals to him over 8 seasons, but there have been some stinking performances that have seen managers dump him on the bench - Coady, Mina, Branthwaite all coming in ahead of him when the results went downhill. The match report against villa away from home actually challenges if he's a professional footballer.

Fulham 0-1 lost
Villa 0-4 lost
Liverpool 0-2 lost
Burnley 2-0 win
City 1-3 lost
Wolves 0-3 lost
Chelsea 0-6 lost

One win all season in the league from 7 matches in 2023/24.

Brighton 0-3 lost
Spurs 0-4 lost
Bournemouth 2-3 lost
Leicester 1-1 draw
Newcastle 0-0 draw
Bournemouth cup 0-1 lost
Ipswich 2-0 win
Fulham 1-1 draw
Southampton 0-1 lost
City 0-2 lost
Fulham 3-1 win
Southampton 2-0 win
Newcastle 1-0 win

4 wins in 13 matches 2024/25.

5 wins in two seasons, with three including Burnley, Southampton, Ipswich suggests hes a weak link in the side. It challenges whether he should be a Premier League.

On loan, why not try Renato Veiga, from Chelsea. 22 years of age, spent latter half of last season, on loan to Juventus. Current Portugal International. Plays LCB / LB.

At City, there is Callum Doyle, who played LB/LCB for Norwich last season. City maybe open to a loan, to a team they see as no threat, ( the fools )..

Mike - cheers for the deadline info.

We had 12 players who were out of contract on extortionate wages (Doucoure), players on loan who were deemed not good enough (Harrison, Broja, Lindstrøm) and players who didn't want to sign for reduced wages (Calvert-Lewin).

We have signed a new goalkeeper, Alcaraz, Barry, Aznou, Dewsbury-Hall, Jack fecking Grealish and kept Branthwaite. We are in for Dibling and still you moan.

We are not Chelsea and have been fighting relegation for 4 or 5 seasons. We will be fine and, if we finish in the top 12 with a decent cup run, then we should be ecstatic. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Good player and could do a great job for a season.

We've needed a right winger, maybe two; we have signed a big fat zero.

We're 4 players short; otherwise, it's a 13th to 15th place finish.

I like this take on things and am happy to be patient when the progress is clear. But if Mykolenko and Branthwaite are both out, our back line does make me nervous.

If we sign a proper RB and move O'Brien inside, I'll be a lot happier. Trippier would be fine as a short-term measure.

So you're now trying to blame just him for these results. Beggers belief, it does. He's not the greatest defender but he's not the worst.

Last season at the beginning it was Tarkowski who was a liability, if my memory is correct, I remember fans on here saying just that.

Chelsea would have some interesting loan options though in Santos, George, Disasi, Chilwell, Essugo, Gilchrist, etc.

It seems v unlikely we will buy another LB or LCB.

We may buy a CDM who can play CB also though. Renato Veiga is a good call for this position Jack. Doyle would only come if we sold Branthwaite. Otherwise he won’t get games which makes the loan pointless for him.

At this point not one of us has the full story, and he might be fine.

If he isn't, we have options. Anyone would think there was a gigantic meteor headed towards us and the planet was about to spin off its axis.

To coin a popular phrase aimed at scousers, calm down.

So he would be a decent utility player. We could get him for around £12M so he wouldn't break the bank.

I ask these as genuine questions rather than trying to make any kind of point.

TBH I was hoping we would sign someone genuinely good rather than another stop gap for the RB role. Still clinging to that.

He's a unit and gets stuck in, always sticks his head in where it hurts and never shirks a 50/50 if you pay attention. He's brain dead but he's alright… hopefully he shouldn't have to fart around and hold onto the ball as much any more since we have forwards who can actually keep hold of it.

There are lots of RBs who fit the bill, I expect. Maitland-Niles might be one of them. But it does look like the club wants the RW first before then - so that it knows what is left for a RB.

Hopefully this is all wrapped up soon.

Injuries aren't a new phenomenon. They've existed as long as the game has. Probably a bit more frequent now as they are finely tuned athletes, but the principle is the same.

Different era, but we lost Adrian Heath in his prime that we thought put a dent in our title hopes in 1984-85. We quickly brought in Andy Gray and won the league. In 1986-87, we lost Lineker and the squad was decimated with injuries. We brought in the ageing Paul Power, who turned out to be a revelation at left back. We won the league.

We need those type of quick fixes right now. Stay on track with the right side priorities and if we need quick fix temporary solutions, go to the bargain bucket rather than it disrupt plan A.

As for Keane, as many know, I'm not one for stats. They don't paint the full picture.

I've judged him over 8 years watching him play for Everton. That has given me a picture.

He's actually a decent footballer, can spot a good pass and has an eye for goal, scoring some very important ones these past few seasons.

But he is an average defender, who relies on others to cover for him, which often sees them dragged out of position, leaving more space. As I said earlier, he doesn't play like one of our more experienced defenders and looks to others to lead. Quite honestly, he worries the shit out of me most of the time. But I'll always praise him when he plays well.

The big worry it's supposed to be the same injury he had in May.

Ryan #113, We are still interested in buying Dibling, considering they've agreed to compromise?

Moyes will play a blinder and put young Dixon in knowing he will have the legs of Harrison and then somebody in front to give him a hand when we are out of possession.

Similarly with Aznou at left-back as they won't attack through both wings at the same time while starting O'Brien in the middle, no point scratching in all positions.

If we signed an experienced full back, or even two, would they have time to fit in?

Perhaps Sean @123, might wish to reflect on his words when describing Michael Keane? Who in my opinion is one of our most loyal squad players and is usually required to play on the left side of the defence when he would be much more comfortable playing on the right.

All that really matters though, is who Moyes and the team behind him have in their sights.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, as we approach match day, the only certain is that whoever is on the books by midday tomorrow is who the manager can select from.

Closest crocodile to the canoe, and that is Leeds on Monday night.

His positioning is especially weak. Coupled with him being slow on the turn, means he's often left floundering in no man's land.

I've always thought he looked to me like someone who played further up the pitch as a youngster, and ended up at the back because he's a big lad. The art of defending doesn't come naturally to him. Particularly his spatial awareness and holding shape.

He's actually most effective in a back 3/5, where he's surrounded by teammates and given specific responsibilities. He did this under Ancellotti if I remember correctly.

The manager sees it differently and he knows more than I do. I suspect keeping him was a pragmatic decision based on circumstances and perhaps a belief we wouldn't need to call on him very often.

However, that pragmatism is going to be immediately tested because the club has not added a RB to the squad. I do think Everton have done well on recruitment but for this inexplicable failure.

Needs sorting quickly so that Keane isn't more than a stopgap in emergencies.

I think you're correct in your analysis of Keane, he can be a solid defender with numbers about him but in truth it bellies his one major failing, special awareness. What's going on around him and an ability to "read" situations, far happier with the ball than without it.

As such an experienced Premier League player, one would think this is not down to a lack of ability but one of self-belief. I just don't think he can impose himself over opposition in a way that's needed in his position.

Positional sense, awareness of situations and the lack of a sharp edge in decision-making has cost the team on too many occasions and it is an inherent weakness in his game. To the point we have to compensate for it in selections around him.

So, despite the abilities going forward, the odd goal and good passing strength, his flaws are too often laid bare at the hands of top players.
It's a team game, not just one's individual skills but the overall ability to improve the team as a whole that is in question.

How do you fix Michael Keane?

Confidence, man management, quality around him. Talking to him constantly in a game, lifting his self-confidence and belief. Covering for him.

Can we trust in him to be on his game? No, too often we have seen him "lost" as forwards lose him and score.. but a good partner will read those moments and build it into his own game awareness to cover. Balance...

Piroe
Ramazani
Gnonto
Aaronson
Tanaka
Stach
Gudmundsson
Bogle
Ampadu
Bijol
Meslier

Harrison would not get in their first XI.

New signings Stach, Gudmundsson and Bijol give them really experienced players from quality leagues so they are no mugs. But they lack the real quality we have in Grealish and Ndiaye and Pickford.

Despite the injuries and incomplete transfer business we are better and should win.

I don't think Everton ever envisaged him to be the answer, but at the same time not foreseeing Jarrad's injury. Prioritising other areas seemed more important, and as he was already with us, give him the extension, as emergency cover if needed.

Easy to be wise in retrospect, but looks like we may have to either suffer, or risk him being used, while J B's injury subsides.

A decent CB would have been a lot more than giving him another year !

Nobody's suggesting Keane is the best centre back in the division no players perfect, in my opinion Branthwaite is overrated and Keane underrated.

Moyes knew Keane's fallibility when he took over and has had time to figure out how to minimize the risks. Moyes is quite good at risk management. Let's give it a chance, it isn't like we have other options.

I have a feeling Keane could work himself out of his funk and the team gets a lift from his turnaround.

At 6ft-5in and fast, you can go months without issues but once the niggles start it seems to affect other muscle groups even though I know this one is a repeat.

Devastating news.

Until he puts the ball into his own net, that is…

Lately, the news around recruiting in that position seems to have really tailed off. Just because of the interest / activity around other recruits?

What none of us know is the current opinion of the manager on Nathan Patterson. There is a (very remote) chance that he was suddenly ‘blooming’ during pre-season ; that his poor showing in the eventual games can be blamed on the reported hernia.

Not advocating for him, just wondering why he hasn’t already been sold if he has no future at the club?

But that is mainly because we haven't signed a propoer RB despite this being a glaring need for I don't know how many years (same for RW).

Grealish might be an 'exciting' signing, but I wish we had focussed more on the bread and butter requirement of getting a side with everyone playing in their correct position and good enough for the role at first team level, rather than indulging in luxury goods.

Well, we've just got to get on with the job of winning without Branthwaite for a while!

How about Anzou out left, O’Brien with Tarkowski fullbacks in the middle, and Garner at right back.

Essentially with Keane in the team Everton have to have a defensive formation. Dyceball.But errors are always a risk with Keane.He is very much a confidence player and dependent on who partners him in defence, as Danny has pointed out. The best at partnering him was Mina ( who we seen too little of),who could be seen directing the defensive line to move up. He works better with Tarkoski than Banthwaite, though the former has his own pace problems.O Brien I would be still unsure off.

Keane is probably the best finisher that Everton have got in recent years.

,

We may sit 3 CBs fairly deep against Leeds - but not just because Keane is slow. Tarkowski is too. And we will be lopsided without someone naturally left sided. And we have no natural full backs apart from Aznou and Coleman who are probably (summarising) too young and too old for the first game.

Through the years it has been a common thread for injured players to develop hamstring problems after rehab and recovery.

Both Martinez and Benitez tried to address this and received a backlash internally for doing so.

Arsenal 1-5 Lost
Brentford 1-1 draw
Arsenal 0-4 lost
Forest 2-2 draw
Brentford 1-0 win
Chelsea 2-2 draw
Spurs 1-1 draw
United 0-2 lost
Fulham 1-3 lost
Palace 0-0 draw
Newcastle 1-4 lost
Leicester 2-2 draw
Wolves 1-1 draw

2022-23 was broadly one win in 13 league matches.

Fulham 0-1 lost
Villa 0-4 lost
Liverpool 0-2 lost
Burnley 2-0 win
City 1-3 lost
Wolves 0-3 lost
Chelsea 0-6 lost

One win all season in the league from 7 matches in 2023/24.

Brighton 0-3 lost
Spurs 0-4 lost
Bournemouth 2-3 lost
Leicester 1-1 draw
Newcastle 0-0 draw
Bournemouth cup 0-1 lost
Ipswich 2-0 win
Fulham 1-1 draw
Southampton 0-1 lost
City 0-2 lost
Fulham 3-1 win
Southampton 2-0 win
Newcastle 1-0 win

4 wins in 13 matches 2024/25.

6 wins in 3 seasons, and 4 of those were against poor teams at the time. Previously it was 2 wins in 2 seasons, and people were looking at Tarkowski 😂.

If he was just being paid in win bonuses alone, he'd be on below minimum wage.

His team mates must curse when he's in the side. During this period he was earning £4m a season, trousering £12m. And people think he's unlucky. He's the best paid fan at the club.

I've been one of Keane's biggest critics for his performances for Everton over the years. I don't need to repeat myself, as it's higher up on the thread, both his positives and his negatives.

But I don't think we can blame one player for Everton results over the past several seasons, no matter what our opinion on Michael Keane.

Anyway, he's here for a season. He isn't first choice, but with injuries, he's likely to be for the next few weeks at least.

Didn’t need to know that stat, did we. Not this weekend!

Three managers have decided to massively curtail his previous game record of 30, 33, 31, 35, and 32 epl games in his first 5 seasons, to 12, 9, and 14.

He's in the side, and so we will see if he's up to it starting Monday. If not then I hope the team are considering another option before the window closes.

We can't be carrying a player in a vital position on the pitch. Any hope of pushing for a good position in the league has to come from a good start from the favourable fixtures.

Also, I don't think he could be responsible for most of the 6 nil loss to Chelsea, he came on when were already 4 down.

I don't claim the following to be particularly accurate because it's quick research and I know you have to start stats somewhere but it's a pity to miss out the 2020/21 season.

He played a part in 16 wins

And the 2021/22 season, the one you refer to - Palace Goal.

He played the part in 10 wins

I imagine his team mates weren't cursing him then.

To be fair, am not sure if some if those games were cup games.

For the record, I always sigh when I see his name on the team sheet as I think there's generally a mistake or two in him.

However, looking at the stats in isolation and not at the context is always a little misleading...for example, coming on as a sub for 1 minute in any result.

Ian, just thought I'd add that I appreciate you are not blaming Keane for the losses.

One injury to Branthwaite or Tarkowski, and Keane plays currently.

Always going to be quirks in the stats. But it don't look pretty, however its dressed up. Very few wins and very few clean sheets.

I presume the club has decided that with a finite budget we need to get a quality RW in place first. Once that is done and we know our remaining kitty we can get a RB.

This isn’t flawless logic by any stretch but makes some sense of our predicament.

The encouraging thing (clinging to positives) is that many of the more obvious RB candidates remain available - including players we’ve been linked with.

I was deeply depressed (as I expect Dyche was) when we failed to land a new RB last season. Surely not again? As others have said RB has been a problem position for years.

Most of the teams who are landing players either have Champion's league money, or, like Brentford, Bournemouth and Forest, they have already sold, so are replacing rather than strengthening. Bournemouth needed to replace almost an entire back 4, whilst in addition to Elanga, Forest have sold another 5 players.

We've released players, but haven't sold anyone, having opted to retain Branthwaite.

I think you're correct Robert. The club will have had targets lined up. In light of what happened this past week or so, right back has become more of an urgent priority than it already was.

It will also help to distinguish between candidates ready for first team football.

However, if you want a first team ready RB then the main candidates announce themselves through a quick search on Transfermarkt etc. At a guess there's probably about 20 candidates at a cost of between about £8m to £20m ish. It's be a surprise if we spent more. It would be a surprise too if we looked beyond that list but you never know - they might find someone really obscure.

A few have gone already like Sildillia and Dedic. They might have been good signings.

Midday has passed, so we go into Monday with what we have.

Where are the goals coming from?

1. Cash*
2. Mingueza
3. Doue
4. Boey
5. El Hilali
6. T.Santos
7. Aramburu
8. Justin*
9. Fernandes
10. El Ouahdi
11. Carmona
12. Savona
13. Sanchez*
14. Ratiu
15. Areso
16. Caci
17. Maitland-Niles*
18. Lamptey*
19. Martinez
20. Van Ewijk*
21. Rensch*
22. Vagnoman
23. Mukiele
24. Acheampong
25. Fresneda*
26. Tchatchoua*
27. Holm
28. Tomiyasu
29. Fisher*
30. Jelert*
31. Celik*

The ones with an asterisk are those linked recently.

The club will be well aware of all of these players (not least because they are already linked to a good proportion of them).

If I were to make a completely uninformed bet, I would say we'll get Rensch on loan from Roma.

Through balls in for the strikers to run onto, or they make space to get more goals from midfield.

Personally I'd have preferred more pace, and I'm not convinced. I really hope I'm wrong.

The good news is that Armstrong, Patterson and Mylolenko are fit.

Start with the physio department.

I think Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal was always a midfielder in the academy but moved to LB for the first team due to having the right attributes for a fullback.

So says the Bobble's co-host, Ben.

Pragmatic, realistic and honest. We need a few more players and the right hand side needs addressing, although interestingly, he said we have other priorities than right back.

The only think he expressed his displeasure at was information being leaked from within the club, specifically about Branthwaite's injury. He said they know it's coming from inside and they will find out who it is.

Moyes quote

David Moyes on Everton's summer transfer business: “We’re pleased with the players we’ve added to the squad, but I’m not pleased because I still need more.”

Who said he was delighted? Frustrated like we all are, but did acknowledge its tough and several clubs are in a similar situation.

Matches the perspective of most fans and probably TFG too, I expect.

Are we pleased to have retained Branthwaite? Yes.

Are we pleased with the business we have done? Broadly yes.

Do we need 2 or 3 further additions? Yes.

Shame not to get Hutchinson but still time to get Dibling + RB + DCM (and who knows maybe others).

Which he isn’t

That’s all.

Disappointed/not happy

Same thing to me

Information is an important currency. I guess Moyes feels that giving Leeds the heads up that Branthwaite won't be playing could conceivably give them an edge.

If we were less 'leaky' about our potential transfer targets, we might have a little more success with some potential acquisitions. I do appreciate, however, that agents, journalists, managers and players will frequently leak information in their own interests.

Silva flung his water bottle, then sat down on a chair, shaking his head and staring at the floor.

He will cost you a lot of goals that Michael Keane, said one of my Red mates, as we sat drinking beer in a Benidorm bar, and when I remember Silva’s actions, he probably already knew that Brands, failure to replace the pace of Zouma, was already going to cost him his job?

Silva, should have definitely become more pragmatic, imo, because looking back at that moment, his actions looked like a sign of resignation, and just like Roberto Martinez, it wasn’t long before he was trying to play with 3 centre backs, just before he got the sack.

Ernie B, always used to say that Dyche, wasn’t pragmatic and because I always used to ask Ernie, to explain his reasoning (something he never did explain) it might have looked like I was defending Dyche.

I actually wasn’t, I was just wanting to see why Ernie, had come to that conclusion, because I actually had similar thought’s myself, (so wanted to hear Ernie’s reasoning) but I do think Moyes, is a lot more pragmatic and hopefully this will stand him in good stead, with regards having to deal with the loss of Brainthwaite,

I hope so anyway because when I look at things logically, you have got to be a very pragmatic manager to survive at Everton, simply because it’s very rare to start the season, with the players and the numbers, you need🤷‍♂️

Had we signed Zouma (and the very good Gbamin stayed fit), we could still now have Silva in charge - with us all moaning like stink that the manager is unable to get us past the Silva glass ceiling of 8th.

Now quality can be defined by different characteristics:-
Mentality and concentration
Technical ability
Passing ability
Fitness
Consistency

I am afraid that for many seasons I have seen Michael Keane as a liability to the extent that he was worth a goal to the opposition every game he plays.
I have seen an improvement since Moyes came in but he still lacks concentration and turns like the Titanic.
Ability to read the game

Brands definitely cost Marco Silva, his job, imo Robert, but getting sacked by Everton, has possibly made him a much better manager.

I also think David Moyes has become a better manager, but he’s going to need all his experience to navigate what appears to be a very tough start to the season for Everton, simply because we just don’t look like we are prepared enough. I hope I’m wrong🤞

He seems more relaxed now and more capable of dealing with big egos whereas previously he seemed to feel threatened by them.

I always remarked how Howard Kendall would walk on the pitch with a big smile and relax all the players.

I think it is important these days to take the tension out of the game.

Tony, I also believe that's Patterson's biggest problem, he totally lacks concentration, he ball watches and gets caught Completely out of position.

The start of the 2024–25 season saw Tomiyasu out with a knee injury, which he sustained during Arsenal's pre–season tour. As a result of his ongoing injury issues, with a further operation required in February 2025, Arsenal and Tomiyasu mutually agreed to terminate his contract in July 2025.

Transfermarkt states he is due to be fit come October 2025. He only played 6 minutes for Arsenal last season as a late sub.

I've noticed Lucas Vazquez has been released by Real Madrid. He's 34 but really fit - he played in 53 games last season. We had Young for 2 seasons aged 38/39. 2 seasons our of Vazquez with his experience and knowledge shouldn't be sniffed at in myopinion. We should give Carlo a call and ask him to give Vazquez the gen on our great club.

And I too believe that the first few weeks of this season could be very bumpy indeed.

Dyche wasn't a pragmatist because he didn't adapt to the situation he found himself in and the players at his disposal. There was zero adaptation. He had his existing set of footballing principles and he shoehorned the club into them. He was fundamentally an idealist - it's just that his ideals were outdated shite.

If Sean Dyche was still at the club we would be recruiting for a relegation fight. It's what he knows. And there would still be people saying he's a pragmatist because he'd have them convinced that his version of reality was reality. That's how one of the worst managers I've ever seen somehow became known as a 'miracle worker'.

I agree that Moyes is more pragmatic. He'll try to find a way to be effective with the players at his disposal.

He will dampen expectations though. Which is not pragmatism. In fact, I don't think many people understand what pragmatism actually means.