text:
Dismal Everton escape with a draw
Idrissa Gueye misses his first game of the season through injury
Everton went behind all too easily off another corner but responded immediately through Calvert-Lewin, yet they could not break through again in a dreadful second half.
Tom Davies, Lucas Digne and Dominic Calvert-Lewin retain their places after good performances against Rotherham United in midweek, with Leighton Baines dropping to the bench. Gana, Mina, Gomes, Bernard, Jagielka, Keane and McCarthy are all injured; Richarlison is suspended.
The bench also features Tyias Browning, Kieran Dowell, and Ademola Lookman.
The expected pattern of the game was evident from kick-off, Everton passing the ball around and looking to probe forward, through the massed and solid defence, but Walcott and Sigurdsson almost got through with some clever flicks, winning an early corner that almost led to a counter.
An early yellow card for Billing, a stretching lunge catching Zouma deep in Everton's half. there was a little more open running with Calvert-Lewin seemingly clipped but not getting the free-kick. Meanwhile, Huddersfield were quite prepared to come out of their shell with pace as soon as they secured the turnover.
Zouma stepped up into space and fired off a very fine strike that bounced inches wide of Lössl's post. But, apart from that, the close interpassing and movement off the ball was breaking down well outside the Huddersfield area.
Better structured attacking ended with a dragged shot across goal from Captain Coleman; Huddersfield countered weakly and the game patter resumed, Tosun almost but not quite making a killer through-pass. Walcott sent in a high cross and Tosun was clearly pushed over by Zanka, but well off the flight of the ball. A good cross in at the other end was heading for Mounie and Pickford punched away the danger. But nerves were jangling a little each time the Trotters advanced toward the Gwladys Street, such was the openness and pace on show.
Coleman was easily dispossessed as Everton tried to advance but were allowing themselves to be thwarted a little too easily, needing a little more guile to break things down and create a meaningful opening, Davies lucky not to be booked for a loose tackle from behind.
Despite good work by Davies winning the ball back, Coleman produced another overhit cross. Calvert-Lewin was extremely lucky with a rash studs-up, over-the-ball lunge that would have been a red had he made contact. Tosun almost got inside the area before he let fly, a little too early, high and wide.
Digne pulled out a better cross from the left but it was never on for Walcott who was clipped. Key passes by Calvert-Lewin and then Tosun found defenders rather than the intended attacking targets, while Schnederlin slid in a little too aggressively but was again not shown a possible card.
The long throws from Billing on the left were causing Everton some concerns, a Mooy shot winning a corner, the visitors pressing hard. Another corner all too predictably ended up in the Everton net for another shocking zonal marking disaster, Billing the man to head home unchallenged.
The response, however, was immediate: a fine cross in from Digne headed well by Calvert-Lewin and forced past the keeper's limp-wristed save to level things once again, and demonstrate very clearly that there was a way through this Huddersfield defence.
Walcott's shot spun away for a corner that Digne powered in brilliantly and it looked like Zouma must connect. Walcott was caught in the follow-up, landing on a defender's leg. But he recovered well enough to put a decent cross onto Calvert-Lewin's head, the execution disappointingly lacking control or direction.
The half was played out with little more incident, Referee Atwell blowing a little early as Coleman set to cross, ending a slightly frustrating half, Everton dominant but still level.
The game resumed with Everton again trying to play close-control football but crucially failing with key passes too easy for defenders to pick off and immediately swing into counter-attack, Mounie quick to warm Pickford's gloves with a decent shot on target.
Hogate got himself booked for a shirt tug as Walcott went down again, and was substituted, Ademola Lookman coming on to a nice welcome from the Goodison Faithful after a firm word or thirty in his ear from Marco Silva, and taking up a psoition wide right. An early substitution from Siva, albeit forced.
But Huddersfield again came forward far too easily, Mounie and La Para(?) getting in eachother's way. Everton were trying to play football but it just was not working, and they were losing the ball far far too easily. The crowd decided they needed to up the ante with some rare vocal encouragement but it just was not happening, Huddersfield able to interrupt the play seemingly at will. Davies, late with a lunge, saw yellow.
Lookman had a chance to run forward with the ball but checked and turned back... really frustrating. Sigurdsson was fouled, his deep free-kick met by three Everton players, Zouma offside. Then it was the visitor's turn for their own free-kick routine, Everton defending a little better, Pickford catching the weak header.
Davies tried to break the mould but overhit his chipped pass straight out of play. Coleman had plenty of space on the other side but again overhit his cross straight out of play. The sloppiness seemingly endemic at this point Another set-piece chance, out wide left, saw Digne curl his cross straight to Lössl. /p>
Digne tried the long-throw routine with no greater effect. Lookman was unable to dribble through three defenders but foced another chance and a great cross in that you could have wafted in with yer cap, Tosun and Calvert-Lewin both inches away from scoring.
Time to ring the changes: Baines and Niasse on for Sigurdsson and Digne, with 15 mins or so left to rescue 2 vital points going missing. But Calvert-Lewin passes the ball directly behind Baines and out of play. A spell of the sloppy head-tennis ended in Zouma heading behind for another Hudderfield corner, Davies getting the important first touch, and there was a corner down the other end for Baines to swing in, CL heading over, his heading style again in question as he lets the ball hit his head rather than providing any direction with his neck muscles.
Tosun got inside the well-defended Huddersfield area but was easily dispossessed. Baines and Calvert-Lewin again failed to interchange cleanly and another forward move was thwarted. But Niasse did better, winning a corner, Niasse clipping the ball back from deep and Tisun having to improvise his header, flying over.
The 4 minutes of added time brought no additional urgency and those vital 2 points evaporated into the overcast Goodison air, a really poor display all round from a makeshift Everton side suffering heavily from injuries.
Scorers: Calvert-Lewin (37'); Billing (35')
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate [Y:55'], Zouma, Digne (76' Baines), Schneiderlin [Y:85'], Davies [Y:63'], Sigurdsson (76' Niasse), Walcott (57' Lookman), Tosun, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs not Used: Stekelenburg, Browning, Kenny, Dowell.
Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Lowe, Kongolo, Schindler, Zanka [Y:89'], Hadergjonaj [Y:73'], Billing [Y:4'], Mooy, Diakhaby (60' Kachunga), Van La Parra, Mounie (92' Depoitre).
Subs: Mbenza, Williams, Pritchard, Schofield ( Durm).
Referee: Stuart Atwell
Attendance: 38,767
Reader Comments (262)
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1 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:08:46
We could do with a win today playing probably the worst or second worst team in the league. Can't see too much attacking threat from Huddersfield so would be disappointed if our keystone cops defence routine isn't put to bed for one game at least.
Also interesting to see how the team cope without Richarlison in the starting line up.
2 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:18:03
3 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:19:46
Not holding out for much entertainment in this one. If Lookman is available then play him.. instead of shoving a square peg into a left wing position.
4 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:26:45
5 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:49:31
6 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:54:43
7 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:55:10
In my humble opinion far better than Pennington, who is now a Tractor boy for the season.
8 Posted 01/09/2018 at 14:59:32
That bench has got to encourage the young 'uns at the club. This manager will give you a chance.
9 Posted 01/09/2018 at 15:39:34
10 Posted 01/09/2018 at 15:48:47
Two bang average teams.
Calvert-Lewin is not a winger and Tosun is a tube. Take the tube off put Calvert-Lewin up top where he belongs and put Lookman on.
Not much we can do about our centre 3 in midfield though.
11 Posted 01/09/2018 at 15:59:09
This is clearly an area that needs addressing, whatever defensive system is applied.
Either the near post ball and possible flick ons is nullified, or, in anticipation that the ball will arrive centrally in the six yard box centrally from such a play, defending players need to be alert to this, because the 3 goals conceded in this manner the goalscorer has had all the time and freedom in the world to score.
A pity for Zouma who looks very impressive in everything. Heading, tackling, pace, passing - even shooting!
Grateful for the quick equaliser. Nice movement and angled header by Dom. Digne playing a part in the goal. He too looks good. Seamus again not looking at his best. Tosun lively. Siggy and Morgan pulling the strings in midfield, Tom busy.
Huddersfield has set out their stall, to sit deep and defend, but I'm hopeful some of the guile and movement on display in that first half that didn't quite come of will reap its rewards in the second.
12 Posted 01/09/2018 at 16:32:36
13 Posted 01/09/2018 at 16:56:09
14 Posted 01/09/2018 at 16:58:32
But look around the team that finished the game and you'll see what many have been saying over the last few weeks in the face of excited optimism. There have been positive signs but the majority of these players are still the same - and the performances so far haven't been too far from the script of managers past. Today could have been a Roberto or Koeman effort.
Baines - done
Coleman - limited (terrible today)
Zouma - average
Holgate - potential
Schneiderlin - average
Davies - hmm
Lookman - gets better the less he plays
Niasse - we know what he is
Calvert-Lewin - hmm
Tosun - has he had a shot on target in 4 games?
So you add Richarlison back in and it's only one player better than average.
The idea that we were back on track was very optimistic. Don't tell me we're better organised in defence - it's an absolute mess from set pieces.
Just such a lack of quality today. Right through the team.
15 Posted 01/09/2018 at 16:58:51
You have to question the decision to let both Bolasie and Vlasic go out on loan when we resort to playing strikers on the wing. It doesn't work. We've been doing it for years and it's not suddenly going to start working now.
Zouma is the only ray of light from today. There's a proper player in there.
Our midfield were utterly useless today. I'm not surprised Sigurdsson was dragged off. Frankly I'd have dragged Davies and Schneiderlin off too if there was any suitable replacements.
16 Posted 01/09/2018 at 16:59:37
As I mentioned many times, we need a world class striker as well.
17 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:03:24
18 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:03:47
Davies can't pass the ball forward and is not Premier League level. The sooner the crocks we signed are fit, the better... because this bunch would be lucky to make mid-table.
19 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:04:21
How can you expect a performance when its groans, jeers, and moans when things dont go to perfection?
We were shite today, no one had hold of the midfield and Sigurdsson couldnt get himself into the game. Davies was poor. Coleman has been shite both times hes had the armband. Sorry lads, I dont see a captain there.
Tosun had one chance he made for himself and after that he spent the rest of the game scrapping but not getting any service, but he did not get himself into goal scoring opportunities.
Next up its West Ham and theyre due a win. We need a good atmosphere and a good performance to beat them. If we dont beat them, then this season is going backwards fast.
20 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:05:06
21 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:06:33
22 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:06:39
We were lucky to come away with a draw and if Lookman is the future god help us.
23 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:07:15
It may be just me but Ademola Lookman didn't look to be too interested in playing today but maybe, like the team had a really bad second half.
The passing is just too slow – they go from side to side, which is okay if it's at speed which allows you to move players out of position, but we move it so slow it does the opposite – it allows teams to recover their position.
24 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:07:21
Constantly giving it away in dangerous areas.
Constantly passing back to the defence and putting them under pressure resulting in hoofing it up the pitch.
Scared to make any more forward passes incase he gives it away again due to complete lack of confidence.
Runs at one pace the whole game aimlessly like a spring chicken.
How he played the full 90 is a bit of a head scratcher to me although Sigurdsson was poor he needed bringing off.
Going to give Seamus a pass today hasn't quite looked at it since his comeback which is understandable but I expect better in the coming games.
25 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:07:41
26 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:09:04
That second half was abysmal. The worst 45 minutes on Silva's watch.
Everton simply didn't take sufficient care with the ball in the second half. Poor passing and control meant players chasing to recover the lost ball, coughing up cheap possession and clumsy free kicks. Even from promising free-kick situations we gifted the ball directly to their keeper.
This played right into Huddersfield's hands. The stop-start nature of the game meant Everton never got up a head of steam. The visitors deliberately took as long as they could over any restart. In truth, they were never really stretched all game.
Pickford did all that was necessary from him and his kicking continues to improve. Coleman is still off the pace and Kenny could be challenging for his place before much longer if he continues in this form. Holgate I like, but he had a roller-coaster of a game today. Zouma looked the most assured of our defenders. Digne laid on the goal and had some good moments, but he was also culpable with some poor delivery. Baines did OK when he came on.
Davies had a real pick 'n mix game. Some good moments, but some really poor ones also. Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson played well for the most part. Walcott on the periphery of things. Tosun showed well as did DCL, who took his goal well. Lookman created a half chance, but with the way the team was playing, couldn't get involved enough. Niasse's brief appearance was par for the course.
So the Silva revolution stalled a tad today. Six points from the five fixtures we've played is not a great return. Plenty to work on still, that's for sure.
27 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:09:07
I like Tom Davies, I think he's a solid bloke... but I seriously doubt he is good enough for what we need. How many times did he lose the ball today? An unbelievable amount of times... everything seemed sluggish today, and very poor.
I'd also like to query what the score is with Everton signing crocks...? We seem to sign players, then don't play them for months!!! May be a slight exaggeration, but it sure as hell feels like it!
Anyway... the general gist is, a home draw with Huddersfield is nowhere near acceptable — feels like a loss.
28 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:09:14
This easy looking start to the season where we should have picked up lots of points is proving to be a false dawn. I fear for the results coming our way when the big teams come up!
Defensively we look like conceding every single game. And in January we MUST buy a top quality striker, somebody in the bracket as Lukaku who will get us 15-20 goals guaranteed.
30 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:12:31
31 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:13:00
Our passing today was horrendous – Huddersfield passed it better! Zero creativity from midfield and seemed scared to even try something different. As bad as I've seen us play.
32 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:13:22
The international break has come at the right time, we might get a few of our walking wounded back, but not beating Huddersfield at home, who were the better team is disappointing to say the least.
Seamus, whether being captain has put extra pressure on him, but his crosses are shocking, Hibbert was more of an attacking threat.
33 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:14:26
34 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:15:04
Surprised to read you thought the atmosphere at the ground was poor today. For the first time in a long time on the stream I watched you could frequently hear sustained chanting from the home fans at different times, trying to lift the team.
Maybe just strategically placed effect mics giving a false impression...
35 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:16:55
The most worrying is we don't seem to have the 'we have to win' attitude. I mean late in the game everyone was still at walking pace. Pickford didn't seem to be in a hurry to take his goal kicks. No one was running to get the ball when it was out of play.
36 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:19:30
We should have whipped these boys.
37 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:20:08
For as much as we slate the defending for their goal let's be honest about our own goal. Poor defending and it should have been a regulation save.
We were very lucky to get a point out of that.
38 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:22:33
It seems that nobody wants to try to shoot from outside, other than Zouma.
Digne was the standout performer.
Calvert-Lewin can't hold up the ball and link play from the flank. Unless we keep him in the middle, it's a double whammy. He is not effective, and the ability to attack down the left flank is totally nullified.
But between him and Tosun, I would still plug for Tosun.
We are not playing to Tosun's strengths. The longer he goes without a goal, the more debilitating it is for his confidence.
Davies seem clueless or fearful whenever he has the ball. The number of tackles or ball in the air that he has won, are far and few.
39 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:22:34
We are going to get days like today as we are still a team of average players until the new guys can get fit and hopefully make an impact.
Games such as this illuminate the crap we have in central midfield as we cannot play positive passes with pace on the ball and get defensive teams turning as the ball is played in the channels behind them. Needs to be moved quickly, one touch per player and change the direction.
Sorry but I cannot see a Premier League midfield footballer in Davies. Wonder if we could turn him into a right back?
40 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:22:49
Couldn't agree more. Imagine if we'd played anyone half decent.
41 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:23:19
Huddersfield came, set up and played for a nil-nil draw, so what do we do?
I'm saying nothing about the marking or lack of it because we'll get the usual posters or should I say poster come on about how they need time to take it all in! Unbelievable!! We were clueless how to break them down.
I don't know what's wrong with Coleman but he was terrible today. He's been great for us but there's something far wrong.
That's 6 points thrown away out of 4 games; yes, thrown away.
There can be no excuses today – we were just shit from back to front. Nobody comes away with a plus.
And as for Silva and his zonal system...?
42 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:23:34
Although I am not, but I doubt he is a good manager with what I saw in the 55 minutes or so (started 15 seconds before Calvert-Lewin's goal) of football. Totally shit football.
43 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:23:50
I was shouted down last season for my criticism of Davies but now people are seeing what I saw 6 months ago, he offers literally nothing and don't tell me he eodfers energy because he offers less energy than a 99-year-old (no disrespect to anyone 99). He's utter shocking for a Premier League midfielder he really is.
Don't get me started on zonal marking but already I've seen enough to suggest Mina and Zouma will be the defensive first choice and I haven't even seen Mina play yet, it's that bad!!!
I'm also worried about our lack of investment in a number 9 up front, I applaud Tosun's workrate but he just isn't the goal scoring centre-forward we are craving and I'll be surprised if he gets more than 7 or 8 League goals.
Utter shambles that performance today it was!!
44 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:24:44
The main problem was when Huddersfields kick and rush broke down our midfielders werent bright or optimistic enough to get the ball forward and Huddersfield got dense and narrow fast.
45 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:27:07
Once Mina, Bernard and Richarlison are fully integrated I think we will be a different cup of tea.
46 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:27:42
One shot on goal is an Allardyce type of game, and for me Niasse should get a run out instead of Tosun — he can't do any worse.
47 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:27:43
He has no speed, isn't good at tackling, can't dribble, can't make long passes, isn't good in the air, isn't physically strong, only makes sideway or backward passes, isn't good at shooting.
But I guess he is young and is a blue and comes up from the academy so it is okay, right?
People keep complaining about Schnederlin but he is 3 times better than Davies.
48 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:28:06
As for today's game, the less said the better. Work in progress I guess and shows how Richarlison is head and shoulders above all the players we have.
- Digne looks like a decent buy so the transition from Baines can start
- Well taken goal for Calvert-Lewin, do his confidence good
- Zouma looks decent, am not in a rush to have Jags back in the side
- Holgate progressing (tbh I still don't really rate him but he's getting better)
- Davies is not a prem player. Always 'busy' but doesn't actually do anything.
- We need to stop playing strikers on the wing - Calvert-Lewin is never in a million years a winger
- We still badly lack any creativity in midfield - already desperate to get Richarlison back
- Tosun puts a shift in but I'm not sure if that's really enough. He certainly doesn't look like a £27m striker to me.
- Everton + corners = no clean sheet. Schoolboy errors still being made. Silva's teams aren't known for tight defences, I'm just glad we're not playing any of the top teams for a while yet.
Still unbeaten, I guess... and we have the woeful West Ham at home next — surely that will be 3 points?
49 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:28:14
These injuries and suspensions have been very damaging. Its killed the continuity and understanding amongst the players. The international break couldnt have come soon enough. We need to have a settled side get a run of games together. Changing one player out here and there is one thing. Having to make wholesale changes every damn game is too much for a club in our position that doesnt have that same quality in depth.
50 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:30:17
International break should see the squad recover (4 games in) and at least that pre-season is over!
Big home game against struggling West Ham, who have the talent to hurt us if we still can't defend. Should at least be more open and suit the players. Hard to say 'must win' at this stage but it feels like at least an important one to get on the board.
Going to go back to avoiding today's result, maybe some miracle will happen between now and MotD...
51 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:31:16
At least Sigurdsson worked hard; Davies trots around in a half-arsed jog most of the game and is the same every week.
52 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:34:03
53 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:36:14
54 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:39:05
Mina - injured
Keane - injured
Gomes - injured
Bernard - injured
Richarlison - suspended
Gueye - injured
Baningime - injured
McCarthy - injured
Walcott - taken off
Sold/loaned - Rooney, Sandro, Mirallas, Vlasic, Klaassen, Besic, Bolasie, Williams, Martina etc...
Just to point out that things have changed in double-quick time. Yes, not great today, but let's consider the situation with regards to injuries, suspensions and turn-over of staff!
55 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:39:20
Either the players are all half-wits for not being able to take anything in or Silva is a half-wit for persisting with a system our present dim wits can't cope with.
Silva is obsessed that we will play zonal when defending but he has to tweak it to suit the players we have.
Huddersfield came and got what they wanted; 36,000 of us got a completely wasted day.
56 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:40:29
58 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:40:42
59 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:42:03
I was less sure than others on the pre-match thread that we would win comfortably but at least I expected us to create a few more chances.
We were missing Gana, Richarlison, Bernard, Keane, Mina, McCarthy and Gomes who might all be considered starting players. Plus Lookman is not totally match fit and Walcott went off. I hope therell be better to come.
60 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:42:52
For our goal, I think the biggest break we get is Digne getting around his marking full back very easily. If I was the Huddersfield manager, I'd be very unhappy at that.
Calvert-Lewin's header is more than decent and if you watch, the angle and touch he gets on the cross continues to take the flight of the ball away from the 'keeper which may be why he was deceived.
That makes Dom our top joint scorer this season with less minutes playing time than Richarlison.
62 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:51:07
63 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:51:26
64 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:51:32
We lacked guile and Silva's post-match he said as much, why then did he not start with Lookman? Whilst not as good as Richarlison he does attract players to him, and create space for others. I'm disappointed he started Calvert-Lewin, it affected our shape far too much and let Huddersfield defend the middle were they looked very comfortable.
Hey Ho 'pointless West Ham' next. We always beat them right?! Our premier league bunny!
65 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:51:49
66 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:51:58
We were pretty poor in all areas. Coleman is off the pace and needs to be challenged by Kenny. I was impressed with Digne, and thought he was one of our better players but he was taken off due to lack of options on the bench. Schneiderlin is being slaughtered by some but I think he's an easy target. He was actually one of our better players today. The other player who had a good game was Zouma of course.
We need to get the new signings fit and integrated into the team. Gomes especially. Central midfield is a particularly weak area and I hate to pull Davies down but other than his enthusiasm he offers very little. Not much creativity and he loses the ball far too much. His development seems to have stalled and needs to be used from the bench this season.
It's a shame that we couldn't go into the international break without a win. But it's not as bad as some are making out. There were a lot of through ball attempts, something lacking last season. Unfortunately the players weren't in sync and none of them came off, but we'll improve. We have too many good players to come back from injury and suspension.
67 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:52:57
68 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:53:56
Injuries obviously don't help. Zonal marking takes time to adjust but I do have some concerns on the recruitment. Walcott is great but injury prone and he limped out today. If he has his usual Arsenal style injury record then we don't really have coverage down the right. Gomes seems like a bit of a nutter, I am not sure Goodison is a place for players with "fragile" personalities to thrive. Bernard, who knows he has never played in a proper league.
Marco Silva may well be a joker, it is too soon to tell. But I anticipated growing pains this season for all the reasons listed above. Silva may be the next Kendall or the next Walker but I think it is too soon to pass judgement.
69 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:55:04
This is the same midfield from last year. No creativity, energy or noose to know what to do with the ball when they have it. Richarlison has been our MotM for the first 3 games, hardly surprising.
If said before and I will say it again. Davies is not a top midfielder never will be. Excels at not that much really, sooner have Dowell in there. Anyway, draw is what I expected. Sooner the injured get up to speed the better
70 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:55:07
I noticed how rarely we seem to penetrate once near the opponent's box, it always seems to go wide. Surely Gylfi's job is to slide through balls to get through the tightest defences.
What also frustrates me is the insistence on passing back to Pickford in order not to lose possession but we lose it anyway as soon as he clears it.
I think Silva will get it right but I fear we'll have to suffer a few more afternoons like this yet.
71 Posted 01/09/2018 at 17:56:15
Mina was signed inured, as was Gomes and Bernard is yet to play – we still don't know how any of them will pan out but expect (hope) they'll be better than what we have. Baningime would likely not have started today as is and McCarthy last played in 1823 so is not exactly being missed (should've been offloaded ages ago anyway).
Main big losses for me today were Richarlison and Gueye - with both we probably would have won (you'd think). However, the performance from the team that started was still woeful and there's no excuse for the goal conceded.
Can't play great every time but we're beginning to make a habit drawing against teams that will probably finished bottom half.
Not a 'must win' but we really need to beat W.Ham next up.
Should have a different first XI after the break, so here's hoping that performance is the last shite one for a while.
73 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:00:23
Drops in form today for most of the team and you could argue no guile and fight in midfield. We should have got into them today but their game plan worked, and the worst time wasting team for many years, they had a better performing midfield today in my view.
Zouma and Digna look the part and played well. Calvert-Lewin tries, but he's not a winger, and needs to play the right pass, the simple passes that come off.
Still poor marking from set plays, this must be fixed at Finch Farm, soon, as any team at the moment can score against us from set plays.
Not sure for hooking Siggy as that was our main avenue of potential creativity today. Let's hope Walcott is ok, in two weeks.
But no tenancious harrying with out Gana, and I can't see an all-action midfielder in the making with respect to Tom, as he shunts round, too many side and back passes and very few creative balls, not just today but the last season too.
Not gonna get too despondent, but the Hammers is now a must win game.
Let's stay positive but it seems that many are fed up to the back teeth already, but it's a new regime, and miles of patience are needed. Let's get the squad available and see what happens when they are all available.
Hopefully we get a settled back four very soon, and get the spark back in the team.
Let's hope Tosun starts getting better service and scores and in two weeks we get back on track.
Solace in the ale, but it won't taste good nor will I feel good, as this was an opportunity missed.
Poxy international break already, but it may in this case do us a favour. Let's hope so, and in two weeks, the team is up for the game.
74 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:00:45
75 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:05:10
76 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:05:58
I don't know how many of you actually watch the game and how many have made their minds up before it starts. The only Everton players to come out with any credit were Zouma, Digne, and Davies. Schneiderlin did do what little he did well but in the first half we looked short a man as Schneiderlin rarely set foot outside our half. I"m not a great fan of his and I don't particularly blame him but Silva should have been insisting he push forward more.
Coleman seems to be frightened of doing that which he does best, tearing down the wing putting the wind up the opposition. Today it looked like he was told to fall back whenever he got the ball in a forward position, nobody until Lookman came on seemed to want to take a man on but by that time we were playing Tosun, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse and Lookman up front with absolutely no idea how to get the ball up there and nobody actually leading the line.
We looked a shapeless shambles with little or no plan and the blame for that must lie with the manager. Heaven help us when we start playing against the better sides.
77 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:13:05
78 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:13:31
I reckon we should look at it as 1 point gained because to be fair we didn't deserve a draw; if their keeper had saved that effort from Calvert-Lewin, we would've lost because, playing the way we were, not in a month of Sunday's we would've scored.
Some real dreadful performances today, too many to mention, We need to get the new boys fit because we desperately need someone who can unlock tight defenses like today!
Only 6:00pm but that bottle of Pinot is open already, what a waste of a day!
79 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:16:38
Unbeaten yes but that's Everton and has been Everton for years stretching back to the Moyes era, too many draws against the mediocrity of the league hence why we never fulfil our potential to challenge the top teams.
We don't beat the top six usually home or away so the matches against the Bournemouth's, Huddersfield's should be reaping more than draws.
West Ham need dispatching promptly in two weeks time before we go to the Emirates for our annual surrender job to Arsenal. Failure to beat West Ham could put undue pressure on the players, early days but nobody wants another autumn of discontent again.
ps: I'm really worried about Seamus Coleman, he's had a bad injury but he's been back since January and frankly he looks like he's lost a good 5 yards of pace.
80 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:16:57
It only confirmed my feelings that our first eleven, when fit, will be good. Our squad overall is piss-poor. We will win nothing until the dross we have are gone. Unfortunately, that includes all our young players, Calvert-Lewin and Davies included. They just ain't good enough as far as I'm concerned...
81 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:18:43
82 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:20:26
Midfield and attack today where woeful thank goodness for Zouma think he will partner Mina when fit, and we might be able to defend the balls coming in to our box which are causing all the problems.
Tosun works hard but very little end product why does he keep falling over? Calvert-Lewin should have had a hat-trick the two 6-yard headers he fluffed over the bar would have been buried in the back of the net by my Nan. Took his goal well though and another assist from the impressive Digne.
We need the injured players back asap and let's hope they are better than what was on show today.
83 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:20:35
84 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:28:22
85 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:29:38
86 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:29:40
Didn't have any criticisms of the line up Silva put out - with the squad having so many players injured, unfit, or suspended, that was the best side to play. I'll start with the scores on the doors...
Pickford 7 - no major issues, didn't particularly do anything wrong. Always came out as necessary to clear the ball, dealt with the routine tame shots fired at him. His distribution impressed me particularly today, but so many of his balls placed perfectly into the feet of blue shirts were given away immediately.
Coleman - 3. Just played really, really, badly all round for 90 minutes. Useless going forward - he can't cross a ball (i feel that I have to make this comment after every single match. Hasn't crossed a football well since 13/14). So many times he lost the ball in awful positions either through being dispossessed, or terrible short passes. His energy running back after their wingers is all that saved us from those mistakes. I do believe that judging on the start of this season... we are slowly seeing the start of his decline. It's extremely, very few players have been as loved by the crowd as Seamus in years. That horrific leg break for Ireland haunts him still.
That's one I'd be delighted to be proven wrong on though/
Personally I rate Jonjoe Kenny ever so highy... I have said this all season and last. I think Kenny is brilliant and should be wondering when he will be getting some serious Premier League minutes. A true Evertonian and local lad as well,
Holgate - 4. Another I like a lot, but he was woeful today. Got nearly everything wrong. Appalling at getting the ball from defence to midfield/forwards. Constantly outpaced, outmuscled, outjumped by the opposition. Resorted to fouling.
Zouma - 8 - MOTM. First time I've ever seen him in a blue shirt. Wow. Wow. I was seriously impressed. A massive, commanding, no nonsense centre half who can really bring the ball forward. And as we discovered in the first half, doesn't half have a bad shot on him either. Keep it up Kurt.
Digne - 7. He is extremely Baines-like I think, and fortunately 10 years younger than Leighton. Don't have any major issues with his performance. This is a player who has played for France, PSG, Roma, Barcelona. I think he'll get better than today. Great cross for Calvert-Lewin's goal - twice in two games those two have linked for a goal. Very encouraging.
Schneiderlin - 4. Pretty rubbish I thought. Reverted back to last years Schneiderlin, the unadventurous player who only kicks the ball backwards, and if you're very lucky, sometimes sideways too. Unimpressed.
Davies - 5. Just want to say how much I hate the hatred that the crowd seems to have against this young man and local lad. His mistakes get roared at more than any other player. There's a very large horrible section of our fanbase who love nothing more than to chastise one of our own and berate his every fault. What drove Barkley out of the club? Hatred and abuse from the stands. I don't envy any young Evertonian in the team, because they will be harassed and targeted by the crowd more than any other. It sickens me. Ross, now Tom. Once he's hounded out the club, maybe next year Kieran Dowell, or Jonjoe Kenny will be next. Tom didn't play well today. But he didn't disgrace the shirt.
And it's not like Davies is going to be a regular starting midfielder this season anyway. Gueye, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Schneiderlin, will all be ahead of him. Bernard too if he plays in midfield. He'll be more of a bench player once everyone is fit. Give the lad a break.
Sigurdsson - 6. Has a great propensity at times to appear to just... not do anything. And it is true. Sometimes he just doesn't do anything. But for me and I think most other Evertonians, he is still such a quality player. £45million was daylight robbery, but he's still a good player who makes things happen. Didn't agree with his substitution particularly.
Walcott - 5. Didn't really do anything today to be honest. Theo again proves very inconsistent - incredible for a couple of games (Southampton, Bournemouth), but useless for a couple more (Wolves, Huddersfield). We'll stick with him though because he is undoubtedly one of our best players
Calvert-Lewin - 8. I read comments here every week from people - "DCL isn't good enough for the Premier League", Ridiculous. He's a striker, who does this weird thing, where he scores a lot of goals. He's 21. English. And the best striker in our team. People bang on about the Everton team never having "winners". This kid scored a World Cup Winning goal for England u20's. He is a good player. Excellent aerial ability, reasonably quick, very athletic. His finishing is still poor but I think this kid could go on to be a great England and Everton player. We need to make the most of him. I want him starting centre-forward in the Premier League semi-regularly - I seriously believe in him.
Tosun - 4. Tosun always 'does alright' but nothing more, ever. I said right at the start of the season that I'd be shocked if he scored 10 goals this season. So far I am being proven right. Offers absolutely nothing that every other Forward in the League can't also offer. Would prefer to have him dropped soon, for a front 3 of Richarlison - DCL - Walcott unless he nets against West Ham (fat chance).
SUBS; Baines - 6. Was alright. Still a good player.
Lookman - 5. Don't really get Lookman personally. Far too lightweight to ever be taken seriously. He did well in the Bundlesiga... great, but the Bundesliga is rubbish compared to the Premier League nowadays.
The Zonal Marking thing is still an absolute disaster. We go into every game having basically conceded already because every match without fail we always concede a corner goal. Every. Single. Match. Marco - sort it out. Either adapt to a man-marking system, or make your system better. Perhaps Yerry Mina coming in will help alleviate the issue - all 6 foot 5 of him!
Ultimately though, I'd like to think that we shouldn't read TOO much into this performance. So many key players were still missing who in that second half could have changed the game. Gomes in midfield. Bernard, Richarlison. And I'm dreaming of an unstoppable Zouma-Mina wall already.
Still a wholly underwhelming start to the season though. A win at West Ham is a must otherwise we will have 1 win from our opening 5 fixtures - all of which were entirely winnable games. Being 'unbeaten' is great until you realise we've played against rubbish teams, relatively speaking.
87 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:31:01
Fans appreciate the work he puts in but at £27 million, I mean really was that all that was available in terms of strikers? Yes he had a very strong scoring record in Turkey but the Turkish League is miles off the Premier League.
He's going to soon be judged on how many goals he is scoring or not scoring and all he's really done is have a few long-range efforts in games so far, he's not getting into positions to hurt teams, it's easy to criticise a lack of service but other players have scored haven't they?
I'm just wondering if Richarlison down the middle as striker might prove a far more fruitful move in the long-term view of things. (Thierry Henry made the transition quite well didn't he).
88 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:31:28
We know what the problems are and so I'm sure does Silva (see his post-match comments). No real creativity and moving the ball too slowly. Add Richarlison, Bernard and Gomes and we will look a different team.
The defence is slowly reshaping itself. Zouma and Digne are good players, with Mina to come. Yes, it was poor and frustrating, but this is not the preferred 1st team.
89 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:36:40
Zouma was impressive and Digne had a decent game except for his free kicks. I think he deserves to keep his place but we miss a good left footed option at dead balls.
Seamus's form is a mystery. He came back amazingly well last year after the long layoff but now after more time to get fit he looks like he has just returned from the injury. Maybe he needs to spend a few games on the bench to wake him up.
The midfield of Schneiderlin, Davies and Sigurdsson did not work well today. They looked like three individuals rather than a midfield team. Not what you would call the engine room.
90 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:40:16
Regardless of whether we bought players injured or not, they are Everton players now and are injured. Whether they would have started or haven't started yet doesn't mean they couldn't have had an impact if fit, even from the bench. From my list of injuries/suspensions I reckon 4-5 of them are potential would be starters, so yes, we have missed them, whether they have started a game yet or not!
Very early days, a little disappointing. but we do have players that can come in and potentially make a massive difference! When was the last time we could say that?
91 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:48:06
92 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:51:34
93 Posted 01/09/2018 at 18:51:52
Also, they've played two games down to 10 men and could've and should've won both of them and now played three games in a week this week. Rotherham wasn't easy on Wednesday.
Good time for a break, recharge batteries and a chance to start to bring in some of the new lads as they get fit. Much better overall than last season. Unbeaten and in the next round of the cup with a home draw. Come on you Blues.
94 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:01:21
Holgate's passing has always been, and still is, woeful.
Baines on for Digne? WTF? We were chasing the game.
Zonal marking is a joke, why do we have to concede a shed load of goals before we drop it? Drop it now like every other team in history has.
Silva is worrying me with slow, bizarre subs and zonal marking.
95 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:06:51
Holgate did ok too but the others were one-paced, predictable and in Coleman's case (unfit).
Siggy, though also lethargic, was the only hope of unlocking their massed defence but to sub him basically meant we would settle for a draw.
Calvert-Lewin is not a winger and showed that in the box, he is a handfull.
Please Mr Silva, pick players in their right positions.
96 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:11:40
Huddersfield came with a plan that they executed very well.
We are a team that was horrendous last season trying to learn how to be a lot better this season. But that will not be easy. Expect ups and downs. Worse downs than today at some point.
I'm still excited to see this team and system when the likes of Richarlison, Mina, Gomes and Bernard are playing and up to full speed.
97 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:16:11
Davies had a poor game in contrast to mid week and should have been pulled for Dowell IMO. Digne had a massive game and unless carrying a knock, it made no sense to bring Baines on. Kenny for Seamus would've been more logical and given us a spark up the right and brought Lookman into the game more.
98 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:17:19
As for Huddersfield, they were not much better...
99 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:18:11
Zouma and Mina (6ft-5in he's gotta be a beast in the air?) has to be the deal at central defence – no disrespect to Keane or Holgate but we need to have bodyguards at the back.
100 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:24:31
Tosun would seem to be the better finisher – but he hasn't done much of that recently.
Not too concerned by the result as we were missing some important players .
101 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:25:10
Hopefully, we will improve when we get some of the new players up and running.
Coleman has struggled all season and seems half a yard short and is constantly over hitting crosses. Maybe it's time he was rested for a few games.
102 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:29:06
Coleman is finished as a wingback. He can still defend but he can no longer service the front line. This has been a declining part of his game for some time.
Holgate is a work in progress but he always looks wary and I seriously doubt he has the capacity to be much better. Better opposition will expose him.
Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson just about turn up. It would be better if they didn't.
Davies is out of his depth and if he had great potential, it would have shown by now.
Tosun is not a goalscorer and will never be prolific or even adequate.
Walcott is great on his day but that's rare enough between sick days.
Niasse, I'm as lost for words as he is on the pitch.
Lookman, we should've taken the £25m.
I may be proven wrong on all of the above but I've lost faith in them.
Digne and Zouma, very promising signings even at this early stage. Richarlison the standout player by far to date.
Yes, it's early days this season with Silva but he can't make poor or average players much better than they are.
103 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:36:31
Already moved to tell us that his disastrous zonal marking system is non-negotiable, his stay here could be of similar duration to that he spent at Watford. I smell another booby of Moshiri`s choice but as long as it's our benefactor's money being wasted why should we worry?
104 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:39:29
105 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:39:59
It took six months to replace Lukaku with Tosun who doesn't appear a prolific goal scorer at this standard at least, arguably the equivalent of Liverpool selling Salah and replacing him with Ings.
The need for a top class striker with the money we had/have is still paramount to future success.
106 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:41:47
Dont start gaping in about Evertonians lacking patience mate, weve been patient for far too long pal, nearly a decade without a derby win, never had Champions League football, no trophy since 1995 and one Cup Final in that time, weve hardly been spoilt rotten.
107 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:49:39
And to remind you, the key this window was getting a ton of players off the wage bill to make up for those previous mistakes. But yeah, instant success, that works.
108 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:53:17
Silva defends with 11 men back so it's not just defenders we have to look to, it's also the midfield and forwards involved.
Look at the amount of players we have used in the last couple of months, both pre-season and season. Not one, not a single one look comfortable... and not one have a clue about their jobs.
I mentioned after the Rotherham game, I could hear them getting worked up prior to Rotherham's goal. My brother and mates in the Gwladys Street End told me it was similar today.
Unless Silva sorts this out soon, the goodwill of the crowd will turn. He has had this transfer window. If after the January and next Summer windows come and go and we still show a crap defence, Silva will be on his way.
Absolutely pissed off we haven't looked at righting this after so many games. It is a squad game so just thinking it's the job of our "settled" back 4 is ridiculous.
109 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:53:40
Coleman very disappointing.
Holgate poor.
Davies crap.
Lookman shite. I was one of the fools giving him a heroes welcome. For what? That he was forced to stay?! Spoilt prick.
Gylfie and Zouma played decently.
I know. It's going to take Silva time. But boy, they were painfully bad today.
The ref was a joke allowing them to waste so much time from minute one.
110 Posted 01/09/2018 at 19:54:07
There was no shape of any description to Everton's game. Zouma and Digne had good games. Pickford had little to do. The rest of last season's players performed without any energy, heart or guile, leaving most supporters frustrated and agitated by the sorry and disheartening 90 minutes.
Five of the players signed in the summer didn't play today so it will get better, they can't come into the team quick enough for me.
Premier League football is often described as the best in the world; this game would never be shown as an example, putrid from start to finish along with most of the players; and the referee wasn't as good as putrid.
111 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:02:49
Unlike last season when we played the best the league had to offer, we have this season, played 3 mediocre/poor sides.
We have surrendered a 2 goal lead to Bournemouth, scraped a win over Soton and drew with Wolves. Coupled with todays dire performance it's not looking promising despite the missing players.
Carry on like this and it'll be carnage when we play any of the top 4.
112 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:03:42
Calvert-Lewin should play in the middle because Tosun offers little with 0 goals in 4 games. The big plus today was Digne a younger version of Baines, but Coleman is playing on past reputation, because his crossing and shooting are woeful, and runs down to the bye-line are non-existent. He sums up Everton's day with only 1 effort on target.
Everton can change managers but the DNA of the side remains same and need to do better to change. Finally, zonal marking is a waste of time if the opposition are unmarked.
113 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:06:56
It was a poor performance with some very poor individual performances, that happens sometimes, move on regroup and hope for better next time, we've been doing it for forty years or more why should a single result or performance define a season?
Oh and for those who thought that Silva or indeed any manager was going to transform a mid-table team into Champions League, top six challengers overnight, forget it. A mid-table team is what we are, regardless of who we recruited in the summer and regardless of the tactics employed by the new manager.
Enjoy the good games when they arrive and don't get carried away when they do and for those days like today acknowledge it for what it is a performance that we will see more often than we'd like to but until we buy top four / six players all over the park, we are prone to suffer days such as today.
114 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:09:03
115 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:16:14
116 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:23:53
There's cause for hope, but today's performance was very unsatisfactory.
117 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:26:29
Because a lot of people are desperate for him to succeed, hyped him up before he joined and can't see that he's as average a Number 10 as you get in this league.
When we actually get a decent Number 10, they'll see the error of their ways... frankly, I don't think we'll see real improvement until we buy that truly great Number 10.
118 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:27:25
That sounds great "when we have full strength." What team ever have full strength for any period of time?
It is a squad game with injuries and suspensions dictating the team named on match day.
Any player coming on, of in fact we have 2 players for every position, should fit in the system straight away.
Seems we have some sort of system going forward and absolutely nothing defensive wise except crossed fingers. A bit like Martinez in a way don't you think?
119 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:32:33
Davies? What does he do? Except mince about putting aimless passes back and forth. He needs to be benched, binned or sent back to Unsworth for rehabilitation. Oh, and get rid of that hairstyle as well, sonny!
Walcott played like he couldn't wait to get injured. We never once put a ball in front for anyone to run on to, no imagination.
Calvert-Lewin, supposed to be the fastest player in the league, yet no-one tries to exploit his alleged pace .
On the plus side, Zouma looks a player and hopefully Digne can only improve.
120 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:33:23
An absolute imposter. We were led to believe he was supposedly meant to unlock tight defences. Believe me, he can't! He's slow, can't turn, and can't anticipate what's going on around him. To think we paid an astronomical fee for him beggars belief. An absolute shit signing, along with Schneiderlin... £70-odd millions worth of shite.
Oh yes, the usual suspects will come on tonight saying how great they are. Yes, Feans, Abrahams, Hind... Go take a look at yourselves tonight – that was fucking awful. 50 years a Blue, by the way, so do not try to bully me with your trash.
122 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:39:30
Besides his comeback game, Coleman has been generally poor. I hope it's just a bad run of fun rather than something he's lost through his horrific injury but definitely not the same player.
123 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:43:26
It's a squad game and we're only getting started rebuilding the squad. That's been the point all summer, getting rid of a ton of players and bringing in the new generation. It was always going to take time.
It's been 4 league games, 4. Richarlison, Bernard, Mina, Gana, Gomes, Keane, Jagielka all out. It's one thing to be missing 1 or 2. That's not our situation, and it's made worse by it being the start of the season with a new manager and new style of play all around.
124 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:52:32
I don't know what you do for a living. Most people I know work and if something is not right they stop, have a look, think about the problem and rectify it.
Most people I know don't do a job, have a problem and keep making the same problem for themselves.
Now I know you reckon it takes time to impart Silva's methods, tactics and requirements on this squad so can I ask, in your opinion, how long do you reckon it takes to tell an international professional footballer to defend a couple of square meters of grass?
125 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:52:47
126 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:57:30
Please tell me what Davies offers? Can anyone tell me the last decent performance he put in? Local lad doesn't cut it with me. A holding player he is not. Two holding players at home against Huddersfield Town? Give me a break.
Truthfully we are not playing well for 90 minutes. Yes, patience is required as we are on four managers in two years but no excuses today. Yes, too many having an off today but it was an opportunity missed. Our start to the season unbeaten. Wow, Wolves, Bournemouth and Huddersfield and Southampton, leaves us on 6 points out of 12. Enough said!!
127 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:57:37
128 Posted 01/09/2018 at 20:58:11
Remaining patient and positive, we are unbeaten with mostly last year's team, despite giving away a goal per game – if we can sort out that defending nonsense we will improve our points tally.
A final note on a curious moment in the game – the referee blew for half time 1 minute and 50 seconds after the 4th official signified a minimum of 2 minutes extra time, just as Seamus was about to cross the ball. I found it strange.
129 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:00:48
I must admit nowadays that my expectations are purposely lowered to offset the usual disappointments that inevitably follow when supporting Everton.
Only when we buy the very best players on par with your Man City, Chelsea and them that shall be nameless, will we be able to compete at the very top. Will that ever happen?
130 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:07:21
Huddersfield made it difficult for us but the players and the manager should have more nouse in order to find a way through the parked bus.
The midfield is a problem area for me you can clearly see Schneiderlin and Davies are both not long term answer's to bringing us success, not great defensively and very limited in creativity we desperately need Gomes to come in and hit the ground running and be a class act.
I thought Sliva could have done a lot more with his substitution's and brought Niasse and Lookman a lot earlier and played them through the middle instead of out wide.
Tosun for me is not good enough to the lead line on his own he's like an old man up there he has no pace not enough strength and creates zero threat on his own or linking up he falls over whenever he has to turn quickly!
131 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:07:51
132 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:14:36
I'd have to agree regarding Tosun unable to lead the line alone, I said in April that there's no way he's built to be a lone striker.
Lukaku has many detractors at Everton (bit silly because we aren't likely to see such a prolific centre-forward at this club again any time soon) but he could bulldozer his way through defences singlehanded with pace and power, as seen especially in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns.
Tosun is simply not going to offer that kind of outlet, you can't just lob a hopeful ball over the top and expect him to do anything with it because he hasn't the mobility or presence and even when the rangy gangly cart horse figure of Niasse came on he did more in 10 minutes by winning a few corners and being a nuisance than Tosun did all match.
133 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:17:05
I agree that half-time thing only ever seems to happen to us. Any other team attacking the ref seems to wait till the ball is on the halfway line before blowing.
A bit like the red cards for Jakielka and Richarlison – can't really argue with the decisions but it never seems to be applied to others in the same way — especially the Sky darlings.
134 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:17:58
Injuries cards etc is just part of football and we have to get on with it.
Silva is quite rightly praised for improving individual performances of players we slagged last season. He is quite rightly praised for our improved attacking prowess.
However when thousands of us see the same mistakes without seemingly nothing done to rectify them then quite rightly we should call it. Regardless of who the manager is or how long he has been here he should be accountable.
Let's be honest its not just the supporters who have asked questions. Silva himself has admitted we should have seen games out Silva himself has admitted our defending needs to improve.
Some things do not need time and transfer windows to improve our play.
135 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:18:45
Seamus looks distracted, someone who has a load on his mind. Lack of fitness does not account for his lapses in concentration. I hope that everything is okay with his family.
137 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:35:11
If that wasn't embarrassing enough we played with the same lethargy that was apparent when we allowed Rotherham back into the game.
I don't know why there is so much animosity towards the youngest player on the pitch when he is surrounded by experienced internationals who looked like they were having trials for Tranmere. With the exception of Zouma and Holgate, I would struggle to find anyone who could score more than a 3 out of 10.
Seamus has left his form somewhere but it hasn't been evident all season. Walcott just went through the motions which meant our right flank was totally ineffective going forward and very weak defensively. The number of times Seamus got skinned was embarrassing.
I wish someone could extol the virtues of Tosun because all I see is a shortarse who can't compete in the air and isn't particularly quick. Yes, he does a lot of running around but then so do squirrels.
138 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:38:03
Our defence look like old dogs bewildered by the new tricks they are being taught.
We are on an upward curve but shit is shit and that was utter shit.
139 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:38:26
140 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:43:40
141 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:45:42
Praising the manager when we see him do something good is okay but, when he doesn't, we have to accept it as he's just in the door.
Shame when we can't have an opinion.
142 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:47:45
On today's showing we will be lucky to make the top half. We have a piss poor squad. Simple as that, & unless we get a great manager and a state of the art stadium, things ain't gonna change Don't hold your breath folks...
143 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:49:26
You don't belittle others, Andy, but I'm afraid some are too quick to start the "ad hominem". It's noticeable that occasionally a few posters make a comment on a game or whatever and state in passing that they tend not to post nowadays because of this.
144 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:52:43
Today we saw the consequences when you take those sort of players out of the equation. We lacked pace and width especially after Walcott departed with the midfield struggling to find an outlet and passing the ball into a series of cul-de-sacs.
Our problems in creating width are compounded by Seamus starting the season so poorly. Nothing is coming off for him at the moment. Every cross seems to go astray and his shooting is weak. He has yet to score since his return.
Sigurdsson's limitations were exposed today. Unless a pass is directed straight to his feet he has neither the pace nor the agility to stretch for anything even slightly off-line. He was tightly marked when we moved up the pitch. I lost count of the number of times he was dispossessed, admittedly in tight situations. When that happens he has little to offer that can make a difference.
We are already behind the curve for a top-six finish and given the doubts concerning Silva's ability to take a Premier League team through a full campaign it is critical we garner as many points as we possibly can in these early weeks. The positive news is that despite the notable absence of Richarlison we remain unbeaten, the opposition were restricted to very few opportunities in front of goal and in Kurt Zouma we appear to have a solid defender.
145 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:54:26
The defence is weak, though the actual standard of play is higher. Less errors. It's the organisation of the defence that is the problem in that players are not aware and able to anticipate where the dangerous attacks are coming from. There is also weaknesses cutting out crosses. Coleman isn't the player he was.
Schneuiderlin is doing his job, but there is a lack of good ball being supplied to the forwards from the attacking midfield and wing.
The forwards are not able to get in position, with the exception of Calvert Lewis and are unable to beat their marker. This allows the opposition defence to maintain a defensive line and shape and push the defensive line up in support of their midfield.
In the case of the defense, this is down to the way they are coached. In midfield, we need Bernard in as soon as possible. Richarlison needs to grow up fast, because he will be a target when he comes back, being one of the few threats to unsettle defences. Calvert-Lewin is playing well but Tosun needs to improve a lot. Niasse played better when he had no locker. We need to buy in a centre-forward; neither of these guys are good enough.
Lookman, we are going to need him because he at least looks as if he could beat a marker.
Both Bournemouth and Huddersfield played like last season and have had some degree of success last week and this week.
It tells you that Everton have a long way to go to improve and be able to challenge in any competition.
146 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:55:22
On reflection, and with that wonderful thing called hindsight, Silva could have changed things at half-time to 3-5-2. He could have taken Coleman off as he is not his usual self – is the former broken leg giving him pain, I wonder? A back 3 of Holgate, Zouma and Digne. A midfield of Schneiderlin Davies, Lookman (for Coleman), Sigurdsson and Walcott. Then play Tosun in and around Calvert-Lewin who plays with his back to goal.
I only saw the second half but we failed to win any free kicks between 18 and 25 yards in front of the goal. Did they ever need to put a wall up? A centre-forward is more likely to win free kicks with defenders tackling from behind, than continually trying to thread the eye of a needle with a pass most of our players are not capable of producing.
I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but if you are not looking like scoring from open play, which we only did once in the second half (Lookman's cross), getting free kicks in and around the box with Siggy's ability has to be attempted. If we had got in front, they would have had to play more openly.
That is why the RS play at 100 mph in the first 15 minutes, to blow these teams away, in an attempt to prevent teams parking the bus for 90 minutes. Last week they struggled to overturn Brighton and Klopp's had 3½ seasons and his best IX on the pitch!
There will be more games like this at Goodison if we fail to get in front early doors or fail to change tactics when Plan A is never going to work. Silva now knows the true limitations of the squad, so a Plan B has to be found from what have available now.
I have faith in what is happening in and around EFC at the present time and hiccups like today will happen but lets not forget most of these players have got 2 managers the sack and had EFC go cap in hand to Farhad Moshiri. 2 more transfer windows are needed to fully overhaul the squad and not just the team.
Keep the faith. COYBs.
147 Posted 01/09/2018 at 21:55:46
148 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:00:41
Better a genuine talent, Dowell, be pushed than persist with "McCarthy II".
And McCarthy was better at that job.
149 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:01:53
150 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:02:42
151 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:08:39
They set up not to lose and in Aaron Mooy they had the best player on the pitch, a player we should have been in for in the window.
152 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:10:29
We should grab whatever we can and get shut before the truth be known.
153 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:14:40
154 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:15:25
1) Davies was exceptional on Wednesday, not sure whether it was the inferior opposition or having to work alongside Morgan that messed him up today. For me, James@148 has a point here: we need a truly creative player here but next to any one of Gueye, Davies, or Schneiderlin. Not sure Dowell is the answer there, but hopefully Gomes is! I'd like to see Sigurdsson given a try further back, with either Dowell, Bernard or Lookman given a go in the 10.
2) Manager had just 2 of his own players – let's lay off the judgement for now even though the '3 defender bench' and subs where mind-bogglingly questionable.
3) Holgate, Zouma, and Digne look great; with Mina and Keane back, it's looking good except...
4) Coleman is just 'missing something' – not least of which is the ability to shoot and play a final ball. 2-3 more games after international and its time to give Kenny a go.
5) Calvert-Lewin needs to be given the striker slot for a few weeks. He's earning it, even if Cenk puts the effort in too.
All-in-all, I came out feeling angry, not miserable. I'll take that all day vs the depression of Allardyce.
155 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:16:42
156 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:20:59
157 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:23:59
No way good enough for the Club to push forward.
A 6-years younger Gareth Barry, newly arrived, would make all 5 redundant by his arrival.
We need quality, not this handful of average players making up the numbers.
158 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:27:53
What I said was that he is average. Recent history demonstrates that. He may work out well for us but he's not a world class centre-back. And he's not even our player.
He's average, just like the vast majority of the team that finished that game.
We can bleat at that performance and talk about lack of desire or leadership but look at who was on the pitch. There's very limited talent. It's just not a good set of footballers.
The performance had to be expected. The team is shite! Let's hope the new boys can make an impact (which is far from a sure thing – see last season's dealings). Otherwise it's crazy to think we'll be doing any more than in recent seasons.
159 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:35:22
Let the players be and let's be supportive. We might not be a Premier League winning squad every season. But maybe grab a title or a cup along the way and start to roll the stone towards more stable results and more titles.
I do believe in the club and the way it is going. Strategy will win in the end.
160 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:52:34
161 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:55:42
My concerns regarding Silva are about his ability to drag an average team out of a bad run which we will inevitably have at some stage. I will be more than happy to repeat last season's 49 points and 8th place. Anything better than that will be a bonus.
162 Posted 01/09/2018 at 22:58:05
163 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:02:03
164 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:04:54
He needs too long on the ball, fails to see what's on, and had several shots/passes charged down giving options for Huddersfield to counter.
Calvert-Lewin on the wing – square pegs, round holes... reminds me of Roberto. Tosun needs benching, and Calvert-Lewin should get a game at 9.
The team played like strangers today, nobody seemed to know what the others were meant to do. Siggy was getting in Calvert-Lewin's way, Calvert-Lewin was getting in Digne's way, Davies was in everyone's way!
Huddersfield are poor and we managed one shot... Boy, do we need the cavalry.
165 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:15:04
Davies was poor, Holgate has played better and Calvert-Lewin wasn't exactly on fire; that said, we could look at things differently.
Davies never hides, always wants the ball, even when, like today, he's playing poorly.
Holgate will learn lessons from being up against each and every Premier League striker, no matter who they are, and, truth be known, only for the set-up from the corner, he would have been a part of a clean sheet.
Calvert-Lewin isn't and never will be an out-and-out wide man, yet he continued to work hard at it and got his goal.
Did the young trio do any worse than the seasoned pros? Did the experienced trio of Coleman, Sigurdsson and Tosun do any better? Did Schniederlin, Walcott and sub Lookman, who we all seem to be desperate to see? I'd say No!
Fact is, today, we were without some players who have the potential to be huge players for us, and, as a result, we played some of the country's finest youngsters.
I honestly believe players like Richardson, Bernard and especially Gomes from a central position would have found a way through. Had Gomes played instead of Davies or Schniederlin, we would have had a player who was much more capable of picking killer passes.
Had Bernard been fit or Richarlison not been suspended, then Calvert-Lewin would have been an option from the bench, and we would have had wide attacking options who provide genuine width especially when Walcott went off.
I'm not defending the kids for under-performing, I'm simply saying the blame needs putting at the feet of experienced players who cost and earn a whole lot more than the young lads before being thrown at at the kids.
Lots still needs fixing by the manager, he needs all his players fit to get his best side out. Imo, he needs to work out his subs quicker and be more proactive. He also needs to work out our big problem from crosses in general, and especially the corners.
Rome wasn't built in a day, men — we've been shite for a while now and if anyone expected a quick fix they only needed to watch pre-season.
166 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:35:09
You have to play players in form. I think Tosun will come good and bang in a few but, at the moment, I would swap him for Calvert-Lewin , simply because Dom is hitting the net.
Zouma starts.
Kenny for Coleman? Seamus not the same player after his injury, unfortunately. I hope he proves me wrong.
Captaincy is a big issue for me. Do we have a leader? Who should be captain? I would vote Coleman but the boy is in shocking form he's lucky to be in the team.
When Bernard, Mina and Gomez are ready, it's going to be interesting because I think Richarlison and Digne along with Zouma are already first teamers.
Captain? Pickford? Not a fan of goalkeepers as captains. Gana? I think this is a problem.
167 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:35:49
Best laugh today was seeing the RS keeper's stunt. Hope eternal, and hopefully over the break, we get more players back.
It's a WIP, and miles and miles of patience are needed. Between now and Chrimbo, I think there will be a different team. Let's stay positive.
168 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:39:40
Over a substantial period of time (25 years, or more) we, as a club, have contrived, by various misguided decisions, to drag ourselves into an abominable mess. However, by luck, or otherwise, we have also contrived to keep ourselves relevant and also, occasionally, remind the rest of "who we are".
This season, we are again, re-writing the script and it is still going to be a long haul back. But, when I look at the BBC site today and see that we are one of the very few clubs that has no red "L" in our results column, I do believe we are, at last, on the road to recovery.
I am confident that, over the course of this season, we shall turn many of the former red "L's" into either "Ws" or "Ds" and that a draw at home to Huddersfield, at this stage of a "re-organisation" season for us, will be seen as nothing more than a "Blip' in the not too distant future.
169 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:59:37
It did appear some of our players appeared as though they hadn't played with each other before, lost count how many times they bumped into each other or went for the same ball and in turn lost possession.
We need some of the injured players back very soon.
170 Posted 01/09/2018 at 23:59:57
Deeply disappointing, one shot on goal, and a total lack of passion, with last season's faults still very much in evidence, passing diabolical, possession constantly given away, poor tackling — the list is endless, and familiar.
171 Posted 01/09/2018 at 00:05:36
It's obvious that if we don't use a majority of our new signings we'll just look like last year's team. Not having Richardson available really hurt our chances for taking 3 points today.
Hopefully it will only be a month before we see that our new signings are working out and we can start winning some meaningful games.
172 Posted 01/09/2018 at 00:11:24
173 Posted 02/09/2018 at 00:14:53
174 Posted 02/09/2018 at 00:26:53
The question is this: "Is Silva clever enough to change a system he has always used and believes in?" There have been encouraging signs in our attacking play, until today's poor performance.
Obviously there are more players to come in, so the picture is not yet complete, as to how it will all knit together. Zonal marking must be abandoned, though — that's very clear.
175 Posted 01/09/2018 at 00:45:25
I agree with most. Too many poor performances. Calvert-Lewin is a stricker, not an attacking forward or winger. Lookman should have started on the left. Zonal marking doesn't work if there's 5 attacking players against 2. There needs to be a blend of key zonal positions and man marking.
I recently re-watched Davies's goal against Man City and that talent is still there but he hasn't progressed or improved his passing game. A key part of a midfielder's role. However, he looks a better player when playing with Gana than he does with Schneiderlin as, in my opinion, he has to cover for him. I just don't rate Schneiderlin.
I'm hoping Gomes will become our midfield diamond as he's a really talented player. Players like Mooy and Drinkwater open up opposing teams with a great range of passing and link-up play, something we haven't had since Arteta. Hopefully Gomes can bring that.
I hope Richarlison returns refreshed and ready to go again. What a player!
A poor day but another point.
176 Posted 02/09/2018 at 00:47:26
To have players like Harpo, Richo, Clarke, come in knit in and tell and tell is seemingly very difficult for EFC.
I'm for playing the cards we have (aces, is to be proven), but we need commitment and game management.
It drains the life from me to see how we fail to shoot from outside the box, albeit today very encouragingly Zouma, had a go. He's been here 5 mins, his instinct kicked in, but what does it tell him about the squad?
Why isn't Sigudsson, Tosun, etc trying their luck, and at least working the keeper?
There's some mentality issues – taking ownership, being a boss on the park, snarling the right way on the park, fighting for the cause, giving two hoots for the cause, playing for the club and supporters...
The list of basic attributes for success in football is huge. It's a simple game, but by fate, and set up, we now seem to conspire to help the opposition, by hook or crook.
We all have our view, but the club and the team has got to unleash hell soon, and transform all the negativity of the last 30 odd years. We live in hope but we are realistic; now to build a fully reliable squad.
No-one can turn back time, but until this squad gets desire, fight and passion, and understanding of EFC, and EFC supporters, I sense that, as the weeks pass, the huge burden will just weigh to the issue.
Must win v West Ham. Let's hope this break turns out to be a good break for EFC.
177 Posted 02/09/2018 at 00:54:22
Much of the Everton fan base has been deluded in the belief that it just needed a new manager to introduce a fresh philosophy, a new "scintillating" brand of football. Indeed, much of the fan base still thinks we've made that transition and that we're playing a different brand of football already. I know why that is so: because sloppy and lazy thinking among those who should know better has prepared the ground.
Until we grow up and look reality in the face, we will continue to fail. It's going to be a hard grind and we're not prepared to accept that. More fool us.
178 Posted 02/09/2018 at 01:22:22
This zonal v man marking debate is bullshit. Why can't we zonal mark and then man mark on set pieces going into our box?
Just win the fuckin ball!!
At the end of the day it's about fight and desire and guts mixed with skill and determination and a will to win.
On today's showing we ain't got it.
179 Posted 02/09/2018 at 01:34:54
It looks from a supporters view, theres no instinct to shoot or turn the opponents defence.
Its scary how the RS, make chances from positions where there looks like nothing is on.
EFC, 2018-19, is a massive, WIP. This doesnt allow for excuses, for poor play. Fight and fight and have belief that we will win every match. We would love to see, such traits, but its like winning the pools..
Psyche and Tempo, must be instilled, and commitment to run them down and or our play, or out will the opposition. But win the game.
Easy to say and hard to do, but it requires a tuned in team and Captain of the team, and a fearless manager..
Its time now to start the full recovery plan. The clock is always running, and lets win a trophy, beat the top six home and away, especially the RS..
Wishful thinking!
180 Posted 02/09/2018 at 01:58:09
The team that he is trying to assemble is about 8 weeks from fruition. This team will be enhanced by the players Silva has brought in.
Eventually the back 4 will be:
Coleman Mina Zouma Digne
And with Pickford behind them, we will stop conceding goals
Eventually our midfield / attack will be enhanced by Bernard and Gomez as well as Richarlison building upon his early season promise.
The added creativity will bring more out of Cenk Tosun.
Davies and Calvert-Lewin will see less playing time and will feature only when it will benefit their development.
No doom and gloom as far as I'm concerned. To me this looks really promising and light years ahead of what was on offer from big Sam or Koeman
181 Posted 02/09/2018 at 02:03:32
My heart sank for about the last 40 or so minutes of the game.
The groans of frustration from the crowd were clearly audible. The announcer stated people left early as well.
A frustrated Goodison is death.
We need three points against West Ham to get the good vibe back desperately. The culmination of frustration with the fans since Martinez' second year is proving to result in one hell of an impatient fanbase, and a toxic atmosphere lingers all too frequently.
It seems to seep straight through to TW as well. Brent Stephens mentioned Dermot Byrne might be banned? That's a shame. Apologize and come back, sir. Micheal and Lyndon are extremely forgiving people – I know this first hand having been banned myself.
I also notice some of the most knowledgable, intelligent, humorous, and respected posters aren't posting as often and it's a shame.
Christine Foster, Eugene Ruane, John Daly, Joe Clitherow, Tony Marsh, Paul Ferry, Kevin Tully, hell go back a long way and add Richard Dodd – just to name a very few.
We need an injection of talent / enthusiasm and some injured players to come back - at the Club and TW.
And we have to stop dropping points. We drew, in terrible fashion, at home to the mighty Huddersfield.
That can't happen.
182 Posted 02/09/2018 at 03:12:21
Late in the game it still took ages for Pickford to take his goal kicks. No one ran to grab the ball to hurry up when it was out of play. Almost everyone was still jogging late in the game.
184 Posted 02/09/2018 at 03:37:05
"Word is getting around about the goal threat this Everton team possess"
"Everton where blending finesse with force".
Now I know it's the official take on things but FFS who wrote that! Hans Christian Anderson?
185 Posted 02/09/2018 at 03:38:51
As people are saying, when Gomes, Bernard and even Mina are in the squad, we will see a massive increase in quality because, as hard as it is to say, Davies and for me Calvert-Lewin just aren't good enough. Hopefully they are back after the break!
186 Posted 02/09/2018 at 05:17:54
We played badly against a poor Premier League team. I agree with all the negative responses but I still see a glimmer of light. Our two new players did not disgrace themselves. We still have new players to come in.
We have a manager who is still finding out about his players. Other teams, even the best, will have bad days. I still feel so relieved that Senile Sam has gone. We have to believe that better times are to come. Evertonians NEVER give up.
187 Posted 02/09/2018 at 05:23:34
We played badly. As teams sometimes do. Especially teams under new management and making changes.
We played badly while trying to push forward. We played badly while making attempts on goal (the "badly" part is why all those attempts were off target). We played badly while trying to play football and to win the game.
I can accept playing badly occasionally when it's playing badly while trying, by and large, to do the right things.
188 Posted 02/09/2018 at 05:24:58
I doesn't help that by the end of the game we were without our first choice wise attacking played either. Calvert-Lewin gave a decent account of himself out of position but is better through the middle. Lookman did little to suggest he deserves a starting place.
Positive about Zouma and Digne though. Both played well.
189 Posted 02/09/2018 at 05:36:59
"Since the start of last season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been directly involved in more goals for Everton in all competitions than any other player (11 goals, six assists)."
Phtt! Who needs a player who offers so much in terms of the game's most precious commodity: goals.
190 Posted 02/09/2018 at 05:59:17
Right little Marco Van Basten.
191 Posted 02/09/2018 at 06:16:01
Who needs 'em, eh?
192 Posted 02/09/2018 at 06:17:58
No wonder Koeman tried him at right-back. Maybe that is his position after all.
193 Posted 02/09/2018 at 06:21:03
In the 1980s, we fans were like the 12th man. Not anymore.
194 Posted 02/09/2018 at 06:32:49
I'd love to know how many of those goals where in the Premier League, I'll bet half of them where against lower opposition in cup competitions.
195 Posted 02/09/2018 at 06:32:57
On MotD, it was shown that Silva's teams have a weakness regarding set-pieces. During the week in training, set-piece problems where not addressed, having conceded two goals in previous games from set pieces. I hope Silva was watching his stats on MotD.
He also has a problem with how his centre-forward is playing, since tactically it's allowed both Bournemouth and Huddersfield to play a higher defensive line and compress middle field and at times overrun it.
Both these problems are coaching problems and need to be addressed by the Coach.
196 Posted 02/09/2018 at 06:41:46
I'm in the Upper Bullens and with the exception of a few 'old sweats' the majority of the crowd seem actually embarrassed to join in (with the Gwladys Street, of course).
And on that thought, has anyone else from there noticed the same?
197 Posted 02/09/2018 at 07:06:33
Right little Marco Van Basten."
Indeed Dave. Because you will, of course, be able to tell us which other striker we have who can compare to Marco van Basten.
Is it the duo of centre forwards who cost us £40M, who also played the same opposition you deride Calvert-Lewin for?
You will also of course be able to point me in direction of centre-forward back-ups – which is what Calvert-Lewin undoubtedly is – at other clubs who have a record comparable to the great Dutchman. Giroud? Lacazette? Janssen? Solanke? Sturridge?
You will also remind us the numerous times the Dutchman played as a wide player or, heck even wing back (and I attended that game against Stoke, where Calvert-Lewin produced an assist for Rooney, despite Koeman unbelievably playing him at right wingback).
Calvert-Lewin is doing a fine job for us when called upon to do so. He is not Van Basten and no-one is pretending he is, but he does contribute on a regular basis when brought on. We are being let down by a whole host of more experienced pros brought in at great cost to who he is a back-up.
I do not know if he will go on to play for England and become an Everton great but I do know that I am glad we have him, and I am glad we shipped out Bolasie, Vlasic and Ramirez who would have done less for us.
I also have things in perspective, unlike you. The club will (a) not likely ever be able to afford a Marco Van Basten in their ranks; (b) spent the last window addressing the weaknesses at left-back, centre-back, and lack of pace in the forward line... so we did not get a goal scorer; (c) trimmed the squad; and (d) will need a few windows to address the problem areas in central midfield and lack of goals from the centre-forward position.
Until then, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse, Tosun, Richan, Walcott anrlisod Lookman are our options and, with no Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Walcott are the form players.
So, personally, I am glad we have him even if he doesn't reach your exacting standards of the forwards we should have (ie, must be comparable to the Dutch Legend, and one of the greatest No 9s of the last 35 years).
198 Posted 02/09/2018 at 07:14:39
Cut it any way you want, buddy, his goals-per-game ratio is appalling for a striker, as, granted are the others we have.
Do we blame the coaching and management team? Damn fucking right we do... but he is still not Premier League class by any stretch. If he was, he would be playing for one of the top 4.
Because that's the Everton way... aka Lukaku.
199 Posted 02/09/2018 at 07:23:24
Because that's the Everton way... aka Lukaku."
Dave, you are having an argument with yourself there and I suggest you do so with the curtains drawn and well away from any sharp objects. Meanwhile, I am sure the club and Calvert-Lewin will be quietly satisfied that they have a good young pro who has done fine when played in several positions (left-wing yesterday) which might have affected the goal record you deride.
200 Posted 02/09/2018 at 07:39:32
Funny because I was laughing at you during the live forum last week mate, and then Sigurdsson made the two goals. (Was I bullying you with your trash?)
The only imposter I see in an Everton shirt is Schneiderlin, but I hope you are right and Silva gets it right eventually, even though I haven't got a clue why you go on about going the match for 50 years though Andy?
201 Posted 02/09/2018 at 08:16:40
Errr... don't you mean top 4 class then? Or Champions League class?
People keep saying the likes of Davies and Calvert-Lewin are not 'Premier League class' even though they play and have played a fair bit... in the Premier League!
Symptomatic of the strange desire in some to put our youngsters down more than they deserve.
202 Posted 02/09/2018 at 08:19:24
Similarly, I would muffle the noise coming from the away fans.
Joe Blow will rarely initiate a chant / song but he'll gladly join in, what most need is a bit of encouragement so provide that stimulus. You never know... you may hear a noise from the Main Stand.
As for performances vs Huddersfield. Digne and Zouma impressed, Davies didn't, nor did Seamus; the right side didn't provide much at all. I think Calvert-Lewin should be given the nod down the middle (faster and more powerful than Tosun). Slightly baffling subs too.
203 Posted 02/09/2018 at 08:35:49
"...he is still not Premier League class by any stretch; if he was, he would be playing for one of the top 4."
So basically only players from top 4 clubs are Premier League class. What class are the rest?
Shouldn't only top 4 (whatever that is) play in the Premier League?
I'm just trying to understand.
204 Posted 02/09/2018 at 08:47:01
Don't want to stick my nose in but it has to be said. Dave and Tony Abrahams, Steve Ferns are very fair-minded posters on ToffeeWeb.
I have never seen them use a personal insult on here. They don't force their opinion on anyone, or get riled if you don't agree with them.
Unfair of you to suggest otherwise.
205 Posted 02/09/2018 at 09:07:20
I love Everton as much as yourself but when they play badly I let my feelings out. I think everyone who was at the game yesterday was frustrated and agitated so I understand if you were the same as me.
206 Posted 02/09/2018 at 09:10:39
Or, failing that, we need to win the first ball which we haven't done on at least 8 occasions so far... recipe for disaster and you can bet other teams are planning to exploit it against us.
207 Posted 02/09/2018 at 09:17:28
Coleman no longer tries to overlap past the opposition defence and it has been suggested that Silva wants him more aware of helping out the central defence rather than getting forward. Schneiderlin's game doesn't seem to have changed but both he and Davies, again, seem to have been told to play further back rather than getting forward in support. Tosun's work rate has increased but seems to be at the expense of getting into scoring positions.
Hopefully, in time, Silva (or those players presently unavailable for selection) will show that he is capable of either more flexibility and/or sorting out our obvious problems but should it continue then perhaps Mr Brands might like to invite him out for dinner and a chat one night. And it goes without saying, we all hope he gets it right.
208 Posted 02/09/2018 at 09:31:59
John as ever you are spot on, Steve, Darren and Dave are prolific contributors. Their visibility will always attract detractors but I'm sure when they put their considered and articulate views forward they are not expecting everyone to bow down and agree with them.
Darren has the most direct style of prose, he doesn't mince his words, but his content always has substance and will always develop the thread positively, the very reason why these forums are a fantastic read.
I have locked horns with Darren before, considered offering him a straight fight in Stanley Park but instead chose to find ways of articulating my views back to him!
All contributors great or small play a great role in making ToffeeWeb forums the great read they are. More power to your arm, one and all!
209 Posted 02/09/2018 at 10:00:44
We all watch the game and we all see things differently, it allows for a good conversation and many points but never an agenda of hey, "I'm mister know-it-all".
For me, we were a tad unlucky yesterday but we need to win more of the ball in the second phase. Huddersfield seemed to be far quicker at regrouping once they had cleared the ball.
We all get pissed when the blues lose, but now we are getting pissed when we draw with teams who park the bus and we are playing with around 6 first team players out injured or suspended. What can Silva do? We have limited options as to who plays out wide and very limited options as to who plays in the middle; with injuries, we are back to putting round pegs into square holes, which in the Premier League, is a struggle.
The worst thing though; it will be on every team's agenda to attack our defence from set pieces, Wagner said this post match. We have got to sort out this zonal marking shit.
210 Posted 02/09/2018 at 10:07:35
I thought Zouma had an encouraging debut although he wasn't really tested. Coleman's final ball has always been poor imo but his other qualities have covered it. I ain't worried about Seamus – all players suffer from dips in form – the key is not letting it drag on too long.
Davies and Calvert-Lewin should have been sent on loan to Championship sides to help toughen them up and ready them for the step up. I don't see either of them being good enough but, at least if they were sent out on loan for the season, we would almost certainly have more answers about being good enough for Everton FC.
I don't think we should be too hard on Tosun the service to him was awful. Huddersfield won't be the only team to come and park the bus but we have to be smarter in dealing with these teams.
211 Posted 02/09/2018 at 10:37:30
We're all hurting after yesterday's shambolic performance, as true blues fans. I have to say, your comments on Steve, Darren, Dave and Tony are completely wrong. I love reading their immense and knowledgeable comments here on this forum, and they have never insulted anyone, or forced their opinion on anyone, and to suggest otherwise is completely wrong.
212 Posted 02/09/2018 at 10:42:46
Although Walcott has been lively of late, I can recall quite a few occasions where he has got in Seamus's way, or taken the ball off him or Davies, when they have looked in a better position to put in a cross.
Just wondered if anyone else has noticed?
214 Posted 02/09/2018 at 10:52:19
It amazes me how many goals are headed up to 1 m inside the post with no-one there to clear it when a man on the post mops up, eg, Harry Kane against Man Utd... and us every game! I've yet to hear a plausible reason for not doing this.
215 Posted 02/09/2018 at 10:53:18
Sorry, but I must disagree with you re Davies and Calvert-Lewin. Tom Davies is now in his third season as a member of the first team squad, and you won't find many players in his situation being sent out on loan nowadays, especially as Silva showed his faith in him by making him captain against Rotherham.
As for Calvert-Lewin, three goals in a week isn't a bad return from a player you don't think is good enough to be part of the first team. He is probably the only back-up we have for Tosun who despite his hard work so far this season, remains goalless. Calvert-Lewin will improve more by regular appearances for us than by spending a season on loan in the Championship or elsewhere.
Who do you think would be a suitable back-up if Tosun gets injured or loses his form? I think we all know Oumar is best as an impact sub rather than a starter so your idea would leave us woefully short in the striker department.
216 Posted 02/09/2018 at 11:01:50
Sorry, mate, but the opposition have 10 outfield players – the same as us – that leaves one player unmarked in your system which is exactly the problem we're having with Silva's system.
For me, defending balls into the box should be easy. We should be first to the ball or, if we're going to be outjumped, put enough pressure on the man so he can't get a decent touch on the ball.
It's as simple as that, whether its zonal or man-to-man.
Our problem is we have players who lose concentration.
217 Posted 02/09/2018 at 11:09:12
I think Charlie would have made a massive difference yesterday. Not only being able to unlock them and get behind them but also giving other players space. And I think that therein lies the answer to the unbelievably premature criticism of Silva. He bought Charlie because he knows that he is the kind of player to do that.
Huddersfield are on a survival footing from the start and they really frustrate many home teams. We were poor but, unlike many here, I will reserve any real judgement of Silva until his acquisitions are playing and the defence is settled and has had a proper chance to assimilate his tactics. It was only a few games ago that Blackburn were putting 3 past us.
218 Posted 02/09/2018 at 11:25:26
Apart from Zouma, none of these players are his buys. Zouma was our best player. Richarlison was badly missed.
Bernard will hopefully get up to speed quickly, and I'm hoping Gomes gets fit and brings some much needed quality into central midfield. Digne and Mina will complement Zouma. Suddenly the team will look more like Silva's team, and hopefully they're players brought in because of their understanding of zonal marking and the attacking opportunities it can bring.
There will be no place for Davies or Calvert-Lewin, but I think Calvert-Lewin deserves a place on the bench and can see him deputising well for Tosun. I also have high hopes for Holgate. Dowell should go back out on loan.
I still have high hopes for an exciting season.
219 Posted 02/09/2018 at 11:33:42
Hopefully Mina, Bernard, and Gomes will finally be fit enough to play and along, with Digne, Zouma, and Richarlison over his suspension, we can at last see changes for the better and things will improve.
We all hoped with the run of relatively easier fixtures and all the new signings, we would have more points on the board than we actually have. But we are 7th and still unbeaten, even after playing most of two games with 10 men, and we still haven't seen our strongest side on the park.
So things are not as bad as some would have us believe. If things carry on like this when all our players are fit, including the new signings, then we can start to worry.
220 Posted 02/09/2018 at 11:38:24
Very sensible comments. The calamity of last season can't be corrected in the short period Silva has been in charge.
222 Posted 02/09/2018 at 11:59:01
Putting 2 on post and 1 on half-way leaves 7. 1 taking corner and 2 on half-way leaves 7. The other problem with zonal is a standing jump versus a player on the move.
223 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:00:48
224 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:02:10
He had that last season too, but the issue was some really poor finishing. Well, in the space of 4 days, Dominic has finished 3 chances very well and been rewarded with 3 goals. Very expensive, and ageing foreign players like Tosun meanwhile a never going to score in a million years.
Then I come onto ToffeeWeb, expecting to see praise for the young lad saving us a point. But no. Of course not. There's a horrible section of our fanbase who love nothing more than to berate and attack young English players. Very negative people who clearly take some twisted pleasure from this.
"Apparently Premier League standard". WTF? He is objectively the best striker in our team. Since the start of last season, he has 11 goals and 6 assists – not a single other player to pull on the Everton shirt in that time has managed that. Not one.
Sorry he isn't Marco Van fucking Basten! Dominic is coming along just fine. He's a player who scored goals and created assists, wins penalties (Lovren at Anfield last season, remember). The last player in the team that should be getting criticised here. Leave him be.
Edit: I refresh the page, and I see others calling for him to be loaned to the Championship. Jesus wept.
225 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:06:21
226 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:09:31
Let's start with the positives and yes there were a couple: Digne was my MotM, closely followed by Zouma. Both players brought in by Brands and Silva and we have already seen the impact that Richarlison has had. So the new players we have seen look a big improvement; if Mina, Gomes and Bernard are of the same quality, then we will have something to get excited about.
Yesterday was a team that 9 had been there last season, and sadly they performed as they did last season. I am really concerned that Seamus since that awful leg break seems to have lost a yard of pace, which was one of his strengths. I noticed against Southampton how he struggled defensively and the same yesterday. Let's hope he can in the coming weeks regain that lost pace, though with such a bad injury, I am not optimistic.
The midfield without Gana lacked that intensity he brings, and our midfield with Schneiderlin and Davies playing together just isn't strong enough. Hopefully Gomes and Bernard will add extra guile when fit.
My main worry has to be up front, that's 3 consecutive managers who have played Calvert-Lewin wide left – he is never a wide player. His goal was from a centre-forward's position on the 6-yard box, a nice glancing header from a smashing cross from Digne. Sadly, Walcott was not at his best yesterday and Huddersfield decided with no Richarlison he was the main threat and effectively double-marked him. Again, that just highlights what Richarlison brings to this team.
Finally to Cenk Tosun, lovely guy and he has embraced everything about the club since he arrived. He works hard but there are loads of guys who work hard, but a forward's stock is always judged by the number of goals he scores. I feel he has too many deficiencies to make him into the striker we need.
He lacks pace so you can't play the ball down the channels as the defender will always beat him to it. For the same reason, you can't play the ball over the top for him to chase. And yesterday quite often when we played the ball into his feet the defender beat him to it. I agree he has some nice touches when he gets on the ball, but you need more than that to play in a team trying to break into the top 6.
Finally, I would just say to my fellow match goers when was it okay to boo changes made by Silva 4 games into his tenure, and follow that with a section booing the players off at the end? Now I know like me they are entitled to do whatever they want – they pay their money. But we are supposed to be supporters and, believe me, we have got enough pundits willing to knock our team. As supporters, we are supposed to have an emotional attachment to the club — do we really think booing adds anything positive to that attachment? Whatever we think of the performance, there was no lack of effort or determination from the players.
I can understand the frustration at not winning a game we expected to win in a canter, I feel exactly the same. But we do need to try and change the atmosphere in Goodison Park. I have to say I have been going since 1956 and, apart from the cushion throwers in the 70s, the atmosphere is as bad as I can remember.
227 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:17:12
I've never liked this, back from when I was a kid and remember even the great Alan Ball (and a bit later even Howard Kendall, even though he'd pretty much single-handedly kept us in the 1st Division) being barracked by individuals in the crowd.
Apart from anything else, it seems illogical, since it's not going to make the player improve, and is likely to put him further off his game.
228 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:39:52
Brian (226) Agreed, I can recall crowds of 13,000 in the eighties giving far more vocal encouragement than the full houses we have had in the past couple of seasons. We are shamed by the fans of other clubs: Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Brighton, Spurs at White Hart Lane, Wolves, Bournemouth and Leicester are examples of teams which enjoy strong vocal support despite some of those clubs struggling at times.
I believe the atmosphere once the game kicks off is not helped by the excruciating din from the speakers both pre-match and during half-time. I imagine some people quite enjoy a bit of peace and quiet after having their ears bashed.
229 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:42:28
Again, a season out on loan would have been better for his development. We should have kept Mirallas and send Calvert-Lewin out on loan instead.
230 Posted 02/09/2018 at 12:43:04
You are joking ?
The past four Everton managers have had the chance to play him as the Number 9 but, for some reason, didn't Can you figure out why?
I do think it's a bit unfair playing him out wide all the time but that's only when we have a shortage in that position.
I think our front line is as toothless a front line that I have seen for many years. Tosun, Calvert-Lewin and Niasse would struggle to get into the starting 11 at most bottom-half Premier League teams.
We need a goal scorer in January or we will sink even lower than we where last season.
231 Posted 02/09/2018 at 13:46:50
232 Posted 02/09/2018 at 13:48:42
233 Posted 02/09/2018 at 14:12:57
234 Posted 02/09/2018 at 14:17:33
235 Posted 02/09/2018 at 14:19:37
I don't know why Baines came on. We should have gone with Dowell for Davies and tried to create more as Huddersfield sat further and further back. He's also capable of shooting from outside the box.
236 Posted 02/09/2018 at 14:24:53
That's what disappointed me yesterday.
Still, only four games in with better players to come in, or back. I want that purpose back against West Ham, though.
237 Posted 02/09/2018 at 14:38:46
John, regarding my midfield, we had Calvert-Lewin playing on the left yesterday, he's not a winger, he's a target man, against Huddersfield we should have put him beside Tosun. I know when Richarlison returns, we can play Tosun as the lone striker, because he can drift in from the wing.
238 Posted 02/09/2018 at 15:01:50
I agree, that was missing yesterday. Good day for us gambling wise though, by way of compensation. This Too Darn Hot has a good chance of winning a classic.
239 Posted 02/09/2018 at 15:20:14
243 Posted 02/09/2018 at 17:49:19
Now, if only we can get these injured players back quickly and Silva gets them all to concentrate and attack the ball when we defend set pieces.
245 Posted 02/09/2018 at 18:16:24
247 Posted 02/09/2018 at 19:50:01
249 Posted 02/09/2018 at 20:37:35
Clearly, Walcott was injured and a change had to be made. Lookman looked rusty but it seemed the right move. However, I don't really see what is to be gained by switching left backs.
If Baines was brought on because he is seen as better going forward, then he should have started against a team who were predictably very defensive. We were clearly lacking creativity so why not bring on Dowell?
I understand Niasse coming on. That is why he is still in the squad but Dowell and Niasse for Davies and Calvert-Lewin with Sigurdsson pulling out to the left would have made more sense to me.
250 Posted 02/09/2018 at 20:49:21
251 Posted 02/09/2018 at 21:02:19
I feel Silva is losing faith in him and won't be surprised to see him lose his place when our signings are fit. In truth, he has been an average player for us, including dead-ball situations.
252 Posted 02/09/2018 at 21:39:38
It is very early days in what promises to be a proper resurgence compared to the Dutch halfwit and the Spanish fraud's time in charge. We had 8 players out and have Mina, Bernard and Gomes to come in yet. After 3-4 seasons of dreading going the game there is an optimism about that was unthinkable last season.
For goodness sake, there needs to be some giving their heads a wobble. A 7-8th finish in a first season and a good cup run (possibly a trophy) would be a huge improvement. Finally, I am glad to have bought my season tickets for me and the missus, who got the point where she didn't want to go.
253 Posted 03/09/2018 at 02:02:08
In spite of witnessing a massive shake-up at the club in all areas, we are undoubtedly heading in the right direction. However, do not expect everything to fall into place overnight. We have a young squad, so the experience of Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Walcott and other senior players will prove invaluable both on match day and on the training ground.
It is folly to write off players at this time. We have a long season ahead. At last, the squad has rightly been pruned but, make no mistake, we will be needing all of the remaining players at our disposal for the coming campaign.
Patience is the keyword. Yes, we have waited and been starved of silverware for far too long, but I honestly believe that we are on the verge of building something special at Goodison Park — exciting, entertaining and successful.I have faith in Marco Silva. Let us pass judgement when all of his signings are fit and have been given sufficient playing time to adjust to the Premier League.
I would have liked Dowell to have played at least a part of Saturday's game; I have to confess to not seeing much of him as yet. But it was plain for all to see that creatively we lacked... perhaps he could have provided the spark to win the game. Hopefully, like others on the first team fringe, his time will no doubt come.
I'm glad Lookman stayed with the club, he has massive potential. Calvert-Lewin will develop into a first class centre forward. Older fans will recall that even the mighty Graeme Sharpe took 2-3 seasons after his arrival at the club to establish himself in the first team. These are intelligent skilful players, but please realise that they are only developing young boys, still learning their trade. The future looks brighter than it has done for an awful long time.
Some people are saying that we should have accumulated more points from the games played so far. Maybe so, but the fact is that even the very top teams will all drop points to lesser opposition. That's football. Remember last season when the magnificent Man City dropped points to a truly dreadful EFC!
I'm confident of a top six finish and good cup runs. The future is looking 'Shining-Silva-Ware'!
254 Posted 03/09/2018 at 02:26:36
255 Posted 03/09/2018 at 05:23:12
All gambling advice will be considered.
256 Posted 03/09/2018 at 09:23:48
You seem a decent lad. If it annoys you that much, I will leave it out.
257 Posted 03/09/2018 at 11:00:30
258 Posted 03/09/2018 at 11:01:26
To win at home against lesser, bus-parking teams, we need guile and creativity, like David Silva or Eden Hazard. On Saturday, we had none of it. Not even close.
We missed Richarlison's pace and directness. Nobody committed a Huddersfield defender hardly all match.
We will win matches at home through sheer endeavour, but the sooner Bernard (or Gomes) can influence this type of match, the better.
260 Posted 03/09/2018 at 13:45:30
261 Posted 03/09/2018 at 14:08:24
Surely, the aim in a transitional season is to lay the foundations to enable us to build towards that? So we would want to maintain last season's 8th and try to reclaim 7th. We can do this with the squad we have now, and probably without the new signings.
If we can close the gap enough on the top 5, and Arsenal stutter enough, then maybe we can overtake them with a bucket-load of luck.
262 Posted 03/09/2018 at 14:56:52
263 Posted 03/09/2018 at 15:16:52
I'm still concerned we'll be able to maintain last season's "foundations" of a 7th or 8th finish. I say that based on what I see as "mental strength" issues rather than playing ability. I believe we now have better players than last season but so do the other mid-table teams we will be up against.
I know it's early days, but based on what I've seen of Watford for example, we'll struggle to match teams like that, both mentally and physically for that matter!
264 Posted 03/09/2018 at 15:20:36
265 Posted 03/09/2018 at 15:50:09
I would have a decent wager we finish above Watford.
266 Posted 03/09/2018 at 15:56:50
However, can you remember when we last came back to win from being 1 down against a team of Tottenham's calibre? We never looked like doing it against Huddersfield yesterday, hence my concern and negativity at this stage!
267 Posted 03/09/2018 at 15:59:53
268 Posted 03/09/2018 at 16:08:28
269 Posted 03/09/2018 at 16:37:02
Other than that, what have the Romans ever done for us?!
270 Posted 03/09/2018 at 16:42:12
274 Posted 03/09/2018 at 19:13:05
276 Posted 03/09/2018 at 19:40:17
277 Posted 03/09/2018 at 20:41:05
Look, it was a poor performance. No one disputes that. And it was a disappointing one, given that we should absolutely be taking a full three points at home against Huddersfield, no questions asked.
But here's a radical thought - there are no sweeping, season-defining conclusions to be drawn from this one match. Just as, in spite of what some would have you believe, there are no definitive statements to be made about the Silva era, or the squad itself, or even any particular player, on the basis of this one match.
Also - those who are now acting like the transfer window was some sort of farce because Bernard, Mina and Gomes have missed the first few games of the season? Seriously? Give me a freakin' break here.
278 Posted 03/09/2018 at 22:04:39
279 Posted 03/09/2018 at 22:51:00
Playing in a stadium that's more like a morgue with lots of ghouls just ready to scream and shout at every mistake must make some of the players more than a bit nervous and edgy. The atmosphere was much better v Rotherham. I just wish we were playing WHU in a night match as the atmosphere is usually so much more positive before kick off.
On Saturday, my impression is that everyone sat back and just expected EFC to turn over Huddersfield – football's not like that until you have built a team over a number of seasons that terrifies teams like Huddersfield before they step out on to the pitch. It's what Man City have to a certain extent and what Liverpool are developing. We are beginning this process and I for one believe that this time it is going to come good. Three transfer windows should suffice and a good solid couple of seasons developing the team and how it plays.
Even Howard Kendall didn't get it right for a while and he was nearly pushed out the door by the impatience of the mob – thank god for Phillip Carter (RIP). I have faith and patience and so must those who want success so badly, just as I do. COYBs
280 Posted 03/09/2018 at 22:55:46
281 Posted 04/09/2018 at 00:22:47
282 Posted 05/09/2018 at 00:07:40
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