Everton Banter Archive February 03 2018

03 Feb 2018 22:50:16
I find it very difficult to accept the following two scenarios - should they be the case of course!

First scenario being that today’s debacle, and I think I’m being extremely tame in saying that, was a case of him setting the team up to be ultra defensive, almost two banks of five, and hit them on the break. This clearly didn’t work because the players he selected were simply not good enough. We all have players that we bash constantly on here, some deservedly and some just differing opinions. But, can anyone honestly say that Schneiderlin deserves to even be in the squad, let alone a starting place? Same for Williams. How those two are even professional footballers is beyond me. We know Martina is a terrible right back, so he can be almost forgiven for being worse at left back. We buy a £27m striker and he has to sit on the bench behind poor old Oumar, who’s dreadful performance on Wednesday should have sent him straight back to the 23’s. I think what I’m trying to say is that this continuous selection of players - awful players, is continually bringing the same drab performances and bad results. Can Sam not see this? Substituting Wallcot so early was also a poor decision imo. How is he (SA) allowed to get away with this? If the above scenario is the case, he deserves to lose his job for his own performance, never mind blaming the players. If you pick crap players, your team will play crap. Simple.


The second scenario - Sam has been brought in to purely keep us in the premier League. Simple as that, although why give him such a long (ish) contract? By doing this, he has identified the games in which he thinks we don’t really have a chance of getting much out of it and will preserve the better team for games he knows (thinks) we’ll win. That would explain changing a winning team, a team which pressed high up the pitch and played well, taking off Wallcot and playing less than fit/ capable players. Is this what we deserve as a club? Some of us have paid a fortune to go down to London for this match and for it to be treated as a ‘dead rubber’ almost is an insult to the fans and the stature of our club. It’s certainly is not good enough and heads need to roll somewhere for it to be this bad.

Either way, things ain’t good at our great club. Something is seriously wrong for either of the above scenarios to be true and I’m starting to have serious concerns about the direction we are going in, and the hands that the club is in. We should be going to arsenal to scrap, to have a go and to try to win - end of. Regardless of our league position etc etc.

Finally, Tosun. Why do I get the feeling that we’ve bought another dud? An all too familiar pattern is emerging after we buy a player - they play one game, they get dropped to the bench, and than disappear completely (Sandro, Klaassen etc) . It is very worrying how this has happened yet again.

04 Feb 2018 00:41:04
We don't know if are new player's are bud because they can get on the field lookman scored the winner on loan bad management. good points made.

03 Feb 2018 22:03:19
Big Sam has come out and said we tried to copy Swansea!
Get this man out of our club sharpish and get someone in who can formulate his own plan to get a result.
6 million a year, he's bought about 20 staff with him and that is the best he can come up with.
We are absolutely doomed.
And then he blames the make shift team he cobbled together. FML.

04 Feb 2018 07:49:41
hope we copy Barcelona next week.

04 Feb 2018 09:55:25
Probably copy huddlefield next week.

03 Feb 2018 21:00:28
How doesn't Davies start is beyond me.

Davies > Schinderlian

Mike Bassett > Big Sam.

03 Feb 2018 21:20:23
Or perhaps our new £28million striker?

03 Feb 2018 21:30:15
Bertie Bassett > Big Sam.

{Ed025's Note - i suppose it takes all sorts.. :)

03 Feb 2018 22:19:08
I will hold my hands up and thought Davies was struggling this season, tonight he played his best game of the season, cannot fault his play tonight.

03 Feb 2018 22:25:53
I know Toffee I was wondering why he's not actually playing. His comment surprised me about Niasse. Totally bigged him up saying he never misses a shot in training. I think he's a super sub personally. Comes on scores but if he plays from the off he can't just seem to make them count.

03 Feb 2018 23:05:48
Baz we've all thought things about these players.

You know what the problem has been? Identity.

Arsenal play one way. Chelsea play one way. Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, spurs. All of them.

Sam tried to get us to play like Swansea. Let that sink in people.

When are we going to start playing like EVERTON!

{Ed0333's Note - when’s the last time Everton played like Everton mate? I was fortunate enough to watch, admire and appreciate the football that glorious Everton team played in the 80’s what a joy it was to see Mountfield, Southall, Sheedy, Reid etc etc but hand on heart it’s been a while since you’ve played very good football. You need a real overhaul at your club and I hope you can get back to the glory days. This will be good for the city of Liverpool and football.

04 Feb 2018 11:05:13
Times change ED and your football develops to whatever the belief of the mans phylosophy in charge is.

I hate this 'they done this so we'll try it as well'. That's not a good manager. He should have his way of playing, sticking to it and getting the players to deliver it. Even if it's long ball crap like Sam.

For me we chose completely the wrong manager. He couldn't and shouldn't change his style because that's what he knows.

We should have picked a manager that has similar beliefs to what we play like. Tough to beat and committed, use of width and the ability to attack with pace. A front man with loads of anger, cocky and an ability to hold the ball or knock on, not necessarily with 20 goals in him. Most of all a calm, arrogant mentality built through belief in the football we play.

We're so far away from being Everton right now.

{Ed0333's Note - absolutely 100% concur mate.

04 Feb 2018 09:06:49
To be fair Ed033, the team Moyes assembled just before he went was battering the opposition a lot of the time. We were constantly getting 70-80% possession and loads of shots in. We got to a couple of semi finals and a final and Pienaar/ Baines and Coleman/ Osman were the best wide partnerships at the time. but yes other than that period we have generally been dire. I don't see a problem with Big Sam myself like lots of other Blues. yes I think his team selection was a mistake last night. but it is still effectively Martinez/ Koeman's squad. With a couple of Moyes players all these years on. Perhaps we do need a new manager? But I would rather we secure our place in this division before we throw the baby out with the bathwater!

03 Feb 2018 20:36:20
Lookman scoring a lovely goal on his debut.

03 Feb 2018 21:10:26
Tends to do that.

03 Feb 2018 20:27:05
Fairly obvious from today's team selection that Sam has a massive incentive bonus weighed to keeping us up and he's already earmarked the games where he is going to pick a team to collect the points and vice versa If that isn't the case he should be sacked immediately on today's team selection.

03 Feb 2018 22:06:10
Good call that Bazshamrock. Also add into it that this is Sams last gig and quite possibly you could be on the right lines.

03 Feb 2018 20:19:13
Alladyce is a good talker. I was surprised a club of Everton's stature appointed him following his history but prepared to accept their decision.
We all know he isn't here for the long term and will never take the club forward. He is only in it for the payoff when the sack comes and he can take Walsh with him. In my eyes the main problems started with Walsh's appointment.
Better he goes now and give a new manager rest of the season to work with what he has got. Forget where we finish provided not in the bottom 3.

03 Feb 2018 22:02:43
We wanted Walsh the scout but apparently he (representative/ agent) stipulated DoF. I honestly believe that Mr Moshri is now beginning to see more of the wood and a root and branch (see what I did there) clearout will begin as soon as season ends. Hopefully we retain our premier league membership.

03 Feb 2018 20:01:59
The score line is not good for confidence, I don’t think 4-0 was a true reflection of first half. Yes we where poor and The goals have Arsenal confidence and started knocking it about. Defensively we looked poor. To concede from a set piece is suicide against them, if they open you up with football then fair enough. Then one was a deflection and another was offside.
I don’t agree with the lineup from the start thought best form of defence against them is attack as they are vulnerable.
This has done Sam no favours for his job or reputation.
The start of the game before they scored I thought promising when front line pressed high up, but as I said once they scored they gained in confidence.
We will probably go and beat Palace and be a big step towards safety but is it best to get a new manager in earlier to familiarise with team and players or wait until summer and have more options when others become available?

03 Feb 2018 20:22:43
Dyche - just signed new contract.
Rafa - yes please.
Howe - Risky and would be a lot bigger than he used to.
Conte -?
Silva - if he was the right man a few months ago?
Emery - maybe available in summer?
Koeman - only joking.

{Ed0333's Note - Marcelinho at Valencia?

03 Feb 2018 20:30:29
You are right 4-0 was not a true reflection 6 or 7 more like we were absolutely all over the place!
Second half better but they had taken their foot off the gas then!

03 Feb 2018 21:42:04
Paulo Fonseca. But always wearing a zorro mask. Every little helps!

03 Feb 2018 22:10:56
If the ambitions are as high as the players signing on believe then make Simone your number one target! Money talks, new ground, ambitious majority shareholder then make him an offer he can’t refuse even without champs league money talks I believe is the saying!

03 Feb 2018 19:41:18
The day I don't see Williams, Schniderlan, Martina and now Mangala as well (thought he was absolute Garbage at Man City) anywhere near this team the better. Could not believe he took Keane off. Jags and Keane were brilliant against Leicester! Bolaisse is in my opinion way over rated. Niasse shouldn't start. We send Lookman away and scores, won't play Vlasic cause he played one bad game (Schniderlan has played about 20 games poor) . Holgate has one bad one as well and won't get a look in. Apart from Gueye, Pickford, Keane, Walcott and Kenny the rest should be sold. Tonight was embarrassing, tonight was awful, Fireman Sam has no idea about football and team selections and he burnt us tonight with his team selection!

03 Feb 2018 20:11:53
made an error earlier spelt vlasic as vidic (couldn't we do with him in defence) . My bad.

{Ed0333's Note - Freudian slip?

03 Feb 2018 19:38:58
I want to say something rational. Something without hate. Not driven by anger. However, I think I'll let someone else do it.

Sam out now please.

03 Feb 2018 19:50:56
I agree, wtf is with the 3 at the back? Anytime we have played with 3 at the back in fact every time we have played with 3 at the back we have conceded an embarrassing amount of goals.
His tinkering with formations and starting lineups is ridiculous now and I don't think we look any better than when Ron was in charge.

03 Feb 2018 21:40:48
Haha spot on BJU.

03 Feb 2018 22:06:36
I think you and me say the same thing everytime we play this formation Bluegray . Its so frustrating that we make the same mistakes.

Brand new player and not done any serious training with the rest of the lads. I know let's play a formation that we're rubbish at and stick him in there for his first game. That'll work! Pure idiot!

03 Feb 2018 19:31:35
Funny thing is Allerdyce said Arsenals defence was weak.

03 Feb 2018 19:34:35
You know it was over before kick-off, by the team he put out.

03 Feb 2018 19:35:50
It was. Once they lost interest and we got a kick and strung a couple of passes together.

03 Feb 2018 19:26:36
NSNO doesn't seem to mean anything anymore. Allardyce must go and so should Steve Walsh. Wasted 4 transfer windows and picked Allardyce as his choice for a manager. The clubs going backwards fast and relegation is a real fear.

03 Feb 2018 20:09:02
I followed Alan Ball from Blackpool to Everton. I was 9. I have followed or supported Everton ever since. I have paid my pocket money, paper round money, earnings, to go home and away. Not living in Liverpool has meant every home game has been an away game from wherever I have lived. I have endured the wilderness years where we won nothing and were the almost team. I have been kicked, punched, beaten up, and even lost teeth whilst following my club. I have been ecstatic in our victorious years. I like other Evertonians have felt the hurt of defeat, but never have I felt the hurt of what is happening to our club now. In all my years of being an Evertonian I find it hard to remember a worse or embarrassing period. I know that Koeman was not given a fair crack, and for many not the guy for us. We looked, chased, and embarrassingly failed to land any top managers to replace him and, given our position in the league, despite plenty of time to recover, we panicked and now have a man who will never win anything other than the hatred of fans whose teams he leaves in a mess. I do not know who on the board is actually in charge. Whether it be Morishi is or not, or if he is allows himself to be guided by Kenwright and Walsh, but if he is in charge and it hurts him as much as it hurts us, then there is only one thing he can do, and if he does not know what that is, read what the fans are saying. Show your intentions for our club Mr Morishi. We love our club.

{Ed0333's Note - all I can say is I’m sorry mate. Your prose make true but sad reading and I hope there are positive changes at your club real soon. I’m pretty sure they won’t sack Sam just yet though.

03 Feb 2018 19:17:33
Lookman has just scored the winner in the 88th minute on his debut well done kid.

{Ed0333's Note - baffles me how you guys let Lookman go? Fair play to the kid for forcing a move to get game time. Such courage for one so young.

03 Feb 2018 19:26:46
from what the fraud said lookman demanded to go in reality he was probably told to go play some football.

03 Feb 2018 19:39:08
Your baffled Ed03333. What other Club in the Premier League (any League, anywhere actually) , do you know that can spend upwards of 140 million and make the Team worse. As for Lookman, Vidic etc! every time they have come on for Everton they have done well, Lookman in particular scared the heck out of defences with his direct running. Tonights score, expected by me. What master tactician sets up deep against a Team like Arsenal, they were literaly laughing at us. Players, Schneiderlin needs a rest and a couple of weeks in the U23's and those same U23's given a run out, they cannot do worse with 9 points required for safety.

{Ed0333's Note - I feel your pain mate don’t forget we had Roy Hodgson as our manager once upon a time. Things got so bad under that baboon I refused to watch games and was totally unaware who or when we were playing at times. Sam Allardyce is a sorry excuse for a coach/manager and for me what’s worse is after some of his misdameanours that your lot hired hiim, utterly disgraceful he should be no where near a dug out. I said the day you appointed him it would end in tears and I got lambasted for it. I don’t take pride in my prediction because anyone can see he’s a poor coach but questions have to be asked of Steve Walsh for advocating for such an inept guy. In my opinion Walsh has to go also. I’d rip it up and start again. It can’t be any worse than it is now.

03 Feb 2018 20:17:02
Agree Ed. another ridiculous decision.

03 Feb 2018 20:20:33
I have to agree and not reluctantly. Out of the choices we had (they all turned us down) we were left with Alardyce and I have to admit I defended him, but he is really as bad as the others we have had with his blinkered view. I actually believe that at last Mr Moshri has seen the light and there will be a root and branch clear out in the Summer but in order to drive it through he needs that .2 percent of shares.

03 Feb 2018 19:04:26
Fat Sam out.

03 Feb 2018 19:18:16
Well something has to change, this is just not acceptable.

03 Feb 2018 19:25:40
Especially after spending 240 million quid.

03 Feb 2018 19:30:46
I was not a Sam fan and thankfully haven’t seen tonight’s performance
I hope there is a shake up at the club for the summer, hopefully we make some overtures towards someone like Marcel Brands for DOF although I fear that was purely speculation in the press. I think Walsh is better suited to scouting for our future talent.
I know we are supposed to have spoken to Fonseca and his agent Mendes back in November so perhaps we looked at him as a summer appointment when he is out of contract as Shakhtar blocked the move.
Going to be a rocky ride for the next few months still my fellow blues.

03 Feb 2018 19:36:20
Our team tonight cost 20mil more t han there's?

03 Feb 2018 19:45:54
Not sure how accurate that is Ozil was 40 million and Aubameyang 60m. There's 100 just there. Still total crap today though.

03 Feb 2018 19:51:42
Cookie wow. That's crazy.

03 Feb 2018 19:03:05
Well done Everton. Just given Ramsey his first ever hat trick. I hope we lose 10-1 maybe then something will get sorted. Keep Walcott and Pickford. Rest can go utter rubbish we are.

03 Feb 2018 19:19:03
Totaly agree, its rotten to the core, bar a few, we lay down and die, no fight, no skill, no imagination, and it has been on the books for a while now, and no manager on earth can sort this mess out without a major revamp from cleaner upwards to the top.

{Ed0333's Note - the solace is you have a little money and will be an attractive proposition for a decent manager. I can’t help but think about what Ed’s 001 said when you were looking to replace Koeman. He suggested going for Dyche and I think in hindsight that would have been an excellent appointment

03 Feb 2018 20:49:57
Thought Dyche at the time but it would have taken an awful lot of dosh to get him and even then there would always be a doubt because of the fellas sincere loyalty to Burnley.

{Ed0333's Note - loyalty in football is a supremely rare commodity. I don’t think he will be at Burnley long regardless of the contract he’s just signed.

03 Feb 2018 18:56:35
Never felt so embarrassed to be an Evertonian watching this rubbish which Allardyce has sent out against Arsenal. We will never get any understandings / partnerships while he changes not only the team, but also the tactics every game? Apparently the soccer scientists have stated that most players can't play 2 games per week? Bull. being paid around £80,000 per week or more they should be made to play. After Wednesday night against Leicester I can maybe understand Seamus Coleman being rested after so long out, but not only does Allardyce change half of the back four. He changes the formation and also he completely cages the midfield ., . no Rooney no Sigurdson no Davies. SO ABSOLUTELY NO UNDERSTANDING OR COHESION. BUT PLENTY OF rubbish! Allardyce CANNOT STAY AS EVERTON MANAGE. He has brought Tom Davies on and just taken Theo Walcott (our only threat) off and replaced him with Calvert Lewes. and he has just scored. Far too many changes too often and he hasn't got a clue what the expectation is at such a great Club as ours, we have been brought up playing attractive football. always. Schneiderlin hasn't got a clue and should have been sold. We are in danger of free fall based on this performance. Just my opinion folks. always a Blue.

03 Feb 2018 18:48:26
Literally everyone has to go. Everyone. I can't keep watching this trash. We are trash.

03 Feb 2018 18:42:27
Siggy, Klassen, Lookma, Vlasic all flair players who would improve any team. So who do we play. Schneiderlin, Martina, Williams and Niasse. All grafters at best
We are a poor excuse for a club right now.

03 Feb 2018 18:37:12
Pay nearly 30m for a striker and then don't play him. Play a guy a left back who is useless, and send away one of your best young players. Blokes a total .

03 Feb 2018 18:33:39
Don't change a winning Team but if you do at least put a team out that wants to play for the Club. Ironically the only one trying in defence is the much maligned Martina. How many more chances is Schneiderlin going to get, he is absolutely hopeless. Just watch the bloke.

03 Feb 2018 18:24:20
I think it's time to stop all the moaning and get behind the manager. preferably with a cattle prod.

03 Feb 2018 18:25:45
Nice one Glennk.

03 Feb 2018 18:29:29
There is loyalty and blood stupidity. this man has not earned any loyalty at all from the squad to the fans. he's a joke.

03 Feb 2018 18:32:59
You will need a JCB mate, his wallet weighs a ton.

03 Feb 2018 18:18:24
I've kept quiet since allardyce took charge, but to me is and always was an egotistical fraud. Tactically as poor as any other manager we've had, team selection equally as random. Says that kids need to prove themselves and yet WHEN did Schneiderlin, Williams or Martina prove themselves such that they get a start. lookman, vilasic Sandro. these lads should have been nurtured and they have been thrown away. great inspiration for other youngsters we may have or buy. I said it when koeman was here. from the board to Steve Walsh they have all screwed up. Walsh and his cronies need throwing out on their arse!

03 Feb 2018 18:28:51
Spot on Jul. I have been saying this for a while now. Blone is average manager at best. Not for us.

03 Feb 2018 18:56:50
Absolutely gutted and so angry Woburn. I'd love to have 10minutes with the board to interrogate them with respect to every decision made since the summer transfer window.

03 Feb 2018 18:14:52
I can understand Seamus not playing if he's ill and I understand Mangala being drafted in but the rest? Why change a winning formula? I have tried to give Sam the benefit of the doubt so far but even I can't find any positives in this. If we aren't careful this could be a double digit defeat.

03 Feb 2018 18:21:43
Off Big Sam and Walsh scouting roles in Greenland. Silva or Howdy Doody as manager at this point.

03 Feb 2018 18:25:40
Further to the above; I didn't expect an easy game but hoped we could maybe nick a draw or a cheeky 1 goal win. This performance is unforgivable.

03 Feb 2018 18:11:41
Cant believe this all them changes new formation wing backs its a joke one change should be made coleman for kenny an keep same team its a joke the manger needs to repay every away fans ticket and travel disgusting poor.

03 Feb 2018 18:10:03
Embarrassing.
Simply ****ing embarrassing.

03 Feb 2018 17:56:04
Tactician my a@@e 3 at the back and 1 of them playin his first game WISE UP.

03 Feb 2018 17:52:11
20mins absolutely shocking! not just the score but the manor of our play, no leadership no cohesion, let's see what plan B is Sam? don't leave it to late!

03 Feb 2018 18:14:00
Plan B?
He hasn't got a plan A!

03 Feb 2018 17:28:38
so Sam says yesterday that Arsenals defence is their weak link and that's what we will try to expose then today he plays 7 defensive players can all the Sam lovers explain to me what the thinking is behind that because it again shows me the man is a joke.

03 Feb 2018 17:47:50
Load of good that did, 2-0 down after 13 minutes. Williams might have been a good player in his time but he is just not up to standard anymore and if any one wants to state I am being negative, yes I admit it.

{Ed0333's Note - This is a fans forum BlueMike venting is not being negative.

03 Feb 2018 17:51:15
Not a joke when we are already 2-0 down. I just do not get the man's thinking. I hammer this all the time, but it has proven true over years and years, you do not change a winning Team. We are currently 10th, better get those climbing spikes and icepicks ready.

03 Feb 2018 17:56:25
I'm baffled he still has his supporters we have to pray we get 40 points because either way he will go in the summer and he knows it so he isn't arsed.

03 Feb 2018 17:56:31
I’ve been saying give SA a chance, but I can not defend 5 changes from a winning team with both our most creative players benched. I’m lost for words. Martina left wing back?

03 Feb 2018 14:48:31
Blimey Ed 025 managers don't stay poor for very long mate, i see Koeman in on the verge of taking the Netherlands job, how the rich get richer.

{Ed025's Note - its always the way GB..

03 Feb 2018 10:56:34
Walcott 9/ 2 to score anytime with Ladbrokes. Lump on.

03 Feb 2018 17:09:37
Not with this team selection.

03 Feb 2018 06:35:47
The Lookman loan-transfer is interesting to me because it's revealed something about Everton fans' changing attitude to players and also how managers sometimes see things differently.

Older fans will remember two crowd favourites - Alex Young in the 1960s and Duncan McKenzie in the 1970s - both of whom were idolised by the fans, but who frustrated their Everton managers.

Of Young, the manager, Harry Catterick, stated that he was one of the most skilful of players, but bemoaned his lack of competitiveness, especially in the tough away fixtures when he failed to cope with the ruthless tackling of 1960s defenders.
As for the fans' hero-worship, there's a photograph of an Everton fan carrying a placard imploring the club to sack Catterick and keep Young when the former had dropped the latter from the team. Young was the "Golden Vision" to loyal Evertonians.

Regarding McKenzie, the manager, Gordon Lee, was never enamoured of "stars" and often preferred more workmanlike "team players" in his side. Conversely, the fans adored McKenzie's skill on the ball and would chant, "We all agree, Duncan McKenzie is magic! "

Moving onto more recent times, and we have Romeu Lukaku and Ross Barkley.
Lukaku was "admired" and "thanked" by our fans for his goal scoring feats, but his tenure at Everton wasn't as emotionally close to the fans as was that of Young or McKenzie.
As for Barkley, his time at Everton - and more-so his departure - has split the fanbase. On the one hand, he was "one of our own", and undoubtedly technically gifted, but on the other hand he would regularly draw the criticism (and anger) of many fans for his poor decision-making and ineffective play.

Then there's Lookman, I have no insight to his attitude or how he trains, but he's looked promising when he has played. I think it's fair to say that, like many young players, he needs to develop consistency and get a more-rounded understanding of first-team football - but that (obviously! ) only really comes from playing.
Personally, I'd have liked him to be a regular on the bench and get some playing time from there during the rest of PL season.
However, he strikes me as a young player in a hurry - someone who is not only ambitious, but also possibly too impatient in wanting to reach the top before he's actually ready. Time will tell on that.
I'm hoping that he does develop - personally and professionally - by spending time away in Leipzig and that Everton can successfully use him when he returns. I've little doubt that we're a stepping-stone in his plans to eventually play at an "elite" club (Real Madrid? ) , but I want Evertonians to enjoy his play for a few seasons before that.

03 Feb 2018 07:49:19
It is interesting that it was reported that he was homesick earlier in the season, but now he hauls himself off to Germany. Sam said he had the opportunity to go to Derby, maybe he had the attitude that going to Derby was a step back to his Charlton days, which if true does question his attitude and his decision making.
Let's hope not eh.

03 Feb 2018 09:05:26
I'm probably going to get a few thumbs down for this post, as a few people on here think that Lookman is the next Messi and should be starting every week. But the simple fact is, right now, he's nowhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe he has all of the qualities to get to the top, but for every quality player who gets there there's 10 Jack Rodwells.

I personally don't even think his performances this season have even been near Deulofeu's first season here. I just hope that his impatience isn't his undoing. If he hardly gets any game time in Germany, then he will have pretty much wasted 6 months.

03 Feb 2018 09:47:27
I am not sure that Lookman thinks he is something that he is not Blue Tommy, but you are 100% right that he is not first choice and has flattered to deceive when I have seen him. Yes he has obvious ability, pace and a decent shot on him. He will probably develop into a fine footballer at the highest level. but right now he is an aprentice and no more. He is easily closed down and inconsistent. Other more mature players offer more than him over 90 minutes. But as an impact sub he could be useful. I just hope that he goes away. learns a bit more and is happy to return to us as the fine footballer that we all want for 90 mins a game.

03 Feb 2018 14:05:03
My understanding is he is sulks when not picked and this then effects his training, which then leads to him not getting picked the following week. His inconsistency in training is down to his attitude. His attitude has a knock on effect to team morale. He is one of the players SA keeps referring to about certain players basically spitting there dummy out whilst others commit themselves accordingly ever time.
Maybe it’s down to the way other clubs have mollycoddled him due to him being such a young talent standing out in lower teams, the way these agents make them feel the most important person in the world with all there crap to keep the players happy and the agent financially well off.
But he is a talent, only young, obviously nieve and immature. Let’s hope he comes back a better more mature player.

03 Feb 2018 14:26:29
Well successive managers have certainly seen players and positions the total opposite from what we the majority see on match day. Schneiderlin not a glimmer of last season, yet is in far more times than benched, Williams inconsistent and again more times than benched. Martina consistently picked yet woeful in many fans eyes. Siguurdson a no 10 yet successive managers play him as a left winger. Conclusion has to be that these same players are doing something in training that influences, hence the disparity of view.

03 Feb 2018 14:31:48
Where do you guys get all this information about Lookman's attitude and sulking. I have only been privy to what I have seen on the field and that has been decidedly promising. I have not detected any attitudinal issues so I should be grateful if you would enlighten me.

03 Feb 2018 14:46:19
I am guessing there is a lot more to it than what successive managers have seen in training too ducksflysouth. The fact we have only 1 left footer in the squad. that's why Martina has been consistantly picked at left back. Add in no center forward for the 1st half of the season. The fact we had 5 number 10 potential players. We also had 3 or 4 kids in most games so a bit of experience like Schneiderlin may have been thought necessary by the 2 managers. Niggling injuries . and as you say maybe bad attitude in training. or even an inability to carry out basic tasks in training. eg if the coach says we are needing to play a high pressing game . and then in training, a player just can't cope with the system, then perhaps he is not picked for that game. There are lots of reasons as to why certain players are in or out of the squad, but yes training is one of the ways a manager evaluates a player and his ability to perform the following Saturday.

03 Feb 2018 03:35:56
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Premier League Match Preview Saturday 3rd February 2018