Everton Banter Archive March 04 2018

04 Mar 2018 20:17:45
As others have predicted always following a defeat (and haven't we had a lot of them) , someone or department at the Club tends to leak a supposed good news titbit. This latest is the Vardy story. Perhaps they would do better facing up to the reality that it is not the grass roots or coalface that needs changing but those working out the shift roster. At one time in this Country the buck always stopped at the top or those appointed at the top. The rot began to accelerate when those at the top reneged on their responsibilities.

04 Mar 2018
New image uploaded to the
Everton Player Sightings page entitled, I was depressed last night

04 Mar 2018 14:36:30
Should have been Sam 🍳.

04 Mar 2018 13:55:16
Just watching Brighton against Arsenal. Look at what width with natural widemen can do for you SAM. We have natural widemen at the Club but seem to concentrate on the right and on the left insist on playing Sigurdson out of position. Yesterday he Sigurdson through the middle was creating chances while on the left Martina had to do the job of CB's, FB and WB and bear in mind this bloke is not even a good RB. These decisions at FB and LW are baffling when we have Garbutt and yesterday Baines on the bench. How about playing 4 across the middle Bolasie, Sigurdson, Klassen, Walcott with Tosun as the target man. Gueye in front of a back 4 of Coleman Jags Holgate Baines/ Garbutt. 34 points Sam, come on man instead of smurking, grow a pair and go for it.

04 Mar 2018 14:39:20
Think Martina gets into those positions due to his lack of positional sense, and not by design. The bloke wouldn't even make a good sub.
Like your line up though. Would certainly provide pace, though don't see out of them who would do much defending. Saying that we don't defend now.

04 Mar 2018 13:00:19
Just to change tack a bit have a think about this. Is the age of the big number nine coming to an end?
It started with Barcelona all average height players who are quick and have good balance.
Now City have taken it on (same manager I know) but even those across the road are it has to be said playing good football with a small front line.
Now given the tradition we have with big number nines what are your thoughts.
Just trying to take your minds off yesterday guys, give us something else to talk about.

04 Mar 2018 13:13:39
It is good Woburn if there is a lot of pace and well drilled passing to compensate.
Where it does fall down a bit, and that lot across the road have suffered most, is breaking teams down that come to defend. That is when you need something different.
Maybe a 4 3 3 but with a big but skilful no 9 (like a Giroud) .
I'd dread to think what the neighbours would be like with Salah Mane and a Costa or Giroud as their front 3. Firminho for me is their weak link albeit not that weak.

For us though, we need to decide how we are going to play, and then work out which players if any we need.

04 Mar 2018 15:30:19
A big number nine should really come into their own on set pieces, and that is the main fault with having everyone at an average height. I can see more positives with todays footballing styles than negatives in using so called average height players but they all include the team buying into that play style.

04 Mar 2018 11:38:19
Lots of nativity on this page and around the club this weekend, even had an argument with my Dad yesterday over Everton and we never do that! Lots justified but now it’s seems to spread to the players who simply don't deserve it. Seen a handful of posts saying we should drop Pickford for Robles. are you kidding me!?!?!? The lad made some incredible saves yesterday and has done all season. He on many occasions has kept us in many games this year, yet he seems to be getting some stick.

Two centre backs were woeful yesterday but if you look at it what else could have really been picked? Muri hasn’t a competitive games in 18mounths, Jags is injured and Holgate (if we all take the blue tinted glasses off and the disappointment if their performances yesterday) is no better than Keane or Williams, only difference is he is young and will get better. Wouldn't have helped yesterday.

Bottom line is lads 2 very poor transfer windows have screwed us (on paper they looked good but christ they haven't worked out) and the people who run the club are being pushed about by a bloke who doesn't know football (don’t want rid of him by the way, just a statement) . Ed002 put it best with his post with three comments. 1, “The real issue is that the club (a) has a primary owner who is not a footballing guy but a businessman” 2, “SA has a job to do and he is not being helped by SW being in place - but he is a strong enough character to deal with it. His job this season was simply to get the club safe, and as stable as possible - and he is on course to do that, regardless of how pretty the football is - it was never going to turn around overnight” and 3, “Many of the fans are seemingly not prepared to get behind the club and give their support”

I understand there is a lot of hatred for SA but I keep backing him for one reason…… name a manager, that would take the role and do a better job than he is now? I have asked this question several times on this page, got loads of posts saying am wrong but not one person named a viable replacement. Prove me wrong (for gods sake, please someone prove me wrong) but at this moment in time he is the best option we have with the below average squad we have. Get behind the club, the players and the manager.

Rant over, 6 nations is back on next weekend so hopefully the rugby will give me something to smile about!

04 Mar 2018 12:48:57
do a better job than him? really, he is doing nothing for us, other than creating a lot of unrest with the fans and players, he stands on the touchline laughing when we are losing, he is only here for a quick buck, and take walsh with him, another who is getting money under false pretences.

04 Mar 2018 12:49:43
Don’t Chelsea, Arsenal and City have owners who are not footballing men?
Difference as I see it is they get managers who have a winning mentality. Not one who thinks a draw is a good result.
And apart from Arsenal, the other two make decisions quickly, hence if your not performing your out. Before anyone says that’s no way to run a football club, then count the trophys they have.
Your either a winner or a loser, and right now we are losers, because we have management that still thinks top six is a good season. Moshiri has to change the management in the club first, then the manager, and then the players who simply are not good enough.

04 Mar 2018 13:29:09
Marco Silva is available and would do a better job, plus would be a good long term option.

04 Mar 2018 13:33:54
It would be quicker to name the managers that would do a worse job than him. The decline in results is shameful.
What I see with Sam is, a player has to have half a dozen poor performances for them to be dropped, look at schneiderlin as an example.
I have seen holgate make a couple of big mistakes this season but I haven't seen him put as poor a performance in as those 2 yesterday.

Tosun looked good until he tired but he might have been like that for the last few weeks but we wouldn't know because he wasn't deemed good enough to get on the pitch.
I thinking you give him 3 or 4 starts the lad is going to show he his head and shoulders above our other strikers.
As for SW getting in Sam's way, wasn't it SW who got him the job? they are good friends along with Shakespeare.

04 Mar 2018 15:28:36
Fonseca all day long.

04 Mar 2018 15:40:45
Tiffa to take your last point first a Manager that would do a better job than SA is Dyche but apparently the Club did not even pick up the phone to him. As Ed002 says (much respect by the way does seem to know his stuff) we have an owner that is a business man not a footballing man. For me from the outside looking in, he (Mr Moshri) seems to be taking advice from the wrong people - perhaps the same people that have made a hash of it so far - he really does need to spend some cash on hiring a good footballing man as consultant, (Glenn Hoddle for me, the man is very knowledgeable, he has other irons in the fire but could advise us for a fee) next sideways push or get rid of the roadblock DoF. Tiffa I to was a supporter of Sam but enough is enough as soon as we are mathematically safe he has to go. Sam Alardyce stats are worse than Koeman's that is fact, his tactics and substitutions are bizarre.

04 Mar 2018 15:37:38
I am not going to get involved with this thread other to say good post Tiffa.

04 Mar 2018 18:41:53
Woeburn, Silva failed at Hull and failed at Watford (albeit using Everton as an excuse) .

04 Mar 2018 19:22:26
Don't think I mentioned Silva ducks.?

04 Mar 2018 19:37:30
whoops sorry Woburn. It is all getting to me now.

05 Mar 2018 08:36:21
I think we are harsh saying Silva failed at Hull and at Watford.

Don't want to get into an argument over it but Hull were virtually down before he took over and Watford, with a weaker squad on paper, are above us in the league, some of it down to the foundations built by Silva and taken over by the new manager.
It's hard to pick a manager who hasn't failed at some time
Dyche took Burnley down in 14/ 15
Did Guardiola fail last year at City
Is Conte failing now at Chelsea
Is Wenger a failure now
Klopp hasn't won anything



The point is we need to look for a young, improving manager who can develop us into a top 4 side in the next 3-4 years and get the fans back. No one has a perfect CV. They'll need a bit of luck and some patience from us all whether it be Fonseca, Dyche, Silva or ANO.

Unfortunately though my patience has run out with Big Sam and for the good of the club we need to change.

05 Mar 2018 09:42:42
Most importantly is to get a manager who understands Everton and can get the squad playing a brand of football befitting of EFC.
second most important thing for me is, as we have so many up and coming home grown players, I would like a manager who has a reputation for improving young players. If we can get that, imagine what we could achieve with all the promising youngsters at our club.

04 Mar 2018 10:44:50
Jesus now we're being linked with Vardy because Walsh wants him, really.
The guys 31 now. If this is Walsh's idea of scouting then we are doomed. I mean come on we all know Vardy is decent, but his career is only going to go in one direction now. And it ain't up.

04 Mar 2018 10:56:22
I’d put money on him scoring more goals in the next two years than Tosun, Niasse and DCL combined if he came though.

04 Mar 2018 12:34:38
windsor with the right support Tosun will score goals, I watched the guys movement and holdup play yesterday and honestly he is better than what we had/ have. Bizarre decision to take him off yesterday and Siguurdson if it comes to that.

04 Mar 2018 12:51:52
I repeat he is 31 now he will only decline, and like a lot of strikers once his pace has gone he will have nothing.

04 Mar 2018 15:40:36
I think when Tosun gets to the fitness level of the prem he could be a very dangerous player and as such will score a lot of goals for us.

04 Mar 2018 17:56:58
As regards Vardy, I am offering no judgment on whether we should sign him or not. In fact given our current performances I would have doubts about Messi's ability to make an impact. However, as regards his age, I read a while back that it is not so much a player's age as the demands that have been placed on him over a prolonged period. The article suggested 10 years give or take as the critical period for a striker. The article used Rooney as an example and was arguing that as Rooney had been in the highest class as a striker since he was 17, it was unlikely that he would be able to maintain his level of performance. Events have proved that to be the case. Physically Rooney is not the player he was.
In contrast Vardy is a late starter and the writer would argue that the relatively few years that he has had at the top mean that his 31 is not the same as Rooney's 31.

03 Mar 2018 21:44:41
ED002 - Your common sense and view on the shambles at our club or are expecting too mucg?

{Ed002's Note - The real issue is that the club (a) has a primary owner who is not a footballing guy but a businessman, (b) Moshiri has taken poor advice, initially perhaps from someone not entirely switched on to the English game, and then I understand from someone else, (c) having SW - a very, very good scouting guy - as Director of Football rains a fundamental problem as I have explained before. All of this adds to the lack of a chesive plan which should have been the starting point.

SA has a job to do and he is not being helped by SW being in place - but he is a strong enough character to deal with it. His job this season was simply to get the club safe, and as stable as possible - and he is on course to do that, regardless of how pretty the football is - it was never going to turn around overnight. Decisions then need to be taken for the summer but it would be unprofessional not to include SA in that process. If he is going to be replaced the club needs to be clear with him. The worst possible move would be a knee-jerk reaction change - it won't work in the long haul.

Many of the fans are seemingly not prepared to get behind the club and give their support - their previous toxic behaviour has already been at the cost of a relationship problem that has seen the board reluctant to share information - and quite rightly.

As for what I think will happen, I expect Walsh to say but a new management team to arrive in the summer.}

04 Mar 2018 11:15:00
Might be a ridiculous question Ed, but would Walsh be open to a move to the scouting dept. ?

{Ed002's Note - I would doubt it.}

04 Mar 2018 12:58:03
Ed002: as always, a well-informed, well-reasoned answer to the ottiginal post. It does seem that Mr Moshiri has not received adequate advice on footballing matters, so let’s hope he gets better advice from now on. As for the fans’ toxic behaviour, imho that is exacerbated by how easily social media is used to spread the vitriolic abuse. At least traditional media (pundits, journalists, etc. ) identify themselves when criticising.

{Ed002's Note - I am with you about social media Bobby.}

04 Mar 2018 13:39:32
Hi Ed. Wasn't it SW that wanted Sam in?
Surely they can work together, they're friends aren't they?
Also, if Sam can't work with a DOF surely that's going to affect his chances of being here next season.

{Ed002's Note - It was SW but the issue is that he isn’t a Director of Football.}

04 Mar 2018 19:26:15
Thanks Ed002 for the thoroughly detailed reply it is appreciated. It's a hugely important summer ahead for the club and a long term strategy to work towards improving a wonderful club. We all need to accept it's a write off season and support the players like we did v Leicester at home which was a positive atmosphere.

04 Mar 2018 06:16:18
{Ed's Note - Tris Burke has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 4th March 2018

04 Mar 2018 02:45:10
Another disappointing defeat - this time to Burnley who hadn't won for 12 games.
I thought the first half was even with our missed chances offset by some great saves by Pickford - 1-0 seemed fair to me. What happened at half time? - because another team came out for the second half, compounded by the strange substitutions of Tosun and Sigardson. In the end we got what we deserved.

What next. For me Big Sam just hasn't demonstrated that he has the talent/ ability to take us where we are now to the top four/ six. Let me be clear I don't think it would be possible during his current contract nor would it be possible for him over 3-4 years. He has to go for me.

When should he go?

If the rumours that we have a top manager such as the likes of Fonseca or Simeone lined up for next season then what do we do between now and the seasons end. 2 choices really - leave Sam in place or appoint another caretaker.

I think Sam has lost the players -Koeman and even Unsworth probably lost them as well and they need to take a long hard look at themselves - but Sam taking credit for the first half and then blaming the second half on the players and Sigardson not taking his chance just doesn't help. Personally I don't think he is solving the problem but is actually making it worse. I don't see a benefit in keeping him.

Who as caretaker? Would Unsworth really want it again - I'm not sure he would. Do we really want another unemployed such as Pullis? My own choice would be a partnership of Rooney and Ferguson. To be honest I'm not sure where exactly Rooney is on his coaching badges but together I think they could pull the squad together and get us to safety and provide a much needed boost to supporters,

If the rumours of a Fonseca/ Simeone are pure pie in the sky then I think we should go now for Marco Silva and get him in early to start the urgent task of rebuilding which will be made even more difficult with the World Cup this close season.

I've seen other post regarding Arteta and my heart is pulled towards him but I think it is extremely difficult to succeed in your first position as there is a learning curve. Having said that, a certain Pep Guardiola, only had Barcelon B experience before he took over the main job and it hasn't done him any harm.

{Ed0333's Note - If you could get Simeone that would be a real coup. I would be surprised if that happens because there would be a host of clubs ahead of you in the queue and will offer him more money. I know a lot of people think he’s one dimensional tactically but what he does he does bloody well. It’s like fighting a guy that will never give up and in the end you give up. You need a bit of that fighting spirit back at Everton.

04 Mar 2018 08:12:24
Your analysis of the match is spot-on BW. Likewise your description of our so-called manager Fireman Sam. The only thing he seems to be managing is turning us into a laughing stock. He's destroying the morale of the players and fans alike and he has to go.

Like Ed0333 says getting Simeone is a nice if fanciful idea. He is currently with a side who are not only in the Europa League but also in a position to push Barcelona all the way in La Liga for the title. I'm not saying we shouldn't be thinking of someone like him long term, far from it. And I would love it we got him. I just can't see it happening at the moment.

As for Rhino stepping in again I think he would do it in a heartbeat despite it not going his way last time. Yes he's a proud man but he's a Blue to his core and a combination of him Rooney and Big Dunc or him and Arteta taking over the reins on a temporary basis could work. Put it this way, they couldn't do much worse than Allardice.

04 Mar 2018 08:46:45
I said about Arteta, but in reality his training has been "total" football. Players in every position comfortable on the ball. We just don't have that sort of player in most positions so I would say it would not work.