Everton Banter Archive November 04 2018

04 Nov 2018 13:57:58
My assessment of yesterdays game now that I have had time to watch it again is that we are definitely improving as a whole, defensively and attacking wise, but there is still areas of improvement and I don't think it's time to start getting carried away. I've read through the posts from the past 24 hours and it seems after a good win, a lot of our fans are getting way ahead of themselves, i. e. "We'll be playing champions league football in 2 seasons". Why are you looking so far ahead when we are still very raw and a developing team at the minute? Appreciate the development now and stop heaping unwarranted pressure on the players and manager because it just sets us up for a fall when inflated expectations aren't met. I think that's the problem with our fans, last week Coleman was finished and it was same old Everton, now after beating Brighton he's back to his best and we're suddenly European contenders again. Manage your expectations. There's no denying there's been a lot to cheer about this season and what a relief that is after the abomination last season but we are still a bit away from being a top team in the league.

Having said that, we're going in the right direction. Pickford impressed again yesterday and proved his worth although i do think he had a part to play in Brighton's goal. I don't know whether it's just me because I had this debate with the fella who sits next to me at Goodison, but if a ball gets crossed into the six yard box, the keeper has to either come and punch it or catch it, and I felt Jordan was rooted to his line. Pickford can't be above criticism. Although I do think Zouma should have been stronger in the air and shared just as much accountability for the goal.

Keane looks a much improved player alongside Zouma, thought he was immense yesterday, and we look far more solid at the back than last season. Digne and Coleman gave their usual decent performances. Loved Coleman's celebration, there was so much passion and it showed that he listens to the criticism (unwarranted imo) and turns it into motivation.

Gana and Gomes seem to be forming a good relationship, with Gueye being the engine breaking up play and not giving opponents any time or space on the ball and Gomes keeps things ticking over whilst also carrying the team up the pich with his forward runs through the middle. Although once again our fans seem to be exaggerating his performances and labelling him as the messiah after 3 (what I would call) tidy performances, i. e. good on the ball, few mistakes but rarely any risks taken.

I can't praise Sigurdsson highly enough, he really is the main man in this team. I think everything we do well starts with him. His ability to find space, link up play and pick a killer ball is so refreshing to watch, he seems to make the right decision 95% of the time. Another pivotal part of his game yesterday was his hounding of the opponent, something which he seems to be doing a lot more of this season.

I thought Bernard and Walcott both had decent performances. Bernie had a lot of joy down his wing and seemed to combine well with Digne and Siggy, I believe with more games and fitness his best is still to come. Theo was very busy and put some lovely balls in the box that noone got on the end of frustratingly. My problem with him is that he only ever seems to perform well every 6 or so games and never seems to be able turn it on against the better teams, also he shirks his defensive duties which again showed yesterday as he didn't pick up the Brighton player who played the ball over for their goal from the short corner.

What more needs to be said about Richarlison that hasn't already? He's proving all the doubters wrong and giving his all for our club which is all you can ask for. Two excellently taken goals and a tireless performance meant he got my MOTM.

Overall, a great performance and signs of significant improvement. We have a great spine to this team now and some great characters within our setup. Clearly areas to improve on which i'm in no doubt Silva would have identified. I'm not expecting much from Stamford Bridge but if we go there with no fear and create chances like we have done for every game this season there's no reason why we can't get a shock result.

04 Nov 2018 15:14:07
Bitter you ask why our fans getting so far ahead of themselves and then answer the question yourself. We at last have something to cheer about. The club IS going in the right direction. We have been is despair and depression for a few seasons and now its just like the sun has come out after 3 years of rain. Then you go on about all the positives that we are also cheering about. Yes we are getting ahead of ourselves. because isn't that what being a supporter is? We want that Champions League spot or a trophy of some sorts but last season that was out of sight. Now we have the basis of a half decent team. The manager brought in 5 players that have improved our expectations beyond belief. Compare that with Koeman's and Martinez's signings. first five or last 5. I even agree with you about Pickford. His height is definately a problem. We need a big center half. One about 6ft 5inch should do it. that would compensate for Pickfords lack of height and also add to our attacking options at set pieces. Oh what abot Mina? Perhaps he is here for that (I say sarcasticly) . enjoy mate. Its an upwards curve on the graph now!

04 Nov 2018 16:00:22
Yes there has been positives degsy but it's not like we're pulling up trees this season. We're beating teams you'd expect us to and have faltered at the top 6 yet again, we're just back in the same position we were 2 seasons ago under Koeman's first year. This isn't me being negative because it's clear to see the path we're going down and are continually improving, but to say we'll be in the Champions League in 2 seasons is a bit much. Just enjoy the now and stop piling unnecessary expectations on the team, it's unhealthy, they will progress in their own time.

04 Nov 2018 18:45:28
It must be where we sit Bitter. I thought (first half) Bernard's ball control (when receiving) was a bit loose, granted he warmed up. Walcot improved but as you say no consistency, a confidence issue I think, when he first came he was a bigger fish but now he finds he has even bigger fish around him. That said I don't think people are getting carried away either. Most comments I have read and debated over 'refreshments', are that we have definitely improved and surprisingly quickly but we will have to wait two seasons before we see if we hold consistency and that for me means top 6. One thing is certain though this fella (Silva) knows his stuff.

04 Nov 2018 19:06:07
Pickford is exactly the same height as Neville Southall!

We should absolutely want to be in the Champions league EVERY season, in fact we should want to win EVERY trophy we are involved in. However, if we don't make it, accept it and recognise that the players have given their all.

It's this part we get wrong. Nothing is wrong with having high, even unrealistic expectations just don't be blind when we are trying all we can to achieve it.

The negativity last year was nothing to do with where we finished it was because we played bloody awful football.

This year we are playing like the Everton I know and as long as we give our all, like we are doing, then wherever we finish will be enough.

But I still want to win the league😁.

05 Nov 2018 09:06:31
I was being a bit sarcastic in my post above. BitterBlue, all I was saying is that we were on a downwards trend. We are now on an upwards trend. Last season I was so negative because I could honestly see us slipping into the Championship just like many other great clubs have dones so in recent years. Yet now I am looking up the league and not down. I am seeing we are only 3 points off 6th. And all this has happened with a weakened team through injuries and suspensions. Earlier in the season we were drawing with Wolves with Jags at cemter back. Baines was getting caught out. We never had Zouma, Gomez and Digne to consider because of injury. Mina and Bernard were also out. The 4 that have come into the team have played in the 4 wins out of 5 that we have just done. Mina will add height to the defence. something that was brought up re Pickfords vilnerablity on crosses. Even when we lost to Utd last week, we put up a great fight. To actually bring 3 or 4 players into a team is difficult. This manager has changed the team round in an amazing way in my view. Yes I may be getting ahead of myself, but I believe I know a bit about football. And I think we are closer to that top lot now than when we were under Martinez or Koeman. All his signings have looked quality. I could see Richarlison was quality before he joined us. but to pay 40 mill? He was lambasted by many for that. What a snip that deal was now in retrospect! This manager has it for me. He is calm. He knows his stuff. He wants to play football the Everton way. Sheesh guys. Enjoy the ride! He is taking us upwards. Champions League or trophy? maybe? But upwards is the way we are going. Luck and ref decisions will play a part. Injuries and suspensions too. But this squad is a million times better than what we have had the last 3 or 4 season. No disrespect meant to Jags, Baines, Bolasie, Lennon, Alcaraz, Kone, Barry, Eto, Williams, Martina and many others, but they are either people on their last legs or just don't have it. This manager has rejuvenated the squad with left sided players in their prime. Central players in their prime. Defenders in their prime. These were all things that I moaned and moaned about last season. Ask BJU how I moaned and moaned about it. Because I am a passionate Blue who wants the best. Nothing but the best. And I believe we are on the way to getting it again. Richarlison will be taken off us next season for £120 mill by Barcelona or Real. Of that I am sure. But we also now have breathing space to bring in some other kids rather than squeezing a last few games out of Jags and Barry and Baines. This is all stuff that should have happened 3 years ago. I moaned and moaned at the time. so please excuse me for now shouting and smiling and cheering all the time now. Thank you Everton FC for giving me expectations again. Champions League? Maybe? Hopes? definately!

04 Nov 2018 07:57:40
Was off line most of yesterday so my post about goals slipped down a couple of pages and like BILLCROCODILESTEARS says, I tell it how it is. but sometimes words on here can be misinterprated. I put up the stat that we have scored just 2 goals less than LFC and yet conceded 11 goals more. The reason was because some were saying we needed to be more clinical and score more. In fact we have scored as many as most of the top 4. We just keep conceding silly goals and in recent weeks have read comments about how brilliantly Keane and Zouma have been. In my view if you are conceding silly goals in the numbers that we are, the way to climb the league is not to expect us to score 4 or 5 every game, but to get 1 nil results and 2-1 wins. If we had done that in the games we drew 2 all or lost 2-1, we would indeed be higher in the table. That is a much simpler thing to do than try and build a team that scores 4 or 5 every game. Like someone else pointed out, we had 3 shots on target yesterday and scored 3 goals. In my view that's great. We also had a few off target and blocked. But we gave away another simple goal. I suspect our manager is no nitwit from what I have seen so far. I expect Mina may make a difference? I also expect that Silva will be in the transfer market again if the conceding continues. Silva vas made more difference to EFC in a positive way than any other manager in his first 11 games other than perhaps Moyes. and he has probably edged him. Before you all start saying this is a Moyes post. remember when he took over we were bottom 3. Next season we qualified for Champions League. If Silva continues growing us at this rate. I can see us in the Champions Leage in 2 seasons.

04 Nov 2018 08:21:20
Said it would take 2 seasons under this new setup. I am up for that. Just read on the news site that we may be in for Crystal Palace right back (my opinion think we need another LB as cover for Digne also) with Lookman going other way (pity if true) . Mina may indeed make a difference at the back, I believe the majority of us (including Eds) recognise we still have a weakness but also recognise that Silva knows this also. I also believe Silva and Brands are also up for further recruitment at CF and RW. The signs are though looking very positive. Finally that performance yesterday looked more like a Kendal 80's side to me rather than the Moyes era.

04 Nov 2018 08:33:52
I think we may find that Mina has been coached in the new style of football playing center halves. Like Stones, like Van Dyke, Like Harry McGuire etc. ie we will have some of our fans shouting at him as soon as he has not booted it up into the stands when under pressure. Some of our fans have to realise that the way to go is to have 11 footballers on the pitch. Not 9 with a burly center half and a goalkeeper who just boots it away. Look how well Pickford has set up goals this season. Remember how some fans used to shout at Stones for the odd mistake? I met a Liverpool fan in Turkey last week and we debated loads. He was moaning about Van Dyke saying he took too many risks as did the keeper! I just said, "look at the 2 top teams in the league". "look how many goals you have scored and more importantly how few you have conceded". Modern football is all about retaining possession for the right moment. Passing the ball all over the pitch. Yes there are times when just booting it away happen. The problem with British football is we got into the habit of doing it with the slightest little amount of pressure. I have a saying. there is a time and a place to play football. It is the 90 minutes and when you are on the pitch!

04 Nov 2018 09:07:55
The palace defender looks good and he's only young but wouldn't we be better off if we sign the loan players first. Good win yesterday nice to see Coleman back to his best but what's with Walcott?

04 Nov 2018 09:13:43
Good posts above degsy mate keep em coming, I see Moses looks like he is surplus to requirements at Chelsea he could help us out.

04 Nov 2018 09:37:39
I was at the game and thought Walcott played fairly well on an individual basis beating a few players in the first half hour. Problem is there didn’t seem to be any connection with him or others around him. Playing balls to people who weren’t making runs and making runs in the opposite direction to where the ball was played.

I thought Bernard had a bit of an off day as well. We looked more fluent and productive once DCL and Lookman were on with rocharlison out on the wing.

Thought Zouma had a really good game and Gana and Gomes were immense, but Keane still scares me at times. Too slow and ends up wrestling people in his own box for fear of them leaving him for dead. Disaster waiting to happen when VAR comes in.

04 Nov 2018 10:27:35
Thought the same about Walcot yesterday but was an improvement on his recent form. I said this before and saw it yesterday he and Coleman want the same bit of grass. Keane also improved this Season but yes he is slow and slow to turn, wouldn't surprise me if he is flat footed. Anyway if us base fans can see it I am absolutely Silva and his staff can. They are I believe already planned for Jan.

04 Nov 2018 11:38:53
There certainly seems to be an understanding going down the left and center. whereas down the right, Gomez, Gueye and Siggy seem to "avoid" interaction with Walcott. I agree with you all that Walcott has not been on top form but come on, he was a regular for England a couple of seasons ago and when he arrived looked awesome. I think it is a confidence issue and presumably the manager does too because otherwise he would have dropped him by now. If 38,000 can see it, I am sure Silva can. let's hope Walcotts next game continues his improvement. I suspect when he bags one goal, they will come just like buses do.

04 Nov 2018 11:51:49
Yes we gave away a silly goal yesterday but I would argue that we have have improved our defense considerably over the recent games verses the beginning of the season. Keane is much improved and he and Zouma are playing well together. I am sure Silva and coaching staff are working on this aspect and it will only get better as the players get used to each other and silva's playing.

04 Nov 2018 12:51:02
Actually the one that the ball seemed to bounce off particularly first half was Bernard. So both he and Walcot can have their off days. It is slowly coming good and to be honest we are further along than I thought at this stage. Mind you we will have some turnovers as well as us giving them this season. It is next we will (hopefully) start to see some dividends. Meanwhile let's enjoy the ride.

05 Nov 2018 13:33:27
Couldn’t be a harder time to get into too 4 - Man City a shoe in every year. Liverpool look good for next few years. Chelsea also back to being really strong. Leaves 17 teams after last place in my opinion. I just hope Spurs are spent up amfrom stadium. That squad is not good enoughwirg 3-4 injuries. Hopefully Abramovich clears off - no visa for UK and please let Jose stay and Man Utd next 10 years. I think we can close gap - need to start taking points from top 6 regularly though.

04 Nov 2018 07:29:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 4th November 2018