10 Feb 2022 09:26:13
In football you never take anything for granted but to see this great club closing in on relegation is not disappointing but infuriating!
Given our financial situation we should never have been in this position, but I believe poor leadership at the top has seen us stumble blindly into this predicament!
Defensively we have seen and highlighted the issues yet have failed to resolve them, RB Coleman aging ang although you see his heart is there his legs aren't, Keane has just got worse and Mina constant injuries, and Holgate! say no more.
So what will transpire as we near the end this season on a downward spiral, who can step up? They said there were 3 teams always worse however I am struggling to see that, we are constantly losing to teams below us that seem to have more fight!
Most of us remember that day we beat Wimbledon to stay up, we had warriors on the pitch that day what have we got now?

1.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 10:49:00
Remember that day wakka mate when we beat Wimbledon what a game, as for our present demeanour not looking good especially with Ben and Yerry out for a while, Frank will certainly do extremely well to keep us up, I think he will do it mate.

2.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 11:36:25
On present form we are in deep doodoo but that can change in an instant. We need to get our confidence back and we have the players that can become our next heroes

Ricky - might look miserable all game but works his socks off every game
DCL - out injured for too long but back soon and can get us the goals
Gray and Townsend - 2 (I didn't think I would say this when they were bought) inspired signings
Gordon - our scouser who puts his heart (and a lot of skill) on the line every game
Deli and DVB just joined us with points to prove
Pickford - turning out to be one of our leaders
Allan and Doucoure - get them fit and they can be our engine room
Patterson and Myky - out to prove why we bought them
Coleman - will run through walls (maybe a bit slower now) for Everton

We have the players, we have the supporters. We need the confidence. Let's do our part and roar then on Saturday.

3.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 12:10:11
Can’t do anymore than that bw mate, just hope it happens.

4.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 14:06:47
We need to remember we are not to big a club to go down.
Current form we’re right in the mix with relegation.
As posters have said there are very few players who are standing up and being counted when it matters.
Teams below and around us are showing more fight and desire than our team is.
I hope we improve and it’s early days for frank so hopefully will do.

However our defence is atrocious. Major issue there is no leader there, all too passive.

Coleman - great servant but not up to this level for 90 minutes anymore - why haven’t we seen Patterson yet?

Mina - best defender but made of glass and was terrible before injured against Newcastle.

Holgate - Jekyll and Hyde always gets booked, has ability as showed against Brentford but too inconsistent

Godfrey - brilliant and could be excellent, finally showing signs improving since the Rona, however now injured.

Keane - regressing and can’t say anything positive about him, what’s happened to him?

Mykolenko - needs time to bed in but could be great.

Branthwaite- looked a little lost against Newcastle but not surprising in that defence. Conversely was immense against Chelsea.

Hopefully Frank goes with Patterson, branthwaite, Godfrey when fit and Mykolenko going forward.

These are the players we need in the team all young and can develop together.

5.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 14:46:18
Controversial but I'd go with a back 4 of mykolenko Branthwaite gbamin Patterson. Allan donny in front of them. Richarlison alli Gordon with dcl up front.

6.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 16:03:20
Gbamin has done nothing to suggest he would make a good centre back. Can’t imagine he would want to make a tackle given his injury history.

7.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 16:22:11
I'd have Gbamin right back. In the stands ?.

8.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 16:33:42
Woburn on current form Michael Keane has done nothing to suggest he’d make a good centre back, also he has no injury record and still doesn’t make a tackle.

Would try gbamin over him - surely couldn’t be any worse?

9.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 16:59:23
Good point Gingerdan mate worth a try.

10.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 17:49:24
Not too big to go down perhaps, but I believe we have the ability to stay up. Assuming our horrendous fortune with injuries doesn’t continue. I’m not concerned, yet.

11.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 17:59:28
Keane has been poor for a while. He needs to know he's not a guaranteed starter. Some time on the bench may do him good.

Gbamin to be fair has had horrendous luck with injuries. He's not going to get any game time in midfield. He may just want to play and i may be wrong but wasnt he a defender before we signed him. Only my opinion but I can't think of anyone else to try.

12.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 18:33:27
I have a colleague from Germany when we signed Gbamin he raved about Gbamin and said he looked as good at CB as in midfield
Unfortunately we’ve not really seen him enough in either role to pass judgement but could be an option.

13.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 18:46:02
If we go down we go down, so long as we go down fighting! unfortunately for us we normally have relegation form in the second period of the season, check Ancelotti performance! But I think we will start to climb the table shortly as too many now have points to prove, i have a feeling something will tigger us to just click into place, my be one change then we will be a way up the table. I personally don’t think it’s time to start analysing every player! Giving them marks out of 10 What good does this do! We all know how each and every player how they performed! We don’t need this negativity now. Let’s get behind them, maybe we could do are bit by making the players feel better, if so happens they read the comments on this forum!

{Ed0666's Note - if you go down does Lampard deserve the sack?

14.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 18:50:45
So we’re in a relegation struggle and you think playing a midfielder-if that what he is- play in defence? None of you have really seen play, so he might actually not be any good. But hey let’s play him anyway.
Good grief I give up.

15.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 19:02:17
And that back line up idea is likely why you're not a professional football manager.

16.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 19:58:36
I am just saying it could be an option, only as I know from my colleague who supports Mainz said he played CB as well as DM and CM, so yes there is an option there
And to expand I would say the option would be more realistic if we continue to look at 3 at the back RCB of a back 3
He’s played the role before and they are transferable skills
This is all just chewing the fat with some fellow blues and a bit of banter
End of the day what we say counts for diddly and it’s Frank and his coaches that will need to make the tough calls.

17.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 20:03:09
Before we all bow to your superior knowledge Woburn you may want to check info on gbamin out as he’s a defensive midfielder who can also play at centreback or rightback.
None of us have seen much of him, however plenty of us have seen enough of Keane to realise he’s struggling.
If gbamin fit can’t see any harm in trying him as centreback as continuing with Keane on his current form seems madness.

18.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 20:16:33
Well we've tried Holgate, Keane all season and it hasn't worked. Mina and Godfrey are both out. Gbamin was highly rated cb before we signed him. If he's no good what other options are there.

Brownshoes I've never said I'm a professional football manager so f**k knows what your on about.

19.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 20:55:45
CB in the French league. Highly rated? By who?
The bloke can’t even get in our crappy midfield .
Tell you what DCL is good in the air and good at corners, let’s play him there.
We tried playing a winger at full back and look how that turned out. You put Gbamin in defence and he has a bad game and the poor lad will get slaughtered. That would do is already brittle confidence the world of good I’m sure.

20.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 20:22:04
Ed0666 in short no, he doesn't. 19 points from 20 games and Team in reverse. Frank needs 19 points from 17 games and those around us to slow down. Not looking good. Who is to blame? I say Rafa. I really wanted the bloke, thinking he was the Rafa of old but alas no. It is not to strong to say he did a job on us.

{Ed0666's Note - I disagree on both fronts. The reasons for my advocacy of Rafas time at Everton are well known but if you go down Lampard needs sacking because he had enough games, time and points to keep you up.

21.) 10 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022 20:55:50
Hands up those of us who are professional managers, Ed 666 don't even think about it ? ?.

{Ed0666's Note - You cheeky monkey ?

22.) 11 Feb 2022
11 Feb 2022 07:40:02
Assuming they are all fit would you want to leave any of Ricky, DCL, Gray and Gordon out of your starting 11? I wouldn’t and I don’t consider any of them as wing backs so I’m thinking that it has to be 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 with Allan and Donny making up the other 2 in midfield
That leaves the 4 at the back
Right back is a tough one for me. I understand Coleman has lost a bit of pace but I would probably start with him as Patterson has never been tried at this level so it would be a tough baptism for him
Left back has to be Mykolenko as he’s our only recognised left back (although Holgate and Brathwaite might also be considered) . Again, though he is a novice in the Premier league and will need constant talking to on what positions to take
With that in mind I’m going for Kean and Holgate in the centre. They both have issues with their confidence and rashness sometimes but they are both talkers and hopefully will respond to the challenge presented. Some people have mentioned Gbamin at CB. Unless Frank has tried him there in training and is happy he can do the job I wouldn’t take the risk
Whatever the formation, whatever the team let’s just get behind every single one of them. They need our help and support more than ever.

23.) 11 Feb 2022
11 Feb 2022 12:42:00
I think we need to see Patterson - whilst not been tested at premier league level, he is a full Scottish international and has played well for rangers. Not sure we can wait for the “right” game for him.

Leeds are a fast team and will look to exploit Coleman who has lost his speed. If they play balls in behind him he’ll struggle and will probably get booked for a clumsy challenge.

24.) 11 Feb 2022
11 Feb 2022 13:57:17
Of course we need to see Patterson Dan but in an ideal world I'd prefer starting with Seamus and bringing him on second half when we're 2-0 up or, god forbid, we need to go for the game. I think Patterson could be a better impact player coming on than Seamus but, at the end of the day it will be Frank's decision and I'm thankful it is his rather than ours.

25.) 11 Feb 2022
11 Feb 2022 14:01:12
Dan ??? agree. We need players for now, not tomorrow. As tomorrow it might be too late.

26.) 12 Feb 2022
12 Feb 2022 09:36:29
Dan/ Woburn

We need THE RIGHT players for now, not tomorrow. As tomorrow it might be too late.

Who they are will be down to Frank.

27.) 12 Feb 2022
12 Feb 2022 11:16:27
There is no way Frank will experiment with an un-used unproven injury prone Midfielder into vital position of a central back, if he does then I would be shocked
Don’t forget we have Ryan Ashley that will be on standby, a top top prospect in the back four positions
Good luck to Everton Today, I am confident we will get 3 points.

28.) 12 Feb 2022
12 Feb 2022 11:21:42
Gingerdan. What do you mean by “what’s happened to him” in regards to Michael Keane?