2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[TheBigIguana]

exactly it isn't the same, these are highly trained pros you barmpot, if i can do it on a cow field with lumps and bumps everywhere then them on carpets should be able to. Why do you think everyone gets so frustrated with Seamus? It is because crossing is an easy skill and he can't do it properly, it isn't rocket science.

You second point is very valid about the top talent wasting away on benches, squads have ruined the game for me as players would rather be on the bench at Madrid than try and elevate a team like Everton to compete.

I just think the speed of the game changes things. If these guys were standing around on an open field hitting crosses a lot of them could pick out the guy over and over but in a game at that level it doesn't look the same. That's what my point is.

 

[Blue_in_london]

Think we had our heaviest defeat in our history the way some have carried on lol

I think it's the bitter disappointment at blowing taking an 'easy' 3 points and closing the gap on the top 4.

But add that result to the direness that has been served up recently and it's easy to understand why people are so frustrated. If we started the season on current form we'd be in a big pile of poo.

 

[Terrarian]

I just think the speed of the game changes things. If these guys were standing around on an open field hitting crosses a lot of them could pick out the guy over and over but in a game at that level it doesn't look the same. That's what my point is.

Yeah of course speed makes things more difficult but speed isn't a new thing either, believe it or not the Prem is a bit slower and nowhere near as physical as the old first division and crossing is a skill any winger and full back should have in their locker.

Bolasie for instance if he could cross he'd be a good player because he can beat a man but he can't cross. i find it incredibly frustrating too watch I really do. But then they struggle with 5 yard passes so I guess a cross is a bit difficult.

 

[Lanolin]

I'll fell like I've made a reasonable case that performances, competitiveness and total points have improved this season compared to recent seasons. But here's another way of looking at it:

2019/20 after 29 games 37pts in 12th position & 6 points off 7th (assuming this is final Europa place)

2018/19 after 29 games 37pts in 10th position & 6 points off 7th (assuming this is final Europa place)

2017/18 after 29 games 34pts in 11th position & 6 points off 7th (assuming this is final Europa place)

In comparison with:

2020/21 after 29 games 47pts in 8th position & 2 points off 7th with a game in hand

Can you see the improvements this season compared to the previous 3. That improvement is reflected in position, points total and competitiveness (i.e. closeness to team in potential European qualification places).

Now to me that seems a pretty strong case and why I suggested it's people throwing their dummies out after any poor result. The challenge for any Everton manager is huge. Mainly because we've been a very poorly run club at every level on and off the pitch for a long time. No matter who the manager is and how much money you give him it's going to take time to turn around.

That doesn't absolve the manager from criticism or scrutiny. However, it has to be at least grounded in some sort of truth rather than what looks like a tantrum from a stroppy teenager. Too many fans want to wave a magic wand and for everything to be fixed. It doesn't work like that. Our absolute ceiling in the next 2-3 seasons is challenging for Top 4. That's if everything goes to plan and the squad and club is built well in that period. As it stands now it needs to be a club moving in the right direction, even if that direction of travel is slower than some wanted or hoped. It's hard to argue we aren't going in the right direction. My biggest concern is that some fans are too impatient to realise this.

I understand the point you're making, I just don't necessarily agree. We'll see at the end of the season, but right now I feel like we're going backwards (this season, not in general). Right at this moment I struggle to see us holding on to 8th, we just don't look capable of winning games, particularly at home. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact we were 2nd at Christmas. The start of the season was brilliant, but our form has been poor for a long, long time now. Obviously things can change, but if things carry on as they are I doubt we'll be much closer to 7th than we were over those seasons. There were a lot of questions about Silva in his first season and I'd be surprised if we blow that points total out of the water. 57/58 points compared to 54 is hardly earth shattering improvement, and people make out like Silva was utterly incompetent. On that basis I find it hard to argue that finishing in the same position with a couple more points - and an older team - is evidence of clear progress.

Our football has undoubtedly been worse than in Silva's first season for me, I don't even think it's close. There were some bad times that season, but when we were good we were really good, and I felt like I knew what we were trying to do. I've said before, I don't think our transfer business backs up the idea that this is a long term plan. We bought players to improve us in the short term. It was a gamble, and at the moment, it doesn't appear to be paying off. If we'd signed a load of under 25s then I'd be right behind you saying give it time, but we didn't. We've signed players who won't be helping us improve in 2-3 years, so if they don't kick us on in the short term it just hasn't worked. That doesn't mean we need to sack the manager or whatever, but personally I just don't see this definite improvement.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Yeah of course speed makes things more difficult but speed isn't a new thing either, believe it or not the Prem is a bit slower and nowhere near as physical as the old first division and crossing is a skill any winger and full back should have in their locker.

Bolasie for instance if he could cross he'd be a good player because he can beat a man but he can't cross. i find it incredibly frustrating too watch I really do. But then they struggle with 5 yard passes so I guess a cross is a bit difficult.

The game is not getting slower

 

[Terrarian]

The game is not getting slower

You mistake what I mean, the old first division was very very fast paced but a lot of kick and rush football, apart from the crappy back pass rule there was no playing it around the back four it got launched so the quality was nowhere near like it can be today but th excitement was a lot better. Also naturally gifted players were allowed to show there stuff and not always be expected to be a cog in the team.

 

[riddick]

I understand the point you're making, I just don't necessarily agree. We'll see at the end of the season, but right now I feel like we're going backwards (this season, not in general). Right at this moment I struggle to see us holding on to 8th, we just don't look capable of winning games, particularly at home. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact we were 2nd at Christmas. The start of the season was brilliant, but our form has been poor for a long, long time now. Obviously things can change, but if things carry on as they are I doubt we'll be much closer to 7th than we were over those seasons. There were a lot of questions about Silva in his first season and I'd be surprised if we blow that points total out of the water. 57/58 points compared to 54 is hardly earth shattering improvement, and people make out like Silva was utterly incompetent. On that basis I find it hard to argue that finishing in the same position with a couple more points - and an older team - is evidence of clear progress.

Our football has undoubtedly been worse than in Silva's first season for me, I don't even think it's close. There were some bad times that season, but when we were good we were really good, and I felt like I knew what we were trying to do. I've said before, I don't think our transfer business backs up the idea that this is a long term plan. We bought players to improve us in the short term. It was a gamble, and at the moment, it doesn't appear to be paying off. If we'd signed a load of under 25s then I'd be right behind you saying give it time, but we didn't. We've signed players who won't be helping us improve in 2-3 years, so if they don't kick us on in the short term it just hasn't worked. That doesn't mean we need to sack the manager or whatever, but personally I just don't see this definite improvement.

Yeah, but we've had what no other team in the league has had: injuries.

 

[TheBigIguana]

You mistake what I mean, the old first division was very very fast paced but a lot of kick and rush football, apart from the crappy back pass rule there was no playing it around the back four it got launched so the quality was nowhere near like it can be today but th excitement was a lot better.

I just mean the players move a lot faster now. Like if they ran a 100m the times would be quicker.

I don't disagree on the excitement part. The PL has some real duds nowadays, although for me it isn't the teams playing the ball that are boring as much as the Burnleys of the world. Of course the problem is what do those teams do when they're playing a team of players where everyone is well better than their best guy. And honestly some of the games between the top 6 stink because they just cancel each other and won't take risks. I really think the game would be a lot more fun with a dispersion of the talent.

 

[Jamalio Danubio DiCanio]

£20-£30m is peanuts.

No ones joining us to play some jarg Greek side in the Europa.

There’s a World Cup coming up and next seasons going to be a mess as well.

What's the current turnover? How much would 20-30M add as a percentage?

I'd be surprised if players don't view playing Europa league as a something attractive. Unless they have CL football on offer.

No idea why a World Cup is being mentioned and why next season will be a mess. The World Cup is in November 2022 so won't even be part of the 2021/22 season.

 

[Terrarian]

I just mean the players move a lot faster now. Like if they ran a 100m the times would be quicker.

I don't disagree on the excitement part. The PL has some real duds nowadays, although for me it isn't the teams playing the ball that are boring as much as the Burnleys of the world. Of course the problem is what do those teams do when they're playing a team of players where everyone is well better than their best guy. And honestly some of the games between the top 6 stink because they just cancel each other and won't take risks. I really think the game would be a lot more fun with a dispersion of the talent.

I honestly agree with you and again it's why the old first division was more exciting it was more competitive. The talent was shared around and little clubs had stars even. I find modern football very boring and overly tactical. Fans want excitement or at least we used too.

 

[Death]

Absolutely itching to get back to goodison Park to spew boil at the footballers is Mr Gwlady. Foaming. The boys would run through prick walls. Such a shame.

 

[Toast]

What's the current turnover? How much would 20-30M add as a percentage?

I'd be surprised if players don't view playing Europa league as a something attractive. Unless they have CL football on offer.

No idea why a World Cup is being mentioned and why next season will be a mess. The World Cup is in November 2022 so won't even be part of the 2021/22 season.

Having had a quick skeg at some old posts, I can see what your idea of a good manager is.
I think I will leave you to this mate..



“I'd rather take the risk on a unproven but promising manager like we did with Silva, Martinez and Moyes than go for the likes of Allardyce.

Eddie Howe looks the obvious candidate in the Premier League. Though I do wonder about David Wagner. The job he did at Huddersfield was brilliant despite them looking like relegation certainties at the moment.

Outside of the Premier League then Farke at Norwich is doing a very good job. In the Bundesliga I'd say Adits Hutter is doing a good job after winning a league previously with BSC Young Boys. Not sure there's anyone in Ligue 1 worth looking at. Quique Setien at Real Betis is an intriguing manager. Though at 60 it's probably not the right time for him to join the Premier League”

 

[Curtis]

Think we had our heaviest defeat in our history the way some have carried on lol

For me the most recent game doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's unfortunately symptomatic of underlying issues that have been plaguing us for the majority of the season. If we're playing generally well and this result occurred I'd deem it a fluke, but bottling games that we should win has become a defining trait. Including the fact we're on the verge of squandering a pivotal opportunity to evolve as a club is what makes it so maddening.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Absolutely itching to get back to goodison Park to spew boil at the footballers is Mr Gwlady. Foaming. The boys would run through prick walls. Such a shame.

 

[Bohemian Toffee]

Having had a quick skeg at some old posts, I can see what your idea of a good manager is.
I think I will leave you to this mate..



“I'd rather take the risk on a unproven but promising manager like we did with Silva, Martinez and Moyes than go for the likes of Allardyce.

Eddie Howe looks the obvious candidate in the Premier League. Though I do wonder about David Wagner. The job he did at Huddersfield was brilliant despite them looking like relegation certainties at the moment.

Outside of the Premier League then Farke at Norwich is doing a very good job. In the Bundesliga I'd say Adits Hutter is doing a good job after winning a league previously with BSC Young Boys. Not sure there's anyone in Ligue 1 worth looking at. Quique Setien at Real Betis is an intriguing manager. Though at 60 it's probably not the right time for him to join the Premier League”

Hoping he never tips me for success, this guy has the opposite of the Midas touch when picking out a manager.

Everything he touches turns to career death.