2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[BlueToff]

So Carlos is satisfied with the performance...said we could have won it...he is only disappointed with the result...no comments there but surely you can't be happy with our performance tonight unless you aspire to mediocrity. Lost for words at times with our manager.

He's satisfied with the performance because it's exactly the same as it was v West Ham.

It wasn't an awful performance today, it was just exactly what we've done away from home for the past few months. Similarly, the West Ham performance wasn't some wonderful display, it just did enough.

Yes, we played better in some of those games - Liverpool, Leicester etc off the top of my head, sure there's more - but defensively today we did exactly the same as we did v West Ham, Pickford didn't have a save to make.

We just can't attack. We are so slow, so clueless. And that has to be worked on yet we're seeing no evidence it is or, whatever they are working on clearly isn't working in practice.

We aren't a counter-attacking team and we can't control games. When we try to play attacking, we are wide open, but we still don't attack very well most of the time. The only time we've managed to combine them both recently was Spurs and two defensive mistakes still cost us and, tbf, they hit the post twice did they not too?

But back to today, we're one good chance being taken away from it mirroring the West Ham game. Ultimately though we didn't create it - you could maybe say the Dom one at the end but it was a tough one with how he had to get up.

I'm not defending it, we should be better because we have to be, but ultimately this the only way we can be set up and be remotely effective, which is shocking but true.

 

[ToffeeTim]

He's satisfied with the performance because it's exactly the same as it was v West Ham.

It wasn't an awful performance today, it was just exactly what we've done away from home for the past few months. Similarly, the West Ham performance wasn't some wonderful display, it just did enough.

Yes, we played better in some of those games - Liverpool, Leicester etc off the top of my head, sure there's more - but defensively today we did exactly the same as we did v West Ham, Pickford didn't have a save to make.

We just can't attack. We are so slow, so clueless. And that has to be worked on yet we're seeing no evidence it is or, whatever they are working on clearly isn't working in practice.

We aren't a counter-attacking team and we can't control games. When we try to play attacking, we are wide open, but we still don't attack very well most of the time. The only time we've managed to combine them both recently was Spurs and two defensive mistakes still cost us and, tbf, they hit the post twice did they not too?

But back to today, we're one good chance being taken away from it mirroring the West Ham game. Ultimately though we didn't create it - you could maybe say the Dom one at the end but it was a tough one with how he had to get up.

I'm not defending it, we should be better because we have to be, but ultimately this the only way we can be set up and be remotely effective, which is shocking but true.

We are laying the foundations to be a counter attack team. Ancelloti is never going to be someone fixated with possession or playing gung ho football. You can't be consistently good in this league if you concede loads of goals.

The problem isn't the game plan, the problem is a lack of quality. So many times one of our players had a chance to do something in attack and made a bad decision. These are top flight, experienced players. They have to take far more responsibility.

Better teams than us play with that game plan. The difference is they have quality and we didn't. They win 2 nil, but we draw nil nil. Some of that is due to players in poor form, but most of it is down to us needing better players than the ones we have. 3 or 4 players makes a big difference to us if we can find the right players. I have no doubts about the manager but big concerns about how we will recruit this summer.

 

[BlueToff]

We are laying the foundations to be a counter attack team. Ancelloti is never going to be someone fixated with possession or playing gung ho football. You can't be consistently good in this league if you concede loads of goals.

The problem isn't the game plan, the problem is a lack of quality. So many times one of our players had a chance to do something in attack and made a bad decision. These are top flight, experienced players. They have to take far more responsibility.

Better teams than us play with that game plan. The difference is they have quality and we didn't. They win 2 nil, but we draw nil nil. Some of that is due to players in poor form, but most of it is down to us needing better players than the ones we have. 3 or 4 players makes a big difference to us if we can find the right players. I have no doubts about the manager but big concerns about how we will recruit this summer.

I'm not sure we are Tim.

If we were doing that, then maybe we'd also have seen it more at home?

I don't honestly seeing us have laid the foundations to become anything as of late.

On the gameplan, I agree with you, in these away games the tactics have often been spot on. I don't think they were bad today, tbf.

But at home, the gameplans have been abysmal. Like, non-existent. That's ultimately what's cost us.

 

[Osamabindiesel]

I say we just go with the traditional midfield 3 as we did before Allan got injured. I know we are missing James, but that is when we were at our best. Don’t think there is need for 3 at the back with DOUCS and Allan available. Nor two strikers for that matter

 

[ToffeeTim]

I'm not sure we are Tim.

If we were doing that, then maybe we'd also have seen it more at home?

I don't honestly seeing us have laid the foundations to become anything as of late.

We beat Chelsea and Arsenal at home by being compact. But counter attacking isn't a plan that works against so called lesser teams who look to sit deep themselves. Those have been our worst games this season because we dont know how to break teams down without losing all our defensive discipline.

We are competitive against good teams and thats the main thing. You have something to work with. If we improve the players the football will get better. If we keep having to rely on Gomes, Sigurdsson, Iwobi etc, and have no creative alternative to James, then we won't get better.

 

[BlueToff]

We beat Chelsea and Arsenal at home by being compact. But counter attacking isn't a plan that works against so called lesser teams who look to sit deep themselves. Those have been our worst games this season because we dont know how to break teams down without losing all our defensive discipline.

We are competitive against good teams and thats the main thing. You have something to work with. If we improve the players the football will get better. If we keep having to rely on Gomes, Sigurdsson, Iwobi etc, and have no creative alternative to James, then we won't get better.

we did and that's all well and good, but the issues at home recently haven't been teams sitting deep, it's been teams outplaying us mate and waltzing through us.

Know we need better players but at this rate we need better from the boss. Have done for a while.

Let's hope for a positive performance and result on Sunday, with James back.

 

[luuk_deventer]

Could always blame the fact the players aren't good enough. Unless there are some incredible signings we will be in a similar position next season.

This is such a strange argument, to me.

What other manager is afforded such patience?We are to wait until he has bought almost a full team of players before we can judge him? This is Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best coaches there is. We must expect more, not less. His substitutions confuse me. The team don’t seem to have a clear style.

Yes the players have not been good enough, but I still believe he could and should have extracted more from them. Our squad needs improvement to reach the Champions League but it is more capable than it is presently showing, I believe that.

If Everton miss out on European football yet again, after this season where we have been given a real opportunity with so many top sides faltering, it will be so so disappointing.

We are definitely capable to pick up 9 points in our last 3 games, but even that may not be enough now. Once more the focus will switch to another summer.

 

[EverTheOptimist]

If Carlo wants to be a counter attacking team then him and Brands should be targetting players with pace in the Summer.

 

[Carloblues]

I just don't get the formation me or what we are trying to do.

5 defenders
2 centre mids who won't create anything as both are very defensive minded
An attacking midfielder who doesn't do anything other than fix his hair

And then two up top who don't seem to want to pass to each other and just left isolated all game.

I do get it's not the squad he wants and maybe he doesn't trust them to play a more expansive game, but I'm just not accepting this is the best we can come up with.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Im firmly in the Carlo must stay camp. But failure to qualify for europe, would be a big disappointment. In Carlo i continue to trust, but this season looks like, it's going to be a massive missed opportunity.

 

[Igrok]

What do they do in training and what are they getting paid for?

 

[jayden28]

Let's hope he signs players with pace because the football we play is dull as #### .

 

[dannyboy]

This is such a strange argument, to me.

What other manager is afforded such patience?We are to wait until he has bought almost a full team of players before we can judge him? This is Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best coaches there is. We must expect more, not less. His substitutions confuse me. The team don’t seem to have a clear style.

Yes the players have not been good enough, but I still believe he could and should have extracted more from them. Our squad needs improvement to reach the Champions League but it is more capable than it is presently showing, I believe that.

If Everton miss out on European football yet again, after this season where we have been given a real opportunity with so many top sides faltering, it will be so so disappointing.

We are definitely capable to pick up 9 points in our last 3 games, but even that may not be enough now. Once more the focus will switch to another summer.

7th best squad in the league finds itself in joint 7th place shocker. Go past the first 14 players and the lack of quality is there for all to see. When we look to the bench to change the game, it's Iwobi and King.

Why do you think Everton should be immune to the faltering the top sides have suffered from? What makes us better than them to deal with injuries, dips in form etc?

 

[John from Bootle]

What other manager is afforded such patience?

The frig is this?

He's had one full season and he's improved us.

This place fills me despair. Should we be losing patience?

This narrative some people are pushing needs to stop. I've not met one person in real life who thinks we've not improved.

It's disgusting behaviour from some people hiding behind anonymity.

He's literally achieved the objective of challenging for Europe that everybody wanted.

Well done Carlo. A good first full season.

Some of you lot need to hang your head in shame, or stop posting.

I'm actually embarrassed that hardly anybody is giving Carlo any credit for improving us. I've never been embarrassed to be a blue a before. Cheers for that. Muppets.

 

[Nymzee]

This is such a strange argument, to me.

What other manager is afforded such patience?We are to wait until he has bought almost a full team of players before we can judge him? This is Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best coaches there is. We must expect more, not less. His substitutions confuse me. The team don’t seem to have a clear style.

Yes the players have not been good enough, but I still believe he could and should have extracted more from them. Our squad needs improvement to reach the Champions League but it is more capable than it is presently showing, I believe that.

If Everton miss out on European football yet again, after this season where we have been given a real opportunity with so many top sides faltering, it will be so so disappointing.

We are definitely capable to pick up 9 points in our last 3 games, but even that may not be enough now. Once more the focus will switch to another summer.

You’re an Ajax fan. Sniff it with the “we” bollocks.

https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/everton-transfer-thread-summer-2020.109494/post-7758365