2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[BlueToff]

He isn't fully fit.

He come on 56th minute, did we improve?

We had somebody running with the ball, so yes.we were still crap, but our one decent bit of play came from him getting into the box and really he should have stayed onside

It’s about balance. I’d have seen Iwobi in there if needs be. You can’t play five central midfielders.

King had a week of training, has pace and a bit of drive. Surely playing a more balanced 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 would have been better than shoehorning a load of slow midfielders into one area of the pitch and leaving Richarlison totally isolated?

 

[hktoffee]

I don't think Sigurdsson was 'in the middle' yesterday.

He was pretty much upfront.

It was as though Richarlison, Sigurdsson and Rodriguez were told just to do whatever they wanted up top.

Gomes and Davies were in the middle, Doucoure seemed to be in the middle/covering the right.

False 9 in the beginning then don’t know what his position really was when Richy went up front. Doucouré went on to the right to cover James/Coleman and spent less time in the middle.

 

[Papa Shango]

Godfrey/Holgate should be enough against Fulham.

An inexperienced pair who have never played at centre back together is never going to be enough against any top flight side.

To make it worse, because we played like crap we were relying in set pieces to score and we chose to not start our two set piece threats.

 

[catcherintherye]

Yes and no. It depends on the situation, but they have different pressure patterns. These are very effective. They also have a far more vertical approach than us when they win the ball, and when they lose the ball they press immediately.

There are many ways to win matches, and each team must find its identity. Based on the players they have available.

From what I've seen of both, they don't play a particularly high line. Thats not based on any data, just having watched both play.

 

[BlueToff]

Think Carlo knows Coleman is a spent force. It’s little wonder Fulham targeted that right hand side from the first minute think that’s why Carlo put Doucoure out there to help him out, he was gassed though Doucs.

It’s a complete waste of Doucoure, though

 

[hktoffee]

An inexperienced pair who have never played at centre back together is never going to be enough against any top flight side.

To make it worse, because we played like crap we were relying in set pieces to score and we chose to not start our two set piece threats.

Will just keep Godfrey, Mina, Keane and Digne as the backline and won’t change it. If we decide 4cb in the best way to keep clean sheet then push Digne forward.

 

[ForestBlue]

Noticeable how many seemingly without any thought just passed it backwards when they got the ball, even when in space. Then motioned with their arms that there was nothing on ahead of them. I don't think they even looked ahead most of the time!

 

[Papa Shango]

Will just keep Godfrey, Mina, Keane and Digne as the backline and won’t change it. If we decide 4cb in the best way to keep clean sheet then push Digne forward.

Works for me. I really don't like changing centre backs around. It's especially bad right now as we are changing the keeper around too. In the past few weeks we have had the centre backs passing the ball to Olsen's left foot (he is right footed) basic things like that which only get sorted with regular playing time together.

 

[Jim Hopper]

It’s a complete waste of Doucoure, though

It is. The whole right hand side has needed sorting for a years now. With Coleman getting on and James incapable of getting back to help out it should be priority this summer.

 

[hktoffee]

Works for me. I really don't like changing centre backs around. It's especially bad right now as we are changing the keeper around too. In the past few weeks we have had the centre backs passing the ball to Olsen's left foot (he is right footed) basic things like that which only get sorted with regular playing time together.

Me either mate. Don’t see why we should change a backline which won us games and keeping clean sheets. The changes must be minimal unless there are injuries.

 

[Little Ralphy]

I mean I think this is a little harsh, but I'm surprised after Newcastle we made the same mistake again.

In all fairness though, it's not even just those two games.

All at home
Fulham
Newcastle
Rotherham
West Ham
Leeds

It's like they've got progressively worse in games that we expect them to win. Granted he's had to chop and change, but I really do hope that come the end of the season, the gutless wonders are somehow forced out and replaced with players with a bit of pride at the very least. The lack of pace and energy is outstanding. I'd rather see him give some kids a run out that see sigurdsson and gomes starting games.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

An inexperienced pair who have never played at centre back together is never going to be enough against any top flight side.

To make it worse, because we played like crap we were relying in set pieces to score and we chose to not start our two set piece threats.

They're 23 and 24. They're not academy boys.

This is Mason Holgate's 5th season playing in 'the top flight' - our fans and players player last season.

We've just paid 20 odd million for Godfrey, who is coming up to his 50th appearance in 'the top flight' - he made 30 premier league games for Norwich.

I'll repeat my comment that if both aren't to the standard to play against Fulham in their preferred positions then we should pack their bags now.

Sure, he could have played Mina and Keane - but that's not why Everton played so abysmally yesterday.

We also scored 10 goals in the previous 3 games before yesterday - we never should be going into playing Fulham at home with "keep the big fellas on - we'll only get a sniff of a chance of a set piece"

 

[Jim Hopper]

All the talk of the back four changes etc... our problems are much bigger than that. The lack of movement and cohesion getting the ball from our own half to the oppositions is the biggest concern for me against the crap sides. Fulham won’t have had an easier game to defend against and that’s a major concern.

 

[catcherintherye]

In all fairness though, it's not even just those two games.

All at home
Fulham
Newcastle
Rotherham
West Ham
Leeds

It's like they've got progressively worse in games that we expect them to win. Granted he's had to chop and change, but I really do hope that come the end of the season, the gutless wonders are somehow forced out and replaced with players with a bit of pride at the very least. The lack of pace and energy is outstanding. I'd rather see him give some kids a run out that see sigurdsson and gomes starting games.

Yes. I mean you can't make a defence of whats happening in certain home games for us. As you say, in the middle of this are home wins against Arsenal & Chelsea, and a draw with Leicester. So it's hard to make any sense of it.

My gut feeling, and it's no more, if we think we are better than what we are, change our game plan and get found out.

 

[neil999]

I feel like the overall IQ of the forum is lower these days....