2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[Lanolin]

It’s an arbitrary cut off point. Wins “in 2021” is meaningless. Convenient to cut off December where we didn’t lose a league game.

Funny how you’ve picked up on his home record but not his away record. 7 wins from 11 games, btw. Best away record we’ve ever had in the premier league. Weird you didn’t mention that.

It’s not weird at all though is it? Did you actually read the post or were you just so excited to reply that it was too much hassle? The point made was that we had nothing to fear from any of our remaining games, I just mentioned the games I thought we did have something to fear from, because that was what was relevant. Do you follow yet? If you don’t like the 2021 bit, it’s fine, luckily for the hard of thinking the point works almost exactly the same using the entire season; we’ve lost 9 of 26 games against PL opposition - just over 1 in 3 - so the idea we have no reason to worry about any of our remaining games seems, as I said originally, massively optimistic.

 

[bicycleheader]

He’s actively indulging some of these players though, like Sigurdsson who he’s essentially made club captain and plays every game. People thinking Ancelotti is gonna rip this squad apart in the summer are in for a short sharp shock in my opinion.

as much an optimist as I am for what the coach is building.......that last sentence.....have to keep reminding myself that there is no sure thing with Everton. I can’t keep assuming we are going to see the continued squad rebuild that has me dreaming of a cracking 2nd season...they are perfectly capable of leaving us sitting wondering what the hell just happened when the transfer window shuts

 

[Brennan]

I don't think anybody is questioning stuff that Carlo has done well.

But it's fair to say we should be better at a fair bit of stuff that we're really, really crap at. That isn't good enough.

We know the players aren't great/consistent enough, but - less chances than Newcastle. You can't keep relying on moments all of the time. We need to start seeing some proper, sustained attacks. Some variety in our play. All that can be done without leaving us totally exposed at the back, mate. That isn't too much to ask.

Im not arguing against anything you’ve just posted mert.

I was pointing out that home record is a nonsense stat in Covid world as is proven by our unbelievable away record. 7 wins from 11 is unheard of. Closest we have ever got to that is 9 wins from 19.

Does that mean he should be lauded for it ? No, because it’s a one off season.

 

[Lapeno77]

Well dodged.

Again, who would you get in.

All those managers were clueless. Who isn’t clueless that would join us and propel us to our rightful success.

Personally I’m astounded we haven’t won the league with Tom Davies and Iwobi. It’s an outrage.

Well if I had dodged it so well, you wouldn't have noticed, but thank you for the sentiment, nonetheless.

I will however redirect you to my initial response. Its in Ancelloti's hands at the moment and looking for a replacement is a little reactionary.

 

[BlueToff]

I’ll put it to you another way

you have issues with certain parts of this season, have your own ideas how things should be done and have regularly stated that your way is right and Carlos is wrong on various topics.

why do you think he is doing what he is doing when he comes to these perceived failures.....and, do you think he will be doing the same things next season?

I'm not saying my way is 'right'. Carlo has forgot more about footy than I'll ever know.

But, what I am seeing with my eyes is backed up by facts. We have created the fourth lowest amount of chances in the league. That has hurt us in games like Newcastle and Fulham, as very recent examples.

A big part of that, imo, is that we are so reliant on one or two ways of attacking - and both of those ways rely on one player (usually Digne or James) to get everything spot on, and then one player (usually Dom) to be on the end of it.

It's not sustainable.

We need goals from elsewhere in the team. We need creativity from elsewhere. We've seen flashes, but not enough of it.

Why does Carlo keep insisting Doucoure plays right side of midfield, where he just ends up playing right back? When he's far better going forward than any of our other midfielders?

Why is his go-to when we're chasing a game to push Gylfi back, when it clearly doesn't work?

I don't see why you find it so baffling that I think our manager who has been here 14 months should have the team playing in a way that we create chances in a variety of ways rather than just crosses into the box? And a big factor in that is set-plays, and we don't win enough of them.

 

[ToffeeTim]

so one game their attitude is spot on and then a few days later they have magically developed a bad attitude ?

thats not how real life works, they are just inconsistent like the vast majority of footballers outside the elite

There is a mentality within the squad where you can coast through matches and that losing is no big deal. I'm sorry but the Fulham and Newcastle performances do not happen if we have a squad who are giving 100% and are fully committed. If you don't want to run and win loose balls then you haven't much chance in this league.

There were definitely times tonight where we could have been much braver with and without the ball. Players had opportunities to take responsibility and didn't. We only improve when we find better players who are more reliable.

 

[BlueToff]

Im not arguing against anything you’ve just posted mert.

I was pointing out that home record is a nonsense stat in Covid world as is proven by our unbelievable away record. 7 wins from 11 is unheard of. Closest we have ever got to that is 9 wins from 19.

Does that mean he should be lauded for it ? No, because it’s a one off season.

Dunno, I think the away form should be lauded and the home form criticised. They're both the same, really. There should be no reason for playing any differently in the games.

I just worry that we're very predictable going forward and I can't buy the injuries as an excuse now.

But, I also do think we'll go on another good run. I just fear it's not going to be enough to make the league campaign what it could have been.

 

[MikeH72]

as much an optimist as I am for what the coach is building.......that last sentence.....have to keep reminding myself that there is no sure thing with Everton. I can’t keep assuming we are going to see the continued squad rebuild that has me dreaming of a cracking 2nd season...they are perfectly capable of leaving us sitting wondering what the hell just happened when the transfer window shuts

I can say with absolute certainty that Sigurdsson, Gomes and Pickford will be seeing significant game time next season.

 

[miami]

I'd say it's fairly obvious that our style of play is just slightly less hated than one other team's approach by pundits and commentators alike, that team being spurs. Although I don't put much store in what they think, I'd say that we are the second worst team in the league to watch, and yes, even Burnley are more exciting to watch than our brand of dirge at the minute. At least they get the ball forward when they can.

It's not really tonight's game, it's the other winnable games where we are so negative. We are clueless going forward.

 

[bicycleheader]

I'm not saying my way is 'right'. Carlo has forgot more about footy than I'll ever know.

But, what I am seeing with my eyes is backed up by facts. We have created the fourth lowest amount of chances in the league. That has hurt us in games like Newcastle and Fulham, as very recent examples.

A big part of that, imo, is that we are so reliant on one or two ways of attacking - and both of those ways rely on one player (usually Digne or James) to get everything spot on, and then one player (usually Dom) to be on the end of it.

It's not sustainable.

We need goals from elsewhere in the team. We need creativity from elsewhere. We've seen flashes, but not enough of it.

Why does Carlo keep insisting Doucoure plays right side of midfield, where he just ends up playing right back? When he's far better going forward than any of our other midfielders?

Why is his go-to when we're chasing a game to push Gylfi back, when it clearly doesn't work?

I don't see why you find it so baffling that I think our manager who has been here 14 months should have the team playing in a way that we create chances in a variety of ways rather than just crosses into the box? And a big factor in that is set-plays, and we don't win enough of them.

Have a read back on loads of your posts, many of them read exactly like that. It’s not saying I think maybe he’s got it wrong there and it might’ve been better doing this or that....it is literally stuff like he got that totally wrong and he SHOULD be doing this. Reads to me like what I said. Lots of I’m right, Carlos wrong posts about

and the rest of the post doesn’t answer my question toff. Your main quibbles with him, why do you think he is doing what he is doing and do you think he will be doing it next season?

 

[ToffeeTim]

He’s actively indulging some of these players though, like Sigurdsson who he’s essentially made club captain and plays every game. People thinking Ancelotti is gonna rip this squad apart in the summer are in for a short sharp shock in my opinion.

Other teams are going to improve a lot this summer too. This was a massive chance to have a good season but its all coming apart before we've even got to the crunch.

I have no idea how the summer will go but if they dont back the manager properly then there was no point hiring him. I mean proper backing as well, not a couple of 20m players. We need 4 or 5 quality players who can compete physically. We have James and we can only carry one luxury player.

 

[bicycleheader]

I can say with absolute certainty that Sigurdsson, Gomes and Pickford will be seeing significant game time next season.

I’m hoping you are setting yourself up for a joyous surprise on at least some of that mike

 

[Egil Olsen]

Anyone who has played football knows that playing such ultra-defensive football over time without success causes you to lose motivation and become passive. For Burnley, it works, but even they play more offensively than us at times, and the rationale for doing so is understandable. Against the best teams, it is rational, and have really no complaints about how we played against City - although I disagree.

But we have done this over a long period of time, almost independently of the opponent. We are reactive, instead of proactive. Behind many of our positive results, we have actually been quite lucky. In terms of play, we have had a negative development, and that is worrying. Now it should be said that there have not been many matches under Ancelotti that have been excellent in terms of play, so maybe there is no regression to speak of.

I think it would be wise for Ancelotti to take a more attacking attitude, and in this way give the players a little more faith that this is possible. No major changes are needed, but move the team a little higher on the field, focus on duels and second balls, and play directly. Let them feel that they are in the match, and not just running between the opponents who play rondos with them. Let them not use binoculars to see opponents' goal. This is not a plan that works in the long run, but sometimes you have to go back to the basics. To then rebuild.

 

[Lanolin]

Have a read back on loads of your posts, many of them read exactly like that. It’s not saying I think maybe he’s got it wrong there and it might’ve been better doing this or that....it is literally stuff like he got that totally wrong and he SHOULD be doing this. Reads to me like what I said. Lots of I’m right, Carlos wrong posts about

and the rest of the post doesn’t answer my question toff. Your main quibbles with him, why do you think he is doing what he is doing and do you think he will be doing it next season?

Do we really have to write ‘in my opinion’ at the start of every sentence though? Is it not just implied by the fact we’re nobodies writing on the internet and not being paid £10m a year to manage in the PL? It seems a bit of a churlish thing to pull people on to be honest.

 

[blulouie]

But you counter that by having a system - a way of creating chances. That doesn't mean a formation, it means alternate ways of attacking.

We don't have that.

We're set plays or get it to Digne. Either relies on the ball being perfect.

The only exception is a moment of magic from James, or as we saw v Spurs, when we actually get runners into the area, but that leaves us wide open at the other end apparently.

It shouldn't be too much to expect the right balance, mate.

Everything you post just emphasises the lack of quality in the squad.

You can discuss tactics and systems all you want but if you dont have the quality players to come in then thats where we are at.

Btw we had 7 players in an around their box for our goal.
The rest of the time we are chasing them round the pitch.
Vast difference in quality.