2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[catcherintherye]

But they didn't show patience did they? They sacked the manager after failing in the first year and then stopped failing. As an example it's about as bad as it get for what you're trying to suggest.

To play devils advocate here, but realtive to Chelsea (who are probaby the ther big takeover) City have been generally more patient than them. I actually think one of City's strengths has been they've got a decent balance between patience and ruthlessness, and starting with Hughes they have generally upgraded managers sensibly and at the right times.

I do agree though, there isn't really a comparison to what City did and what Everton did. If anything though, I'd argue it should make us more cautious.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Part of a midfield that has really struggled to compete. Take the Leicester game for example, there was 25 minutes in the second half where we had to camp on the edge of our 18 yard box.

Davies did fine in that match but in the same way you could say a Championship player did fine against much better players in an FA Cup game. I do think that part of the pitch is a huge problem for us right now, mainly because how passive we are in that area means James can barely get a kick of the ball.

It just seems odd to me that people are praising performances from our midfielders when we're being played off the park by the likes of Fulham.

Hes not a championship player. Thats just a daft throwaway remark with no basis. Hes outperformed Gomes and Sigurdsson by a considerable margin recently.

Hes the only player even trying to tackle and pass forward.

 

[BlueToff]

At least they have a discernable style, I suppose.

I'm not advocating we go back to a Moyes-type long diagonal punt forward and compete for the second ball, but I scratch my head and wonder exactly what Ancelotti's Evertons stamp is.

ffs, I've liked a Davek post again.

But agree, and I say that while taking on board all the issues with the squad, and also that I really know that Ancelotti is the best we can hope for right now and I don't want him gone or anything like that.

It'd just be nice to see some kind of attacking style. That doesn't even have to mean flair, I just want to look at our team and think: 'yep, if Digne can't create a chance, then we've got James, or if James can't get free, we've got two quick forwards to create space for him, or Doucoure will run with the ball' etc etc.

I don't think achieving that while retaining some defensive solidity should be beyond Ancelotti or the coaching staff.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

It wasn’t at the time, Hughes got sacked mid-season because they were in the bottom half and Mancini came in, from that moment they pretty much instantly got better and ended up missing out on Champions League by one game, the two seasons after that were improvements yet again. It didn’t take them 3 years to start building something at all.

I never said it took three years to START building something though. I said it took years to get to the level they're at and that's 100% true.

 

[Lanolin]

To play devils advocate here, but realtive to Chelsea (who are probaby the ther big takeover) City have been generally more patient than them. I actually think one of City's strengths has been they've got a decent balance between patience and ruthlessness, and starting with Hughes they have generally upgraded managers sensibly and at the right times.

I do agree though, there isn't really a comparison to what City did and what Everton did. If anything though, I'd argue it should make us more cautious.

Yeah I agree with that. I was being genuine not facetious, I just couldn't understand what point the comparison was meant to illustrate, because I don't see any similarity on any level.

 

[Jo3Fr3sh]

I don't get the Davies thing and never really have. People are too entrenched in their opinions.

The comment earlier about him only looking to pass backwards was some of the biggest nonsense I've read. If people have watched our performances in the last 3 weeks and think Davies is the main problem then I don't know what they've been watching. Certainly not the same games I've seen.

There is not outlet that links the CDM to the midfield and forwards. After Davies receives the ball it's like noman's land.

 

[MikeH72]

I never said it took three years to START building something though. I said it took years to get to the level they're at and that's 100% true.

But the level they’re at is league champions, of course you’re not going to go from 10th to league champions overnight, that isn’t what anyone is expecting from us at all. When we finished last season we were a mid table side and we’re still a mid table side, that’s not comparable to Man City going from 10th to 5th in the space of a year.

 

[ToffeeTim]

There is not outlet that links the CDM to the midfield and forwards. After Davies receives the ball it's like noman's land.

The minute we move Sigurdsson back to that pivot position we may as well give up. He is horrendous at picking it up deep and linking the play. He usually just rolls it back to the centre half and passes the buck.

Davies is very underrated at moving it forwards. Gomes and Sigurdsson are buck passers and I've very little time for that.

 

[BlueStevie35]

I completely agree.

Who can say they really enjoy watching this Everton team? Not many I'd venture.

I dunno I’ve quite enjoyed a good 70% of the season so far

 

[dannyboy]

Hes not a championship player. Thats just a daft throwaway remark with no basis. Hes outperformed Gomes and Sigurdsson by a considerable margin recently.

Hes the only player even trying to tackle and pass forward.

I'm saying these performances have been comparable to how a Championship player would approach an FA Cup tie against better opposition. Tidy enough in possession, got stuck in when required but not able to control and dictate the game.

He was absolutely brilliant against Spurs btw, just didn't see that in the other matches.

 

[Carlito]

Part of a midfield that has really struggled to compete. Take the Leicester game for example, there was 25 minutes in the second half where we had to camp on the edge of our 18 yard box.

Davies did fine in that match but in the same way you could say a Championship player did fine against much better players in an FA Cup game. I do think that part of the pitch is a huge problem for us right now, mainly because how passive we are in that area means James can barely get a kick of the ball.

It just seems odd to me that people are praising performances from our midfielders when we're being played off the park by the likes of Fulham.

I don't know how anyone rates any of the midfielders. They get walked through every single game.

 

[catcherintherye]

Yeah I agree with that. I was being genuine not facetious, I just couldn't understand what point the comparison was meant to illustrate, because I don't see any similarity on any level.

I don't think it came across you being facetious.

I wrote a long article on Moshiri's 5 years on the HP talking ostensibly about a comparison to City/Chelsea and in essence concluded, when you look at the amounts spent in real terms, there is no comparison to be made. While all 3 spend around 500m over 5 years, they spend a lot more net, but crucially with inflation in football being at what it is, it goes a lot further.

By different metrics they outspent the 2/3rd teams by around 2.5-4 times. For Chelsea thats United and Liverpool, for City it's Chelsea and United.

We have had a lot of money to spend, but the composition of the takeover is completely different to City or Chelsea. I am doutful given the figures involved now, and the regulation around football that you could ever have a takeover like either of those again.

What we have done is more akin to what say Leeds or Liverpool do at the end of the last century.

There are a lot of implications and discussions that flow from this, but it is an important point to note.

 

[dannyboy]

I don't know how anyone rates any of the midfielders. They get walked through every single game.

My thoughts exactly. It's difficult to put into words how bad that Fulham game was. Made even worse by the fact Burnley dominated them last night.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

But the level they’re at is league champions, of course you’re not going to go from 10th to league champions overnight, that isn’t what anyone is expecting from us at all. When we finished last season we were a mid table side and we’re still a mid table side, that’s not comparable to Man City going from 10th to 5th in the space of a year.

I only used Man City to show how things take time even with a perfect scenario. With us, we have to offload four previous managers leftovers while creating a new team. I don't know how people can expect instant improvement under those conditions.

 

[Goat]

I dunno I’ve quite enjoyed a good 70% of the season so far

We have had some good results this season.

The idea that all fans want entertaining is laughable, I've said it before, I don't watch Everton to be entertained, I watch them to see us win.

But you are only ever as good as your last match on here.