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Everton the season so far...

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Living the dream early and loving it. Smack down to earth now and see nothing but struggles here on out after the Burnley result. We are out of step. I hope youth challenge some of our players who seem to be on the teamsheet week in and week out and give a ho hum display. It will be interesting to see we're we are after the busy festive season.
 
Can we stop saying James doesn't work hard? It's completely false. I know we like to pick holes in our good players instead of blaming the bad ones for our struggles but he's doing his job. We are conceding goals because those most responsible for stopping teams from scoring aren't doing there jobs.
 
TheBigIguana said:
Can we stop saying James doesn't work hard? It's completely false. I know we like to pick holes in our good players instead of blaming the bad ones for our struggles but he's doing his job. We are conceding goals because those most responsible for stopping teams from scoring aren't doing there jobs.
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He really ought to be covering his defence more - all he does is hang around the mid field and attacking third, anyone can see that. Rich on the other hand can be found on most blades of grass the pitch over. Bruno Fernandes is a better player than James, even though I don't like his penalty nonsense he is tenacious and gutsy and has the skills to match
 
toffeepie1878 said:
He really ought to be covering his defence more - all he does is hang around the mid field and attacking third, anyone can see that. Rich on the other hand can be found on most blades of grass the pitch over. Bruno Fernandes is a better player than James, even though I don't like his penalty nonsense he is tenacious and gutsy and has the skills to match
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Richarlison hasn't covered fullbacks overlapping multiple times since he returned.
 

TheBigIguana said:
Can we stop saying James doesn't work hard? It's completely false. I know we like to pick holes in our good players instead of blaming the bad ones for our struggles but he's doing his job. We are conceding goals because those most responsible for stopping teams from scoring aren't doing there jobs.
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He’s not lazy, but with so many injuries and lay offs his body can only take so much workload. He has no option but to conserve energy, otherwise he’d break down again. He’s 29, but physically he’s about 33. This is why he is on the shortened contract he’s on, and it’s why he’s here and not plying his trade at a CL club.

Defensively the others have to be his legs. If he started running back he then wouldn’t be able to get forward...he’d be missing in the attacking third where he does the most damage. It’s not ideal, and against top attacking sides there is an extra vulnerability with one man less to defend, but it’s the only option if you are to play him. Run him ragged and he becomes useless.
 
TheBigIguana said:
Can we stop saying James doesn't work hard? It's completely false. I know we like to pick holes in our good players instead of blaming the bad ones for our struggles but he's doing his job. We are conceding goals because those most responsible for stopping teams from scoring aren't doing there jobs.
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Its a lazy thing people say because it fits their idea of James being this ultra-pampered luxury player who must have serious flaws to be at plucky little Everton.
 
Zezti said:
Its a lazy thing people say because it fits their idea of James being this ultra-pampered luxury player who must have serious flaws to be at plucky little Everton.
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Agreed, but maybe our fans who are supposed to watch him play would stop saying it?
 

Things have gone pretty much how I expected them to after our good start; the decline just happened a little quicker than I anticipated it would. I'm sticking with my pre-season prediction of a 9th place or lower finish for us.
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johnjoeefc said:
I disagree with this. If you compare player for player with the likes of leicester or wolves I would say we have a better squad than those. Or at the worst equal.

The difference being they always know exactly how to play and what they have to do. We genuinely look like we dont know what to do half the time.

I think it's clear to see that ancelottis strengths arent winning games where he has to outwit a fellow manager. I think his strengths are getting a team far superior to their opponents to play at their best. Everton arent at that level and that's why they are struggling and will continue to do unless if serious investment is made in the playing staff.

In the mean time maybe it could be an idea for him to take a backward seat and give big Duncan the reigns until the team has world class stars throughout it and then he can do his thing.
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Couldn't be more wrong here imo, you're blaming the best asset we have because you're over hyping the players like the original poster has said our fans do. Who's coming in that's better than Ancelloti? Half of those Wolves and Leicester teams would probably start ahead of our lads. Ask most fans of other clubs who know football and they'll say they don't see us as a European team yet and think 7th or 8th finish at best. Ancelloti has more trophies than our club let him do his job and realise that bad recruitment is why we are where we are. Hiring Ancelloti is the beginning of that being fixed.
 
toffeepie1878 said:
Like the recent calendar I got, its a misHmash of a season

Positives.

Pickford looks to be back to some resemblance of the goalie he can be and put the media hype past behind him - good to see his vocal side too Vs Burnley
Dom Calvin Lewin undoubtedly the star of the show - where would we be without his goals.

Unfortunately that's about it from me for the positives

Negatives

Formation: All over the place, Carlo doesn't seem to know what side to choose and what formation to use.
Injuries have taken its toll but a manager of his experience cant use that as an excuse for what is by all accounts a decent squad ( on paper anyway)

Rich - An average season so far, some nice assists but he will need to step up

James - Problem with James is he doesn't tackle or cover his defenders so essentially leaving gaping holes - that are getting exploited big time. Its a tricky one but to utilise him you need to take the negatives he provides also

Waste of Locker room: Sigs, Delph, Gomes, Delph Bernard absolutely nothing to offer - so that is 5 players itself that are taking up valuable squad places

Davies: Lets admit it, just not good enough

Iwobi: Probably the same! he has glimpses of quality but for the most part he flatters to deceive

The forgotten men: Gordon, Nkounkou. Kenny - reportedly missing, last known location unknown

The future: The fixtures on the horizon are going to make or brake Everton's season - quite literally as the sole chance of cup success looks to be realistically the League Cup, a bad run and we will be in the bottom half, above or in the relegation places even. A good-ish run and we can stay within touching distance of this 'big 6' thing.

A poor season in my mind so far, the lack of real characters or leaders is apparent. Allan and Doucoure have done as much as we can expect them to do but too many others are passengers

DCL and Rich wont stay at Everton if they continue to dither, no chance - they are off to the CL and big money offers will be put on the table.

I was hoping the team could challenge near the top 4/6 but with injuries the lack of quality in the squad is there for all to see - and injuries WILL happen. Not getting youngsters into the match day squad is puzzling.

Previous Everton managers were sacked due to the half arsed efforts of the players as much as the managers fault itself, Carlo need to be strong and call time on quite a few players if he doesn't want to fall victim to the expectant fans again but having no spectators at Goodison might be a blessing in disguise.
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Positives DCL... Negatives just about everything else I'm afraid.
 
I am really concerned about our inability to defend effectively & keep clean sheets...

We won't get anywhere if we can't keep a clean & defend properly...

In a game of fine margins its paramount we get the basics right...
 

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