2018/19 Gylfi Sigurdsson

[Toffee-nerd]

Lookman and Walcott either side of these two.

Don't get the obsession with lookman. Hes looked disinterested at best. Yeah he needs games to find some form and confidence but people talk like hes the answer to all our prayers. I hope he is but there's bigger issues here than not scoring. The ease at which we concede is obvious and teams seem to enjoy playing us.

Having slept on it, for all of 3 hours, for me it all boils down to the centre midfield pairing. They're my biggest concern way before sigurdsson who has started ok and been one of our better players so far this season. I know that's not staying much but I think there's more to come from him, there's been signs of a good understanding between him tosun and Walcott. The likes of gana and schneiderlin don't have anything more to offer. They can keep the ball when an apposing defense is sat in but they can't open up play, or even play basic passes based on yesterday, and despite often looking busy and running around a lot, they're often caught between play.

It's just so easy for attacking players to find space in the hole when they play us, even with two dms. It's been the same story now for 3 years, completely different bunch of defenders, keeper etc but teams go through us like a knife through butter. Its the two that sit in front that I have issue with. We conceded 3 goals to west ham at goodison who were pointless in 4 games and scored 2 goals all season and made 6 changes going into the game. Our midfield looked like it had never played together especially in the first half.

I'm absolutely raging with that performance last night, it's the same old same old. Silva must be pulling his hair out already. Lost count of the amount of times gana gave the ball away needlessly in the first half. How many times is it that the seasoned professionals let us down? These are the guys who should be leading and sending rockets up people but they're so complacent its untrue. Last year it was baines and jags, the year that before Howard went doolaley. The sooner we get McCarthy and Gomes fit the better. They're not the silver bullet but at least we will have options in midfield.

 

[Zatara]

Don't get the obsession with lookman. Hes looked disinterested at best. Yeah he needs games to find some form and confidence but people talk like hes the answer to all our prayers. I hope he is but there's bigger issues here than not scoring. The ease at which we concede is obvious and teams seem to enjoy playing us.

Having slept on it, for all of 3 hours, for me it all boils down to the centre midfield pairing. They're my biggest concern way before sigurdsson who has started ok and been one of our better players so far this season. I know that's not staying much but I think there's more to come from him, there's been signs of a good understanding between him tosun and Walcott. The likes of gana and schneiderlin don't have anything more to offer. They can keep the ball when an apposing defense is sat in but they can't open up play, or even play basic passes based on yesterday, and despite often looking busy and running around a lot, they're often caught between play.

It's just so easy for attacking players to find space in the hole when they play us, even with two dms. It's been the same story now for 3 years, completely different bunch of defenders, keeper etc but teams go through us like a knife through butter. Its the two that sit in front that I have issue with. We conceded 3 goals to west ham at goodison who were pointless in 4 games and scored 2 goals all season and made 6 changes going into the game. Our midfield looked like it had never played together especially in the first half.

I'm absolutely raging with that performance last night, it's the same old same old. Silva must be pulling his hair out already. Lost count of the amount of times gana gave the ball away needlessly in the first half. How many times is it that the seasoned professionals let us down? These are the guys who should be leading and sending rockets up people but they're so complacent its untrue. Last year it was baines and jags, the year that before Howard went doolaley. The sooner we get McCarthy and Gomes fit the better. They're not the silver bullet but at least we will have options in midfield.

Agreed. Its definitely the 3 in midfield who are a problem.

Gana doesnt have the nous, Schneiderlin saunters around making the odd foul and Sigurdsson...well im not sure what he brings to the table.

Just looking at Bernards calmness and the way he looked to play the ball was ions different to Sigurdsson...Bernard looks like a 10 to me and Sigurdsson...im not sure.

Just need to replace the 3 central players.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

Agreed. Its definitely the 3 in midfield who are a problem.

Gana doesnt have the nous, Schneiderlin saunters around making the odd foul and Sigurdsson...well im not sure what he brings to the table.

Just looking at Bernards calmness and the way he looked to play the ball was ions different to Sigurdsson...Bernard looks like a 10 to me and Sigurdsson...im not sure.

Just need to replace the 3 central players.

Cool. When was the last time Bernard played centrally? He’s a wide player.

How the heck does Sigurdsson get ripped today and Walcott, Tosun, DCL, Niasse, Holgate, Zouma not get criticized?

 

[CRIMHEAD]

I think some have hit the nail on the head in that he just isn't quite quick enough to perform at the top level. It's a shame because he does have decent technique and good vision but his inability to move the ball or himself quickly ruins it.

Move the ball quickly? That’s all he does.

There’s also NO WAY anyone watched Barkley this weekend and thought he was good. He was crap. He’s regressed as a player. He had a ton of passes. Who cares? What did he do with them? Nothing.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Move the ball quickly? That’s all he does.

There’s also NO WAY anyone watched Barkley this weekend and thought he was good. He was crap. He’s regressed as a player. He had a ton of passes. Who cares? What did he do with them? Nothing.

I think he takes too many touches at times. But I probably should have said he doesn't move the ball effectively. His passing isn't incisive often enough.

 

[Toffee-nerd]

Agreed. Its definitely the 3 in midfield who are a problem.

Gana doesnt have the nous, Schneiderlin saunters around making the odd foul and Sigurdsson...well im not sure what he brings to the table.

Just looking at Bernards calmness and the way he looked to play the ball was ions different to Sigurdsson...Bernard looks like a 10 to me and Sigurdsson...im not sure.

Just need to replace the 3 central players.

I understand the frustration with sigurdsson but personally i just think hes got a lot more to offer us in the future and we should keep hold of him for at least another season. Gana and schneids have had ample opportunity to sort themselves out here and put a mark on those two positions. We have been literally crying out for one of them to step up and start being commanding in the middle but they're both shrinking violets. They shy away from tackles and often don't start chasing down the ball until it's already a lost cause. They give away needless fouls like there's no tomorrow.

I wouldn't be at all arsed if we saw our entire centre midfield replaced going right through the squad. It's the heart of any team but between; gana, schneids, besic, McCarthy, Davies they just aren't performing at a level or consistency to warrant a place in a top 8 side. Doucoure has done more than the lot of them put together in his first season in the league and hes not even that good in reality. Davies we can cut some slack because hes still so young but the rest of them, would we really miss them if they went? Our midfield is practically none existent when the other team have the ball. Occasionally someone will do something and you think they've turned the corner, schneiderlin for instance with that beauty set piece goal early in the season, but then they always revert to type. I just don't see enough drive, commitment or outright talent in any of our cm players. McCarthy fit and on form is the closing we have to what we need but is he ever going to recapture that form after being injured for the last 3 seasons? Likely not.

Agree with you on bernard, he looked sharp, but so did sigi, walcott, tosun etc at the start of the season. You play with sheet week in week out and it's easy to fall to that level. Digne, a new signing in a new league, was our best player yesterday for me. Showed the most commitment, legs and quality out of all of our players on the pitch. Next game it would be good to see tosun rested for ricky up front with walcott and bernard on the wings, sigurdsson behind ricky. Don't have a clue who we play in cm because whoever it is we need two of them to do one person's job.

 

[Albro]

I'm absolutely raging with that performance last night, it's the same old same old. Silva must be pulling his hair out already. Lost count of the amount of times gana gave the ball away needlessly in the first half. How many times is it that the seasoned professionals let us down? These are the guys who should be leading and sending rockets up people but they're so complacent its untrue. Last year it was baines and jags, the year that before Howard went doolaley. The sooner we get McCarthy and Gomes fit the better. They're not the silver bullet but at least we will have options in midfield.

Don't mention Mccarthy, you'll get criticised for imagining players are getting better whilst being injured.

 

[Zatara]

Cool. When was the last time Bernard played centrally? He’s a wide player.

How the heck does Sigurdsson get ripped today and Walcott, Tosun, DCL, Niasse, Holgate, Zouma not get criticized?

Silva has stated he can play anywhere across the pitch behind the forward. Brazilian fans have said hes best on the left but can play behind the forward as a 10.

Im not sure what threads youve been reading but all of those players have been criticized.

Move the ball quickly? That’s all he does.

There’s also NO WAY anyone watched Barkley this weekend and thought he was good. He was crap. He’s regressed as a player. He had a ton of passes. Who cares? What did he do with them? Nothing.

Sigurdsson moves the ball quickly to...? He doesnt play forward defence splitting passes and certainly is limited in his effectiveness...just before their 3rd yesterday he tried a pass which didnt come off and was shown grinning away...hence i remembered it.

This isnt the Barkley thread.

I think he takes too many touches at times. But I probably should have said he doesn't move the ball effectively. His passing isn't incisive often enough.

Exactly.

I understand the frustration with sigurdsson but personally i just think hes got a lot more to offer us in the future and we should keep hold of him for at least another season. Gana and schneids have had ample opportunity to sort themselves out here and put a mark on those two positions. We have been literally crying out for one of them to step up and start being commanding in the middle but they're both shrinking violets. They shy away from tackles and often don't start chasing down the ball until it's already a lost cause. They give away needless fouls like there's no tomorrow.

I wouldn't be at all arsed if we saw our entire centre midfield replaced going right through the squad. It's the heart of any team but between; gana, schneids, besic, McCarthy, Davies they just aren't performing at a level or consistency to warrant a place in a top 8 side. Doucoure has done more than the lot of them put together in his first season in the league and hes not even that good in reality. Davies we can cut some slack because hes still so young but the rest of them, would we really miss them if they went? Our midfield is practically none existent when the other team have the ball. Occasionally someone will do something and you think they've turned the corner, schneiderlin for instance with that beauty set piece goal early in the season, but then they always revert to type. I just don't see enough drive, commitment or outright talent in any of our cm players. McCarthy fit and on form is the closing we have to what we need but is he ever going to recapture that form after being injured for the last 3 seasons? Likely not.

Agree with you on bernard, he looked sharp, but so did sigi, walcott, tosun etc at the start of the season. You play with sheet week in week out and it's easy to fall to that level. Digne, a new signing in a new league, was our best player yesterday for me. Showed the most commitment, legs and quality out of all of our players on the pitch. Next game it would be good to see tosun rested for ricky up front with walcott and bernard on the wings, sigurdsson behind ricky. Don't have a clue who we play in cm because whoever it is we need two of them to do one person's job.

Hes 29 and will be 30 next season...only one way to go there and its not improvement.

Must sell him in Jan to a desperate team.

As for the others further back, id have no problem replacing all of them. Baningime and Davies whether good enough or not arent there yet...

We need a DM in Jan and more in the summer.

 

[MikeH72]

Cool. When was the last time Bernard played centrally? He’s a wide player.

How the heck does Sigurdsson get ripped today and Walcott, Tosun, DCL, Niasse, Holgate, Zouma not get criticized?

?????!?!?

 

[sageyefc]

Still steaming with this ferret

 

[kenada_blue]

Move the ball quickly? That’s all he does.

There’s also NO WAY anyone watched Barkley this weekend and thought he was good. He was crap. He’s regressed as a player. He had a ton of passes. Who cares? What did he do with them? Nothing.

He'll still be playing Champos League while we stick with the invisible man

 

[Steve0]

Our best player again. Honestly dont know what game pleople were watching. Some were probably gutted when he scored.

 

[Walter Ego]

Unfortunately for him I think he's going to have to play a bit deeper. It's still a major concern that our inability to defend is matched by our woefullness at passing the ball through midfield. I just hope this Gomes lad is capable of it.

 

[sageyefc]

Unfortunately for him I think he's going to have to play a bit deeper. It's still a major concern that our inability to defend is matched by our woefullness at passing the ball through midfield. I just hope this Gomes lad is capable of it.

He did that yesterday and got legged by mark noble and a kid who's actually a defender by trade.

Our central midfield/ number 10 needs a good overhaul over the next 12 months

 

[Walter Ego]

He did that yesterday and got legged by mark noble and a kid who's actually a defender by trade.

Our central midfield/ number 10 needs a good overhaul over the next 12 months

Nobody came out of that game looking good but at least he has the ability to pass the ball. There isn't anyone else unless Gomes can do it. Every player put there is failing in that position.