2021/22 Lucas Digne

[sageyefc]

Benitez out Barmy Army. They’re relentless in their negativity and will back the tactical acumen of a left back who can’t defend over the manager.

*over a manager that can’t manage

 

[ZissouBlue]

Had everything been rosy in Digne's garden and he carried on or resumed his level of form from a couple of years ago, and then we got a bid (let's say £30m as that seems to be the valuation now) at this stage from Chelsea/City, and we turned it down, do you think he'd be happy? Or push for a move? My money's on the latter. That's not me casting aspersions on the boy's character, it's just what footy is these days and he surely has ambitions beyond mid-table struggles with us.

However, because his form has diminished (and started to do so well before Benitez) we got in there first and told him he needs to improve/change his game accordingly and the two have fallen out over that.

My point is this: Why is it acceptable for a player to show ambition above and beyond the level of our club, but our club isn't permitted to ask a player to raise their game because it has the ambition to better itself as a whole?

For the record - and I feel like you have to state your case these days, lest you be accused of being an extremist one way or the other - I was a "give Benitez a chance" guy, who is rapidly heading for the "Benitez out" camp because of our form, not because of some weird obsession with the fact he used to manage our rivals. I like Digne as a player but objectively I don't think he's been at it for a couple of years and so I think cashing in now is the smart move.

Very well said. I think the whole thing is an incredibly stupid way to operate a club, especially considering our extreme lack of depth and inevitable descent into a relegation scrap, but I also do agree with all of that. At least we've signed a couple of players, that's the only positive I can from it right now.

 

[davek]

Can i expect Rondon to tear up his contract and retire this afternoon then Dave?

I'd rather have any player who wants to play for Everton over one who doesn't want to pull the Everton shirt on.

 

[windymiller]

You should. Baines should have back then as well. Martinez would have been in his right to punish him for it. I just happened to agree with him then, but he still shouldn’t have criticised his manager on tv.

I love how you, @davek and @ForeverBlue92 keep getting vaulted for doing the things you slate other fans for doing. At least Jimmy admits that he was wrong to do them in the past, whereas you and Dave contort yourselves to make out like it was totally different when you did it.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

I'd rather have any player who wants to play for Everton over one who doesn't want to pull the Everton shirt on.

And this is really what it boils down to with me re Digne.

This is only suddenly a problem because it's Benitez when, in all reality, many fans have wanted this approach for years....

 

[Dykovski200]

Benitez out Barmy Army. They’re relentless in their negativity and will back the tactical acumen of a left back who can’t defend over the manager.

But how can you back 1 win in 12.

 

[windymiller]

I'd rather have any player who wants to play for Everton over one who doesn't want to pull the Everton shirt on.

I want to play for Everton, I'm in my forties and will be blowing out of my arse after 2 minutes. Where do I sign up?

 

[MarkHollis]

Is he? Digne has been extremely average for us for a long time. He might have himself down as some sort of supreme attacking outlet but I’ve not seen that under numerous managers. Most of the time his crossing has been poor to say the least. He really should focus on the primary job of a fullback which is to defend. When it comes down to it though, he’s not very good at that.

He is a good crosser! I suspect the time he spent in decent crossing positions decreased significantly over the years though, especially with the tactics of Ancelotti and Benitez. Not sure "stop doing what you're good at" is good management but I'm sure some would disagree.

 

[Saint Domingo]

But how can you back 1 win in 12.

This is a multi year turn around job to rid the club of decades of poor mentality. An arbitrarily selected low amount of games doesn’t make any difference to that. Yeah it’s not good but these players aren’t good. I’d rather they were exposed and some home truths confronted, and some fall outs, and some arguments, rather than Benitez pandering to them so they can come 11th rather than 15th this season.

 

[davek]

BOBA?

Benitez Out Barmy Army.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Benitez out Barmy Army. They’re relentless in their negativity and will back the tactical acumen of a left back who can’t defend over the manager.

The case for Benitez would be a lot stronger if we didn't suck

 

[Ibby]

It’s clear Digne doesn’t want to play for the club now but the question remains why? I’d like to hear his reasons, will we?

 

[TheBigIguana]

This is a multi year turn around job to rid the club of decades of poor mentality. An arbitrarily selected low amount of games doesn’t make any difference to that. Yeah it’s not good but these players aren’t good. I’d rather they were exposed and some home truths confronted, and some fall outs, and some arguments, rather than Benitez pandering to them so they can come 11th rather than 15th this season.

There are not signs of progress currently. It's ok to take time to build the team but you have to be moving toward a system and way of playing that at some point will work. He's not doing that right now.

 

[Saint Domingo]

The case for Benitez would be a lot stronger if we didn't suck

If he continues getting rid of players who don’t want to be here, or put themselves before the team, and brings in players that will give everything for us, then I’d put a decent wager on that in time we won’t suck as much.

 

[davek]

And this is really what it boils down to with me re Digne.

This is only suddenly a problem because it's Benitez when, in all reality, many fans have wanted this approach for years....

If their hero the galloot Ferguson was handed the manager's job and he was digging these players out they'd be in raptures over it.

They are hypocrites and completely transparent.