2021/22 Lucas Digne

[Egil Olsen]

Your interpretation on how long he's been poor for isnt that same as mine. But thats fine as its about opinions. Ive never actualy rated him as a defender. Ever. He's to slow and to easy to get past.
Start of ancelottis season last season was digne at his best. Assists and over the half way line.
But this is where Everton have a problem. I want Everton defenders to die defending. This season is embarrassing. Last season ancelotti had to sit the midfield in front of them even at Goodison against average sides to keep it tight.
Digne cant defended. Holgate cant defend. Godfrey cant defend. Keane cant defend.
I want them all eventualy out.

I have nothing against Digne. If he wants new challenges, or wants to play for another team with a different system, then that's all right. We need players who are motivated. A player who is not motivated there is no point in holding on.

Otherwise, I have two objections to the player type Digne. He is a WB who mostly crosses from the deep. He is rarely inside or just outside the penalty area. The crosses from outside this area are low probability zones, and rarely pay off. Here I hope the new WB can give us an extra dimension. We must move away from this attack strategy.

The second objection is that he is vulnerable 1 vs. 1. Together with an aging Coleman, it makes us both weaker defensively and offensively. For example. in a 4-3-3 formation, you leave a lot of room on the sides, and expect the backs to often manage on their own in 1 vs 1s situations. With both Coleman and Digne on the field, the midfielders have to cover extra space, and CB will often be pulled out of their positions. You get some of the same problem 4-2-3-1, but then you have a little better coverage.

However, if we get WB that are less vulnerable 1 vs. 1, and actually has its strengths in that phase of the game we will be far more solid both defensively and offensively.

 

[AndyC]

I think if you take a step back and take a deep breath (and you;lre honest with yourself rather than grinding any aes) you'd have to rethink the Digne issue and say that Benitez is well within his rights to call him out as a piss taker.

This isn't manager v player / Benitez v Digne. This is Everton v player...a player who wants out.

Disagree - as his 'calling out' of Digne could impact upon the price we receive for him... assuming a sale is concluded.

A more pragmatic or sensible manager would have said something along the following lines in order to maintain the moral high ground and avoid reducing the transfer value: Digne has expressed a desire to play Champions League football which he feels that he will not get at Everton in the short term. If a club in the Champions League comes in with an offer that meets our valuation and we are able to recruit a replacement then we would reluctantly let him go but, until or unless this happens he remains an Everton player under contract with us.

 

[kenada_blue]

You want instant results then yes ? I remember a left back getting switched to centre half once to shore up our defence. Didn't work straight away but the fella went on to become one of the best we ever had and our most successful Captain ever. If you were there back then I'm wondering if you were handing out HK out leaflets ?

This point last season we were 6th with 29 scored goals scored, 24 conceded.

This season 15th...23 goals scored, 32 conceded.

We've already outdone goals conceded from set pieces this season than the whole of last season.

It's the same defence. Only thing different is the manager.

I'm sure HK didn't hound out our best full back to replace him. What he did was make amends and moved players around that he thought would benefit and work as a defence.

Huge difference.

 

[kenada_blue]

Your interpretation on how long he's been poor for isnt that same as mine. But thats fine as its about opinions. Ive never actualy rated him as a defender. Ever. He's to slow and to easy to get past.
Start of ancelottis season last season was digne at his best. Assists and over the half way line.
But this is where Everton have a problem. I want Everton defenders to die defending. This season is embarrassing. Last season ancelotti had to sit the midfield in front of them even at Goodison against average sides to keep it tight.
Digne cant defended. Holgate cant defend. Godfrey cant defend. Keane cant defend.
I want them all eventualy out.

Whilst I agree... allowing the waiter to sleep walk the club into relegation, lower league finish, because he can't get the players to defend when other managers found a way.... isn't the right way.

Also...I don't want Benitez rebuilding this club in his image.

 

[TonyT65]

This point last season we were 6th with 29 scored goals scored, 24 conceded.

This season 15th...23 goals scored, 32 conceded.

We've already outdone goals conceded from set pieces this season than the whole of last season.

It's the same defence. Only thing different is the manager.

I'm sure HK didn't hound out our best full back to replace him. What he did was make amends and moved players around that he thought would benefit and work as a defence.

Huge difference.

John Bailey was very popular if you remember back then ? But he was replaced for a better player.
Probably a better player than his replacement to be honest. But PVdH made out defence more solid as did Ratcliffe going Centre Half.
I just think any manager worth his salt builds from the back, not Kevin Keegan types who just please the fans.

 

[Gilbert..]

That's fair enough. I think he's underperfomed this season and wasn't amazing in the back half of last season by any means. I do think there's caveats. He came back from what was meant to be 3 months out within 6 weeks, but when he came out we were lining up regularly in 451 because of the injuries and trying to eek out 1-0 wins. He still worked hard and contributed.

First half of last season, as you say, was way different and the team was playing differently.

As for your defenders that want to die defending thing, that's fine, but it's all about set up. We got 59 points last season, 11 away wins. We didn't do that without putting bodies on the line and effort. But - as I've said all along with Benitez when people were jizzing over the idea players would run more - football in 2020-21-22 is not just about effort. The days of dying to defend or attack are gone. It's about quality set up, systems that work, filling space and exploiting width. Effort and desire come into it but all the effort and desire in the world doesn't sort you out if the set up isn't right.

For me the only defender worth keeping is Godfrey. It would be Mina too but he can't stay fit. I'm okay with selling Digne, I'm just not okay with how it's happening, because it cuts our ability to get a good price, too.

Godfrey is a long way away from being anything other than norwich city. Quick. But everything else. Major improvement.
I think ancelotti last season polished a turd for most of it. Obviously went pear shaped at the end. He set the team up to protect the inadequate defenders at this club.
Im on this forum for the past few years saying i dont rate any of them. I still dont.
Branthwaite is the only one. Because of his age. He at least shows something.
The rest. Off you go.

 

[Gilbert..]

Whilst I agree... allowing the waiter to sleep walk the club into relegation, lower league finish, because he can't get the players to defend when other managers found a way.... isn't the right way.

Also...I don't want Benitez rebuilding this club in his image.

Im quite happy both of them leaving the club tbh.
If benitez and digne left by monday. Fine by me.

 

[kenada_blue]

John Bailey was very popular if you remember back then ? But he was replaced for a better player.
Probably a better player than his replacement to be honest. But PVdH made out defence more solid as did Ratcliffe going Centre Half.
I just think any manager worth his salt builds from the back, not Kevin Keegan types who just please the fans.

Not disagreeing with that at all.

But Benitez isn't building from the back. He created a rift and lost a left back which he's replaced, and bought an understudy for right back. Both are supposedly very attacking fullbacks, less defensive minded, and very young. Both players scouted by the now out of work Marcel Brands.

Benitez is a manager who would rather have a limited player doing exactly what he says regardless of the results

 

[welshtoffee]

Benitez doing what he does at every club falling out with the best players and bringing his crap in.

 

[d34noj]

He'll be an upgrade on a player who had failed to turn up for the past 18 months, that's for sure.

Is he going to open a can of whoop-ass?

 

[TonyT65]

Not disagreeing with that at all.

But Benitez isn't building from the back. He created a rift and lost a left back which he's replaced, and bought an understudy for right back. Both are supposedly very attacking fullbacks, less defensive minded, and very young. Both players scouted by the now out of work Marcel Brands.

Benitez is a manager who would rather have a limited player doing exactly what he says regardless of the results

I understand everyone's problem with the manager here but this job he's doing right now is tough enough without the baggage. And he's having to make these decisions and pissin off highly paid, self entitled players to boot !
We've had a few that just weren't up to the job another that fooked off, and now one that might be but won't get a chance if half the fan base get their way. He's gotta thick skin like Moyes tho so maybe he should get a chance.

 

[mikel_88]

Just want him out so this can end with us hopefully getting good price

 

[4737carlin]

Same Lukaku who's our record Premier League goalscorer and record sale, yes.

Same Lukaku with a worse honours list then Dem Gray and Fabian Delph.

 

[d34noj]

Players once free of their former club sometimes reveal their side of any dispute that led to their leaving. I imagine few would do it whilst still employed, unless they as stupid as Lukaku for example. He has had to apologise to Chelsea and their manager and has made himself look foolish or worse.

A bit like when James Rodriguez talked about Benitez lying to get rid of him at Real Madrid...

Hold on a minute?...

 

[maccavennie]

Disagree - as his 'calling out' of Digne could impact upon the price we receive for him... assuming a sale is concluded.

A more pragmatic or sensible manager would have said something along the following lines in order to maintain the moral high ground and avoid reducing the transfer value: Digne has expressed a desire to play Champions League football which he feels that he will not get at Everton in the short term. If a club in the Champions League comes in with an offer that meets our valuation and we are able to recruit a replacement then we would reluctantly let him go but, until or unless this happens he remains an Everton player under contract with us.

Spot on Andy.

Consider yourself the new Everton Manager