Second Balls

[chicoazul]

Gueye did it every once in a while, normally though h would just knit everything together by playing it simple and then offering himself for a return pass. We really miss that.

We really do but a fully fit Allan isn’t too dissimilar but has better passing on him. A few more games and Everton will be better for him back.

 

[jaycee]

We really do but a fully fit Allan isn’t too dissimilar but has better passing on him. A few more games and Everton will be better for him back.

If there was anybody I could pick to talk balls it would be you

 

[Cmonefcsortitout!]

The problem is that we have several midfielders who aren’t good enough. Most of them are paid too much, and aren’t easy to shift as a result. It will take time to go from a good first 11 (which we nearly have now imo) to a good squad, that will compete all season. The lack of urgency from our players is alarming at times though. Not just pressing and not winning 1st or 2nd balls, but often playing at walking pace in possession.

 

[Kaiser Soysauce]

According to the song. Hitler didn't have one.

 

[chicoazul]

If there was anybody I could pick to talk balls it would be you

Lad do they accept cheese on toast photos on here or what?

 

[Papa Shango]

We really do but a fully fit Allan isn’t too dissimilar but has better passing on him. A few more games and Everton will be better for him back.

Hopefully, I have to be honest I have not been blown away by him so far, then again nobody has really done that for me this season on a regular basis. He is obviously a good player, lets just hope we can keep him fit.

 

[chicoazul]

Hopefully, I have to be honest I have not been blown away by him so far, then again nobody has really done that for me this season on a regular basis. He is obviously a good player, lets just hope we can keep him fit.

Aye the injuries haven’t helped his cause. Everton need quality and consistency to progress, not either or.

 

[Blue Piper]

Another feature for me is we have nothing on the bench. Even with every player fit our bench is poor. Then, with injuries, we are forced to play the reserves then we don't stand a chance. Other managers, especially those near the bottom, will pencil in our fixtures as ones to be targeted. And they then target us. Get all their players ready for us. Hammer our powder puff midfielders and that's it. Game over.

 

[trueblue84]

We really do but a fully fit Allan isn’t too dissimilar but has better passing on him. A few more games and Everton will be better for him back.

Did you see Allan's outside of the boot 60 yard through ball to Calvert lewin? Pure sex. Gueye didn't have that in his locker.

 

[jaycee]

Lad do they accept cheese on toast photos on here or what?

I dont think GOT world s ready for them,captain Toms wardrobe causes seizures here

 

[blulouie]

After a few games now, Ancelotti has referred to spirit/us not winning second balls;



I think he's spot on.

Our lads, particularly our midfield, isn't combative enough.

This team, points wise, is within a sniff of Champions League but you'd be hard pushed to find an Everton team that finished top 10 over the years with a worse midfield.

Doucoure, Allan and Rodriguez improved it ten fold at the start of the season. Doucoure was ran into the ground, Allan was carrying an injury before he eventually missed a big spell and is now looking rusty and Rodriguez is what he is.

We're then left with Iwobi. Davies. Sigurdsson. Gomes. They can't tackle. They're all bullied. They don't want to do the donkey work - they don't press/show enough for the ball. They're not balanced and they're just... passive. Andre Gomes being the most dribbled past player in the top 4 european leagues is indicative of the problem.

I think it's this Ancelotti refers to when he's talking about mentality, not showing spirit and not winning second balls. He's spot on.

For me, midfield remains the priority in the summer.

I see we're linked with Rabiot again. Our biggest transfer should be a centre midfielder...

After that, addressing that right flank to give us an actual threat/balance and this Everton team go to another level.

Carlo is bang on with this.
Its not just this team , we've had it for years and doesnt seem to change.

Ever noticed from a throw in for us within seconds the opposition has the ball back.
When we win headers especially clearance headers from our centre backs it invariably ends up at the opponents feet.
If we have a set piece in a dangerous position unless we score or bloon it over the bar or put it wide , within 5 seconds it ends up back with our keeper or posession lost.

I put it down to a total lack of awareness and or no fight .Its irked me for a while now and definately needs sorting , any team that are willing to battle for it agst us come out with posession & ultimately beat us.

 

[ChesterBlue]

After a few games now, Ancelotti has referred to spirit/us not winning second balls;



I think he's spot on.

Our lads, particularly our midfield, isn't combative enough.

This team, points wise, is within a sniff of Champions League but you'd be hard pushed to find an Everton team that finished top 10 over the years with a worse midfield.

Doucoure, Allan and Rodriguez improved it ten fold at the start of the season. Doucoure was ran into the ground, Allan was carrying an injury before he eventually missed a big spell and is now looking rusty and Rodriguez is what he is.

We're then left with Iwobi. Davies. Sigurdsson. Gomes. They can't tackle. They're all bullied. They don't want to do the donkey work - they don't press/show enough for the ball. They're not balanced and they're just... passive. Andre Gomes being the most dribbled past player in the top 4 european leagues is indicative of the problem.

I think it's this Ancelotti refers to when he's talking about mentality, not showing spirit and not winning second balls. He's spot on.

For me, midfield remains the priority in the summer.
I see we're linked with Rabiot again. Our biggest transfer should be a centre midfielder...

After that, addressing that right flank to give us an actual threat/balance and this Everton team go to another level.

All of this is spot on. Teams have noticed that we essentially have no threat from the right side and very little creativity in central midfield. Depending what formation we want to play we need a CM (Rabiot would be good due to his technical ability, but isn’t the most mobile), a winger and a right back minimum for the first team.

Realistically we’re going to struggle to finish any higher than mid table if we can’t keep the ball and start to dominate games, though I’d be tempted to maybe look for a longer term Allan rotation/ eventual replacement as well so we could have some energy off the bench for midfield

 

[Dixieslaces]

After a few games now, Ancelotti has referred to spirit/us not winning second balls;



I think he's spot on.

Our lads, particularly our midfield, isn't combative enough.

This team, points wise, is within a sniff of Champions League but you'd be hard pushed to find an Everton team that finished top 10 over the years with a worse midfield.

Doucoure, Allan and Rodriguez improved it ten fold at the start of the season. Doucoure was ran into the ground, Allan was carrying an injury before he eventually missed a big spell and is now looking rusty and Rodriguez is what he is.

We're then left with Iwobi. Davies. Sigurdsson. Gomes. They can't tackle. They're all bullied. They don't want to do the donkey work - they don't press/show enough for the ball. They're not balanced and they're just... passive. Andre Gomes being the most dribbled past player in the top 4 european leagues is indicative of the problem.

I think it's this Ancelotti refers to when he's talking about mentality, not showing spirit and not winning second balls. He's spot on.

For me, midfield remains the priority in the summer.

I see we're linked with Rabiot again. Our biggest transfer should be a centre midfielder...

After that, addressing that right flank to give us an actual threat/balance and this Everton team go to another level.

Spot on that!

Carlos has to manager them, his character is not that of a ranting manager, but he will know that Sig, Gomes and Iwobi arent up to it but he cant publicly berate them, Davies, I think is a work in progress, could be Good player, will be surprised if all 4 of them are with us next season.

I like his style of management, I like his personality and I firmly believe he is the man to take us to the next step but at the same time he can only work with what he has.

I see a bright future, this Summer will be a big step in that future, right recruitment and getting Fortress Goodison back will be key. 2 or 3 of those losses and the table looks massively different, we will have the personnel up for it next season, Im sure of it.

Toffee Forever

 

[Jim Hopper]

I don’t get why we are literally the only team who:

1. Are so placid and apathetic to winning the second ball that we seem happy to concede them

2. Have absolutely no concept of the pressing game that’s been around for years now

Doesn’t matter who the manager is, these are just a constant

We haven’t had bite and grit in midfield since the Martinez days tbh, more
so his first season. Barry & McCarthy in midfield even Barkley would get stuck in at times. Too many passengers who care more about their hairstyles like Gomes. Doucoure does get stuck in tbf to him and Allan does when he’s available but other than that there’s no Wolves amongst woods, a team of tea cup yorkies!

 

[Dixieslaces]

So basically we're stuck in a limbo where we still need to address the same positions since 2017.

For the record, Allan isn't the next Gana. He's OK imo. Has 0 forward passing vision after regaining possession.

Pretty much his movement alone was the only forward movement we had on Saturday, yes he is rusty but he pretty much always went forward