Everton 2017-18 Post-mortem: Eight(h) is Enough

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Sunny von Bulow
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Tag me if you ever want me to look at something I haven’t commented on.
Nothing in particular. Like the guy who writes for ITP who was a placekicker, it's just cool to hear about strategy and tactics by someone who played the position.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Gareth Barry says aloha, off to West Brom for more playing time:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gareth-barry-leave-everton-armed-13478071

He's 36 and moves like it. Still, it's sad to see him go. Class act, well-respected, veteran leadership. Soon to break the alltime record for PL appearances. Even though he's lost a step, I don't ever remember thinking "aw shit, Barry just did {stupid thing}."

Could have been a useful piece with all the fixtures coming up due to Europa, but can't begrudge him the chance to play regularly at the end of his career.

Fans are giving him an affectionate sendoff, as they should.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Liverpool papers and NYC Evertonians FB group saying that Sigurdsson to Everto is a done deal pending medical.
 

ninjacornelius

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Gylfi's done. £40m, plus two more add-ons at £2.5m each, on a five year contract.

There are many reasons to not like this deal: he's 28, it's a lot of money for a lot of years, and there's little reason to believe that he materially improves the chances of a top-4 finish. In fact, you could argue that this is a terrible deal for both teams: I have to believe that he's worth way more than £45m to Swansea, seeing as how he almost single-handedly saved them from relegation.

But I've watched ~50 Swans matches over the past three years (one of the guys in my Saturday morning drinking club is a Swans fan), and I can't help but feel excited. As much as I love the young group of attacking midfielders that Everton's developing, Sigurdsson is the finished product - a proven, offensive-minded playmaker who also happens to be a set-piece wizard. He does nothing on defense, but Gueye and Schneiderlin will provide more than enough cover for him. Plus, Swansea has had no forward production since Wilfried Bony left - putting Gylfi in front of Sandro and Rooney should see his own game flourish.

Does this make Everton legit top 4 contenders? Probably not. But it puts them in a great position to secure Europa League (and, hell, maybe even win the damn thing) for the next couple of years, which is a perfectly reasonable short-term goal.
 

coremiller

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I don't think this makes much sense. How are Siggurdson and Rooney going to play together? They're both natural #10s. If you are playing a front 3 of Sandro, Rooney, and Siggurdson, with Gueye and Schneiderlin behind, where is the width? Also Siggurdson and Rooney are both pretty slow at this point and neither adds much defensively. You can often get away with one passenger on defense, but two is usually a real problem.
 

ninjacornelius

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I don't think this makes much sense. How are Siggurdson and Rooney going to play together?
I think Rooney's greatest strength at this point in his career is, for lack of a better word, situational awareness. He can't run anymore, but he's so crafty in finding dangerous positions or setting the tempo of the attack that you can forgive his old, stumpy legs. Put him as a CAM and he can pick out a pass to free the runners. Put him as one of a pair of strikers and he knows how to position himself in the box to receive good service. With Sigurdsson now taking up the majority of the CAM duties, I believe (hope?) that Rooney can focus much less on the former to the benefit of the latter. He's not a pure striker at this point in his career, no, but he's smart enough to work himself into good positions to either create a shot for himself or play onto his striking partner (and there's every indication that Everton's still looking for a frontline player before the window closes). If Everton plays a 5-3-2, I'd see Rooney as a forward paired with Sandro (or PTBNL) in front of Gylfi. If they play a 4-3-3, then I'd see him tucking in from a wide position to receive Gylfi's service.

You're right when you say that width is an issue. But Coleman and Bolasie will be back within the next few months, and I think that Tom Davies can provide enough in both offense and defense to tread water until then. The next six weeks will be miserable, but if they can make it to the Europa League group stages and steal a few points from City-Chelsea-Spurs-United, then they'll be in really good shape for the rest of the season.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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That's an optimistic take on it but I agree.

Rooney has impressed with his football nous* - just being in the right place at the right time and doing the right thing. It's noticeable even on the defensive end.

His ball skills, shooting and passing are excellent. The header for his goal against Stoke was great. Not many players convert that.

But they need width and pace badly. I'd even take Deloufeu right now.

*i feel affected saying that but everyone keeps saying it.
 

BernieRicoBoomer

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I am loving this thread and the great content you guys are providing. I am way too new to the game and Everton to contribute anything meaningful myself, but please keep it up! The more I learn the more I love this sport.
 

ninjacornelius

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Everton's up 2-0 at half time against Split. Goals from Michael Keane and Idrissa Gana Gueye. I only started watching at about the 35' mark, but Everton look great so far. Davy Klaassen in particular is really impressing.

Everton's put up an official YouTube stream of the game since it's not being televised in England. It's a little behind, but the quality is sharp:

 

ninjacornelius

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FT Everton 2-0 Hajduk Split. A third goal would've been nice, but it's a fine result.

The second half was rather flat, but the work was pretty much done. Schneiderlin (who picked up a yellow in the first half) came off at halftime, and the offense seemed to sputter after that. I'm pretty sure that Rooney was flagged offside three times in a five minute stretch. Lookman's a hell of a young player, but his passing touch needs to improve before he gets serious minutes. Ditto DCL, who came on for Klaassen with about 30 minutes to go. Both of them kept working into dangerous areas on the wing only to duff the cross. Mirallas didn't offer anything. Pickford had a couple of nice saves and his ball distribution is outstanding - he hit a side-foot volley that went 70 yards in the air and landed right on Calvert-Lewin's foot. Keane had another good game. Mo Besic had a cameo in his first competitive match in16 months, and looked decent. Cuco Martina actually looked very good, which means he's found his level - the Croatian First League.

Idrissa Gueye was MOTM for me. He was all over the pitch today. Between his first half goal and his usual tenacity on defense, Split had no solution for him. I hope he can handle the workload of Europe this season, because I'd consider him to be indispensable especially now that Barry is gone.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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2-0 final.

although the stream kept chopping up and was hard to follow, they looked very good. Announcers gave MOTM to Keane and I would agree - in addition to his goal he and Williams were impenetrable at the back.

Several others were also very good. Klassen as per ninja, before being subbed after an hour for Calvert-Lewin. Rooney continues to distribute perfectly weighted passes. Lookman started and played the whole game up front, impressed me with his quickness, and looked very dangerous at times. Martina was at least serviceable at the back and made some nice forays up the flank - one cross to Rooney was nearly converted. Schneiderlin was bright but got taken off at halftime for Davies after drawing a yellow that - choppy feed making it hard to judge - I thought could have been a red for a studs-up challenge.

I don't think I would rate anyone poorly.

Everton got sloppy a few times in the last quarter-hour and Pickford made a save on a moderately-troubling shot where the Hadjuk shooter was left in too much space. For most of the match, though, Toffees were attacking aggressively.

A 3-0 or 4-0 scoreline would have been fair.

Very encouraging.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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so that's pretty funny. I cross-posted with ninja and I evidently missed some action because I didn't see Rooney getting flagged three times.

I'll also amend my remarks about not rating anyone poorly because I forgot about Mirallas entirely, - I don't remember hearing his name called.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Heading to NYC's Everton bar, Mr Dennehy's, for City-Everton. Never been for a game. Will report.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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1-1 at City. Wild game.

City owned possession in the first half but much of it was in the middle third. No real quality to break down the defense. Jesus and Aguero kind of ran around aimlessly. The defense kept its shape. Holgate was all over the place guarding the flank. Gueye was doing his usual thing of dispossessing attackers and intercepting passes. Pickford was not troubled. Silva hit the near post but replay showed that Pickford had closed off the mouth of goal and the chance was not a good one despite the ricochet off the post. Everton did not attack very often but when it did it looked dangerous going up the right side. Calvert-Lewin was working hard and causing lots of problems. Rooney scored at about 35' off a nice little buildup from Calvert-Lewin, Davies, and Holgate - a left-footer that caromed off the keeper.

The ref was AWFUL. Davies got booked for flopping that was total crap. But then Kyle Walker got two yellows in about 4' at the end of the first half, and the second was very soft - arguably not a foul at all, or maybe a booking for Calvert-Lewin for simulation. Then again Schneiderin got two yellows also - an iffy one early on, and a gift when Aguero took a dramatic tumble after a whisper touch at the end of the game. With a brutal run coming up (Thursday at Hadjuk Split in Croatia for Europa; Sunday at Chelsea; Sat 9/9 vs Spurs; Sun 9/17 at Man Utd) they need all the depth they can get and losing Schneiderlin to suspension will hurt.

After City were down to 10, they continued to attack vigorously, but again there wasn't a whole lot of good ball movement. It looks like the many attacking assets of City haven't figured out how to work together. De Bruyne was too deep to be effective. Jesus was taken off at halftime and Sterling put in. Sterling wasn't much better but at 78' Holgate - who had been the best man on the pitch up until then IMO - half-assed a clearance and it fell right to Sterling in the box and he buried it.

Everton did little useful in attack in the second. Klassen and Sigurdsson came on for Davies and Ashley Williams (????). Neither did much. Everton's plethora of midfielders also didn't look effective as an attacking force.You would never know that they were up a man for most of the second half.

On the one hand, to go into the second half up a goal and also up a man, and to not convert that to a win, that's really tough. On the other, grabbing a point on the road to a superior team (on paper) in front of 70000 fans is nothing to sneeze at, and while they let City have more of the ball, they were well organized at the back and deserved at least a point. So the draw is fair, I guess.

I watched it at Mr. Dennehy's, NYC's Everton bar, in the Village, a short walk from the Riv. Great atmosphere - about 50 people there on a weekday to watch the game, all pulling for Everton. Lots of fun, met good people. If any of youze are in town while a game is on, let me know and we'll go.
image1.JPG image2.JPG
 

teddykgb

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Equivocating the 88th minute yellow for Schneiderlin with the two bad yellows against Walker (although you could sell me on the 1st being dangerous in spite of no contact) is whitewashing just how bad the ref was. The Schniderlin one was awful, though, and I wish Madley would just not do cards if he's not sure what he's looking at.

I came to post because I was really impressed by Holgate. City seemed to want to work down the left and I think Sane only played in order to try to attack that space. it completely backfired, Holgate was quick to react to runs behind and generally kept snuffing out attack after attack down his side. The header back into the box was not a great moment for him but he was more focused on clearing the immediate danger than directing it.

Koeman is a good manager who knew how to attack what City were going to do. It was ultra defensive but played effectively, you're in good hands with him.
 

SocrManiac

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I've been looking for detail on this, but is Aguero's embellishment part of the review that was to be implemented this year? I don't think it is- seems to be red cards only and this was a second yellow.

I'd agree there's contact, but the simulation was absolutely over the top and what drew the card.

Otamendi should probably draw one or two simulation yellows per game, also. His complaining about the ball hitting him in the face was a good one.
 

teddykgb

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I've been looking for detail on this, but is Aguero's embellishment part of the review that was to be implemented this year? I don't think it is- seems to be red cards only and this was a second yellow.

I'd agree there's contact, but the simulation was absolutely over the top and what drew the card.

Otamendi should probably draw one or two simulation yellows per game, also. His complaining about the ball hitting him in the face was a good one.
Your hate for City is very palpable. You have absolutely no reason when it comes to City, it's baffling to me but easily noticed. Aguero went down the way many players go down when there's contact. I'd be happy to start retro carding like crazy for diving but that's hardly the tackle in this match to start with. The professional thing to do was for Madley to whistle for a foul and continue play instead of producing an incredibly dumb yellow. The specific answer to your question, however, is that the FA has already decided not to look at the Aguero or Calvert Lewin incidents. Apparently the dumb system they decided on was that an appeals board would be created when the FA decides one is necessary, which fits just about everything you can imagine about how the English FA operates.
 

SocrManiac

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Actually, as LFC is my primary EPL team, my Everton hatred is highest. City are no less hateable, however. Aguero is a dirty player. He was banned, what, six games last season? Otamendi is a cheap shot when he's defending and a diver when he's in possession. They deserve the stink they've earned.

The fact remains, Aguero went down in a way that simulated contact that didn't exist. He grabbed his upper calf, which wasn't even touched, and spun like a figure skater. I would have liked to see the FA follow through in its efforts to nail down players as they indicated they would. It's yet another hollow preseason promise that will be forgotten entirely by December (surrounding the referee, anyone?).
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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A surprise to those who thought that Rooney's motivation to leave ManU for Everton was to get playing time and earn his way back onto the England side:

Today he retired from international football.

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/41027204

Evidently Southgate did ask him to join the squad for their upcoming games, and he declined.

Leaving Manchester United was a tough call but I know I made the right decision in coming home to Everton. Now I want to focus all my energies on helping them be successful.
 

SoxFanInCali

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That's a bit surprising because he's only 6 caps behind Shilton's record. Thought he might try to pick up a few more in a late-game sub role.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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That's a bit surprising because he's only 6 caps behind Shilton's record. Thought he might try to pick up a few more in a late-game sub role.
Upcoming fixtures are Malta and Slovakia (Slovenia? Fuck it, don't care) which would be easy caps.

I have to say he seems like a man on a mission for Everton. I wasn't sold on him but I'm all in now.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Toffees draw 1-1 against Hadjuk Split in Croatia, so with their 2-0 win at home, move on to the group stage of Europa.

I listened on the radio. Some Hadjuk dude buried a magnificent strike late in the first half, to hear the announcers describe it. But then Gylfi, about 20 seconds into second half, saw the keeper off his line and scored from about 50 yards out. The annoucers were completely losing their shit.

It was rocky for Everton, it did not sound like they dominated, although there was some fan violence before the game and it was a really tough crowd. Everton's youth continue to play very well and then make one dumbass mistake, as youth will do. Holgate did against City when he failed to clear and gave it right to Sterling for the City goal. Here Calvert-Lewin tried some fancy back-heel in his own six-yard box and surrendered the ball right in front of goal, and someone had to foul the hadjuk guy to prevent a goal. Pickford saved the penalty.

MOTM according to radio guys was Baines, who didn't lose the ball all day long. Rooney, Pickford, and encouragingly, Cuco Martina were mentioned as performing well also.
 

ninjacornelius

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It seems like the game plan this year, with Everton relying on a mix of players older than 30 or younger than 23 for significant minutes, is to muddy every match to point that it is unrecognizable as actual soccer. How do you mask the fact that you have a bunch of slow guys and kids who aren't great at advancing the ball? By making everyone equally slow, clogging up the defensive third, and catching a couple of decent chances on the break. As strategies go, it's not that terrible. Ugly and boring, but not terrible. It worked in the first half against City, and it worked to preserve a two-goal lead today. For it to be successful, you probably need sustained discipline in the back line, a very good shot-stopping keeper, and a couple of smart attacking players who can convert at a higher rate than what their expected goals might suggest. And where has Everton's money gone this summer? To Michael Keane, Jordan Pickford, Rooney, and Gylfi.

It's not going to work against everyone (see: the second half at Man City), and it requires your own players not to shoot themselves in their dicks too often (looking at you, Ashley Williams), but Hajduk Split wasn't going to be bringing Raheem Sterling off the bench today, and even if they'd converted the penalty gifted to them by Williams and DCL they still would've needed two more unlikely goals.

This isn't the path to a serious challenge to the top four in England (the talent gap is just too wide), but I honestly think that Everton could make some serious hay in the Europa League with these tactics. The AC Milans and Hoffenheims of the world are talented enough to break through any Thursday night two-legged slog, but I'd still give Everton a fighting chance against any of them.

Of course, all of this is moot if Everton can't find a striker before the week is out. Any striker. Seriously. C'mon guys.
 

67YAZ

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You're bing a bit harsh. This team has overhauled its attack and brought in players to completely change its creativity. It's gonna take some time to gel. The good news is that Everton are through to the group stages and look to have a very easy last couple months to the season. This squad should hit its stride and really get rolling.
 

ninjacornelius

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I didn't mean to sound too critical. In fact, I meant most of that as a compliment (except for the dig about them playing unrecognizable soccer, which was cheap). I like the current squad just fine, and I ride or die for Koeman and Walsh.

But I struggle to see this team as high-volume shooters at any point this season. I also don't really see them as lightning-fast counter-attackers (unless Coleman and Bolasie come back 100%, then maybe). But I can see them being smart, organized, and more able to turn traditionally low-percentage actions (straight crosses into the box, free kicks from 20+ yards out, corners) into goals than most of their opponents. I don't think it'll be attractive soccer, but it could work. Still need a striker, though.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Europa group stage draw:

The Toffees will play French side Lyon, Italians Atalanta and Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol.

Challenging but no midweek trips to Ukraine or the like.
 

ninjacornelius

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It looks like Everton's is the only group with three clubs from Top 5 leagues. My initial thought is that's really rotten luck, though I haven't seen Lyon yet this year to know how they look post-Lacazette. My second thought is that I wish I lived in Europe, because those are three lovely away days.

In other news, Koeman says that Klaassen is out against Chelsea, Sandro and Gueye are doubtful, and Schneiderlin is suspended. McCarthy's still hurt, too. That's a lot of missing midfielders.
 

ninjacornelius

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What a deadline day! :wooper:

The one bit of business that Everton knew they HAD to complete this Summer was finding a replacement for Lukaku. The team's known since May that he was leaving. They got 90m for him and had no obvious replacement (DCL is a fine prospect, but he's still a prospect). So apparently they put all of their eggs in the Olivier Giroud basket, and then set that basket on fire.

They also know, and have known for months, that they need cover at left back. Leighton Baines, who is 32 freaking years old, is literally the only healthy left back on the roster (Funes Mori sucks when he's healthy but he's not healthy). So what do they do? Not only do they fail to sign anyone, but they send Callum Connolly, who's a marginal prospect but still a warm left-footed body, out on loan to Ipswich. So that leaves us with Luke Garbutt, who couldn't even get regular minutes at Wigan last year (the same Wigan that was relegated to League One, mind you). I guess that Baines is going to play every minute of every match until January, if his poor legs don't fall off first.

And then Ross Barkley, who's hemmed and hawed since last August about having ambitions greater than Everton, was set to go to Chelsea for £35m. The deal was in place, Barkley was in London for his medical, and then in the middle of the exam he just... changed his mind. Walked the fuck away. Occam's Razor suggests that he's angling for a better deal for himself in January (maybe to Spurs), but the knock-on effect is that Everton will be lucky to get half that fee when he's only got 5 months left on his contract. I know that it's a business, and Barkley is under no obligation to anyone but himself, but I'm going to be bitter about this for a long time. He just screwed the club out of millions, weeks after rejecting an offer that would have made him their highest payed player.

So our one signing is Nikola Vlašic from Hajduk Split, who seems like a decent enough prospect as a winger but who's only 19 and will probably only be used in Cup matches this year (if he's used on the first-team squad at all).

Oh, and as of right now Omar Niasse is somehow still on the team.

I need a fucking drink.
 

ninjacornelius

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"Arrested while driving a Beetle after spending the night dancing on a table and singing Wonderwall with Phil Bardsley's brother" is the worst fucking Mad Lib I've ever seen.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Awful.

The defeats at Chelsea and home to Spurs had no redeeming qualities at all.

Uniformly terrible.

The common denominator in Everton's worst stretches of football this year - the first halves of these two games - is that Calvert-Lewin was not on the pitch. Without his pace - according to something I can't find right now, he is in the top ten speediest players in the PL - Everton doesn't stretch defenses, so potent attacking sides like Chelsea and Spurs can pin them back and force them to concede.

Courtois and Lloris had almost nothing to do in these games.

Rooney, when not trying to shag birds and drink-drive, has been wise, hard-working, and useful, but his physical limitations are evident. He can be a good supporting player but needs a striker to play off. Sigurdsson has shown quality but is still getting fit. Schneiderlin and Gueye are too much of the same player. Sandro and Klassen have done nothing -although it's early, the "can't do it in the Premier League" tag could soon stick. Davies has regressed - he seems aimless.

At the back, Keane and Pickford are solid, although Pickford has made a couple of gaffes that are to be expected given the pressure he's been under. Leighton Baines continues to soldier on reliably but FFS could they have kept at least one other warm body who can play left back? Jagielka and Williams depend on smarts and experience but they're also getting long in the tooth and they can't go 90 without getting exposed. Holgate has been very good but his mistake led to City's eqalizer. Cuco Martina has been decent getting forward but sweet Jesus on a pogo stick is he a terrible defender.

In retrospect preoccupation with the endless Gylfi transfer saga left them with not enough time to land a striker. Granted it's way too early to tell with Sandro, and DCL might just be a star, but right now they look like a mobile with a cut string. Gylfi was arguably on the all-PL XI last year and he's a talent to build around, but if there was one unit where Everton had talent already it was midfield.

Biggest fail is Koeman. Everton seem to be doing nothing in particular tactically, he hasn't hit on a lineup yet, and worst of all they seem lackluster.

Standing on 4 points after 4 games, heading into a brutal Europa travel schedule and a trip to Old Trafford. Yay.
 

ninjacornelius

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Through four Premier League matches, Everton have made seven shots on goal. S-E-V-E-N. To say that this offense is easy to defend against would unfairly imply that the offense exists at all.
 

teddykgb

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I wouldn't overreact to a tough opening slate of matches. You've played some of the toughest opponents you'll face before New year, key will be to go on a run with you get the lesser sides. It's tougher being in Europe because squad depth us tested but I think there's generic merit in turtling up early and trying to earn your points later
 

OurF'ingCity

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Yeah, I wasn't super concerned about the losses in the PL because they were all to very good to good teams, but this one is...disheartening, to say the least (not actually watching so don't know how much the score reflects the play but 3-0 to a middling Italian team is not great regardless).
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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commentary on the blogs and Liverpool press is SCATHING.

Out of nowhere it looks like Koeman is in trouble. Variations of "I hear Frank DeBoer/Bob Bradley/David Moyes is available" all over the place.

Disjointed, lack of effort, no attack at all.

Fuck.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Yeah, I wasn't super concerned about the losses in the PL because they were all to very good to good teams, but this one is...disheartening, to say the least (not actually watching so don't know how much the score reflects the play but 3-0 to a middling Italian team is not great regardless).
I got the time zone math wrong so I turned it on right at the end, but what I saw, the highlights, and the player ratings and articles I read - there was nothing good at all. The only performance recognized was Rooney - on the defensive end, clearing out balls on set pieces, etc. If that's the best you got, that's pretty sucky.

Schneiderlin in particular being savaged for being limp, passive, ineffective.

I remember getting a letter before freshman year of college. It had the names and contact info of my roommates and recommended that we all get in touch to avoid us showing up on campus "with four stereos and no couch, or worse, four couches and no stereo." Well this is a team with a dozen number 10s, running around in circles, and no fucking striker.
 

OurF'ingCity

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Out of nowhere it looks like Koeman is in trouble. Variations of "I hear Frank DeBoer/Bob Bradley/David Moyes is available" all over the place.
Yeah but I feel like this happens every time they go through a rough patch. As much as I love Everton some of their fans and the press are wildly reactionary. If they go on a winning streak Koeman will suddenly be the greatest coach Everton's ever had.

Not saying there aren't real issues here because there obviously are, but I think it would be pretty foolish to fire Koeman for a bad string of 3 or so games.
 

candylandriots

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Out of nowhere it looks like Koeman is in trouble. Variations of "I hear Frank DeBoer/Bob Bradley/David Moyes is available" all over the place.
Not saying there aren't real issues here because there obviously are, but I think it would be pretty foolish to fire Koeman for a bad string of 3 or so games.
It would be the height of hilarity to fire Koeman for 3 bad games and hire de Boer.
 

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Sunny von Bulow
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Yeah but I feel like this happens every time they go through a rough patch. As much as I love Everton some of their fans and the press are wildly reactionary. If they go on a winning streak Koeman will suddenly be the greatest coach Everton's ever had.

Not saying there aren't real issues here because there obviously are, but I think it would be pretty foolish to fire Koeman for a bad string of 3 or so games.
From the NYC Evertonians FB group:

Everton - and Ronald Koeman in particular - opened their Europa League group stage campaign by embarrassing themselves. Atalanta walked to a 3-0 win, and in reality, it could have been much worse.

If that sounds familiar, it might be because Koeman sent his players out in the exact same setup that got carved to pieces against Tottenham Hotspur. A narrow 4-2-3-1 with no true wingers and no Seamus Coleman is quite frankly managerial malpractice.

Everton’s players are not stupid. Koeman said so himself in his pre-match press conference. If they see that their manager is setting them up in a nonsensical way, with players out of position, it then becomes very difficult to perform to their utmost capacity.

Wayne Rooney should not have played a minute in this game. Given the overwhelming probability he starts at Old Trafford on Sunday, what possible reason could there be for trotting out an old, slow player on the road after he’d started every match of the season? Bueller? Bueller?
Jordan Pickford should have played in this game. Maarten Stekelenburg should not be faulted for this match in any way, but the Dutchman isn’t Everton’s best goalkeeper.

Davy Klaassen is heavily experienced in the Europa League and only played 45 minutes against Spurs. Naturally, he started on the bench today.


Can't argue with any of this.
 

ninjacornelius

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 18, 2005
584
Austin, TX
Masochistically, I decided to watch the first half of Atalanta-Everton on DVR this morning, and... yikes.

It's pretty clear to me at this point that Gylfi and Rooney can't play together. There's just too much overlap in their strengths (and deficiencies). They're both slow number 10s who need other players to work the ball into the attacking third. Playing both of them doesn't do anything other than make the formation way too narrow.

And about that formation - I don't know what Koeman's seen in the past month that makes him convinced that a wafer-thin 4-2-3-1 is the way to go, but he needs to stop. There is absolutely no width or speed anywhere on the pitch except for DCL, who's an island out there. Atalanta was able to clog the central areas of the middle third with bodies and immediately put a stop to any Everton attack. Atlanta wasn't even playing that tight of a press, it's just that they knew that Everton's only offensive idea was to either a) feed Gylfi or Rooney in way too deep of a position for them to be effective or b) hoof a 30 yard pass to Calvert-Lewin all alone, who'd then get double-teamed. That's why I don't think it's fair to bag on Schneiderlin too much, because there was nothing for him to do once he got the ball.

Defensively, I don't know what to say. The first goal was (surprise surprise) poor set-piece defending. The second was a screamer from Gomez where all you can do is tip your cap. The third goal was because Jags lost track of his man even after he looked over and realized that there was no one marking the free runner. Goals one and (especially) three were inexcusable, but all that means is that it would have ended 1-0 instead of 3-0. There was no way that Everton was scoring yesterday. In fact, if that match is replayed 10 times, with the same formation and tactics, I think Everton would be lucky to score 3 goals total. It was that bad.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
So.

Despite the terrible scoreline, Everton were at least the equals of, and probably better than, ManU at Old Trafford, for the better part of the game.

Of course, "being effective for 70 minutes" doesn't earn a point.

Valencia's goal at 3' was a great strike that he doesn't hit again in ten more tries, but OTOH he had all day to settle it and there wasn't a blue shirt within 15 feet of him.

For the first 15' United moved the ball around the box at will and should have scored some more - Lukaku missed a sitter. Ater that Everton stiffened. Cuco Martina was effective bombing forward on the right, which briefly covered up his defensive ineptitude and general badness as a football player. DeGea made great saves on Rooney and Gylfi. They held their own and had the better of play but couldn't find the pass or shot they needed. With no one with any pace up front or wide- no DCL - there wasn't anyone to stretch the defense. Eventually the more skilled team found the net at 81' and then there were two garbage-time goals (one from Lukaku- his specialty).

Koeman is getting roasted for poor roster construction, and for failing to ride the few legit striker options he has harder, and most damningly for indifferent and lackluster performances.

Carabao Cup game at Goodison against Sunderland starting in a few minutes. Rooney not in the 18, ostensibly for punishment not that his two-year ban on driving has been handed down. The fans will be thrilled with the lineup - all the kids are playing - Davies, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Holgate, fan binky/academy product Jonjoe Kenney, and new acquisitions Nikola Vlasic (poached from Europa opponent Hadjuk Split - first start), Davy Klassen (zip so far) and Sandro (close to zip, although to be fair he hit the crossbar when he came in late last week).

This cup sucks, but they need a win against someone/anyone. It would be nice to see someone step
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
3-0 won. Thank God.

2 from DCL and 1 from Niasse which was very nice, supposedly.

Fun fact: the Sunderland XI had more appearances in an Everton shirt than the Everton XI, 238-233.
 
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