Season › 2017-18 › News Williams looking to put frustrating season behind him Lyndon Lloyd Sunday, 27 May, 2018 46comments | Jump to most recent Ashley Williams has spoken of his predictable frustration at having had to sit out the last couple of months of the season without playing. The Welsh international was a regular starter for much of the campaign, one which had been expected to be one in which Everton pushed for a place in the top four, but he didn't feature after betting sent off against Burnley in early March. The 33-year-old served his suspension but was not recalled by then manager Sam Allardyce and he is now looking ahead to next season when he will be working to impress a new head coach. Williams was speaking to the media ahead of Wales's friendly against Mexico in Pasadena. "Yes, definitely," he said when he was asked if 2017-18 had been frustrating for him personally. Williams added: "But that season is done now and I'm just looking forward to this game and into pre-season for the next campaign. "It's always difficult not being involved and you want to play because playing a game is that bit harder. Article continues below video content "But what can you do? I've just tried to stay in shape and on Monday I'll just try and use my experience as best I can and play as well as I can." Reader Comments (46) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Dennis Stevens 1 Posted 27/05/2018 at 15:41:49 I think he should put it far behind him, as far behind as possible! Mike Gaynes 2 Posted 27/05/2018 at 15:43:24 Sorry, Ash, but what most Evertonians are looking to put behind them is you. Suggestion: Don't unpack your suitcase when you get home from Pasadena. You'll be needing it again shortly.Best of luck to ya. Amit Vithlani 3 Posted 27/05/2018 at 15:53:39 Why is this even a story? The bloke had the armband and got stupidly sent off against Burnley. It might have merited airtime had he come out and held his hands up for being a total amateur. His behaviour encapsulated what this squad were about last season – slapdash, unprofessional and uncaring. Jim Bennings 4 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:05:01 Not turned out to be the player I thought we were getting from Swansea in 2016.I thought we were getting a vocal leader, a no frills, no shit defender who wore his heart on his sleeve and much like when we signed a 31-year-old Sylvian Distin in 2009, I was convinced at 31 we would see the best years of Williams career.That's sadly where the comparison with Distin comes to an end.What we got with Williams was a sluggish, very leaden-footed slow defender with woefully poor position sense and where the vocal leadership qualities went I'll never know because my abiding memory will be seeing him always going hiding under his shirt when going got tough and throwing immature tantrums.I'd like to thank him for that winner against Arsenal just before Christmas in 2016, it was a goal that took the roof off the Old Lady under the floodlights, but that's as good as it ever got for the Ashley Williams - Everton partnership. Joe Foster 5 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:18:27 He's not good enough. Nowhere near Premier League standard. Ray Said 6 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:33:34 It's great to hear you say "I've just tried to stay in shape" – it's just a pity that your usual shape is one of sitting in a squat with your head in your hands after letting yet another striker free in our box. Jack Convery 7 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:37:38 His quote that I read – "It's good to be back with the Welsh guys as we have a laugh and we all get along with eachother" – speaks volumes about the turgid atmosphere amongst the squad. A disunited squad will never win anything. Ask Joe Root – he's got the same problem with the English cricket team. I thought we had bought a leader with a "none shall pass" attitude – instead, we got a "can't pass, can't defend" player, who has consistently looked out of his depth and let his anger get the better of him on too many occasions. He will go in the summer, along with quite a few others. i Cannot wait for the books from these players when they eventually come out. Season 2017-18 The Season From Hell. Brian Cleveland 8 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:40:46 Is he still here? Transfer window has been open for a few days now... there must be someone in League Two or a local pub who thinks he might be good enough for them? No transfer fee required, we'll even pay his bus fare. Ian Bennett 9 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:42:53 Hope Swansea re-sign him. Liability. Jack Convery 10 Posted 27/05/2018 at 16:53:20 His quote that I read; "It's good to be back with the Welsh guys as we have a laugh and we all get along with eachother" – speaks volumes about the turgid atmosphere amongst the squad. A disunited squad will never win anything. Ask Joe Root: he's got the same problem with the English cricket team. I thought we had bought a leader with a "none shall pass" attitude – instead, we got a "can't pass, can't defend" player, who has consistently looked out of his depth and let his anger get the better of him on too many occasions. He will go in the summer along with quite a few others. I cannot wait for the books from these players when they eventually come out. Season 2017-18 — The Season From Hell. Victor Jones 11 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:06:44 Good for him. But not with Everton hopefully. He could do a job for Tranmere. Bye bye. Richard Lyons 12 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:18:35 He might have been a Paul Power, but it didn't happen... Kunal Desai 13 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:27:37 Sadly not the footballer who showed great leadership in his Swansea days. No doubt he saw the opportunity like one or two others to join the club and pick up a few quid in his last years as a Premier League footballer without breaking any kind of sweat. One player that desperately needs to be shown the exit door. Hopefully, some mug from the Championship will take you. Mike Hayes 14 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:29:25 Needs to be moved on. He's a big liability and, at 33, we need younger players in. And no more Man Utd rejects – if they don't want them, we don't either. Jagielka and Baines can't sustain a full campaign, yet they were pivotal to our recovery last season; hopefully Brands can identify the players we desperately need in all positions. Gavin Johnson 16 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:37:16 My hope is that we bin him off to Swansea or Newcastle in a deal involving Mawson or Lascelles. Geoffrey Williams 17 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:45:05 I said from the outset that he'd be no good for Everton. We needed someone good in the air, quick and able to play the ball out from the back. His best days had long gone. Keith Monaghan 18 Posted 27/05/2018 at 17:59:08 He was a panic signing after we cashed in on Stones... Boys Pen Bill or Walsh guilty? He was way over-rated based upon a couple of half-decent games for Wales in the Euros, where his lack of pace and mobility never got exposed.We'll get little for him – just get him off the payroll; he was a liability all along. Bill Gienapp 19 Posted 27/05/2018 at 18:43:51 Unfortunately for him, I doubt there's a single Evertonian who wants to see him stay. In fact, he probably has less currency amongst the fanbase than even Schneiderlin, who at least *could* be salvaged, in theory. Williams has nothing to offer at this point. Peter Fearon 20 Posted 27/05/2018 at 19:08:59 Ashley Williams should call West Brom or Swansea to see if they need a defensive sub with anger management issues. Nice guy, but not up to Premier League football anymore. Dave Evans 21 Posted 27/05/2018 at 19:24:35 I understand what people are saying but a little unfair. Williams is great at cutting out crosses and getting a foot in when a team is under intense pressure. But he gets turned too often and is easily bypassed outside the box.He may still have something to offer as a squad member in a new setup. Danny Broderick 22 Posted 27/05/2018 at 19:33:47 Williams can only play in a back 3 in a backs-to-the-wall job. He cannot play in a back 4, and forget any idea of him helping a team to play out from the back. He might do a job for someone, but not for a team looking to finish in the top 8... Jimmy Hogan 23 Posted 27/05/2018 at 19:40:46 A fine, cultured defender, in the mould of Bobby Moore... not! Robin Cannon 24 Posted 27/05/2018 at 20:16:17 Evertonians looking to put frustrating Williams behind them. Johnny Rainford 25 Posted 27/05/2018 at 21:10:32 I saw a headline "Ashley Williams looking to leave" and was absolutey made up. ... Only to become absolutey deflated when I read the ".. frustrating season behind him"Ffs. Gerard Carey 26 Posted 27/05/2018 at 22:15:11 What's that old saying!!?? He had deceptive pace!? He was actually a lot slower than he looked!!!. Tony Everan 27 Posted 27/05/2018 at 22:20:32 Too slow, not fit enough, too old and not fully motivated to the Everton cause. He is finished as an Everton player.A big disappointment and there isn’t an Everton fan I’ve spoke to who wants him to be here next season. He’ll be back at Swansea, sold for buttons. Eddie Dunn 28 Posted 27/05/2018 at 22:30:54 A shame. The lad turned-up for pre-season way out of shape with a load of games waiting for him. He has gone from a titan at Swansea and Wales, to a frustrated, slow player with anger problems.Has to leave. Liam Reilly 29 Posted 27/05/2018 at 22:40:53 I agree, Eddie; he was seriously out of shape at the beginning of the season and should've been told to train with the Under-23s.That said, however, some short memories here, folks: he actually played 'well' if I recall for the first few months of his time at Goodison. I think his loss of form was down to attitude myself as he didn't keep himself in good shape. John Roberts 30 Posted 27/05/2018 at 22:41:39 Just what happened to him? I agree with most of the comments; he's nothing like the player he looked at Swansea. Surely it was only due to injuries he played so much. He was just awful, probably the worst performing player to keep his place for so long in history. Jerome Shields 31 Posted 27/05/2018 at 22:59:05 How long of a contract did Everton give him? Obviously too long. He should be gone. Paul Mackay 32 Posted 28/05/2018 at 00:19:51 Bye! James Stewart 33 Posted 28/05/2018 at 00:42:36 Williams is a total disgrace. I've lost what little respect I had for him after the red card for that utterly pointless and disgusting elbow. Sooner he is gone the better. Derek Thomas 34 Posted 28/05/2018 at 01:35:59 Add him to the list of players I never want to see again in a first-team shirt, then show him the door. David Currie 35 Posted 28/05/2018 at 01:40:55 He is terrible, get rid. Jim Harrison 36 Posted 28/05/2018 at 02:38:13 That Burnley game was the end for me. His attitude towards Pickford after their first goal stunk. He also just stood and watched it happen. His sending off for basically losing his head killed any chance of getting back in the game. He let the team down when he was supposed to be the leader. Victor Yu 37 Posted 28/05/2018 at 02:38:57 Go back to Swansea on loan? James Flynn 38 Posted 28/05/2018 at 02:56:48 He still has a year left at £70k per week. Can't see anyone touching him at that pay rate. Wayne appears on his way to DC. I'd put Williams in with Mirallas, Besic, Garbutt, Browning, Galloway and some others. The Club needs to cut the roster down from the 30+ it is now. Moshiri might have to eat part of these contracts trying to find other clubs who will take them off our books.Unpalatable it might be, but we could have an expensive sub at centre-back in WIlliams for his last contracted season. Rob Dolby 39 Posted 28/05/2018 at 09:07:12 What hasn't helped any of our defenders is a midfield that contains one player who can tackle. Morgan was like the invisible man and don't get me started on formations or the Number 10.Regardless Williams isn't a patch on Jagielka and shouldn't be considered over Jagielka, Funes Mori, Holgate or Keane.One of the promoted teams will hopefully take a chance on him. Rudi Coote 40 Posted 28/05/2018 at 09:35:37 Please, won't some team take him... PLEASE! He should never wear an Everton shirt again. If he wants to return to playing then NOT for our club!!! Colin Grierson 41 Posted 28/05/2018 at 11:07:41 Dave Evans (#21),Are you Welsh by any chance? Terry McLavey 42 Posted 28/05/2018 at 12:14:54 "Having to sit out the last couple of months without playing." Yes Ashley, there's a reason for that, you were a liability and eventually someone actually noticed and did something about it! Good luck with what remains of your career, but please don't let it be at Goodison Park or the new stadium. Bobby Thomas 43 Posted 28/05/2018 at 14:56:31 Ashley Williams is only of use for a side that's ambition extends no further than setting up to defend its own third, or box, soak, and play on the break.He's conned a lot of people, myself included I have to say, playing for Wales. Sat in the safety of the middle of a three, deep, and employing the basics of positional play. What a defender, what a warrior! Ask him to play any higher up the pitch and he absolutely bricks it.I'm still traumatised by the "performance" from Williams and Keane at Burnley. Colin Glassar 44 Posted 28/05/2018 at 17:22:53 Preferably as far away from Goodison as possible. Terrible player!! Ian Linn 45 Posted 28/05/2018 at 19:31:02 Not good enough, made too many mistakes. We conceded more when he was playing; he needs to be punted somewhere else. John Hammond 46 Posted 28/05/2018 at 21:37:52 I can't see him playing for us again at all. Poor attitude and some appalling behaviour as well as some shocking performances. We don't need this fella around the club anymore. Tom Bowers 47 Posted 29/05/2018 at 15:45:03 Seemed to be a solid defender for the Swans but past his best and a liability for Everton, as are one or two others in defence.Everton seem to always sign players of this nature at the back end of their careers for about one season only.Remember the likes of Mark Hughes, Gazza, Richard Gough and now Rooney to name but a few but will take Messi and Ronaldo for a year. LoL. 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