Sidibe: We cannot wait to take on Liverpool

Tuesday, 3 December, 2019 103comments  |  Jump to most recent

Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Djibril Sidibé says that far from fearing Wednesday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool, he is relishing going toe-to-toe with the Premier League leaders.

Everton make the short trip across Stanley Park on the back of successive defeats that have left them hovering over the relegation zone and there has been much talk about the size of the task facing Marco Silva's side.

Sidibé has knocked back those assertions saying that these are the kinds of matches professionals dream about and he suggested that perhaps all Everton needed was a big victory to kickstart their faltering campaign.

“As players, there is no fear, or sense of being daunted, playing big games like these,” Sidibé said on evertonfc.com. “They are the sorts of games which get professional players excited.

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“We cannot wait. We are impatient to get underway against these sides. They are all clubs with massive budgets and squads full of top players. It is a dream to play against these types of teams, it is what we are here for.

“I know there is a massive rivalry between Everton and Liverpool and the clubs' fans but you don't talk about just playing in these games, you talk only about winning them.

“It is a massive occasion and very important for the players and fans.

“We feel we have the quality [to quickly climb the table], that is not in doubt. We have confidence in ourselves, the manager and coaching staff — the whole club.

“The performances we put in against West Ham, Tottenham and Southampton were all very encouraging. Maybe we just need one big game which will be the catalyst to get us going.”

 

Reader Comments (103)

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Dave Lynch
1 Posted 03/12/2019 at 03:05:20
Listen soft lad.

Every game should be approached the same way despite who we are playing.
Put into action your words then... Because this team has been stealing a living all season.

Martin Faulkner
2 Posted 03/12/2019 at 03:15:29
Sidibe's turn this week, yawn
Mark Andersson
3 Posted 03/12/2019 at 03:32:20
I cant even be bothered reading the drivel served up by these players and backroom staff. We will get beaten we will get relegated they will move on to bigger clubs with inflated pay and luxuries that we can only dream about.
Oh wait I feel like I have been dragged down to a half glass empty when I use to be so optimistic.

Bad luck. NO, it's karma. Accept responsibility and then the good karma will follow

Alan J Thompson
4 Posted 03/12/2019 at 05:46:11
Things must be getting bad as that's two this week and that's only if you don't count Brands. I can see some transfer requests going in if they have to keep this up. Anyone remember who was first up?
(editors, any chance of a sort of Gx stats on these press releases?)
Brian Porter
5 Posted 03/12/2019 at 05:53:23
A new manager would be a better catalyst, Djibril.
Mark Guglielmo
6 Posted 03/12/2019 at 06:05:53
Dave @1 I'm assuming you meant to say put your words into actions and not the other way around, yeah? I'd say he's done exactly that since he became our starting right back (except for the Norwich game when he was but 1 of 10 bad players on the pitch). Not sure why our best player this past game isn't being spared the spraying machine gun fire from our toxic fanbase, but...oh wait, I just answered my own question.

Martin @2 Turn this week to do what? He didn't focus on Silva, or how he has the team's full support, or any of that other nonsense. He casually included the manager/coaching staff in his comment about confidence, but otherwise, he only talked about the upcoming match. God forbid one of our Blues steps up and says they don't fear an opponent, least of all Liverpool. When was the last time someone did that? What an arsehole.

Instead he's treated like the dog who only wants to please his owner but gets a rolled-up newspaper across the snout. If anything he should be pissed at Monaco for loaning him to us. Perhaps you'd prefer if he said that.

JFC.

Rob Young
7 Posted 03/12/2019 at 06:06:28
Christ, he makes us sound like a lower league team going there in the cup.

We all know what will happen there tomorrow and in January.

James Power
9 Posted 03/12/2019 at 06:22:06
Mark read Dave’s comment again; “put into action your words” he got it the right way round. He didn’t say “put into words your actions”.
Paul A Smith
10 Posted 03/12/2019 at 06:31:02
Mixed thread already. Team stealing wages but its the managers fault. I'm glad players are getting some of the stick though. Its about time.
Nick Swallow
11 Posted 03/12/2019 at 06:31:12
Ha ha ha, Mike, that is the first laugh I have had for months being a blue
Lyndon Lloyd
12 Posted 03/12/2019 at 06:40:04
Neither the players nor the club can really win at the moment. The official site needs regular content and it usually comes from the mouths of the manager and the players. Of course, right now no one wants to hear words, they just want action on the pitch.

I actually thought Sidibé's words struck a really good tone. Our players should be gee'd up for these big occasion games; I'd rather that than them soiling their kecks.

The result may as well be as predictable as we all fear but I'm not going to begrudge the guy who was our best player at Leicester getting excited ahead of his first Merseyside derby. Hopefully he cracks home a 90th minute winner from 30 yards and becomes an instant Everton hero!

Mark Guglielmo
13 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:00:40
James thanks for pointing that out. It's the opposite of how we say it here.

Paul that's fine, but why Sidibe? I've also noticed you defend Silva, a lot.

James Power
14 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:11:16
Thanks Mark, it is much more straightforward to say “put your words into actions” but it’s nice to channel your inner Yoda from time to time. Anyway, to tomorrow night’s game I am not looking forward
Philip McKeown
15 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:31:57
Please Please play well, Please give everything and surely we deserve some luck.

It's my 40th birthday tomorrow. A result at Castle Greyskull would be the best present ever

Paul A Smith
16 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:32:44
Everyone is culpable Mark. And why Sidibe I don't know. It may sound absolute crazy to some people but he may have been asked how he feels about the Derby. Just maybe.

Or maybe he grabbed a reporter and said - quick, talk to me, I want to sound game and everyone will think I am doing it for Marco.

Jim Bennings
17 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:49:17
Yeah I really can’t wait to take Liverpool on too!

I’m so excited to face a team that we haven’t beaten since 2010, 25 matches ago or whatever it is now, and so long ago that Davie Moyes still had red hair and the Yak was up front.

I’m even more excited that we face them at Anfield where we haven’t won since before the computers all crashed when the Millennium arrived!

Put the talk into actions lads.

Laurie Hartley
18 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:55:32
Mark # 6 - that is a good post.

I have only ever been in Anfield once - in 1964. The “scabbyheads”, as my dear dad used to call them, won the league that year.

I remember on the way to that horrible place feeling very pessimistic about our chances of getting anything from the game. We were missing, West, Vernon, and Kay if my memory serves me correctly and our midfield include a novice Colin Harvey.

We had just taken the lead when our goalie Andy Rankin, pulled off the greatest save I have ever seen, right in front of the kop, from Roger Hunt. I was behind the Anfield Rd goal and had a perfect view of it.

Game over. We went on to tonk them 0-4.

They are not Arsene Wenger invincibles. Somebody has got to beat them and I want it to be us.

Start Kean - he will give that horrible big Centre Half of theirs the run around.


Ken Kneale
19 Posted 03/12/2019 at 07:58:23
Lyndon - even better if the 95th minute
Graeme Beresford
20 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:06:02
SERIOUSLY NOW, STOP TALKING.

Sick of this crap. They must think we are idiots. These guys are champions league winners and soon to be premier league winners. Week in week out decisions go for them and even when they play poorly, they win.

We, week in week out, play poorly and decisions go against us and we get beat.

I would honestly right now somebody came out and said ‘Liverpool Wednesday night... yeah we are going to get stuffed’ at least I would appreciate their honesty. I’m not even watching tomorrow night. Same as their champs league final. Phone is off and I’m going to bed, no doubt turning my phone on after the game to see Liverpool awarded a penalty via VAR, red card to Everton and Pickford error.

Jim Bennings
21 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:07:05
Laurie

I’m also leaning towards the starting selection of Moise Kean.

It might give them something new and unexpected to deal with.

DCL for me is just far too nice, he doesn’t give defenders enough movement to worry about when he hasn’t got the ball.

For me its Richarlison or Moise Kean.

We need a horrible centre forward, maybe the lad Kean has got a bit of a nasty streak in him.

We are already on our longest winless run in Merseyside derby history, terrible time to be an Evertonian let face it.

We have to end this horror record one day.

Daniel A Johnson
22 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:17:57
Liverpool wont go the season unbeaten, were in abd form they have a goalkeeper who needs nappies as he craps himself.

Could this be on?

SIlva always sets up well against them.

Prepare to dream

Laurie Hartley
23 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:22:09
Jim#21 - This game is made for him - he is a fighter.

Did anyone notice that he was back in our box just after Leicester had scored the winner, to take the ball of Vardy’s toes for what would have been another certain goal.

He hadn’t and doesn’t give up.

Paul A Smith
24 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:32:19
I am not afraid to argue with 90 of their muppets on my own so lets see the club grow a pair.
If we're not good enough then we need to learn the standard don't we.

Mark, my posts are not to favour Silva, I don't savour love for any manager that would leave us for Man U. I point out where I feel he has been short changed by the club because I don't want the new manager left in the same situation.


Daniel Johno above should play, he is brave enough to say Silva sets up well against the shite which is true, just watch out for the comeback tackles Daniel. 😂

It will be, how can he Daaaaaaniel. He hasn't got a clue about tactics, we have. 👍

Tony Abrahams
25 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:33:16
You should have stopped writing yourself Graeme, after that first sentence of yours mate!
Dave Williams
26 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:36:44
Much better than the usual stuff and it’s high time we all gritted our teeth and face this head on. We have enough in the squad to hold our own and give them a good game IF Silva ditches S and S and plays five across midfield.
I’m as sick as anyone about our record there but if we get behind them and make ourselves heard then who knows.
Sidibe played bloody well on Sunday and will give them problems.
Graeme Beresford
27 Posted 03/12/2019 at 08:53:23
Tony @ 25

Bloody bored of it mate. We’re a joke of a team right now. Morishi comes and we all think Europe and Champions league, lets have it right, it’s been a disaster.

Eddie Dunn
28 Posted 03/12/2019 at 09:08:23
He showed good attacking instincts at Leicester, put in some cracking crosses. Fair play to him someone has to sopeak out and rally the troops and give the fans some hope. I hope that he puts in a few more of those crosses and we bang a few in. Liverpool have been stealing games recently and it would be vengeance to put right Pickford's howler last time.
Then we can dump them out of the Cup.
Derek Knox
29 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:05:12
Eddie, yes he possibly was our best player at Leicester, it's a pity we couldn't get all eleven firing on all cylinders for a few games.

There is always a malaise that seem to affect at least one or two players, sometimes more, which overall has a knock-on effect on the performance.

Dave Evans
30 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:09:29
Greame @27
But your not so bored of it hat you keep coming on here and saying your bored bored of it and not going to watch the games.
Dave Evans
31 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:12:41
By the way Dave Lynch @1 Sidibe was immense against Leicester, he is anything but a soft lad.
Steve Ferns
32 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:19:43
After the Norwich game, Everton didn't put out any player comments. We were criticised. Sidibe was interviewed after the game, on the pitch (that's where these comments come from) and the club release them. The club cannot win here. And it's not the club, it's the club's media department. What do you honestly want them to do?
John Keating
33 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:26:08
Well done Djibril good to hear. Any chance of finding any other 10 to go out with you with the same thought ?
Steve Ferns
34 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:35:02
John, right now we will be lucky to find 3 players to go into tomorrow's game without fear.
Tony McNulty
35 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:44:41
Steve (34) It's the fear on the face of the manager that bothers me.

He now exudes a sense of hopelessness, which has to transfer itself to the players.

John Keating
36 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:49:39
Even that 3 might be optimistic Steve.
If my memory serves me right - these days possibly not - I remember a few years ago we played Grimsby in a Cup game. We battered them but for whatever reason couldn't score.
Apart from kicking off I don't think they got out of their half until one single chance and we lost 1-0
That would do me tomorrow !
Could have been Wilkinson scored that goal who we later signed ?
Steve Ferns
37 Posted 03/12/2019 at 11:50:18
How does it transfer to the players? They are professionals out on the pitch concentrating on the game. Any professional who has to look to the sideline to see a demented fool jumping up and down like Klopp to get inspiration should not be a professional.

I'm not saying Klipperty is no good by the way, because he certainly is an excellent manager. I again refer everyone to Klipperty doing his thing for Dortmund in his final season when they were still in the bottom three in February. Didn't help them then, did it?

That routine is purely for the fans. Makes no difference to the players. Whenever I had a bad game, which was most of the time, I would never look to the touchline, I didn't want to get the hook!

Pete Gunby
38 Posted 03/12/2019 at 12:05:37
Sidibe earned respect with his performance. I’ll listen to him based on that. Same game plan on Wednesday with Kean up front would give us a fighting chance.
Jerome Shields
39 Posted 03/12/2019 at 12:12:25
Actually I think that Sidibe has shown on the field why he has played at the highest level. What more he is looking increasingly fit, which means he is has been putting the effort in on training ground. Even during the Leicester game he looks like a player that would not be out of place playing in the Champions League.

I also think that evertonfc would have found most players reluctant to put their head above the parparpet. Not Sidide though , he is confident he can put in a performance against Liverpool or any Premiership team. He probably now, having got settled in, experienced the Premier League and adaptable his preparation to what he knows is required, is probably looking forward to playing. A lot are starting to recognise his quality after his performance in the Leicester game.

I believe that Sidibe is genuine in what he says and actually believes it and is preparing accordingly for the Liverpool game. Seamus is finding he is up against real competition now.

Tony McNulty
40 Posted 03/12/2019 at 12:12:54
Steve. For starters, during the team briefing and tactics before the game. Whenever he appears, he looks like he's just come back from his own funeral.

Someone wrote a book years ago entitled something like, The fish rots from the head

The best football managers always seem to have a sense of purpose, not look like they feel they shouldn't be there.

And are you are suggesting that managers make no contribution from the technical area? We could innovate the managerless team concept I suppose. Oh wait, we are almost there.

Tony Abrahams
41 Posted 03/12/2019 at 12:13:51
I can’t agree with everyone thinking Europe and champions Lge, once Moshiri came Graeme, because football is not like that, but I can understand why you are bored and frustrated, because I think everyone is exasperated by Everton at the minute.

I just hope Sidibe, is speaking for the whole team, because it won’t take us long to find out if he’s not, and agree withJerome, when he talks about the players fitness levels.

Steve Ferns
42 Posted 03/12/2019 at 12:30:33
Tony, you're clearly seeing something different to then. Before the game he is definitely all smiles and positivity when talking to the sky cameras. Why wouldn't he be like that with the players.

You seem to think that the players are all looking to the manager like expectant puppies hanging on his every word before he goes out. All the work is done on the training ground and in the class rooms. The players all have their headphones in on the team bus, walking into the dressing room, and if Everton are like Man City, Sunderland, Juventus and any of these other teams in the fly on the wall documentaries, the players all stare at the floor and pay little attention to any rousing Churchillian type speeches. Times have changed and footballers are not the same people as they once were.

Francis van Lierop
43 Posted 03/12/2019 at 12:40:13
That's the spirit Djibril !

If we show no optimism, why even bother?

Paul A Smith
44 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:04:26
Like Howard Wilkinson and George Graham, Tony 40.
Or how about the exciting Wenger? Full of excitement and smiles Daglish.

When we talk about things we don't have a clue about, like Silva giving a team briefing, (hands up all those that have sat through a Silva Briefing). It just becomes assumptions and nonsense.

Klopps cheer leading has gone to heads it seems.

Tony McNulty
45 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:07:32
Steve, for me it's important for the manager not to give off the vibe of a loser. And I think that's what he now does.

To pick up another of your points, it's not Churchillian speeches that are wanted or even needed. It is rather something along the lines of sorting things out so that everyone knows their role when the opposition get a corner.

One sad part of the inevitable departure of someone who does seem to be a nice guy, is that I suspect he is very good in the one-on-one aspects of the role, being supportive to an individual player, for instance.

Rob Young
46 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:13:30
Francis #43
I bother bacause this is a huge part of my life, but doesn't mean in any way I have to be optimistic about our lot of useless bottlers going to the home of the European champions and soon to be English champions and probably World Cup winners (knowing their luck).

Fck sake. Have you not paid any attention for the last 3 decades?

I'll go there expecting to lose, hoping for another draw and ever so slightly and briefly allow myself to dream a little.

But let's be real, there is no reason for any optimism at all.

Steve Ferns
47 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:13:46
Paul, as above, it was ineffective as Dortmund went from double League Winners and Champions League finalists to bottom of the league and were still in the bottom 3 in February. It looks great for the fans but it's just garnishing rather than substance.

Pep Guardiola described Ronald Koeman as a tactical genius. He wasn't the last to do so. Koeman often switched things several times per game to try and adapt. So he was able to get his message across and make changes. It did not help in his second season though. And slumped against a post in the Watford dugout, seemingly unbothered by what was happening in front of him, whilst Walter Mazzarri was going nuts in the Watford dugout. Mazzarri's antics didn't help him at Watford either. Conte is as animated as anyone on the touchline, and it looks great when as he wins things, but didn't do anything as he struggled with Chelsea before he got sacked, or the two times he got relegated.

Mark Pringle
48 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:20:22
Jim B @21 - I completely agree we need a 'horrible centre forward'. That man, in my opinion, is Alfredo Morelos at Rangers. 25goals + this season already, scoring regularly in Europe, temperament calmed down and a realistic target for us. I know some will refer to 'the scottish leagues' again but it worked out for Dickhead Van Dijk and Robertson who we also missed out on.
Him and Kean would be a great pairing if we ever get a manager brave enough to play 2 up top.
And just to clarify, despite being Scottish, I hold no allegiance to either of the big two, my Evertonian relatives made sure I was brought up correctly!!
New manager, new ideas needed, time for a fresh start. Silva has been unlucky at times and in some games in isolation I thought we may be on the right track, i.e. West Ham away last season for e.g., but he has made too may mistakes and from the outside looking in, as we all are, I think he is over coaching players and overloading them with info. His time is up in my opinion.
Push the boat out for Poch, albeit probs unrealistic, and if not I would go for Arteta and Cahill. Absolute no to Moyes, Hughes etc and don't think Howe is as good as made out albeit at least he would play 4 4 2.
Steve Ferns
49 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:21:49
Tony, Ronald Koeman was a winner, and he tried to come across like a strong leader, being dismissive of the defeat. He smiled, he kept repeating "but that's football". We hated him for it. He doesn't care we said. Martinez tried to argue black was white and tried to make it sound like all was well, for good reason, to keep confidence as high as possible. We hated him for that. Silva looks like he's hurting with defeats, well so did Moyes. The strong Scott looked a beaten man with every Sunderland defeat, even offering to slap a female journalist "if she was a man". A losing manager is a losing manager and you will see what you want to see.

The main thing is Silva gets the confidence high in training and works on what was going wrong. We are still creating chances, we are still stopping chances at the other end. If we can keep creating far more chances than we concede then things will change in terms of results.

If Silva can get to the opening of the window and get a faster centre-back in who can help stop these suicidal mistakes the players are making where every chance we cough up is a certain goal, and preferably also get in a serious upgrade on Schneiderlin, and lo and behold a goalscoring forward, then results certainly will change.

Rob Young
50 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:25:22
Steve,
you're basically saying that if Silva can have us score more and concede less then we'll be heading in the right direction?

I agree.

Steve Ferns
51 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:31:27
Of course Rob, and we are doing well at creating chances and stopping them. We just don't create enough quality chances and the ones we concede tend to be quality chances that the opposition score. And yes, exactly like the winner against Leicester, Silva takes responsibility for that.
John Keating
52 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:52:45
Steve.

What happens between the training ground and classrooms, and kick-off time?

If what happens during the game – for the past 18 months – and what he coaches, is the same, we really are in the shit.

Steve Ferns
53 Posted 03/12/2019 at 13:57:29
John, Silva wants to play fast counter-attacking football. You cannot just go out and play that. There's two teams on the pitch and they have to battle for control of the game. If one team want to park the bus and give you the ball, then you cannot play fast or counter-attacking football can you?

Leicester are a good side and for 70 minutes we looked better than them at their own ground, and with a raft of injuries. We were able to get forwards well and that was with a number of players not even playing well when we were in the ascendancy. For example, Iwobi was blowing hot and cold, giving the ball away one minute making a long fantastic pass the next.

The manager can set the teams up to play a certain way, he can coach them to do it, show them what the opposition will do, and tell them how to counter it, work on it some more in training, but at the end of the day, it's up to the players once they cross that white line.

Dan Parker
54 Posted 03/12/2019 at 14:16:38
Great experience for them as career professional footballers, horrible experience for us.
Peter Mills
55 Posted 03/12/2019 at 14:21:19
Steve#53, most of the “lesser” teams who come to Goodison sit back, meaning we cannot play a fast counter-attacking game against them.

When we play away and a team takes the lead against us they too sit back, meaning we cannot play a fast counter-attacking game against them.

That’s two pretty big reasons why we are not winning many games.

Hugh Jenkins
56 Posted 03/12/2019 at 14:58:51
Steve (53). I think that the philosophy is part and parcel of the problem.

I expect when everyone complains about "no plan B" what they mean is precisely that if the home (or away) team don't attack, you cannot play fast counter attacking football and that any manager, worthy of the name, will have am alternative strategy up his sleeve and will have trained with the team to change formation and strategy in such an event.

This is probably why we are getting beaten, home and away insofar as other managers now know what to expect and plan accordingly.

I think Silva could potentially be a good manager and a good appointment for us - but he has to be more flexible in his playing structure -otherwise he is heading for an avoidable downfall.

Christy Ring
57 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:04:14
I must be missing something here, Silva's formation and tactics have us 17th in the table, against Norwich, he made 3 changes together, against Sheff' Utd, he ended with six attackers on the field, I have seen very little counter attacking football, when he constantly picked Schneiderlin and Delph.
Steve Ferns
58 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:04:48
Hugh, "no plan B" is a football cliché. Silva makes changes mid-match. For example did you how we shifted from a high press to a low press in the Leicester game? It looked like a 523 to me early on and we shifted into a 541 and the wingers stopped pushing on and we pressed in own half only. We played well against Leicester until the players seemed to have the running knocked out of them by the equaliser, but the changes reinvigorated us to an extent and we had some decent chances to get the winner ourselves before getting caught on the counter. Both of their goals came from sloppy passing. His various plans were successful to varying degrees, but as always individual errors by players by players he didn't sign have cost us, game after game.
Jerome Shields
59 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:20:54
Steve you are overlooking the one consistent weakness of Silvas tenure, which is possession. This consists of retaining it and retrieving it.

It starts with Pickford who with his kick outs repeatedly places the ball in no man's land. A example in the Leicester match was the kick out prior to the second goal. The opposition repeatedly has regained possession this way. In the defence it consists of poor clearing of their lines by Mina and Keane. Holgate is actually a improvement on them. The midfield is too static and is often caught and pressurised in possession and often loses it as a result. Everton have one of the worse pass completion stats in the Premiership in the final third , this has been apparent since the start of last season. Poor pass completion equates to lost possession and a breakdown in any attacking options.

Once Everton loses possession, they have a poor record of recovering it. It's was Gueye making the abnormal amount of 20 tackles a game covered over this. It was only when he was supported by Zouma that Everton got advantage from this. Now there is a soft centre throught the heart of the midfield and heart of the defence. Any opposition that regains possession in the midfield can build up momentum easily in an attack. Everton have lost game after game because of this. Silva high press is made redundant as a result of poor possession play.

At the start these weaknesses were covered up by Richar!ison in running from deep, but opposition teams soon copped on by winding him up, tackling him more ( often obligingly lay down on contact ) and channelled his play, knowing he had a weak final pass.

These weaknesses where therd from the start of Silvas tenure, what has happened is that Silva never addressed them and opposition team became more adapt taking advantage.

On top of this nothing changed at Finch Farm in attitude and motivation. It has often been reported how popular he was at Finch Farm. When Silva is gone he will be forgotten there by the next morning.

Going forward these unaddressed weakness will result in the inevitable, as we are experiencing week after week.

Steve Ferns
60 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:29:01
Jerome, but Silva's Everton are statistically one of the very best sides for recovering the ball high up the pitch! what are you basing your observations on? Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are two of the best forwards at recovering the ball.

The rest of what you said simply highlights how the board have not recruited to give him the tools he needs. Had Everton signed Zouma, Doucoure and a decent striker, then I doubt we'd be struggling right now.

We create lots of chances, we concede few chances, but we cannot convert the chances and we cannot prevent goals from the few chances we concede. A lot of that is down to the inadequacy of the players, not just the failings of the manager.

George Cumiskey
61 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:31:52
Steve Ferns credit were it's due, you keep fighting Silvas corner despite all the evidence to the to the contrary, and are seeing things nobody else seems to see.
Danny Baily
62 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:32:20
Not lucky(?) enough to be going but I will be tuning in tomorrow night and hoping for the best.

You just never know.

I also like Sidibes attitude, on and off the pitch. And the man can cross a ball - would love to see him link up with Tosun from the start tomorrow.

Amit Vithlani
63 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:39:57
"Had Everton signed Zouma, Doucoure and a decent striker, then I doubt we'd be struggling right now."

I absolutely disagree. This is no where near a bottom 4 team.

Zouma & Gana were part of a team that lost 8 out of 12 (?) last season. Horrific runs are de rigueur in Silva's managerial record.

Zouma & Gana were part of a team that never won after conceding first

Zouma & Gana were part of a team that shipped the most number of goals.

A manager who cannot win after losing the first goal is likely to lose many games. Therein lies the problem: Silva has a dreadful number of losses chalked up.

This BS that without 3 players we are bottom 4 material is nonsensical. The manager has a clear blind spot.

Dave Abrahams
64 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:45:36
Danny (62), well said Danny, okay we never got a result at Leicester but came very close to getting a point. All last week and right up to Sunday afternoon we were getting the pesamistic Evertonians (?) telling us we were going to get battered at Leicester, never happened. Now one of our players comes out and says he is looking forward to the game and is optimistic that we will perform well, getting shouted down for his trouble, I wish I was going tomorrow night, I hope those who are going have a pleasant surprise waiting for them. It nearly happened last Sunday against an inform team, let’s see us get a result.
Adrian Evans
65 Posted 03/12/2019 at 15:57:50
Silva talks the talk,all the cliches sounds convincing,to some.
Olympiacos, so they get a cheap ticket into the Champions League??
So hes done nothing in the toughest League.Well spent a fortune goes on losing runs that could see you relegated if they come at the wrong time.
Plenty of talk,we play ok and lose, 1-0,2-1 3-1 but lose again.
When will it end.
If left in the dug out,well get the same speak before Chelsea and guess what, well lose.
Or pick up a lucky point,maybe 3.
So I want a football team that don't lose regularly back to back.
Yep ok to lose in this league,but 3 max, make that a bad bad run.
A football team that we actually think we can win every game,home and away and get close to doing it.
End of.

Manager ???Of course we have sold, lost a couple,e few long term injuries but if we had a bunch of defenders instead of Tosun,Niasse,?cost.Its horrendous who we bought in the last four years.

Bielsa,Howe,Sam, but Marco has to go now.

Dave Williams
66 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:04:42
Steve- no matter how you extol the excellence of Silva the facts are that we have not played a decent whole game all season, we have lost by two clear goals against each of the promoted clubs and have failed to fight back to win in any game under Silva. We are fourth from bottom because we have been poor and the team selections have been consistently at odds with his desire to play quick football.
If he manages to turn us around I will be delighted to shower him with praise but let’s be honest and admit that so far this season his own performance has been dreadful.
Dave Abrahams
67 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:05:44
Amit (63), well the bookies seem to think that we will be safe, there are about eight or nine teams more in danger than us, according to the bookies, for all you pessimistic Evertonians we are 7/1 to go down.
Steve Ferns
68 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:11:36
Dave, being sat in 17th in December is dreadful. No doubt about that. It's likely we won't survive to get the January reinforcements, and I predict we will have a dramatic resurgence when we do get a new guy in and the gloom lifts. It's usually the way. We'll all get carried away (some more than others), and then we'll hit a buffer and be back here again.
Dave Ganley
69 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:33:06
Steve in answer to your question what do you honestly want the players to do, I want the players to put in 100% every game week in week out, not just the occasional game against a decent team. If they did that then we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. Not asking too much am I? They are allegedly top level professionals after all
John Keating
70 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:34:53
Steve 68
Steve your fist sentence is spot on and it's quite a surprise you actually acknowledge that.

When Silva does go, hopefully, and I do so hope, we do get a resurgence and get away from the dreadful position you mention.

Maybe we will be back here again Steve, but what is the alternative.
If we do not shake off this nonsensical lethargic football we are being inflicted upon by Silva with no sign off getting out of we well may find ourselves totally forgetting Brands 4-5 year plan. Unless that plan is to reclaim our PL status.

There will come a point Steve when even you will have to acknowledge he's a hopeless cause. Hopefully by that time it's not too late

Dave Williams
71 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:38:41
I do hope not Steve though it does have a depressingly familiar ring to it!
We need to build which takes time and Leicester have again shown the way, raising funds selling top players and replacing them with young, ambitious lads who are giving their all for the manager.
Our current malaise started with the ridiculous fee for Sigurdsson, the expenditure on three number 10s and the apparent disinterest of Koeman. It is proving to be difficult to sort this out and I feel a radical approach is required in appointing a new manager who will take a grip on everything relating to the playing side.
Steve Ferns
72 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:48:33
John, where we differ is that I am not panicking. I 100% believe that if things play out we will finish top 10. Everything points to that for me. But you can look at the exact same things and see the opposite. Surely that's why we all love the game? We see different things from the same game, the same players, the same performances, the same statistics. If not, there'd be no ToffeeWeb.

I will say thought John, if Silva lost the next two games, even with a performance like against Leicester, and I was Moshiri I'd reluctantly sack him. I foolishly said I wouldn't sack him if he lost the next five games, but he's lost two of them already, and if he loses the fourth of them, I think you reach the point where you need a shock to the system to get a result.

The sad thing is the spell under Silva against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd could have been what we deliver game after game. I just hope the next man has the potential to get us to that level.

Jerome Shields
73 Posted 03/12/2019 at 16:54:27
Steve#68

You are talking in terms of the high press, which I agree has been partly successful, but if you lose possession again high up the pitch this does away with any good resulting from it.

The opposition defence just take the percentage position of pushing up, knowing that any Everton passes will not be completed and will end up going side ways. This gives them the added advantage of compressing and pressuring midfield.

A successful high press should result in more scoring opportunities and definitely not a successful counteracting opposition. Everton are poor at defending against a high press, again they give away possession and are poor retrieving it.

Often Silvas high press becomes irrelevant in the second half of most games, not helped by substitutions.

I am actually beginning to think that both Silva and Koeman both latched onto the buzz word of a high pressing team, but did not know how to implement or support it in the context of a overall team performance.

Steve Ferns
74 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:02:52
I disagree Jerome. Silva was playing a high press in Portugal with Estoril. He's always had different ways to play against different teams.
Dave Ganley
75 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:03:05
Steve #72 and therein lies the problem. After those games last season I was really excited for this season. We played great entertaining football and just needed to carry that kind of football into the new season. However, we have seen nothing like the level of those performances this season. Nobody wants the managerial merry go round but where do you draw the line? We are nearly half way through the season and Silvas team hasnt shown anything like that level of performance this season. We are slow, ponderous and getting beat very easily. I'm not sure how much patience we are required to have. I'm not in the camp that thinks we may get relegated, I feel that there are worse teams than us and we will get the necessary points that will ultimately take us to mid table mediocrity. But is that the level of our ambition? When are we ever going to kick on? How have we not reached the same performance levels as the back end of last season? Is it down to the fact that we had nothing to play for last season? Who knows, but we just cant keep drifting like this, its soul destroying. Over the last 6 seasons we have just slid back to the dark days of the late 90s, no heart no soul and definitely no passion for the club. As Roy Keane used to say, teams coming to goodison now is just a place to collect 3 points from Everton.
Jerome Shields
76 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:15:26
Amit #63

I agree with you regarding results when Zouma and Gueye played, but they where instrumental in signs of improvement near the end of last season , though Silvas weaknesses still where there.

It is worse now without them though.

Jay Harris
77 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:17:28
Laurie,
I remember that game so well.

We had a weakened team and I was so fearful of that game I switched the radio off and told my dad I didnt want to know the score and went out so after the game someone in the street said the score was 4-0 and I said I knew those Red b. s were going to tonk us. He said 4-0 to Everton.

I didnt believe him till I got home and saw the Pink echo.

That is the one hope I have for Wednesday.

Jay Harris
78 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:28:02
Steve,
Portugal was a long time ago and the level of football is different.

Now the Premiership has some of the best managers and players in the world and the tier of managers just below that acknowledge it and find other ways to win.

Moyes initial success came from motivation, organisation and high energy at a time when the most skillful players were just coasting.

Nowadays even the most skillful players are required to work hard and for 90 minutes.

I see 2 problems at Everton.

One is the players seem incapable or unwilling to play at their best level for 90 minutes let alone game to game.

Two Marco Silva's record in the premiership is consistent enough to suggest he is not capable of managing a club with top 6 aspirations.

Trevor Peers
79 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:43:28
Maybe Sidibe can't wait for tomorrow night, but we will need to overcome the basic fault of Silva's teams no matter how much pressing or otherwise we do, that is; the inability to string more than 3 passes together, especially away from home. When we attack it always quickly breaks down with misplaced or hurried passes, these are basic errors.

What does Silva spend his time endlessly drumming into the players heads when the basics are so badly neglected ? maybe he over coaches the simple things out of the players, because that's where we fall down everytime and it's embarrassing.

There are other failings too, the players don't seem to use thier own individual judgement in attacking situations to gain the best results, they look frightened to use thier own initiative. All signs of poor management, he fills thier heads with nonsense, when sometimes the simple pass is the best pass.

Paul A Smith
80 Posted 03/12/2019 at 17:48:09
Jay 78. I have to ask does that first line apply to Brands too then mate?

Surely by your take on the situation that Brands is only a man who signed players for a big team in a small league?

Silvas weakness' were not there during our good run either, I think that is a pre concieved idea of what you want to hold against him.

Steve gets some stick for persistance at times but he tries to construct his view with points we can all work relate too.

Saying he picked Davies because he had to, (like many have said) and he showed weakness in the good form last season sounds like agendas to me.

The team showed weakness in transition, a coaches first season where 11 good players carried out their jobs pretty well overall.

Its best to not admire any manager that will leave if he wants to so I keep an open mind on all of them.

Jerome Shields
83 Posted 03/12/2019 at 18:18:13
Steve #74

Opposition teams are able to manage Silvas high press, knowing its predictablity, with no alternatives. . High press on its own will not win games in the Premiership. I disagree that Silva used different ways to play against different teams in the Premiership.

Silva has been given more than enough opportunities since the start of the season that he can present a team with a winning formula or his version of such a formula.

Steve Ferns
85 Posted 03/12/2019 at 18:27:56
Jerome, #83

I disagree. The statistics show this to be untrue. We are winning the ball back and stopping sides getting at our defence. We have also pressed less high up the pitch, due to the opposition we have faced. When we have pressed high, because teams have played out from the back, we have had a lot of success. I can't count them off the top of my head, but I think we've played a high press in perhaps 3 games with season, and that's what about 20% of the games played?

Our big struggles have been that we make individual mistakes usually caused by getting caught on the counter, and yes Silva could do something about that by being less committed in attack. This usually happens late in games when we try to win games rather than sit back and take a point.

Richard Mason
87 Posted 03/12/2019 at 18:43:03
If he plays wing backs tomorrow we will get destroyed on the counter with the space left behind for Salah and Mané to run into
Amit Vithlani
88 Posted 03/12/2019 at 19:29:02
Dave @ 67. Thanks for that. The bookies are right in my opinion (and I suspect yours too?). We are not a bottom 4 team. With or without Zouma & Gana we are better than we are showing.

Marco Silva has NEVER won a PL game for us after going behind. We have a terrible record from conceding from set pieces.

This was true with Zouma & Gana in the side and also without.

So Steve Ferns laying the blame on our bottom 4 position at the Board because we did not sign Zouma, Gana and Doucoure?

I respectfully disagree.

Mark Guglielmo
89 Posted 03/12/2019 at 19:47:31
So that Sidibe huh? What a game last week. Good to see him excited for tomorrow's derby since it's his first. I have no doubt he'll bring that energy to the match.
Bill Gienapp
90 Posted 03/12/2019 at 20:25:21
Didn't have time to go through almost 90 comments, but I agree with Mark (6) and Lyndon (12). Sidibe's coming off a great showing against Leicester and said that a Derby's the sort of match every professional player gets excited for. It's not the usual "we're working hard, results will change, we're committed to the cause" talking points, so I'm not sure why people are slagging him off? Seems like exactly the sort of attitude we should want.
Jack Convery
91 Posted 03/12/2019 at 20:31:59
In my opinion Leicester are playing better than the RS right now, so start the XI that started at Leicester, They have a C/League and World Club Cup matches coming up, so get stuck in and don't give them a minute. Make subs earlier when legs start to go - Moise, Bernard and Delph if fit to come on. They won't like it up them !! Oh and another thing, when the chances come along FFS put the ball in the net, preferably at the Kop end. IF and yes its a big IF we somehow win make sure it's the start of a long run of wins and not just a one game wonder. COYBs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bobby Mallon
92 Posted 03/12/2019 at 20:33:23
Mark @3 well said, a player who is not scared of and can’t wait to get into Liverpool gets slagged off for saying it some bloody fans eh
Oliver Molloy
93 Posted 03/12/2019 at 20:58:18
I don't give a fuck about them. We aren't playing well, we have had more than our share of bad luck, players getting injured, decisions going against us and the likes, so it's about fucking time isn't it ? Go out on their turf and put it up to them anyway we can.

I want to see a smile on Silva's face tomorrow night, even better would be to see him running all round the fucking place come full-time. Kean or Richarlison to score and win it for us.

COYB - We are due one!!

Eric Paul
94 Posted 03/12/2019 at 21:30:37
The bottom line is opposition managers find it easy to work Silva's tactics out then he can't change a game in a positive way. His substitutions always make us worse and are always too late. The only stats that counts are in the points column and we don't have enough.
Mark Guglielmo
95 Posted 03/12/2019 at 21:34:12
That's an odd take on Sidibe, Eric.
Eric Paul
96 Posted 03/12/2019 at 21:40:30
Have you not read the comments on Silvas tactics on this thread, Mark?
Laurie Hartley
97 Posted 03/12/2019 at 21:43:57
Jay # 77 - never give up hope, it is the stuff that keeps you going in the dark.
Mark Guglielmo
98 Posted 03/12/2019 at 21:54:56
Have you not read the topic of the article, Eric?
Paul Birmingham
99 Posted 03/12/2019 at 21:55:10
John @36, yes it was Grimsby, Paul Wilkinson, a header into the Park End from the edge of the box.

That night we battered them..and lost 0-1, and we signed him, and he scored for us in a derby against Liverpool, when we beat them at Goodison Park, in the title run in 1985.

Tomorrow if we can clone Sidibe's spirit and skill we have a chance.

Hopefully they have an off night and start with Moise to rough up the Liverpool defence. They are not playing well, even Liverpool supporters, are saying they are poor in defence.

Can we upset the odds? There's nothing to lose tomorrow, 100% effort from start to finish and no early Chrimbo presents to them.

Jerome Shields
100 Posted 03/12/2019 at 23:02:51
Steve #85,

A lot are pressurised mistakes and they happen often. Everton need to start retaining possession and playing in the final third to get actual results, by scoring goals.

I know the importance of sticking to a plan with the same Manager and don't look forward to another Manager starting and trying to process it.

But there comes a time when enough is enough and Silva is held accountable for Everton's performance and Premier League position.


Steve Ferns
101 Posted 03/12/2019 at 23:08:13
Let's see what happens tomorrow.

I feel a lot better about waving goodbye to Silva, knowing the club might appoint someone like Gallardo rather than Moyes. Marcelino seems more likely to go to Arsenal, but he would be another one I could get well behind. The others were giving up on ever breaking into the top 6 for me.

If Gallardo is serious, and it's this, rather than the paper talk, driving the odds crashing down from nowhere, then maybe the players can dig one out for Silva and give us a derby win at long last. What will be, will be. The world's always a better place when we beat that shower though.

Jerome Shields
102 Posted 03/12/2019 at 23:24:24
Steve #101

They were reportedly talking to Moyes, but abandoned talks, because of fan opposition. Moyes was reportedly surprised at the fans' attitude, so things have moved on from that era at least.

Like you, I would like them to see a Manager who could take Everton forward, because there are signs of progress; unfortunately, Silva seems not able to fulfil his potential and Everton's current situation is not all his fault, though he will pay for it.

I also think Brands and Moshiri would prefer continuing with Silva and the original plan, but the cards are stacked against him. Out of frustration and despair, both transient things, a man is reborn with new words and new powers.

David Pearl
103 Posted 03/12/2019 at 23:35:22
Awe Steve,

When you say wave goodbye, do you mean you’re going down to Finch Farm to actually wave? Or is that just an expression?

Brent Stephens
104 Posted 03/12/2019 at 23:41:27
David "When you say wave goodbye [to Silva], do you mean you’re going down to Finch Farm to actually wave? Or is that just an expression?"

Steve (Stevie?) - my guess is you're not waving but drowning - in our sea of disaster.

Francis van Lierop
105 Posted 04/12/2019 at 13:17:19
Rob @ 46,

Of course I've paid attention these last three decades, alas. I'm not a glory hunter, I'm an Evertonian. Sometimes I feel sorry for the match goers, the football is that poor, never mind the results.

Last sunday, I really thought we could get a result, once again I was proved wrong. Probably fighting spirit is a better word than optimism, the players do need to show both, no matter what happens.

Graeme Beresford
106 Posted 04/12/2019 at 21:56:04
Hate being right all the time.
Jason Broome
107 Posted 05/12/2019 at 04:56:22
5-2... Humiliation... Relegation zone... So much to look forward to.

Deluded fool!

Grant Rorrison
108 Posted 05/12/2019 at 07:19:04
Maybe he means in the cup?

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