Allan: Everton feels like home

Nowherer near as skillful as players like Osman, Pienaar or Arteta, but I hope he can one day emulate the likes of Carsley, Mad Dog, Cahill and dear old Kevin Kilbane and reach top four.wearing a blue shirt.

He could become a legend...especially when you think, that lot are not even Brazilian

Agreed, a modern day legend.

Yes glad he's settled, I think it means a lot to a player if he is happy, and therefore his family are happy too, which reflects on the pitch hopefully. Although when he came back from his recent injury spell, he did look a shadow of the player we bought, thankfully that was temporary. I think and feel we are yet to see the best of Allan, when Carlo and Marcel Brands complete the next phase of rebuilding following the Transfer Window.

More Brazilians? More Phil Neville's? The mind boggles and is racing already! Darren what have you started here?

It shows how cosmopolitan the game has become. I remember Bakayoko doing an interview years ago when he was amazed Walter Smith had the foresight at the time to realize foreign players had to make an adjustment off the pitch as well as on it. Smith helped him find a home, a local mosque etc. sadly it didn’t work out, but in the same kind of era we had Madar who couldn’t adapt. Now we literally have players from all over the world feeling at home. That is progress at least

I agree with DK that we will see the best of him when he's surrounded by more quality on the ball.

🎣🎣🎣

It takes that long for the scales to fall from some eyes – mark my words!

As it is there's still not much dynamic to our attack so the defensive midfield players come in for much scrutiny, I don't think Allan will ever be a headline grabber but he's done a fairly steady job when he has played (little concerned at how many games he's missed)

Also I'm not quite sure we should be mentioning the work "legend" yet, it takes a hell of a lot more than half a season of games in a team finishing above mid-table to be a legend but I suppose it's a what generation you are brought up in.

The word legend in football is defined by players like Neville Southall, been there, done it and won it.

It’s certainly a hypothesis that can be tested.

I'm struggling to think of an real legends at Everton since big Nev... For me the closest we got would be Dunc or Cahill, but I think 'talisman' is probably better when you compare what they did to Southall, Sharp, Ball, Kendall, Dixie, etc, etc

Would love for one of our current lot to become a bona fide legend but they are all way off at this point.

Was it Joe Royle who correctly warned that Duncan risked becoming a legend before a player? Appreciate that our fans were desperate to have something to hold onto at the time, but a very wise statement.

Anyway, Allan. Very good player who has improved our midfield. Impactful when he plays as we saw against Arsenal and influences those around him with his leadership and continuous talking. Shame about the injuries and with Doucouré back and another more dynamic midfielder, plus an improving Tom Davies, I like what we are building in that area.

One of the big reasons that Silva got the sack was that Gana got sold and Gbamin got injured. Ancelotti at least addressed this with Allan.

We desperately needed a player of his type, Hoiberg went to spurs meaning that we probably paid over the odds although I do think that he is a better footballer than Hoiberg.

To kick on we need to strengthen the midfield to a point were Allan has serious competition for his place.

I agree forums don't represent the mass of Evertonians upon visiting all the Everton ones there doesn't seem more than 200 people regularly giving opinion across the entire genre - but they are loud and therefore disproportionately influential.

There ya go, another hypothesis to cogitate

But legend is really a word that's bandied about too freely now a bit like "world class" when talking about players that are good but for me world class meant the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff ect ect.

The word I'd use for many of our players during the Premier League era, like Tim Cahill, Big Dunc, Fellaini, would be "cult" players.

I'd say those fellas gained a cult status because of their playing style/appearance ect:

Once again, the “ageists” are out with their ‘he’s pushing 30’ nonsense. Tell that to 36 years old Fernandinho who bossed the Spurs MF in the cup final, or 33 years old Cavani who runs defences ragged?

If you don’t like certain players just say so. Don’t use this ridiculous argument as it doesn’t make sense.

Talisman - maybe.

Peter Reid comparison - maybe by the end of next season - if he stays fit.

Important player for us at this moment in time - absolutely.

I don’t think it’s a total coincidence that we have taken four points from six since his return. He makes the side function a bit better, his contribution improves players around him also he makes us harder to beat. There’s a few core players at Everton and he is one of them.

When he first played earlier in the season ho looked a fine player who could organise and direct the players around him, a possible future captain, then he got injured, came back, too soon possibly, and got injured again, took time to get match fit, then when he played again he didn’t look like he was a 100% fit but gradually worked his back to looking like the player he was at the start of the season, staying fit is the key to Allan being a real success at The Blues, because he can become a key player for us.

Colin (29), as you say Fernandinho is great player for Manchester City at 36, but Colin he has proved it over the eight seasons in the premier league, year in, year out, he has really proved his value to City, if Allan does half as well he will have proved to be a bargain.

I think we will see the better of him next season, he has been very good but with experience of a Premier League season behind him he will only improve.

Additionally at £20m he looks a bargain despite his age compared with the £50+m that Arsenal and Spurs have paid for some of their midfield recruits, albeit they are younger.

Allan is a good signing who I hope will be even better in a settled midfield with pace around him. I look forward to watching his Everton career develop.

Age is a misnomer, especially in the modern game where players look after themselves a lot better.

Also, something that has never changed is that good teams combine youth with experience. Experience comes with age. Very few teams achieve success on youth alone. Most have a blend of both as well as a blend of types of player.

There’s a very short lifespan for players on ToffeeWeb. Kids until 23, retired off at 29.

It’s a good point. Look at Fergies fledglings, they were all sober and carried on into their mid to late 30s. That being said, even in the older times we had a few like Trevor Francis and Strachan working wonders at almost 40, and I guess the pioneer of healthy longevity was Stanley Matthews.

It is great that they are likely to be told - "Yeah - this is the place to be", rather than "No - avoid it at all costs - go somewhere else".

However I will finish by the doubters who still think no Manager will push us onwards in the hope of glory again.

I stared a Centuary thinking this will never change, as I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me, too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall, but the absolute luck is- love is in our hearts.

Both good enough to have played at the highest level of European football, both probably not absolute top, top drawer. But both bring qualities beyond their footballing ability. When Neville was absent, his leadership and presence were missed. I think Allan brings that to this team as well as being a very good footballer.

The Peter Reid similarities; that is down to leadership and style of play. Not because he has yet achieved half of what Reid did at Everton.

That the same Phil Neville who has 6 Premier league winners medals.
3 FA cup winners medals.
1 Champions league winners medal.
59 caps for England? ,"Right up there with Philip Neville."

That the same Phil Neville who has 6 Premier league winners medals.
3 FA cup winners medals.
1 Champions league winners medal.
59 caps for England? ,,,1,16:49:59,,109.249.181.90,ok,23848,04/29/2021 16:49:59,Tomrichards2@outlook.com,reader,,,no 1151254,40743,toffeeweb,29/04/2021,Tony Everan,ianjones66@yahoo.co.uk,"Jay, loved that, guaranteed laughter indeed!

Yobo was a great acquisition by Moyes. Legend? If Allan’s a Legend Yobo must be a Super Legend, Sheedy a premier legend, and Dixie an Elite Platinum Plus Legend.

Fascinating to see people so carefully avoiding a line that hasnt even been cast.

Very athletic centre back who did like to try and play. I think he maybe came to soon for many Evertonians of that generation. Me and my younger brother had very different views on him, my brother being very much in the Stubbs & Weir mould of judging a centre back. Yobo was always a liability to him. I could see a player who in a better team would excel.

You also have to remember he joined a very poor Everton team in his early 20s. A very young age for a centre back, a position I don't feel you see players hit their peak until they hit 28 - 30 years old. Younger centre backs playing behind a poor team will be exposed and ultimately take blame because they are the defenders. Just like keepers. Within reason obviously.

Interesting fact, he was not signed by an Everton Manager, Kendall had just finished his 3rd spell as Manager, and Parkinson was signed before cue hot sweats, but sorry have to say it, before Mike Walker became Manager.

We need a bigger and better squad, otherwise we won’t improve. Other teams rotate, some clubs have more match winners on their bench, than we have out on the pitch, and certain players get rushed back and then don’t get a rest, which is why we need more depth and quality to move forward, in this very physical demanding league.

Legend? No. Of course not. That got thrown into the thread early on and isn't relevant to Allan.

In fairness, it has generated some interesting discussion even if it's irrelevant to Allan and the original topic.

This season, the team was improved but we always knew the squad was thin and with a few injuries we were back to what went before. Someone used the sticking plaster analogy before. Totally right.

We now have to add depth to the squad. Improving in each position. I've said it about centre back. If you get the chance you do it. And guess what? If this season's most improved player (Michael Keane) becomes surplus and back up, then so be it as the team improves and this season's good becomes next season's back up. But you don't not improve because the kid came good.

I was mortified when we brought in Dave Watson. Why do we need to replace Mountfield I questioned. I don't think I was alone. But good managers take the emotion out of it and Howard Kendall knew what he was doing.

Obviously Gravesen didn't play in that abject performance in Romania; neither did Carsley or Kilbane (late sub).

Phil Neville did though.

I wasn’t that fussed on Carsley, (I like watching midfielders who want the ball) and Kilbane was also honest but just average imo, but so was that Everton team that came fourth, although it did bring in a new age, and that new age has not only been shite, it’s not the Everton we know or yearn for.

I don’t want a manager who is not used to working with lesser players, I want better players who can take Everton back to where they belong!

I think Everton were skint when they came 4th, and that’s why they never pushed on, but another thing that is often overlooked is they lost a proper caption in Stubbs, and that team really struggled, until he returned.

Guaranteed 100% off all of them.

Quite possibly Pat may have been used as a centre half, not heard anything on that line.

Like I say could be other reasons as well, but Mountfield, spoke about it A while back and thinks that’s is why we signed a centre half.

Parky was my favourites at the time, and if I'm not mistaken was on the verge of an England call-up, only 26 when he got the career-ending injury. I remember reading that big Joe kept playing him when he was carrying the injury?

A couple of months after Mountfield suffered his seizure, Everton signed Dave Watson for a then club record £900,000 from Norwich City.

The former Liverpool youth player went on to take his fellow Scouser Mountfield's place in the side and was a fixture in the team for over a decade, going on to make 528 appearances and becoming the Blues last trophy-winning captain to date when he skippered the side in the 1995 FA Cup final.

I will never know if that was the reason Watson was signed, but I know my time at Everton was over, I was then moved on to Villa.

The key is what you say; the midfield needs runners and movement. We saw that against Arsenal. Time and again, James and Gomes looking up and seeing nothing. Allan having to be patient until a forward option was on for the pass that ultimately led to the goal.

Another neighbour for you

One headline actually reads “Coutinho set to become Iwobi teammate.”

Other news, Doucoure is training again on his own. It would be a boost if we could get him back for the West Ham match a week on Sunday. If we are near full strength going into the last five games we can really put in a strong finish.

Fans also allowed back in for the final home game against Wolves.

Makes for a busy schedule that week. A WHU at 4.30pm on Sunday 9th. A Villa at 8pm on Thursday 13th. H Wolves currently listed for Saturday 15th but now with a TBC against it - to be confirmed. Getting pushed back to a Sunday or Monday game due to fitting in the Villa game on Thursday?

What about you getting to see the Wolves game, Rob? Weren't you denied seeing the Blues having won a ticket to attend when a new lockdown was enforced?

Any idea yet on the club's plan for who is elligible to attend the final home game?

** Opps! Own self-edit update. I overlooked the home fixture on Sunday 16th v the Blades. The Wolves game will be mid-week before closing out the season away to City on Sunday 23rd.

Return of Fans - Wolves Ballot FAQs

Worth checking out for those hoping to attend.

This looks a key one for your circumstances:

I was successful in the West Ham United or Manchester City ballot. Can I change my group size?

No. Your previous successful application will be retained. No changes will be allowed. If people from your original application can no longer attend, you do not need to select a match ticket for them.

Btw has anybody been invited to the end of season supporters club awards on Zoom next Tuesday ?

Sefton Park is the peoples park.
Give it a go.
Buskers, two cafes a complete diversity of people.

Or go to Caldys for a larrtay if thats your bag

I'll enter my name again but almost certainly won't get one as I was lucky for the Chelsea game.

Big yes from me for Coutinho.

I know James is slow but can we keep buying slow players with no physical presence?

Hillfoot Hey. I remember that. As you say, now a housing estate across the road from Asda!!