Everton set on keeping Niasse

Monday, 22 January, 2018 113comments  |  Jump to most recent

Oumar Niasse will not be leaving Goodison Park during the current transfer window, with manager Sam Allardyce adamant that he can't lose the striker.

Well-sourced reports earlier this month had suggested that Everton would be prepared to let Niasse go if their £13m valuation of the player was met, with Crystal Palace — he came within minutes of joining the Eagles on transfer deadline day in August — West Bromwich Albion, and Brighton among the clubs said to be interested.

In the wake of his goalscoring heroics off the bench against West Brom themselves this past weekend, however, Allardyce says that the Senegalese striker will be a much-needed asset in his squad between now and the end of the season.

“No I can't let Niasse go, there's no danger of that," he said of the Blues' second-top goalscorer this season. “The hardest thing to come here in January is to come and play upfront.

"And there is no way we can let Oumar go. We've given Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] the weekend off because of the huge amount of games he's played the fatigue he's suffered so we said go and chill, rest and recharge your batteries and come back.

“We need those three between now and the end of the season."

Together with Director of Football, Steve Walsh, Allardyce has been able to land much-needed striking reinforcements this month in the form of Cenk Tosun who was signed from Besiktas.

The Turk will need time to settle in the Premier League, however, and it was he who made way for Niasse with 21 minutes left of Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Baggies.

Niasse scored within a minute of coming on, bringing his tally for the season in all competitions to seven, level with Calvert-Lewin behind Wayne Rooney who has 11.

 

Reader Comments (113)

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Peter Healing
1 Posted 22/01/2018 at 06:45:17
Made up! Christmas has come earlier. Thank you, Sam
Paul Newton
2 Posted 22/01/2018 at 06:48:26
Some good news at last! In terms of his goals to minutes played ratio, Oumar is our best striker by a mile. He should be second on the teamsheet (after Pickford) every time.
Kieran Fitzgerald
3 Posted 22/01/2018 at 06:55:45
Here's an idea, Sam: stick Niasse on the pitch and actually play him.
Tony Everan
4 Posted 22/01/2018 at 07:03:38
Here's a suggestion.

Don't sell him in the next transfer window either.

Without Oumar, we would be in the relegation zone. That says it all.

Make him the club captain, both the seniors and kids could learn something.

Rick Pattinson
5 Posted 22/01/2018 at 07:05:57
He's earned a place – play the lad, FFS. While you're there, play Klaassen. Get this season over – it's a complete disaster.
Ray Morgan
6 Posted 22/01/2018 at 07:42:36
Allardyce out, Silva in!!
Hugh Jenkins
7 Posted 22/01/2018 at 07:44:28
In the not too distant past, the Premier league / First Division had a pretty regulated set up. One team (didn't / doesn't) matter who, would dominate for one season or more. Several others would be in the “chasing” pack. Mid-table would be made up of almost the same teams each year.

The relegation candidates would have been cut adrift by Christmas and would be playing in their own mini league from December onwards to see which, if any, could climb out of the funeral pyre.

Last season saw a change, where a “clear” top seven emerged, of which we were seventh. A look at the table this season, shows the same pattern emerging, after Christmas. However, for reasons we are all aware of, we are now 9th and not 7th.

We, in fact, are 6 points behind Leicester and Burnley, who, in turn, are eight points behind Arsenal, who are in sixth.

So presently, we are fourteen points from the bottom of the leading pack, where, our history, tradition and ambition say we should at least be members of and twenty seven points from the head of the column, where again, our history, tradition and ambition say we should be. 27 points is nine wins, as opposed to nine defeats.

Burnley and Leicester, are, in historical terms, interlopers at the top table party. So too, historically, are Chelsea and Manchester City. Nowadays, of course, money talks, (it always did – the “Merseyside Millionaires”).

However, now we have some money, again, (maybe not as much as City and Chelsea, but more than most), we really need to take our place back amongst the elite, otherwise, we shall soon be recognised as a permanent part of the “second tier” of the Premier League and that will not be good for our image, for recruitment of players nor for the acquisition of new fans from the youngsters only just coming into the fray, each year.

Something at our club need to change, and quickly.

Steve Cotton
8 Posted 22/01/2018 at 07:57:15
The difference with being a second-tier team is the players we recruit. The top tier go for already grade a players costing £30M upwards. We are now in the tier where we need to see such players before they make it to the top and these can cost from £2M to £25M.

Time to get people in who can spot these when they start out. Is Walsh the man??? I think maybe not...

Paul Smith
9 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:10:02
Sub at best – he's been poor when starting.
Steavey Buckley
10 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:10:43
If everyone played with Niasse's attitude and with his smile, Everton would not find themselves in the mess of their own making. Niasse should be made team captain.
Steven Jones
11 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:14:08
Sensible decision – 5-7 goals between now and the end of the season. Also, he's a great impact sub.
Hari Singh
12 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:18:31
If Silva or Unsworth were Everton manager, Lookman would be playing more often.
Jim Bennings
13 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:27:53
Niasse looked instantly more like scoring than Tosun when he came on, he may be rangy clumsy and his first touch is dog bollock but he seems always that he's got a goal in him , unlike the likes of Calvert-Lewin who runs a lot down blind alleys and barely gets in the box.

It's a shambles though that after £200 million pissed away we are relying on the signing made 2 years ago that we used as the biggest stick to destroy Roberto Martinez with. Maybe Martinez with more money might have slowly started getting it right who knows?

Tosun, I mean we need to give him time but you pay £27 million for a striker and so far I don't think he's had a noteworthy touch in the opposition penalty area .

For this reason, I was sceptical of bringing a unknown lad in with no Premier League experience, for a team that struggled for goals all season. We badly needed him to hit the ground running.

James Byrne
14 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:35:03
Best of luck to the lad. He's been treated awful by the previous managers at the club.

If he can get a few more goals before the end of the season and help us avoid relegation, we might just make a profit on Niasse.

Les Martin
15 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:39:07
Dead right – he will not be sold; why would you sell your Kevin Campbell?
Dave Williams
16 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:43:02
Jim, Aguero would have been unable to score against Spurs and West Brom because we didn't create.

Tosun looks okay to me but we have to create to see if he can score.

Anthony Hawkins
17 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:47:01
Niasse is the new Peter Crouch. Forget the style and technique – he'll get you the goals!
Colin Glassar
18 Posted 22/01/2018 at 08:55:23
Jesus H Christ, I despair over this club, I really do.
Stephen Jones
19 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:00:00
Paul (#9) – I agree, he seems to be at his most effective as a sub, although the comment 'poor when starting' could be levelled at most of the current squad..

He looks ungainly and his general play outside of the box may not be top class but I would bet his stats for pass completion, headers won, etc, would stand comparison with Rooney and Calvert Lewin.

Aside from his impressive goals per minute total, his strength, enthusiasm, and energy when harrying defenders is invaluable to the team.

All strikers rely on good service into the box to score goals.

Given such service, I reckon he would end up our top scorer this season as he certainly has a poacher's instinct.

Jim Bennings
20 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:09:32
Dave

You say Aguero wouldn’t have been able to score in the West Brom game but hey , Niasse was on for 56 seconds and got himself in the goal scoring position so that kind of contradicts that statement?

Jim Bennings
21 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:13:25
A lot of it is down to style of play I agree with that but as a striker you must be strong when the ball arrives at your feet , chest, head etc. (Rondon was a good example.)

You must make intelligent runs (Kane, Aguero, Vardy) to drag defenders out of position.

And primarily you must get yourself in goal scoring positions as Niasse did instantly on Saturday.

Simon Jones
22 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:22:01
Niasse is a folk hero.
Paul Kelly
23 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:23:45
Jim B, “Maybe Martinez with more money might have slowly started getting it right who knows?”

Sorry mate, but I doubt it, I doubt it very much.

Paul McCoy
24 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:24:22
Nil Satis Nis... oh forget it.

The bar is so low now that we may as well drop the motto from the badge again. Niasse can't be faulted for effort, but anyone who is 'delighted' by this news is part of the problem.

You should be outraged about the fact that we've failed to adequately replace Lukaku. Pissed off that we're not signing a left back. Furious that we've got a dinosaur of a manager who is utterly clueless about how to set a team up to get shots on goal.

Craig Walker
25 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:31:15
I like Niasse but I think he only works as an impact sub. He's far less effective when he starts. The problem we have is that we have too many players who can have a good game every now and again but too few players who would get into the teams we aspire to be.
James Morgan
26 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:31:43
He lacks in a number of areas but he grafts and gets in the box and scores! How about we play him and Tosun together with Sigurdsson behind, give him a couple of options to aim for. Especially against the likes of West Brom.
Alex Mullan
27 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:32:13
Nil Satis Niasse Optimum
Dave Williams
28 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:42:29
Jim, you know the point I am making. Just because Niasse scored, it doesn't make Tosun a bad buy because he didn't!

New club, new country, different language – give the guy a chance, that's all I'm saying.

Geoff Williams
30 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:51:30
He may be a decent man, he may be enthusiastic, he may score a few goals but he isn't a premier league footballer.
Colin Glassar
31 Posted 22/01/2018 at 09:54:51
Geoff, don’t you know that effort and enthusiasm is what makes an Everton legend?
Andrew Presly
32 Posted 22/01/2018 at 10:41:27
Brings a nuisance value and the problems with his technique make him unpredictable for the opposition, trying to look at it positively. Attitude also spot on, unlike many many others.

If we added another forward this summer so he was third or fourth choice and was content with that I’d keep him around another year, under new management obviously.

Mark Dunford
33 Posted 22/01/2018 at 10:43:07
Excellent attitude after disgraceful treatment by Koeman. A very effective sub who has earned a number of critical points, mostly coming off the bench. Be mad to let him go.
Geoff Lambert
34 Posted 22/01/2018 at 11:24:15
Geoff Williams!! I think you will find that he is.
Dave Ganley
36 Posted 22/01/2018 at 11:28:47
Paul McCoy (#24) – spot on mate. How low can we go? Niasse for all his enthusiasm and effort is not or at least shouldn't be viewed as first team standard. He should never have been bought in the first place.

That is the heart of the problem at Everton now. Poor recruitment of players and poor recruitment of managers. No thought as to how players will fit in, whether they are good team players and whether they are any good. Same with managers. No homework done on Martinez, Koeman or Allardyce.

Say what you like about Moyes, and to be fair quite a bit could be levelled at him, so I'm not trying to say he was magnificent but most of his buys worked because he did his homework on players. His dithering at times drove me mad but most of the players bought into team spirit and would do anything to fight for the cause.

You watch the game on Saturday and how many players could you see doing that? Not many if any. Ever since Martinez came, players have come in and destroyed and team harmony we have.

Lukaku being one of the biggest. Good player but it was all about him. Couldn't care less about the team and with the odd exception like Gareth Barry, James McCarthy, two that spring to mind, the rest are just a bunch of egotistical footballers who just don't care. Until we get the recruitment right then this issue won't go away.

Same with managers. Martinez just got relegated but all Kenwright could see was a lucky cup win. It became apparent that Koeman had shocking relations at Southampton with players why wasn't this highlighted before we got him? Who's doing the homework on these managers? Allardyce, well a complete panic appointment who should never be within a mile of the club.

As sad as it is to say, we are pretty much in the same mess as when Moyes first got here. It's shocking to see how far we have fallen over the last 5 years and someone should be held accountable, shouldn't they Mr Kenwright! But they won't because the fans just won't protest or give him a hard time at the AGM. That's the problem at the club now, no accountability. Having fans lauding Niasse staying just shows how low the bar is just – like Paul McCoy said. Pitiful!!!

Rob Dolby
37 Posted 22/01/2018 at 11:33:00
Give me effort and resilience every day over hype, hair gel and tattoos. How are we ever going to get even marginally better with this bunch of mercenaries playing for us?

The youngsters have something to prove and it shows in their effort on the pitch.

I just don't see enough desire out of the rest of them including the manager. Niasse stands out like a sore thumb when he comes on. The lad is limited but he wants to win matches.

I wish he would have the balls to play Lookman instead of the unfit Bolasie. Play Davies with Gueye and leave Morgan to play with his game of thrones mates.

It was torturous in the Park End on Saturday having to put up with the PA system blurring put white noise for 30 mins and watching that awful display. The only highlight was Niasse.

Stan Schofield
38 Posted 22/01/2018 at 11:44:23
Hugh @7 & Steve @8: Talking in terms of tiers, the 'top tier', the elite clubs, are Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea. They spend the most, and win almost everything.

The 'second tier', outside the elite, are Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal. They get near the elite, occasionally win a domestic trophy at best, and spend less than the elite.

We are 'third tier', below 'second tier'. We get near the 'second tier, but not near enough to nearly win even a domestic trophy. We spend less than the 'second tier'.

Below us is the 'fourth tier' – the rest. They never really win anything, apart from the infrequent domestic trophy, or very occasionally, like Leicester, spring a 1-in-25 year surprise (which in itself seems increasingly unlikely).

Moshiri might get us into the 'second tier' provided spending is judicious and we have luck. But the next level, the elite, the 'top tier' is beyond us without the wealth of Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea.

Stephen Jones
40 Posted 22/01/2018 at 12:09:09
Spot on, Stan (#38). We're fecked until we can match or exceed the spending of the top clubs. End of.
Anthony Hawkins
41 Posted 22/01/2018 at 12:09:09
@ Paul #24 – right now, it's about getting goals and getting points regardless of the approach. The squad and team should never have been in this position but that's now an irrelevant point because that's where we are. Like it or not we only have the players who are currently to us. That points Niasse as our most effective striker.

If fans not wanting to sell our most in form striker so players who aren't scoring can persist is wrong then there's something clearly wrong there, too.

Yeah, let's sell our only scoring striker because ‘he is shit'. That's akin to ‘take away Cahill's goals, what does he offer?'.

Selling Niasse at this point in the season is cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Jay Woods
[LAT]

42 Posted 22/01/2018 at 12:18:16
Man City and Chelsea both have ruthlessly ambitious ultra rich owners driving them on; Man Utd's owners seem more like panderers to the huge fanbase (or maybe I'm seeing dichotomies where none exist).

I agree that we're in the 3rd level, tucked in behind Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs; that said, Arsenal and Spurs fans are irate at the lack of spending at their respective clubs in recent times so maybe we have a chance to nip in and usurp one of them in the next few years.

It's sad to be talking like this, knowing our history and how good our team was in the 1980s, but that's 3 decades of institutional mismanagement for you.

Stephen Jones
43 Posted 22/01/2018 at 12:27:06
Jamie Vardy must be one of the most limited footballers in the Premier League. What he does have is the nous and pace to get on the end of well placed passes behind the last defender and finish.

He also uses his pace to harass defenders into making mistakes. He isn't pretty to watch but, if you give him the right service and support, he will get goals.

John Wilson
44 Posted 22/01/2018 at 13:06:59
Niasse just doesn't score goals – he influences other's game, too. Niasse is our feel-good hero, ie if Niasse can score in his limited ability, we're genuine Premier League players. Niasse sets the bar... Niasse has saved us from relegation. Not many players, strikers, or even fake strikers (ie, can't find the goal) like Calvert-Lewin, could have the passion, determination, to score all the goals that Niasse has, or ever will.

Even the BBC-esque media pundits nearly choke when Niasse, the unconventional footballer, gets into dangerous positions; the awkward playing Niasse causes panic. Gangly, plays out of position; yes; more like Forrest Gump than Nottingham Forrest (once Premier League equivalent football professionals); but like Forrest could run, Niasse can score.

'Score, Niasse, score! (for 'Run, Forrest, Run!) I am made-up he is not going anywhere, we simply need Niasse he will bring the appeal of Everton to the continents of this blue planet, with Senegal (the country) being in one no exception, rather if he gets to play in their World Cup again, Niasse will be a cult hero.

This is Niasse, the 'Water-boy-esque' person non grate footballer, who couldn't get a locker, whose sports bag was left in the Nil Satis Nisi Optimum famous Everton club corridor, who out-stayed his nemesis Koeman – albeit Koeman acquired a love for the Senegalese mis-fit because he kept him in the managerial job longer than he would have otherwise.

Soren Moyer
45 Posted 22/01/2018 at 13:35:44
Delighted for Oumar!
Dave Bowen
46 Posted 22/01/2018 at 13:35:55
This is good news. Tosun will need time to adjust to the Premier League. Calvert-Lewin, for all his hard work, doesn't look like a natural goalscorer & as for Sandro, well...

Admittedly Niasse looks best as an impact sub rather than starting, but he is a goal scorer. If he's happy with a place on the bench, great.

Matt Hunter
47 Posted 22/01/2018 at 14:07:58
My first thoughts on Tosun is that he reminds me of James Beattie in that when he runs he looks like he has a wardrobe on his back.
Phil Martin
48 Posted 22/01/2018 at 14:28:46
Niasse is one of our better players. Make of that what you will, but that's the situation.
Bill Griffiths
49 Posted 22/01/2018 at 14:37:03
Can't understand some of flack Niasse gets on here. Okay, he has his limitations but he is a great squad player and a good asset to have on the bench, in the same vein as Alan Harper for example.

Unless you are a mega rich club you are not going to get too quality players to sit on the bench every week. You need players like Niasse for this reason he is well worth keeping.

James Stewart
50 Posted 22/01/2018 at 14:38:57
We would have been utter clowns to sell him. No one else scores. Until we sort that out, Niasse should be getting more game time.
Raymond Fox
51 Posted 22/01/2018 at 14:39:28
I should think so too, goals per minutes hes on par with the top players in the world. I don't care if he's gangly or whatever he does what he's there for, scores goals.

He was Player of the Year in Russia, now we know why. He continues to score vital goals, but there's no pleasing some folk!

Dave Abrahams
52 Posted 22/01/2018 at 15:06:45
I understand fans talking about his limitations but even they have to admit his goal rate has won us some very welcome points, same as me criticising Rooney.

I think I am justified in having a go at Wayne but I have to admit his goals have kept us away from the bottom three: erm... up to now!!!!!!

Jon Hirshman
53 Posted 22/01/2018 at 15:15:49
Stephen Jones (#43), Yeah right, totally limited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueCvMz0SLKs

Dave Pritchard
54 Posted 22/01/2018 at 15:36:43
Happy to keep Niasse. He does seem to perform better when coming off the bench so not sure about calls for him to start.
Phil Smith
55 Posted 22/01/2018 at 16:02:10
Good that the manager sees sense. No way we should get rid. 6 goals but might be in double figures if he'd played more.
Gio Mero
56 Posted 22/01/2018 at 16:20:57
Well I gave it some thought and maybe some of you guys can help.

When we purchased Tosun I, like some others, stated that he could never score more than the occasional goal irrespective of his ability given the fact we barely create any chances. Our system is useless.

Now I look at Niasse's record and I am asking myself: how can an average at best forward have such a good scoring record amid such crap?

Can he be just lucky? Or does he do something his team-mates are not able to do? Do we actually play better football when he's on the pitch?

If he's the only one with the particular set of skills needed to score in the present context (unbalanced team/poor tactics whatever you think the case to be) why doesn't he play more minutes? Can't Calvert-Lewin be coached into Niasse's mould?

Confused

Hugh Jenkins
57 Posted 22/01/2018 at 16:27:06
There is much talk in other debates over the "Silva" effect at Hull last year.

It will be as well to bear in mind too that their fortunes also improved after Oumar went there on loan, where he also scored some important goals, almost resulting in Hull escaping the drop.

I don't think anyone should underestimate the impact and effect he can have.

His greatest impact may well be coming on as a sub with 30 minutes to go, but nevertheless, if he scores a goal (or more) in that time frame and turns no points into 1 or 1 point into 3, he is doing what is asked and what he is paid for.

That is more than can be said for some of the other playing staff that are currently "gracing" Goodison Park.

Ron Sear
58 Posted 22/01/2018 at 16:31:53
Just one statistic from The Times tells you everything you need to know about Niasse. Without his goals in the right games this season, Everton would now be in the bottom three.

The kid is currently keeping us out of the relegation zone. No arguments or analysis please, he has to be kept.

Clive Mitchell
59 Posted 22/01/2018 at 16:35:35
We've made dafter decisions than letting Niasse go, but I'm glad we're not making this daft decision. You only have to watch Niasse play to see why he would score a goal every hour he's on the pitch .

H'es an absolute nightmare for defenders with an instinct for being in the right place to score – and amongst those who've scored six or more Premier League goals this season, only Kane, Salah and Aguero score more frequently than Oumar!

Barry Williams
60 Posted 22/01/2018 at 16:46:19
He has scored more goals than he has had starts!
Frank Crewe
61 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:01:00
Stock him wide left with Walcott wide right. Or go 4-4-2 and play him up front with Cenk. Walcott and Lookman on the wings and Sigurdsson and Gana in the middle. Let's try something new because 4-2-3-1 hasn't worked for us since Roberto's 2nd season.
Nick Lacey
62 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:10:14
What fantastic news. Looks like Bambi on ice a lot of the time, but always gives 100% when he plays and gives the opposition defence a torrid time.

Also, a goal every 98 minutes is truly tremendous and up there with the best ever in the Premier League.

A cult hero in the making, if not already there.

Brian Porter
63 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:23:23
Makes absolute sense to keep Oumar. With a goal per 99 minutes game time, he is up with the best in Europe, not just the Premier League.

He may be gangly, unorthodox and unpredictable but those are exactly the reasons why opponents find him difficult to play against. He's a great old-fashioned goal poacher, a description which has mostly disappeared these days with so much emphasis being placed on workmate, pressing and tackling back.

In the good old days, many teams had a centre forward or inside forward who would spend their time prowling the opposition half, and had the knack, like. Niasse, of getting into the penalty area and being in the right place at the right time to pick up balls, and instantly react and score goals.

It's a sadly lost art for the most part nowadays but I think, with his early days being spent in his homeland, playing without the 'benefit' of modern coaching, Niasse learned the very basic art of putting the ball in the back of the net.

Great that he's staying. No way should he be sold even at the end of the season. He is an ideal impact sub, and should become an integral part of our first team set up.

Go Oumar!

Jay Harris
64 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:28:40
Modern day Yakubu. Give him the chance and he will score.

The only Roy of the Rovers stuff amongst a collection of overpaid prima donnas.

Stephen Jones
65 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:50:16
Hi Jon (#53).

Yes, I remember Vardy scoring that once in a career worldy. I don't dispute that Vardy is a consistent high scorer for his team.

The point I was trying to make (albeit clumsily) was that you don't have to be a consummate footballer to put the ball in the net on a regular basis. Given the same quality of service and support by his team, I am sure that Niasse would score as many goals as Vardy.

Peter Gorman
66 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:50:59
Never should be here long-term but I'd echo the sentiments of those above, if the other wasters in the squad had a fraction of his attitude they'd be world-beaters.

More like a modern-day Straq to me and therefore just as deserving of affection.

Paul Ellam
67 Posted 22/01/2018 at 17:51:51
Not a huge fan but he does seem to be a bit of a talisman when it comes to nicking goals for us. Better from the bench I reckon.

How about a 4-1-3-2 formation with Niasse coming on upfront?

Pickford
Kenny (Coleman) Keane Williams Garbutt (Baines)
Gueye
Walcott Sigurdsson Bolasie
Tosun Rooney


Brian Wilkinson
68 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:05:59
Okay. here goes, for what it's worth, in my way of thinking:

Niasse always plays better when coming off the bench... is it because he is not as good when he starts a game and in that logic says he is better coming off the bench.

If we go back to the last season or so, Everton have nearly always started a game poorly, often ending in giving a goal away and chasing the game; this could be down to poor team selection or formation, for whatever reason, we just do not start a game and put the other team to bed.

That is why probably Niasse does not seem as effective when starting.

That is where our problem lies, starting a game on the front foot and getting that all-important first goal in a game. If we can rectify that, confidence and results will follow.

Tom Bowers
69 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:14:48
Makes sense to keep him if only as a sub. The lad certainly has limitations but Everton have had worse center forwards over the years.

He is big. strong and given a yard can put the ball in the net.

In the short term he can help as he has shown and certainly for the remainder of this season as there is little else unless you persist with Calvert-Lewin and we all know Sandro is a bust.

Tony Abrahams
70 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:27:59
Frank @51, I would go along with that side/formation for a few weeks mate, especially at Goodison, or even away from home against anyone outside the top six.

The crowd has started to get agitated again, but if we played this way for a while, I think we would see goals, excitement, and it might even stop being a chore, going to the match again?

Neil Copeland
71 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:29:14
Gio 56, it is because he a "Who dares wins" type and scares opposing defences shitless when he just runs at them. He plays with an oh so refreshing abandon and gets his just rewards.
John Boon
72 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:48:11
Shows lots of effort and does manage to actually score. Particularly of late when a shot on goal is considered as a major achievement.

It is really sad to read so many posts that state that they can only look forward to the end of the season. I must admit that I am one of a growing group who have the same thought in mind.

Just hope it will be in the Premier League next season.

Jay Woods
[LAT]

73 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:49:34
I'm starting to think Everton needs a committee, "selectors", if you will, to pick the team and work out tactics. Or we could have a poll every week on ToffeeWeb to settle the matter and then we wouldn't need a manager.

That silly diversion aside, I can only agree with everyone else in saying Niasse is indispensible to us at present. I wouldn't say build the team around him, but he definitely can make an impact as a second half sub.

Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
74 Posted 22/01/2018 at 18:58:43
Reading all the above - I'm with all of you. Just so glad David Moyes decided to leave. The signings he made were awful (Martyn, Baines, Jagielka, Cahill, Arteta, Coleman, Lescott, Stones, Howard, Pienaar, Yakubu, Fellaini, Distin) because some of them were decent whereas it seems we only seem to be able to get lousy players these days. Why couldn't all of his be failures like today's signings?
Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
75 Posted 22/01/2018 at 19:05:41
And this 99 minutes per goal?

Minutes on the pitch 2015-16 = 169 goals = 0
Minutes on the pitch 2016-17 = 0 goals = 0
Minutes on the pitch 2017-18 = 590 goals = 6

So this season is 99, but overall it is 127.

Lineker was a goal every 122 minutes in the season he played for us.

John Davies
76 Posted 22/01/2018 at 19:19:58
Ray Morgan #6.

Allardyce out – ANYONE else in.

Our worst managerial appointment EVER. And I mean EVER.

Brian Wilkinson
77 Posted 22/01/2018 at 19:44:24
Just asking John@76, was you working away in Kathmandu when Mike Walker was in charge,
James Newcombe
78 Posted 22/01/2018 at 19:48:53
Should be involved in every game in some form. It's a joke that Calvert-Lewin was ahead of him really.
Paul Thompson
79 Posted 22/01/2018 at 20:46:49
Sam seems to have put his foot down on this one. Niasse is a good impact sub due to his height energy and unpredictability. But while his general play is ropey, he gets in good positions in the box and can put chances away. He is, in fact, the reverse of Calvert-Lewin.
John Pierce
80 Posted 22/01/2018 at 20:55:46
Niasse is effective, not good.
John Pierce
81 Posted 22/01/2018 at 20:59:50
I wonder if Arteta has learnt enough from Guardiola to fancy a go at our basket case of a club, but more intriguingly he can start an investigation into were the fuck his transfer fee went or not!
Raymond Fox
82 Posted 22/01/2018 at 21:35:48
John 76, on what basis do you come to that conclusion?

His Premier League record since he took over,

won Huddersfield
draw our neighbours (a)
won Newcastle (a)
won Swansea
draw Chelsea
draw West Ham (a)
lost Bournemouth (a)
lost Man Utd
lost Spurs (a)
draw West Brom

I don't see any great surprises there apart we would expect to beat West Brom at Goodison, maybe get a draw at Bournemouth but that's debatable. On the other hand, we drew at Anfield and drew with Chelsea here at Goodison.

Geoff Williams
83 Posted 22/01/2018 at 21:54:23
Swansea win, we must be one of the worst teams in the league.
Si Cooper
84 Posted 22/01/2018 at 21:59:43
So no in depth analysis of those results required then Raymond? Are you a production manager by any chance?
George Cumiskey
85 Posted 22/01/2018 at 22:06:05
Raymond Fox.... Sam Allardyce's biggest cheerleader.

Are you a relative?

Gavin Johnson
86 Posted 22/01/2018 at 22:13:15
Hopefully there's substance to the story of Sandro going to the Barcodes on loan to get game time.

I was hoping we'd sell Niasse and bring someone in this window, but any incoming striker has to settle and we need goals now so Niasse should stay as our super sub and the situation be reviewed in the summer. He seems to have a knack of scoring whenever he comes on at Goodison.

Tom Bowers
87 Posted 22/01/2018 at 22:14:42
How often does it happen? Beating the top of the table one week and then crashing to the bottom of the table the next?

Klopp becomes a kropper!!!!

Derek Knox
88 Posted 22/01/2018 at 22:25:21
Klippety on the post match interview, has a kipper like a torn lederhosen.

Let's hope it's the start of many, will certainly bring them down a peg, they looked very ordinary tonight. Fair play to Swansea, they took the game to them.

Nicholas Ryan
90 Posted 22/01/2018 at 22:57:32
I hate to quote Bill Shankly on an Everton website, but it is said that when one of his scouts was waxing lyrical about the beautifully-crafted goals some target was scoring, Shankly interrupted him, and said:

"Sonny, don't tell me how, just tell me how many!!"

With Oumar, it's better to ignore the how and just focus on the how many!

David Israel
92 Posted 23/01/2018 at 01:16:13
Does anyone remember Roger Davies, the original 'super-sub'? Niasse sort of reminds me of him.
Dennis Ng
93 Posted 23/01/2018 at 03:06:50
Just his attitude alone warrants his stay. Given the poor efforts we've seen from our team so far, we could ill afford to give away our energy.
Nitesh Kanchan
94 Posted 23/01/2018 at 07:14:45
Niasse should be the last guy we should be thinking of selling in this squad. First sell everyone except Siggy, Tosun and youngsters; only then can you think about it. He has got a bad first touch when he tries to hold it but he is a deadly finisher giving no chance to the keeper whatsoever – especially when he receives the ball in front of him.

He's the only guy who can consistently score and the only one who gives his all after putting on an Everton kit; the only one who isn't scared of whom the hell he is up against. Anytime we go behind, he is the only one who steps ahead and bails us out and gets the crowd into it, whereas others are scared of going further behind and end up like a rout.

He deserves all the support from us and I would love to hear the Oumar chant along with the Everton chant consistently throughout the stadium, so other players take notice as well.

The other thing I have said numerous times is our midfield is too slow. We need to have a central attacking midfielder who can hold the ball by shielding it for more than 5 seconds when we build an attack or to take pressure off the defence. Also, one who can run with the ball when counter-attacking from our box to the other box quickly without losing the ball with his pace and then laying off a pass without needing to hoof it forward.

Sigurdsson can get into the box, albeit slowly, but he is more than capable of picking out a pass or putting in a cross for the strikers to finish. Rooney can do that but he can only last for 45 mins but also can end making a fatal pass quite often. Davies and Dowell will develop into one in 2 or 3 years time who will do it consistently. But right now we need one of Mahrez or Shaqiri, who are gettable for a decent price as they are not in the top 6 clubs – else they would have been difficult to get. They are not fixed Number 10 players. They can play anywhere in midfield, especially Shaqiri, who plays with Allen or Adam.

The last thing I would like to know is what kind of owner Moshiri is? If he is a Man City or PSG kind of owner, then we are in for exciting times ahead. Man City and PSG were hardly known by anyone, always in the bottom half of the table, before being taken over.

Even for them, it took at least one or two seasons to get it right. Initially signing all money-grabbing players, including Aguero, saying that as an angry Atletico supporter, before they won their first major trophy, the Premier League, after which all the big-name players and coaches got interested. I think Chelsea also did the same thing as Abramovich never sold his best players, Lampard, Drogba or Terry, but only bought them.

But if he is a Monaco or Valencia kind of owner, then we are doomed. Both clubs' owners promised a lot in the first season, spending a lot, then next season started showing their true colors with sell-to-buy policies but doing it correctly, bringing in the right replacements, the thing which will eventually fail.

AC Milan's new owners have done the same thing as us, spending money on money-grabbers or midtable team players as initially Man City and PSG did. I feel in the summer we will get our answer, if we are going the Man City way or the Monaco way...

In the summer, two top defenders and one pacy central attacking midfielder are a must, obviously without selling any top players, as we don't have one, unless we hastily sell Sigurdsson or Tosun after just their first seasons. Young players like Lookman, Davies, and Vlasic should either be loaned out or played consistently but should not be sold at any cost. We have got a very exciting team coming up in 3 or 4 years time.

Hugh Jenkins
95 Posted 23/01/2018 at 07:16:12
Raymond (82). It would appear from some of the reactions to your post that a few subscribe to the maxim "Don't let the facts stand in the way of a good argument." LOL.
Hugh Jenkins
96 Posted 23/01/2018 at 07:22:36
Derek (88). According to the BBC, he also "lost it" with a supporter who was seated close to the dugout. It isn't clear whether the supporter was a Swansea or LFC fan.

However, the direct quote on the subject from Klopp was:-

"He was shouting at me all the time. Sorry, I reacted one time," said Klopp.

"I remind myself I am a human being and not a professional manager who takes that all the time."

He added: "At one point, I said 'please'. He felt quite good because nobody can do anything. He is in a good position. I'm sure I'm not the first manager."

It seems like his halo as the media's darling manager, is slipping and, under pressure, he begins to show his true self.

Steve Carter
97 Posted 23/01/2018 at 07:24:39
Exactly Nicholas (90). These “Oooh, but he isn't a fooootballer, is he?” types do my head in.

I don't care if he scores all his goals from the ball bouncing off his arse while he's looking the other way. Better than someone who doesn't score but has the first touch, trapping, dribbling skills etc of a Ronaldo or a Cryuff.

Amit Vithlani
98 Posted 23/01/2018 at 07:56:33
Raymond @82

"I don't see any great surprises there apart we would expect to beat West Brom at Goodison, maybe get a draw at Bournemouth but that's debatable. On the other hand, we drew at Anfield and drew with Chelsea here at Goodison."

Does our appalling shots on goal come as a surprise at all, or do you feel attacking is an over-rated tactic and we can 0-0 our way to safety?

Marc Hints
99 Posted 23/01/2018 at 09:50:29
dup
Ernie Baywood
100 Posted 23/01/2018 at 10:00:43
He's not good enough... but he's all we've got and it would be madness to sell him now.

Certainly he's turned it around through no shortage of hard work. Certain cult hero status when he eventually does move on.

Derek Knox
101 Posted 23/01/2018 at 10:40:35
Marc, yes I think that would be a decent team. Having said that; I think the position Swansea are in, and following the protracted transfer of Sigurdsson, they would be more than reluctant to sell their best defender, especially to us.

It's all very well suggesting that we do a swap etc, but players are human beings at the end of the day; have families, children in schools and such like. It's not that easy to just up sticks and move; that is assuming the player(s) would agree in the first place.

I do laud you however on the absence of Schneiderlin and Martina; I think most of us realise that replacing both with able players could transform us. However Sam does not look like dropping either in the near future; and unless replacements come in this window, there is little chance of any change; sad but true.

Marc Hints
102 Posted 23/01/2018 at 10:54:36
Derek (#101),

Yes totally agree it is not as easy to just swap players but would be nice to get both off the payroll. I was probably just thinking wouldn't that would be nice.

At the moment Schneiderlin and Martina should be no where near the first team, not good enough and cause of most problems each week.

I suppose also it depends on Moshiri, if he really wants us to move forward then maybe we sometimes have to pay over the odds also for players like Mawson.

Brian Wilkinson
103 Posted 23/01/2018 at 11:05:02
It would make a great film about his time and tribulations, and how he rose from the depths of despair into a cult hero.
Raymond Fox
104 Posted 23/01/2018 at 11:59:49
Hugh (#95), correct. There's also the fact that our previous managers couldn't get a tune out of most of our squad.

Which of our defenders impress? None in my opinion. It's little wonder Sams picking two defensive midfielders to try an protect the back four, but that's not working very well now is it.

The problem for me is that all of our players are below top six standard except Pickford. Performances should improve when we get Coleman back and we can integrate our new signings. We shall wait and see!

[Sorry the post is off topic; I commented on Niasse earlier in the thread.]

Loko Sanchez
105 Posted 23/01/2018 at 13:08:18
I am intrigued. Why is a player, who is consistently overlooked by his club but yet scored 6 goals in the limited time that he was on the pitch, still at Everton? Any other player would have requested a transfer by now.

Honestly, I don't think it is his wages. He could probably get the same amount or more at other clubs. Don't get me wrong, I love it that he is a blue but why is he still here?

Nitesh Kanchan
106 Posted 23/01/2018 at 13:25:51
Loko (#105), his transfer to Crystal Palace fell through on the deadline day after his agent couldn't come to an agreement regarding his fees at the last minute. Now, in this window, we won't let him go as Big Sam might have assured him of game time after West Brom, Brighton and Palace showed their interest of signing him.
Steavey Buckley
107 Posted 23/01/2018 at 14:12:18
Stephen Jones
108 Posted 23/01/2018 at 14:13:42
Loko, I would guess that the teams below us who want or need him wouldn't be able to match his current contract as I believe Martinez was quite generous with players contracts.

Also (I think) there is some sort of clause that if you request a transfer you waive the right to receive any financial settlement from your club.

Phil Walling
109 Posted 23/01/2018 at 14:14:16
Do you think Sam has already recognised Tosun as yet another rare scorer and thus is clinging to Niasse as his saviour?

Every signing seems to add more dross to his squad and he hasn't a clue what to do with it!

Tony Abrahams
110 Posted 23/01/2018 at 14:28:32
Same with Walcott, Phil, I'd have played him upfront with Tosun!
Drew Shortis
111 Posted 23/01/2018 at 14:42:32
This guy may not have all the skills we would want, but he has the right attitude, desire, determination and the knack of scoring. Anyone who can rescue points for a team that creates so little is a valuable player for us.

Long-term we should demand better, but for now he is an example for the rest of the squad of how to keep your head held high in the face of adversity!

Jerome Shields
112 Posted 23/01/2018 at 14:56:51
Niasse is a good forward because he always tries to get in front of his marker. He is particularly useful where the coach adheres to a rigid and organised system, which can be counteracted by an equally rigid system which plays higher up the pitch.

Niasse is a lone wolf operator who adheres to no system and therefore cannot be neutralised by system tactics. He moves the ball into space whatever way he can. By his athleticism and a never-say-die attitude, he provides momentum and unpredictability. Once in a shooting position, his natural striker instincts take over.

He is successful as a sub with Everton, because he is brought on to save the day and Everton are forced to play higher up the pitch. Niasse, like other strikers, is left isolated if a defensive system is adapted. But he is still a loose-ball threat.

Shots on goal are first determined by midfield play, which if overly defensive is not creating. He wasn't Russian Player of the Year for nothing; those that are supposed to be better than him would not achieve it if they played in The Russian League.

John Boon
113 Posted 23/01/2018 at 16:35:30
Listening to Allardyce today (Tuesday), it seems that we won't be bringing in anyone else unless we reduce the squad significantly. Unfortunately no other teams seem to want our dross, and financially we would lose significantly, due to our total inability to identify real talent.

What on earth has happened to Klaassen? There is never even a mention of him in any news medium. Not much about Ramirez either.

Koeman must have had the sun in his eyes when he made those pre season signings. Any Everton supporter could have done better.

He also didn't want to give Niasse the slightest chance to play.

Stan Schofield
114 Posted 23/01/2018 at 17:13:03
John, you say that no other teams would want 'our dross'. Who is for sale that nobody wants?

Regarding the judgement of Evertonians, since you mention Niasse, I recall that last season, most posts on ToffeeWeb mentioning Niasse were basically saying that he was absolutely shite, and that somebody needed to be taken to task for signing him in the first place.

Drew Shortis
115 Posted 23/01/2018 at 17:30:23
Klaassen and Sandro both looked like decent signings at the time. A Barcelona academy product with sixteen La Liga goals under his belt and a Dutch international & captain of Ajax with a good goalscoring record who had recently led his team in a European final.

The problem is that neither was afforded a decent amount of time to settle in as the rest of the team were also not of form, and the hunt for points has been so pressing that they are too big a risk to play. I think that under different circumstances both could have done well. Think ex-Ajax man Pienaar.

The problem isn't that these players are garbage, it's that they were the not the signings we needed in the positions required. Why buy Rooney, Klaassen AND Sigurdsson? Why no wingers or a decent left back over the summer? And most importantly of all, why not re-invest some of the £75M Lukaku fee on a proven striker?

Koeman and Walsh got it all wrong. I feel sorry for the likes of Niasse, Sandro and Klaassen who have all been brought in without careful consideration. I hope Sandro and Klaassen can pull things back as Niasse has done. I'm pretty sure Klaassen has a solid professionalism and will keep plugging away. Hopefully Tosun will also be given the chance to find his feet before being similarly dropped.

The question is where to go from here. This season is a writeoff. We're not going down, but we're unlikely to break into Europe either. The board need to decide on a long-term manager who can bring a vision for the future, but also grind out results in the short term. The dead wood needs to be cut and key positions need to be filled long term. I'm far from convinced Allardyce is the man for the job, but who is available to replace him next term?

Geoff Evans
116 Posted 24/01/2018 at 08:37:37
Jerome: Super thread.
Terry Underwood
117 Posted 24/01/2018 at 14:07:13
Question for the Niasse naysayers: How do you judge a forward?

Personally, I judge him by his goals return. If he wanders around the halfway line sucking his thumb but bursts into life once a game and scores, that will do me.

Niasse does so much more: he closes down and really annoys defenders and whenever he has been on the pitch has looked our most likely goal scorer. I would love to see him paired with Tosun or Lookman.

Barry Jones
118 Posted 25/01/2018 at 22:07:47
He's not the best technically but he always delivers, which cannot be said for most of our players. This poses a problem for the manager, or maybe not .

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