Tosun focused on training and fitness

Is he that bad, because, normally, clubs will break the bank to kick start their season with an expensive acquisition?

"I want you all to sprint to the Burj Al Arab; first one back gets a free ride on the donkey. No, I don't mean Schneiderlin, and the next four are automatic choices for next game. I'm just going to dip my toes in the water; would have gone for a swim, but my costume has a hole in the knee, and will no longer button up to the neck.

"Now that you are warmed up; we'll do some ball training; first one to hit the deck chair attendant, secures the striker's role next game.

"Now, Tosun lad, I am a bit embarrassed, that 5-year-old lad left you for dead in the sprint before. I'll get you an ice-cream and see if that helps; do you want' crushed nuts' cos the way you are performing you will be getting them, gratis.

This isn't working out the way I had planned; come on all back to the Hotel and we'll go on the piss; hope none of this leaks out back home!

The club has spent 㿔m on Niasse and Tosun, both of whom were purchased at different times to provide much needed fire-power to a shot-shy team and, whilst we have had some return from Niasse, there are plenty of others we have bought in the last half-decade who turned out to be mystery buys and added little or nothing to the team.

I understand he might need time to get fully up to speed but I don't understand why that can't include regular outings from the bench especially if he's being given a place on it. A knack for taking a scoring opportunity isn't entirely reliant on peak fitness is it?

It's not as if we didn't know we needed someone to replace Lukaku.

The Latch would have had to have waited for at least a year to show his talents if fitness had have been the only requirement.

Frankly, I'm tired of hearing whispers about what does or doesn't go on in training. Whatever's happening in training hasn't been translating onto the pitch all season. All we got were half-assed excuses about why Lookman wasn't playing more, when anyone could see his qualities each time he stepped onto the field.

Hopefully we can get a few points in the next few games and then hopefully he will get a chance with less pressure.

Tosun may well be another Niasse. What a prospect to look forward to in a couple of years time... that's if we can keep hold of Niasse.

Flippen-eck! Funny ole game.

Anyone who played for Besiktas should be able to drop into the Everton team without any issues whatsoever. I don't recall any obvious fitness or pace issues when Cenk had his debut .

A higher standard of tactics than Everton and Allardyce. Allardyce is only interested in accumulating points to get to safety as soon as possible. He is not interested in Tosun at the moment.

Niasse has surprised everyone, including Sam it would seem. His touch, movement, and passing have massively improved and it may just be that Sam can't ignore him at the minute. Niasse's form and workrate are more likely the reason that Tosun is on the bench, as opposed to Tosun being slow, unfit, or a bit crap.

I hope it works out (obviously), but very few strikers play well as a lone striker.

The one positive is that when Niasse was going through a similar adjustment when he first cane, all we heard was about the rumours coming from the training field that he was pretty poor (which he was when he first arrived). I haven't heard anything this time, only Alladyce saying he's not ready yet.

“This lad looks like he is strong mentally and has a good pedigree” the manager said. “He is Turkey's No 1 striker and has scored goals in the Champions League and the Turkish League but he is desperate to play here in the Premier League.

“He is an all-rounder, with good movement. He is two-footed, perhaps not the biggest but he's very efficient in the air and in the box he gets good space to get his head on the ball.

“We looked at the qualities of the player, his talent and goalscoring, and his resilience, too. I do not think you can look any more than we have done and, for the price, he is the best in Europe at the moment.”

Great – so why's he not playing?

1. Tosun recognises that he needs to up his sharpness and fitness and is prepared to work hard for it.

2. He knows he cannot expect to saunter into the team – he knows there is genuine competition for his position (something we never had when Lukaku was main man – hence his ‘I am doing Everton a favour' attitude).

3. When he gets his chance, he will do his best to succeed.

What is there to not like in this situation? I am genuinely baffled by some of the posts above.

It's not like the team performed in any way, shape or form to support him in the short time he's been on the pitch.

Without his goals, we would currently be one point above the drop zone. What does this lad have to do to convince some people that he has a striker's instincts and the uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time in the penalty area?

I wish we had a couple more 'very poor' players with his commitment and work rate.

I totally agree withe Chris (#23), adding Niasse has his own way of playing and tactics, which he employs to good effect in the absence of any Allardyce tactics.

Niasse was picked by Koeman to save his bacon. Big Sam has discovered this also. As soon as Niasse plays Everton look like they have a forward line that threatens. You can see it in the opposition defenders' faces.

I'd rather pass on thus guy who is a legend in his own mind.

I expect when they get back he will be chomping at the bit to get a game. Once he gets a goal, he will be more confident. He will start enjoying it and will show his quality. Supporters need to give him some breathing space to acclimatise and come good.

I agree with one of the posts above, manager says he needs to work on his fitness and get up to pace, player responds by saying that is exactly what he is going to do and some of us turn it into a negative story.

Niasse is just one of those players, there is no rhyme nor reason when you look at how they play or technical skills but they will always find a way to score goals. He reminds me a bit of Bakayoko, or even Wanchope.

Compare that to a certain Frenchman at the club or in years gone by the likes of Nyarko, Barmby etc and I'll know what sort of reaction you'd get.

You see, Bobby (#20), we know they're limited but they are all heart and 100% effort. Give me that over some posturing arsehole who thinks he's too good for us. As for Tosun... it seems a bit strange but his time will come.

Nice riposte – that made me smile!

Play Walcott up front with him and he will bag us the goals, folks!

If a criticism is going to be made, it's that we badly needed a striker who could settle quickly for the second half of the season and so Tosun was quite a risk. Luckily we also bought Walcott!

Everton: Stop buying 3x players in that ‘bracket' and buy one player in the >£70m bracket and we might have a player who improves our team instead of hoping to get lucky on a punt.

Anyone know if he is still part of the club or was he moved on when Sam arrived?

If the Sammies truly think the fans are that gullible to believe that a player that has played 24 games for Besiktas this season, scoring 14 goals in their domestic league, cups and the Champions League, is not fit enough to come on as a sub for 20-30 mins per game to freshen up the attack, then more fool them because I and many others aren't buying that excuse.

But the DoF role needs a modern, dynamic energized person in place. Joe moved on ‘out of respect' for Unsworth who he has mentored.

Joe isn't that guy, which is a shame but the model must be retained.

He shouldn't take any credit for what he has done as it was on the back of Unsworth's win against West Ham. You could have put a monkey in charge of our squad and he would save us from relegation.

I am just hoping it is not too hot for Tosun, or it could be another month or so, before he gets off the subs bench.

Easy to pick out the likes of Klaassen, Baines, Funes Mori, Garbutt etc but no Schneiderlin?

Mind you, based on past record, I'm not sure who I'm hoping was involved in the signing.

But he isn't even good enough to play for our U23 team, apparently.

I'm made up!!! Now they can see he's not as good as he thinks he is and totally deluded

Let's hope Tosun at €27M can be as good!!!

Except you're talking out of your ass, and it's Mourinho's negative tactics being slammed. Most pundits were speaking about not being able to recall any Man Utd player other than Lukaku even being in the opposition's box. That Mourinho lines up with only 3 attacking players, Lukaku, Sanchez and Mata. That Mourinho chose to start Matic, Herrera and McTominay in midfield, doing his typical 0-0 away performance.

No Pogba, no Lingard, no Martial, no Rashford. Mourinho went into the match only looking for a 0-0. And he's being criticized in all corners for his negative tactics, and rightfully so. So sorry, it isn't Lukaku being blamed, it's Mourinho.

I'm just posting I'm happy to see some of their fans and media slagging the big lump off and I'm happy to hear that; he's a disrespectful tool who thinks he's some great and I'll take negative comments about him all day long.

So you'll gladly talk about something you're completely ignorant about. Great attitude there, mate. Don't watch the game, but you'll echo something someone said that happens to back up a predisposed position you have. What could possibly go wrong with that way of thinking?

Let's leave it there, ‘mate'.