Newcastle United vs Everton

Obviously, the Manager sees the players he has signed as superior and given priority but he does at times seem somewhat erratic in his selections, or is it rotation.

Surely, if our future is with these youngsters, it is time they were given a proper run of games. Unfortunately we will be stuck with Walcott next term, purely because no-one will want to pick up the tab for his wages whilst the likes of Ademola will be looking for first team footy elsewhere.

So it would be much better for Colman and Everton if Jonjoe Kenny had played there. He would have found players better with the ball as well, besides letting Liverpool players know they were in a game – something Walcott consistently fails to do no matter which team we are playing.

As unproductive as Walcott has been, Lookman has never really taken his opportunities. He flatters to deceive and offers very little defensively. He also doesn't have Theo's pace and doesn't really press. Walcott gets himself in good positions, and his speed takes him away from defenders. It's such a shame he's so shit with the ball at his feet.

As for Lookman, I really thought that he would have cemented his place in the side by now, but at present, he like Walcott flatters to deceive. Silva has given him game time but he has made little impact in games.

Now whether he still wants to join Leipzig I don't know, but he rarely looks happy on the pitch. So if his heart isn't here then let him go, unless players are happy you never get the best from them.

Ideally though, I'd have neither of them as they're both a bit shit. I did like the look of the Coleman and Richarlison on the right flank, though, against the Shite.

Part of the problem has been Seamus's lack of pace and lack of confidence to go on the outside. Different kinds of player. For a proper winger we can instead compare Walcott with Richarlison, when he came on against Liverpool. He looked more direct, more of a handfull.

Perhaps Lookman should be played behind the striker.

Using my theory, do you think Bobby Latch fancies a comeback along with Dave Thomas?

I am a firm believer in decent players don't suddenly become donkeys overnight, or in a short period of time, but tend to think it is the tactics employed, or the position they are being played in is not suited to their skillsets.

Paul @65, I know where you are coming from, and you have made the point tongue in cheek, but maybe a remould and re-balancing, could get those tyres 'motoring' again!

I know this is probably the wrong thread but I will be most surprised and upset to a point, if he starts with the same opening line-up against Newcastle. It was no surprise that the Coleman - Richarlison combination looked promising down the right. I also thought Gomes for you know who also improved things in the middle, I would stick with Calvert-Lewin and maybe bring Tosun on in the last 15 minutes, depending on the state of the scoreline.

Lookman sadly I believe has played his last full game for Everton. Whatever the reasons for his omissions this season, I just haven't believed it.

A lot of people are quick to think he hasn't delivered. I see a completely different scenario. I watch his movement and his attempts to find others. It is light years ahead of Tosun, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to be frank. The balls he tries are simply not matched by the players up front. A bit like Beardsley, got awful stick yet he was working with donkeys.

Lookman's issue: he gets pent up and frustration is clearly evident watching his body language. I firmly believe we will sell him and he will take off under a manager who can give him players of his calibre around him.

I would give his position to Lookman for the rest of the season and see if this young man wants to stay with us. He could be a fine player but he could also be a flop and I am not yet convinced by him. I thought he had mental strength but he has shown little of it. If he wants, in the end, to play in Germany then off he should go.

That's not Lookman or Bernard. Having the skill set doesn't mean having the mentality.

At 30 this summer, it could be his last chance to achieve the move he craves. If he goes, then he goes with my best wishes. A great professional.

You'd like to think so wouldn't you?

If your playing well and someone who isn't keeps being selected it kind of destroys any meritorious system.

Marco, we're with you all the way on this one!

He employed that system, and we have had two clean sheets. Both with steady, if unspectacular performances from a most likely not match sharp Schneiderlin. The dropping of Gomes, who would seem like an excellent option off the bench, has to be considered a moderate success if clean sheets were the aim.

And from what I remember, you can't lose a game you don't concede in.

Whether it was merit or not, he dropped Richarlison, and played Bernard. Against Cardiff, most would have said both their performances would have merited that swap.

It doesn't exactly look to me, at least recently that he isn't living up to that meritocratic standard. Look at his defence, Keane and Zouma are both there on merit, even after spending money on Mina.

Long post went a bit too long, but, if we are judging Silva on this comment alone I'd say he's doing pretty well. Jury's out on everything else, but I'd be disappointed to see people try and beat him with this particular stick.

Lookman shows plenty of ability and promise but apparently is not a team player.

Personally, I think the front three of Bernard Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison should be our first choice front 3 although I worry about Bernard becoming the new Jigsaw.

Nevertheless, much of the talk has been about Walcott and Lookman. I see the negative in Walcott (at present) and the positive in Lookman (at present). Walcott appears to have (almost completely) lost his close control of the ball, which must be "confidence" issue. On the other hand, Lookman appears to be (currently) showing great control and skill on the ball.

Common thought expressed on here is the Coleman needs Walcott for cover defensively. I ask myself. "Why?"
IMO it isn't the job of the winger to 100% cover for the defender - why shouldn't this cover be made by the adjacent CD or even DFM at least some of the time. It is about reading the game.

In a few the games I've watched this season, when Lookman comes on as sub, he changes the whole psychee of us going forward, creating openings that we haven't seen without him on the pitch.

Just mentioning as I ma not an EPL coach. Room for thought though!

Raw pace is a vital part of Silva’s game plan and Bernard and Lookman, whilst tricky, are not rapid.

Walcott seems to get opportunities in the box almost every game. His pace gets him into good positions. Sadly his finishing/end product has not made the most of those situations.

I would love to see Lookman get a run the team. I’m convinced the lad can be a top player. But he’s disappointed me in the time he’s had; whether that’s down to attitude, tactics or just not being given a long run in the team is hard to say. I’d wager that if Lookman was bossing things in training he’d be in the squad at the very least.

None of our wingers have been good enough over the last 2-3 months and tha is either very bad luck or suggests that Silva’s system is not getting the best out of them. For me the latter is at least part to blame. I’d like to see our wingers run beyond the final man more often looking for direct balls over the top in central areas. Too often they seem to run wide or come short, the remit being to get the ball to feet and isolate defenders or create overlaps. How often have we been undone by balls over the top into the channels for fast forwards. If we are going to play Walcott then let’s at least play to his strength, early balls over the CBs head for him to run onto.

Many thought the derby last-minute goal was the catalyst. I thought that It was the Newcastle game. We will see today if Silva has turned the corner tactically.

Hopefully the criticism of Walcott in the run-up will have given him the kick up the arse he needs. I would play Schneiderlin and Kenny to counteract the other two weaknesses from the last time and stick with the same starting forward line from last week. Liverpool are a weak defensive unit thanks to Klopp, so let's not get carried away.

When the young players return to the team, hopefully it will be to a team more accustomed to winning than losing. A win today would be excellent but as ever away from home I will happily take a point.

We have lost to Brighton, Leicester, Southampton and Watford since Christmas, I wouldn’t like to add Newcastle to that list of mediocre sides that beat us mainly through working harder.

Last weeks work ethic and attitude needs to start becoming the norm at Everton, we don’t see it enough at this club and that’s why we lose so many cheap points to sides we would beat with the right application.

My main worry is that going forward we need to find far greater firepower and start moving that ball around quicker.

We never really looked like laying a glove on Liverpool if we are honest, and the Cardiff game aside, we have generally struggled scoring goals since Boxing Day.

The challenge today is being clinical and starting to look more potent when we attack, it’s still too pedestrian and looks too forced most of the time when it should come together with more fluidity by now.

If Silva reverts to type today I think it will do for him at Everton.

Expect a draw at best

McCarthy probably won't be around next season. Best to know the full picture before denigrating Silva's managerial skills dealing with McCarthy...

9/5 Defeat. 9/5 win. 9/4 Draw

Yes you’re right. Marco hasn’t given youth a chance at all has he?

Link Shows the average age of all prem sides this season. Go to last season and see how Allardyce picked an old side from a young squad. Marco is picking a side on average 2 years younger than Allardyce.

Arsenal coaching staff must have had a party after he left, he had their hearts broken.

As for Lookman, I think like Richarlison there is a coaching deficiency. Lookman's game had not been developed in tracking back and keeping defensive shape and Richarlison in pass completion and decision-making and the importance of keeping possession. They both look better when playing for Leipzig and Brazil respectfully, because they are better coached.

The poor development and coaching of young players by Silva I have found to be his biggest disappointment as a manager.

I am convinced we’ve turned a corner in any event, whatever the result, and that Silva is going to be very much part of our progress.

I don't envisage too many changes, but would like to see the side that finished against Liverpool, but with DCL given the nod over Tosun. I see this as a winnable fixture but as usual, wonder where the goals will be coming from.

COYB

As for today, it’s impossible to call as they are as unpredictable as us. I hope we at least play well. I’d like to see Bernard get one as he needs to - so may throw on an ambitious score cast - Everton 2-0 with Bernard scoring the first

Save your money for Cheltenham.

Not sure what team he will pick might even revert to a 3 at the back to give Mina a game. Who would have thought with all the excitement when we signed him he would have played so few games up to March. I get the feeling that Lookman has no future at the club. I really thought he would be a player, but he has hardly put in a performance since we refused his loan to Leipzig. There is no denying the lad has talent but if his heart is not in it then its best to let him go.

I am sure there will be many discussions between Silva and Brands at this time of the year, as they will be assessing whats needed for next season and who is not part of their plans. Although off loading well paid players is not an easy job, so a massive task for Brands in the coming weeks.

This season, a 32 year old Baines has been replaced by a 25 year old Digne

A 33 year old Rooney has been replaced by a 21 year old Richarlison

A 35 year old Jagielka has been replaced by a 23 year old Zouma.

It’s not difficult to see why the average age has come down by a bit, it’s the natural age of the squad. Using statistics such as this doesn’t tell the story about whether Silva has promoted youth, it just states that he picks younger players from a younger squad than last season.

Similarly though, we don’t know what his remit is for the rest of the season. If it is to chase 7th then it could be why he resorts to seasoned pros. If it is to give youth a chance - then he’s not doing it as 3 out of our main 4 youth players are no where near the first team at the moment.

I feel that he has not given the youth players as much of a chance as he could at the moment, it appears like it would be demoralising for Lookman, knowing how poor Walcott plays and never starting a game (not literally never before you produce stats of how many times he’s played). Kenny plays well then is dropped for Coleman again. Davies comes in, captains the team, plays well in a midfield 3 then doesn’t even make the match day squad.

It could be that all these are happy with fleeting appearances and it is agreed in advance, we’ll probably never know until Silva leaves. But from the outside it appears that he does not give youth a chance.

I think he will start with Walcott and give Richarlison the last 30 minutes to torment them.

The only change, assuming an injury free week, would be on the right side of the front three.

One of the main reasons we couldn’t really test Van Dijk more is because our attacking options are limited these days.

I imagine if we could have had a striker for instance like Kevin Campbell or midfielders in the physically adept variety like Cahill or Fellaini challenging Van Dijk aerially then we might have watched a different story unfold.

Our attack is very one dimensional these days, we don’t really have the finesse but neither the physical power or raw blistering pace to truly threaten sides.

What I’d do to have options like Radzinski, Campbell, Yakubu, Saha, Cahill and Fellaini or players in that mound to vary it up.

Hopefully a wise summers spending and good work from Brands will see some or all of this rectified.

That’s why I’m expecting Snides, even hoping for him which is an absolute shock really, because those two teams, kept pulling us wide, and this left a big hole in the middle of the pitch, which was exploited by them both.

A mid-table clash, or a big game with regards to the future? Hopefully Everton, can keep building on from the last two games, with the biggest concern being who’s going to score us the goals?

I understand the points you make over Kenny and Davies, but they have been given quite a few games this season. Both Kenny and Davies have played well on occasions but are they better than Gueye and Coleman probably not. As for Lookman a player I like he has hardly set the world alight when he has started. Also unlike us Silva sees these lads every day in training. I think most managers like to promote young players but they have to be good enough. You cant just play them because of their age. Just look at Phil Foden at City a very talented footballer but look who he is up against for a midfield place. Again Liverpool how many youngsters have they promoted I know they have given games to Alexander Arnold and Gomez but not every game. Also DCL for his age and position has played more Premier league games than any other 21 year old English striker.

I lived up there for a while, they couldn’t even fill the ground in the early nineties whilst in the 2nd division.

Everton always get a pass from me for this one. Just win, get into them hard and flatten the lot of them.

3-0 UTFT!

If we do have spirit, we can win this.

It's the kind of game that DC-L can hammer home the fact that he deserves to be no1 striker for next season. Can he take his chances ?, can he cause problems? can he get on the end of corners and set pieces, or toe poke in a Bernard cross?

The lad has got determination by the bucket load and I reckon that is what will win the day for him to be able to make it to the top.

It's up to him to him to take these opportunities.

Schneiderlin for one must be doing an awful lot more on the trading ground than he is giving in games he plays in the premier league, I never saw the Cardiff game but in the Derby game he gave “ just enough” never excerted himself, gave mostly four and five yard passes to the nearest man to him, he could have done a great deal more, was it a coincidence that Everton looked more likely to score when he was replaced by a man who wanted and went looking for the ball, Gomes? I don’t think Schneiderlin did nearly enough, he certainly could have done a lot more, in my opinion.

If you want Richarlison as a forward in a front three you need him on the left cutting in and we don't have a comparative right forward to compliment him.

DCL ran his legs off in the Derby, his pace was a distraction which scared the shit out of Matip, we lost that dynamic when the slower Tosun came on.

I'd like to see one of those mentioned above with a bit of pace partner him. Opposing central defenders will spend most of their time chasing them leaving the door open for the wide men.

For me I'd swap Walcott for Richarlison on the right and keep the rest assuming all are fit as the same.

The Barcodes have improved, the Fat Spanish Waiter will want to beat us, but we should be capable of a result if we take the few chances we will create.

Also I'd start with Charlie on the right as he linked up so well with Coleman, with DCL or even Woolcott down the middle. I've got a 1-1 on the super 6, but I'm hoping for a 2-0.

Show some balls, keep a clean sheet and win the game, or revert to type?

This game could have more impact on Silva's future that it might be getting credit for.

I think it is important to have a strong MF and despite Schneiderlins return to form I think he is too slow and has a fatal mistake in him. Gomes or Davies for his energy for me with Siggy playing just in front. Front three of Bernard DCL and Richy.

These are the games Silva has completely failed to inspire the team to get a result.
The effort today will go a long way to understand last weeks result and if it was the occasion not Silva which drove the performance.

For me 3-5-2 is the right way to go. He won’t, I suspect he will double down on his regular tactical intransigence.

Big game this.

Calvert - Lewin played alone against one of the meanest back fours in Europe last week. He did well, but it didnt matter how many times he won the ball. there was no support and the shite simply dealt with the second ball.

Newcastle will play two up top today. I would be more than happy to match them up in formation and see who comes out on top.

In the meantime, I`ll stick with the trixster

Walcott, Richarlison, Tosun and Calvert-Lewin do not retain the ball well. In doing so we often are out numbered as soon as we lose it up field. His selections and tactics don't recognize the problem.

Being expansive is absolutely what we should be about, however he hasn't mitigated the obvious flaw there and just carried on regardless. A major over sight for me. He has been unable to get the team to be expansive together, keep the formation more compact. We often get outnumbered in many areas.

I think 3-5-2 will work and can be very attacking if the team move up and down together. I expect nothing but the same today.

The question is, what will the random selection machine gives us today?