Silva wants more desire and consistency from Lookman

Lookman does have great potential but Silva is right in saying he has to work hard every single day to achieve that. If the manager and coaches do not feel that is happening it would explain his lack of first team time recently. Which is a great shame.

It will be telling how the young man reacts to these words.

It must be hugely demoralising for any other player to see this and not get a look-in regardless. Lookman is a bright kid with a good education, he surely sees what we all do. I would level this at Silva's door just as much because what incentive does Lookman have?

How the fuck can he be getting in the Leipzig team last year who are still on a different level to what we are? Would Walcott get near that team? Would he fuck.

All Lookman seems to get is public utterances to knuckle down, this should be strictly for Marco, Brands and Ademola – not the press. Marco clearly has favourites and the dressing room knows it.

Whoever we have playing on the right flank struggles to make an impact on the game offensively. Since January, Silva has preferred Richarlison and Walcott because they offer more defensively.

We have all witnessed somewhat unhappy vibes coming from the lad even when on the pitch. He is not a happy bunny. He will be off in the summer.

He's basically questioned Lookman's effort, desire, and motivation. He's either given up on him and is sowing the seeds for a summer move, or he's attempting to humiliate/motivate the lad into pulling his socks up and working hard.

It doesn't matter what job you do, or how much you get paid, if you aren't happy it's hard to give your all.

That's 4 managers now who haven't trusted him. It's been suggested before that Lookman has a sulky attitude. Maybe he does, or maybe he just hasn't settled and struggles with motivation when unhappy?

First and foremost, we want every player to want to play for Everton. Having a lack of desire can only have a negative impact.

He's never going to be a top Premier League player anyway!

If you are a young footballer, and you heard your manager talk about you, the way Silva has talked about Lookman, then you would/should feel ten foot tall, unless of-course you are not that interested, or just lack a little bit of the desire, that the manager is talking about?

I don't disagree with anything Silva has said, though. The times I have seen Lookman I haven't been particularly impressed.

That said, Walcott has been hopeless lately too.

Spoilt for bad options it seems.

I would play him every single game. Let's face it, he would make fewer mistakes than the dross we call a team that are playing every week.

We beat Chelsea – a very shit Chelsea it has to be said – and then Silva (who now obviously feels he can say what he likes given the Chelsea result), comes out criticising a young kid who he has not played for fuck knows how long.

Marco Silva will not be Everton Manager for very much longer – mark my words.

With the continued poor form of Walcott, the lad is missing a massive opportunity to cement his position in the team, when we have so few players in the squad who can offer something different.

Ironically, he's one of the few players Brands should be able to move on quite easily in the summer, when the massive squad cull is expected to take place.

It's really up to the kid himself no.

I am sure Silva and possibly Brands will have had conversations with Lookman, about what part of his game he needs to improve. But the most telling part for me is Silva says one day he thinks, yes, he is starting to show him the desire, then the next day he doesn't. So this makes Silvas job so much harder, I am sure he would love to start Lookman but you cant start a player who only puts the effort when he wants to. Don't forget the other players are seeing this attitude as well as the manager, so I guess they wouldn't know which Lookman will turn up if picked. And if your the full back playing behind him you wouldn't be happy if he is having one of his I am not tracking back days.

I get the impression that Lookman wants away probably back to Leipzig, and with players having all the power there is very little Silva or Everton can do but to let him go in the summer. Sad because, like Silva, I do think he has talent.

I don't think that there are many who wouldn't want Lookman to succeed, but it does appear on the rare occasions he does play, that he is not 100% focussed. Whether that is down to the fact he is not played as regularly as he would like to be, or he is genuinely not happy, or maybe that is the lad's disposition. Who knows?

If it is that he is not happy at the club for whatever reason, maybe it's better that he moves on, hopefully for a decent profit.

If Lookman or any other player isn't doing what is deemed necessary and wishes to move on then so be it. Wise owls such as Shankly & Sir Alex didn't tolerate slackers – and with good reason.

There is no question in my head that he has the "big potential" that Silva describes. His potential outweighs anyone else's in the squad.

It is a shame therefore, for the player and his manager, that it has come to the manager saying this about him:

"I see one Lookman doing fantastic things one day and I say: 'Okay, it will be this week' and maybe the next day I have doubts. I don't want this because, in my opinion, he has big, big potential.”

Silva has clearly not succeeded in bringing the best out of him – sadly, that appears to be true of Silva for many of our squad. Equally, Lookman now has had 4 managers – Koeman, Unsworth, Allardyce & Silva, who have each failed to get him to perform on a consistent level.

A sale in the summer therefore maybe the best option for all parties.

It will be a very sad day if that happens – unfortunately, I see him having the potential to match Jadon Sancho's exploits if he will end up in the Bundesliga.

Hopefully we will sell him for a rich fee with hefty add-ons. (None of Bungling Bill's ideas of add-ons, mind.)

He sees Sancho playing well in Germany and getting into the England team and is probably thinking "That could have been me if Everton had let me go". Whenever he's come recently he looks a little disinterested and sulky.

Maybe we should let him go to RB Leipzig with a buy back clause after two years for a bit more than whatever we sell for (something like what Barca had done to us with Deulofeu)?

3 managers have decided he's not the man for them, he doesn't turn out for the U23s, he hasn't impressed when given his opportunity, there are persistent murmurs that him (and his family) haven't been able to settle in the area. Then he seriously impresses in a half-season loan spell at RB Leipzig. Whatever the problem is, there doesn't appear to be a solution.

Time to cash in and focus our attention on talent that wants to give their all for the club and the opportunity given to them.

It is also quite possible that back in 2017 we were hoodwinked by Charlton FC's PR / Sales. Remember Ezri Konsa? Like Lookman, he was supposedly a superstar in the making & Everton supposedly interested (big money too, if memory serves me right). Konsa moved to Brentford in 2018 for ٠.5m.

They should be stated in a practical way, not like Theo Kelly used to do when summoning players (like Tommy Lawton and Joe Mercer) into his presence. Silva's public utterances are examples of extreme mismanagement.

Walcott has shown only intermittent effort in supporting his right-back and zero effectiveness in attack. So I don't understand why he gets on the pitch more than Lookman. Calvert-Lewin is showing improvement with more gametime, so I want to see the same for Ademola.

Lookman, as he himself asserted when quizzed about Leipzig's pursuit and Everton's reply of piss off, is a young player who simply wants to play football. If he is given the opportunity to do so then it is likely he'll be happy, if he is constantly denied that opportunity then he'll probably get a gob on if the situation persists. Perfectly natural and understandable in my opinion.

This is his third season as an Everton player and he has still to be given anything approaching a run of games, has been shipped out on loan when Walcott came in, and unfairly doubted and criticised in public by his manager (at the time) for electing to test himself abroad instead of dutifully dropping down to a lower level as advised.

After being praised by both Brands and Silva and proclaimed as simultaneously 'the present and future' during the summer, he was probably expecting this would be the season he would finally be granted the opportunity to show what he can do. Instead it has been more of the same. The odd fleeting start or cameo interspersed with overly long periods of being seemingly ignored.

Back in November, when asked what Lookman needed to do to be deserving of featuring from the start, Silva stated:

"He's doing enough, I don't have doubts about that. There's tough competition, not just for him but for all the players, but he's making it really difficult for those who are playing which is what I want."

He then proceeded to start Lookman in only one of the next 10 games.

In January, after scoring against Lincoln as a sub and being named in the starting eleven for the next game, Silva stated:

"He is playing because he is deserving. We have a good challenge with him and step-by-step we convinced him of his quality, although I don't think he has a doubt about that. He can help us and we can help him to achieve what he wants – to play football and enjoy football. He is a talent in my opinion, he has everything there. Some things he has to change and he knows what I want. He knows what I am demanding from him – and it is nothing different from the others. He can really improve and have a fantastic career.”

Yet, despite those words, Lookman has again been given only one start in the 10 games since, setting foot on the pitch for a grand total of 38 minutes. I don't see how it can be claimed he has been anything but under-utilised given how gash results and performances have been during that period and the fact he has been spotted less than a sad bastard called Griffin during a bit of a bandage shortage.

So, when he was 'doing enough' to start games and was 'deserving' of starting games, he still wasn't actually starting games. I can see how that might have an adverse effect on application.

If you feel your manager doesn't trust you, that any words to the contrary are simple soft soothing when you see the actual team sheet, that your career is stalling and you're standing still, that you're not being given the chances offered to others, then...subconsciously...it is surely perilously easy for effort to slowly start to seep away.

Well done Marco Silva for the setting the standard's high at our club and not allowing gifted attacking player's who don't work hard for the team off the ball into the side and make us weaker for it just as Roberto Martinez did.

Too many of these gifted young players nowadays expect to be getting a place in the first team without earning their stripes.

The Premier League is a physically tough demanding league and the last thing we want to do is to do like we did under Martinez and become soft again.

Put the graft in Ademola or become another Dan Gosling it's your choice son!

Silva doesn't appear to be the 'favourites' type. He dropped Richarlison for the derby, which I would've bet my house against.

I'm more interested to see how Silva's comments about reviewing how Everton fair against the 'Big 6' after Arsenal and Man Utd come to Goodison Park over the next few weeks and hopefully some payback to Tottenham on the final day of the season.

Sounds to me that Silva is frustrated by his attitude and that seems to have been mentioned before.

I know there's an anti-Walcott feeling on here but honestly has Lookman looked any better when he has played? It would also be detrimental to team spirit if he is a sulker and that's the last thing we need right now.

I think like a lot of TWebbers think this is poor management by Silva and my biggest gripe with him has been Walcott's inclusion but I also feel that letting this lad go could be something we regret going forward.

I can't help but feel if Lookman was playing for Fergie, he would be skipping by defenders and enjoying his football, Give him a run of games and let us see where we are? If he is our future, then it makes perfect sense as what is Walcott going to offer us moving forward? Some more image defining haircuts!!!

It's all about setting expectations and the bar is set by the boss. It's down to the players to decide whether they can meet those expectations or waste a golden opportunity.

He's been okay when he's played, but nothing better than that.

Silva is clear on the issue you raise of Lookman's inconsistent opportunities -- he hands the kid a start, is disappointed with his performance and effort, and sits him down again. And apparently the kid doesn't step it up in practice afterward.

Let's face it, if Lookman can't beat out Walcott for minutes, either the player or the manager is failing at his job, and based on the interview I tend to believe it's the former. I'm a much bigger fan of Lookman than I am of Silva, but it rings true when the manager says, "He has to be the same Lookman everyday." That's a simple, clear standard for the player to meet, and if he's not meeting it, Silva has every right to give the playing time to someone who is.

Even if it's (AARRRGGGHH!)...Theo.

Neither of them are good enough. Lookman, in particular, seems determined to play in Germany and has a poor attitude.

First round of speakers will discuss what it is like being a "diamond" kid with attitude who amounts to nothing. The line up to include Johan Hammar, George Green, Billy Kenny.

The next sessions is called "Best case scenario for hyped-up jokers." Speakers to include Francis Jeffers, Jack Rodwell, Duncan Ferguson, Victor Anichebe, Tony Grant, John Ebbrell.

Lastly, the third session will be titled "The 90%" and covers the topic of what becomes of most "young talents." This features Jose Baxter, Peter Degn, Jake Bidwell, Nick Chadwick, Jamie Milligan.

After session 3, we bring in Walter Smith to hand out "free transfer" passes to each player, then have David Moyes drive them on a coach up to Sunderland where they will be gainfully employed as indentured servants for the next 10 years... after which, they will be given lifelong contracts as Academy coaches back at Finch Farm.

The hard work is the easy part. It's baffling, but I suppose 99% of lads his age would be happy with his lifestyle and prospects.

The imbalance in midfield and inability to retain the ball has killed the wider players, often asked to do too much covering for a poorly constructed mish-mash.

Wide men need the ball, no surprise how bad they've been. Try again, Marco.

I don't think it benefits the club for managers to single out players for this type of comment in public – save it for the dressing room and the training pitch.

I would be rid of him (and Walcott) and – just because we won on Sunday – I would not, in any way, see Silva as part of our future in any case.

If Lookman's attitude and work rate in training aren't up to the mark, no wonder he isn't getting picked.

At the same time, he's never had a decent run in the team, from which he can build a good understanding with his team mates and iron out any mistakes he may make.

If he's the 'present and future', pick him; otherwise, what's the point in not taking Leipzig's money?

The manager's comments on Lookman are no more than an admission that he lacks the skills to motivate his players on anything like a consistent basis. Both Hull and Watford could have told Moshiri that – although I doubt he would have taken much notice!

There then follows a massive sulk and the toys are well and truly ejected from the pram. In his own mind (but no one else's) he's Messi's successor.

God help us if he does have a good run until the end of the season, he'll be demanding 𧺬k pw or an instant transfer to Real.

That's my reading of him?

I'd keep him untill he shows form and then sell him for what we can get.

I sometimes wonder why any youngster would want to play for this club.

So he's stepped up, sort of... just needs a run of games.

The one clear difference between Lookman and Calvert-Lewin is that Calvert-Lewin was given a run of games.

Silva needs to get his head out of his arse and start managing this boy in private, not trying to justify his selection of Walcott in public.

He looked totally disinterested and his attitude hasn't changed since, according to Silva. Why bother with him if his heart's not in the club?

The manager hasn't embarrassed him publicly: he has said he can be a great player as long as he pushes himself more in training. Shouldn't we demand that of all the players?

“There were a lot of changes at Everton and I didn't find my place there," he told FOX Sports Radio. "It's always hard there because if you don't take your chance first time, then it's hard to get another.”

(This is the bit which resonates with Lookman's current predicament yet how can you get up to speed if you don't get a fucking chance?!)

“Here, I have a chance every time. Even if I play badly in one game, I know I will have another chance. It's the best thing that could have happened for me, this trust that I have at CSKA from the coach, the staff, the players, everybody. This is the main thing for a player to play in a good way."..

Despite the glorification of his talents, and here I include TW leader writers plus a hoi polloi of other fanatics he is less than half as good as he thinks he is... yet far too gobby with it.

When this wet-behind-the-ears kid made demands of our club, my first and enduring reaction was, "Hold on a minute, Sonny, who do you think you are?"

Lookman has got lots of ability and perhaps now that we are safe, he may get a few more opportunities. When we were still in danger of relegation he may have been viewed as slightly less able to protect the right flank with Kenny & Coleman being targeted regularly.

I very much doubt he will let himself be talked round for a second summer. That kid is gone and, if so, I wouldn't blame him at all as he can't even get a gig in a side that hasn't functioned in an attacking sense since late about November.

The manager has to make a decision on how effective a player will be over 90-odd minutes – not just a total of a few flashes of great play adding up to no more than a couple of minutes per game and then very little else.

I don't believe it's anything to do with age, as other 20-somethings play regularly for other Premier League teams it's more a case of the level of performance over a full game.

Lookman's not there yet, IMO, and you don't want youngsters blooded in a struggling side though I would, now we're safe, give him chances IF his attitude is right.

If Silva sees something in training he's not happy with then Lookman has to listen and learn.

As if the money isn't enough... or is it the comfort level the players have that makes certain personality types somewhat lazy-minded?

Let's see how well he does once he is sold. We only want players that want to be at the club. Sulky bad attitude breeds disharmony... "bad apple."

If Lookman won't knuckle down and work hard, then time to move him on... Look at the difference between Gueye who was told No to his move to France. He has upped his game, that's what being a professional is all about...

Vlasic as back-up/competition for Sigurdsson, Lookman as back-up/competition for Bernard or Richarlison.

Lookman clearly hasn't set the world alight when given a chance, yet the team has been woeful as a whole. Keep and develop young players, that will make us the progressive and hopefulky successful team we all want us to be.

Interesting thought, especially when you consider the very players who make us an inconsistent team are automatic starters. Keane, Zouma, Mina, Coleman, Digne and Pickford have all got a howler in them. Barely a game goes by without one or more of them dropping an almighty one.

Sigurdsson, despite his technical superiority, is more than capable of disappearing up his own arse. He does it almost as often as Walcott... yet when a young lad doesn't fire on all cylinders on the rare occasion he is thrown a begrudged bone, he's a complete fucking wrong'un.

I really do despair at the way a sizeable section of our fan base so readily accept howlers made by senior pros, yet make absolutely no concessions for young players trying to come to terms with what it takes to play at the top..

Young players come in, often in first games, and have a bit of freedom – the opposition don't know them, they have no pressure, etc, but then that changes. The opposition press them harder, challenge them more, whilst the fans keep expecting some 'Rooney moment'.

For all the deadwood in this squad, Lookman, and with him Vlasic, Davies, Holgate, Dowell and Co are worth keeping and developing.

I don't agree with Silva publicly expressing his opinion, but he is probably continuously asked about Lookman and has decided to answer the question.

Walcott is better than Lookman at positioning and helping Everton keep shape but other aspects of his game are disappointing. He is smart enough to put an emphasis on what Silva wants and also smart enough to make sure he is not injured. What's more, he is successful at this, getting selected, week-in & week-out. It is telling that Silva mentions long periods of not having possession against teams like Man City.

Silva obviously has made clear to Lookman why he is not selected but Silva is saying that, in his opinion, there is no consistent effort by Lookman to work and improve in these areas.

Lookman has a problem: though Leipzig made a transfer offer for him, it was a low offer. No other club made an offer for him. Lookman has read into his good decision to insist on his move to Leipzig more than it was actually worth.

My advice to Lookman, having told him that his gripes are not going to get him anywhere, would be to knuckle down and improve his transfer value.

Lookman has to get himself playing for Everton at U23 or first-team level – and only he can do that.

Only the players and staff at finch farm knows whats going on... How do we know that Lookman was not promised his move come the summer? Fact is, he didn't want to play for Everton after his loan spell.

Dispite Silva big noting him, he has not played much football to prove if he has what it takes to make it in the Premier League. Silva can't or won't take the chance of playing the kids till the end of the season coz he is on borrowed time after a shite first season!

Got to pick him every time before Walcott, IMO for the rest of the season, as we know Walcott and what he offers.

If Richarlison, Bernard, Walcott and Lookman are all wingers, we can't play them all, and have too many. Sounds similar to the too many Number 10s last season. Something has got to change.

It's a great system, don't you think?

As others have said, Walcott has been awful for months and months but continually got picked. Not a bit of wonder Lookman is pissed off. He is already a very good player and has bags of potential to become a great player.

The way he glides past the opposition players and skill he has is obvious. He also has an arrogance about him on the field and looks like nothing phases him out on the pitch. Yes, he may have a few things to learn about the defensive side of things but that should come with experience. Unfortunately, it looks like he'll not get the experience at Everton which is a real shame.

Silva's judgement of players ability and performance seems to really be lacking. Maybe he is just a really slow learner? The past couple of team selections have been getting closer to what our first team should look like in my opinion but for how long will it take till we see Sneiderlinn and Walcott back in there dragging other players down with them again.

He has totalled 535 mins on the pitch compared to 2,236 for Richarlison, 1,930 for Walcott, 1,553 for Bernard and 935 for Cenk Tuson. Even Mina and Kenny beat out Lookmans minutes, clocking up 802 and 790 respectively.

How is any player supposed to show 'consistency' (in either performance or motivation) when given such scarce opportunity?

Unless he's been strolling about starkers, sitting down, making a simulacra of Morgan Freemans face with his fucking scrotum, moving the wrinkly 'lips' with his fingers and saying out the side of his (real) mouth "Gollocks to you Silva you gad gell", then I struggle to see what he could have been doing so wrong in training to merit such woefully meagre game time. If it is because his attitude 'stinks' as so many infer from such disrespectful actions as... err... pulling his sweater over his mouth and itching his face, then why would he have made the bench so often?

Certain players have achieved consistency. They have been consistently crap, when it matters most, during actual competitive matches, yet it doesn't seem to have curbed their chances any.

"He is less than half as good as he thinks he is yet far too gobby with it. When this wet behind the ears kid made demands of our club..."

Here we go again with the utterly banal and ungrounded accusation of defo being an ungrateful egotistical diva with delusions of grandeur seemingly levelled against almost every young player to turn out in blue over the last few seasons.

Lookman has hardly said boo to a goose in public since joining the club.

He didn't say a word when transfer speculation was raging round about him in the summer.

He didn't say a word when Allardyce publicly declared he'd made the most hoopleheaded decision possible by haughtily declining the opportunity to drop down a league to the Championship, in favour of moving temporarily to Saxony, a strange otherworldly alien environment Sam had tried warning him was probably exactly the same as that Pandora out of pissing Avatar, populated by lanky feline looking blue bastards talking an unlearnable language and living off bizarre futuristic space sausages called "bock... wurst?".

He never kicked up a fuss in public or slapped in a transfer request when repeat bids from Leipzig were rejected. He just kept his head down.

Yet, he's a gobshite. A demanding gobshite.

"3 managers have decided he's not the man for them" — and their every judgement has proved uncannily unfailing in hindsight. The one decent manager he has played under during the past couple of seasons started him consistently, got goals and performances out of him, and sung his praises to the extent his club subsequently tried to sign him for 㿅m.

I can see the posts for Lookman, both for and against. I hope he stays, he is a good player now and I think he can be top class in a couple of years but, if you watch him in the limited time he gets at Everton, he definitely doesn't do himself justice.

He should seize every second he gets, and again I admit it's hard to do this in 10 and 15 minutes of gametime; hopefully he will be played more during the rest of the season.

It is obvious from Silva's comments that this is the problem and it is hard to argue with. he might be more talented than others but if his attitude is bad and he will not always put the effort in, then he cannot expect to play. I have noticed myself when he has played that he does not track back enough or work hard enough off the ball when we are not in possession so would agree with Silva. we look more solid with other people there for me.

I don't think you can discount the fact that a number of managers have not played him regularly either. this clearly shows that there is some problem with the player if every manager we have had recently does not use him. when its 3 or 4 different managers then it is obviously not a personal thing and the player needs to look in the mirror a bit

God knows if he'll survive the summer churn of players. I hope he does.

Silva has never publicly criticised any of the other younsters, but he has Lookman. He has previously gone to great lengths to make him feel wanted and publicly spoken very highly of him. Silva and Brands made it clear that he was part of their present and future plans.

All Silva expects of Lookman is a level of consistency and desire in training. If he sees that, then Lookman will earn a place in the matchday squad.

Obviously Lookman cannot or will not produce the levels expected of him. The same levels that others must be showing. So why should he be given minutes over others? No way has he shown anything which suggests that he merits a place without actually working consistently hard in training. Only a Hazard or a Salah could possibly expect such treatment, but no player will achieve their potential without hard work.

Lookman may not have made any public utterances in the summer, but he did post a few provocative and disrespectful videos on Instagram which have since been removed. One video was of him watching Leipzig on the tv with a caption of him supporting his teammates. He deleted it but only after it had already been viewed by many. He was back at Everton but it was clear to many that he did not want to be here.

I think it's reasonable to conclude that Lookman has not settled and it certainly sounds like he is not showing commitment in training. Therefore, it's understandable for some to question his attitude.

It is so competitive now for lads at his age, many are on loan and many will not make it unless the rules on homegrown players change post-Brexit. I know that the big A or attitude can be a problem with these ethnic minority players and yet only those who combine their athleticism and talent with hard work and good attitude will make it.

If they're looking for role models, then it should be along the East Lancs Road to Marcus Rashford. He's a credit to his Club, ethnicity and to himself and a fine player.

Martin #82 – shame you spoil your comments with a racial stereotype. Ironic in a week when Danny Rose has supported Raheem Stirling's drawing attention to racism in the game. Renee Hector from Tottenham Ladies has also been victimized since reporting racist abuse against her on the pitch. We need to work harder around race awareness.

Lyndon/Michael - can you please remove this offensive comment, it has no place on this brilliant forum.

That's the part where the 'bad attitude', 'lazy/lacking in effort in training' charges come tumbling down for me though, Chris. He has been 'earning' a place in the match day squad for the majority of the season or, at least, Silva has been naming him in said squad. He's just not been getting on the pitch that often.

If he's putting him on the bench repeatedly, then the manager must believe he's ready to play if the need arises. If he's been tossing it off in training and failing to meet the standards Silva sets, then why is he taking a sub spot from someone else so regularly? Do those who fail to make the bench drip even less sweat than the diddy 'desireless' one on a daily basis?

In a passage (omitted on here) from the same piece this story is taken from, Silva states: "He [Lookman] is trying, he is giving and what I want coming from him is more consistency in his daily work." To me, that doesn't equate to the simple lack of effort or poor attitude some are accusing him of.

I'm married to a lady from the ethnic minorities btw, the concept that I'm racist is laughable.

Do you greet your wife with, "I love you, Mrs ethnic minority"?

As for attitude, I live in Essex and I can sure you that attitude is a big problem regardless of whatever shape, size, creed etc you are. Not a lecture from me,

Richarlison starts, he will score goals.

Lookman is in the bag with Walcott and Bernard for the other berth. It is a damning indictment that Lookman has not been chosen before either of them two. Walcott has been very poor, and Bernard is improving over this last month but is still offering less than I was hoping for overall. I was expecting more goals and more assists. More fitness needed and he is a bit lightweight and diminutive in this ultra-aggressive league.

I think Silva wants more from those three; Walcott will be sold in the summer, especially if Onyekuru and Vlasic return for good. If one or both come in the summer, it will leave Lookman without even a spot on the subs bench, unless he improves markedly between now and then.

Marco, I think, is after a Bernardo Silva type player: aggressive, forward-thinking, but has a great engine for 90 mins and can tackle back. A super player. Who out of those five can match that. Onyekuru?

”We know what his quality is and you know I believe in his quality since the first day I saw him, so it has to be same Lookman everyday with the same desire everyday” the Portuguese said.

“He needs to understand what the coach wants coming from him, and any winger in our model, because, after that, the quality he has.

“He is a young football player but, being honest with you, I expect Ademola to be on a different level already this season.

“I keep believing, 100%, in his quality as a football player, there are no doubts about that, but what I want to see coming from him is the same desire coming from him, each day, to achieve that, to reach that level he wants and the level I believe he can play at."

How cruel.

Myself, I think the kid still wants to go Red Bull Leipzig. Whatever happens this Summer, it's his head and ass. No one can pull the one out of the other but him.

Let's face it, Walcott gets in ahead of him as he gives the full back slightly more cover. Knuckle down and work your bollocks off, then you can't do anymore.

Martin #82, Are you winding us up with that comment?

#87 "the mistake I made was not putting "some" or "a small minority"... "

Martin, I think the latter is still a problem. Why say some ethnic players have an attitude problem? Why not just say some players have an attitude problem?

I have read often and in many qualified places, that a disproportionate number of young black males have major problems with underperformance at school and in work (do I need to mention gangs, knife crime, truancy, etc?). I assume that this can only be due to an attitude that prevents them from, say, like middle-class white females, performing to their potential.

James@88 I love my wife and kids unconditionally after a very long marriage, they have no colour. My daughter at 28 is deeply autistic and my life is based around caring for her, she has no colour.

It's easy for snowflakes to cry "racist". Few understand the meaning.

I like Ademola, I really hope that he makes it.

Not keen personally. Bit phoney for me and, if we end up having anything like those ‘ultra' beauts at Crystal Palace, then it'll be embarrassing. I'm all for creating a fantastic atmosphere, but I want it to be organic rather than engineered.

Our away fans are one of the best in the Premier League... is that manufactured? No! So why not have those same supporters in one designated part of the Old Lady to get things going? Nothing phoney about passionate blues.

Hopefully the team is going to get better and GT8 will get drowned out by the rest of the crowd!

My favourite ever Goodison night was obviously Bayern Munich, and I don't know how the crowd was heard by Picton Clock, because I swear I could hear six different songs being sung at the same time once Trevor Steven made it three!

My biggest wish for my favourite place is that Goodison Park goes out with a bang.

Lookman at the moment does not warrant a start – he is simply substandard and typifies what is wrong with Everton. I support Silva on that one – do it consistently or you are out.

I have experienced that kind of phoney cheer-leading stuff and found it to be an embarrassment.

The worst example on here in recent years is the criticism of John Stones, the criticism being ridiculous at times and a ToffeeWeb vote of 80% in favour of selling him to Man City. And I just couldn't help thinking he's too good for Everton, we're dysfunctional shite and won't meet the aspirations of such a player. So he's having his aspirations met at a top club instead.

It's difficult to see Lookman being at EFC much longer. He'll be off to a better club to actually try and win some trophies.

So sad that, while we once saw 16-year-olds like Colin Harvey and Joe Royle breaking into the first team, these lads are really held back by the Premier League demand for success – even when that is often just staying in the Premier League.

The Everton way, for me, should be to play Lookman, Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and, dare I say it? Have a bad season.

By that, I mean that you're right about the likes of Harvey and Royle (I recall Harvey getting his debut as a 16-year-old against Inter Milan, and Royle playing as a 16 year old against Man Utd at Goodison, with Young, Ball, Labone, Best and Charlton, et al on the pitch). But they came into a well functioning team, surrounded by great players.

Our current youngsters don't have that advantage, have had to deal with being thrown into successive badly performing Everton sides, with massive expectations on the shoulders of those youngsters.

Based on loan performances, we could even add Robinson (although he would probably just be given the role as Digne's understudy), Holgate, Dowell and Williams. Add them to the current young players (U25) of Pickford, Keane, Mina, and Richarlison and we have a very promising young squad.

I wouldn't advocate playing all of them at the same time all season, but giving them all a decent chance over the course of a season. Take the hit for one season in the hope that we save ourselves a fortune and challenge the top 6 a different way rather than blindly spending money.

I'd quite happily take the hit.

My hope is that Lookman will see that he was just a medium fish in a medium to large'ish pond, while in Germany.

To succeed in the Premier League, you need to really believe in your own skills, and then act as if you are much bigger/better than the opposition's ability to handle those skills! Don't try, assume you CAN!

https://twitter.com/EFC_Statto/status/1109069552665722880/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1109069552665722880&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolecho.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ffootball-news%2Feverton-news-and-transfers-live-16011214

Makes a mockery of Silva's rubbish on this lad.

I'm sorry to argue with you but Walcott is very consistent... unfortunately, consistently ordinary.

It's difficult to bring younger players into the team at this stage of the season now given the extra money available for each higher place finish dictating that teams must try to win each game..