Richarlison plays 45 minutes of Brazil draw

Wan Bissaka might be good, but Kenny is a leader. Would they have given away 2 penalties, a red card and conceded 2 late goals with him on the pitch instead?

What Kenny and Wan-Bissaka will achieve in the professional game will be light years apart in difference.

One completely freak incident doesn't make a bad player. This guy will be awesome.

Kenny on the other hand will have a steady championship level career and certainly no better.

Simply see Kenny for the goal against Leicester earlier this season to learn about his absolute to defend. One example of many where he has been hopelessly ill positioned and often not robust enough to defend at this level

Watched this through Premier Sport Channel, managed to get through Kodi/Rising Tides/Sports Channels, for anyone interested.

I thought Richie had a decent first half, although service to him could have been a lot better, there were others who should have come off before him but there you go. They actually (Brazil) had the ball in the net 3 times, but were over-ruled each time with VAR, which I'm still not totally convinced about, the time taken, and it's down to opinion at the end of the day, marginal offsides not interfering with play?

One valid observation I did make during the whole game was not from a Brazilian, but a Venezuelan defender (CB) called Yordan Hernandez Osorio (Paredes) Osorio on his shirt, played absolutely brilliantly thwarting everything that Brazil threw at his side. Putting his body on the line, I know it could have been a one-off display, but according to the commentary this guy is pretty much the same every game.

Now with it looking highly unlikely that we will ever get Zouma back, well not until next year at the very minimum, we could do a lot worse than have a look at this guy, he's just turned 25 (May) he's tall (6'2") plays mainly LCB. I just wonder if M Brands would even consider a player like him, who wouldn't cost a King's Ransom.

With the political situation in that country being what it is (most pros have had their contracts dissolved and told to make their own living elsewhere, he could possibly be a relative Peanuts Fee. Although I think he may be connected to Porto?

I mean how is Solanke - how many starts for Liverpool and hardly set the world alight at Bournemouth - don't even think he scored - selected ahead of DCL who lead Everton's line.

Isn't Davies in that squad also?

That said, Wan Bissaka is the better RB - probably one of the best in the league.

I took a glance at the starting line up and - like others - had a wry smile at the selection.

As Kevin points out, the Everton players have been the bedrock of the team for 2 years now. DC-L was voted the team's player of the year and was the side's leading goal scorer.

I can only conclude Solanke must have been training like a combination of Messi and Ronaldo to get a jump on Dominic for the starting slot.

I haven't seen anything of the game, just read reports. It appears the manager had a bit of a mare with both his starting selection and in-game substitutions, given the sending off.

As for Tommy's pop at Kenny, that's not a convincing argument Tommy. Yup! Kenny was culpable in the goal we conceded at Leicester. So was Bernard in the build up to that goal. Kenny WAS woeful in that game...in the first half. He showed his grit and mental strength to come out in the second half and put in a great performance.

Championship level player? Is that how the Bundesliga is regarded these days?

Derek @ 4, it wasn't your blue tinted glasses which made you question replacing Richarlison with Jesus at halftime. Our boy was again the most lively forward or midfield player, showing good movement and high energy. He was the only one to draw a save from the keeper for Brazil (from a legitimate shot) ALL game.

Maybe Tite's idea was that Firmino and Jesus would unlock the Venezuelan defence by them linking up down the middle. It only made it easier for Venezuela to defend.

But unless Richarlison picked up a knock - and there is no mention or suggestion of one - why he was sacrificed and not Neres was strange.

Because in that 1st half Neres was three times clear on goal coming in from the left and either shot wide or crossed wildly on each opening.

The loudest chant on the night came after an hour with the stadium chanting Cebolinha's name (Everton Soares) and he was finally introduced for Neres with 25 minutes to go.

He brilliantly created the last minute 'goal' for Coutinho, but it was rightly ruled off for offside with Firmino being directly in front of Coutinho as he scored.

Brazil roundly booed during and after the game. The first home game in 5 years they have failed to score, apparently.

Their problem is in midfield. There is little or no creativity with Coutinho, Casimiro and Artur all looking very pedestrian.

Very poor showing.

Before the WC Brazil's footy president declared publicly the coach Tite would continue in the position, regardless of how the Copa America went, until the 2022 WC.

Let's see if he holds his nerve if, in the event that Brazil doesn't win the tournament (given they've won all previous four Copa America's held in Brazil), the public bay for blood.

Kenny will have a championship level career. Just you watch. As for him joining Schalke, he won't get any more than 15 starts. Mark my words. After that he'll either do a Pennington and become a serial loanee well into his mid 20s, which are not that far away.

Or. He'll move on permanently to a lower Premier League team with which he'll be relegated or a Championship team with which he will play a few hundred solid enough matches.

DK #4, I looked up Osorio, and yes, he actually belongs to Porto. Played last season on loan at a lower club. Didn't play against the US last week and has turned out only 10 times for Venezuela, but this was quite a performance. They play Bolivia on Saturday.

Once they see Kenny start playing, they'll be singing a RB as a priority.

I'll base my opinion on JJK on games he's played, rather than imaginary ones in the future.

He's been solid and reliable throughout his academy career and at every junior level with England.

A season and a half ago, following Coleman's leg break, he was drafted into a makeshift defence in a team in complete disarray following Koeman's dismissal and Allardyce's appointment. That defence was JJK-Holgate-Williams-Martins.

In the time they played together they were the most resilient defence Everton put out that season. JJK was consistently fearsome in the tackle, crisp and accurate with his passing, always capable of putting in more than a decent cross when getting forward. He has great pace and recovery. Nor was he ever a shrinking violet. He'll bollock his own player, no matter how senior they are, if he reckons they failed in their duty.

For me, when defending, he had a tendency to hang back a bit too deep on occasion, thus playing the attacking team onside if the ball was turned over and they came at us again, but from recall it never cost us a goal.

Even this last season, with Coleman back fit and having fewer playing opportunities, JJK proved a worthy understudy when he did play. Indeed, when Coleman's form dive bombed Silva dropped him for JJK and I wasn't alone in thinking he deserved a longer run in the side before Coleman - who still wasn't playing well at the time - was recalled.

I wonder if your assessment of JJK is based on the 'immediacy' rule: the last performance in which you saw JJK play. That was away to Newcastle when he was a very, VERY late replacement for Coleman who had to cry off just before KO. That was possibly JJK's poorest performance for the first team. And even then it was not as bad as some made out, but it is associated with a very poor loss.

You may well be proven right Tommy, that he will be 'found out' in the Bundesliga and end up trundling his trade back in the English lower divisions. The odds are in your favour. There are a lot of players - including from the academy - we need to move on.

But personally, I'm willing to put more faith in JJK 'making it' - and at Everton - than you evidently do.

Ive heard it all now Tommy.

JJK is every bit as capable as Wan Bassaka IMO but doesnt enjoy the media bias shown to London clubs, Liverpool and MAn U players.

None of us know how his career will progress but he ahs the potential to be even better than Seamus and somehow I don't think that warrants labelling him a championship player.

I base all of this on what I see of the player and his ability. Don't read too much into his achievements at England youth level

I only needed to see Michael Branch play 10 times to know he wasn't going to cut the mustard.

Less for Peter Clarke.

I take it all back.

Your two outstanding examples from 15-20 years ago clearly elevate you to football's greatest seer.

JJK may as well forgo his ambitions with immediate effect.

It could be worth a mention to him, as I dare not ask for his number through the Official Channels! :-)

Mike, seriously though, we have had a lot worse through our ranks, the list is too exhaustive to even start naming candidates for the Hall of Shame.

Is this a new rule to be implemented next season, as I've never seen anything like that before?

Changing sports, and knowing you like your clikky, enjoying Lancs form this season? The Red Rose county certainly benefiting from having the World Cup early this summer, pushing back the Ashes series to later in the summer, freeing up Jimmy Anderson to play more for the county than normal.

He and Onions are skittling through sides, aren't they?

"JJK is every bit as capable as Wan-Bissaka"

Whaa????

No. No. No. He is not.

Love your Blue support and I like the lad too but he is not remotely Wan-Bissaka.

Who just today became the most expensive fullback in Premier League history at 㿣 million.

No.

Tommy #17, how about a little sporting wager? For every game over 15 that JJK starts at Schalke, you donate a hundred to EitC. For every game less, I'll do the same. You in?

Back to the Women's World Cup, and the game between Scotland and Argentina ends in controversy. Argentina awarded a penalty via VAR. The penalty was saved, but had to be retaken as the goalie had both feet off the goal line. I know the rule says you must have at least one foot (or is it both feet on the goal line?) But unless the goalie is looking at their feet rather than the ball, then they will have no idea if they are on the goal line of not?

And let's face it, the story of the game was Scotland blowing a 3-0 lead in 20 minutes, not the rule or the VAR.

The attacking players are often further in the box than the keeper is off the line so where is the fairness?

Is this really a change which is righting vast numbers of penalties which have been saved by keepers grossly being off their line? Who was lobbying for this change? I watch and absorb so much footy and yet there's no groundswell for this change. It's misguided and overkill.

May as well just give a penalty goal and be done with it.

I agree with Rob. It's a natural instinct for keepers to bounce on their toes to get some spring to their leap. It tips the balance too far in favour of the penalty taker.

Great penalty saves - and we have one of the best in the business currently - are as key and as memorable as great goals. The new ruling potentially diminishes the likelihood of that happening.

Given that their feet have to be touching the goal line at the point of the penalty kick, that has effectively been annulled as well. As has the habit of keepers of bouncing up and down and palming the cross bar as they wait for the kick to be taken.

Keepers now have a narrower line to walk than gymnasts performing on the beam!

Maybe it's the Luddite in me but the changes in the last few seasons from offside, or maybe not in the 3rd phase, to the present VAR are, in my opinion, slowly ruining the simple game.

But then again, the money tail has always wagged the football dog.

The delay of the penalty decision, the time the referee took to set the penalty, then reset it was unedifying and not what players or fans want. Piss poor is what it was.

I reckon you'll be able to find some trifling contravention of the rules on VAR to deny any and every goal. It's really spoiling the Copa America for me.

None of this is unexpected. The rollouts of replay technology in American sports, individually and collectively, were fraught with initial difficulties. The system has steadily improved over time as leagues and officials have learned better ways of using it, and VAR will too.

In the meantime, we'll have a lot of fuckups like this.

However, the changes are there to make the game binary without subjective decision-making, handball and this particular rule have been changed to make it black and white, it's sanitizing the product.

As for field testing it in the Women's World Cup that's a disgrace itself, why should they carry the can, for in all likelihood changes, made by men! If your product is not ready for market then it should 100% not be used.

It screams that Everton will be on the end of a stinker at Anfield, they will totally get a retake to our cost.

Someone get onto someone at the club about the Osario kid...

Can be no worse than 50-pence head Krøldrup!

Link

Fuck VAR, and fuck FIFA for bringing it in.

My predictions for next season are for:
- a big increase in penalty awards,
- but the total number of goals scored to be fewer than in any recent season.

The VAR officals will find any reason to disallow goals, however subjective their decision -- it's human nature for no marks to want to become the star of the show.

If, as I expect, VAR ruins the spontaneity of footballing emotions when a goal gets scored, then the game is, James 48, ruined.

The game is so fast these days and players of all teams exaggerate all contact. Officials could use all the help they could. There are benefits of using the system properly as other sports are capable of.

Perfect example, it was years ago, Rodwell was given a straight red card in a derby, no contact was made. The decision at the time was wrong, everyone could see that, the ref made an instant decision. That decision could have been reviewed.

VAR will not kill the game but they need to adjust how they use it.

Far too sanitized and all the craziness will be taken away.

Highly unlikely I know, but we could have seen a goalkeeper saving say, 3 or 4 penalties only for VAR to say he wasn't on the line until either the penalty is scored or the taker puts it wide or over the bar. We could have been there all day!!

Talking of which, if a goalie is off his line and the penalty kick goes wide or over the bar, would it be retaken?