Silva laments travel toll on Richarlison

All of this may well be true but I can't help asking if he found this out before or after seeing him every day at training. Somebody really has to think about what is in these Press releases.

Feel sorry for the young lad. Those business class beds are awful.
Mind you if he didn't waste so much energy rolling round the pitch every time he was touched he might not be so knackered, plus it ruins the grass
Have a word with him Marco it's sometimes embarrassing

He was our talisman last year and always got the other players up for it with his never say die attitude.
Let's hope he gets back to form soon as think it would help the team tremendously.

Travelling is tiring and jet-lag is unavoidable, even in first class ! However one wonders why he needs to pay for Brasil on this world tour. Surely there are enough committments in the football calendar without these meaningless tours?

I wondered why he had stopped scoring goals... It's all so obvious now I have seen the light!

If he's not fit to play when he returns from these trips, mentally or physically, don't play him.

Give someone else a chance to stake their claim.

Tough life being paid millions a year travelling in first class to play football but it's your job if you're not upto it find a job that suits you like digging trenches for 8hrs a day in all weather conditions
The mind boggles

He is certainly not as sharp as he was last season and was probably the worst player on the pitch at Burnley. I wonder if Silva is preparing the ground for dropping him for the West Ham game.

Funny how this "problem" doesn't appear to affect the other Brazilians playing in the Premier League.

Richarlison's problem isn't jet-lag — it's maintaining his focus. He has a habit of going off the boil during seasons. He did it while at Watford and he did it playing for us last season and he's doing it now. If things aren't going to plan, suddenly every bump becomes an arm-waving foul. Every tackle an excuse to roll around and complain.

He's supposed to be a top international winger. Defenders are going to be out to stop him. He should know this by now. He should stop complaining, man-up, stay focussed and stay on his feet. Put in more and better crosses and score more goals.

Silva should stop making excuses for poor form. If he's not playing well, drop him and pick someone else. Oh, but Silva doesn't do change. It's why Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, Schneiderlin etc keep getting picked and we keep playing 4-2-3-1 and keep losing.

Great insight, John #2

Now you've said that I'm thinking about it in a totally different way.

Richarlison is definitely Silva's baby (his special one) — he signed him and he knows him better than anyone else in football in the Premier League.

Yes, he should stop the play-acting and get on with it. I don't think there is any doubt he already has gained a reputation now with the referees in the Premier League which is not good for him or the team.

He seems to be one of those players that needs to be "loved" in order to get the best out of him.

Regards flying half-way around the world to play friendly matches, not ideal for Everton but Silva can do nothing.

From bits and pieces I have read, Brazilians see playing for their country as the ultimate honour for both them AND their families, there is more emphasis on winning the World Cup to young kids than winning the Premier League, let's say!

Kids having a kickabout dream of being a Neymar with a Brazil shirt on other than Neymar in a PSG shirt. I'm sure the BRZ Jay would know more...

Kenn - what an utterly ridiculous comment. No-one has said he isn't up to it but merely stating that all the travel has had an effect on him. Clearly you are a superior human being to Richarlison so flying tens of thousands of miles regularly wouldn't affect you in any way at all but not everyone is the same.

I'm in agreement with some above in that, if it's affecting his performances, then don't play him. Give him a rest. Seems a pretty simple thing to do. We have a selection of forwards/wingers to choose from. Hell, even Anthony Gordon can play out wide. That though would a bit too radical for Silva to contemplate, I think.

There were similar issues with Tim Cahill having to fly all the way to Oz and back. Just part of global football.

The travel definitely has an effect but when you're playing well and winning, you don't feel it half as much as you do when you're losing.

Everton have quality throughout the side and Silva needs to get back to basics. His implementation or hybrid of zonal marking is not working and is repeatedly targeted by opposing teams.

The very reason that Everton looked okay against Man City for 80 mins was because they play through the middle and didn't lump balls into our box.

Seems to me they're all playing like they've got jet lag all the time whether there's an international break or not.

Piss-poor excuse.

I am sure they must be using some kind of private jet. With quite a few from the Brazilian national team now playing in the Premier League (especially in the North West of England), maybe they have a shared jet or something.

In any case, the point is that the travel does affect performances and, like people have said above, it is up to Silva to use the squad that he has. Use Bernard, Kean, Gordon – do something for God's sake to start getting the results! No excuses!!!

Narrrgh!!! Stop playing him on the wing and asking him to run up and down and chase back to our own box. Play him up top and let him use his energy and talents in the areas we need him. Play to the player's strengths, imagine such a manager.

Yeah, that would go down well with everyone, David – apply for the manager's job!

It smacks of getting further excuses out there, to me. Surely, if it was a genuine concern, Silva would have rested Richarlison for the two League Cup matches, at least.

Oliver, I'm going to need a background staff. You'd only be on half a million quid as assistant though so it might put you off.

David, is that 𧺬,000 a season and a 3-year deal, paid off in full if we get sacked before Christmas, and leaving us free to go and get another job and boost our salary further?

Frank #10, spookily enough, I was just thinking the same as you.

Maybe he should have asked Ederson and Jesus how they cope when we played Man City?

When his form fell off a cliff at Watford his U21 exploits for Brazil were used as the excuse by Silva too.

Erm, rest him then, you doughnut. Marco does seem to have shit for brains...

David #18, sensible comment, badly needed on this thread. The fact that he's our leading tackler -- by a wide margin -- speaks to not only the player's talent and commitment but Silva's foolishness.

Frank #10, no, he's not "supposed to be a top international winger", he's supposed to be a top international forward in a 4-3-3, like Brazil uses him. And all young players go "off the boil" sometimes.

Iain #24, silly comment. Gabriel Jesus wasn't called in for Brazil's last two internationals, and you may have noticed that goalkeepers don't have to run about much, so fatigue isn't exactly an issue for Ederson.

And I'm calling BS on all the "rolling around in the grass" comments. It was a major problem last season, but this season he has been a whole lot better. Give him credit for the improvement.

No surprise, but I'm going to stand up and defend Richarlison from some truly imbecilic and stereotypical barbs thrown at him in this thread.

First up, Oliver Molloy @ 12 is spot on when he says getting selected to play football for Brazil is the ultimate dream for a Brazilian.

It's an unpopular notion here on ToffeeWeb where international football and 'En-ger-lund' in particular is held up to ridicule, resented even. But for many other nations, there is still tremendous pride in their national teams. None more so than Brazil.

Richarlison is adored in Brazil for the total commitment he displays whenever he pulls on the national colours. He represents so many of them in that he came from a poor humble background, but against all the odds has made it. He is also a thoroughly decent and humble human being. Not a spoilt indulged 'novo rich' boy as some attempt to portray him as.

In the last international break before the away game at Bournemouth, Richarlison played more minutes than any other Brazilian midfielder or attacker and was arguably their best player in both games, playing with total commitment. Their main attacking thrust and still tracking back and helping out in defence.

This contrasted strongly with Roberto Firmino. I commented at the time that when Firmino was subbed out after an hour, they could have neatly folded his shirt back into its original wrapper and sent it back to Nike asking for a refund as it was 'unused'.

Richarlison was the polar opposite. Maybe he should learn from Firmino's half-arsed example and better conserve his energies for his club football whilst away on international duty.

I also suggested that such was Richarlison's commitment over the two games (plus the international travel, which does take its toll), he would need to be carefully monitored on his return to Finch Farm and more, that it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't start against Bournemouth.

He did. And even though he wasn't at his best, he still laid on our goal for Calvert-Lewin.

Unfortunately, the nature of Nike's shirt sponsorship deal with Brazil means they call the tune and Brazil's friendly games in international breaks can see them play in any and every continent as part of the Nike marketing circus.

Their games this coming week are in Singapore and on the first day Brazilian news stations carried a report of players walking around in near zombie state admitting their body clocks were all over the place.

The saving grace as far as Everton is concerned is that Richarlison is unlikely to feature for as many minutes as last time out as the coach Tite experiments with the likes of (my desired Everton targets) Gabigol and Everton Santos.

As for the extremely cheap shots some make about Richarlison's play-acting, two things:

1) it is much reduced

2) some was merited, in particular when Silva continued playing him in the #9 role last season when time after time he was getting clattered by centre-backs, often illegally

And I'm sorry, David Pearl (and others across different threads), but you are wrong to suggest that the #9 role is his best position in the team. It isn't, partly for the above-stated reason in 2) above. He is not suited to play the target man role as Silva asked him to last season. It could be a different story if Everton's football around their #9 was akin to that of Liverpool and Brazil around Firmino, quick ground passing with close support around him to give and receive the ball. We don't play like that under Silva, more's the pity.

His best performances have been as the wide attacking man (the way Tite mostly plays him for Brazil also). Our best form under Silva's tenure was the back end of last season with Dein and Bernard dovetailing beautifully down the left, Coleman and Richarlison down the right and also Richarlison, Sigurdsson and Calvert-Lewin also in sync.

We are not seeing anything close to that this season and Richarlison (amongst others) looks poorer for it. What you can never, ever question about the boy is his commitment. Wasn't it Richarlison who said: "If you play for the shirt, the fans will remember the name on the back."

Indeed, just 2-3 games into his time at Everton I suggested he needs to be advised to better conserve his energy for his attacking role rather than chase back as much as he does.

In closing, I will say there is some validity in what Silva says. But when he himself adds that Richarlison also played in both our League Cup ties this season, then Silva gets no sympathy from me on this issue. There were two opportunities to allow Richarlison some necessary R&R and simultaneously experiment with other players.

He didn't take the opportunity. For that, Silva has only himself to blame.

Timing is everything. It's not ideal with the travel just as it wasn't ideal with the ANC and Pienaar etc.

If we had just beaten Man City and Silva was making these remarks, we'd see them as a "let's keep our feet on the ground," and have no issue. But, on the back of four straight losses, with as Silva said himself a "must-win" game on the horizon, this is going to be perceived as making excuses ahead of a possible fifth defeat.

In truth, someone probably asked Silva a loaded question about players flying off on internationals as there isn't much else to talk about short of asking him if he is getting sacked, which has already been done to death. But, once his response which is fairly accurate, makes its way to the edited version in the media it definitely creates an impression that he is making excuses.

As with his comments on Sunday, and Koeman's numerous missteps. It makes me wonder why our PR department excel when it comes to EitC but don't see to offer any assistance to players and managers about carefully choosing their words.

Even though Everton are 3rd from bottom it is quite amazing how many of the players can be chosen for their countries:

Pickford, Keane and Delph (England);
Coleman (Ireland);
Mina (Colombia);
Richarlison (Brazil);
Sidibe and Digne (France)
Moise Keane (Italy);
Gomes (Portugal);
Gbamin (Ivory Coast).

Well, give him two weeks off then, you tit!

Or do a Fergy and don't let him go.

Jay,

l didn't say Richarlison's best position was Number 9. However, I know it isn't as a wing-back covering Coleman.

He should not be clocking so many miles per game. Let's look at Mane as an example. Similarities maybe? We will get the best out of Richarlison further up-field.

Steavey,

International football is weird. In theory, it's the highest level but patently it's not because every side has to make do with what they have. Consequently, you see jokers like Gary Medel of Swansea winning Copa America, Mustafi win the World Cup, etc.

David @ 31.

In THIS thread, no. You didn't explicitly say play Richarlison #9, but in other posts, in other threads, you have. (Although, your phrase 'Play him up top' could be interpreted as saying just that). As have others, as I mentioned. I disagree it is his best position.

And don't be silly labelling him as 'a wing-back for Coleman'. You know full well that is not his role.

As my own post clearly states – even from his early days as an Everton player – I expressed concern that his commitment and enthusiasm needs to be reigned in to better conserve his energies for further upfield to maximize the best of him to the greater benefit of the team. On that, we can agree.

I fully take on board how much it means for Richarlison to play for Brazil. And it's a long way to fly. So either:

1. Don't sign Brazilians
2. Accept that if you do sign Brazilians, they will only be able to play about 30 matches per season for us because they will be knackered and need resting after international games
3. Only give them clearance to play in competitive international matches
4. Don't moan about it or use it as an excuse

All genuine suggestions.

I've no doubt travelling many air-miles and playing games will bring about some tiredness, but he's young, fit and earning colossal amounts of money, he should have an optimistic outlook that bounces him back with a little bit rest.

Basically he's an artist and if he's not feeling inspired then he's not inspired, it's all a bit too much for him and he wants a cuddle and to be loved.

Mina went through the same thing this summer and he's not crying his eyes out, give Richarlison a week's rest, with his youth and fitness he shouldn't need any more, he should come back ready to do some damage.

I just don't feel any pity for his "the world is against me" attitude, just get the fuck on with it.

And Silva shouldn't be using this as an excuse for his own ineptitude.

I doubt very much if he has to travel in the back with the rest of the budget-paying passengers.

Jay Wood (BRZ).

Richarlison should be played up-front but not on his own in a 4-4-2 formation and we will see him fly. He also needs two weeks rest, end of. Silva needs to wind his neck in and do his job.

This just shows how Marco Silva is picking players on reputation alone this season. No-one in our team is irreplaceable. Bench him for a few games and pick one of the U23s players Gordon for one!

Rob #35, WTF??

Artist not inspired? He "want's a cuddle and to be loved"??

Where did that swan dive into irrationality come from?

Richarlison hasn't done ANY of that. No crying, no self-pity, no bad attitude. He's given 105% on the pitch and hasn't uttered a word of complaint. He's just playing poorly, that's all. Silva's doing the moaning, not the kid.

What's with the crapola? Have a clue, man.

Jay@27: Great post. Richarlison is a tremendous player currently going through some bad form, amongst other (good) players at Everton similarly going through some bad form.

Flying to Brazil does take it out of you.

A couple of months ago, I did a quick job in Niteroi. Flew there and back business class with Air France. I was absolutely knackered when I got home and couldn't work for a couple of days.

Mind you, it could have been the non-stop drinking in the lounge in Rio, onboard the plane, lounge in CDG, and then on the flight home...

John #2, you've read my mind. Well said.

He spends more time in his face than he does in his feet. Maybe someone should mention he'll be a better player if he did stay on his feet and put in more effort than trying to shag the pitch. 100% effort, THE EVERTON WAY.

That's all I want

David @ 21,
I will take that, when do we start, I will go and have a look for me steel toe caps !

BS..What about Liverpool's travelling contingent? Rolling everyone over in the so called "Toughest League in the World"...So that doesn't wash Marco.

Craig #42, that's pure crapola, but it's always nice to see a post from another planet.

Great the way we are always behind our players isn't it.
Just like the Liverpool fans who back theirs to the hilt no matter what.
Maybe that's just the treatment they get for always winning, or maybe they are just winning because they get great support from their fans.
Our players will probably never know because as soon as they pull on a blue shirt the pressure increases 10 fold

I lament 46 set piece goals conceeded in 100 games.

I lament losing every game where we concede first.

Trying working on those points first Marco mate 👍.

John Graham 46

Every team has fans who demand a lot. Mustafi has a sob story today in the Mirror, last week Trippier was talking about being hounded out of Spurs, this week Spurs fans are calling Dier their "worst player ever." You can't expect blind support no matter how things are. Look at Notts Forest. Clough had totally lost his way on and off the field but out of past loyalty they kept him on without a complaint as he dragged down into Division 1. The loyalty is admirable but Forest have never recovered. We very nearly afforded Howard Kendall the same opportunity in 98. The bottom line is, if they do well we are happy if they don't we are not.

Kieran (48), that was very misplaced loyalty by Forest towards Clough, a great manager, one of the best English managers of all time, but he had lost his way, like Howard Kendall to an illness that made him a shadow of the manager he had been.

I saw him at a reserve team game at Goodison, he demanded a chair and sat outside the dugout in it watching the game, I watched him and listened to him getting on the coach after the game, to say he wasn't sober would be a huge understatement

two posts in five days for me, apologies.
John 46, I believe in everyone having a say, plus I'm both too old and slow to disagree too strongly but, as a born blue I take exception to not getting behind players, I do, I also reserve the right to criticise.
Sadly, you mention the red twats that back their players?? are not these the same that bottled and bricked the city coach? well, it was, simply to win the match at ANY cost, successful as you know, I do also have more details of that incident that I'm unable to share, great support, my fucking arse. Cheats, liars, probably gives them a huge compliment.
As for 'pressure' on players, seriously? seriously?? I have been blessed with a wife and family way too good for me which is why I am able to write this, pressure is not kicking a friggin ball, pressure is real world, most footballers could not even spell it.
Again, apologies for commenting, arent opinions great

Hey Kieran

Yes both managers lost their way through drink because of the pressures of football.
And the pressures on both players and managers today are even higher.
It's great for them that they are on big salaries but they all at the end want success as do the fans.
For Everton who have not won anything since 1995 and who are still thought of as a big team those pressures will increase considerably until we do have success

Dave

Yeah it was sad to see with both of them although Clough's issues were far more visible than Howards. I remember the Notts County saying he fired Howard for sitting in his office drinking liquor out of a brown paper bag. I honestly though it was BS at the time. He certainly seemed coherent and as he had always been thereafter at Sheff Utd. Clough on the other hand you could see it in his face, hear it in his slurred words. Either way, very sad to see both of them struggle.

I'm not sure it was because of the pressure from football, that caused either of these great men, to lose their way because of alcohol, John, I'd say it was because of the massive drinking culture that existed, back in there day, but maybe it was a combination of both?

Clough was funny, I remember when he sent a young apprentice out to do an interview for ITV, after one game, with the kid (Sean Brown) pretending he was the motm Franz Carr.

It actually went out on national television, after the game before the plug was pulled, and not many would have got away with that, but not many would have attempted it if they weren't bevied either.

Kieran (52), yes Howard could function better than Brian, especially in front of the media, not sure he could as the day went into night. As you say it was very sad to see them finish up like this, sad to see anyone with this problem to be honest.

The 3 across the park also travel alot as do plenty of others that play in the top sides it doesn't seem to do them any harm. Funny how players are tired from travelling when ther performances are shite. Didn't he travel last season either home to family or to play football? A weak excuse, my guess is he will perform for Brazil with better players around him and tiredness wont be a issue.

Agree with the post that dislike his cheating as well its a embarrassment just because others do it he's not a fucking sheep.

John and Tony, good points but you can't always blame pressure or culture for alcohol problems. As Dave says, it is a disease, and a certain number of people are going to fall victim to it no matter their lifestyle.

Travel toil! What a load of bollocks!

Has anybody been watching the Rugby World Club? Injured players are sent home, and their replacements have to travel from the UK or Ireland, and a day or two after landing in Japan, are playing for their country - in a sport that is 10 times more physically demanding.

So go and do one, Marco, and scrape the barrel for a better excuse for the appalling mess you have put this club in.

Thanks, Marco. That's explains Richarlison's performances. Now where've you been flying to and from? Judging from your performances this season, it must be a hell of a long way away.

Mike (57), yes, two of the biggest numbers of addicts are priests and doctors.

Maybe Everton fans will be joining that list, if they are not already on it although there is nothing funny about that addiction, especially for family members of the sufferers.

I have always had trouble trying to comprehend that it's a disease Mike, even though I wouldn't argue with people more qualified than myself.

I think we're the lucky ones though, because it's not to bad if ToffeeWeb is your only addiction, even if I'm slowly trying to wean myself off.

John Hammond,

No, I am not a superior person – just human like everyone else – but I have an opinion, just like you. Just because it doesn't sit well with you... Tough!

The modern-day players lead a great lifestyle and earn mega-money... so they either get on with it or they don't.

So, no – I don't buy the 'tiredness' shit because, if that is true, the whole bloody team must play for Brazil!!!

Tom @50,

The late Bill Shankly, when advised by one of his players of the pressure of the job, reminded him that working down a coal mine was pressure — playing football for a living is a privilege.

Jay,

Well at least we agree on something!

And l'm sorry for my petulance but, for me, Richarlison is playing as close to being a wing-back as l have seen. Even though Coleman is there, they hardly work in tandem, do they? Nobody has called them 'Richarleman'. It's not right. He's being run ragged.

I do enjoy your input from the Brazilian perspective, Jay.

I'm sick of excuses, these guys are professionals (well paid at that).

Suck it up and just put the ball in the back of the net — and defend when called upon.

Guess what, international class players will often play international games. It's a global game and we signed a Brizillian knowing full well if he's as good as we hope there's a good chance this would happen.

Good managers get the best out of players by managing them well. Rest, squad rotation and in game tactics / role of players.

Get on the phone and have a chat with the Brizillian management, build up an understanding to argue the case he's fatigued and should be treated / used sparingly.

All managers moan about this, along with a lot more. Just get on with it.

As for Richarlison he's a top player with a great attitude. Hopefully he will learn to curb some of his enthusiasm and improve his in game management of when to run and when to rest so he remains a better attacking threat.

Another oh-so predictable TW comments section. I counted maybe 3 people who have clearly traveled internationally. The "class" you fly in doesn't have a magical 'fix jetlag' button. Unreal.

And not one single person in this thread is being asked to play 90 minutes a couple days after their international travel. Get a grip.

Talk of pressure on players remind me of a story about Keith Miller the great Australian cricket all-rounder who was at a Test match after he retired. After play had finished for the day he went into the Australian team's changing rooms and was speaking to one of the players who said,

"With all respect, Mr Miller, when you played you weren't under the pressure that we are today."

Miller replied, "Son, you wouldn't know what pressure is. Pressure is diving at 2000 feet with a Messerschmidt up your arse, this is just a game."

I only lament the day Everton offer you a long term contract.

#!) Frank Crewe, Great post!

In a nutshell! It's a shame Silva can't find reasons for HIS poor form???

Fans should start issuing press releases as well. The counter to this one could be:

Everton fans lament travel toll team takes on them under useless manager

If not 100%, why play him? Another stupid excuse, do these people not think before they open their mouths or do they think fans are that stupid?

Players in the squad who have not travelled... why buy these players in the first place if you think the travelling is a problem? He has a reputation that's carried over that he only plays half a season — for 㿔M... just daft!!!!

Just endured the Brazil-Senegal game in Singapore. Not a great watch.

Nice to see Gana Gueye running around a football pitch again.

Nice also to see, as predicted, that Richarlison didn't start the game and only came on for the final 20 minutes for Firmino, but didn't show much as by then Senegal were well on top.

Brazil started well and scored with a well-worked goal, set up by Jesus, finished by Firmino, in the opening 10 minutes. Senegal equalised with a nailed on penalty on the stroke of half-time and that is how the game ended.

Other than that, not an awful lot to report. Both Neymar and the team look very anaemic and nowhere near their previous standards.

I'm hoping Richarlison again sees little game time in the second game in Singapore v Nigeria on Sunday.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, these games show the hold Nike has over the Brazilian football federation. The electronic pitch-side advertising promotes these games as 'Brazil's Global Tour'. How absurd is it to have a South American team and two African teams travel to Singapore for friendly games?

Thankfully, today's commentary revealed that even the Brazilian authorities refused Nike's request to play a couple of friendlies in Bangladesh for security reasons.

A 40,000 seater stadium in Singapore only half full...and the most prominent shirt on display in the crowd, I'm sad to report, was not the yellow of Brazil, or the green of Senegal, but the red of...I can't bring myself to complete the sentence.

Jay, First time I read that, I thought you said Richarlison was playing in the Singapore v Nigeria game!

There is a part of me suspecting Marco of throwing Richie to the Wolves here. I know these lot live in a bubble but I am sure Marco is well aware there is currently not an abundant pool of sympathy from the Everton supporters to the plight of the poor modern International footballer.

Interesting.

From what I recall of the early days of ToffeeWeb there was no comments. Back in the 90s we used to print out the Match Preview and then read it in the car. No iPads or iPhones in those days.

I say that because in 1995 my favourite player was Anders Limpar. Due to my age at the time, he'll always be my favourite player. I can only imagine the arguments that would have gone on about him back then. He was the most erratic player I've ever seen. A trait typical to wingers. But on his day, he could destroy sides, but you don't need me to tell you that.

Richarlison is a similar player. I think he's played alright this season. He's still in the top 10 tacklers in the whole Premier League. He's clearly tracking back and getting stuck in. You can't ask more from any player than they give 100%. He's tried hard but if it's not dropping right for him, and his crossing is off and his shooting wayward, then all he can do is keep working on it in training and hope he comes back to form.

He has tendency to fall over and roll around. He's not the only one and it's a common trait for forwards in South America. He has a tendency to play with a scowl on his face. He's been like that ever since I first saw him play for Watford. He never smiles on the pitch. He looks like he's pissed off and he walks in a weird way like he's got an injury. That's the way he is. Once the match is over, he's straight to the kids giving them his shirt and taking pictures. I think he's a great lad and he's our most effective player, probably our best player. Why do people like to attack our best players? Is it because we fear he'll leave and so we want to get in that we never liked him anyway? I just don't get it. If I was a teenager again, I think he'd be my favourite player.

Jer, these interviews and these stories are not done on a daily basis. Silva speaks to the press after the game, then that's it until the pre-match press conference on the Thursday or Friday before the game. The players speak to the press, including Everton's own media, directly after the game.

The press then drip stuff throughout the week. Everton choose to release interviews with the players one by one through the week. So at the moment, they are choosing 2 or 3 to defend the manager, and publish those stories during the week. But it's all done straight after the game.

These stories are made up from things put to the manager after the match. Loaded questions are asked so the Journo can try to have a story in mind, push the manager to give an answer he is expecting, and bingo his story is done.

It's very easy to ask these loaded questions and get the answer you want and to spin it in the way you want to. Do it myself all the time but for different reasons.

Anyway, bear in mind what you are reading here. Newspapers and Websites want to generate clicks and keep people coming back every day. Everton try to control the narrative themselves and that's done by their PR team and not Silva. If Silva is asked about Richarlison's travelling for international games, what do you want him to say, it's had no effect, he's in the form of his life? Or he's playing badly but there's no excuse?

Steve,

Interesting comparison with Limpar. A big problem for Richarlison is that Gomes, Schneiderli, etc create no openings. Bernard has some nice touches but few assists or goals. We waste every set piece with aimless balls across the box.

So from a fan's perspective, what's left? Richarlison. We know he can produce some magic so in the absence of any other creativity everyone is relying on him. It's not fair but it's the situation.

In contrast, Limpar didn't have as much scrutiny in Royle's first year because we had other options. Firstly, we had Hinchcliffe's deadly corners, we also had long balls punted from Unsie and Watson which caused chaos and led to goals.

Likewise, if you look at Giggsy at United. Another talented winger. But he had plenty of non-productive games. However, he wasn't the sole focus. They had Beckham's crosses, Scholes through balls, even Schmeichel's might punts. So Giggs could quietly have an off-day without anyone noticing. At Everton right now, it's pretty much a case of win or lose based on Richarlison have a worldy or not.

Silva getting his excuses in, in advance of the West Ham game. Notice it's not Richie moaning, it's the manager.

@Steve
Fair points on the timing maybe he could say "I believe Firmino covers the same mileage and doesnt appear to affect him "maybe he could have said that,,

I have just gotten to a point where anything Marco says is suspect to me and I noted before he seem to not have a grasp of the word "embarrasing" in his vocabulary which is how he/we have performed this season but I have not yet heard him utter the word

It is plain to see that Silva can do little or no wrong in your eyes I think you have probably dug yourself so deep in to a hole when it comes to Marco that you have no choice but to keep on digging

It will all be over in a few weeks don't worry :)

PS I do fully agree with you on Richie though he is a good lad and will carve out a good living in the game

Jer (80), your last paragraph regarding Richarlison, was that a compliment or a back handed one.

I know literally dozens of players who have or will carve a good living out of the game and they where all average, or less than average players.

My own take on Richarlison, on what I have seen in his appearances for Everton is if we get what we paid for him, or slightly more, I'd be happy with that.

There is plenty of room for improvement, plenty, although he has a lot of potential to be honest. I'm still waiting to be convinced by him.

Dave, AC Milan offered us more than we paid last January. Think it was 60m euros. We could get £60m. All the stats and performance indicators showed Richarlison to be one of the top 10 best u21 year olds in European football at the time. He's 22 now but I bet he's still up there for the expanded age group. I wouldn't sell him for double the money. We need to keep him and nurture him.

Steve (82), if AC Milan offered that much I think we should have snatched their hands off.

All the stats and performance indicators showed him to be one of the top ten best U21 year olds in European football, he never looked that impressive to me, I was only using my eyes to be honest.

I think you would be very foolish indeed to refuse £80M for him, doubt very much if Everton would.

Hi Dave [81] I place Richarlison in the most frustrating players category, that I have seen playing for Everton. Alongside Gary Jones, Peter Beagrie, James McFadden, and Ross Barkley, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he practices falling to the ground, if this is so he has mastered the art. I have heard that falling over in South American football is commonplace, but I can't accept it at Goodison Park. It's possible that some fans tolerate this behaviour. I, and I'm sure may others find it abhorrent.

Hi Steve [76] I've just scrolled back to your post, and I notice that you have mentioned that, "Richarlison has a tendency to fall over and roll around, he's not the only one, it's a common trait in South America" I trust that because he's not the only one to do so, is not put forward as an excuse. I have no time, as you well know, for stats etc, but can you answer a question I've asked of many people without getting a satisfactory answer, "Who coaches the coaches?

@Dave
Was meant as what it is and not back handed at all, I probably sit somewhere in the middle between yourself and Steve , I genuinely think he will be a big name in world football and may even play for 1 of the 2 big Spainish giants

Whether we will keep him depends on where we are as a club, but he has yet to prove it, saying that drop him into any big European side who are playing well and have a plan and he would flourish I would say

Coaches Coach coaches, John.

Like with any job, they have a licence, as I do for mine, and you have to put in some many training hours each year to stay up to date. Some renowned coaches like Bielsa, Mourinho, and Guardiola take these courses and pass on their ideas. There's a fair few examples that are filmed and on YouTube with illustrious coaches in the audience.

I was personally fascinated to see how Bielsa teaches what appears to be spontaneous movement. How he does all this drills to make certain movements happen and how his players can then know to get the ball and anticipate those rehearsed movements and plonk a ball into space where a player will suddenly appear.

If you read the Unsworth article, written before he took a job with us, you'll see he was coaching B level coaches.

Hi Steve [86] excuse my ignorance, but who taught the Coaches who now teach other coaches? It had to start somewhere. Is it possible that in my early days of watching Everton [when no badges were required] we the fans were getting short-changed, and players of the calibre of Tom Finney, Joe Mercer etc could have been so much better?

The mind boggles at the realisation that Jackie Milburn and his like, could have been so much improved with a little bit of coaching, I feel cheated and it's adding to my current depression.

ps: Perhaps we could discuss this subject at the next get-together.?

Coaching is a killjoy. Remember that joker from Zaire in the world cup who ran up and kicked the ball away before the opponents could take a free kick, then proceeded to bow to mark his genius idea? That would never happen now. All the world cup teams are coached to death in the same boring way. By comparison, imagine if you rounded up Monet, Picasso, Michelangelo and Van Gogh, and had Tony Hart and Morph coach them to do paint by numbers in his way. The world of art would be a poorer place.

Kieran, there was a good documentary on Zaire. It's ignorant to think a professional footballer did not know the rules for a free kick. That moment was the culmination of a lot of very interesting things that were happening in the country. You should watch it, you will like it for sure.

I'll try and find it, it was called something like the '74 Leopards of Zaire.

With you on that Kieran. Managers or coaches as is the modern parlance used to be motivators, organizers and innovators but now they are trying to tell players that have been playing a certain way since they were kids where to be and when and how to play zonal marking etc.

I often wonder what they spend ten minutes on the touchline telling a sub that wasnt covered in training.

It is turning the game anaemic.

Entre la coupe et l'élection film trailer (in French)

The Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia

Football and footballers are simple, coaches make it complicated. Football has moved on in diet and fitness but that's it, 4-4-2 will have its day in the sun again it's cyclical, just like every other “new” formation or fashion.

I think it's good for anyone to have a hobby. Someone who takes time out and learns something new, new formations, tactics, stats etc, but in spewing dissertation length rebuttals with an underlying sense of trying to belittle mere mortals who don't understand or to try and pass their opinion off as “science" or "fact” does little to change the indisputable fact that football is a simple game, made complicated by NFL playbook numptys.

Now, just imagine if the main coach and the majority of the backroom staff doesn't count English as his first language, the forward coach has a thick Scottish accent barely legible to an Englishman... The majority of the first team squad doesn't count English as their first language, just imagine. Imagine. How fucking confusing all this tactical “genius” is. Some managers and coaches try to be too clever and it never works, now combine this with a language barrier. It's not rocket science.

Andrew
Fully agree

Andrew (92), I think you are correct Andrew, in fact God put a stop to all that nonsense when they tried to build the Tower of Babel years ago.

On the stats & tactics cult, I seem to recall when Sky first stole the game from the masses and where looking for something to fill the empty schedules, Joe Royle was guest on Andys "Bootroom" or some such shite

Gray sits down pre match with his salt and pepper shakers setup on a small table and running through the various scenarios for the benefit of big Joe,

"When he moves here, the left back can utilize the space here" etc etc, Joe looked at him with a rye smile and said "That's all well and good until you throw a ball into the mix!"

A simple game complicated by fools, I think Clough said.

Our current crop opitimize this with their high optima stats for doing everything except winning or scoring goals, I also feel Silva has used this to defend himself claiming we had all the "moments"

Truth is the opposition are handing us the initiative as opposed to us taking it, Opta can't measure "nouse" "cunning" clever play, who's running the fastest and passing the most... fine, but that's all it's worth for me.

Kerion 88. Spot On... last bit on Tony Hart made me smile ”and the masters make the rules... for the wise men and the fools”

(That's not a Tony Hart quote, btw!!!)

If Silva does all his best work at Finch Farm and does such a comprehensive cover on both the opposition and our own tactics why does he need to talk to the players - sporadically during the game?

Possibly because he actually hadn't covered the opposition so well. Maybe they are not doing what he expected them to... Maybe he's just not as good as he and others think he is.

For sure, since he arrived, changing things after kick-off has not been one of his strengths... in fact, it seems it's a major weakness.

A bit more flexibility might help him.

'Perhaps we could discuss this subject at the next get-together'

But will you travel in a coach, John, when you meet to discuss the coach's role and whether there is a need for coaches at all. ?

Perhaps a taxi would suffice... and leave the Coach, coach's, coaches whatever at home.

Something for you to think about at your next "get-together".

Jay 27, great comments which I fully agree with; the lad is our only real attacking goal threat and his effort is second to none.

Like all humans, he suffers from jet lag and fatigue!

Someone commented well it doesn't seem to affect Man City's Ederson and Jesus, maybe because one plays in goal and the other warms the bench not running over 10 km every game.

Steve @89,

I was kidding on the Zaire bloke, with a self parody he did on the Skinner and Baddiel show in mind.

Seems to able to still give his all for Brazil, after his 'so tiring' flight out there!! Just when he comes back, to his regular career – his bread-and-butter job! – it seems to fuck him up! Especially if it's not against a 'big' side!!!

Who coaches the coaches? Hopefully, a mixture of experience and intelligence with more emphasis on the latter. All the courses in the world mean nothing without originality, an eye for a player and the ability to organize those who work under or for you.

Andrew #92, reminds me of a scene from "The Damned United" where the Leeds players are lamenting that Clough hadn't given them a complete dossier on all the opposition players as Revie used to do.

And Clough's response was "mark Stan Bowles, that's all you need to know about QPR."

Mark #67, I guess you've never flown business class then.

Hi Alan. J. I assume your post was addressed to me, if so the answer to your question is, I will be travelling by train from Kirkdale station [if God spares me]. The word 'coach' terrifies me, and my mode of travel will [in my mind], be one of three carriages. On my return from games I have often heard, "You'd think that they'd lay more coaches on for match days", luckily I stand way back from the edge of the platform, as the risk of throwing myself on to the tracks is heightened by such remarks.

On a more serious note, Alan, don't you think that the talent that gets youngsters to any football club, is being stifled by blackboard/whiteboard instructions. I appreciate that there has to be a degree of organisation, but I also believe that moments of individual brilliance that thrill the fans, can't be coached. they are [in my opinion] natural to the player concerned and he should be encouraged rather than discouraged, but then again I don't have any certificates or badges to prove my knowledge of the game [or lack of it]. I see no reason as to why I'm allowed into the ground, other than they'll take anybody's money.

Lee #102: that's a false equivalency there, mate. Just because A does not mean B. Google it.

Eric #105: I wish! Who the heck can afford business class (beyond I assume professional footballers as you're insinuating)? Regardless, jet lag is a very real thing and the ability to sleep on the plane can actually make it worse, especially going back East (which is the direction one flies back to England from Brazil).

On the question of contrasting a bygone era to the modern game, 10-15 years ago I bought a favoured uncle – a HUGE Blackpool 'Tangerine' fan - a video copy of the full 90 minutes of the club's greatest ever game: the 1953 FA Cup Final, immortalised as 'The Matthews Final' when the great man, Stanley Matthews, finally landed a winner's medal after many failed attempts.

My uncle was at Wembley that day and remembered it as the greatest game of football he had ever seen. Losing 3-1 to Bolton, Matthews, together with a hat-trick by Stan Morterson, completely turned the game on its head to win 4-3.

With great anticipation, I sat down to watch the game with my uncle. At the final whistle, as the closing credits rolled, my uncle and I sat in silence which he was first to break:

"Well that wasn't as great as I remembered it." And as someone who had never viewed the game before, I understood what he meant. I felt – and still feel – pangs of guilt for getting him the video and effectively shattering his idealised memory.

Why so? Because, in my uncle's own words, the game was incredibly slow-paced with only sporadic moments of skill and excitement...in contrast to the modern-day game we were now both watching at that time.

Now I'm categorically not saying that each and every era hasn't produced great players or teams, or that a great player of a bygone era – if born, say, into this era – could not be a great player in today's game. Great players with innate skills would blossom in any era.

What I will say, quoting the wry line of American author Peter de Vries, is:

'Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.'

I would also add that the notion that modern coaching is somehow stifling individual brilliance or spontaneity doesn't stand up to inspection based on what I see every single week (although, sadly, not always at Everton).

The technique, the fitness, the pace of the modern game has reached astonishing levels.

To compare football to another favourite sport of mine – cricket – the advent of one day cricket has led to incredible innovations in batting, bowling and fielding. We now see strokes, deliveries and acrobatic fielding that defies gravity and physics as commonplace that were unseen and unheard of just 5, 10,15 years ago. They have enriched the game and made it an even greater spectacle.

Now it was individual players who first innovated such moves by simply thinking 'what if..?' and then trying it in a competitive game. Repetitive practice – and coaching – continued to hone and improve such audacity so it succeeds more than it fails in the white heat of the game.

Modern day football and its innovations are similar. There are plays and moves by individual players which make your jaw drop.

As to the charge 'Who coaches the coaches?' I think it's a facile question. Life evolves. New technology, methods, understanding of any subject matter is in constant flux and change. The candle and oil lantern was replaced by electricity. Would you call a candle-maker today to re-wire your house, or a qualified electrician?

And as with every walk of life, there are good and bad exponents of their trade amongst football coaches as there are among electricians. But to imply that any and all coaching is bad and to claim individual skill is being oppressed due to over-coaching is a non-sequitor based on a false premise, IMO.

Jay (108), a lot of truth in that post Jay, I watched some of the Munich air tragedy Busby Babes players and how slow it was compared to today's football, similar with the 1966 Everton FA Cup Final, no doubt it has got faster and faster as we come to today.

I also marvel at some of today's players with their ability and lots of it makes me gasp at the brilliance and audacity of the moves; at the same time, I've never seen so many poor passes by so many players in practically every game.

Some of the games are outstanding and a pleasure to watch, I'd argue a lot more of the games bore me (at least) to tears, due mainly to the dozens of backward and sideways passes, last night's England game was a good example. I'd put a lot of this to down to the negative tactics of many of today's coaches.

The game has speeded up in the play, but is constantly slowed down by the referees whistle for a lot fouls given that were fair tackles in the past.

Players are instructed to keep hold of the ball at all costs, rarely try an ambitious one when keeping possession by going backwards or sideways is the safer option.

Football is a lot faster today than yesteryear and can be a lot better to watch, not always though Jay, it is, I think a lot more negative than it once was, down to coaches I'd say.

Anyway Jay I've wrote a belly full here, to finish, although it has always been called the “Mathews Final” and I don't begrudge him that, ask your uncle what he thought of Ernie Taylor's contribution that day, he was the player who constantly fed Mathews and had a great game.

Finally Jay, although Morterson scored a hat-trick that day, it was never recognised as a hat trick until seventeen years after the game, before it was finally given to Stan, one of the goals was always credited to Harold Hassell who played for Bolton, an own goal.

Dave (#109); It was said that, under Martinez players, had to reach a certain percentage of completed passes which led to a lot of pointless passes.

On the matter of the speed of today's game; last year I saw a replay of the 1965 FA Cup Final between Leeds & Liverpool and Ron Yeats put everything he had behind a clearance on the edge of his own penalty area and it barely crossed the halfway line. Compare that to goalkeepers today knocking it from one end to the other with relative ease and barely ever kicking it out of their hands.

John (#106), I think that allowing players to show their natural talent comes under the part about intelligence.

Hi Jay [108] and Dave [109] the game is undoubtedly faster, and today's players can do far more with the ball than the 'old timer's, but the pitches of today are like bowling greens, and the ball although it still weighs, the same today as it did, [unless that's something else they've changed] moves faster through the air. The kit is considerably lighter, and the players are fitter than they've ever been.

Dave, I tell Josh consistently, that he can [at the age of 15], do more with a ball than some players of the past, I've never claimed that football was better in the past, but what I have said, and I will say it again now, is that I found it more enjoyable. I appreciate that we do look back through rose-tinted glasses, but if it gives us comfort where's the harm in that?

Have read through comments with much interest regarding today's football coach's and there merits and input etc.
Whilst my own work in football is in the amateur sector, over the year's I have had the pleasure to work with all ages up to adults and both sexes.
I have to agree coach's can confuse the issue and player's by being too clever. I think the problem arises from the way the badges are taught and certain criteria have to be met or you will fail these courses.
I am now upto Uefa B so I will have to meet the tutors criteria, show I have proper control over session's which have an aim also. Your planners have to be right, in order, completion of player profile's and your solutions to these have to show you work using the "4 corners principle" as well as being able to produce under pressure to meet the player's demands firstly, not your own.
There is much that goes on unseen to achieve these awards, it's NOT easy folks!
For me the game is simple-play the way you face, pass quickly, move, get your best player's on the ball often and work till you drop. The biggest issues I see continually is lack of effort and not committing to work rate, plus every team struggles on transition.
I think I read from a book about Alan Ball that he said the "most difficult pass in football is the simple one". I have not forgotten this when I coach and constantly urge player's to do the same.
A great,insightful description of the game by an amazing one touch player, who I believe would stroll the game today.

Dave @ 109.

And a lot of truth in your own post also.

Like yourself I also marvel at some of today's players and their ability. And again like yourself I'm left incredulous at times at how poor even the simplest passing is at times. A lot of it not down to the pace of the game, the restricted time and space to make the pass, but simply poor basic execution in unpressured situations. It has happened A LOT with Everton players down the years, no matter who the manager is!!!

The tiki-taka football introduced by Cryuff at Barcelona and refined by subsequent managers, whilst impressive on one level for its technique, player proximity and execution, designed to exhaust the opposition into submission, at some point under Guardiola lost its charm for me and became a tedious watch, so again I agree with you on that front with regard to possession football. Guardiola's City is a much better watch for me.

One aspect I perhaps diverge from your view is on the physical side of the game. Maybe it has tilted too far, but I fully support the crackdown on the kind of physical assaults the likes of Chopper Harris and his ilk built their reputations on which, if enacted on the streets of Liverpool city centre on a Saturday night would have you collared by a bizzie and passing the rest of the evening in a local pen 'til next morning!

Whilst there is merit in what you say about the negative way some managers set up their teams (probably due to the stakes and any threat of relegation being so high), I think that you equally have many coaches who take a bolder approach to how they send their teams out. Alas, you have to go back some years that Everton has hired someone capable of consistently playing that way effectively.

As for my uncle, sadly, he is no longer around to ask, but he was always honest enough to acknowledge that (even back in the 1950s!) the 'Mathews Final' moniker was an invention of the media 'cos it made the best story. He always said Matthews actually didn't play particularly well that day and that Ernie Taylor was indeed the man conducting things from midfield (or should I say wing half? inside forward?). He also thought Morterson merited greater recognition than he received.

Just one final Everton-related (possibly non-PC) question to you Dave (or John Mac may know). The man who scored Blackpool's winning goal - the South African Bill Perry. Was he coloured, or black?

I ask because I'm curious to know if our own Mike Trebilcock was indeed the first 'non-caucasian' or not (Jeez! Coining the right phrase without giving unintended offence can be tricky at times) to score in an FA Cup Final in our 1966 triumph.

Aye, Jay. How on earth it isn't called the Mortensen final is beyond me, the man scored a hat -trick - the only one to do so since the 19th Century!

Fair play and fair travel, but the RS, don't come out with this lament after internationals?

Surely as part of the transfer negotiations for new players to Everton,, all requirements are considered?

If the players were taking the ferry not a flying boat, or ship, fair play, but this to me, is weakness and vppp, and warrants the clubs professionalism in player selection, at the highest level. in Everton FC.

No whinging elsewhere, as far as I know? For too much travelling. So as it's been part of players in the Europena game for decades, I don't see this issue.

Hi Jay [114] I think that Bill Perry may have been of mixed race, he was born in South Africa, and was quite often referred to as coloured, when that term was not the unacceptable description it is today.

Hi Dennis [115] it was called the Matthews Final, because the media viewed it as romantic, Matthews was 38 years old, and it was thought that it was his last chance of gaining a Cup Winners medal. Although I was 15 at the time I remember it well. Stan Mortenson was later credited with scoring a hat-trick but as Dave [109] states, one of the goals was an own goal, a shot was going wide when it was diverted into his own goal by Harold Hassalll. How the FA came to their decision I'll never know, If you ever get the chance to view the game you will see that it was in no way a hat-trick.

Jay (114), regarding tackles from the past, yes some of them were outrageous and had no place in the game of football, others were just full-blooded fair tackles.

Regarding coaches, there were some who made attacking football their priority; more, I'd say, who leaned too far to the defensive side of the game. Bill Perry, going by today's calling, was black, as was Mike Trebilcock. It's hard to get by in the PC world today without offending someone when no offence is even thought of never mind meant.

Your uncle knew his football!!!

John @ 117 and Dave @ 118.

First of all, apologies for the lateness of my reply, but we've just had a mega-Catholic festival weekend in Brazil and, married to a good Brazilian Catholic girl, we've been busy with family and the church!

You both confirmed what my Blackpool relies always told me, that Bill Perry was indeed black, or coloured, and certainly not white. Knowing that, it always puzzles me that in all histories I've read about the FA Cup, our own Mike Trebilock continues to be credited with scoring the first goal by a non-white player in a cup final.

Back to the topic of the original thread - Richarlison and his travelling - due to afore-mentioned Catholic festivals I didn't see the Brazil-Nigeria game live (went out at 9am Sunday morning here), but only caught highlights and read the reports.

Richarlison came on for the disappointing Everton Santos at half time and by all accounts had a good game, galvanising the team a bit. Gabigol, who I have been trumpeting, replaced Firmino for the last 30 minutes and also impressed. I read today an (alleged) interest by Crystal Palace in signing Gabigol in January.

Brazil overall, since they won the Copa America, that's now four friendly games with 3 draws and 1 defeat. They really do look bereft of inspiration. They even take to lobbing hopeful high balls forward in the dying minutes of games which is most un-Brazilian like.

And Dave, an update for you on young Jesus at Flamengo. The Brazilian league did not suspend their games for the internationals and Flamengo played twice whilst the national side was in Singapore.

With Gabigol absent, Flamengo played Jesus for almost the full 90 minutes in the first of those games and he scored the third goal. He didn't feature at all in the second game, so Flamengo continues to handle him with care. See his goal here as this link (about two minutes in).

Link

I fancy you will enjoy the comedic defending that led to his goal, or maybe not as it will remind you of Everton's backline at the moment!

Hi Jay [119] no apologies necessary, I've always maintained that there are more important things in life than football. My recollection of the Final is that in some newspapers of the day, Bill Perry was described as being as black, and in others as being coloured, a description that I gather is unacceptable today.

Regarding the link you provided, my take on it is [something else I've always maintained] that supporters of the team conceding a goal view it as a defensive failing, while the opposition fans will revel in how the scorer of the goal eluded his marker, the same goal different reactions.

Jay 114/Dave 118

I miss the tackling but there's a fine line. Call me a luddite but I used to enjoy watching boring boring Arsenal under George Graham. Partly, because they stepped up in Everton's demise to challenge Liverpool. But I also loved Winterburn, Bould and co. with their endless last ditch slide tackles frustrating Rush and company. I didn't view them as dirty while I hated watching Wimbledon because I always felt they actually wanted to maim opponents as opposed to making "full blooded tackles."

Jay (119), I would have enjoyed that festival, I saw a long parade in Seville once, that took hours to pass through the centre of the city, I thought it was brilliant, so we'll done for putting football to one side for a couple od days and enjoying the festival with your wife.

The goal Reiner scored was comedy defending but the lad never panicked and rushed his effort, I think he knew his surroundings and waited for the ball to come down before he slotted it home. I wish he would have scored one like the opposition's equaliser or Flamingo's second, but they all count no matter the quality.

Kieran (121), yes George Graham's Arsenal was a well organised and disciplined defensive team and I loved them that night at Anfield. I've got a post card, somewhere in the house, from George thanking me my support and best wishes for a victory forArsenal. I also advised him to use a young striker that night, as a surprise element, not well known then, Campbell, wisely he ignored me, he turned out to be a saviour for us a few years later and scored the winner at Anfield for us the last time we won there. Keiran, not sure I would have liked to watch them every week, then again they were winners so I would have found excuses for them.

Another update on Reinier Jesus for you from last night, Dave.

The games are coming thick and fast in the Brazilian league as they play twice a week from here until Nov-Dec to catch up for the 5-6 weeks the league was paused for the Copa America in June.

Fresh from their 2-0 win away to the newly crowned Brazilian Cup winners Athletico Paranaense on Sunday, Flamengo had a long away trip to Fortaleza, bumping around the relegation zone.

It was an interesting selection by the Flamengo manager, given the original subject of this thread: he immediately selected Gabigol who would have had less than 48 hours back in the country having returned from Singapore with the Brazilian squad. 'Our' boy Reinier also played the full 90, which is just as well as you will read and see from the linked video.

Fortaleza took the lead with a VAR penalty. Looks harsh to me for two reasons. The defender was actually standing outside the penalty area, and their was no 'unatural' positioning of his arm that the ball hit. Also check around the 1:30 mark of the video. The goal bound shot that beats the keeper, but cleared by a defender behind him is from Reinier Jesus.

Just seven minutes left on the clock when Flamengo got a penalty of their own, duly converted by the goal machine that is Gabigol. I would really like to see his 'boxer weigh-in pose' goal celebration in the blue of Everton one day.

With barely a minute left of normal time, who pops up with the winner header, but 'our boy' Reinier. Game salvaged, Flamengo still 8 points clear at the top of the table.

His manager Jorge Jesus is handling Jesus well. Giving him game time against weaker opposition and getting a return on it - a couple of assists and three goals in six games (370 playing minutes).

Flamengo has a BIG derby game this weekend - the FLA-FLU! Famengo v Fluminese (Richarlison's old team). I fully expect the manager to bench the youngster and maybe only give him game time if the game is secure in the closing stages.

Here's the link to last night's highlights:

Link

And a final PS. The festival - known as the Cirio - is a truly amazing event.

Envisage 1-2 MILLION (not thousands, MILLIONS) people packed as tight as sardines, following a statue of Mother Mary along a 4km route - a route which you could normally complete in a comfortable stroll in an hour - for anything between 9-12 hours.

High octane stuff.

Jay (123), thanks for the report, and on the link the kid looked very aware for that goal. Every goal he scores puts the price up and I imagine our chance of getting him. Keep those reports coming Jay and thanks again.

Hi Jay [123],

It would have been a shame to have such a good goal disallowed, but there were two balls on the pitch at the time.

I noticed that also, John, but forgot to call attention to it in my first post. Some refs would DEFINITELY have stopped the game and annulled the goal, I agree.

The mitigating circumstances that the ref in this instance didn't is (maybe) because all sorts of shenanigans goes on in Brazilian games. There may have been a completely innocent reason the second ball ended up on the pitch at the time. Equally, it could have been a deliberate ploy by one of the home team's ball boys behind the game.

Here is a great comic example of just how extreme 'outside interference' can be in live games. This was an important game, deciding who would go through to a promotion play-off semi-final, but astonishingly the result was allowed to stand and the offending team won through.

Link

Hi Jay [126],

I also noted that, earlier in the game, the referee signalled for TV assistance, which he received; but, in the goal-scoring incident, there was a distinct absence of the dreaded VAR intervention.