Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Big game - big response required.

COYB

So I have little doubt they will turn up and win tomorrow.

The problem is the mentality of our players, they'll win tomorrow and think they have appeased the supporters but then they will have the next two weeks off and turn in shit shows.

As I say, that's the mentality of player we have harboured at Everton for too long.

I don't think it's really that harsh on Walcott.

He's deteriorated rapidly since his first six months at Everton when he actually started brightly.

His end product is woeful, nearly every ball misses its intended target and he no longer poses any goal threat (he hasn't scored all season) not helpful when you are crying out for goals from midfield.

I could not quite work out the team selection last Sunday, why it included Walcott, Sidibe AND Coleman, it has to be two from that three at the very most, and no more.

Our entire midfield has done nothing all season, nobody creates, nobody scores, we have wingers that don't run at fullbacks.

Even Gomes before he got injured was having quite a subdued season, I just don't know what it is with midfielders at this club anymore, they don't seem capable of getting involved in matches.

I would like to see Gordon joined by Adenerin (or Baningime if fit) on the bench. Completely drop Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin. I would say completely drop Delph as well, but other than Holgate there is no other viable central midfield option.

I don't just mean the way he puts his hands on his knees to get his breath back, he's also got a massive arse for a 19 year old footballer!

At this stage, we just need to pick up points to maintain direction of travel in the league. Given Delph's attitude, I'm not sure his presence will help pull the team together. With that in mind, I'd drop him alongside Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin and Walcott. On the other hand, nothing to lose in playing Gordon so - certainly - give the lad a chance

Franny 13

I agree with that because I touched on it myself a few weeks ago, young Moise looks a little top heavy and like he's carrying a tad bit of timber.

Lukaku was always a big chunky physical lad at 19 but he was extremely strong too, albeit inconsistent, he did really bully defenders when he was on his game, I've yet to really see that in Kean.

Matty Foulds is a left back. He was signed for an undisclosed fee a few years back. He is just shy of his 22nd birthday. He was meant to develop into a centre-back and his playing style fits in more with a cultured centre-back than a flying fullback.

Foulds is more like a cross between a left footed Mason Holgate and a left footed Tony Hibbert than Lucas Digne, Leighton Baines, or Seamus Coleman. His career has not progressed to plan due to him not quite getting the inches needed to play centre-back. I am unsure how tall he is but would guess around 6'0". He's certainly smaller than Feeney and Gibson and noticeably so. He is not a good crosser and would not get forward with confidence. He might suit playing on the left of a back 3.

The other usual suspects were there: Gordon and Adeniran. No sign of Gibson (injured) or Baningime (injured). Gordon was not in the u23s squad on Monday, whereas Adeniran was. Feeney has returned for the u23s and this meant the team had a better look about it. Astley was back at right back, john was back to right wing, Adeniran therefore came back inside to DM with Markelo alongside him. Evans in the 10 role and Mampala on the left wing.

Gordon is sure to be featured. Whether or not he starts is the question.

Delph can do one. I'd rather have Holgate and Davies in the middle.

We have to rest Richarlison at some point so I'd start with DCL and Kean.

But Ray is quite right, Delph should have just ignored it. More Everton players use their settings so fans cannot comment on their pictures, only their "friends" and their DMs are available only to friends. Delph should have switched to this as well. As an Everton player, you would have to expect abuse from the fans of rival clubs, and some people would give the likes of Messi grief never mind our crappy players.

I doubt that Ancelotti had done much "due diligence" before he took the job. He was unemployed, the PL is the best paying and most successful league in the world, and Everton's owner is a billionaire. Judging by the look on his face during the second half at Anfield, he's probably wishing he had looked into the set-up a bit more carefully, cos it's a fucking nightmare scenario for a manager like him.

I'm not expecting much for the rest of the season, just more mediocrity and a few wins to gets us a top half finish. If there isn't a massive clear out in the summer, then it'll be more of the same next season. Ancelotti can't get a silk purse out of sow's ear, no matter how many glittering titles he's won.

Davies and Delph to a degree at least show for the ball.

I'll go with Lyndons team as the thought of Trossard and Maupay running at Keane gives me kittens.

We mustn't expect too much of Gordon. He's only a kid who's struggled at times to make an impact in the U23s but at least playing him would give the crowd the lift and I really think the players will need to feel supported tomorrow (not that they deserve it).

A win tomorrow and we'd be W4 D2 L1 in the league over seven matches which is pretty good. We could still make a run on the top 7 and if we could get into Europe for next year then that may help convince better players to come here in the summer. We must try to move on from the humiliating affair in mid-week and hope Ancelotti can begin to get a sweeter tune out of these players.

Moise Kean has a weird gait about him. He does not have an elegant walk. Another who has an unusual walk is Jonjo Kenny who walks like a lot of the young lads you see in the city centre, kind of a scouse strut. It does not hinder Kenny in the slightest as he bombs up and down the wing for Schalke. I do wonder though if Jack Wilshere has issues related to his unusual walk affecting his knees and back, if this would effect Kenny in anyway. I'm sure the medical experts would be all over it if that was the case.

Anyway, Kean looks, walks, and runs the same way he did for Juve. And his big arse is part of his strengths as he uses it to shield older and stronger players from the ball.

Certain players do have strange gaits to running, Aaron Lennon had a spider like run about him but in his first year or so with us he wasn't absolutely brilliant for us.

Kean, like Mina a bit has a weird running gait yes, they don't run in a straight line lol.

I'm waiting to see what Moise can do and personally I'd just start him up front now every week until the end of the season with DCL and see if he's going to cut much here.

While I never like us to go out of any Cup, and especially in the manner that we did this time, AND against a much ' weakened ' opposition, it may however be a blessing in disguise.

There are obviously a lot of problems behind the scenes, apart from overpaid, overpriced underperforming and ageing playing staff, that needs to be sorted out. I was happy when Marcel Brands came onboard, and thought at long last we a Footballing man on the Board and who would also be involved in buying players.

He has however blotted his copybook in my eyes with a few very expensive incomings, who have yet to prove their worth, ie, Iwobi, Kean and to a lesser degree Delph. The others he couldn't have envisaged serious injury in Gomes, Gbamin, and the downturn in performance of Digne.

So let's hope the players have been left in no uncertain terms at Finch Farm this week, after serious words from Duncan, Carlo and possibly M Brands too, as to where they stand and what is expected as a minimum in EVERY game.

For the match tomorrow, Brighton have surprised me recently since Graham Potter has been in charge, with a couple of good acquisitions in Trossard (ironically we were linked with him) Jahanbakhsh and Neil Maupay, who individually and collectively are capable of inflicting damage IF given the space and opportunity to do so.

It won't be easy by any means, but not impossible either, I find it hard without knowing who will be playing to even hazard a guess at the scoreline, but equally worrying where the goals are going to come from?

Anthony Gordon is a very fast player with incredible speed with the ball at his feet. It's one thing being fast, it's another to run fast with the ball. He has great close control. He can shift direction without losing speed. He has all the tricks and flair you could hope for. His position is a number 10. So I would say he has similarities to James Maddison. The part of his game he needs to improve the most is his passing as for a number 10 he needs to be more insightful, although he does appear to have the vision. This ability on the ball, the pace he has, and the ability to beat a man has seen him often shunted out wide.

He has actually played most often as a left winger, as the more technical right footed wingers find. He has scored a lot of goals by ghosting inside from the left and smashing it home with his right. Those who have not seen the Mansfield goal need to do so again. Remember, this is the Football League Trophy, it is a professional match against professional opposition in a lower league competition and is not a youth match. Link

In the u18s Gordon tended to play in his preferred number 10 position. He could run the game and he was prolific, scoring 15 goals in 22 games. Last season he struggled as Sam says scoring just once in 14 games (out of 22) and dropping back to the u18s for a short spell. He was back with the u23s midseason and figured off the bench. He finished the season mostly on the bench starting only 2 of the last 5.

This season he has been the main man. He scored 5 in his first 5 games, as the u23s were at the right end of the table. His form slowed of late, but he has not played many games due to first team commitments. We also need to remember that Anthony Gordon has not trained with the u23s at all this season. He trained the whole season with the first team. This means he cannot work on things with his teammates and most of their success has been just give Gordon the ball and watch him go.

I think the fans will be very patient with Gordon. They always were with Rooney, with Barkley and with Davies. It's when the youngster moves from emerging youngster to first team regular that people question sections of the crowd. I think Gordon in from the start will give the crowd the lift it needs after Sunday and can allow Gordon time to grow into the game and more opportunities to get the ball in full flow and to run at the Brighton defence.

If you look closely at Brighton, then they have a giant left back, Dan Burn. But sadly he got injured against Chelsea and went off injured. I would love to see Gordon running at the guy, he's 6'7" and wouldn't be able to handle Gordon's speed and trickery. That said, he has done well this season against other fast players, but Gordon would surely relish the match up. In his place is likely to be Bernardo. Dunno too much about him, he's Brazilian and was first choice left back last season so I have seen him play, but I think he was left wing.

The lad, without being injured to the best of my knowledge, has rarely even appeared as a bench-warmer of late, with Stekelenburg being preferred.

Whether there is any substance to it, but we are allegedly looking to bring another keeper in? When Record Losses are about to be announced this Financial Lunacy should be forensically examined and serious questions asked!

His move obviously didn't go well.

It is not the first time that this has been raised either, and it was in evidence on Sunday in all departments!

Nagelsmann wanted to buy Lookman time. He did just this by saying he was not fit. The reality is he was a signing made by the Leipzig Director of Football who clearly rates him. Naglesmann does not play wingers. So Lookman has played up top and he struggled. 3 games, 131 minutes in total, in the league and another in the Champions League. He is available for a cut-price fee otherwise Mike Ashley will not be in for him. That tells you everything you need to know. I would question Mr Lookman now. He is 22 and still yet to make the breakthrough.

Hoping for a positive reaction from all players picked after Sundays debacle. Additionally, 3 points here will put fears of relegation to bed so we can start looking up not down the table (we'd only need about 9 points from 16 games to stay up).

Really hope Ancelotti can get a tune out of Kean. Just hasn't worked for him so far and I think a goal wold do wonders for the kids confidence. He has pace and just think he needs that little bit of luck. Otherwise we may need to cut our losses whilst his stock is still relatively high back in Italy.

To me Walcott is something of an enigma. I agree with John (4) as I thought he played better than most in the first half of the Liverpool game. Kean needs to start and finish a game to prove or diprove his ability and fitness. Hopefully Ancelotti has now had time to assess his options and should be able to get the most out of all his players. I think we MUST trust his judgement and let him pick the players to play against Brighton, even those that we feel should be banished to the sidelines for the rest of their careers.

My reason being supported by perception alone, as some players seem to be ' blowing for tugs ' and that's only just after the warm up!

In addition I watch many matches (whole) or highlights of most in the Premiership and European and South American Leagues, and to the untrained eye, players from other Clubs, irrespective of Country, seem to be a lot fitter and more mentally aware than we have been of late.

Put Antony on the bench by all means and if we have a compfortable lead, give the last twenty minutes or so.

Gordon does have a tendency to go missing, and if you take the first five games of the u23s season from him, then his stats take a real battering. Even in the u18s he scored most of those goals in a very short period where he was well past 1 per game at one stage.

I would start him though. It's time and Brighton is one of the sides you would pick for a young footballer like Gordon to make his first start against. Them or Norwich. You know he's not going to get kicked up and down the pitch.

Pickford

Seamus Keane Mina Baines

Sidibie Holgate Davies Bernard

Richarlison/ Calvert-Lewin

We have the big fixtures on a run again after these four games, so for me, if we are going to Gordon a run, then we need to do it now while the fixture list is a bit kinder to Everton.

Carlo Ancelotti said we had good fitness levels. Duncan has them running more, but that was to unsustainable levels. No player can sprint all match long. As for the teams ahead of us. I would ask serious questions about the fitness of the fittest team in the league, we all know who, and I wonder if they have signed a certain doctor from team sky.

1. Michael Johnson - 4 Olympic golds, 8 World Championship golds - had the worst technical running style ever seen [head back, arms high and stationary]. As he said sarcastically at the end of his career: 'If only I'd had proper technique, I might have won something'!

2. Freddie Trueman - the late England fast bowler, in response to a remark about his unusually large behind, said: 'Aye, lass …. but you need a bloody big hammer, to hit a bloody big nail...'!

3. I've said this before, but the fittest people I've ever come across, have been elite oarsmen. Have Everton ever thought of asking for advice on fitness, from Sir Steve Redgrave, or Sir Matthew Pinsent? If you win multiple Olympic golds, at rowing, you are, by definition, amongst the fittest people on the planet!

This one is so, so easy for me:

Pickford
Seamus Keane Mina Baines
Bernard Holgate Davies Rich
DCL Kean

Bench - Digne, Delph, Tosun, Gordon, Lossl, Gordon, some other kid

All the other pretenders shouldn't even make the bench.

OK, put a third I'd on the bench!

We need to see a lot more of Bernard, and he, in turn, needs to come to terms with the fact that he is now our main source of creativity and play with courage. I feel he has dropped off since the bright start, maybe give him a go off Richalison in a number 10, we could do worse?

Link

Fast forward to around the four minute mark to bypass the prelude of previous match highlights.

He deals with all the issues of the week head on.

Denies there was a dressing room bust-up post-match. That the players listened to what was highlighted about their failings. That he and the club spoke to Delph about his online exchange, saying that things are said in the heat of emotion and is understandable. That he heard about Brands meeting with fans at Finch Farm, saying it was very normal in Italy and that he himself would have no problem in speaking with them in such cases.

On preparation and training, the team continues to train well (separate video below of this week's training session):

Link

That he will adapt the team's play to the players he has. That he is very flexible and not stuck to one system only.

On being asked about Alisher Usmanov he replied in his recruitment he only spoke with Moshiri, Kenwright and Brands and has only met Usmanov once in a non-football capacity.

On Tosun leaving on loan to Palace, the player asked to go to a team where he can get games and he wishes him well.

On transfers, he repeated what he previously said, that they finally sat down to discuss the transfer market only this week after the cup game.

He spoke of 'a name' he is particularly interested in, but naturally did not reveal it. He said it is a name that NONE of the media has associated with Everton.

When pressed on what position he deflected it wasn't a goalkeeper because we have one of the best in England's national goalkeeper. When pressed further and asked 'central midfield', he smiled and said 'could be'.

He also spoke of the importance of the fans and the atmosphere they created in his first Goodison game against Burnley and that the side need that again tomorrow, but he understood their disappointment and frustration.

A good honest interview.

I didn't know it was so intense, the training they do at altitude as well, they are driven to almost inhuman levels of tolerance, where they are literally writhing on the floor in agony, as they are gasping for breath, and their muscles begin to spasm.

They have to eat 8 times the normal calorie intake just to fuel themselves for the gruelling challenges beset them. So you are right in saying they are probably the fittest athletes, next to Triathletes and Marathon runners.

Our lot like completely cosseted namby pambys in comparison, come to think of it

Wasn't our very own John Conteh crowned UK's Superstar champion once?

Andre Gomes will be back in training next week, but no mention as to how soon it will be before he can play.

Feel sorry for Kean. A nineteen year old kid, who can't speak a word of English, moving abroad to a club that (as far as I know) doesn't have anybody at the club speak his language. I really believe he only needs one goal to get his confidence up and running. Anyone remember his run and shot against Lincoln, where he turned the defender inside out only to thump his shot against the post. Had that gone in, then who knows what he could have gone on to do. And I know it was only Lincoln before any smart arse says "yeah, but it was only Lincoln"

Now that he has plenty of fellow Italians at the club, hopefully he can settle down, notch that first goal, tomorrow will do, and show us what he can really do.

Jay @ 63, thanks again for the links, very encouraging, but the video of the equivalent fixture last year, showed some great and quick build-up play which was wasted by diabolical finishing.

I just hope and pray that Schneiderlin is nowhere near the first team or the bench for that matter, and is sent to Blackpool to spend the afternoon with the other donkeys. He may learn a trick or two from them that will help him at his next Club.

I know I will be accused of Schneiderlin bashing, so what? I feel I am not alone and stating what I believe to be the case, but most of our good play in the past has come when he has NOT been in the side. Coincidence or Conspiracy Theory?

Surely the most damning is that Sigurdsson passed back to Pickford more than he did all of the forwards combined. There was something similar for Schniederlin. Your man for this kind of stuff is David Hughes of the Liverpool Echo who posted a passing map highlighting this on twitter and in the Echo.

Jay,

"it was very normal in Italy and that he himself would have no problem in speaking with them in such cases"
The Italian Ultras are far worse to their own sides than we could ever threaten to be. Ancelotti probably finds our fanbase very passionate, but tame. I'm sure he would have no problem whatsoever addressing angry fans, who would probably be very star struck and very respectful. I heard they were nothing but respectful towards Brands anyway.

Rob, regardless of whether we see him this season or not, the fact that he is ready to begin even the lightest of training is great news. This is the crucial part. If he is able to twist and turn without issue in the coming weeks, and has full range of movement, then he should make a full recovery, although there will be a period of worry when he begins full training and encounters contact with opponents. Fingers crossed for Andre.

Still no news of Jean Pierre Gbamin?

On the subject of using fitness knowledge from the Olympics, you must have short memories. We already got some American in to do just that, and he failed badly and was sent packing, all during the Walsh / Koeman era.

Team USA Olympic fitness guru

Link

Having said that he's been poor this season, although I think Sigurdsson has been worse, diabolical in fact.

I agree with you on Gomes, Rob.

Better to get him right rather than rush him back too soon.

On Moise Kean not speaking English, I thought the same, so was pleasantly surprised to see and hear his post-match interview after the City game. This is a solid attempt at English.

Credit to the lad. A lot - especially his age - would insist on an interpreter and speaking his own language.

Link

Derek @ 70. Like you, it appears, I also checked out the highlights on the club site from last season's 3-1 win over Brighton.

Link

It features three memorable goals. The first, a wonderful breakaway after defending a Brighton corner, with Sigurdsson leading the charge out, interchanging well with Bernard before slipping in a delightful ball for Richarlison to hammer high into the net.

The second a low drilled scorcher from Seamus who, after scoring, made a point of cupping his ears to the crowd as he had been the recipient of some negative comments that he was no longer the player he was since his return from injury.

Then Richarlison picking up Dunk's wayward pass just inside the Brighton half, skinning Duffy and rounding the keeper to score a classy third.

More of the same on Saturday would be nice.

I know such clips will be clipped to avoid giving too much away in the public domain, but it is interesting that mostly what we saw from Silva's sessions was tight control and passing in small spaces, whereas since Ancelotti arrived we now see more replications of actual game situations, such as the two strikers running in on goal at the start of the video, either opting to shoot or pass.

Speaking of running, to heck with Kean -- the most hilarious running style on this club is Mina. He crouches over and gallops like a hyena, on his haunches. Has plenty of pace and always seems to get where he needs to go, but lordy, he looks funny getting there.

The thing to remember with Kean is that he his mother is a French speaking African. This is evidenced by Brands handing her the shirt with the French term "Mami" on the back rather than Italian. I've do doubt that he speaks French to her. This would also mean that he can converse without too many issues with our French speakers. Communication should not be a problem for Kean.

As for what they show, I've no doubt at all that it will be heavily guarded to give nothing away. I know that Silva liked to run automatons drills. These are rehearsals for set movements in game. Usually beginning with a midfielder having the ball deep and wingers and forwards being taught to perform set runs. Much like watching an American football team "run a play". This is designed to make the spontaneous actually be planned. I doubt that any coach other than Bielsa would be happy with this being disclosed. He's the one who pioneered this kind of training and there's endless examples of this on YouTube. I will watch carefully to see if Ancelotti is doing this or perhaps trying to fix some problems that have arisen in the last few games.

Let's hope that starts tomorrow, that is if he is on from the start. I think bearing all the situations you have already mentioned in mind, he needs to start, alongside DCL and Richarlison.

Coming on as sub with anything between 30 and 10 minutes to go, dependent on what the score is, is asking too much at this stage. Especially if we need a goal to win or draw. Heaven Forbid!

I do remember the 2 boards at either end of the rowing gym. One said: 'Remember, in the middle of the Boat Race, you can't get out and f***ing walk'! The other said: 'Every minute you're not training, there's some Russian bastard who is'! Perhaps we could have them [or something similar] put up at FF!

In Carlo, we trust!

By the way, he's Jean-Philippe, not Jean Pierre.

With regards to the ' brace ' I wasn't aware he was receiving orthodon'tal correction as well, would have thought he was a bit old for that! 🤩🤐

We could do with a 'Jean-Pierre' as well , for spare parts.

The actual training - and you can read absolutely nothing from the snatched clips - does show Tom Davies at one point turning Siggy every which way before laying off a nice round-the-corner ball.

“Gbamin is working alone in this moment during individual sessions. Same as Iwobi” Ancelotti continued.

He's already back in some light training by the sounds of things.

I am not defending the players but we all know there is a lack of mental toughness in this team and with the pressure of poor results, a number of changes of manager, playing with knocks to help the side out, coping with an unprecedented injury list and frustrated supporters this must all take its toll.

They may be physically fit but they are mentally drained.

Ancelotti has his work cut out to restore some belief and confidence and I hope supporters will be patient and supportive with the team he selects.

I know some will say poor dears on 100k a week or whatever but motivation and confidence are key to us finishing the season well and giving a platform to build on over the summer.

I always say players do not play badly deliberately but it was obvious some threw the towel in last Sunday and the management will know who they are and hopefully deal with it accordingly.

Brighton have a good first 11 and a good manager so wil not be easy in fact I wish we would have gone for Aaron Mooys on loan instead of the controversial Delph.

IMO Mooys is exactly what is lacking in our MF.

Lastly I would just like to say I like the look of Jamie Crowleys team.

Onwards and upwards (We hope) COYB.

I was beginning to think I was the only person on TW who thinks he'll be a player and just needs patience.

I'd also mention I think Iwobe has come in for dog's abuse, and I don't think he's near as bad as many make him out to be.

I had presumed they were now commonplace and that a PL club of Everton's standing would have one already in situ or available.

As Brian @ 92 says, I don't know if this has been addressed at Everton since Allardyce called attention to it.

I firmly believe a sports psychologist would be of huge benefit to the club, its players and the manager, whoever they and he may be.

I think Kean's a star in the making. Just gotta be patient and keep the faith.

Everton were tired at Anfield, especially mentally which comes on a lot quicker than physical tiredness, usually the minute something goes wrong!

The team is going to be very interesting tomorrow, I just hope Everton, start making the most out of what they've got, instead of waiting for certain individuals to let us down once again.

i would be quite happy if CA went with the team set out above. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the start of the long road back!

Iwobi has not had much of a run in the middle (where I think he is best) but still has some our best creative stats from open play. He shows for the ball and is able to make things happen. In a team woefully short of creativity from open play he has been missed.

Defensively, and again, purely anecdotally, we were always strong on defending set plays under Moyes, but as the standards of personnel have declined since the likes of the imperious Lescott, Distin and Jags/Baines/ Coleman were at their peak, we have been very vulnerable to any form of set play, certainly since mid-term Martinez. Many goals against have been through very poor communication across the back four.
Tomorrow is going to be very tough: Brighton can vary their play a lot, Potter is beginning to develop a handy side there. It would be nice if we could see a similar "in your face" performance such as the Chelsea game, I am sure Carlo will have them motivated, but we will see if these players can cope with the pressure.

Mike Gaynes - we literally agree, and have throughout TW history, on every single player that I can remember, sans one.

Now if I can just convince you of Tom Davies' worth to Everton, we'll be at 100% eye-to-eye ratio. 😉

But I'm afraid we're not 100% otherwise, mate, because on the Tosun thread I strongly disagreed with you on the subject of Sidibe vs. Coleman/Kenny. I think Sidibe's the clear winner there.

Just get to 40 points.

I may be mixing things up with a popular ex-physiotherapist at the club who moved on in a purge under Roberto Martinez, but I have a memory (but no recall of the name) of him setting up on his own consultancy, including a website.

It was a very holistic, almost quasi-religious approach, as he wrote about spiritualism and personal well-being also.

I look forward to you providing the name to confirm or negate this Steve if this is the same guy I recall or not.

I have posted on many (I was going to say numerous) threads that we should seek such a person out and have cited Steve Peters - British cycling, Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and David Brailsford (cycling is my sport in case you wondered) among the beneficiaries of his expertise and testament to his methods - who was recruited by Liverpool about 7 or 8 years ago which (possibly coincidentally) aligns with the start of their current upsurge. A blind person could see the different mentalities between our two squads, not just this year but for some time now.

I am not sure if he still works with them but if we could find someone of that ilk to work on our player's mentality it would be a giant step in the right direction. I know nothing about our guy who you talk about - but knowing us he went off and did a night school course on sports psychology or something, and then headed back for the pay cheque?

Do you anything about the guy? You seem pretty well informed about most of our personnel but I would have thought we should be able to attract a pretty decent calibre person if we put a mind to it.

Let's hope for a clean sheet and two or three goals to the good but I am going 1-1 this weekend.

This is the official list of Everton staff: Link

The guy me and Jay were thinking of is: Link

John McKeown sounds like he should be our Sports Psychologist on that list but his linked in does not support such belief Link

Edit: fear not, it seems we do have one: Dr Martin Littlewood, this guy lists himself as such on Linked In where he says he has been working for Everton for 5.5 years which takes him back to the Summer of 2014, the summer after Martinez' good season. Link

As you've been following Everton since 1947, you're "up vote" counts for 20 people. TY.

And your post is, I promise, the only time my posts have been described as succinct!

Martin works for Leicester nowadays

As for Iwobi Jamie, the more you watch him the quicker you will wise up to him, in my opinion.

Dave #118, I just love his strength. Every ball he goes in for, he wins, and he enjoys knocking people around to do it.

I like the look of Lyndon's line up but would give Richarlison a rest and put J-Lo up front with DCL

When you say this Doctor has returned in a mental health capacity this is for the fans, yes?

After Sunday we need it more than they do.

You mean Jonas Lössl?

Brian, someone mentions Kean has a big arse and next thing you're talking about JLo?

Kim, missed the bit about you being a cycling fan. Did you catch the documentary on the BBC about Steve Peters. There was commendation after commendation for his work. Vicky Pendleton came across as a very fragile girl, a bit of a nightmare and yet he helped her be a dominant force in female sprint cycling despite having a small stature, so yeah, he came across like a genius. Until we got to Sir Bradley, load of old crap he said. It's not Steve Cummings chimp, he said, it's just Steve Cummings being a *expletive*. Typical Brad. Made me laugh.

Kim, if you're north west based and do road cycling and fancy a good ride and a natter about the blues en route, let me know. I'm a keen cyclist myself.

Messing aside - that sounds pretty half-cocked to me.

I thought his dad was an ex-Scottish pro, but I had the name of Archie Knox running around my brain. A more diametrically opposed character than Walter Smith's former henchman and enforcer to the methods Danny Donachie espouses you couldn't imagine!

I wonder if Dr Martin Littlewood your edit listed is a kinda ad hoc basis, rather than full-time appointment, as his Linked-in page you linked to lists him as senior lecturer still at John Moores uni.

Interesting that he worked at Bolton Wanderers in the early 2000s when a certain Sam Allardyce was manager there.

Like Kim, I'm not convinced that Danny Donachie, as good as he well may be in his own field, is the kind of sports psychologist we could benefit most from.

If our Lecturer guy is doing one day a week, then that sounds like as much as Steve Peters could possibly offer Liverpool anyway.

It could also be, and I'm speculating here, that the players might speak to the Doc over the phone. Maybe they go months without seeing him. Steve Peters spreads himself very thin so who knows.

As for the big Sam connection that's how I found him. Big Sam, as you said or someone else said, was bringing a guy in. Only his linked In shows he was working with us before then. 5.5 years takes him back to summer 2014 and Martinez.

As for Danny Donachie. He's son of Willie, Royle's right hand man.

Regarding Iwobe, he doesn't hide.

I mentioned on another thread, my new barometer for, "should they play / start", is now, "do they hide?"

Iwobe, for some faults, will always show for the ball, and he turns and goes forward with it 9 times out of 10. Yes, he's prone to give it away. But he has played some sublime "through balls" I can recall, that people who vilify him are conveniently forgetting. He's also being played wide, and for me he's much more effective centrally.

Until our midfield is healthy, or we add quality via transfer to midfield, Iwobe will do for me. The alternatives just drive me nuts. And I only feel bad about disliking one midfielder - Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Gylfi's form has dropped off a cliff. But I've never seen him give anything but 100%. He hides now, but not intentionally. I just don't think he's quick enough to get himself into good positions. He's not slow, and he covers a lot of ground. But his quickness has abandoned him completely it seems this season.

There's a massive difference between speed and quickness (read dexterity / agility) for me. They're both equally important. Poor Gylfi just isn't the player he was last year. Not even close in fact. he was never lightning quick, and now he's slow as tar quick. I think this is the first attribute to go when you age.

My eyes, yours may vary.

Cheers.

I'm going to write and submit an article, about my perceived issues with the problems, issues, and positive points regards EFC hopefully when I have time next week.

I think focusing on the players, although logical, misses the point that the structure is wrong on the investment/recruitment side (A player is an asset, I.e. an investment) Secondly, Finch Farm complex, although a "facility boasting some of the finest training facilities in the world", we don't own it. Surely, to write off revenue costs a plan to purchase it back from LCC would be a good idea? Get the cost of the books,write if off in one year, and then from that point it is an asset.

I'm surprised as well at the lack of fitness, skills and data 'coaching' that is used by EFC... Anyway, that is for the article.

I've also kept my powder dry regards last Sunday. Although a disappointment, several positives have come from it, namely the players have shown that they bottle it in big games, all of them lack the top 2" under pressure, they lack basic skills in some areas, though maybe it was the pressure as they showed well against Burnley and NUFC.

The other thing, even though the Red Orcs played their U23 team in effect, man for man they were better. A very sad statement of truth. If we'd won that game, we'd have been plastering over HUGE cracks in our club. It also revealed, that even Carletto can be temporarily affected by 'analysis paralysis', which is why he took so long to change anything I believe.

He'll have had a shock that will hopefully gee him up too.

I think we need to be wary against BHA, as they'll be smarting from another 'upset', at the hands of the Owls. I also rate Potter, and indeed elsewhere (Beeb HYS and others) stated if we're going to recruit a domestic coach, Potter is our man.

For me the team should represent a 4-4-2 and balance to adapt.

Pickford
Coleman-Keane-Mina-Baines
Bernard-Holgate-Davies-Gordon
Kean-DCL

J-Lo (or which ever keeper is rated as our #2 now?), Sidibe, Foulds, Digne, Richarlison, Adeniran, Walcott

This gives flexibility and pretty decent cover;
4-3-3
4-2-3-1
3-4-3

The (genuinely) inestimable Steve Ferns has at #115 included a link of Everton staff of director level and the like. If any one of us has trouble dropping off to sleep I recommend trying to read it through. We seem to employ enough of them to more than fill the Boys' Pen! Bizarre.

Every year premier league teams push the boundaries and run further and further and further. It's not just total distance either. Players are sprinting more in games than ever before. Play is more and more condensed. Go watch an 80s game and you'll see just how far apart the attack and defence is.

Last season Everton were third for distance covered and 5th for sprints. This season we were 5th in October. I cannot find up to date stats because Opta have them behind a pay wall.

The issue is lack of rotation. Our players are out of gas because of how much they have to run just to keep up with everyone else. If they did cross country runs with the great 80s side, do you really think the 80s side could keep up?

Honestly guys, fitness levels are going up and up and up.

I'm going to start watching that closely with Iwobe. Appreciate your viewpoint.

I think a lot of what you describe could be seen live, and not on the television by me? (the bit about him pulling back when Digne bombs forward).

I'll keep an eye out for him pulling out of tackles (that's easy), and if he shits out when Digne goes forward - I think if I'm looking for that I'll be able to see it. Not all of it, but enough to know it's happening.

Cheers.

Yeah, it makes sense that a sport psychologist wouldn't be sat around FF on a full-time contract, but only on a 'as-needed' basis.

I knew I was on the right lines with my thinking about young Donachie, thinking of an ex-Scottish pro and former assistant manager.

Just got me Willie mixed up with me Archie, so to speak.

I agree with you on the fitness issue also. It's not poor levels of physical fitness. It's the mental fitness which is flakier and needs addressing by bringing in some right narks who hate losing at anything.

We ain't got any.

The players just, ahem, "soldier" on in their millionaire way.

It resembles a hospital in a war zone. There's more medical professionals in there than coaching staff. All kind of shenanigans going on.

In the past, doping in football was just dismissed. People just said, well there's no drug to make you kick the ball better, pass it better, dribble better etc. But look at it now. The powers of recovery of "some" teams is astounding. To good to be true. Teams run faster, they run further, and they recover quicker. So, is there really no issues with doping in sport.

And those who have no idea of this kind of thing, this is what leading professionals do away from the club: Link

And if you did not relaise how prevalent this stuff is, this is what the "Love Island" generation do to get over a hangover: Link

I'd rather see a Wisconsin jump around. Get Crowley flown over to initiate it. The guys easily crazy enough

I remember in the 90s questions were asked about Juve seeming super human. There was eventually a mini scandal as it was found they'd been using creatin but if I recall correctly nothing happened because it wasn't technically banned and because UEFA and Serie A are in Agnellis pocket anyway

I used to be into mountain biking a long time ago but found for some reason my right knee starting giving me gip so switched 100% to road (I think it must have been the geometry or something which caused the grief). Anyway I was a pretty keen club level time trialist down here for a while, 25s and 50s mainly, but have not done any racing for a few years now. Indeed it shows on my silhouette these days!

I did not see (I think) the documentary but followed closely the incredible success of Team GB, Sky, your aforementioned names et al under Brailsford (another hard bastard taskmaster - I wonder how he would get on in football) and Steve Peters. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a metamorphosis like that

However - if I am up that way for a couple of days, the weather looks nice and your around and still up for it, I could chuck the bike in the car and take you up on the offer. Cheers for now, and here's to tomorrow and a decent win!

My racing was not particularly spectacular but it is a sport where age does not need to hold you back with handicapping systems and so on, and I was reasonably competitive at club level at the time. I had a an ex pro-racer Raleigh which I bought from a sponsored guy in Nottingham nicked last year (uninsured because it was in my carport where it was usually hidden behind an old TR6 but that was out for a run), when some toerag chancer had it away. About � worth spunked off for about 㿞 down a pub somewhere probably so the shitehawk could get his daily snort or whatever. So back on my (now retro) Specialised. I'd love a Tarmac!
So we'll see what is occurring in the Summer. I'd like that.

In data, just a visual perception, but also physical fatigue and mental fatigue, and lack of belief, like last Sunday are traits of Everton, the last 5 or 6 seasons, in my view.

I'm likely miles off, but that's my visual perception.

The under 23s, last longer, but that's not as enduring at that level.

Carlo will change it hopefully.

And yep - Shoulders always take a hit, often from the bike itself. My old Spec'd is an Allez as well. MMC frame, campag group.

Anyway - enough of this. I thought this was a football forum.

COYB

COYB!

As long as they play this version:

Link

I think right after the siren it'd work a treat. I'd go apeshit. 😜

My thoughts are - the whole squad's physical and mental fitness seems woeful.

Fixing the first is a little easier than fixing the second, but both require the will to change. Then once you've fixed the physical there will be mental benefits...not a compete 'cure' but an improvement.

Re. the' legs going'; sometimes it just happens, nowt to do, get rid.

Though you can at least try to compensate, by not giving up...a forlorn chase (Peter Reid's pursuit of Maradonna in Mexico for one) is better than no chase.

Nearer to home I remember Rooney passing Tom Davies...who could well see where the ball was going to end up - in the net) and running half the length of the field to at least try to stop the inevitable. OK, he was blowing for tugs at the end, but he tried.

It's the apparent lack of caring and effort that pisses people off, not being crap...just ask The Straq, one man who'll never have to buy his own beer in the Winslow.

Morning, Derek. Haha The older I get, the faster I was.

I'm worried about Coleman at RB. He's been so quiet of late. If Sidebe is fit I'd play him in his place with Seamus in mid-field as the breaker. I'd leave Schneiders and Sigs out of the squad and give Pickford a freekin' good talking too but play him. Accept Delph because, at least, he has some spunk about him.

At Goodison Bernard will give 100% and I have no doubt that Richie and DCL will do also. To me, Holgate looks more suited to the DM position than the CD role. He is not slow either, particularly compared to Michael Kean.

So my team selection would likely be
Pickford
Sidebe Mina Baines
Coleman Holgate Bernard Davies
Richarlison DCL Moise

Bench: Walcott, Lossl, Niasse (to stir them up) and 3 youngsters

Isn't it a pity?
Now, isn't it a shame
How we break each other's hearts
And cause each other pain?
How we take each other's love
Without thinking anymore
Forgetting to give back
Isn't it a pity?
Some things take so long
But how do I explain
When not too many people
Can see we're all the same
And because of all their tears
Their eyes can't hope to see
The beauty that surrounds them
Isn't it a pity”

Forgiveness is one thing but accepting being let down continuously it another - - but with Ancelotti in place and Ferguson I firmly believe today is the catharsis - - time to draw a line and move on - - and that's not just up to us but also its up to Everton - - Management/Players and the whole gang of them - - have to - - cannot get stuck and wallow - - have to rub ourselves down - - get up and get ready - - I have a framed statement on my wall in my writing room written by a Great Evertonian

“Our greatest glory is not
In never falling but in
Rising every time we fall”
Confusius (Everton 62-63)

Just sitting getting some Beatles into my head:
.
“It's all too much, it's all too much
When I look into your eyes, your love is there for me
And the more I go inside, the more there is to see
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much
Floating down the stream of time, of life to life with me
Makes no difference where you are or where you'd like to be
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around here
All the world's a birthday cake
So take a piece but not too much
Set me on a silver sun, for I know that I'm free
Show me that I'm everywhere, and get me home for tea
It's all to much for me to see
A love that's shining all around here
The more I am, the less I know
And what I do is all too much
It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much
It's too much, it's too much
Too much, too much, too much”

I am sitting at my desk surrounded by postcards and photos of all the people and things I love - - Gosia - - my family - - Yellow House - - Everton - - Klimt - - Michelangelo - - Vincent - - postcard of a rainbow over Glastonbury Tor - - Sunflowers - - Le Chat Noir - - Stonehenge Calendar - - King Arthur.

Have to go soon - - friends - - o when I get on the bus and go under the Might River I will wash away any anger from last week and come out onto Blessed Scotland Road washed - - refreshed and free from and pain - - ready for a new day - - a new start - - a new game.

How can my spirits lie dead and miserable when I have to walk along Scottie and Smith Street - - onto Wessie Road - - I am immediately lifted by my own thoughts and my soul and my spirt - - this time last year I missed games - - I was recovering from heart surgery and having radiotherapy treatment for cancer - - I was stopped from going to the game - - and how I missed it - - all of it - - when the things you love are taken from you - - then you know how much they are worth - - how much you love them - - just going to sit and close my eyes and listen to Van and then go - - Hydnford Street - -reminds me and recalls beautiful memories from Great Mersey Street in the 50's and 60's:

“Take me back, take me way, way, way back
On Hyndford Street
Where you could feel the silence at half past eleven
On long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across Beechie River
In the quietness as we sank into restful slumber in the silence
And carried on dreaming, in God
And walks up Cherry Valley from North Road Bridge, railway line
On sunny summer afternoons
Picking apples from the side of the tracks
That spilled over from the gardens of the houses on Cyprus Avenue
Watching the moth catcher working the floodlights in the evenings
And meeting down by the pylons
Playing round Mrs. Kelly's lamp
Going out to Holywood on the bus
And walking from the end of the lines to the seaside
Stopping at Fusco's for ice cream
In the days before rock 'n' roll
Hyndford Street, Abetta Parade
Orangefield, St. Donard's Church
Sunday six-bells, and in between the silence there was conversation
And laughter, and music and singing, and shivers up the back of the neck
And tuning in to Luxembourg late at night
And jazz and blues records during the day
Also Debussy on the third program
Early mornings when contemplation was best
Going up the Castlereagh hills
And the cregagh glens in summer and coming back
To Hyndford Street, feeling wondrous and lit up inside
With a sense of everlasting life
And reading Mr. Jelly Roll and Big Bill Broonzy
And "Really The Blues" by "Mezz" Mezzrow
And "Dharma Bums" by Jack Kerouac
Over and over again
And voices echoing late at night over Beechie River
And it's always being now, and it's always being now
It's always now
Can you feel the silence?
On Hyndford Street where you could feel the silence
At half past eleven on long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across Beechie River
And in the quietness we sank into restful slumber in silence
And carried on dreaming in God.”

I thought it was worth the full treatment - -all the lyrics - - close your eyes and think - - We Are Blues.

I send cosmic grooves and “posso” waves to all “The Bluetiful People”
Your friend - - George

Now I am sure there will be quite a few in Goodison today, who will not hold back with their views if things don't start well today. But as humiliated and frustrated as we all feel, I don't think taking that frustration to the game today will do us any good. Duncan Ferguson according to some reports let the players know what his feelings were after the game on Sunday, and Carlo Ancelotti took the unusual step of speaking to the players after the game, something he never does. That added to the fact that some of our supporters turned up at Finch Farm to let the players hear directly from the fans and Marcel Brands took them inside Finch Farm to speak to them.

So these players will be very aware of the feeling running through the fan base. So what is needed today is if you cant cheer them onto the pitch which is understandable then once the game starts for 90 minutes we have to forget about last Sundays game and back this team to pick up 3 points and start the healing process. Because I believe if we let the atmosphere be toxic it could mean we draw or lose today and will make Ancelotti,s job so much harder going forward in 2 respects. Firstly it will make his job of trying to motivate this group much harder and if we drop further down the league trying to attract the players Ancelotti will need will become much harder.

So I hope today our fans look at the bigger picture, in that we need this group to pick up enough points to make us safe, then come next season I suspect those players who have annoyed our fan base will have left the club, so a win win situation. Then let our world class manager get on with his job with the backing of our magnificent supporters.

Thats got to be a good bet isn't it!

Brilliant George, I love your Everton spirit, and think we need to make a flag out of (Everton62-63) because that is what us Evertonians, are great at, taking it on the chin, and never giving in. Come on you fucking blue boys, I can't wait for the team now, and hope the team selection allows me to go inside old and beautiful dilapidated Goodison Pk.

Link

I'm not so naive as to think he 100% penned the words himself, but he talks up the positivity of the league results under both Duncan and himself and is very honest in his appraisal of the two defeats to City and Liverpool.

It reads as a rallying cry to get the faithful onside ahead of the game v Brighton today.

Everton 2 Hove and Brighton Albion 0

Some nice words - I hope the rallying cry is heard by the players too

Enjoy the game blues.

So we start again at three o'clock, onwards and upwards,so 4-0 it is today. GodBless George.

I do genuinely believe that with Carlo and Duncan at the helm, we will, not only improve (not hard) but eventually get back to where we believe we ought to be.

Team selection will tell us many things really, that they will not tolerate lack of effort, or putting up with overpaid players going through the motions with zero passion or concern for the badge or the fans.

Come on Blues play out of your skins and show us and the rest of the World we mean business! 💙

George@186: Great post. I reckon King Arthur was an Evertonian.