Iwobi on target while Mina sees red

It's the same with Gomes and Sigurdsson to be fair. Even Kean.

Seems they can't handle the pressure of expectation to play for Everton.

We overpaid for him (not his fault) but that price tag and the knowledge that he has to justify it may well be a reason for his below-par performances. Trying too hard.

I'd agree with that, Dave, because, off the top of my head, Graham Stuart and Kevin Campbell are the only two cockneys that I can remember settling at Everton.

Tony Cottee perhaps?

I remember when I used to play, I found it very easy to go past opposing players, but only if I played inside, because whenever I played out wide, I never had the same desire to beat players, and because I lacked pace, it used to make me want to come inside, and I do see something similar whenever I watch Iwobi play.

It was probably the biggest club match of his whole career and he couldn't get going? I could never understand that...

I fucking hope so...

And Psycho Pat has always been one of us deep down, Alan!

I really hope Allan and Richarlison are available for Fulham.

Non-attacking, non-goalscoring Number 10? Give us a clue.

He's a £28 million, £60,000 a week, 10-minute sub when we're getting beat – that's what he is.

To me, he seems to play much better on the right and either coming inside or more often attacking the full-back and whipping a cross in. He's been a bit better of late and maybe the message is getting through to him.

Against Southampton, I was swearing at the TV that he refused to back himself when going forward to get the final ball into the box. Always stalling and choosing the easy safe ball back to a midfielder. He was on the left that day and looked very poor. He seems way more confident on the right and I haven't totally given up hope on him.

I understand that dithering Dave Moyes was such a ditherer because a big factor for him was a player's character. That was arguably more important to him than straight-out ability.

I know not all of his signings worked out (Shandy Andy, Per Krøldrup, Royston Drenthe for example) but you can see a clear identikit through:

Jagielka
Coleman
Baines
Cahill
Fellaini
Arteta
Pienaar
Distin
Yakubu

Proper self-belief, proper character, proper desire to be the best that they can be.

I'm not sure many of our current lot have that same feeling/mentality.

The impression I get (and it's just my personal feeling) is that he seems to enjoy the "easier" side of the game but lacks that last x% that's required to be an effective player at or near the top.

I wish Carlo would try him as the most forward of the middle 3. He's our most progressive passer and is a much better ball carrier than Sigurdsson or Gomes. He may not offer a huge amount defensively but then neither do Gomes or Sigurdsson.

We overpaid for Iwobi without a doubt but I'm convinced there's a decent player in there, just lacks the confidence. And the chance to play more centrally.

I agree with a lot on here, he seems to panick a little and rush himself when playing for Everton.

What a waste. At the time, we needed a left footed right winger with pace and end product. Could have picked up some excellent players for that £28m.

I'm with you on that.

Up to now, in both instances, they're prolific failures in the (un)real world of the Premier League.

I blame the players, not the management.

Yeah, we overpaid but I'd have him over the some of the other players we wasted money on like Bolasie, Schneiderlin, Walcott, Tosun and Sigurdsson. The lad can still improve and is also a victim of not having a fixed position. That probably lies more with managers as he has said before he sees himself more of a No 10 type player. He has shown in this game and other occasions for Nigeria that he can play centrally. He needs to be given the chance playing there with us until we can bring in a player like Isco, or another player who is an upgrade on what we currently have.

Gomes, Sigurdsson, Doucoure, Bernard, Davies nowhere near that. Balance his errors with his contributions and do the same to the rest. He's miles better and productive than that lot. Yet he gets slaughtered in comparison.

There's a clear bias for sure.

Maybe therein lies the clue: the rest of the season he should be played as an impact substitute, when the opposition players have tired, giving him more time and room to play and slowly become a more useful player for us.

When Lukaku was on loan at West Brom, the season before he came to Everton, he scored a bulk of his goals from the bench, and that made him ready for us.

Having said that, I would ask Carlo to give Tom Davies more playing time. If Tom had been given as many chances as Iwobi has had this season, I am pretty sure the outcome would have been better.

That's very interesting, JP, he's been involved in the making or scoring of 8 assists already this season, which is no mean feat, but I think a lot of the flack is because of how Brian W, describes Iwobi@25.

Does he have it in himself to roll up his sleeves and fight, or will he always lack confidence when the going gets tough? This is the conundrum because Iwobi has definitely got enough talent.

Iwobi has all of the tools but leaves a couple of them in the van.

We should concentrate on finding wingers with pace who can add goals. The amount of money Everton have wasted on these players and their wages has been truely enormous.

Iwobi is just the latest import, he's not mentally tough enough to be a success, something you could say about all our Number 10s covering the last three managers. One player doesn't make a team, our failings are much deeper-rooted than just the No 10 position which seems to attract the most attention.

I want him to succeed; I am in the "he's gash" camp currently, certainly not the player who I watched tear up a Europa League Final, albeit the only person in the Arsenal team who did on the night.

Memphis Depay – now there's a player. Out of contract at the end of the season too. The player we should have bought the year we signed Bolasie...

Yep, 5-year contract and £120 grand a week coming right up – Not!

Well, I hope not...

He has matured as a player and person since then, he was too young when he went to Utd. He has been at Lyon a long time, the manager was quoted last season talking up his maturity and leadership qualities (which I admit surprised me at the time). His goal scoring record in France has been superb for a winger. Koeman loves him and it wouldn't surprise me to see him go to Barca.

Yes, Rob, he is out of contract soon and will likely be moving on in Jan, we will have to show real desire to get him as there will be lots of suitors as he is available for a knockdown fee.

End product and flair. Not many in his class.

Ed @4, where did they play him tonight?

Nigeria.

Robert 45 - that made me spit my tea out ;)

On another note, just saw the highlights of the Brazil - Venezuela game. Both Richarlison and Allan were heavily involved. Allan was playing much further ahead than he does for Everton, but that must be because Brazil were quite dominant.

In the absence of Neymar coach Tite did something he has never done before when playing Firmino and Richarlison in the same team: playing Richy rather than Firmino in the nominal #9 position. I say nominal because with Brazil it is a more roving role than a traditional British #9.

Now Richy scored a disallowed goal after about 10 minutes after Firmino had fluffed the chance to score, but it was ruled out for one of those VAR armpit offsides by the wide man who crossed the ball.

This was a pity on many levels. It would have given Richy a lift and an early goal would have forced Venezuela to abandon their borefest game-long tactic: sit deep with all eleven players between the ball and their goal.

Richy saw very little of the ball as a result and at half-time Tite switched back to the familiar. Firmino more central, Richy wide right. Still Richy was very peripheral. I would go as far as to say this was his poorest performance ever in a Brazilian shirt. He was unsurprisingly hooked for Pedro on 76 minutes.

Allan had a fine game, playing EXACTLY as he does for Everton, mostly in that band across the pitch just either side of the centre circle. Because of Venezuela's deep-defensive tactics, yes, he spent more time than normal in their half. As ever, he was tidy in all he did. Brazil's 'get out' ball transitioning from defence to attack.

Villa's Douglas - who I like a lot - was woeful and was hooked at half-time for Paqueta. Brazil eventually won with a tap-in for Firmino, but it was not an easy watch.

Brazil play Colombia's conquerers of last night, Uruguay, mid-week away. Uruguay will be more open than Venezuela, but it is going to be Brazil's hardest game of this World Cup qualifying campaign to date.

Based on last night's performance, I would not be surprised to see Richy cut from the starting XI.

He's certainly not been good enough all round this season, or last, and I'm not sure there's room for him in the formation Carlo wants to play but there's worse culprits getting paid more money for sure.

The Nigerians had umpteen chances to grab the killer fifth (!) goal as well but ultimately didn't. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a team go down four goals and still come away with a point. Remarkable.

If we're moving Rodriguez inside, as we should, then it's between Gordon and Iwobi on the right (unless we swap Richarlison which I would not do). I'd go with Gordon first of all but, if he doesn't produce, I'd be happy to give Iwobi a proper run.

Gomes was asked to play virtually on the wing in that stupid formation at Southampton. We've all seen him in his best position and, in my opinion, he's a class player.

We have a few players that make a difference and want to win matches. Players that leave it all out on the pitch, players that want to win. Unfortunately Iwobi isn't one of them.

Watching Scotland and Northern Ireland the other night in must-win games was refreshing as players showed passion, desire and a pride playing for their country. If Nigeria had the same type of play-off game, would Iwobi be leading from the front? I very much doubt it from what I have seen a blue shirt.

Carlo thinks Iwobi doesn't produce enough at No 10, so Iwobi has to adapt to another position and keep improving.

Main problems to solve in the summer transfer window are a top international right-back to challenge Seamus, and a Number 10 that is top notch. Not expecting the new Kaka or Messi, but someone decent.

I think Iwobi will stay for a while, as a top Number 10 makes every winger look better. A walking Number 10 makes every isolated winger look terrible.

We just need top 4 quality from now on, no more squad fillers.

That's not unusual for many such players who come and go at Everton. Just seen a rerun of an old Everton-Arsenal game from way back when and Arsenal thrashed us. We had some underachievers in that line-up. Anyone remember Hutchinson or Madar?

Talking of failures, I see today Hallam Hope scored and also James Vaughan who, by the way, has been with 17 clubs up to now. I suppose they are both at the level they belong after being so promising in their younger days at Goodison.

I don't know why we bought him, what he offers, where he's supposed to play or what he can do.

Looks to me like he's on the list of players Carlo doesn't trust, but has to play at least some of the time.

Hope he comes good, but wouldn't put my hard-earned on it.

The fate of an Evertonian is always having to look forward to the future and only rarely to be able to enjoy the present. I suspect we've had all the enjoyment we'll get this season!

Absolutely nowt to worry about. All good here. All very mundane as to why I haven't posted much in recent days.

You know the back story of my missus and CV-19 in Brazil. She is now officially the only one in her hospital team of 28 NOT to get the virus. A measure of just how careful she is, given the environment she works in.

We promised ourselves months ago that once this is all over we are going out, socialising more. Theatre. Cinema. Live music. Exhibitions. Cultural events. Good eating. We're still waiting.

But a couple of days before the United game, we had one of those telephathic moments couples share. Whilst I was at home and she at work, independently on the same day the same thought came to us to talk to the other about that evening: let's go somewhere at the weekend.

And we did. The United game KO 9.30am my time Saturday morning, the same time she is scheduled to go to the gym. Her workout and our game finished around the same time and within a couple of hours we headed across the mighty Amazon River to a nearby island.

The wooden launch put-putted up a narrow creek with overhanging trees and in 20 minutes we had left behind the sight, sounds and smells of our city and its 4 million population.

In no time we were swinging in hammocks, surrounded only by the contrasting greens of the forest, the occassional flash of colour and birdsong of exotic feathered beasts. No wifi. No TV. All good therapy.

This, of course, was in the middle of the protracted US elections which, I admit, has been far more fascinating viewing and a much, MUCH bigger game than anything Everton has undertaken in recent weeks.

I've taken up my free time writing to family and friends all around the world on the US elections, leaving me little or no time for TW (which I've skimmed briefly, but not found too much of interest to engage in, to be frank).

I'll be back on TW more regularly to annoy people once things settle down again. But thanks again for asking Dave. Hope things are all good with you and yours, given what Liverpool has been living through in recent weeks.

The same goes for coaches and managers – they can't possibly all be crap!

ps: Don't give me Chairman Kenwright – he needs it to come good as much as the rest of us!

Thanks for replying and I you two get to have more weekends together, like that one, in the near future.

My birthday today – I'm 62, healthy and happy, loving life. Just had a great meal with the family with loads of good (Spanish) wine – waiting for the (much younger than me) missus to join me in bed...
Ffs, Blues make me delirious!
UTFT

Alex Iwobi is probably a nice decent guy but, when he played for Arsenal I always wanted him to come on (he was usually on the bench, no wonder) because, if he did, he messed their game and always missed even the easiest chances.

He does not know when to pass, how to move or when to shoot. He can't make correct decisions in the game. So, what's the use?

Sell him in January? No club will ever pay anything for him. He will be in the 23's for the rest of his miserable contract until some Turkish team wants to take him by paying half his wages.

Post of the day.

He obviously doesn't read TW. :-) Only joking mate, glad you enjoyed your 'soiree romantique' and a chance to appreciate the quieter side of life in these troubled Covid times.

At times last game, he put in decent crosses and made some useful runs but start him in a game and you never get 90 minutes out of him and he will always either shit-out of a tackle or get caught on the ball giving possession away when everyone is up in their half.

It could be a lack of confidence but, if he comes back from international duty with a brace of goals, surely he will be feeling confident?

I think he has some potential but I really can't see him fulfilling it.

The loan deal may well be to give him half a season of football elsewhere to get him up and running for next season.

Most of the very best attacking players are hugely committed when it comes to keeping the ball; the idea of someone taking it from them makes them grit their teeth and work hard to come out victorious. Raheem Sterling is always prepared to battle to retain possession of the ball. Iwobi must have 4 inches and at least a stone over Sterling, but if they were to tussle for a 50/50 then I have little doubt that Sterling would emerge with the ball more often than not. Until Iwobi starts to truly develop some of the less aesthetic parts of being a professional footballer then I'm afraid he'll always be a bit-part player at the top level.

Whatever, he has been a disastrous signing and those injuries he has sustained have virtually written him off being a premiership player barring, a miracle.

Not top quality nor good enough of a team player to warrant a start. He's got some talent but his reading of the situation and poor decision making left him down.

He has tried everything to get the best out of him but ,like other managers before him, he can't seem to make the penny drop. Every good game is preceded by a Weston... Can't learn. Won't learn.

It would appear you can take Big Yerry to water, but you can't make him think.